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UNIT – II ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION

1. Defline pollution.
The unfavourable alteration of our surroundings is called pollution.
2. Name any three air pollutants, sources and effects.
No Pollutant Sources Effects
1. Carbon monoxide Cigarette smoking, fossils fuels Coma, brain cell damage
2. Nitrogen dioxide Burnings of fossils fuels Acid rain, lung damage
3. Sulphur dioxide Coal burning Breathing problem, acid rain
3. Define photochemical smog.
The brownish smoke like appearance that frequently forms on clear, sunny days over large cities with
significant amounts of automobile traffic.( Nitrogen oxides, chemical reaction with volatile
organic compounds.)
4. How will you control air pollution?
 Use only unleaded petrol.
 Encourage people to walk or use bicycles.
 Plant trees along busy streets because they remove particulates and absorb noise.
5. List the major water pollutants with examples.
 Pesticides and biocides.
 Heavy metals -mercury
 crude oil, plastics.
 Industrial and agricultural wastes- pesticides,fertilizers
6. What are points and non – point sources of water pollution?
 Point sources: Point sources are discharged pollutants at specific locations through pipes, ditches or
sewers into bodies of surface water.
 Non – point sources: They cannot be traced to any single site of discharge. They are usually large
land areas or air sheds that pollute water by runoff, subsurface flow or deposition from the atmosphere.
7. What are BOD and COD?
 BOD: Biological oxygen demand is defined as the amount of dissolved oxygen required for
aerobically decomposes biodegradable organic matter of a given volume of water.
 COD: chemical oxygen demand is the minimum level of oxygen in portable water by chemical
oxidation of K2Cr2O7 and KMnO4.
8. What is noise pollution ? When does a sound cause noise pollution ?
The unwanted, unpleasant or disagreeable sound that causes discomfort for all living beings.
Noise beyond 120 dB causes noise pollution.
9. What are the control methods of noise pollution?
 Reduction sources of noise such as heavy vehicles, old vehicles etc.,
 Use of sound absorbing filters & forestation.
10. What are the sources of thermal pollution?
Nuclear power plants, coal-fired power plant, industrial effluents, domestic sewage,Hydro- electric
power.
11. Define thermal pollution./Measures to control thermal pollution caused by industries.
 It is defined as the presence of waste heat in the water which can cause undesirable changes in the
natural environment.
 Control Measures: Methods adopted to control high temperature caused by thermal discharges are:
Cooling Towers, Cooling Ponds, Spray Ponds, Artificial Lakes etc.,
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12. Differentiate between recycling and reuse.

Recycling:- It is the processing of the discarded materials into new useful products.
Eg. Old aluminium cans and glass bottles are melted and recast into new cans and bottles.
Reuse:- Reuse of waste materials
Eg. The refillable containers, which are discarded after use, can be reused.
13. Define soil pollution. Write the sources of soil pollution?
 The contamination of soil by human and living activities which may cause harmful effects
on living beings.
Sources
 Industrial wastes & urban wastes.
 Agricultural wastes.
 Radioactive wastes & Biological wastes.
14. What is marine pollution?
In the sea the pollutants get dumped form the river, oil tankers, sewage sludge etc., to pollute the sea
or ocean. This is termed as marine pollution.
15. What are the sources & effects of marine pollution?
 Dumping the wastes.
 Oil pollution of marine water.
Effects:
 Thinning of egg shell and tissues damage of egg in birds.
 Oil films are able to retard significantly the rate of oxygen uptake by water.
16. List the sources of radioactivity.
Natural sources: The natural source is space, which emit cosmic rays. Soil, rocks, air, water, food,
radioactive radon -222, etc, also contain one or more radioactive substance.
Man – made sources: Man – made sources are nuclear power plants, X-rays, nuclear accidents,
nuclear bombs, diagnostic kits etc., where radioactive substances are used.
17. What are composting?
Bulk organic wastes are converted into fertilizing manure by biological action.
18. Define hazards wastes.
The wastes like chemicals, radioactive or biological substances which contribute to an increase in
mortality
or in serious irreversible illness to human health and environment are called as hazards wastes.
19. How nuclear wastes can be disposed safely?
Nuclear wastes are disposed safely by dumping them in a big concrete tank and throwing it in a
deeper sea or underground.
20. What are the roles of women in environment protection?
 Plant more trees, plants &Use CFC free refrigerators.
 Use renewable energy.
 They go to shopping using cloth bags to reduce white pollution
21. Differentiate between pollution control and pollution prevention?
 Pollution prevention includes the pre steps taken to avoid the pollution before it occurs.
 It includes avoiding CFC fridges, fossil fuels etc. This is more effective than control.
 Pollution Control is controlling the occurred pollution and preventing its exposure.
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PART - B
1. Explain the sources, effects and control measures of air pollution

