UNIT 5:

ENVIRONMENTAL
POLLUTION

Prof. Surendra Singh Department of

Biological Sciences, Rani Durgavati
University, Jabalpur Trikaal biotech labs,
Jabalpur Trikaal organic terrace
gardening
research & development centre,
Jabalpur Madhya Pradesh, 482001
 Topics
 Definition

 Cause, effects and control measures of :-

1. Air pollution
2. Water pollution
3. Soil pollution
4. Marine pollution
5. Noise pollution
6. Thermal pollution
7. Nuclear hazards
 Solid waste Management: Causes, effects and control measures of urban and industrial
wastes.
 Role of an individual in prevention of pollution.

 Pollution case studies

 Disaster management: floods, earthquake, cyclone and landslides.

 Definition
 Pollution has been defined by Edward as, ‘the release of substances or
energy into the environment by man in quantities that damage either his
health or the natural resources’.
 pollution is the contamination of habitat by undesirable substances.
 any undesirable change in physical, chemical, or biological characteristics
of any component of the environment i.e. air, water, soil which can cause
harmful effects on various forms of life or property.

 Pollutant:- Any substance causing Nuisance or harmful effects or

uneasiness to the organisms, then that particular substance may be called
as the pollutant.
Biodegradable pollutants –
• They are broken down by the
activity of micro-organisms
and enter into the
biogeochemical cycles.
• Examples : domestic waste
products, urine and excretory
matter, sewage, agricultural
residue, paper, wood and cloth
etc.

Non- Biodegradable pollutants –

• Theyare stronger chemical
bondage, do not break down
into simpler and harmless
products.
• include various insecticides
and other pesticides, mercury,
lead, arsenic, Ai, plastics,
TYPES OF ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION:

Objectionable change in the physical, chemical or biological

characteristics
 AIR POLLUTION

• An atmospheric condition in which certain substances are

present in concentrations which can cause undesirable effects
on man and his environment.
• The pollutants for air pollution are divided into two categories

1. The first type of pollutants known as primary pollutants are

those which are produced from a certain process like the smoke
emitted from the vehicles. Ex CO, NO, CO2, NO2

2. The second type of pollutants are termed as the secondary

pollutants and these are the ones which are generated due to
the reaction of primary pollutants with natural air eg. Smog,
NO2 or NO3
 Sources of Air pollution

A. ) Natural sources:
• are caused due to natural phenomena.
Ex: Volcanic eruptions, Forest fires, Biological
decay, Pollen grains, Marshes, Radioactive
materials.

B. ) Artificial sources:
• are created by man.
• Ex: Thermal power plants, Vehicular emissions,
Fossil fuel burning, agricultural activities etc.

C. ) Indoor air pollution:

• inside buildings, offices, and houses is called
indoor air pollution.
• primary air pollutants.
• The most important indoor air pollutant is Radon
gas.
• Radon gas is emitted from building materials like
bricks, concrete, tiles, etc that are derived from
soil containing radium
 EFFECTS OF AIR POLLUTION

1. Carbonmonoxideanddioxide-
this happens because of Deforestation and fossil fuel burning.
2. Sulfurdioxideandnitrogendioxide–
Due to other burning of sulfur containing compounds of fossil
fuels.
3. Sulfur oxides-
very dangerous to humans at a high concentration. Sulfur in the
atmosphere is responsible for acid rain.
4. Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM): Includes droplets
(aerosols) that can be suspended in atmosphere for short to
long periods.Human sources for SPM include burning coal in
power and industrial units, burning diesel and other fuels.
5. Environmental Effects: include Ozone,Photochemical , Lead
6. Human effects: They are carcinogenic ChromiumHuman
sources: Paint, Smelters, Chromium manufacture, Chromium
plating.
HARMFUL EFFECTS OF AIR POLLUTION

1.irritation of eyes, nose, throat

2.Damage to lungs, Acute and Chronic Asthma, Bronchitis
and Emphysema
3.chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, infant and
cardiovascular diseases
4.headaches, dizziness, loss of vision, decreased muscular
coordination
5. severe effects on the baby of a pregnant woman
6.respiratory problems and irritation to eyes
7.tiredness, nausea, bone marrow disease
8.Skin cancers, leukemia, cardiovascular disease
 WATER POLLUTION
• Water Pollution can be defined as alteration in physical, chemical, or
biological characteristics of water through natural or human activities
and making it unsuitable for its designated use.
• the alteration in physical, chemical and biological characteristics of
water which may cause harmful effects on humans and aquatic life.

