ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION

 DEFINITION: The undesirable alteration

of our surroundings leading to its
destruction
 Types of pollution:

 1.Biodegradable pollutants

 2.Non- degradable pollutants

CLASSIFICATION OF POLLUTION
 1.Air

 2.Water
 3.Soil

 4.Marine
 5.Noise

 6.Thermal

 7.Nuclear Hazards
 AIR POLLUTION
Air pollution may be defined as the
presence of one or more
contaminants like dust,
smoke, mist, and odour in
the atmosphere which are
injurious to human, animal
or plant life.
 SOURCES OF AIR POLLUTION
 Natural sources :- volcanic eruptions,
forest fire, biological decay, radioactive
materials.
 Man made {anthropogenic} activities :-
Thermal power plants, vehicular
emissions, fossil fuel burning,
agricultural activities.
 CLASSIFICATION OF AIR
POLLUTANTS
 Primary air pollutants:-
 These are directly emitted in to
atmosphere
CO,NO,SO2
 Secondary air pollutants :-
 Primary air pollutant react among
themselves or with atmospheric air and
form them
NO/NO2 ----------moisture---- HNO3/NO3
 INDOOR AIR POLLUTANTS

 Radon gas
 Sources {causes} of indoor air
pollutants
 :-bricks, concrete, tiles
 Natural gas and ground wastes
 Burning of fuels in kitchen, cigarette
smoking, liberate the pollutants like CO,
SO2, HCHO, BAP.
 COMMON AIR POLLUTANTS
Carbon monoxide
 Colorless, odorless, poisonous gas formed
by incomplete combustion of fuels
2C+O2 2CO
 Human sources [causes]:- cigarette
smoking, incomplete burning of fuels,
77% from motor vehicle exhaust.
 Health effects;- reacts with hemoglobin, at
higher levels it causes coma, brain cell
damage.
 Environmental effects:- increase global
temperature
 NITROGEN DIOXIDE
 Reddish brown gas with irritating odour
that gives photochemical smog.
NO2+Moisture HNO3
 Human sources:-fossil fuel burning in
motor vehicles{49%}and power
industrial plants{49%}
 Health effects:-lung irritation and
damage
 Environmental effects:- acid rain.
 SULPHOR DIOXIDE
 Colorless gas with irritating odor formed
by combustion of fossil fuels such as coal
and oil.
SO2+Moisture H2SO4
 Human sources:-coal burning in power
plants{88%} and industrial
processes{10%}
 Health effects;-breathing problem
 Environmental effects:- Reduce visibility.
acid rain
 Suspended particulate matter
(SPM)
 Includes variety of particles and droplets
including aerosols for short periods to long
periods.
 Human sources:-coal burning in power
plants{40%} and vehicles{17%},
agriculture, unpaved roads, construction
 Health effects;- nose and throat irritation,

Lung damage, asthma bronchitis,

reproductive problem and cancer.
 Environmental effects:- acid deposition
affects life in terrestrial and aquatic systems,
affects visibility.
 OZONE
 Highly reactive irritating gas with
unpleasant odor found in
stratosphere.
 Major component of photochemical
smog.
 Human sources:-chemical reaction
with organic components and
nitrogen oxides.
 Environmental effects:- moderates
the climate
 PHOTOCHEMICAL SMOG
 Brownish smoke like appearance forms on
clear sunny days over large cities with
significant amount of automobile traffic
 Sources:-chemical reaction among
Nitrogen oxide and hydrocarbon by
sunlight.
 Health effects:-breathing problems,
cough,eye,nose and throat infection.
 Environmental effects:- can damage trees
and plants, smog reduces visibility.
 LEAD
 Solid Toxic metal and its compounds
released in to atmosphere as
particulate
 Human sources:-paint, metal
refineries, storage batteries.
 Health effects:-accumulates in the
body, damage brain and other nervous
system and even causes cancer
 Environmental effects:- harm wild life
 HYDROCARBONS

 Colorless gases formed by the

decay of vegetable matter
 Human sources:-agriculture,
decay of plants .
 Health effects:-carcinogenic
 Environmental effect: it produces
oily film on the surface.
 CHROMIUM
 Solid Toxic metal its compounds
released in to atmosphere as
particulate.
 Human sources:-paints, smelters,
chromium plating
 Health effects:-gastro intestinal
ulcer, nervous system disease and
cancer.
Indian ambient air quality standards
 These are the legal limits placed on the
concentration of air pollutants in a
community where people and things are
exposed
 These quality standards are permissible
exposure of all living and non living
things for 24 hrs or per day or per week.
Category Area SPM In SO2In NOx In CO In
Mic.gm Mic.gm Mic.gm Mic.gm
Per lit Per lit Per lit Per lit

A INDUSTRIAL AND 500 120 120 5000

MIXED USE

B RESIDENTIAL AND 200 80 80 2000

RURAL

C SENSITIVE 100 30 30 1000

(RESORTS, HILL
STATIONS,
MONUMENTS ETC.,)
 CONTROL METHODS OF AIR POLLUTION

 Atmosphere has several built in self cleaning

processes such as dispersion, gravitational
settling, flocculation, absorption, rain
washout and so on.
Source Control:
 Since we know the substance that causes
pollution the source control enables to
control pollution to maximum extent
 To use a petrol which is unleaded low
sulphur and ash content
 To reduce no of private vehicle and use
public transportation and encourage peoples
to walk and use bicycles
Plant trees along busy streets where they
remove particulates and carbon monoxide
and absorb noise
Industries and waste disposal sites located
outside the city
Use catalytic converters to control the
emissions of CO and RH
CONTROL METHODS OF AIR POLLUTION
 In industries emission levels should be
restricted within the permissible level
 Incorporation of air pollution control
equipments in the design of the plant
layout must be made mandatory
 Continuous monitoring of the atmosphere
for the pollutants should be carried out
 CONTROL METHODS OF AIR POLLUTION

 To ensure sufficient supply of oxygen

to the combustion chamber and
adequate temperature so that
combustion is complete eliminating
much of the smoke and partly burnt
ashes and dust
 To use mechanical devices such as
scrubbers cyclones bag houses and
electrostatic precipitators
• They are used as control methods for
removing particulates from the
exhaust gases of electric power and
industrial plants. All these methods
retain the hazardous materials that
must be disposed in a safe way

