Unit- 4

Environmental Pollution and Control

Technologies

Dr.S.Srilalitha
Professor of Chemistry
 Environmental Pollution
Any alteration to air, water, soil, or food that threatens the health,
survival capability, or activities of humans or other living organisms is
called environmental pollution.

Types of Environmental Pollution

•Air Pollution •Marine Pollution

•Water Pollution •Thermal Pollution

•Noise Pollution •Radiation Pollution

•Soil Pollution •Solid Waste Pollution

 Air Pollution

Causes of Air Pollution

•Industrial emissions

•Automobiles

•Thermal power stations

•Nuclear explosions

•Nuclear power plants

•Agricultural activities

•Disposal of garbage
 Effects of Air Pollution
Effects on Human Health
•Bronchoconstriction
•Inflammation of lungs
•Oedema
•Damage to respiratory system, blood vascular system, and
excretory system
•Different types of cancers
Effects on Plants
•Chlorosis of leaves
•Bleaching of the leaf pigment
•Development of necrotic spots
•Premature falling of leaves
•Smaller leaf size
Effects on Climate
•Greenhouse effect and global warming
•Acid rain
•Ozone (O3) layer depletion
 Water Pollution
The addition of various organic and inorganic substances that change
the physical and chemical properties of water thereby leading to
detrimental effects on living organisms and reducing water usability
is termed as water pollution.

Causes of Water Pollution

•Sewage and other wastes

•Industrial waste

•Agricultural waste

•Human activities

•Customs and traditions

Effects of Water Pollution
• Leads to various waterborne diseases such as diarrheoa, typhoid,
cholera, infectious hepatitis, jaundice, etc., in human beings
•Eutrophication of water bodies

•Loss of aquatic biodiversity

Control of Water Pollution

•Treatment of domestic and industrial waste

•Control on excess use of fertilizers and pesticides in agriculture

•Strict enforcement of rules

•Public awareness
 Noise Pollution
The unwanted noise dumped into the atmosphere that leads to discomfort
and health hazards is known as noise pollution.

Sources of Noise Pollution

•Natural phenomena such as violent volcanic eruptions,
thunder, fierce storms, etc.
•Domestic appliances such as mixers, washing
machines, telephones, etc.
• Industries such mills and
factories Automobiles
•Trains, ships, and aircrafts
•Bursting of crackers and playing
loud music during social
gatherings and festivals
• Entertainment devices
such as radio, television, etc.
Effects of Noise Pollution
•Physiological disorders like anxiety, insomnia, high blood
pressure, fatigue, etc.
•Loss of working efficiency
•Annoyance
•Decline in the number of migratory birds at noisy places

Control of Noise Pollution

•Workers in factories should be provided with ear plugs and ear muffs.
•Vehicular noise can be reduced by keeping the engine clean.
•Industrial noise can be reduced by keeping the machines well
serviced.
•Noisy machines should be placed in special glass or wooden cabins.
•Special silencing devices should be designed for aircraft engines.
•More number of trees should be planted since they are effective sound
absorbers.
•Public awareness should be created.
 Soil Pollution

Any change in the physical, chemical, and biological properties of soil

due to natural or anthropogenic activities is known as soil pollution.

Causes of Soil Pollution

•Industrial waste

•Urban waste

•Mining

•Agricultural waste

•Domestic waste and garbage

•Radioactive wastes
Effects of Soil Pollution
•Reduces the fertility of the soil

•Causes an increase in the number of mosquitoes and flies, which are

vectors of several deadly diseases

•Reduces the aesthetic value of land

•Radioactive elements present in polluted soil enter human body and

cause a number of adverse health effects such as cancer, deformities in
bones, etc.
Control of Soil Pollution
•Treatment of industrial waste

•Reduction in the amount of radioactive materials released in the soil

•Reuse of paper, glass, tin, iron, etc., present in solid waste after recycling

•Reduction in the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides

 Marine Pollution
The presence of undesirable materials in the ocean environment added
directly or indirectly by humans that adversely affect biological
resources and human health is called marine pollution.