• Pollutants include:
1. Sewage
2. Industrial effluents and
chemicals
3. Oil and other wastes
4. Chemicals in air dissolve
in rain water and from land
pollute water.
SOURCES OF WATER POLLUTION

• Most of Water Pollution is man made It may also occur naturally

by addition of soil particles through erosion animal wastes and
leaching of minerals from rocks
• The sources of water pollution can be classified as:
1. Municipal Waste Water
2. Industrial Waste
3. Inorganic Pollutants
4. Organic Pollutants
5. Agricultural Wastes
6. Marine Pollution
7. Thermal pollution
 EFFECTS OF WATER POLLUTION

1. Make freshwater unusable for drinking and

irrigation .
2. Cause skin cancer and neck damage.
3. Damage nervous system, liver and kidneys.
4. Harm fish and other aquatic life.
5. Lower crop yields.
6. Accelerate corrosion of metals exposed to
such water.
7. Genetic mutation and birth defects.
 Control measures of water
pollution
• Administration of water pollution control should be in the hands of
state or central government
• Scientific techniques should be adopted for areas of rivers, ponds or
streams.
• Industrial plants should be based on recycling operations.
• more trees should be planted.
• No Waste like treated, partially treated or untreated should be
discharged into any natural water body.
• domestic sewage must be used for irrigation.
• Public awareness must be initiated using the media .
• Laws, standards and practices should be established to prevent
water pollution with technological advancements.
• Basic and applied research in public health engineering should be
encouraged.
• The presence of toxic chemicals (pollutants
or contaminants) in soil, in high enough
concentrations to pose a risk to human
health and/or the ecosystem.
• In the case of contaminants which occur
naturally in soil, even when their levels are
not high enough to pose a risk, soil
pollution is still said to occur if the levels of
the contaminants in soil exceed the levels
that should naturally be present.
• contamination of soil by human and natural
activities which may cause harmful effect
on living organisms
 Soil Pollution
Causes

There are two

main causes through which soil pollution is generated:
Natural Pollutants Man-Made
Pollutants
1. volcanic eruptions 1. Industrial wastes
2. changes in rainfall 2. Urban wastes
3. Earthquakes 3. Agricultural practices
4. topographic changes 4. Radioactive pollutants
5. wind and glaciers 5. Biological agents as
movement pollutants
 Effects of Soil Pollution

1. Soil Erosion
2. Low yields
3. Desertification
4. Less land for cultivation
5. alter the chemical and biological properties of soil.
6. hazardous chemicals can enter into human food chain from the
soil or water, disturb the biochemical process and finally lead to
serious effects on living organisms.
Control measures of soil pollution:
• Soil erosion can be controlled by a variety of forestry and farm practices.
• Planting trees on barren slopes Contour cultivation and strip cropping.
• Reducing deforestation and substituting chemical manures by animal
wastes.
• Proper dumping of unwanted materials and Open dumping is the most
commonly practiced technique.
• Production of natural fertilizers: Bio-pesticides pesticides. Organic wastes in
animal dung may be used to prepare compost manure
• Proper hygienic condition: Lavatories should be equipped with quick and
effective disposal methods.
• Public awareness: Mass media, Educational institutions and voluntary
agencies
• Recycling and Reuse of wastes:the wastes such as paper, plastics, metals,
glasses, organics, petroleum products and industrial effluents etc should be
recycled and reused.
• Industrial wastes should be properly treated at source.
• Integrated waste treatment methods should be adopted.
• Ban on Toxic chemicals like DDT, BHC, etc which are fatal to plants and
animals.
• Nuclear explosions and improper disposal of radioactive wastes should be
 NOISE POLLUTION

• Noise pollution is excessive, displeasing human, animal, or

machine-created environmental noise that disrupts the
activity or balance of human or animal life.
• Soundbecomesundesirablewhenitdisturbsthe normal
activities such as working, sleeping, and during
conversations.
• Itismeasuredintheunitsofdecibelsandisdenoted by the dB.
 SOURCES OF NOISE POLLUTION