• The disposal of the collected air

pollutants is equally important for
successful control of air pollution
CONTROL METHODS OF AIR
POLLUTION
 WATER POLLUTION
Definition: The alteration in
physical, biological and chemical
characteristics of water which may
cause harmful effects on humans
and aquatic life.
TYPES, EFFECTS, SOURCES OF
WATER POLLUTION

 infectious agents
 examples-bacteria, virus, protozoa
and parasitic worms.
 human sources-human and animal
wastes.
 effects-variety of diseases.
OXYGEN DEMANDING WASTES
 Examples-organic wastes such as
animal manure and plant debris that
can be decomposed by aerobic
bacteria.
 dissolved oxygen.
 human sources-sewage, animal
feedlots, paper mills and food
processing.
 effects-degrade water quality,
aquatic life dies.
 INORGANIC CHEMICALS
 EXAMPLES-WATER SOLUBLE INORGANIC
CHEMICALS.
 ACIDS,COMPOUNDS OF TOXIC METALS,
SALTS.
 HUMAN SOURCES-SURFACE RUN-
OFF,INDUSTRIAL EFFLUENTS AND
HOUSEHOLD CLEANSERS.
 EFFECTS- MAKE FRESH WATER UN
USEFUL.
 CAUSE SKIN CANCER, DAMAGE NERVOUS
SYSTEM LIVER, KIDNEYS.
 HARM FISH , AQUATIC LIFE.
 ORGANIC CHEMICALS
 examples- oil, gasoline, plastics,
pesticides, detergents.
 human sources- industrial effluents,
household cleansers.
 effects- nervous system damage
and skin cancers.
 harm fish and wild life
 PLANT NUTRIENTS

 examples-water soluble compounds

containing nitrate, phosphate,
ammonium ions.
 human sources- sewage, manure,
agricultural fertilizers.
 effects-growth of algae, deplete do.
 drinking water with excessive levels of
nitrates.
 SEDIMENT
 examples-soil, silt.
 human sources-land erosion
 effects-reduce photosynthesis, carry
pesticides, destroy feeding of fish.
clog and fill lakes, artificial reservoirs
harbours.
 RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
 examples-radioactive isotopes of
iodine, radon, uranium, cesium,
thorium.
 human sources-nuclear power
plants, mining of uranium, nuclear
weapons.
 effects-genetic mutations, birth
defects, cancer.
 HEAT
 example-excessive heat
 human sources-water cooling of
electric power plants.
 effects-lowers Dissolved oxygen,
thermal shock.
 POINT AND NON-POINT
SOURCES
 POINT SOURCES:
 Discharge pollutants through pipes,
ditches into the bodies of surface water.
 examples-sewage treatment plants, oil
tankers.
 NON-POINT SOURCES
 Location cannot be easily identified.
examples-acid deposition, chemicals into
croplands, logged forest.
 CHARACTERISTICS OF WASTE
WATER
 DISSOLVED OXYGEN
 significance of Dissolved oxygen is to
support fish, aquatic life, means of
control of river pollution.
 minimum level of do 4mg/lit must be
maintained.
 BOD
 Itis the amount of oxygen required
for the biological decomposition of
organic matter present in the water
 SIGNIFICANCE

 indication of the amount of organic

matter present.
 the rate of oxidation depends on
organic matter present.
 COD
 It is the amount of oxygen required
for the chemical oxidation of organic
matter with oxidizing agents like
potassium permanganate or
dichromate
 SIGNIFICANCE
 determine the pollution strength of
river water.
 it is rapid process occurs within 3
hours.
 CONTROL MEASURES
 WATER POLLUTION CONTROL SHOULD BE IN THE
HANDS OF STATE OR CENTRAL GOVT.
 SCIENTIFIC TECHNIQUES ARE NECESSARY.
 INDUSTRIAL PLANTS SHOULD BE ON RECYCLING
OPERATIONS.
 PLANTS TREES FOREST CONTROL POLLUTION
ACT AS AIR CONDITIONERS.
 NATIONAL GOAL SHOULD BE CONSERVATION OF
FOREST,PLANT MORE TREES.
 DISCHARGE OF WASTE MATERIALS IS NOT
ADVISABLE.
 PUBLIC AWARENESS.
 RESEARCH IN PUBLIC HEALTH SHOULD BE
ENCOURAGED.
WASTE WATER TREATMENT
 PRELIMINARY TREATMENT
 PRIMARY TREATMENT

 SECONDARY OR BIOLOGICAL TREATMENT.

 A.TRICKLING FILTER PROCESS

 B.ACTIVATED SLUDGE PROCESS.
 TERTIARY TREATMENT.