Substance Nature Sources Health effects Environmental effects

Carbon Colourless, odourless, Cigarette smoking, Causes headaches, Increases the globe
monoxide poisonous gas. Formed incomplete burning anemia, coma, temperature.
(CO) during incomplete of fuels, motor irreversible brain
combustion of fuels vehicle exhaust cell damage &
2C + O2 → 2CO death
Nitrogen Reddish-brown Fuels burning Lung irritation & HNO3 acid deposition
dioxide irritating gas & gives in vehicles, damage damage trees, soils, &
(NO2) photochemical industrial aquatic life. It corrode
smog,Can be converted plants metals,
to nitric acid NO2 + stones on buildings,
Moisture → HNO3 statues,
monuments etc.
Sulphur Colourless, irritating Burning of coal, Breathing problems Reduce visibility, acid
dioxide gas. Formed by industrial process deposition
(SO2) combustion of coal & on trees, soils & aquatic life
oil. Can beconverted to
sulphuric acid in
atmosphere
Suspended Includes variety of particles & Burning coal in Nose & throat Reduce visibility, acid ,
particulate droplets (aerosols). industries, diesel in irritation, lung H2SO4 droplets damage
matter vehicles, agriculture, damage, bronchitis, trees,soils & aquatic life.
(SPM) unpaved roads, etc asthma, cancer
Ozone (O3) Highly reactive Nitrogen oxides, - Moderates the climate
irritating, unpleasant chemical reaction
odour gas. A major with volatile
component of organic
photochemical smog. compounds
Photochemical Brownish smoke Formed due to Breathing Damage plants & trees.
smog formed during chemical reaction problems, cough, Smog reduce visibility
automobile among nitrogen eye, nose & throat
traffic oxides irritation, heart
& hydrocarbon diseases.
Lead (Pb) Solid toxic metal Paint, smelters, lead Brain & nervous Can harm wild life
manufacture, storage system damage,
batteries, leaded petrol mental retardation in
children, digestive &
other health
problems, cause
cancer
Chromium Solid toxic metal , Paint, smelters, Perforation of nasal Can harm wild life
chromium septum, chrome holes,
manufacture,
ulcer, central nervous
chromium plating
system disease, cancer.

Control Measures
1. Source control
1. Use only unleaded petrol.
2. Use fuels that have low sulphur and ash content.
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3. Plant trees along busy streets because they remove particulates and carbon monoxide and absorb noise.
4. Industries and waste disposal sites should be situated outside the city centre.
5. Use catalytic converters to help control the emissions of carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons.
6. Houses, schools, restaurants & park should not be located on busy street.
2. Control measures in Industrial centers
1. Emission rates should be restricted to permissible levels
2. Air pollution control equipments must be made mandatory
3. Continuous monitoring of the atmosphere to know the emission level
3.Equipments used to control air pollution:Mechanical devices such as wet scrubbers, cyclone separator,
bag houses filters & electro-static Precipitators.

Electrostatic precipitator(ESP):- The ESP works on the principle of electro separation. The electrically
charged particulates present in the polluted gas are separated from the gas stream under the influence of the
electric field.
Bag house filter:- Baghouse filter operates in a manner similar to a vacumn cleaner. Polluted air is blown
down by air blower through the inlet. Dust is removed by the filter cloth. The clean air passes through the
cloth. The dust stack to the filter cloth is back washed by high pressure air jet from the jet pipe.
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Cyclone Separators:- Centrifugal force is utilized by cyclone separators to separate the particulate matter
from polluted gas. Centrifugal force pushes the dust particles towards the wall where they accumulate and
fall down in the bottom, from where they are easily collected.
Wet Scrubbers:- In scrubbers, the particulate contaminants are removed from the polluted gas stream by
incorporating the particulates
into liquid droplet.
2. Explain the sources, effects and control measures of water pollution.
Water pollution is defined as” the alteration in the physical, chemical and biological characteristics
of water which causes harmful effects on human and aquatic life”.
Sources and Effects of some common Water pollutants:

