POLLUTION AND

HUMANS
ENVIRONMENT, ITS RESOURCES AND THEIR CONSERVATION
1. Air Pollution (Air pollution): Causes and Effects
When various natural or man-made solid particles or gases mix with the air, and their concentration increases beyond the
natural level, then this type of polluted air is called air pollution.
The main causes of air pollution are:
(i) Greenhouse Gases: Various greenhouse gases like nitrous oxide (N2O), carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2),
methane (CH4), CFCs (Chlorofluorocarbons), etc., cause air pollution. This mainly occurs due to the excessive burning of
fossil fuels.
(ii) SPM (Suspended Particulate Matter): This refers to dust, soot, smoke from vehicles, or ash released from burning fossil
fuels. These carbon particles are generally less than 10µm in diameter. If they enter the air, they can easily mix with our
breath. SPM is a major cause of air pollution. It causes asthma, bronchitis, and other lung-related diseases.
(iii) Acid Rain and its Effects: When acid rain falls on soil, it mixes with the water in the soil and harms the organisms
living in it. SO2 and NO2, released from various sources, react with water vapor in the atmosphere to form H2SO4 and
HNO3, which then fall to the earth with rainwater. This is called acid rain. (i) SO2+H2O→H2SO3; SO3+H2O→H2SO4; (ii)
2NO2+H2O→HNO2+HNO3
Effects of Acid Rain:
(a) Effects on soil: Acid rain primarily causes soil erosion. Organisms in the soil cannot tolerate this change in pH. Acid
rain also obstructs the essential processes of plant roots.
(b) Effects on forests and vegetation: Acid rain destroys the vegetation in forests and grasslands. It damages the leaves of
plants and reduces their photosynthetic capacity. Applying limestone to the soil can neutralize the acidity of acid rain and
restore the soil's pH.
(c) Effects on human health: Acid rain directly affects human health. When components of acid rain like sulfur dioxide and
nitrogen oxides enter the body through breathing, they cause various issues like asthma and bronchitis, as well as lung
cancer.
(d) Other adverse effects: Acid rain causes various other problems, such as damage to buildings and sculptures. The
calcium carbonate in marble or limestone reacts with the acid. This is also known as 'stone leprosy' or 'stone cancer'. When
buildings made of limestone are exposed to acid rain for a long time, the limestone reacts with the acid to form gypsum.
CaCO3(s)+H2SO4→CaSO4(s)+CO2(g)+H2O(l)
(iii) Effects on Lungs: Air pollution causes asthma, emphysema, bronchitis, pneumonia,
allergies, etc.
(iv) Ozone Layer Depletion: CFC gases rise to the stratosphere and destroy the ozone gas layer.
Antarctica has the largest hole in the ozone layer. As a result, harmful UV-rays from the sun
reach the earth's surface. This can cause skin cancer, eye damage, etc.
Diseases caused by SPM: SPM causes many lung diseases. For example, silicosis in stone quarry
workers, pneumoconiosis in coal mine workers, and asbestosis in asbestos factory workers.
2. Water Pollution (Water pollution): When harmful substances mix with water, the physical,
chemical, and biological properties of water are altered, causing harm to the environment, soil,
plants, and humans. This is called water pollution.
(i) Agricultural Waste: Various chemical fertilizers (Ammonia, Urea) and pesticides like DDT
(Dichloro Diphenyl Trichloroethane), BHC (Benzene Hexachloride), Aldrin, Endosulfan, etc., are
used to increase agricultural production. The pesticides and insecticides from agricultural fields
wash into ponds and rivers, polluting the water.
(ii) Domestic Waste: Sewage, dirty water from drains, feces, urine, dead animals, etc., from
households mix with river and reservoir water. These substances contain harmful bacteria that
mix with the water and pollute it.
Eutrophication and Soil Pollution
This reduces the oxygen in the water. The increase of phosphate fertilizers and detergents in water significantly
increases the population of algae. This process is called eutrophication or over-nutrition.
