NAME: DHIRAJ RATHI

COLLEGE UID: 1803

CALCUTTA UNIVERSITY REGISTRATION NUMBER: 017-1111-3141-20

CALCUTTA UNIVERSITY ROLL NUMBER: 201017-22-0099

NAME OF TOPIC: POLLUTION

SHIFT: B.COM [G] EVENING

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 INDEX

S CONTENT Page
No. Number
1 AIR POLLUTION 3
2 WATER POLLUTION 5
3 SOIL POLLUTION 7
4 NOISE POLLUTION 9
5 CONCLUSION 12
6 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT 13
7 BIBLIOGRAPHY 14

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AIR POLLUTION

Air pollution is the presence of substances in the atmosphere that are harmful to the health of humans
and other living beings, or cause damage to the climate or to materials. There are many different types
of air pollutants, such as gases (such as ammonia, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrous oxides,
methane and chlorofluorocarbons), particulates (both organic and inorganic), and biological molecules.
Air pollution may cause diseases, allergies and even death to humans; it may also cause harm to other
living organisms such as animals and food crops, and may damage the natural environment (for
example, climate change, and ozone depletion or habitat degradation) or built environment (for
example, acid rain). Both human activity and natural processes can generate air pollution.

Air pollution is a significant risk factor for a number of pollution-related diseases, including respiratory
infections, heart disease, and COPD, stroke and lung cancer. The human health effects of poor air quality
are far reaching, but principally affect the body's respiratory system and the cardiovascular system.
Individual reactions to air pollutants depend on the type of pollutant a person is exposed to, the degree
of exposure, and the individual's health status and genetics.] Indoor air pollution and poor urban air
quality are listed as two of the worlds worst toxic pollution problems in the 2008 Blacksmith Institute
World's Worst Polluted Places report. Outdoor air pollution alone causes 2.1 to 4.21 million deaths
annually. Overall, air pollution causes the deaths of around 7 million people worldwide each year, and is
the world's largest single environmental health risk. The scope of the air pollution crisis is enormous:
90% of the world's population breathes dirty air to some degree. Although the health consequences are
extensive, the way the problem is handled is often haphazard

Productivity losses and degraded quality of life caused by air pollution are estimated to cost the world
economy $5 trillion per year. Various pollution control technologies and strategies are available to
reduce air pollution. To reduce the impacts of air pollution, both international and national legislation
and regulation have been implemented to regulate air pollution. Local laws where well enforced in cities
have led to strong public health improvements. At the international level some of these efforts have
been successful, for example the Montreal Protocol which successful at reducing release of harmful
ozone depleting chemicals or 1985 Helsinki Protocol which reduced sulfur emissions, while other
attempts have been less rapid in implementation, such as international action on climate change.

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An air pollutant is a material in the air that can have adverse effects on humans and the ecosystem. The
substance can be solid particles, liquid droplets, or gases. A pollutant can be of natural origin or man-
made. Pollutants are classified as primary or secondary. Primary pollutants are usually produced by
processes such as ash from a volcanic eruption. Other examples include carbon monoxide gas from
motor vehicle exhausts or sulfur dioxide released from factories. Secondary pollutants are not emitted
directly. Rather, they form in the air when primary pollutants react or interact. Ground level ozone is a
prominent example of a secondary pollutant. Some pollutants may be both primary and secondary: they
are both emitted directly and formed from other primary pollutants.

Pollutants emitted into the atmosphere by human activity include:

• Carbon dioxide (CO2) – Because of its role as a greenhouse gas it has been described as "the leading
pollutant “and "the worst climate pollutant". Carbon dioxide is a natural component of the atmosphere,
essential for plant life and given off by the human respiratory system. This question of terminology has
practical effects, for example as determining whether the U.S. Clean Air Act is deemed to regulate CO2
emissions. CO2 currently forms about 410 parts per million (pop) of earth's atmosphere, compared to
about 280 pop in pre-industrial times, and billions of metric tons of CO 2 are emitted annually by
burning of fossil fuels. CO 2 increase in earth's atmosphere has been accelerating.

• Sculpture oxides (So) – particularly sulfur dioxide, a chemical compound with the formula SO2. SO2 is
produced by volcanoes and in various industrial processes. Coal and petroleum often contain sulfur
compounds, and their combustion generates sulfur dioxide. Further oxidation of SO2, usually in the
presence of a catalyst such as NO2, forms H2SO4, and thus acid rain is formed. This is one of the causes
for concern over the environmental impact of the use of these fuels as power sources.