Sl Pollutants Description Sources Effects

.
1 Infectious➢ Bacteria, Viruses, ➢ Human wastes ➢ Typhoid
Agents ➢ Protozoan, ➢ Animal wastes ➢ Cholera
➢ Parasitic worms ➢ Dysentery
2 Oxygen ➢ Animal manures, ➢ Sewage, ➢ Depletion of DO,
Demanding ➢ Plant debris. ➢ Animal feedlot, ➢ Killing of aquatic life,
Wastes ➢ Paper mills ➢ Killing of fish.
3 Inorganic ➢ Acids, ➢ Surface runoff, ➢ Water is unfit for
Chemicals ➢ Metals like Pb, As, ➢ Industrial drinking
➢ Salts like NaCl and effluents, ➢ Skin cancer,
Fluorides ➢ House hold ➢ Lowers crop yield,
cleaners, ➢ Damages nerves, liver
& kidney
4 Organic ➢ Oil, Gasoline, ➢ Industrial ➢ Nervous system
Chemicals ➢ Plastics, Pesticides, Effluents, damage,
➢ Detergents. ➢ Household ➢ Cancer,
cleaners, ➢ Harms fish.
➢ Surface runoff.
5 Plant ➢ Nitrates, ➢ Sewage, ➢ Eutrophication,
Nutrients ➢ Phosphates, ➢ Manure, ➢ Blue baby syndrome,
➢ Ammonium ions. ➢ Urban fertilizers. ➢ Depletion of DO.
6 Sediments ➢ Soil, ➢ Land erosion ➢ Disrupts food chain,
➢ Silt, etc. ➢ Carry pesticides,
➢ Clog lakes
7 Radioactiv ➢ Isotopes of Iodine, ➢ Nuclear power ➢ Genetic mutation,
e Materials ➢ Isotopes of Radon, plant, Mining, ➢ Birth defects,
➢ Isotopes of ➢ Ore processing. ➢ Cancer.
Uranium.
8 Heat ➢ Excessive heat ➢ Power plants, ➢ Lower DO,
➢ Industrial plants, ➢ Kills fish.
➢ Domestic sewage.
Point and non-point sources:
i) Point Sources:
♦ Point sources are discharged pollutants at specific locations through pipes or sewages.
♦ Eg: factories, sewage treatment plants, oil tankers, etc.
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ii) Non-Point Sources:

♦ They are large land area or water shed which are polluted by surface run off whose location cannot
be identified easily.
♦ Eg: water from crop land, feedlots, urban streets, etc.