 DISPOSAL OF SLUDGE.
 PRELIMINARY TREATMENT
 coarse solids and suspended
impurities are removed by passing
the waste water through bar and
mesh.
 greater proportion of the suspended
inorganic and organic solids are
removed by settling.
 Al2(SO4)3 +6H2O->2Al(OH)3+3H2SO4
 SECONDARY TREATMENT
 TRICKLING FILTER PROCESS.
 SEWAGE IS SPREAD OVER THE BED
BY MEANS OF ROTATING ARMS.
 THIS PROCESS REMOVES ABOUT 80-
85% OF BOD.
Referring to the process
mechanism involves adsorption of Trickle filter
any organic compounds in the
sewage or other wastewater by
the layer of microbial slime
followed by the diffusion of air into
the slime layer to furnish the
oxygen (O2) required for the
biochemical oxidation of the
organic compounds that results in
releasing gaseous carbon dioxide
(CO2), water (H2O) and other
oxidized by-products. The air may
be provided by natural draft or by
forced aeration using large fans or
blowers.
The aerobic biochemical oxidation occurring in a trickle filter
may be expressed as:
Organic compounds + microbes + nutrient + O2 →
oxidized organics + CO2 gas + H2O                                  
Figure : A schematic cross-section of the contact face of the
bed media in a trickle filter.
As the slime layer thickens, it becomes more difficult for air to
penetrate the layer and an inner anaerobic layer is formed.
For some plastic media , this inner layer will build up and
eventually slough off the smooth plastic into the treated
effluent water as a sludge that requires subsequent removal
and disposal. The sludge consists of dead microbes, non-
gaseous oxidized materials, inorganic minerals which are not
biodegradable and other substances.
Other than the primary carbon dioxide, water and sludge by-
products of the biochemical processes occurring in a trickle
filter, there may also be some by-product nitrogen (N2) and methane
(CH4) gases.
 ACTIVATED SLUDGE PROCESS
 In a sewage (or
industrial wastewater)
treatment plant, the
activated sludge process
can be used for one or
several of the following
purposes:
 oxidizing carbonaceous
matter: biological matter
.
 oxidizing nitrogeneous
matter: mainly
ammonium and nitrogen
in biological materials.
 removing phosphate.
 driving off entrained
gases carbon dioxide,
ammonia, nitrogen, etc.
 generating a biological
floc that is easy to settle.
 generating a liquor low in
dissolved or suspended
material.
 An important part of the municipal
wastewater treatment is the BOD-
removal. The removal of BOD is done by a
biological process, such as the suspended
growth treatment process. This
biological process is an aerobic process
and takes place in the aeration tank, in
where the wastewater is aerated with
oxygen. By creating good conditions,
bacteria will grow fast. The grow of
bacteria creates flocks and gases. These
flocks will removed by a secondary
clarifier
 TERTIARY TREATMENT
 After the secondary treatment the sewage
effluent contains 25ppm of BOD removed by
tertiary treatment process. In this the
effluent is allowed inside a tank where lime
added to remove phosphates. From there
allowed to ammonia stripping tower with pH
11 and ammonium ion is converted in to
gaseous ammonia. From there allowed in to
activated charcoal column where minute
organic wastes are adsorbed and finally the
effluent was treated with chlorine which
acts as a disinfectant
 DISPOSAL OF SLUDGE
 DUMPING INTO LOW LYING AREAS.
 BURNING OF SLUDGE.
 DUMPING INTO THE SEA.

 USING IT AS LOW GRADE

FERTILISERS.
SPECIFICATIONS FOR DRINKING WATER
 Water should be clear and odourless
 Pleasant to taste
 Turbidity should not exceed 10ppm
 pH range 7.0-8.5
 Chloride and sulphate should be less than
250ppm
 Total hardness less than 500ppm
 TDS less than 500ppm
 Fluoride less than 1.5 ppm
 Free from disease producing bacteria's
 Free from dissolved gases like hydrogen
sulphide
 Free from objectionable minerals like lead
chromium etc.,
 ROLE OF AN INDIVIDUAL IN
PREVENTION OF POLLUTION
 Plant more trees.
 Help more in pollution prevention.

 Use water, energy resources efficiently.

 Purchase recyclable products.

 Use CFC free refrigerators.

 Use natural gas than coal.

 Reduce deforestation.

 Use office in ventilated areas.

 ROLE OF AN INDIVIDUAL
 Use of ecofriendly products
 Don’t use polystyrene cups destroy
ozone layer.
 Use rechargeable batteries.
 Reduce garbage by recycling.

 Slow population growth.

 ROLE OF WOMEN
 In rural areas women plant trees, grass,
grow vegetables.
 In urban areas go shopping using cloth
bags.
 Women refuse to use disposal products.

 Women buy non phosphate detergents.

 They refuse to eat the meat.

 They value paper and thus protect trees.

 Case Studies
 Bhopal Gas Tragedy -3 Dec1984
Gulf War – Jan 16 to Feb 26, 1991
Cherbonyl Nuclear Disaster- Apr
26 1986
Minimata disaster-1953
 SOIL POLLUTION
 Definition-the contamination of soil
by human and natural activities
which may cause effects on living
beings.
 composition of soil

 mineral matter 45%,

 organic matter 5%,

 soil water 25%

 ,soil air 25%.
TYPES,EFFECTS,SOURCES OF
SOIL POLLUTION
 INDUSTRIAL WASTES.
 URBAN WASTES.
 AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES.

 RADIOACTIVE POLLUTANTS.
 BIOLOGICAL AGENTS.
 INDUSTRIAL WASTES
 SOURCES:
 pulp paper mills, chemical industries, oil refineries, sugar
factories, tanneries,textiles,drugs,steel,fertilizers,
pesticides,glass,petroleum.
 EFFECTS
 Alter chemical, biological properties of soil, enter into food
chain.
 URBAN WASTES
 sources-garbage rubbish materials like
plastics,glasses,mettallic cans,fibers,paper,rubbers,
 street sweepings, leaves.
 effects-they cannot be easily degraded can still be dangerous
AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES
 SOURCES-AGRO TECHNOLOGY,HUGE
QUANTITIES OF
FERTILISERS,PESTICIDES,HERBICID
E,DEBRIS ,MANURE.
 EFFECTS- POLLUTE THE SOIL TO
THE LARGE EXTENT.
RADIOACTIVE POLLUTANTS
 RADIUM,THORIUM,URANIUM,ISOTOP
EOF POTASSIUM,CARBON ARE
COMMON IN SOIL,ROCK,WATER,AIR.
 EXPLOSION OF HYDROGEN
WEAPONS.
 Sr-90,I-129,Cs-137 ARE MORE
INJURIOUS GETS DEPOSITED.
 NUCLEAR REACTOR WASTES
DEPOSITED ON THE SOIL EMIT
GAMMA RADIATIONS.
 BIOLOGICAL AGENTS
 WASTES OF HUMANS,ANIMAL,BIRDS
CONSTITUTE MAJOR SOURCE OF
LAND POLLUTION BY BIOLOGICAL
AGENTS.
 HEAVY APPLICATION OF MANURES.

 MUNICIPAL WASTE.
 UNTREATED WASTES OF
ORGANIC CHEMICALS
 PULP&PAPER-SUSPENDED
SOLIDS,HIGH OR LOW
Ph,COLOUR,BOD,COD.
 Characteristics of untreated waste
of organic chemical industries
S. no. Industry Phyico-Chemical Characteristics

1 Pulp and Paper Suspended solids, high or low Ph, colour, BOD,
COD.
2. Rubber industry Chlorides, suspended & dissolved solids.

