Introduction

Environment is an essential element in the lives of humans. Destruction of

environment can affect the livelihood of the people. Environmental laws are
essential to protect the environment from exploitation of man-made
activities. It ensures and provides guidelines to the people on conducting
activities that might harm the environment. The laws are amended
according to the problems faced by the country. Environment laws are not
constant, they are evolving concept. The legislation and judiciary has
contributed and shown great concern regarding environmental laws by
passing important legislations and landmark judgements respectively.
Before looking into the legislations enacted under environmental laws, let
us try to understand the meaning of environment.

Meaning of Environment
The term environment is derived from a French word ‘Environia” which
means to surround. In other words environment can be defined as the sum
total of all the living and non-living things and their effects that influence
human life.

The environment has been defined as that outer physical and biological
system in which man and other organisms live as a whole. Human
environment consists of both physical environment and biological
environment. Physical environment covers land, water and air. Biological
environment includes plants, animals and other organisms.

Environmental Protection Act, 1986:- Section 2(a) states that environment

includes water, air and land and the inter-relationship which exists among
and between water, air and land, and human beings, other living creatures,
plants and property.

It includes the complex physical, chemical and biological factors

surrounding an organism or an ecological community. Such factors act and
interact with various species and organisms to affect their form, growth
and survival. Any unfavourable alteration of this environment is called
environmental pollution. Air, water, land, radiation and thermal are the
common type of pollution.

Obviously, the “Environment” comprises all entities, living and non-living,

natural or man-made, external to oneself, and their interrelationships, which
provide value, now or perhaps in the future, to humankind. Environmental
concerns relate to their degradation through actions of humans.In layman’s
words, environment refers to the physical elements. It includes the land,
water and air. It is the living ecosystem that maintains the existence of
human life. Destruction of the environment can lead to various calamities.
In order to prevent such disaster or calamities, laws are implemented to
protect the environment for the livelihood of present and future generations

The goals of the Environmental policy may be formulated in several ways -

to protect human health, ensure viability of wild life, preservation of historic
monuments, stopping further degradation of the environment etc.

Environmental Pollution
The term 'pollution' emerges from the Latin word "Polluere," denoting the
act of polluting any aspect of the environment. Environmental pollution
takes place when any component is unveiled into the environment,
humiliating its property to a point where it becomes inappropriate for
human habitation. Various forms of environmental pollution involve air
pollution, water pollution, noise pollution, and more.

As per Section 2(c) of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986,

“environmental pollution means the presence in the environment of any
environmental harmful agent”.

Pollutants can exist as liquids, solids, or gases. A substance becomes a

pollutant when its concentration exceeds its natural abundance, and this
increase in concentration is caused by either human activities or natural
phenomena. Pollutants can be degraded and rapidly broken down by
natural processes similar to vegetable degradation. We also have
pollutants that take decades to degrade and, once released, are difficult to
remove. DDT, plastics, heavy metals, and nuclear waste are a few examples.

Pollutions refer to imbalance caused in the environment through the

actions of humans. This imbalance can lead to health-related issues which
can affect the future generations. It is caused by man-made activities. It is
necessary to protect the environment because the present generations are
mere care-takers of the future generations. It is their responsibility to give
the earth to the future in a proper and healthy manner.

Kinds of pollution
Air Pollution
The release of pollutants into the atmosphere that are harmful to human
health and the environment, such as gases, particles, biological molecules,
and so on, is referred to as air pollution.

The atmosphere contains a certain percentage of gases. A change in the

composition of these gases is hazardous to survival. The earth’s
temperature has risen as a result of this imbalance in the gaseous
composition, a phenomenon known as global warming.

Types of Air Pollutants

There are two types of air pollutants:

 Primary Pollutants: Primary pollutants are those that directly

contribute to air pollution. Factory-emitted sulphur dioxide is a
primary pollutant.