Control Measures:
• The administration of water pollution should be in the hand of state or central government.
• Scientific techniques are needed to control pollution in river, ponds or streams.
• Industrial plants should be based on recycling operations.
• The national goal should be “conservation of forests” and campaign should be “plant more trees”.
• Highly qualified and effective persons should be consulted for effective control or water pollution.
• Awareness to public through radio,TV etc.
• Afforestation can control pollution.
• Do not discharge any type of waste into water bodies
• Suitable laws, standards and practices should be framed to regulate pollution.
• Basic and applied research in public health engineering is encouraged.
• The possible of reuse or recycling of waste material should be encouraged.
• Companies should not discharge any type of waste either treated or untreated into rivers, lakes,
ponds etc.
3. Explain the sources (or) causes and effects of Noise pollution.
It is the unpleasantness of sound produced by the massive industrialization that may cause
discomfort to human beings.
Sounds and their decibel scale:
♦ Rocket engine – 180 dB
♦ Recorded music (max) – 130 dB
♦ Motor cycle – 90 dB
♦ Ordinary conversation – 70/80 dB
♦ Normal living room – 50 dB
♦ Library or soft whisper – 30 B
Sources
1. Natural source Eg. thunder
2. Household or indoor noise
E.g. banging of doors, playing children, radio, T.V, record player, domestic gadgets, moving
furniture etc.,
3. Public Address system: Use of loud speaker for religious function, birth, death, marriage,
elections, demonstrations, advertisement
4. Agricultural machines: Tractors, thrashers, harvesters, tube wells, tillers.
5. Industrial Sources: Textile mills, grinding mills, printing press, metal works, product fabrication,
generator.
6. Defence Equipment:Launching of rockets, explosion, exercising of military airplanes,
shooting practices
7. Transport noise: planes, heavy truck, buses, trains, jet planes, motor cycle, scooter
etc., Increasing traffic leads hooting of horns by impatient drivers.
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8. Miscellaneous Sources: Automobile repair shop, construction works, blasting, bulldozing, stone
crusting firing Crackers.
Effects of Noise Pollution
1. Physical Effects
➢ Speaking & hearing inability.
➢ Ear drum may be damaged
➢ Permanent deafness
2. Physiological Effect
◼ Narrowing of arteries.
◼ Headache.
◼ Decrease in heart output.
◼ Pain in the heart.
◼ Eye strain & Impairment of night vision.
◼ Decrease in the rate of colour perception.
◼ Neurotic disorder (neurosis).
◼ Muscular strain & nervous breakdown.
3. Psychological Effects
◼ Depression & fatigue which reduces efficiency of a person.
◼ Insomnia
◼ Affect psychomotor performance of a person.
◼ Emotional disturbance.
◼ Lowering of concentration.
◼ Interferes our conversation, disturb concentration & upsets mood.
Control Measures
1. Control at receivers end
Providing factory workers with ear- plugs, ear- muffs, noise helmets, head phones.
2. Control of noise at source
• By improving working methods
• Careful selection of machine tools (quieter machines)
• Proper lubrication
• Using silencers in automobiles.
• Installing noisy machines in sound proof chambers.
3. Sound insulation at construction stage
Fitting acoustic tiles, hair felt, perforated plywood on walls, ceiling, floors.
4. Acoustic Zoning or Silence Zone: Silence zones like residential areas, educational institutions,
hospitals should be protected from noise pollution. It is always constructed in quiet places far away from
urban crowed areas.
5. Legislative Measures
⚫ Framing a separate Noise Pollution Control Act.
⚫ Minimum use of loudspeakers & amplifiers especially near silence zones.
⚫ Banning pressure horns in automobiles.
⚫ Penalising noise producing vehicles.
6. Planting of trees.
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4.Explain the sources(causes),effects and control measures of thermal pollution.(Excess amount of

heat in water)
Increase in the normal temperature of water by industrial activities and makes it harmful to man,
animal, aquatic life.
Causes or Sources:
Nuclear power plants.
Coal-fired power plants.
Industrial effluents.
Domestic sewage.
Hydro-electric power plants.
Petroleum refineries.
(water is used as coolant)
Effects :
I. Physical Effects:
▪ The physical properties (viscosity, density, surface tension, gas solubility) of water changes.
▪ Evaporation rate increases.
▪ Reduce taste of water.
II. Chemical Effects:
▪ The chemical properties of water changes.
▪ Reaction rate increases with increase in temperature.
▪ Dissolved oxygen in water decreases.
▪ The rise in temperature increases toxicity of water.
III. Biological Effects:
• The change in temperature disrupts aquatic ecosystem.
• Shortens the life span of aquatic organisms.
• Thermal shock – aquatic life adapted to a certain water temperature can go into shock when the temp
is changed even 1 or 2 degrees.
• Natural migrations of fishes are affected due to formation of thermal zones.
• Fishes that are adapted to thermally pollute aquatic systems find their survival difficult at very cold.
• Increases the metabolic rate of fish, which increases their need for oxygen.
• Ecological imbalance.
• Affects overall development of aquatic organisms.
• Disease resistant in fish lowers.
Control measures:
1. Cooling ponds :Heated waste water from condenser is stored in open ponds where natural evaporation
brings down the temperature. Then the cold water can be re-circulated or discharged in nearby water
body.
2. Cooling towers: Hot water is sprayed through rising current of air due to which water vapour
transfer heat to air and gets cooled.
3. Spray ponds: Water coming out from condenser is allowed to pass into the ponds through sprayers.
The water is sprayed through nozzles as fine droplets. Heat from these fine droplets gets dissipated to
the atmosphere.
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4. Artificial lakes:The heated effluents are discharged into the lake (man-made bodies of water) at
one end and water for cooling purpose is withdrawn from other end. The heat is lost through
evaporation.