3. Oil refineries Acids, alkalies, phenols.

4. Antibiotics Toxic chemicals, high acidity or alkalinity.

5. Synthetic drugs High suspended & dissolved organic matter.

6. Distillery Very high cod, low Ph,

7. Organic chemical Toxic chemicals, phenols, high acidity, alkalinity.
industry
 Characteristics of untreated waste
of inorganic chemical industries
S. no Industry Physico-Chemical Characteristics
1. Thermal power Heat, heavy metals, dissolved solids.
plants
2 Steel mills Acids, phenols, pH, alkali, limestone, oils, cyanides,
cyanates.
3. Cotton industry Sodium, organic, colour, high Ph.

4 Metal plating Metallics, toxic cyanides, cadmium chromium, zinc,

copper, Al.
5 Iron foundry Coal, clay, suspended solids, iron.
6 Pesticides Aromatic compounds, acidity, high organic matter.

7 Acids Low pH, organic content.

8 Tanneries Calcium, chromium, high salt content, colour,
dissolved & suspended matter.
9 Explosives Alcohol, metals, TNT, organic acids.
 CONTROL MEASURES OF SOIL
POLLUTION
control of soil erosion
 proper dumping of unwanted
materials.
 production of natural fertilizers.

 proper hygienic condition.

 public awareness.
 recycling& reuse of wastes.
 ban in toxic chemicals.
 CONTROL OF SOIL EROSION

 trees may be planted on barren

slopes.
 contour cultivation, strip cropping may
be practiced.
 by reducing deforestation.

 substitute chemical manures by

animal wastes.
 PROPER DUMPING OF
UNWANTED MATERIALS

 open dumping is commonly practiced.

 controlled tipping is followed recently.

 PRODUCTION OF NATURAL
FERTILISERS

 excessive use of chemical fertilizers &

insect icides should be avoided.

 Bio pesticides should be used in place

of toxic chemical fertilizers
 examples-organic wastes present in
animal dung, biogas.
 PUBLIC AWARENESS

 informal
& formal public awareness
programs should be given.

 examples-mass media, educational

institutions, voluntary agencies.
 RECYCLING & REUSE OF
WASTES

 wastessuch as paper, plastics, metals,

glasses, organics, petroleum products
should be recycled & reused.

 examples-industrial wastes should be

properly treated at source.
 PROPER HYGIENIC CONDITION

 peopleshould be trained regarding the

sanitary habits.

 examples-lavatories should be quick

&effective.
 BAN ON TOXIC CHEMICALS

 banshould be imposed on chemicals

& pesticides like DDT AND BHC

 improperdisposal of radioactive
wastes should be banned.
 MARINE POLLUTION

 definition-thedischarge of waste
substances into the sea which is
harmful to living sources, hazards to
human health, hindrance to fishery.
 SOURCES OF MARINE
POLLUTION

 about half of the world population

live nearer to coastal zones.

 thecoastal zones contains rich

heritage, coral reefs, wet lands, sea
grass beds.
 BENEFITS OF CORAL REEFS

 reefs support more than one million

species.
 they provide feeding, breeding,
nursery areas to fishes.

 they offer medicines.

 FACTORS AFFECTING CORAL
REEFS

 the sediment from deforestation

 theagricultural & industrial chemicals

reaching through river dischargers.

 rising ocean temperatures.

 COASTAL WETLANDS

 itprovide habitats for over 2000

species of fish & plants.

 wet lands have been destroyed by

conversion to agricultural lands or
fish ponds.
 SEA GRASS BEDS

 they are found under water ocean.

 itsupports wide variety of

commercially species of fish.
 FACTORS AFFECTING SEA
GRASS BEDS

 dumping the wastes such as sewage

garbage, pesticides, heavy metals.

 oil pollution of marine water.

 oilenters from cracks of oil tankers.

 cleaning of fuel tanks and war ships.
EFFECTS OF OIL POLLUTION

 heavy petroleum products precipitate

to the bottom.

 one drop spreads over larger area.

 itinhibits photosynthesis & formation

of oxygen.
EFFECTS OF MARINE POLLUTION

 the presence of heavy metals damage

the egg shells of birds.
 oil pollution cause damage to marine
fauna &flora.
 oil spilling affects body temperature of
birds.
 oil films slows the rate of oxygen
uptake by water.
 detergents used to clean up the spill
are harmful to marine life.
 CONTROL MEASURES OF
MARINE POLLUTION

 conservation of marine biodiversity.

 people should be educated about
marine ecosystem.
 local communities must be involved in
protecting coastal areas.
 govt must manage their own waters
while extending to the other states.
 OTHER CONTROL
MEASURES

 theindustries units on the coastal

areas should have pollution control
instruments.
 METHODS OF REMOVAL OF OIL

 physical-skimming the oil with a

suction.
 the floating oil can be absorbed.

 chemicals can be used to coagulate

the oil.
 chemical-dispersion, emulsification,
using chemical additives.
 PROTECTIVE MEASURES

 municipal waste, industrial waste

should be treaded.

 soilerosion in the coastal land should

be controlled
Definition:
the unwanted, unpleasant or
disagreeable sound that causes
discomfort for all living beings.
Unit:
decibel is one tenth of the longest bell.
Noise level:
35-60db normal,.>80db more,140db
painful.
 TYPES OF NOISE

 INDUSTRIAL NOISE

 TRANSPORT NOISE

 NEIGHBOURHOOD NOISE
 INDUSTRIAL NOISE
 high noise pollution is caused by many
machines
 the source of noise pollution are from
machines of factories, industries and mills
 industrial noise from mechanical saws and
drill is unbearable is a nuisance to public
 institute of Oto-rino Laryngology, Chennai
that enormously increasing the industrial
pollution damaged the hearing of about
20% workers
 TRANPORT NOISE
 itincludes road, rail traffic noise,
aircraft noise
 vehicles like motors, cars, buses,
trucks, diesel engine vehicle have
increased
 this form of pollution gaining
importance in large towns and cities
 in metro Politian cities like Delhi,
Bombay, Calcutta is as high as 90 db
 NEGHBOURHOOD NOISE
 itincludes disturbance from houses
and community
 common noise makers musical
instruments, TV, VCR, Radio,
telephone, loud speaker
 EFFECTS
 it affects human health comfort and
efficiency.
 it causes high blood pressure, mental
distress, heart attacks, birth defects
 it changes the hormone content of the
blood which in turn increases rate of
heart beat contraction of blood vessels
 it may cause damage to heart, brain,
kidneys, liver.
 hearing when exposed to very loud and
sudden noise
 EFFECTS
 excessive noise also causes
psychological and pathological
disorders
 ultrasonic sound affect the digestive,
respiratory system
 brain is also affected by loud noise of
get and aero plan
 blood is thickened
 CONTROLS MEASURES OF
NOISE POLLUTION
 source control : such as acoustic
treatment to machine surface, design
changes, limiting the operational
timings
 construction of noise barrier or
provision of sound absorbing materials
along the path
 planting trees around the houses