Causes of Marine Pollution

•Oil and petroleum spillage

•Toxic chemicals

•Hazardous wastes

•Raw sewage

•Thermal pollution
Effects of Marine Pollution
•Reduction in photosynthetic rate in marine plants
•Decline in volume of dissolved O2 affecting the survival of marine
organisms
•Toxicity of water by heavy metals such as mercury, arsenic,
cadmium, cyanide, etc.
•Consumption of marine food collected from polluted waters causes
various diseases

Control of Marine Pollution

• By using oleic and stearic acid which help in concentrating and

removing oil pollutants
•By recycling solid waste such as plastic, glass, metal, papers, etc.
•By establishing marine protected areas, bioregional management
approach, and negotiation of international agreements
•By ensuring maintenance and proper security of ships
 Thermal Pollution
The rise in the temperature of water due to discharge of warm water,
which is used to cool machines in factories and in nuclear and thermal
power plants, is called thermal pollution.

Sources of Thermal Pollution

• Electric power plants

• Industries

A major cause of thermal pollution is deforestation. Soil erosion and

contamination of water also cause retention of heat.
Effects of Thermal Pollution
•Increase in temperature of water decreases the concentration of
dissolved oxygen in water making it unsuitable for the survival of
aquatic life.

•Activities of certain pathogenic microorganisms accelerate due to

increase in temperature.

•Toxic pollutants as cadmium, copper, and arsenic present in heated

effluents make the water unsuitable for any purpose.
Control of Thermal Pollution
•Establishment of cooling towers in industries

•Construction of ponds for collecting hot water

•Construction of artificial lakes for the discharge of hot effluents from

where cool water can be extracted later
 Radiation Pollution
Radiation pollution is the emission of any form
of ionizing or non-ionizing radiation as a result
of natural or human activities.

Causes of Radiation Pollution

• Radioactive waste from nuclear power plants

• Nuclear explosions

• Medical use

• Radiations from luminous watches, clock dials,

X-rays from microwave, etc.
Effects of Radiation Pollution

Somatic Effects

Radiations can cause cataract, skin cancer, bone

cancer, reduction of life span, premature ageing,
cardiovascular disorders, etc.

Genetic Effects

Increase in the number of abnormal children and

increased infant mortality.
Control of Radiation Pollution

•Dense trees should be planted around atomic power plants.

•Proper management of radioactive waste should be ensured.

•Unnecessary X-ray examination should be avoided.

•During nuclear installations, various efforts including the process of

site selection, its design, construction, operation, and its short-term and
long-term effects should be seriously considered to control radiation.
 Solid Waste Management
Solid waste includes domestic wastes, commercial wastes, and
industrial wastes collected by a municipality within a given area. It is
responsible for land pollution in urban and industrial areas.
Important Sources of Solid Waste

•Domestic garbage

•Industrial waste

•Commercial waste

•Mining waste

•Radioactive waste

•Agricultural waste

•Hospital waste

•E-waste
Hazards of Solid Waste
• Solid waste helps disease-causing organisms such as mosquitoes,
flies, etc., to thrive freely and increase in population.

• It runs off with rainwater and mixes with the nearby water bodies
causing water pollution.

• Burning of solid waste leads to air pollution.

• Radioactive substances present in solid waste cause a number of

diseases in human beings.

• Solid waste reduces the aesthetic value of land.

• Non-biodegradable solid wastes such as polythene, plastic,

rubber, etc., release toxic gases when burnt hence causing air
pollution.
Treatment of Solid Waste

Solid waste management (SWM) is a three-step process:

•Collection of solid waste

•Transportation of solid waste

•Disposal of solid waste

Disposal Measures of Solid Waste

•Open dumping

•Land fill

•Ocean dumping

•Incineration

•Composting

•Source reduction
5 Rs of Solid Waste Management

•Refuse

•Reduce

•Reuse

•Repair

•Recycle
 Disaster Management
A disaster is defined as a sudden event or calamity that causes large-
scale damage and destruction of human life and property.

