ENVIRONMENTAL

POLLUTION

Pollution
Pollution is the introduction of contaminants
into an environment that causes instability,
disorder, harm or discomfort to the ecosystem .

Types of pollution

Air pollution
Water pollution
Land or soil pollution
Noise pollution
Thermal pollution
Marine pollution
Nuclear pollution

AIR POLLUTION
Air pollution is the presence of
contaminants in atmosphere in
quantities such that it is injurious to
human, plant animal life and property.
Sources of air pollution :
Natural sources : Volcanic eruption,
forest fires, biological decay.
Manmade sources :thermal power plant
,fuel burning, agriculture activities.

Classification of Air pollutants:

1.Primary air pollutants: CO,NO & SO2.

Emitted directly in the atmosphere.
INDOOR AIR POLLUTANTS:

Radon gas emitted from building materials like

bricks,concrete,tiles etc.,
It is present in natural gas and ground water.
burning of fuel in the kitchen,cigaratte, smoke.
2.Secondary air pollutants:HNO3,H2SO4
Primary pollutant may react with one another
to form new pollutants.

Sulphur dioxide:
The combustion of sulphur containing fuels
such as coal and oil.
It can be converted into sulphuric acid.
Human Sources :
Coal burning in power plant (88%)
Industrial processes (10%)
Environmental effects :
In humans : it causes eye irritation, cough,
lung diseases including lung cancer and
asthma
In plants: it causes damage of leaves,
bleaching of chlorophyll which turns leaves
brown, damage to crops and to growth of
plants.

Oxides of nitrogen (NOx)

Nitric oxide, nitrogen dioxide and nitrous
oxide are the three main oxides of nitrogen
found in the atmosphere
Sources:
The sources for the oxides of nitrogen are:
Bacterial decomposition of nitrogenous
compounds
Combustion during lightning : During lightning,
oxygen and nitrogen in the atmosphere combine
to give oxides of nitrogen.
Industries and automobile exhaust - Air is sucked
into the IC engines. At high temperatures,
nitrogen and oxygen in the air combine to form
nitric oxide.

Effects:
The oxides of nitrogen combine with
moisture in the atmosphere to form nitrous and
nitric acid. This leads to increase in the acidity of
rain water.
Formation of photochemical smog: oxides
of nitrogen combine with hydrocarbons present
in the atmosphere forming peroxyacyl nitrate.
Control:
Using catalytic converter in automobiles,
Catalytic converters use Pt/ Rh catalyst. the
presence of these catalysts, the oxides of
nitrogen are converted to nitrogen and oxygen .
2NOx ---- N2 + x O2

Carbon monoxide
Sources:
Cigarette smoking,incomplete burning of
fuels.
Automobile exhaust- carbon monoxide is
formed during the combustion of fuel such
as petrol.(77%)
Industries: carbon monoxide is released by
industries such as iron and steel and
petroleum .
CO2 + C ------- 2CO
2CO2

--------- 2CO + O2

Effects:
In humans:
When the atmosphere is polluted with
carbon monoxide, on inhalation, CO
combines with the hemoglobin to form
car boxy hemoglobin and hence oxygen
carrying capacity of the blood
decreases.
This causes, headache, dizziness,
unconsciousness.
When inhaled for a long duration it may
cause even death.
In environment : it increase globe temp.

Lead pollutant:
Sources:
The exhaust from automobiles which
use lead tetraethyl as antiknocking agent.
Paint pigments : Litharge and red lead (
oxides of lead ) and lead chromate are
used as pigments. These cause lead
pollution.
Effects:
It leads to anaemia and blood cancer in
human beings.
Lead enters the blood and various organs
of the body including the brain and the
Kidneys leading to dysfunction of the

Control of air pollution

Source Control:
Use only unleaded petrol.
Use petroleum products and other fuels
that have low sulphur and ash
content.
Reduce the no. of private vehicles
Ensure the houses, schools are not
located on busy streets.
Plant trees along busy streets to
reduce particulates, CO and noise.
Industries should be situated outside
the city
Use catalytic converters to control CO
&hydrocarbons

Control measures in industries

The emission rates should be

restricted to permissible levels by
industries.
Air pollution control equipments
must be made mandatory.
Continuous monitoring of the
atmosphere for the pollutants,
to know the pollution levels.