• Nitrogen oxides (No) – Nitrogen oxides, particularly nitrogen dioxide, are expelled from high
temperature combustion, and are also produced during thunderstorms by electric discharge. They can
be seen as a brown haze dome above or a plume downwind of cities. Nitrogen dioxide is a chemical
compound with the formula NO2. It is one of several nitrogen oxides. One of the most prominent air
pollutants, this reddish-brown toxic gas has a characteristic sharp, biting odor.

• Carbon monoxide (CO) – CO is a colorless, odorless, toxic gas. It is a product of combustion of fuel such
as natural gas, coal or wood. Vehicular exhaust contributes to the majority of carbon monoxide let into
our atmosphere. It creates a smog type formation in the air that has been linked to many lung diseases
and disruptions to the natural environment and animals.

• Volatile organic compounds (VOC) – VOCs are a well-known outdoor air pollutant. They are
categorized as either methane (CH4) or non-methane (NMVOCs). Methane is an extremely efficient
greenhouse gas which contributes to enhance global warming. Other hydrocarbon VOCs are also
significant greenhouse gases because of their role in creating ozone and prolonging the life of methane
in the atmosphere. This effect varies depending on local air quality. The aromatic NMVOCs benzene,
toluene and xylem are suspected carcinogens and may lead to leukemia with prolonged exposure. 1, 3-
butadiene is another dangerous compound often associated with industrial use..

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WATER POLLUTION

Water pollution (or aquatic pollution) is the contamination of water bodies, usually as a result of human
activities. Water bodies include for example lakes, rivers, oceans, aquifers and groundwater. Water
pollution results when contaminants are introduced into the natural environment. For example,
releasing inadequately treated wastewater into natural water bodies can lead to degradation of aquatic
ecosystems. In turn, this can lead to public health problems for people living downstream. They may use
the same polluted river water for drinking or bathing or irrigation. Water pollution is the leading
worldwide cause of death and disease, e.g. due to water-borne diseases.

Water pollution can be classified as surface water or groundwater pollution. Marine pollution and
nutrient pollution are subsets of water pollution. Sources of water pollution are either point sources or
non-point sources. Point sources have one identifiable cause of the pollution, such as a storm drain or a
wastewater treatment plant. Non-point sources are more diffuse, such as agricultural runoff. Pollution is
the result of the cumulative effect over time. All plants and organisms living in or being exposed to
polluted water bodies can be impacted. The effects can damage individual species and impact the
natural biological communities they are part of.

The causes of water pollution include a wide range of chemicals and pathogens as well as physical
parameters. Contaminants may include organic and inorganic substances. Elevated temperatures can
also lead to polluted water. A common cause of thermal pollution is the use of water as a coolant by
power plants and industrial manufacturers. Elevated water temperatures decrease oxygen levels, which
can kill fish and alter food chain composition, reduce species biodiversity, and foster invasion by new
thermopile species.

Water pollution is measured by analyzing water samples. Physical, chemical and biological tests can be
conducted. Control of water pollution requires appropriate infrastructure and management plans. The
infrastructure may include wastewater treatment plants. Sewage treatment plants and industrial
wastewater treatment plants are usually required to protect water bodies from untreated wastewater.
Agricultural wastewater treatment for farms and erosion control at construction sites can also help
prevent water pollution. Nature-based solutions are another approach to prevent water pollution.
Effective control of urban runoff includes reducing speed and quantity of flow. In the United States, best
management practices for water pollution include approaches to reduce the quantity of water and
improve water quality.

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Marine pollution

One common path of entry by contaminants to the sea is rivers. An example is directly discharging
sewage and industrial waste into the ocean. Pollution such as this occurs particularly in developing
nations. In fact, the 10 largest emitters of oceanic plastic pollution worldwide are, from the most to the
least, China, Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Egypt, Malaysia, Nigeria, and
Bangladesh, largely through the rivers Yangtze, Indus, Yellow, Hay, Nile, Ganges, Pearl, Amur, Niger, and
the Mekong, and accounting for "90 percent of all the plastic that reaches the world's oceans.

Large gyres (vortexes) in the oceans trap floating plastic debris. Plastic debris can absorb toxic chemicals
from ocean pollution, potentially poisoning any creature that eats it. Many of these long-lasting pieces
end up in the stomachs of marine birds and animals. This results in obstruction of digestive pathways,
which leads to reduced appetite or even starvation.

