Chapter 16 to 20 - Pollution

Q1. What is environmental pollution?

Environmental pollution refers to any unfavourable alteration of our
surroundings, wholly or largely as a byproduct of man's actions. These changes
may affect man and other organisms.

Q2 Give the definition of a pollutant.

Pollutants are the products which are released into the biosphere in large
quantities and which affect the normal functioning of ecosystems and have an
adverse effect on plants, animals and man.

Q3 What is air pollution? Give a source of air pollution.

Air pollution is the excessive concentration of foreign matter in the air which
adversely affects the well-being of human beings, animals, plants and their
environment.
Fumes released by automobiles like cars, scooters etc are one of the causes of
air pollution.

Q4 Define water pollution.

Water pollution can be defined as alteration in physical, chemical or biological
characteristics of water, making it unsuitable for designated use in its natural
state.

Q5 What is soil pollution?

Soil pollution is defined as the change in physical, chemical and biological
conditions of the soil through man's intervention resulting in degradation in
quality and productivity of the soil.

Q6 What is radioactive pollution?

Radioactive pollution is defined as the increase in natural background
radiation, emerging from the activities of man using naturally occurring or
artificially produced radioactive materials.

Q7 What is noise pollution?

Noise pollution is defined as an unwanted sound that is an irritant and a source
of stress.

Q8 Why is radioactive pollution more harmful than other types of pollution?

Radioactive pollution is more harmful than other types of pollution because
the products of nuclear wastes remain in the environment for several hundred
years. Leakage in nuclear reactors causes environmental pollution and the
leakage may result in the death of a number of people.

Q9 How is noise a source of pollution?

Noise is a physical form of pollution which is not directly harmful to the life
supporting systems. It is not fatal to human life, yet its effects cannot be
overlooked because repeated exposure to noise reduces the sleeping hours,
productivity or efficiency of a human being.

Q10 Name any three air pollutants and the sources of each of them.
Three air pollutants are- Carbon Monoxide, Nitrogen Oxides, Hydrocarbons

Q11 What are natural sources of air pollution? Name one industry which
pollutes the atmosphere with gaseous as well as with particulate matter.
Natural sources of air pollution include volcanic eruptions, deflation of sand
and dust as well as forest, or wild fires of natural vegetation, etc.
Automobile industry.

Q12 What is known as smog? What harm is done by smog especially in winter?
Smog is a combination of smoke and fog.
During the winter months, due to severe cold, the use of coal and fossil fuels to
heat homes and for other purposes increases. These lead to the formation of
smog. Smog is harmful for health as it causes asthma, bronchitis, shortness of
breath, eye and nose irritation, etc. It also reduces visibility and leads to
problems in traffic movement.

Q13 Name two heavy metals from industries that pollute water.
Lead and Manganese

Q14 Mention any two sources of soil pollution.

Chemical fertilisers and Biomedical waste

Q15 How does traffic contribute to noise pollution?

The rapidly increasing number of vehicles on the roads are a big source of
noise pollution. Increasing traffic jams in congested areas lead to repeated
hooting of horns by impatient drivers causing noise pollution.

Q16 How does the use of automobiles cause air pollution?

Vehicles are mainly responsible for more than 80% of total air pollution. The
major pollutants released from automobiles, locomotives, aircraft etc.

Q17 How do industries pollute the air?

Industries such as chemical industries, paper and pulp mills, cotton mills and
petroleum refineries produce most air pollution. The cement factories emit
dust, which is potential health hazard. The smoke coming out from the
factories has small particles of dust, carbon, metals, other solids, liquids and
radioactive materials which get mixed in smoke and pollute the air.

Q18 What are the domestic sources of water pollution?

Man uses water for drinking, preparation of food, bathing, for cleaning the
house, etc. Most of the used water is drained out through municipal drains and
poured into a river or lake. Domestic waste water that is mixed with other
wastes such as plastic, detergents, animal dung and human faecal material is
known as municipal waste.

Q19 Why is it harmful to dispose of household detergents in water bodies?

Many detergents and fertilisers contain phosphates. When phosphates are
discharged into waterways, their remnants promote rapid growth of algae.
Such enrichment process is known as eutrophication. Aquatic weeds multiply
rapidly in many water bodies. They interfere with fishing, navigation and
irrigation.

Q20 In what way does the industrial waste pollute water?

Industries dealing with chemicals, pulp and paper, food processing, etc.
produce waste material such as heavy metals or synthetic organic compounds.
These reach water bodies either through direct discharge or by leaching from
waste dumps. Among the heavy metals, cadmium, lead, mercury, copper,
chromium etc., get into water which makes it poisonous and unhygienic. It may
also cause various diseases in humans and animals, if consumed without
treatment.

Q21 What major harm is done to human beings by air pollution?

1. Chronic respiratory diseases
2. Lung cancer
3. Cardiovascular diseases and coma
4. Damage to the nerves, brain, liver, kidney.