 different types absorptive materials

 PREVENTIVE MEASURES
 itcan be reduced by noise limits for
vehicles
 ban on honking of horns in certain
areas
 creation of silent zones near schools
and hospitals
 AMBIENT NOISE LEVEL dB
ZONE DAY NIGHT TIME
TIME

SILENT ZONE 50 40

RESIDENTIAL ZONE 55 45

COMMERCIAL ZONE 65 55

INDUSTRIAL ZONE 70 70
 THERMAL
POLLUTION

Addition of undesirable
heat to water that makes
it harmful to life.
 SOURCES (CAUSES)

 Nuclear power plants

 coal-fired power plants
 Industrial effluents
 Domestic sewage
 Hydro-electric power
NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS

 Drainage from research institutes,

nuclear experiments and explosion-
heat and traces of toxic radio
nuclides
 Emissions from nuclear reactors
 Heated effluents are discharged at
100C
COAL-FIRED POWER PLANTS

 condenser coils are cooled with

water from nearby lake or river and
discharging hot water to about 150C
 Decrease dissolved oxygen
 INDUSTRIAL EFFLUENTS

 Industries like coal powered and

nuclear powered plants require huge
amounts of cooling water.
 Textile, paper and pulp sugar

 100MW-8 TO 100C
 DOMESTIC SEWAGE

 Domestic sewage is discharged into

rivers, lakes canals or streams

 Decrease dissolved oxygen

 release foul and offensive gases

 HYDROELECTRIC POWER

 Generationof power results in

negative thermal loading in water
systems

 About 18% more heat is given to

cooling waters in nuclear power
plants
 THERMAL POLLUTION INTO
STREAMS BY HUMAN

 Industries
 Removal of stream side vegetation
 Soil erosion caused by construction

 Poor farming practices

 EFFECTS OF THERMAL
POLLUTION
 Reduction in dissolved oxygen
 Increase in toxicity: rise in temp increase
toxicity of the poison present in water
 Interference with biological activities

 Interference with reproduction :nest

building, hatching, migration and
reproduction
 Direct mortality

 Food storage for fish

 CONTROL MEASURES

 Cooling towers: types

 Wet cooling tower: hot water from condenser
is allowed to spray over baffles
 Dry cooling tower