There are a variety of secondary effects stemming not from the original pollutant, but a derivative
condition. An example is silt-bearing surface runoff, which can inhibit the penetration of sunlight
through the water column, hampering photosynthesis in aquatic plants.

Groundwater pollution

Interactions between groundwater and surface water are complex. Consequently, groundwater
pollution, also referred to as groundwater contamination, is not as easily classified as surface water
pollution. By its very nature, groundwater aquifers are susceptible to contamination from sources that
may not directly affect surface water bodies. The distinction of point vs. non-point source may be
irrelevant in some situations.

Analysis of groundwater contamination may focus on soil characteristics and site geology, hydrogeology,
hydrology, and the nature of the contaminants. Causes of groundwater pollution include: naturally-
occurring (eugenic), on-site sanitation systems, sewage, fertilizers and pesticide, commercial and
industrial leaks, hydraulic fracturing, landfill leach ate.

SOIL POLLUTION

Soil contamination or soil pollution as part of land degradation is caused by the presence of xenobiotics
(human-made) chemicals or other alteration in the natural soil environment. It is typically caused by
industrial activity, agricultural chemicals or improper disposal of waste. The most common chemicals
involved are petroleum hydrocarbons, polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (such as naphthalene and
benzoic (a) pyrite), solvents, pesticides, lead, and other heavy metals. Contamination is correlated with
the degree of industrialization and intensity of chemical substance. The concern over soil contamination
stems primarily from health risks, from direct contact with the contaminated soil, vapor from the
contaminants, or from secondary contamination of water supplies within and underlying the soil.
Mapping of contaminated soil sites and the resulting cleanups are time-consuming and expensive tasks,
requiring extensive amounts of geology, hydrology, chemistry, computer modeling skills, and GIS in
Environmental Contamination, as well as an appreciation of the history of industrial chemistry.

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In North America and Western Europe the extent of contaminated land is best known, with many of
countries in these areas having a legal framework to identify and deal with this environmental problem.
Developing countries tend to be less tightly regulated despite some of them having undergone
significant industrialization. Soil pollution is the removal of useful substances from the soil or the
addition of harmful substances to it. Garbage, cotton clothes, newspapers, trees waste, are the causes
of soil pollution. Plastic, glasses and metal objects may also cause soil pollution.

Causes

Soil pollution can be caused by the following (non-exhaustive list)

• Micro plastics

• Oil spills

• Mining and activities by other heavy industries

• Accidental spills may happen during activities, etc.

• Corrosion of underground storage tanks (including piping used to transmit the contents)

• Acid rain

• Intensive farming

• Agrochemicals, such as pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers

• Petrochemicals

• Industrial accidents

• Road debris

• Drainage of contaminated surface water into the soil

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• Ammunitions, chemical agents, and other agents of war

• Waste disposal

o Oil and fuel dumping

o Nuclear wastes
o Direct discharge of industrial wastes to the soil
o Discharge of sewage
o Landfill and illegal dumping
o Coal ash
o Electronic waste
o Contaminated by rocks containing large amounts of toxic elements.
o Contaminated by BP due to vehicle exhaust, Co, and Zn caused by tire wear.
o Contamination by strengthening air pollutants by incineration of fossil raw materials.

The most common chemicals involved are petroleum hydrocarbons, solvents, pesticides, lead, and other
heavy metals.

Any activity that leads to other forms of soil degradation (erosion, compaction, etc.) may indirectly
worsen the contamination effects in that soil remediation becomes more tedious.

Historical deposition of coal ash used for residential, commercial, and industrial heating, as well as for
industrial processes such as ore smelting, were a common source of contamination in areas that were
industrialized before about 1960. Coal naturally concentrates lead and zinc during its formation, as well
as other heavy metals to a lesser degree. When the coal is burned, most of these metals become
concentrated in the ash (the principal exception being mercury). Coal ash and slag may contain sufficient
lead to qualify as a "characteristic hazardous waste", defined in the US as containing more than 5 mg/l
of extractable lead using the TCLP procedure. In addition to lead, coal ash typically contains variable but
significant concentrations of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs; e.g., benzoic(a)anthracite,
benzoic(b)fluoranthene, benzoic(k)fluoranthene, indene(cod) Pyrenees, phenanthrene, anthracite, and
others). These PAHs are known human carcinogens and the acceptable concentrations of them in soil
are typically around 1 mg/kg. Coal ash and slag can be recognized by the presence of off-white grains in
soil, gray heterogeneous soil, or (coal slag) bubbly, vesicular pebble-sized grains.