EQUIPMENTS USED TO CONTROL

AIR POLLUTION
Use sufficient supply of oxygen in
combustion chamber, so that the
combustion is complete.
Use mechanical devices such as
scrubbers, cyclones, bag houses and
electro-static precipitators to reduce
particulate pollutants

Electrostatic precipitator

Bag house filter/cyclone separator

Wet scrubber

WATER POLLUTION

Any alteration in physical,

chemical or biological properties of water, as well as the
addition of any foreign substance makes it unfit for health and
which decreases the utility of water, is known as water pollution.
Definition of effluent: Liquid waste flowing out of a factory,
farm, commercial establishment, or a household into a water body
such as a river, lake, etc.,

Main sources of water pollution are:

Domestic and municipal sewage
Industrial waste
Agricultural waste
Radioactive materials, etc.,
POINT AND NONPOINT SOURCES
Two types of water pollutants exist;
Point source
Point sources of pollution occur when
harmful substances are emitted directly
into water.
e.g.,Oil spill
Nonpoint source.
A non-point source delivers pollutants
indirectly through environmental changes.
e.g., Fertilizer from a field is carried into
a stream by rain

Point Sources

Non Point Sources

Types of pollutant:
1.Infectious agents: Bacteria, viruses, protozoa
source : animal waste.
Effect : variety of diseases
2.Oxygen demanding waste:
Dissolved oxygen (DO) is the amount of oxygen
dissolved in given quantity of water at a particular
P and T. The saturation point 8-15mg/lit.
Sources: Sewage, paper waste, food processing
waste.
Effects: affect to water quality, affect fish survival
and migration.

3.Inorganic chemicals : Acids, pb, arsenic, selenium,

sodium chloride and fluorides.
Causes : surface runoff, effluents
Effects: Cause skin cancer, damage nervous
system,harm to fish and aquatic life, lower crop
yields.
4.Organic chemicals:Oil, gasoline,plastics,
solvents ,detergents.
Causes: Industrial efflents, surface runoff forms.
Effects: Causing effect nervous system ,cancer, harm
fish and wild life.

5.Plant nutrients:
Nitrate, phosphate and ammonium ions
Causes: sewage, runoff water from
agriculture,fertillizer.
Effects: Excessive growth of algae, lower the oxygen
carrying capacity.
6.Sediment: Soil
Causes: Land erosion.
Effects: Can reduce photosynthesis, Affect aquatic
food webs.

Sewage treatment
In primary treatment, the suspended solids
and floating objects are removed using coarse
screens and sieves.
In secondary treatment, the maximum
proportions of the suspended inorganic/
organic solids are removed from the liquid
sewage. The liquid material passes into the
sedimentation tank and finely suspended
particles are allowed to settle by adding
coagulants like Alum.

Tertiary treatment
Remove detergents, metal ions,
nitrates and pesticides, as these are
not removed in the earlier treatments.
The phosphates are removed as
calcium phosphates by adding
calcium hydroxide at pH 10-11. At this
pH, ammonium salts are also
converted into ammonia.
The effluent is chlorinated to
remove pathogenic bacteria's and
finally passed through activated
charcoal to absorb gases.

Control of water pollution:

Avoid Pesticides and fertilizers on sloped land
areas.
The nutrient rich water can be used as fertilizer in
the fields.
Separate drainage of sewage and rain water should
be provided to prevent overflow of sewage with
rain water.
Planting more trees.
Use nitrogen fixing plants to supplement the use of
fertilizers.

SOIL POLLUTION
Soil pollution is caused by the presence of humanmade chemicals or other alteration in the natural soil
environment.

This type of contamination typically

arises from,

Application of pesticides and fertilizers

Percolation of contaminated surface
water to
subsurface strata, oil and fuel
dumping.
Discharge of industrial wastes to the soil.
The most common chemicals involved are
petroleum hydrocarbons, solvents,
pesticides, lead and other heavy metals.