5. Explain the sources, effects and control measures of soil pollution

Any material that is thrown away as unwanted is considered as solid waste.
Depending upon the nature, solid waste classified into three types
1. Urban or Municipal wastes
2. Industrial wastes
3. Hazardous waste
1. Sources of urban / municipal waste
Urban or municipal waste include the following wastes
(a) Domestic wastes: It contains a variety of materials thrown out from the homes.
Example: Food waste, Cloth, Waste paper, Glass bottle, polythene bags, waste metal, etc.,
(a) Commercial waste: It includes the waste coming out from shops, markets, hotels, offices, institutions,
etc., Example: Waste paper, Packing material, Cans, Bottle, Bags, etc.,
(c) Construction waste: It includes the wastes of construction materials.
Example: Wood, Concrete, Debris, etc.,
(d) Biomedical waste: It includes mostly the waste organic materials.
Example: Anatomical wastes, Infectious waste, etc.,
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Type and characteristics of urban (municipal) waste

(i) Bio-degradable waste: The urban solid waste materials, that can be degrade by micro organism are
called bio-degradable waste.Example: Food, Vegetable, Tea leaves, egg shell, dry leaves, etc.,
(ii) Non-biodegradable waste: The urban solid waste materials that cannot be degraded by micro organisms
are called non-biodegradable.Example: Polythene bags, scrap metal, Glass bottles, etc.,
2. Source and characteristics of industrial wastes
The main sources of industrial wastes are chemical, industries, metal and mineral processing
industries.
i. Nuclear power plant: It generates radioactive wastes.
ii. Thermal power plant: It produces fly ash in large quantities.
iii. Chemical industries: It produces large quantities hazardous materials.
iv Other industries: Other industries produce, packing materials, rubbish, organic waste, acids,
alkalis, scrap metal, rubber, plastic, paper, glass, wood, oil, paints, dyes, etc.,
3. Hazardous Wastes: Hazardous wastes are the wastes that expose substantial danger immediately or
over a period of time to human plant or animal life.
Sources of hazardous wastes: Chemical manufacturing companies, petroleum refineries, paper mill,
smelters, radioactive substances, biological wastes and other industries.
Types and characteristics of hazardous wastes
1. Toxic waste: These are poisonous even in a small amount. Eg: cyanide compounds.
2. Reactive wastes: These waste act vigorously with air, water, heat and generate toxic gases.
Example: Gum powder, nitroglycerine
3. Corrosive waste: These wastes destroy materials and living tissue by chemical reaction. Example:
Acids & bases
4. Radioactive waste: These are from nuclear power plant and persist in the environment for thousands
of years.
5. Infectious wastes: It causes infection to others. Example: Used bandage, Human tissue from
surgery, needles ,etc.,
6. Heavy metals: lead, mercury and arsenic are hazardous substances.
7. Agricultural pollutants. Example: Fertilizers,Pesticides,,Herbicides and Weedicides.
EFFECTS OF SOIL POLLUTION

• soil productivity is reduced due to the use of pesticides.

• Garbage dumping has many types of pathogenic bacteria, viruses & rodents which may spread
typhoid, cholera, plague, malaria, etc.,
• Pollutants in the air get dissolved in rain and come down as acid rain and affects the soil fertility.
• Soil pollution also causes bio-accumulation by taking part in the food chain.
• Ground and surface water pollution.
• Burning of solid waste pollutes the atmosphere.
• People and animal come in contact with the refuses are affected by skin diseases.
• Radioactive wastes such as Strontium-90 on vegetation enters the food chain in grazing animals and
cause bone fracture.
Control measures of soil pollution:
♦ Decrease of the available farm land due to urbanization
♦ Proper dumping of unwanted materials
♦ Production of natural fertilizers
♦ Proper Hygienic condition
♦ Public awareness
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♦ Recycling and Reuse of wastes