Treated sewage sludge, known in the industry as bios lids, has become controversial as a "fertilizer". As
it is the byproduct of sewage treatment, it generally contains more contaminants such as organisms,
pesticides, and heavy metals than other soil.

In the European Union, the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive allows sewage sludge to be
sprayed onto land. The volume is expected to double to 185,000 tons of dry solids in 2005. This has good
agricultural properties due to the high nitrogen and phosphate content. In 1990/1991, 13% wet weight
was sprayed onto 0.13% of the land; however, this is expected to rise 15 fold by 2005.[needs update]
Advocates[who?] say there is a need to control this so that pathogenic microorganisms do not get into
water courses and to ensure that there is no accumulation of heavy metals in the top soil.

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NOISE POLLUTION

Noise pollution, also known as environmental noise or sound pollution, is the propagation of noise with
ranging impacts on the activity of human or animal life, most of them harmful to a degree. The source of
outdoor noise worldwide is mainly caused by machines, transport
transport, and propagation ion system.
syste Poor urban
planning may give rise to noise disintegration or pollution, side
side-by-side
side industrial and residential
buildings can result in noise pollution in the residential areas. Some of tthe
he main sources of noise in
residential areas include loud music, transportation (traffic, rail, airplanes, etc.), lawn care maintenance,
construction, electrical generators, explosions, and people.

Documented problems associated with noise in urban enviro

environments go back
ack as far as ancient Rome.
Today, the average noise level of 98 decibels (dB) exceeds the WHO value of 50 dB aallowed
llowed for
residential areas. Research suggests that noise pollution the United States is the highest in low-income
low
and racial minority neighborhoods, and noise pollution associated with household electricity generators
is an emerging environmental degradation in many developing nations.

High noise levels can contribute to cardiovascular effects in humans and an increased incidence
incid of
coronary artery disease. In animals, noise can increase the risk of death by altering predator or prey
detection and avoidance, interfere with reproduction and navigation, and contribu
contribute to permanent
hearing loss. A substantial amount of the noise that humans produce occurs in the ocean. Up until
recently, most research on noise impacts has been focused on marine mammals, and to a lesser degree,
fish. In the past few years, scientists have shifted to conducting studies on invertebra
invertebrates
tes and their
responses to anthropogenic sounds in the marine environment. This research is essential, especially
considering that invertebrates make up 75% of marine species, and thus compose a large percentage
pe of
ocean food webs. Of the studies that have been conducted, a sizable variety in families of invertebrates
have been represented in the research. A variation in the complexity of their sensory systems exists,
which allows scientists to study a range of characteristics and develop a better under
understanding
standing of
anthropogenic noise impacts on living organisms.

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Humans

Main article: Health effects from noise

Noise pollution affects both health and behavior. Unwanted sound (noise) can damage physiological
health. Noise pollution is associated with several health conditions, including cardiovascular disorders,
hypertension, high stress levels, tinnitus, hearing loss, sleep disturbances, and other harmful and
disturbing effects. According to a 2019 review of the existing literature, noise pollution was associated
with faster cognitive decline.

Across Europe, according to the European Environment Agency, an estimated 113 million people are
affected by road traffic noise levels above 55 decibels, the threshold at which noise becomes harmful to
human health by the WHO's definition.

Sound becomes unwanted when it either interferes with normal activities such as sleep or conversation,
or disrupts or diminishes one's quality of life. Noise-induced hearing loss can be caused by prolonged
exposure to noise levels above 85 A-weighted decibels. A comparison of Maben tribesmen, who were
insignificantly exposed to transportation or industrial noise, to a 10 typical U.S. population showed that
chronic exposure to moderately high levels of environmental noise contributes to hearing loss.

Noise exposure in the workplace can also contribute to noise-induced hearing loss and other health
issues. Occupational hearing loss is one of the most common work-related illnesses in the U.S. and
worldwide.