Types of Disasters
Natural Disasters

•Air-related – Hurricanes, cyclones, storms, etc.

•Water-related – Floods, drought, etc.
• Earth-related – Earthquakes, landslides, volcanic eruptions,
etc.

Man-made Disasters

•Industrial accidents
•Wars, riots, terrorism, etc.
•Toxic spills
•Transportation accidents
Earthquake

The term earthquake is used to describe any seismic event, caused

naturally or as a consequence of human activities, that leads to the
generation of devastating seismic waves.

Causes of Earthquake

•Movement of hot gases and magma

•Volcanic activities

•Stress buildup due to water pressure

•Tectonic stress generated by movement of tectonic plates

Effects of Earthquake
•Large-scale damage to life and property

•Destruction and demolition of buildings, dams, etc.

•Increased incidence of fire, landslides, etc.

•Increased incidence of tsunami waves, leading to inundation in coastal

areas
Management of Earthquakes

•Marking earthquake-sensitive areas

•Construction of houses, factories, dams, bridges, etc., with appropriate

design and materials and strategically placed vibration absorbers

•Forecast and early prediction of earthquakes

•Creating public awareness regarding the steps to be taken during

emergencies

•Relief measures through timely support by individuals, government,

and non-governmental organizations
 Landslides
Landslides are natural phenomena during which large amounts of
landmass slide downwards from hilly areas, mainly because of
gravity, destroying everything lying in the path.

Causes of Landslides

•Earthquakes

•Glaciers

•Torrential rain

•Construction of dams, bridges, tunnels, roads, etc

•Use of explosives for breaking rocks during mining

•Deforestation of mountain slopes

Effects of Landslides
• Rocks, large debris, and sliding landmasses destroy urban and rural
habitation

• Damage to roads, dams, bridges, etc.

• Obstruction of river flow increasing the incidence of flood

• Severe damage to crops and agricultural lands

Management of Landslides
• Construction activities should be done only after properly evaluating the
geological and geographic conditions.

• Regulating rate of water flow also helps in controlling landslides.

• Agriculture at slopes should be avoided as far as possible.

• Relief task through economic help supporting resettlement and

rehabilitation of affected people at individual, community, and
organizational levels should be carried out.
 Contents
Floods
The accumulation of a large quantity of water at a place or the presence
of more water than can be handled by the drainage of the area is known
as flood.

Types of Floods

•Flash floods

•River floods

•Coastal floods
Causes of Floods

•Deforestation

•Urbanization

•Change in river course

•Riparian dams

•Man-made impediments in river channels

•Uncertain rainfall
Effects of Floods

•Damage to agricultural crops

•Damage to life and property

•Disturbances in transportation

•Increase in populations of disease

vectors and pathogens

•Loss of biodiversity

•Economic crisis
Control of Floods

• Plantation on slopes

• Drainage management

• Flood plain zoning

• Forecasting
 Cyclones
In northern hemisphere, a cyclone refers to an area of low atmospheric
pressure surrounded by a wind system in a counter-clockwise direction.

Effects of Cyclones

•Cyclones generate storm surges.

•They damage installations,

dwellings, communication systems,
trees, etc., resulting in loss of life
and property.

•They may cause river floods and

submergence of low-lying areas.

•They pollute drinking water sources

causing outbreak of epidemics.
Management of Cyclones

•Forecasting

•Proper construction of houses

•Relief tasks

•Development of warning systems

•Construction of cyclone shelters in the cyclone-prone areas

•Community preparedness at all levels to deal with emergency

situations
Role of an Individual in Prevention of Environmental Pollution
•Less use of automobiles. Use of bicycle for short distances

•Plantation of more and more trees

•Reduction in dumping of waste on land

•Minimizing the use of insecticides, pesticides, and chemical fertilizers in

agriculture

•Proper and appropriate utilization of water

•Saving electricity and using natural renewable energy resources as far as possible

•Promoting environmental awareness and actively participating in public hearing on

environmental issues

•Keeping the city and surroundings clean

•Use of paper and cloth bags instead of using polythene bags

•Adopting and popularizing renewable energy resources