Q22. What is the effect of oil spills on marine life?

Sea water polluted with crude oil leakage causes oil spills which contaminate
sea water and lead to the death of marine organisms.

Q23. What causes waterborne diseases? Name two waterborne diseases.

Most of the waste waters especially sewage contain pathogens like bacteria,
viruses and protozoa. These pathogens enter the human body from
contaminated drinking water and are responsible for several waterborne
diseases like cholera, typhoid etc.

Q24. Why are nuclear radiations more dangerous than other forms of
pollution?
Nuclear radiations are more dangerous than other forms of pollution because
the high-level products of nuclear wastes remain in the environment for
several hundred years.

Q25. State how noise pollution is detrimental to human health.

1. Effect on hearing or deafness
2. Effect on Communication
3. Interference with sleep
4. Mental or Physiological effects.

Q26. Explain Biomagnification.

Biomagnification means increasing the concentration of various toxic
substances along the food chain. Toxic substances at the level of primary
producers get concentrated at each trophic level as they move up the food
chain. The phenomenon of concentrated toxic deposition at the higher trophic
level is known as bioaccumulation.
For example, if there are traces of toxic chemicals in water, then their
concentration in algae will be much higher. When fish eat the algae, the
concentration of toxins will increase further. Therefore, accumulation of a
small amount of toxic chemicals in water can have a serious impact on the fish
that live in it.

Q27. What are pathogens? How do they enter human body? Name any three
diseases caused by these pathogens.
Pathogens are disease causing organisms like bacteria, viruses and protozoa.
Most of the waste waters especially sewage contain pathogens like bacteria,
viruses and protozoa. These pathogens enter the human body from
contaminated drinking water and are responsible for several waterborne
diseases like cholera, typhoid, diarrhoea, dysentery etc.
Q28. State two negative effects of vehicular emissions.
Global climate change and Air pollution and its negative health repercussions.

Q29. Name any two gases emitted by vehicular emissions.

1. Nitrogen oxide
2. Carbon monoxide

Q30. What is meant by carpooling?

Carpooling refers to the sharing of car journeys by people travelling on the
same route.

Q31. Name any three modes of public transport used in India.

City buses, Passenger trains, Metro rail

Q32. What is a 'No Smoking Zone'?

'No Smoking Zone' is an area where people are restricted to smoke.
Under the Prohibition of Smoking in Public Places Rules 2008, smoking in
public places was prohibited. A person caught smoking in public places or 'No
Smoking Zone' has to pay a fine.

Q33. What are Fossil Fuels? Name any two fossil fuels.
Fossil fuels refer to buried, combustible deposits of organic materials, formed
from decayed plants and animals that have been converted to crude oil, coal,
and natural gas by exposure to heat and pressure in the earth's crust over
hundreds of millions of years.
Two fossil fuels are coal and petroleum.

Q34. State why should we use fossil fuels judiciously.

We should use fossil fuels judiciously because these resources are non-
renewable and take millions of years to form. These resources also cause
pollution and changes in the climate caused by Global warming.

Q35. What is Organic Farming?

Organic farming is a holistic system of farming, which is primarily aimed at
cultivating the land and raising crops in such a way, as to keep the soil alive
and in good health by use of organic wastes and other biological materials
along with the beneficial microbes to release nutrients to crops for increased
sustainable production in an eco-friendly pollution free environment.
Q36. Explain how are vehicles a source of air pollution.
1. Vehicles account for most of the carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and
a large share of the hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides and particulates
found in the atmosphere in major urban areas.
2. Nitrogen oxide is formed when nitrogen in the fuel or nitrogen of air
heats to temperatures above 1200°F in the presence of oxygen. This
reaction occurs in most car engine.

Q37. Why do we need to have an efficient public transport?

If we have an efficient public transport, then people can be convinced to use
the public transport instead of private vehicles. This, in turn, will contribute to
a healthier environment by improving air quality and reducing oil consumption.

Q38. State any two advantages of having a 'No Smoking Zone'.

1. It reduces the possibility of second-hand tobacco smoke being inhaled
by non-smokers.
2. It reduces health care costs by reducing the chances of diseases caused
by smoking.

Q39. Why do we need to reduce our dependency on fossil fuels?

1. They are non-renewable and take a long time to form.
2. They cause pollution.

Q40. What are the measures an individual can take to reduce consumption of
energy and to create a cleaner environment?
1. Use extra blankets and sweaters instead of using room heaters.
Likewise, in summer, dress in light, cotton clothes to save on air
conditioning costs and energy.
2. Reduce water consumption and energy usage to heat the water.
3. Turn off equipment and lights at night and unplug appliances when they
are not in use.
4. Make sure that the houses are well insulated.
5. Replace light fixtures with energy conserving CFL bulbs and tubes.