• Transportation systems
are the main source of
noise pollution
• Construction of buildings
• highways, and streets
noise
• air compressors,
bulldozers, loaders,
dump truck
• Industrial noise
• Loud speakers
• plumbing
• boilers
• generators
• air conditioners, fans,
and vacuum cleaners
 EFFECTS OF NOISE POLLUTION

Effects on Effects on
humans wildlife
1. it can cause physical damage to the eardrum 1. Noise pollution can interfere with an
and the sensitive hair cells of the inner ear and animal’s ability to attract a mate,
result in temporary or permanent hearing loss communicate, navigate, find food, or
known as noise-induced hearing loss. avoid predators and
2. Hearing loss does not usually occur at SPLs 2. The problem of noise pollution is
below 80 dBA, but most people repeatedly especially serious for marine animals
exposed to more than 105 dBA will have such as certain whales and dolphins.
permanent hearing loss to some extent. 3. the oceans are polluted from ships,
3. It can raise blood pressure and pulse rates, seismic tests, and oil drills.
irritability, anxiety , and mental fatigue, and 4. the loudest and most harmful sounds in
interfere with sleep. the sea are from naval sonar devices,
4. Children living in areas with high levels of whose noise can travel hundreds of
noise pollution may suffer from stress, miles through the water and is
impairments in memory and attention span. associated with mass stranding of
whales and dolphins.
 Control measures of soil
pollution
• Planting bushes and trees in and around sound
generating sources is an effective solution for noise
pollution.
• Regular servicing and tuning of automobiles.
• Social awareness programs.
• Workers should be provided ear plugs and earmuffs for
hearing protection.
• Soundproof doors and windows should be installed.
• Restrictions for usage of play loudspeakers in crowded
areas and public places.
• Factories and industries should be located far from the
residential areas.
 THERMAL POLLUTION
• Thermal Pollution of water is caused by the rise in temperature of
water.
• The main source of thermal pollution are the thermal and nuclear
power plants. The power generating plants use water as coolants
and release hot water into the original source. Sudden rise in
temperature kills fish and other aquatic animals.

Thermal pollution is defined as the addition of excess of undesirable heat to

water thereby making it harmful to man, animal or aquatic life. Thermal
pollution may also cause significant departures from nor activities of aquatic
communities.

SOURCES OF thermal pollution:

• Nuclear power plants
• Coal fired plants
• Industrial effluents
• Domestic sewage
• Hydro-electric power
Effects of Thermal pollution
• Reduction in dissolved oxygen.
• Increase in toxicity in water.
• abundance of lower organisms leading to shortage of right food
for fish at the right time.
• Interference in biological activity: control respiratory rates,
digestion, excretion, and overall development of aquatic
organisms.
• disruption to the entire ecosystem.
• Interference in reproduction.
• Direct mortalityl of aquatic organisms.
• exhaustion of microorganisms.
Control measures for thermal pollution

1. Cooling towers: Use of water from water systems for cooling systems for cooling
purposes, with subsequent return to the water way after passage through a
condenser, is called cooling process. Cooling towers transfer heat from hot water
to the atmosphere by evaporation.
• Cooling towers are of two types:
a) Wet cooling tower
b) Dry cooling tower
2. Cooling ponds: Cooling ponds are the best way to cool thermal discharges.
Heated effluents on the surface of the water in cooling ponds maximize dissipation
of heat to the atmosphere and minimize the water area and volume.
3. Spray ponds: The water coming out from condensers is allowed to pass into the
ponds through sprayers. Here water is sprayed through nozzles as fine droplets.
Heat from the fine droplets gets dissipated to the atmosphere
4. Artificial lakes: Artificial lakes are man made water bodies that offer once-
through cooling. The heated effluents can be discharged into the lake at one end
and water for cooling purposes may be withdrawn from the other end. The heat is
eventually dissipated through evaporation.
Nuclear
Pollution
 Marine Pollution