Effects of soil pollution:

Chronic exposure to chromium, lead and
other metals, petroleum, solvents, and
many pesticide and herbicide formulations
can be carcinogenic.
Chronic exposure to benzene leads to
leukemia.(blood cancer)
Mercury and cyclodienes are known to
induce higher incidences of kidney damage.
Sewage sludge has many types of bacteria,
viruses and worms which cause types of
diseases and also emits toxic vapours.

 Radioactive fallout cause abnormalities

.eg., Strontium-90 instead of calcium
gets deposited in the bones.
Soil contaminants can have significant
deleterious consequences for
ecosystems.
Effects occur to agricultural lands
which have certain types of soil
contamination.
Alteration of metabolism of endemic
microorganisms.

 N & P from fertilizer in soil reach water

bodies with agricultural runoff cause
Eutrophication.
Chemicals contaminates ground water
resources.
Acids, alkalis, heavy metals affect soil
fertility.
Inhibit non target organism like flora,fauna
and soil productivity.

Control of soil pollution :

Effluents should be properly treated
before discharging on the soil.
Solid waste should be properly
collected and disposed off by
appropriate method.
From the waste, recovery of useful
products should be done.
Cattle dung should be used for
methane generation.
Microbial degradation of biodegradable
substance for reducing soil pollution.

NOISE
POLLUTION
Definition: Noise Pollution can be defied as
unwanted or unpleasant sounds that causes
discomfort for all living things.
The various sources of noises are associated with
urban development; road-air and rail transport;
Industrial noise.
In our country, indiscriminate use of loud
speakers, generator sets and firecrackers has
given new dimensions to the noise pollution
problem.
The commonly used parameter for noise is the
sound level in decibel(dB). Human ears are
sensitive in the frequency range of 20Hz to
20000Hz

Major Noise Sources:

1. Road Traffic:
Road traffic noise is one of
the most widespread and growing
environmental problems in urban area. The
impact of road traffic noise on the community
depends an various factors such as road
location and design, land use planning
measures, building design, Vehicle standards
and deriver behavior. Motor vehicle ownership
in India has increased substantially over the
last 30 years and general levels of road traffic
noise throughout India have increased
through out the period.

2. Air Traffic:
The extend of aircraft noise impact
depends on the type of aircraft flown, the
number of flights and flight paths. The
increase in number of flights, an important
factor is overall noise levels, the led to an
increase in general noise levels associated
with air traffic.
3. Rail Traffic:
The two main sources of noise and
vibration relating to the operation of the rail
network is
1. The operation of trains and the
maintenance
2. Construction of rail infrastructure.

4.Neighborhood & Domestic Noise:

Other significant source of

noise annoyance is car alarms,
building construction and household
noise,Celebrations- religious
function,social and elections.
5.Noise generated by noise levels of
125dB as per Environmental rules
1999.

Effects:
1. Noise can disturb out work, rest,
sleep and communication.
2. It can damage our hearing and evoke
other psychological, physiological and
possibly pathological reactions.
3.It effects health efficiency and
behaviour.It may cause damage to
heart,brain,kidneys and liver.
4.It causes muscles to contract leading to
nervous breakdown, tension.

5.Change in hormone content of blood,

which turn increase the rate of heart beat.
6.Recently it has been reported that blood is
also thickened by excessive noise.
7. Hearing damage : it can cause permanent
hearing loss.
8.Interferences with mans communication
:In noise area communication is affected.

The CPCB-The central pollution control board recommended noise

levels.

Sound Source

Sound Level
dB

Subjective
Feeling
of Human Beings

Rockets and
missiles,
heavy explosives

160

Unbearable

Jet Planes and

cannons,
explosives

140

Unbearable

Aircraft Propeller
and
Machine Guns

130

Unbearable

Diesel, steam
engine and
ball mills, crackers

120

Unbearable

Electric saws and

110

Unbearable

CONTROL MEASURES OF NOISE POLLUTION:

1.REDUCTION IN SOURCE OF NOISE : Heavy vehicles and old
vehicles may not be allowed in populated areas.
2. Noise making machines should be kept in
containers with sound absorbing media.
3. Proper oiling will reduce the noise from the
machinery.
4. Use sound absorbing silencers: Silencers can
reduce noise by absorbing sound.
5. Planting more trees having broad leaves.