 Cooling ponds

 Spray ponds

 Artificial lakes
WET COOLING
COOLING PONDS
SPRAY PONDS
SPRAY PONDS
ARTIFICIAL LAKE
ARTIFICIAL LAKE
ARTIFICIAL LAKE
 NUCLEAR HAZARDS
 The radiation comes from UV, visible,
cosmic rays, microwave radiation.
 The hazards comes from X-rays account
for 95% of out radiation exposure other
than cosmic rays.
 In US about 53 power plants were
cancelled between 1980 and 1984 due to
enormous radiation danger.
 SOURCES OF NUCLEAR
HAZARDS
 Natural sources-space which emit
cosmic rays.
 Soil, rocks, air, water, food,
radioactive radon-222 also contain
one or more radioactive.
 Man-made sources-nuclear power
plants, X-rays, nuclear accidents,
nuclear bombs, diagnostic kits.
 EFFECTS OF NUCLEAR
HAZARDS
 Exposure of the brain and CNS to high
doses of radiation causes delirium,
convulsions, death within hours or days.
 It forms cataracts and impairs eye sight.
 Acute radiation sickness is marked by
vomiting, bleeding of the gums, mouth
cancer.
 Internal bleeding and blood vessel damage
show red spots on the skin.
 Unborn children are vulnerable to brain
damage or mental retardation affects CNS
at early pregnancy.
CONTROL MEASURES FROM
NUCLEAR HAZARDS
 Nuclear devices should never be exploded
in air.
 In nuclear reactors, closed cycle coolant
system with gaseous coolants may be
used.
 Containments may be employed to
decrease the radioactive emissions.
 Production of radioisotopes should be
minimized.
 Minimum number of nuclear installations
should be commissioned.
 CONTD CONTROL
MEASURES
 In nuclear and chemical industries,
the use of radioisotopes carried
under jet of soil or water instead
powder or gaseous forms.
 In nuclear mines wet drilling are
employed.
 Nuclear medicines and radiation
therapy should be applied in
minimum doses.
 Use of high chimneys, ventilations at
 MEDIUM LEVEL WASTES
 Examples- filters, reactor
components.
 MLW are solidified and mixed with
concrete in steel drums before being
burried in deep mines or below the
sea bed.
 LOW LEVEL WASTES
 Examples-solids or liquids
contaminated with traces of
radioactivity.
 They are disposed off in steel drums
in concrete lined trenches.
SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT
 Rapid population growth and
urbanization led to enormous
quantities of solid wastes.
 An estimated 7.6 million tones of
municipal waste is produced per day
in developing countries.
 Management of solid waste is
become very important in order to
minimize the adverse effects of solid
wastes.
 TYPES AND SOURCES OF
SOLID WASTES
 Urban or municipal wastes.
 Industrial wastes.
 Hazardous wastes.
 SOURCES OF URBAN
WASTES
 Domestic wastes-food
waste,cloth,waste paper,glass
bottles,polythene bags.
 Commercial wastes-waste
paper,packing
material,cans,bottle,polythene bags.
 Construction wastes-
wood,concrete,debris.
 Biomedical wastes-anatomical
wastes,infectious wastes.
 TYPE & CHARACTERISTICS OF
URBAN WASTES
 Biodegradable wastes- food,
vegetables, tea leaves, egg shells,
dry leaves.
 Non biodegradable wastes-polythene
bags, scrap metals, glass bottles.
 SOURCE OF INDUSTRIAL
WASTES
 NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS-it generates
radioactive wastes.
 THERMAL POWER PLANTS-fly ash.
 CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES-hazardous,toxic
chemicals.
 OTHER INDUSTRIES-packing
materials,rubbish,organic
wastes,acids,alkalies,rubber,plastic,paper,
glass,wood,oils,dyes.
 HAZARDOUS WASTES
 Sources-chemical manufacturing
company,petroleum refineries,paper
mills,smelters,radioactive
substances.biological wastes.
 TYPES& CHARACTERISTICS
OF HAZARDOUS WASTES
 Toxic wastes-poisonous even in
traces.
 Acute toxicity-immediate effect on
humans or animals causing death.
 Chronic toxicity-they have long term
effect difficult to determine.
 REACTIVE WASTES
 It react with air water heat & generate
toxic gases. gun powder, nitro glycerine
 Corrosive wastes-destroy materials, living
tissues. Acids, bases
 Radioactive wastes-persists in the
atmosphere for thousands of years.
 Infectious wastes-used bandages, human
tissue from surgery, hypodermic needles.
 Heavy metals-lead mercury, arsenic are
toxic substances.
EFFECTS OF SOLID WASTES
 Due to improper disposal of municipal
solid wastes biodegradable materials
undergo decomposition produces foul
smell and breeds various types of insects.
 Industrial solid wastes,metals affect the
characteristics of soils.
 Toxic substance may percolate into the
ground water and contaminate.
 Burning of cans, pesticides,
plastics,batteries produce furans,
dioxins,polychlorinated biphenyls are
harmful to human beings.
 PROCESS OF SOLID WASTE
MANAGEMENT
 It includes the waste
generation,mode of
collection,transportation,segregation
of wastes and disposal techniques.
 Steps involved in solid waste
management-Reduce,Reuse and
Recycle(3R)
 Discarding wastes.
 1.REDUCE,REUSE AND RE
CYCLE
 Reduce the usage of raw materials.
 Reuse of waste materials-the
refillable containers which are
discarded can be reused.
 rubber rings can be made from
discarded cycle tubes reduces waste
generationdurung manufacture.
 RECYCLING OF MATERIALS
 Recycling is the reprocessing of the
discarded materials into new useful
products.
 Examples-old aluminium cans,glass
bottles.
 It saves money energy,raw
materials.
 DISCARDING WASTES
 For discarding solid wastes the
following methods can be adopted.
 Landfill
 Incineration
 Composting.
 LANDFILL
 Solid wastes are placed in sanitary
land fill system in alternate layers.
 Landfill structure is built either into
the ground oron the ground into
which the waste is dumped.
 It involves spreading the solid waste
on the ground,compacting it,covering
it with soil.
 ADVANTAGES
 Itis simple and economical.
 Segregation not required.
 Landfilled areas can be used for
other purposes.
 Natural sources are returned to soil
and recycled.
 DISADVANTAGES
A large area is required.
 Transportation cost is heavy.
 Bad odours if land fills are not
properly managed.
 It will be the sources of
mosquitoes,flies.
 INCENERATION
 In this method the municipal wastes
areburnt in afurnace called
incenerator.
 The combustible materials such as
rubbish,garbage and the non
combustible materials such as
glass,porcelain are seperated before
fedding to incinerators.
 ADVANTAGES
 Itrequires very little space.
 Cost of transportation is not high.
 Safest from hygienic point of view.

 An incinerator plant of 300 tonnes

per day generate 3MW of electricity.
 DISADVANTAGES
 Itscapital and operating cost is high.
 Needs skilled person
 Formation of smoke,dust may be
caused.
 COMPOSTING
 In this method bulk organic waste is
converted into a fertilising manure
by biological action.
 WHO set up compost plant in new
delhi in 1981 with a capacity to
handle 90 to 100 tonnes of waste.
 ADVANTAGES
 When the manure is added to soil it
increases water retention,ion
exchange capacity of soil.
 A number of solid wastes can be
treated.
 It can be sold.
 Re-cycling occurs.
 DISADVANTAGES
 The non consumables have to be
disposed seperately.
 Use of compost has not yet caught
up with farmers.
 SIGNIFICANCE FOR
PREVENTION OF HAZARDOUS
WASTES
 Reduce generation of hazardous wastes.
 Dispose the waste as close as possible where
they generated.
 Manage the wastes in in environmentally effective
way.
 Prevent illegal international traffic in hazardous
wastes.
 Promoting & strengthening international
coperation in the management.
 Promoting the prevention & minimisation of using
hazardous wastes.
 ROLE OF AN INDIVIDUAL IN
PREVENTION OF POLLUTION
 Plant more trees.
 Help more in pollution prevention.
 Use water,energy resources
efficiently.
 Purchase recyclable products.
 Use CFCfree refrigerators.
 Use natural gas than coal.
 Reduce deforestation.
 Use office in ventilated areas.
 ROLE OF AN INDIVIDUAL
 Use of ecofriendly products
 Don’t use polystyrene cups destroy
ozone layer.
 Use rechargeable batteries.
 Reduce garbage by recycling.

 Slow population growth.

 ROLE OF WOMEN
 In rural areas women plant trees,
grass, grow vegetables.
 In urban areas go shopping using
cloth bags.
 Women refuse to use disposal
products.
 Women buy non phospate
detergents.
 They refuse to eat the meat.
 They value paper and thus protect
trees.
 Case Studies
 Bhopal Gas Tragedy -3 Dec1984
Gulf War – Jan 16 to Feb 26, 1991
Cherbonyl Nuclear Disaster- Apr
26 1986
Minimata disaster-1953
SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT
SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT
 Rapid population growth and
urbanisation led to enormous
quantities of solid wastes.
 An estimated 7.6 million tonnes of
municipal waste is produced per day
in developing countries.
 Management of solid waste is
become very important in order to
minimise the adverse effects of solid
wastes.
TYPES AND SOURCES OF SOLID
WASTES
 Urban or municipal wastes.
 Industrial wastes.
 Hazardous wastes.
 SOURCES OF URBAN
WASTES
 Domestic wastes-food waste, cloth,
waste paper, glass bottles, polythene
bags.
 Commercial wastes-waste paper,
packing material, cans, bottle,
polythene bags.
 Construction wastes- wood,
concrete, debris.
 Biomedical wastes-anatomical
wastes, infectious wastes.
 TYPE & CHARACTERISTICS OF
URBAN WASTES