Harmful effects of eutrophication: Due to the absorption of excess nutrients, algae in the reservoir grow
rapidly, a phenomenon known as an algal bloom. (i) As the bloom grows, the oxygen level decreases, causing the
algae to rot and the water to become polluted. This also kills aquatic animals, such as fish. Similarly, domestic
animals that drink this water can fall ill and die.
Things to Know:
•BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand): The amount of oxygen required by microorganisms to decompose organic
matter present in water is called the oxygen demand or BOD. The unit of measurement for BOD is mg/L. For
pure water, the BOD value is less than 2 mg/L, while for polluted water, the BOD value increases.
•COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand): The amount of oxygen required to chemically oxidize both organic and
inorganic substances present in polluted water is measured by COD. For this, a chemical oxidizing agent like
potassium dichromate is used. A COD value greater than 4 mg/L indicates that the water is polluted and
contains excess organic matter.
3. Soil Pollution (Soil pollution): When various chemical fertilizers, pesticides, industrial waste, bacteria,
protozoa, etc., mix with the soil, the physical, chemical, and biological properties of the soil are altered, causing
great harm. This is when the soil becomes polluted.
(i) Biological Matter: We dispose of household waste, rotten food, dead bodies of animals, industrial waste, etc.,
on the land. These substances give rise to various germs, which then mix with the soil and cause soil pollution.
(ii) Chemical Substances: Chemical fertilizers (Ammonia, Urea), pesticides (BHC, DDT), and herbicides (2, 4-D,
Simazine) used in agriculture mix with the soil and cause soil pollution.
Biomagnification and Noise Pollution
(i) Human impact: When pathogenic bacteria, viruses, and fungi present in the soil enter the human
body, they cause various diseases. Heavy metals like lead, arsenic, and cadmium present in the soil are
absorbed by plants from the soil. When we consume those plants, the heavy metals enter our bodies.
Lead causes diseases like dyslexia, cadmium causes itai-itai disease, etc. The harmful substances in the
soil are absorbed by plants during respiration and enter their bodies.
(ii) Biomagnification: The process by which the concentration of harmful, non-degradable chemical
substances increases at successive trophic levels in a food chain is called biomagnification. It has been
observed for decades that the concentration of DDT (Dichloro Diphenyl Trichloroethane), a long-lasting
poison, is disproportionately high in the environment. This substance is primarily seen in the main food
chain. DDT is not soluble in water. But it is soluble in fat. So, DDT does not get excreted from any
organism's body. Plants absorb it from the soil, water, or air.
The highly persistent DDT can enter the food chain through phytoplankton. From there, it enters
zooplankton, small fish, large fish, and even fish-eating birds and humans. The concentration of DDT
increases manifold as it moves up the food chain from one trophic level to another. The increase in DDT
concentration as it moves up the food chain is a good example of biomagnification. DDT in water (0.01 ppm)
→ Phytoplankton (0.024 ppm) → Zooplankton (0.123 ppm) → Fish body (1.05-12 ppm) → Human body (100 ppm)
4. Noise Pollution (Noise pollution): Any unpleasant sound that exceeds human tolerance levels or
disrupts normal human activities by creating an adverse effect on the body and mind is called noise
pollution.
(i) Man-made: The sound of various vehicles is a major cause of noise pollution. (ii) Industry: Loud
noises from various factories – engineering workshops, textile mills, printing presses, airplanes, car
horns, etc.
Effects of Noise Pollution and Population
(i) Human and Other Animal Effects: The two main effects of noise pollution on humans are — (a) Effects on
hearing and (b) General effects. A person's hearing organ is the ear. The organ of Corti in the ear can be
permanently damaged by sounds above 100 decibels. Sounds above 160 decibels can cause eardrums to
rupture. (b) General effects: Prolonged exposure to loud noise can lead to various problems like insomnia, high
blood pressure, and increased or decreased heart rate. It can damage red blood cells and also cause mental
instability.