♦ Ban on Toxic chemicals.
♦ Forestry and farm practices
6. What are the effects of improper municipal solid waste management (SWM)? State the measures
recommended for proper management of solid waste. (Flow Chart)
• Enormous amount of solid wastes are generated in developed countries.
• About 7.6 million tons of solid wastes are generated per year.
• If this is not disposed properly, this causes environmental degradation.
• Management of solid wastes is very important to minimize the adverse effects caused by them.
Types and sources of solid wastes:-
Solid wastes are broadly classified into three types
• Urban or municipal wastes
• Industrial wastes
• Hazardous wastes
a) Sources of Urban or municipal wastes: -
This includes the following wastes,
i) Domestic wastes:-
It comes from homes. Eg: Food wastes, cloths, waste paper, bottles, polythene bags, etc.
ii) Commercial wastes:-
It comes from shops, markets, hotels, offices, etc.
Eg: Waste paper, packing materials, cans, bottles, polythene bags, etc.
iii) Construction wastes:-
It comes from construction sites. Eg: wood, concrete and debris
iv) Biomedical wastes:-
It comes from hospitals and clinical laboratories. Eg: Anatomical wastes, infectious wastes, etc.
v) Bio-degradable wastes:-
They can be degraded by microorganism. Eg: Food, vegetables, egg shells, etc.
vi) Non-Biodegradable wastes:-
They cannot be degraded by microorganism. Eg: polythene bags, glass items, metal scraps, etc.
b) Sources of Industrial wastes:-
This includes the following wastes,
i) Nuclear power plants:- It generates radioactive wastes.
ii) Thermal power plants:- It generates fly ash.
iii) Chemical industries:-It generates toxic materials.
iv) Other industries:-It generates plastics, paper, glass, cement, oil, paints, etc.
c) Sources of Hazardous wastes:-
They pose danger to human, animals and plants immediately or over a period of time. This includes the
following wastes,
i) Toxic wastes:-
These are poisonous even in small dosage.
They may have immediate effect causing death or harmful when exposed over a period of time.
Eg: cyanides, chlorinated aromatic compounds.
ii) Reactive wastes:-
They react vigorously with air or water and produce poisonous gases. Eg: Gun powder, nitroglycerine, etc.
iii) Corrosive wastes:- They destroy or corrode materials by chemical reactions. Eg: Acids and Bases.
iv) Radioactive wastes:- They are from nuclear reactors and have long life in the environment.
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Eg: Isotopes of Iodine, Radon, Cesium, etc.

v) Heavy metals:- They are hazardous metals. Eg: Lead, Mercury, Arsenic, etc.
Effects of Improper Solid Waste Management:-
 Foul smell
 Breeding of vector insects
 Spoiling of land values
 Reduction of soil fertility
 Reduces productivity of soil
 Contamination of ground water
 Burning of plastics liberates toxic gases in air.

Solid waste generation

Collection of waste

Transportation

Storage

Segregation

Disposal

3Rs Land fill Incineration

Composting

Power generation

Process of Solid Waste Management:

Solid waste management includes waste generation, mode of collection, transportation, segregation
and disposal.
1. Reduction in use of raw materials: (REDUCE)
Reduce the use of raw materials will decrease the production of waste.
2. Reuse of waste material (REUSE):-The refillable container discarded after use can be reused.3.Recycling
of materials (RECYCLE):-It is the process discarded materials into new useful products. glass bottles are
melted into new bottles.
Method for discarding waste i.Land fill ii. Composting iii. Incineration
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Disposal of Solid Wastes:

i) Landfill:

♦ This is the most common and cheapest method of solid waste disposal.
♦ This is commonly employed in India.
♦ Land-fill structure is built either into the ground or on the ground.
♦ This involves spreading of solid wastes in alternate layers of 80 cm thick refuse and 20 cm thick
earth fill.
♦ After two or three years the solid wastes shrink by 30%.
♦ Then the place can be used for parks or roads.
Advantages:
♦ Simple and economical.
♦ Segregation not required.
♦ Natural minerals are returned to soil and recycled.
♦ Converts wetland and ditches into useful area.
Disadvantages:
♦ Large area is required.
♦ Heavy transportation cost.
♦ Bad odour if not covered properly.
♦ May cause fire hazards due to methane liberation in wet weather.
ii) Incineration:

♦ This is hygienic way of disposal of solid wastes. But it is an expensive technology.