It is less clear how humans adapt to noise subjectively. Tolerance for noise is frequently independent of
decibel levels. Murray Schafer's sounds cape research was groundbreaking in this regard. In his work, he
makes compelling arguments about how humans relate to noise on a subjective level, and how such
subjectivity is conditioned by culture. Schafer also notes that sound is an expression of power, and as
such, material culture (e.g., fast cars or Harley Davidson motorcycles with aftermarket pipes) tend to
have louder engines not only for safety reasons, but for expressions of power by dominating the sounds
cape with a particular sound. Other key research in this area can be seen in Fong's comparative analysis
of sounds cape differences between Bangkok, Thailand and Los Angeles, California, US. Based on
Schafer's research, Fong's study showed how sounds capes differ based on the level of urban
development in the area. He found that cities in the periphery have different sounds capes than inner
city areas. Fong's findings tie not only sounds cape appreciation to subjective views of sound, but also
demonstrates how different sounds of the sounds cape are indicative of class differences in urban
environments.

Noise pollution can have negative effects on adults and children on the autistic spectrum. Those with
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) can have hyperacusis, which is an abnormal sensitivity to sound. People
with ASD who experience hyperacusis may have unpleasant emotions, such as fear and anxiety, and
uncomfortable physical sensations in noisy environments with loud sounds. This can cause individuals
with ASD to avoid environments with noise pollution, which in turn can result in isolation and negatively

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affect their quality of life. Sudden explosive noises typical of high-performance car exhausts and car
alarms are types of noise pollution that can affect people with ASD.

While the elderly may have cardiac problems due to noise, according to the World Health Organization,
children are especially vulnerable to noise, and the effects that noise has on children may be
permanent. Noise poses a serious threat to a child's physical and psychological health, and may
negatively interfere with a child's learning and behavior.

Sound is the primary way many marine organisms learn about their environment. For example, many
species of marine mammals and fish use sound as their primary means of navigating, communicating,
and foraging. Anthropogenic noise can have a detrimental effect on animals, increasing the risk of death
by changing the delicate balance in predator or prey detection and avoidance, and interfering with the
use of the sounds in communication, especially in relation to reproduction, and in navigation and
echolocation. These effects then may alter more interactions within a community through indirect
("domino") effects. Acoustic overexposure can lead to temporary or permanent loss of hearing.

European robins living in urban environments are more likely to sing at night in places with high levels of
noise pollution during the day, suggesting that they sing at night because it is quieter, and their message
can propagate through the environment more clearly. The same study showed that daytime noise was a
stronger predictor of nocturnal singing than night-time light pollution, to which the phenomenon often
is attributed. Anthropogenic noise reduced the species richness of birds found in geotropically urban
parks.

Zebra finches become less faithful to their partners when exposed to traffic noise. This could alter a
population's evolutionary trajectory by selecting traits, sapping resources normally devoted to other
activities and thus leading to profound genetic and evolutionary consequences.

Underwater noise pollution due to human activities is also prevalent in the sea, and given that sound
travels faster through water than through air, is a major source of disruption of marine ecosystems and
does significant harm to sea life, including marine mammals, fish and invertebrates. The principal
anthropogenic noise sources come from merchant ships, naval sonar operations, underwater explosions
(nuclear), and seismic exploration by oil and gas industries. Cargo ships generate high levels of noise due
to propellers and diesel engines. This noise pollution significantly raises the low-frequency ambient
noise levels above those caused by wind. Animals such as whales that depend on sound for
communication can be affected by this noise in various ways. Higher ambient noise levels also cause
animals to vocalize more loudly, which is called the Lombard effect. Researchers have found that
humpback whales' song lengths were longer when low-frequency sonar was active nearby.

Noise pollution may have caused the death of certain species of whales that beached themselves after
being exposed to the loud sound of military sonar. (See also Marine mammals and sonar) Even marine
invertebrates, such as crabs (Carbines maenads), have been shown to be negatively affected by ship
noise. Larger crabs were noted to be negatively affected more by the sounds than smaller crabs.
Repeated exposure to the sounds did lead to acclimatization.

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Conclusion

It was a wonderful and learning experience for me while working on this project. Much is being
done by pollutants .There are various types of pollution and its causes. The problem is diverse and some
are only being recognized but it is important to keep a close control over pollutants so that we can
maintain the environment in an acceptable condition for future generation.

I enjoyed each and every bit of work I had put into this project.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to express my special thanks of gratitude to my teacher as well as our principal who gave me
the opportunity to do this wonderful project on the topic pollution which also helped me in doing a lot
of research and I came to know about so many new things.

I am really thankful to them .secondly I would also like to thank my parents and friends who helped me
a lot in finalizing this project within the limited time frame.

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BIBLIOGRAPHY

www.google.com

www.wikipedia.com

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