(ii) Other Effects: Besides humans, noise also affects other animals. Many animals get scared by loud noises.
They try to hide. For example, dogs, cats, various species of birds, etc. Their breeding is also affected. Due to
noise pollution from deforestation, many animals move away from human settlements. As a result, we
sometimes cannot hear them. Some species become threatened. Deforestation also reduces the sound
absorption capacity of the environment. Many animals like domestic dogs and cats or birds get scared and may
even die from loud noises from firecrackers.
5.C Environment and Human Population
The word 'population' comes from the Latin word 'Populus'. The word Populus means a group of people.
However, in biology, a population is defined as a group of individuals of a particular species. The growth and
decline of the population of any species of organism, including humans, are accompanied by many characteristic
changes.
Population: A population is a group of organisms of the same species living in a specific geographical area at a
specific time. In other words, a population is the total number of individuals of a particular species in a specific
habitat or ecosystem at a particular time.
Some features of population are:
1. Population Density: The number of individuals of a species per unit area or volume in a specific geographical
region is called population density. For example, in a certain forest, the number of deer per square kilometer is
the population density. Population Density = Total number of individuals / Area in square units or volume
2. Natality (Birth Rate): The process by which new individuals are added to a
population is called natality. In population studies, the number of new
individuals produced in a given period is called natality.
This is expressed by the following formula: N=n/t Where, N = Natality, n =
number of newborns, t = time.
•Maximum Natality: The maximum presence of a sufficient quantity of
resources needed for the survival of organisms in the environment is called
maximum natality.
•Ecological Natality: The actual number of new individuals born in a given
period within a population under real environmental conditions.
3. Mortality (Death Rate): The process by which individuals die in a
population is called mortality or death rate.
Just as natality increases population size, mortality decreases population
size.
Mortality is expressed by the following formula: M=MD/t Where, M =
Mortality, MD = total number of deaths, t = time.
•Ideal Mortality: The death rate of ideal organisms in a pristine environment.
•Ecological Mortality: The death rate of organisms in a real environment.
4. Sex Ratio: The ratio of males to females in a population is called the sex
ratio. This is usually expressed as the number of females per 1000 male
offspring. The sex ratio plays a significant role in the reproductive success of
women (15-45 years).
Problem of Ever Increasing Population (Problem of Ever Increasing Population)
•Over-exploitation and depletion of natural resources: Most natural resources, such as forest
resources, water resources, coal, oil, etc., are being over-exploited and depleted due to the increasing
population. As a result, many forested areas have been cleared for human settlements and agricultural
lands. Many aquatic resources, such as fish, crabs, shrimp, etc., are also being extensively exploited.
Many animal species have been forced into human habitations.
•Deforestation and loss of Ecosystem: Due to increasing population, vast forests are being cleared for
building houses, factories, and other purposes. This has led to the destruction of animal habitats and a
decline in biodiversity.
•Shrinking of agricultural land: As the population grows, agricultural land is being converted into
residential areas, factories, roads, etc. This leads to a decrease in food production and an increase in
food prices.
•Shortage of fresh water: Due to increasing population, various ponds, lakes, and rivers are being
filled up. As a result, there is a severe shortage of fresh water. This also leads to the extinction of many
aquatic organisms.
•Air and water pollution: Population growth is increasing air and water pollution. Due to increasing
industrialization and the number of vehicles, the amount of air pollution is increasing significantly. As
a result, respiratory diseases like pneumonia, bronchitis, emphysema, silicosis, etc., are on the rise.
• Sources of air pollution: Factory waste, chemicals, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide,
nitrogen oxide, lead, mercury, etc., are the main causes of air pollution.
• Sources of water pollution: Factory waste, chemical fertilizers, pesticides, etc., mixed with water pollute
rivers and ponds. Polluted water causes diseases like cholera, typhoid, dysentery, diarrhea, etc. Arsenic
pollution is a major water pollutant. Arsenic-contaminated water causes skin diseases.