♦ This is an effective method for the detoxification of combustible pathogens.
♦ In this method the municipal solid wastes are segregated into combustible and non-combustible
materials.
♦ Combustible solid wastes are burnt in a furnace called incinerator.
♦ The left out ashes and clinkers are disposed further by landfill.
Advantages:
♦ The heat produced can be used to generate electricity.
♦ Requires only a very little place.
♦ Safest and hygienic method.
♦ Transportation cost is very much less.
Disadvantages:
♦ High operating cost
♦ Skilled persons are needed
♦ Smokes and ashes can cause air pollution
iii) Composting:
♦ This method is practiced in many cities of our country. In this method the compostable materials
are separated from solid wastes.
♦ These compostable wastes are dumped in underground earthen trenches in layers of 1.5 m and
actinomycetes are added.
♦ Then this is covered with earth by 20cm and left over for decomposition.
♦ Biological decomposition starts within two or three days and finally brown coloured humus is
formed.
♦ The compost contains a lot of nitrogen essential for the growth of plants.
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Advantages:
♦ Compost increases water retention capacity of soil.
♦ Compost manure can be sold thereby reducing the disposal cost.
♦ Recycling of nutrients occur
Disadvantages:
• Segregation is needed
• Non-compostable materials are to be disposed separately
• Compost manure has no assured market.
7. Explain the various sources, effects and methods of control Nuclear Hazards.
The radiation hazard in the environment comes from ultraviolet, visible, cosmic rays, alpha, beta and gamma rays
Sources of Nuclear Hazards:-
Natural Sources – This is in space which emits cosmic rays.
Manmade Sources – (Anthropogenic sources) these are nuclear power plants, X-rays, nuclear accidents, nuclear
bombs, diagnostic kits.
Effects of Nuclear Hazards:-
• Exposure of the brain and central nervous system of high doses of radiation causes delirium, convulsions and
death within hours or days.
• The use of eye is vulnerable to radiation; they become opaque forming cataracts that impair sight.
• Acute radiation sickness is marked by vomiting; bleeding of gums and in severe cases mouth ulcers.
• Nausea and vomiting often begin a few hours after the gastrointestinal tract is exposed. Infection of the
intestinal wall can kill weeks afterwards.
• Unborn children are vulnerable to brain damage or mental retardation, especially if irradiation occurs during
formation of the central nervous system in early pregnancy.
Control measures:-
▪ Nuclear devices should never be exploded in air.
▪ In nuclear reactors, closed cycle coolant system with gaseous coolant may be used to prevent extraneous
activation products.
▪ Containments may also be employed to decrease the radioactive emissions.
▪ Extreme care should be exercised in the disposal of industrial wastes contaminated with radio nuclides.
▪ Use of high chimneys and ventilations at the working place where radioactive contamination is high. It seems
to be an effective way for dispersing pollutants.
8. Explain the causes (sources), effects and control measures of marine pollution.
Marine pollution is defined as ‘the discharge of waste substances in to the sea and affects the quality of sea
water and causes harm to living organisms.
Sources or causes:
✓ Oil spills
✓ Mining activities
✓ Thermal pollution
✓ Industrial effluents
✓ Domestic sewage
✓ Nuclear wastes
✓ Nuclear test conducted in oceans.
✓ Aquaculture practices along coastal regions.
✓ Public who use the beach pollute the regions.
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✓ Establishment of hotels, resorts along coastal regions discharge huge quantities of waste.
✓ Pollutants in air gets settled or washed down by rain.
Effects:
❖ The continuous oil films inhibit photosynthesis there by reducing growth of planktons
❖ Oil in sea affects flora & fauna.
❖ Presence of heavy metals and organic pollutants causes thinning of egg shells in birds.
❖ Thermal pollution increases T of coastal sea water and affects quality of water.
❖ Coral reef gets affected by oil.
❖ Oil spilling in sea causes abnormal decrease in the body temperature in birds resulting in
“hypothermia”.
❖ Hydrocarbons & benzo(a)pyrene accumulates in food chain & consumption of fish by man causes
cancer.
❖ It causes ecological imbalance. Some develops resistance to pollution. Some get destroyed.
❖ Pollution of coastal water makes beaches contaminated and affects quality of ground water near
sea. (due to release of sewage and garbage)
❖ Heavy metals in sea water enter into food chain and cause biomagnifications.
E.g. Hg – Miniamata disease in Japan.
Control measures:
✓ Toxic pollutants from the industries should not be discharged into the sea.
✓ Run off from the non-point areas should be prevented to reach the coastal areas.
✓ Dumping of toxic & hazardous wastes and sewage sludge should be banned.
✓ Aquaculture practices should be banned.
✓ Developmental activities in coastal areas should be minimized.
✓ Strong implementation of laws on marine pollution by the government.
✓ Coastal water should be periodically analyzed for detecting pollution levels.
✓ Soil erosion in the coastal land has to be stopped by using specific techniques.
✓ Off shore & on shore projects should be approved only after the clearances of the environmental
authorities.
✓ Public beaches should be neat & tidy.
✓ Hot water from power plants & industrial site should not be allowed to enter the marine environment.
✓ Nuclear test should not be conducted in the ocean.
✓ Depositing the nuclear wastes in marine environment is to be handled safely.
✓ Developmental activities along coastal areas should be stopped.
✓ Creating public awareness.
Cleaning process:
Physical method:
• Skimming the oil off the surface with a suction device.
Chemical method:
• Dispersion.
• Emulsification.
• Using chemical additives or coagulants.
9. Discuss the role of an individual in preventing pollution.
♦ Use public transportation or walk or ride a bicycle
♦ Plant trees around building. Reduce deforestation
♦ Turn off lights, television sets and computer when not in use. Use rechargeable batteries.
♦ Pay immediate attention to leaks in pipes.
♦ Recycle glass metal and paper.
♦ Compost garden waste. Use organic manure.
♦ Segregate waste and recycle
♦ Buy environmentally degradable products.
♦ Take some bag from home to market to purchase.
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♦ Use CFC free refrigerators.