6. Through law:
sound production is minimized at
various social function.
7. The use of fireworks or fire crackers
shall not be permitted except between
6.00a.m and 10.00p.m.No fireworks or
fire crackers shall be used between
10.00p.m and 6.00a.m.
8. Silence zone in area comprising not
less than 100meters around hospitals,
educational institutions ,courts and
religious places.

THERMAL POLLUTION
Energy is the basic necessity for the
economic development of a country.
The electrical energy is produced in
power plants or generating stations.
The conventional power plants are:
- Steam or Thermal Power station,
- Hydro-electric Power station,

- Nuclear Power station

Steam or Thermal Power station

In the thermal power station,
the steam is produced in the boiler,
using the heat released by the
combustion of coal, oil or natural gas.
The steam is used to rotate the
steam turbine (impulse/ reaction).
The steam turbine drives the
alternator, which converts mechanical
energy into electrical energy.10-16oC
higher than initial temp.

Hydro-electric Power station

Hydroelectricity is the term
referring to electricity generated by
hydropower.
The production of electrical power
through the use of the gravitational
force of falling or flowing water.
It is the most widely used form of
renewable energy.

Once a hydroelectric complex is

constructed, the project produces no direct
waste, and has a considerably lower output level
of the greenhouse gas & carbon dioxide (CO2).

Nuclear Power station

Nuclear power is produced
by controlled (i.e., non-explosive)
nuclear reactions.
Commercial and utility plants
currently use nuclear fission reactions
to heat water to produce steam, which
is then used to generate electricity.

Effects of thermal pollution

Elevated temperature typically decreases
the level of dissolved oxygen (DO) in water.
Thermal pollution may also increase the
metabolic rate of aquatic animals.
A large increase in temperature can lead
to the denaturing of life.-barrier for oxygen
penetration
into deep cold water.
Fish migration is affected due to formation
of various thermal zones.
Discharge of hot water near the shores can
be disturb and even kill young fishes.

 Toxicity of pesticides ,detergents and chemicals into

the effluent increases with increase in temp.
The composition of flora and fauna changes.
Control of thermal pollution
Thermal pollution from industrial sources is
generated mostly by power plants,
petroleum refineries , pulp and paper mills ,
chemical plants , steel mills and smelters .
Cooling ponds , man-made bodies of water designed
for cooling by evaporation , convection , and radiation.
Cooling towers, which transfer waste heat to the
atmosphere through evaporation and/or heat
transfer.
Cogeneration, a process where waste heat is
recycled for domestic and/or industrial heating
purposes.

RADIO ACTIVE OR NUCLEAR

POLLUTION
The uncontrolled distribution of
radioactive material in a given
environment.
Radioactive contamination is typically
the result of a spill or accident during
the production or use of radionuclide
(radioisotopes), an unstable nucleus
which has excessive energy.
Contamination may occur from
radioactive gases, liquids or particles

Effects
Radioactive contamination can enter
the body through ingestion, inhalation,
absorption, or injection that causes
discomfort, diarrhea, nausea or
vomiting, and burns skin and hair loss.
The cumulative damage can cause
serious health problems long term,
such as cancer, especially leukemia
and Thyroid Cancer.
For this reason, it is important to use
personal protective equipment when
working with radioactive materials.

Control methods:
It includes the stoppage of leakage from
the radioactive materials including the
nuclear reactors, industries and
laboratories.
The disposal of radioactive material must
be safe and secure.
The protective garments must be worn by
the workers who work in the nuclear
plants.
The natural radiation must be at the
permissible limits and they must not cross
it.

SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT:Each

household generates garbage or waste
day in and day out. There are different
types of solid waste depending on their
source
Types of solid waste: Solid waste can be
classified into different types depending
on their source:Household waste is
generally classified as,
Municipal waste
Industrial waste as hazardous waste
Biomedical waste or hospital waste
E waste-Electronic waste

SOURCES OF URBAN AND INDUSTRIAL

WASTE:
Waste from homes:polyethylene bags,Al
cans,glass bottles,waste
paper,cloth,food waste,empty metal.
Waste from shops:Cans,bottles,waste
paper,tea leaves,packaging material.
Biomedical waste : discarded medicines,
chemical wastes, disposable syringes,
swabs, bandages and body fluids.
Construction waste
:wood,concrete,cement .,

Industrial waste :Packaging meterial,organic

waste, acid,alkali and metals.
Solid waste: Rubber,plastic,paper,glass,
wood,oils,paints, dyes,heavy metals,
asbestos.
Effects of solid waste :
Physicochemical and chemical characteristics
affecting productivity of soils.
Toxic substance contaminate the ground water.
Burning of materials produce dioxins, furans
causes cancer.

TYPES INVOLVED SOLID WASTE

MANAGEMENT:
1.REDUCE,REUSE,RECYCLE:
a.Reduce the usage of raw materials:
If usage is reduced,generation of
waste also reduced.
b.Reuse of waste materials:
1.Refillable containers can be reused
2.Discarded cycle tubes can be made
into rubber rings.

c.Recycling of materials:
1.Old Al cans and bottles are melted and
recast into new cans and bottles.
2.Preparation of cellulose insulation from
paper
3.Preparation fuel pellets from kitchen
waste.
Methods of disposal of solid waste:
a. Landfill :
The bottom is covered with several layers
of clay,plastic & sand protects ground
water contamination.

 Landfill is covered with clay, sand &

gravel.
Methane gas is collected and used to
produce electricity.
b. Composting:
The biodegradable waste is allowed to
decomposed into oxygen rich medium
and quality rich environment is formed
which improves soil fertility rate.
c. Incineration :Burning of waste at high
temp(700oC -1000oC) in combustion
chamber and used to produce electricity
and incinerate100-150tonnes per hour.

Role of individual in prevention

of pollution
Individuals can, however, play an important
role in abatement of air, water, soil or noise
pollution in the following simple manners:
Use low-phosphate, phosphate-free or
biodegradable dishwashing liquid, laundry
detergent, and shampoo.
Use manure or compost instead of
commercial inorganic fertilizers to fertilize
gardens and yard plant.

Use biological methods or integrated pest

management to control garden, yard, and
household pests.

Don't pour pesticides, paints, solvents, oils,

or other products containing harmful chemicals
down drain or on the ground.

Recycle old motor oil and antifreeze at an

auto service center that has an oil recycling
program.

Test water for lead, nitrates,

trihalomethanes, radon, volatile, organic
compounds and pesticides.
Support ecological land-use planning in
your community.
Get to know your local water bodies
and form watchdog groups to help monitor
and protect.

Flood

Flood
Definition: Whenever the magnitude of
water flow exceeds the carrying
capacity of the channel within its bank,
the excess of water over flows on the
surroundings causes floods.
Types:
1.Slow kinds: Runoff from sustained
rainfall
2.Rapid snow melt exceeding
the capacity of a river's channel.

3.Fast kinds: sudden release of water

from dam, landslide, or glacier.
Effects
1.Primary effects
Physical damage Can damage
any type of structure, including
bridges, cars, buildings, sewerage
systems, roadways, and canals.

2.Secondary effects
Water supplies Contamination of water.
Clean drinking water becomes scarce.
Diseases Unhygienic conditions. Spread
of water-borne diseases.
Crops and food supplies Shortage of food
crops
can be caused due to loss of entire
harvest.
Trees Non-tolerant species can die from
suffocation.
Transport - Transport links destroyed.

Methods of control:
Flood management:
1.Diverting excess water through
channel or canals like river ,lake.
2.Satelite pictures of preflood,flood and
post flood with other information.
3.River networking .
4.Optical and microwave data.
5.Flood warning given by central water
comission.

Cyclone

Definition:

A cyclone is an area of closed,

circular fluid motion rotating in the
same direction as the Earth.
Most large-scale cyclonic circulations are
centered on areas of low atmospheric
pressure.
Cyclones are powerful destructive and active
from days to weak and speed varies 180500km/hr.
A broad area of low pressure rotating
"counter-clockwise" (cyclonically) is also a
cyclone.