 Secondary Pollutants: Secondary pollutants are those that are formed

as a result of the mixing and reaction of primary pollutants. Smog is a
secondary pollutant caused by the mixing of smoke and fog.
Causes of Air Pollution
The following are the major causes of air pollution.

1. Burning of Fossil Fuels: The combustion of fossil fuels produces a

significant amount of sulphur dioxide. Carbon monoxide pollution is
caused by the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels.

2. Automobiles: Polluting the environment are the gases emitted by

vehicles such as jeeps, trucks, cars, and buses. These are the major
sources of greenhouse gases, as well as the causes of disease in
humans.

3. Agricultural Activities: Ammonia is one of the most dangerous gases

produced by agricultural activities. Insecticides, pesticides, and
fertilizers release hazardous chemicals into the atmosphere,
contaminating it.

4. Factories and Industries: Carbon monoxide, organic compounds,

hydrocarbons, and chemicals are primarily produced in factories and
industries. These are emitted into the atmosphere, degrading its
quality.

5. Domestic Sources: Toxic chemicals are released into the air by

household cleaning products and paints. The odour emanating from
freshly painted walls is the odour of the chemicals present in the
paints. It not only pollutes the air, but it also has an impact on
breathing.

Effects of Air Pollution

1. Diseases: Humans have developed a variety of respiratory and

cardiovascular diseases as a result of air pollution. Lung cancer has
become more common in recent decades. Children who live near
polluted areas are more likely to develop pneumonia and asthma.
Every year, many people die as a result of the direct or indirect effects
 of air pollution.

2. Global Warming: The gaseous composition of the air is unbalanced

as a result of greenhouse gas emissions. As a result, the Earth’s
temperature has risen. This rise in the Earth’s temperature is referred
to as global warming. As a result, glaciers have melted, and sea levels
have risen. Many areas are completely submerged underwater.

3. Acid Rain: The combustion of fossil fuels emits harmful gases into
the atmosphere, such as nitrogen oxides and sulphur oxides. When
water droplets combine with pollutants, they become acidic and fall
as acid rain, causing harm to human, animal, and plant life.

4. Ozone Layer Depletion: The main cause of ozone layer depletion is

the release of chlorofluorocarbons, halons, and
hydrochlorofluorocarbons into the atmosphere. The depleting ozone
layer does not protect people from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays,
which cause skin diseases and eye problems.

5. Effect on Animals: Air pollutants settle on bodies of water and harm

aquatic life. Animals are also forced to leave their natural habitats
due to pollution. This causes them to become stray and has also
resulted in the extinction of a large number of animal species.

Water Pollution
Water pollution is defined as the contamination of bodies of water. Water
pollution occurs when rivers, lakes, oceans, groundwater, and aquifers
become contaminated with industrial and agricultural effluents.

When water becomes polluted, it has a negative impact on all lifeforms that
rely on it, whether directly or indirectly. The consequences of water
contamination can be felt for many years.

Causes Of Water Pollution: Water pollution is caused by urbanisation,

deforestation, industrial effluents, detergent and fertilizer use, and
agricultural run-offs are all examples of pollution.

Effects Of Water Pollution

The impact of water pollution is determined by the type and concentration
of pollutants. The location of water bodies is also an important factor in
determining pollution levels.

1. Water bodies in close proximity to urban areas are highly polluted.

This is the result of industrial and commercial establishments
dumping garbage and toxic chemicals.

2. Water pollution has a significant impact on aquatic life. It has an

effect on their metabolism and behaviour, as well as causing illness
and death. Dioxin is a chemical that causes a variety of issues,
ranging from reproductive issues to uncontrolled cell growth and
cancer. This chemical builds up in seafood, poultry, and meat.
Chemicals like this make their way up the food chain before entering
the human body.

3. Water pollution has the potential to have a significant impact on the

food chain. It upsets the food chain. Cadmium and lead are two toxic
substances that enter the food chain via animals (fish when
consumed by animals and humans) and can continue to disrupt at
higher levels.