♦ Use natural gas than coal.
♦ Use eco friendly products.
CASE STUDIES
1. BHOPAL GAS TRAGEDY:- (Air pollution)
On night of 3rd December 1984 in Bhopal city of Madhya Pradesh. At Union carbide India Ltd, which
manufacture carbonate pesticides using methyl isocyanate (MIC) Due to failure of coolant, the reactor got exploded &
40 tons of MIC leaked over 40 sq.km area.
Nature of MIC: It is a toxic gas, affects lungs, eyes & causes irritation in skin. Remove oxygen from lungs & cause
death.
Effects in Bhopal: About 5000 persons died, 1000 became blind, and 65,000 people suffered from eye, respiratory,
neuromuscular problems.

2. CHERNOBYL NUCLEAR DISASTER:- (Nuclear pollution)

In April 26 1986, melt down of the Chernobyl nuclear reactor in Russia, has leaked out the radioactive rays &
radioactive materials.
Effects: about 2000 persons died, more suffered due to degeneration of cells, severe bleeding, anemia, skin cancer,
animals and plants also affected more.

3. Nuclear holocaust in Japan during second world war:- (Nuclear pollution)

In August 1945, two atom bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nakasaki in Japan by USA. This holocaust
killed one lakh people. These two cities were totally destroyed. Atom bomb emitted powerful neutrons and gamma
radiations along with Sr-90.
Sr-90 resembles Ca and has the property of replacing Ca in the bones.

4. Minamata Epidemic :-( Marine pollution)

Minamata is a small factory town, located in Kumamoto, Japan. Manufacture of fertilizers, carbacile, plastics,
drugs, and perfumes through the use of a chemical called acetaldehyde (acetaldehyde is produced using mercury as a
compound)in 1932, started dumping an estimated 27 tons of mercury compounds into Minamata Bay From 1932 to
1968, thousands of people whose normal diet included fish from the bay, unexpectedly developed symptoms of
methyl mercury poisoning. The industry released its effluent into Miniamatta sea.
Mid-1950's people begin to notice a strange disease, (“Minamata Disease”)
Speech became slurred, and their vision constricted.
➢ Some people had serious brain damage.
➢ Loss of vision and hearing.
➢ Nervous disorders.

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