•Changes in atmospheric condition and global warming: Excessive population growth has led to various changes in
the atmosphere. The emission of greenhouse gases has caused the earth's temperature to rise. From 1900 to 1950, the
average global temperature rose by 0.5°C, and from 1900 to 2050, it is predicted to rise by 1.0°C. This gradual increase
in the Earth's temperature is called 'Global Warming' by scientists. This results in changes in climate, melting of
glaciers, rising sea levels, and a decrease in agricultural production.
•Destruction of wet land and its reserves: Wetlands are being destroyed to meet the ever-increasing demand for land
due to population growth. As a result, many animals that rely on wetlands for their habitat are becoming endangered.
•Scarcity of food: Due to increasing population, the demand for food is increasing, but agricultural land is decreasing.
As a result, there is a shortage of food. This leads to malnutrition and various diseases due to inadequate food supply.
Environment and Human Health
The impact of human population growth on the environment is profound. This environmental degradation has led to
various diseases in humans such as hepatitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, dysentery, diarrhea, etc. The following are some
of the prominent diseases discussed:
1. Asthma: Asthma is a respiratory disease caused by the contraction of the bronchioles due to the inhalation of dust,
pollen, fungi, smoke, or allergens present in the air. This leads to shortness of breath. Various allergens can trigger
asthma attacks. In this disease, the muscles of the bronchioles contract, and the airways narrow. As a result,
breathing becomes difficult. Patients with asthma often have severe coughs and wheezing, and they cannot lie down
and sleep at night. They need to use an inhaler to breathe easily.
2. Bronchitis: Bronchitis is an inflammation of the bronchial tubes. When harmful substances, chemicals, or infectious
agents enter the bronchial tubes through the air, they cause inflammation. Symptoms include persistent cough,
phlegm, and difficulty breathing. This disease requires prompt antibiotic treatment.
3. Cancer: Cancer is a malignant tumor known as carcinoma (cancer). Any cell that causes cancer is called a carcinogen.
When a non-tumorous, malignant cell forms, it is called cancer. Factors contributing to cancer: Environmental
pollution has a strong correlation with cancer. Pesticides, artificial colors, radioactive substances, etc., can cause
cancer in humans. Smoking can cause lung cancer. Chewing tobacco can cause oral cancer.
•Symptoms of Cancer: Loss of appetite, weight loss, fever, weakness,
swollen lymph nodes, swelling of veins, abnormal bleeding, etc., are
common symptoms of cancer. Metastasis, where cancer cells spread to
other parts of the body, is a major symptom. A cancer cell that undergoes
metastasis is called a metastatic cell. Chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and
surgery are common treatments for cancer.
•Carcinogens and their associated cancers:
•Carcinogen: Asbestos
•Cause of disease: Asbestosis
•Affected organs: Lungs, pleura
•Carcinogen: Benzene
•Cause of disease: Leukemia
•Affected organs: Blood, bone marrow
•Carcinogen: Coal tar
•Cause of disease: Skin cancer
•Affected organs: Skin
•Carcinogen: Cadmium
•Cause of disease: Cadmium disease
•Affected organs: Kidneys, lungs
Important Points:
•Environmental pollution is identified as a "terrible crisis" and a "burning issue" facing modern
civilization.
•Pollution affects nature's three most vital resources: water, air, and soil.
•The text highlights both natural causes (like forest fires, volcanic eruptions) and man-made causes
(like deforestation, growth in population, factories, and vehicles) of pollution.
•It is noted that pollution is rapidly increasing in developing countries like India, not just in
developed nations.
•The crucial need for public awareness is emphasized as essential for combating pollution.
•The definition of environmental pollution by Odum (1933) is provided: It is any undesirable change in
the physical, chemical, and biological properties of air, water, and soil that harms or can harm life,
industrial processes, or cultural and natural assets.
•Pollutants are defined as the substances that cause pollution.