Occurrence:
1.Tropical cyclone in the warm oceans are
formed, because of heat and moisture.
2. Sea surface temperature must below
25Oc .
3.It move like spinning top at the speed of
10-30km/hr.
4.Indian cyclone occurs during octo-dec or
April may.

Effects:
Tropical cyclones are responsible for
large amounts of damage to human
life,crop,roads,
transport, tanks wherever they strike.
Slow down the developmental activities of
the sea.
Control:Damage can be reduced but not
completely prevented by doing the
following:

Boarding up homes and businesses,

strategically placing sand bags, and
building more wind resistant structures.

Cyclone management:
Satellite images are used by
meteorological department.
Radar system is used to detect the
cyclone and for cyclone warning.
For observing exact location of cyclone
,every half an hour satellite picture are
analyzed.
Its difficult to stop the formation of
cyclone, but the effect minimized by
planting more trees.

Earthquake

An earthquake is a sudden vibration caused

on the earths surface due to the sudden
release of tremendous amount of energy
stored in the rocks under the earths crust.

Causes
Volcanic eruptions, rockfalls, landslides,
and explosions ,hydrostatic pressure of
manmade water bodies.
Under ground nuclear testing.
Decrease under ground water level.
Its measures by Richter scale.
less than 4 insignificant,4-4.9 minor,55.9- damaging,6-6.9 destructive,7-7.9
major,more than 8 severe damage.

Effects
Earthquakes produce deformation of
ground space.
This includes damage to buildings and
in worst cases the loss of human life.
The effects of the rumbling produced
by earthquakes usually leads to the
destruction of structures such as
buildings, bridges, and dams.
They can also trigger landslides.

Control:
To prevent an earthquake hazard the
building should be properly designed.
Do not construct houses on high risk
prone areas.
In case of an earthquake move out of
the building and came in the open but
not panic.
Do not use lifts in case of an
earthquake.

Tsunami

Tsunami is a series of water waves

caused by the displacement of a large
volume of a body of water, usually an ocean.

Causes :
Earth quake ,landslide
Deformation of the sea floor due to the
movement of plates.
Ordinary wave 100,tsunami 500km.
It travels across the deep sea at very
high velocity of at around 800900km/hr.
Velocity decreases ,the height and
energy of wave increases.
Its height near the sea shore ranges
from 15-65m

Effects:
The effects of the tsunami on the country
during this period range from destruction damage,
death, injury, millions of dollars in financial loss,
and long lasting psychological problems for the
inhabitants of the region.
Tsunami management :
Under

the water are monitored by sensors.

If any p changes, sensor send information.

The information passed through earth stations.
Warning system are warned of the danger approaching.
Make the people alert through the media to take all

Land slides

Land slides are the process

of large differential movement of
two land portion.
OR
A landslide or landslip is a
geological phenomenon which
includes a wide range of ground
movement.

Causes:
Down hill movement of earth cauesd by
rain,forces either increaing top materials.
Movement of heavy vehicles.
Earthquake ,shocks,vibrations,cyclone
creates landslides.
Erosion in the hilly tract due to runoff
water.
Undergroung caves,underground mining
operation.

Effects
Property damage,
injury
death
adversely affect a variety of water
supplies,
fisheries,

sewage disposal systems,

forests, dams, and roadways

Control
Soil Conservation:
Ways to reduce soil erosion:
Terracing: Terracing reduces soil erosion on
steep slopes by concerting the land into a
series of broad, level terraces. This retains
water for crops at each level and reduces soil
erosion by water run off.
Contour Farming: This method is adopted for
gently sloped land. This involves planting
crops in rows across the contour of gently
sloped land.

Agro forestry: In this method crops are planted

together in strips or alleys between trees and
shrubs that can provide fruits and fuel wood.
The trees and shrubs provide shade which
reduce water loss by evaporation and preserve
soil moisture.
Wind Breaks : Wind breaks and shelter belts or
trees are established to reduce wind erosion and
also for retaining soil moisture
Unloading the upper parts of the slope.
Concrete support.
Draining the surface and subsurface water from
sloppy region.
Soil stabilization by using quick lime in weak
areas.