 Biodegradable wastes- food,

vegetables, tea leaves, egg shells, dry
leaves.
 Non biodegradable wastes-polythene
bags, scrap metals, glass bottles.
 SOURCE OF INDUSTRIAL
WASTES
 NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS-it generates
radioactive wastes.
 THERMAL POWER PLANTS-fly ash.
 CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES- hazardous, toxic
chemicals.
 OTHER INDUSTRIES- packing materials,
rubbish, organic wastes, acids, alkalis,
rubber, plastic, paper, glass, wood, oils,
dyes.
 HAZARDOUS WASTES

 Sources-chemical manufacturing
company, petroleum refineries, paper
mills, smelters, radioactive
substances. biological wastes.
 TYPES& CHARACTERISTICS OF
HAZARDOUS WASTES
 Toxic wastes-poisonous even in
traces.
 Acute toxicity-immediate effect on
humans or animals causing death.
 Chronic toxicity-they have long term
effect difficult to determine.
 REACTIVE WASTES
 It react with air water heat & generate
toxic gases. gun powder, nitro glycerin
 Corrosive wastes-destroy materials, living
tissues. Acids, bases
 Radioactive wastes-persists in the
atmosphere for thousands of years.
 Infectious wastes-used bandages, human
tissue from surgery, hypodermic needles.
 Heavy metals-lead mercury, arsenic are
toxic substances.
EFFECTS OF SOLID WASTES
 Due to improper disposal of municipal
solid wastes biodegradable materials
undergo decomposition produces foul
smell and breeds various types of insects.
 Industrial solid wastes, metals affect the
characteristics of soils.
 Toxic substance may percolate into the
ground water and contaminate.
 Burning of cans, pesticides, plastics,
batteries produce furans, dioxins,
polychlorinated biphenyls are harmful to
human beings.
 PROCESS OF SOLID WASTE
MANAGEMENT
 Itincludes the waste generation,
mode of collection, transportation,
segregation of wastes and disposal
techniques.
 Steps involved in solid waste
management- Reduce, Reuse and
Recycle(3R)
 Discarding wastes.
 1.REDUCE,REUSE AND RE
CYCLE
 Reduce the usage of raw materials.
 Reuse of waste materials-the
refillable containers which are
discarded can be reused.
 rubber rings can be made from
discarded cycle tubes reduces waste
generation during manufacture.
 RECYCLING OF MATERIALS
 Recycling is the reprocessing of the
discarded materials into new useful
products.
 Examples-old aluminum cans, glass
bottles.
 It saves money energy, raw
materials.
 DISCARDING WASTES
 For discarding solid wastes the
following methods can be adopted.
 Landfill
 Incineration
 Composting.
 LANDFILL
 Solid wastes are placed in sanitary
land fill system in alternate layers.
 Landfill structure is built either into
the ground oron the ground into
which the waste is dumped.
 It involves spreading the solid waste
on the ground, compacting it,
covering it with soil.
 ADVANTAGES
 Itis simple and economical.
 Segregation not required.
 Land filled areas can be used for
other purposes.
 Natural sources are returned to soil
and recycled.
 DISADVANTAGES
A large area is required.
 Transportation cost is heavy.
 Bad odors if land fills are not
properly managed.
 It will be the sources of mosquitoes,
flies.
 INCENERATION
 In this method the municipal wastes
are burnt in a furnace called
incinerator.
 The combustible materials such as
rubbish, garbage and the non
combustible materials such as glass,
porcelain are separated before feeding
to incinerators.
 ADVANTAGES
 Itrequires very little space.
 Cost of transportation is not high.
 Safest from hygienic point of view.

 An incinerator plant of 300 tones per

day generate 3MW of electricity.
 DISADVANTAGES
 Itscapital and operating cost is high.
 Needs skilled person

 Formation of smoke, dust may be

caused.
 COMPOSTING
 In this method bulk organic waste is
converted into a fertilizing manure
by biological action.
 WHO set up compost plant in new
Delhi in 1981 with a capacity to
handle 90 to 100 tones of waste.
 ADVANTAGES
 When the manure is added to soil it
increases water retention, ion
exchange capacity of soil.
 A number of solid wastes can be
treated.
 It can be sold.
 Re-cycling occurs.
 DISADVANTAGES
 The non consumables have to be
disposed separately.
 Use of compost has not yet caught
up with farmers.
 SIGNIFICANCE FOR
PREVENTION OF HAZARDOUS
WASTES
 Reduce generation of hazardous wastes.
 Dispose the waste as close as possible where
they generated.
 Manage the wastes in in environmentally effective
way.
 Prevent illegal international traffic in hazardous
wastes.
 Promoting & strengthening international
cooperation in the management.
 Promoting the prevention & minimization of using
hazardous wastes.
 Preview
Amongst the worst Industrail Disasters of its
time.
Occurrence: 3rd December 1984.
Place of occurrence: Bhopal, Madhya
Pradesh, India.
Company: Union Carbide Corporation.
Chemical: Methyl Isocyanate (27 tons)
 Among the 500,000 people exposed to the gas,
20,000 have died till date and 120,000 continue to
suffer devastating health effects as a result of their
exposure.
Bhopal Scenario

Union Carbide Corporation

 Union Carbide Corporation

 Started in 1969 in bhopal

 Phosgene, Monomethlyamine, Methyl
Isocyanate (MIC) and the pesticide
Carbaryl, also known as Sevin.
 Taken over by DOW Chemicals in
2001.
 DOW refused Union Carbide’s
Liabilities in Bhopal, India.
Toxic Materials in Soil and Water
Gas Vent Scrubber Gas Vent Scrubber Stack
 Effects on Human Health
 Respiratory Disorders – Irritation to the lungs, causing
coughing and/or shortness of breathing. Higher
exposure caused build up of fluids (pulmonary edema).
Caused Asthama.

 Cancer Hazard – Caused mutation (genetic changes). It

caused cancer.