• Acidification
• The oceans are normally a natural carbon sink, absorbing carbon dioxide
from the atmosphere
• Because the levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide are increasing, the oceans
are becoming more acidic
• Oceans and coastal ecosystems play an important role in the global carbon
cycle and have removed about 25% of the carbon dioxide emitted by human
activities between 2000
• Rising ocean temperatures and ocean acidification means that the capacity
of the ocean carbon sink will gradually get weaker
 Solid waste
management
• Solid waste comprises all the waste arising from the human, animal
activities that typically useless or unwanted.
• Some of the commonly used synonyms for solid wastes are: 1. Refuse-
as most waste can be utilized as a raw material for some other
purpose. 2. Garbage- It consist of kitchen /wet waste. 3. Rubbish-
those wastes with high ash contents. 4. Scarp- wastes with high
metal content. 5. Debris- Bulky wastes such as construction wastes
SOURCES OF SOLID WASTE

(i) Residential.
(ii) Commercial
(iii) Institutional
(iv) Municipal
(v) Industrial
(vi) Construction and demolition waste.
(vii) Agricultural
(viii) Open areas: Streets, parks, vacant plots, playgrounds, beaches, highways,
recreational areas etc.

Harmful Effects of Solid

Wastes
1. Water contaminated due to improper disposal of solid waste causes diseases like diarrhoea
, dysentery, typhoid, cholera, plague, etc.
2. Solid waste modifies the physiochemical and biological properties of plants and soil.
3. Groundwater gets contaminated.
4. It enhances air and water pollution.
5. Provides breeding sites of insects and infectious organisms are produced.
6. Solid waste management involves waste collection, transportation, segregation of wastes
and disposal techniques.
In Solid waste management Discarding wastes; The
following methods are adopted for discarding wastes—
•Landfill
•Incineration and
•Composting
Methods of waste
disposal:

• Manure pits
• Burial
• Biogas plant
 Role of an individual in Prevention of Pollution

•Individuals should minimised wastage of resources such as electricity. Therefore, person should
always switch off appliances when not in use.
•Individuals should prefer walking or use cycles.
•Use mass transport, pool vehicles instead of using personal vehicles.
•Individuals should reuse items whenever possible.
•Use gunny bags made of jute instead of plastic bags.
•Take part in environment conservation drives.
•Use water resources efficiently.
•Use renewable resources as solar heaters , solar cookers.
•Dispose potentially harmful products such as cells, batteries, pesticide containers, etc properly.
•Use of refrigerators, air conditioners should be minimised, they are main source of CFC, which is
responsible for Ozone layer depletion.
•Follow and promote family planning.
•Avoid making noise producing activities such as listening to loud music.
•Use handkerchiefs instead of paper tissues.
•clean streets and clean drains with help of other people of locality.
•Spread awareness and inspire other people to prevent pollution.
 Pollution case studies
SOIL POLLUTION : MARINE POLLUTION: AIR POLLUTION :
COCA COLA SOFT (GULF WAR) Bhopal gas tragedy
DRINK BOTTLING Gulf war took place in Kuwait The careless siting of
UNIT from Jan 16- Feb 26, 1991 industries and relatively
The Coca cola bottling between Iraq & USA.During poor regulatory controls
unit at Palakad the war, American fighters leads to ill health in the
district at Kerala, dropped nearly a lakh of local .The Bhopal gas
discharged large bombs, and forced the Iraq tragedy on December 2nd
amount of sludges. army to withdraw from 1984, where Union
These sludges are Kuwait. During the retreat of Carbide's Plant leaked 43
used as fertiliser by Iraq, they have set fire nearly tons of Methyl Isocyanate
the near by 700 oil wells of Kuwait.Most and other substances, used
farmers.But, analysis of the oil wells are on shore in the manufacture of
of sludge showed that of the see, oil from oil well pesticides is one of the
it contains, toxic spills out into the sea. The worst industrial accidents
metals like cadmium burning of oil wells continued in the recent past.Of the
& lead. Analysis nearly for 10-months. Burning 5,20,000 people who were
indicate that, the of oil wells released large exposed to the gas - 8,000
level of these toxic amount of pollutants like died during the first
element would CO2& SO2 into the weekend another 8,000
pollute the land, local atmosphere. later. The impact of the
 DISASTER MANAGEMENT

Disaster management is the discipline that pertains to the preparation for disaster before it
occurs, response to disaster and support and reconstruction of society after the occurrence
of natural and man-made disasters. It is a continuous process for the protection of all
communities, regions and nations from serious hazards. In the absence of planning, a
natural event may turn into a human and economic disaster. The aim of disaster
management is to procure the most useful data for decision- making in the most cost-
effective and practical manner in the face of any kind of disaster facing humanity.