4. Pollution affects humans, and faecal matter in water sources can

cause diseases such as hepatitis. Poor drinking water treatment and
contaminated water can always lead to an outbreak of infectious
diseases like cholera.

5. Because of water pollution, the ecosystem can be severely harmed,

altered, and destructured.
 Soil Pollution
Soil pollution is the contamination of soil with abnormally high levels of
toxic substances.

It is a major environmental concern because it poses numerous health

risks. Exposure to soil containing high concentrations of benzene, for
example, increases the risk of developing leukaemia. Xenobiotics, which
are substances that do not occur naturally in nature but are synthesized by
humans, are among the most dangerous soil pollutants. Several
xenobiotics have been identified as carcinogens.

The following are the various types of pollutants found in contaminated soil:

1. Heavy Metals: Heavy metals (such as lead and mercury in abnormally

high concentrations) in soils can cause them to become highly toxic
to humans. These metals can come from a variety of sources,
including mining, agriculture, electronic waste (e-waste), and medical
waste.

2. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons: They are organic compounds with

only carbon and hydrogen atoms and multiple aromatic rings in their
chemical structures. Naphthalene, anthracene, and phenalene are
three examples. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon exposure has been
linked to several types of cancer. These organic compounds have
also been linked to cardiovascular disease in humans. Soil pollution
caused by PAHs can be traced back to coke (coal) processing,
vehicle emissions, cigarette smoke, and shale oil extraction.

3. Industrial Waste: The discharge of industrial waste into the soil can
pollute the soil.

Noise Pollution
Noise is an unpleasant and unwelcome sound that causes human
discomfort.
The volume of a sound is measured in decibels (dB). The human ear can
detect the faintest sound at 1 Db. As civilizations’ populations have grown,
noise pollution has become a concern. Among the major causes are
vehicles, aircraft, industrial machines, loudspeakers, crackers, and other
similar devices. Other appliances, such as televisions, transistors, radios,
and so on, contribute to noise pollution when used at high volumes.

Types of Noise Pollution

1. Transport Noise: It primarily consists of traffic noise, which has
increased in recent years as the number of vehicles has increased.
Noise pollution causes deafness in the elderly, headaches,
hypertension, and other health problems.

2. Neighbourhood Noise: The sound of gadgets, household utensils, and

so on. Musical instruments, transistors, loudspeakers, and other
electronic devices are some of the most common sources.

3. Industrial Noise: It is the high-intensity sound produced by heavy

industrial machines. Many studies have found that industrial noise
pollution reduces hearing ability by around 20%.

Causes and Sources of Noise Pollution

1. Industrialisation: Industrialisation has resulted in an increase in noise
pollution due to the use of heavy machinery such as generators, mills,
and massive exhaust fans, which produce unwanted noise.

2. Vehicles: The second cause of noise pollution is an increase in the

number of vehicles on the road.

3. Events: Loudspeakers are used to play music at weddings and public

gatherings, causing unwanted noise in the neighbourhood.

4. Construction sites: Noise pollution is exacerbated by mining and

 building construction.

Effects of Environmental Pollution

Pollutants have been observed to originate at one location and then be
transported to other locations by the action of wind or water. Humans
release some pollutants into the environment. This results in pollution of
the air, water, and soil. If the soil becomes polluted, the beneficial
microorganisms that live in it will die, and the soil’s fertility will be lost. Crop
production will be reduced. It will have a negative impact on human society
if the soil is not fertile.

Similarly, if water is contaminated, we must purify it before drinking.

Purification necessitates resources. Finally, if the air is polluted, breathing
becomes difficult, and life’s survival is jeopardized. Air pollution causes a
wide range of respiratory diseases and harms the human body.
Environmental pollution has a negative impact on life on Earth and should
be reduced as much as possible. We harm nature and nature, in turn, will
harm us even more. This must be stopped; our survival is dependent on the
environment, so care of must be taken to ensure that its balance is
maintained.