Important Points (Air Pollution):
•Air pollution is defined as the increase in the concentration of solid particles or gases
in the air beyond natural levels, caused by natural or man-made factors.
•Key Pollutants:
• Greenhouse gases: Nitrous oxide (N2O), carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide
(CO2), methane (CH4), and CFCs, mainly from burning fossil fuels.
• SPM (Suspended Particulate Matter): Dust, soot, and smoke particles less than
10µm, which can cause asthma and bronchitis.
•Acid Rain:
• Caused when SO2 and NO2 react with atmospheric water vapor to form ***sulfuric
acid (H2SO4) and nitric acid (HNO3)***.
• Effects: It causes soil erosion, damages forests and vegetation, harms human
health (causing asthma, bronchitis), and damages buildings (a phenomenon called
'stone leprosy' or ***'stone cancer'***).
Important Points (CFCs & Water Pollution):
•Effects of Air Pollution:
• On Lungs: Asthma, emphysema, bronchitis, pneumonia.
• Ozone Layer Depletion: Caused by CFC gases, which leads to harmful UV-ray
exposure, resulting in skin cancer and eye damage.
• SPM causes occupational diseases like silicosis, pneumoconiosis, and
asbestosis.
•Water Pollution is the alteration of water's physical, chemical, and biological
properties, making it harmful.
•Major Causes of Water Pollution:
• Agricultural Waste: Runoff of chemical fertilizers (Ammonia, Urea) and pesticides
(DDT, BHC).
• Domestic Waste: Sewage, wastewater, and garbage containing harmful bacteria.
Important Points (Eutrophication & Soil Pollution):
•Eutrophication: The process where water bodies become overly enriched with nutrients,
particularly from phosphates in fertilizers and detergents.
•This enrichment leads to an ***"algal bloom"***, a rapid growth of algae.
•The decay of these algae depletes oxygen in the water, killing fish and other aquatic life.
•Key Water Quality Indicators:
• BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand): The amount of oxygen needed by microbes to
decompose organic waste. Higher BOD indicates more pollution.
• COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand): The amount of oxygen needed to chemically
oxidize all waste. Higher COD indicates more pollution.
•Soil Pollution is the harmful alteration of soil's properties by contaminants.
•Causes of Soil Pollution:
• Biological Matter: Household waste, industrial waste, and decaying organic matter
that breed germs.
• Chemical Substances: Fertilizers (Ammonia, Urea), pesticides (BHC, DDT), and
herbicides.
Important Points (Biomagnification & Noise Pollution):
•Impact of Soil Pollution on Humans: Pathogens from soil cause disease. Heavy metals like
lead (causes dyslexia) and cadmium (causes itai-itai disease) are absorbed by plants and
enter the human body.
•Biomagnification: The process where the concentration of a persistent, harmful chemical
(like DDT) increases as it moves up through the trophic levels of a food chain.
•DDT is fat-soluble, not water-soluble, so it accumulates in organisms' bodies.
•The text provides a clear example of the DDT concentration increasing from water to
phytoplankton, zooplankton, fish, and finally humans.
•Noise Pollution is defined as any unpleasant or disruptive sound that adversely affects the
body and mind.
•Main Causes:
• Man-made: Sounds from vehicles.
• Industrial: Loud noises from factories, workshops, airplanes, and horns.
Important Points (Noise Pollution & Population):

•Effects of Noise Pollution on Humans:

•Hearing Damage: Sounds above 100 decibels can permanently damage the organ of Corti.
Sounds above 160 decibels can rupture eardrums.
•General Health Effects: Insomnia, high blood pressure, irregular heart rate, and mental
instability.
•Effects on Animals: Noise scares animals, affects their breeding, and can cause them to migrate.
Loud noises from firecrackers can be fatal to pets and birds.
•Population (Definition):
•Derived from the Latin word 'Populus' (a group of people).
•In biology, it is a group of organisms of the same species living in a specific geographical
area at a specific time.
•Population Density: Defined as the number of individuals of a species per unit area or volume.