Causes of Environmental Disasters

1. Haphazard population growth
2. Poor planning
3. Environmental deterioration

The intensity of a disaster in an area is inversely proportional to the natural and man-made
protection the area has, and thus it becomes necessary to ensure that such a protection
remains intact.
 FLOODS

Floods are caused by too much rain or water in a location, when the excess water surpasses
the limits of its confines. Generally, occurrences of floods are more frequent in low-lying
lands. Some plains may periodically flood; known as a flood plain.

Factors that cause floods

• Rivers in spate due to heavy and continuous rain for a long period such as few days or
weeks
• Flowing of water much above its danger level due to inadequate capacity within the
banks of the river to contain high flows
• Breaching of water reservoir
• Storm surges
• Snowmelt
• River bank erosion and silting of riverbeds Landslides leading to obstruction of flow and
change in the river course
• Poor natural drainage
• Flow retardation due to tidal and backwater effects
• Deforestation
• Cyclone
• The resistance to the flow of water due to various reasons
 CYCLONES

A tropical cyclone is a storm system characterized by a large low-pressure centre and

numerous thunderstorms that produce strong winds and heavy rain. Tropical cyclones feed
on heat released when moist air rises, resulting in condensation of water vapours contained
in the moist air.

Effects
• cyclones can produce extremely powerful winds and torrential rain.
• they are also able to produce high waves and damaging storm surge as well as spawning
tornadoes.
• They develop over large bodies of warm water, and lose their strength if they move over
land.
• while inland regions are relatively safe, Heavy rains, however, can produce significant
flooding inland.
• on human population can be devastating, tropical cyclones can also relieve drought
conditions.
• They also carry heat and energy away from the tropics and transport it toward temperate
latitudes.
• tropical cyclones help to maintain equilibrium in the Earth’s troposphere, and a relatively
stable and warm temperature worldwide.
 Earthquake
s
Earthquakes are caused by a sudden shift or movement deep underground in the Earth’s tectonic
plates, causing the Earth’s crust to shake violently, with vibrations varying in magnitude. On the
surface, we see this as the shaking of the ground, causing damage to poorly built structures.
Earthquakes occur unpredictably along fault lines and are capable of killing thousands of people.

Effected by earthquakes: Some of the most recent and disastrous

earthquakes in recent times are:

• The 2011 Japanese Earthquake, registering a magnitude of 9.0, triggered a

massive tsunami. Over 15,000 people were killed in the disaster.
• The 2010 Haiti Earthquake, registering a magnitude of 7.0, killed an estimated
100,000-150,000 people.
• The 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake, the third largest earthquake in recorded
history, registered a moment magnitude of 9.3. The huge tsunami triggered by the
earthquake cost the lives of at least 229,000 people in 14 countries.
• The 2001 Gujarat Earthquake, measuring 7.7 on the moment magnitude scale,
killed at least 20,000 people.
 Landslides
Landslides are an extremely frequent geological event. They occur when masses of rock, earth, or
debris move down a slope, caused by disturbances in the natural stability of a slope. They are
defined as downslide of soil and rock, which happen due to natural phenomena or man-made
actions. There are various kinds of movements like falls, slides, topples, lateral spreads, and flows.

Effects

• Landslides are often secondary effects of heavy storms, volcanic eruptions and earthquakes.
• They cause high mortality, killing many thousands by burying villages and hillside houses,
by sweeping vehicles off the road into ravines.
• Death mostly results from trauma and suffocation by entrapment under debris.
• Significant damage to property is also caused like a breakdown in the water systems,
constructions, and lines of communication, and damaged crops.

Factors
1. Deforestation.
2. soil erosion.
3. construction of human settlement in landslide prone areas.
4. roads or communication lines in mountain areas.
Conclusion on Pollution
All type of pollution has their kind of negative impact on our environment. The lives of
humans and animals get impacted due to this. It is our responsibility to take various
initiatives to protect nature.
We need to fight against pollution to take steps towards a better tomorrow. If we don't stop
it now, our future generation will be I'm great danger.