 Reproductive Hazard – Association between exposure to

Methyl Isocyanate and miscarriages. It may damage the
growing fetus.May also affect fertility in men and
women.

 Traces of many toxins were found in the Brest Milk of

Animal Slaughter
Haphazard dumping of Hazardous
Material
 Compensation and Legal Aspects

 Compensation of $470 million ($500

per dead).
 Twenty years of passiveness.
 Case was reviewed and put up in
American Court.
 DOW Refused Union Carbide’s
Liabilities in Bhopal, India.
20,000 KILLED
120,000 SEVERELY AFFECTED

…And you thought only weapons

could cause Mass Destruction
 BHOPAL GAS TRAGEDY

2-3rd December 1984, was black night

for the people of Bhopal City, who lived
around the Union Carbide India Ltd.
(UCIL).
If they try to forget that black night,
they can not do it.
 Bhopal gas tragedy was an industrial
disaster that took place at a Union
Carbide pesticide plant in the Indian
city of Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.
 . Bhopal: the Union Carbide gas leak

 December 3, 1984 has become a

memorable day for the city of Bhopal in
Madya Pradesh county, India.
 Shortly after midnight, a poisonous gas
cloud escaped from the Union Carbide
India Limited (UCIL) pesticide factory.
 The cloud contained 15 metric tons of
methyl isocyanate (MIC), covering an area
of more than 30 square miles.
 The gas leak killed at least 4.000
local residents instantly
 and caused health problems such as
oedema for at least 50.000 to
perhaps 500.000 people.
 These health problems killed around
15.000 more victims in the years
that followed.
 Approximately 100.000 people still
suffer from chronic disease
consequential to gas exposure,
today.
 Research conducted by the BBC in
2004 pointed out that this pollution
still causes people to fall ill, and ten
more die every year.
 This event is now known as the
worst industrial environmental
disaster to ever have occurred.
 The cause of the accident has been
researched after the disaster.
 Apparently water ended up in MIC
storage tanks,
 causing an exothermal reaction that
released an amount of poisonous gas
large enough to open the safety valves.
 Normally scrubbers would intercept
escaping gas, but these were temporarily
out of order for repair.
 Research showed that factory
personnel neglected a number of
safety procedures.
 There were no valves to prevent
water from entering the storage
tanks.
 The cooling installation of the tanks
and the flaring installation that might
have flared the gas that was
released were out of order (fig. 1).
 These could cause nervous system
failure, liver and kidney disease and
possibly cancer for many years to come.

 Today, the location is still polluted with

thousands of tons of toxic chemicals,
such as hexachlorobenzene and mercury.
 These chemicals are stored in open
barrels. Rainfall causes rinsing out of
pollution to local drinking water sources.
 According to BBC research, some wells
even contain up to 500 times the legal
limit of these toxins.
 Local residents still suffer from a number
of diseases, which appear to be very
uncommon among people that do not live
in the disaster area.
 Safetywas very low in this factory of
Union Carbide, compared to its other
locations. The safety procedures
were neglected because of budget
cuts.
GULF WAR
 In August 1990 Iraqi forces invaded
Kuwait, starting the Gulf War in
which an allegiance of 34 nations
worldwide was involved.

 In January 1991 of the Gulf War,

Iraqi forces committed two
environmental disasters.
 The first was a major oil spill 16
kilometres off the shore of Kuwait by
dumping oil from several tankers
and opening the valves of an
offshore terminal.

 The second was the setting fire to

650 oil wells in Kuwait.
 Approximately one million tons of crude
oil was already lost to the environment,
making this the largest oil spill of human
history.

 In
the spring of 1991, as many as 500 oil
wells were still burning and the last oil
well was not extinguished until a few
months later, in November.
 The oil spills did considerable damage to
life in the Persian Gulf.
 Several months after the spill, the
poisoned waters killed 20.000 seabirds
and had caused severe damage to local
marine flora and fauna.
 The fires in the oil wells caused immense
amounts of soot and toxic fumes to enter
the atmosphere.
 This had great effects on the health of
the local population and biota for several
years.
 The pollution also had a possible impact
on local weather patterns.
 Chernobyl: Russian nuclear power plant
explosion
 On April 26, 1986 tests were
conducted in nuclear reactor 4 of
the Chernobyl nuclear power plant
in Ukraine, located 80 miles from
Kiev.
 Errors in the reactor design and errors in
judgment of the personnel of the power
plant caused cooling water to start
boiling.

 This caused reactor stress, resulting in

energy production increases to ten times
the normal level.

 Temperatures reached more than 2000

°C, causing fuel rod melting and further
cooling water boiling.
 Fire and explosion instantly killed 31
people.
 Several thousand volunteers died on the
scene, and it is estimated that 7,000 to
10,000 volunteers died in total,
considering short and long-term effects.
 Thousands of miles from the scene, the
birth
 defect rate became double the world
average
 Children of Chernobyl victims suffer from
birth defects (250% increase),
 causing cancer and heart diseases.

 Approximately 64% of all Ukrainian

children under 15 suffering from cancer
lived in the most contaminated areas.
 Genetic defects often result in mutations
causing missing limbs .
 Four dangerous substances were released,
which are not identified as such by our bodies:

 - Plutonium is recognized as iron by the body

and distributed by the blood system.
 It causes cancers and blood disorders.

 It has a half-life of 24.400 years and will be

present in a 30 km radius around the Chernobyl
site for many centuries to come

 . Cesium 137 is mistaken for potassium and in

absorbed by the muscles
 Iodine 131 is not recognized as a
radioactive substance and is therefore
absorbed by the thyroid gland.
 It causes thyroid cancer, particularly in
children between 0 and 18 years old.
 An operation can save the children, but a
scar known as the 'Belarussian Necklace'
marks them as Chernobyl victims forever

.Strontium 90 is recognized by the body
as calcium and causes leukaemia upon
distribution throughout the bone
structure
When I stand before God at the
end of my life,
 I would hope that I would not
have a single bit of talent left,
and could say,
"I used everything you gave
me." 
-Erma Bombeck
A successful person is one who
can lay a firm foundation with
the bricks that others throw at
him or her. 

 David Brinkley
 Youhave brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself in any direction
you choose.
You're on your own.
And you know what you know.
You are the guy who'll decide where to
go.
~Dr. Seuss