Environment & Ecology

(Revision Notes)

ENVIRONMENT NOTES SAMPLE – PRELIMS 2023

CHECK OUT THE SAMPLE BELOW!

Compiled from Multiple Sources!

www.sunyaias.com| Joint Telegram Channel: t.me/sunyanotes50 | 56/3, ORN, New Delhi | (8279688595) Page 1
 Environment & Ecology
(Revision Notes)

CHAPTER 5: ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION AND DEGRADATION

1. Green Chemistry/Sustainable chemistry: It deals with the design and optimization of processes
and products in order to lower, or remove altogether, the production and use of toxic substances.
2. Water Pollution: It is addition of undesirable substance to water such as organic, inorganic,
biological and others which degrades the quality of water so that it becomes unfit for use.
• Causes of water pollution: Natural causes such as soil erosion, leaching of minerals from
rocks and decaying of organic matter; Community waste water, industrial wastes, excess
fertilizers reach groundwater by leaching, thermal pollution, marine pollution etc.
• Effects
o Aquatic ecosystem: Polluted water-> less dissolved oxygen (DO) content-> eliminates
plankton, molluscs etc.; biocides and PCBs affect sensitive aquatic organisms.
o Human health: Water borne diseases like jaundice, typhoid etc; mercury compounds in
waste water cause numbness of limbs, blurring of vision; Cadmium causes itai itai
disease also called ouch-ouch disease; lead in water cause anaemia, headache, bluish line
around the gum.
o Ground water pollution: Excess fluoride cause neuro muscular disorders and, hardening
of bones and stiff, skeletal fluorosis.
• Key terms
o Dissolved oxygen: Higher organic and inorganic wastes -> Increased rates of
decomposition and O2 consumption-> less dissolved oxygen.
§ DO < 8.0 mg L-1 is contaminated.
§ DO < 4.0 mg L-1 is highly polluted.
§ Factors: Surface turbulence, photosynthetic activity, O2 consumption by organisms
and decomposition of organic matter determine amount of DO in water
o Biological oxygen demand: Water pollution by organic wastes measured in BOD + It is
amount of dissolved oxygen needed by bacteria in decomposing the organic wastes
present in water + It is expressed in milligrams of oxygen per litre of water + Higher
value of BOD -> low DO content of water.
o Chemical oxygen demand: Measure of oxygen equivalent of requirement of oxidation
of total organic matter (both biodegradable and non-biodegradable) present in water.
o Putrescibility: It is the process of decomposition of organic matter present in water by
microorganisms using oxygen.
o Biological Magnification: Increase in the concentration of non-biodegradable toxic
materials at each trophic level of a food chain. Examples include DDT, BHC, Heptachlor,
Aldrin, Endrin etc.
o Eutrophication: When a water body becomes overly enriched with minerals and
nutrients which induce excessive growth of algae or algal bloom + It leads to oxygen
depletion of the water body.
§ Phytoplankton thrive on the excess nutrients and their population explosion covers
almost entire surface layer. This condition is known as algal bloom.

www.sunyaias.com| Joint Telegram Channel: t.me/sunyanotes50 | 56/3, ORN, New Delhi | (8279688595) Page 2
 Environment & Ecology
(Revision Notes)

• Water (Prevention and control of pollution) act, 1974: It provides for prevention and
control of water pollution and for maintenance of wholesomeness of water in the country +
It was amended in 1988.
Important Provisions:
o Establishment of Central, state and joint pollution control Boards for the prevention and
control of water pollution
o to evolve methods of utilization of sewage and suitable trade effluents in agriculture
o to inspect sewage or trade effluents, works, and plants for the treatment of sewage and
trade effluents
o It vests regulatory authority in SPCBs to establish and enforce effluent standards for
factories.
o The Act grants power to SPCB and CPCB to test equipment and to take the sample for
the purpose of analysis.
• Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Cess Act, 1977: To provide for levy and
collection of cess on water consumed by persons operating and carrying on certain types of
industrial activities + Augment resources of Central board and State boards for prevention
and control of water pollution under Water act, 1974 + Creates economic incentives for
pollution control and requires local authorities and certain designated industries to pay a cess
for water effluent discharge + Act gives a polluter a 70% rebate of the applicable cessupon
installing effluent treatment equipment.
3. Soil Pollution: Addition of substances which adversely affect physical, chemical and biological
properties of entire soil and leads to reduced productivity.
• Causes: Indiscriminate use of fertilizers, pesticides + Dumping of large quantities of solid
waste, deforestation and soil erosion + pollution due to urbanization etc.
• Sources: Industrial wastes (mercury, lead, cynides, chromates etc.), pesticides (insecticides,
fungicides, rodenticides), discarded materials (concrete, asphalt, rungs, leather, carcasses),
radioactive wastes (mining and nuclear power plants).

www.sunyaias.com| Joint Telegram Channel: t.me/sunyanotes50 | 56/3, ORN, New Delhi | (8279688595) Page 3
 Environment & Ecology
(Revision Notes)

• Effects: Agriculture (reduced nitrogen fixation, increased salinity), Health (bio

magnification, radioactive rays), Environment (reduced vegetation, ecological imbalance).
4. Noise pollution: Presence of such levels of nose in environment that are disturbing, irritating to
living beings.
• Causes: Transportation vehicles, factories and industries, loudspeakers, domestic appliances
etc.
• Effects: Loss of hearing, cardiac disturbance, sleeplessness, headache, stress tension and
aggressiveness, mental imbalance and also affects biodiversity.
• Measurement: Sound is measured in decibels; an increase of about 10 Db is double the
increase in loudness; WHO recommends that indoor levels of sound should be less than 30
Db.
• Ambient noise levels: Noise pollution control and regulations Rules, 2000 notified under
EPA, 1986.
o Industrial areas 70-75 dB
o Commercial areas 55-65 dB
o Residential areas 45-55 dB
o Silence zone 40-50 dB
• National Ambient noise monitoring network (NANMN): Through CPCB and State
pollution control boards to monitor noise on 24*7 basis in India’s seven largest cities.
5. Radioactive Pollution: Spontaneous emission of proton (α particles), electrons (β particles) and
gamma rays due to disintegration of atomic nuclei of some elements.
• Types of radiation particles
o Alpha particles: Can be blocked by a piece of paper and human skin.
o Beta particles: Penetrate through skin + Blocked by pieces of glass and metal.
o Gamma rays: Penetrate to human skin and damage cells + Blocked by a thick massive
piece of concrete.
• Non-ionising radiation: Short wave radiations such as ultraviolet rays + It has low
penetrating power + It damages eyes and injures cells of skin and blood capillaries.
• Ionising radiations: Include X-rays, cosmic rays; high penetration power and cause
breakage of macro molecules.
6. E-Waste: Electronic and electrical equipment such as desktops, air conditioners etc discarded
after their end of life.
• Three types: White goods (household appliances), Brown goods (TVs, cameras) and Grey
goods (computers, printers, scanners etc.)
• India is the fifth largest generators (around 2 mt annually) of E-waste after China, USA,
Japan and Germany.
• Impacts: They are repositories of hazardous and toxic substances such as lead, halogenated
substances, polychlorinated biphenyls etc + Refrigerators contain CFCs, HFCs-> Ozone
depletion and climate change + Damage central nervous systems, effect brain development of
children, kidney and reproductive system.
• E-Waste Management Rules, 2016
o MoEF&CC notified the rules in supersession of e-waste (Management and Handling)
rules, 2011.

www.sunyaias.com| Joint Telegram Channel: t.me/sunyanotes50 | 56/3, ORN, New Delhi | (8279688595) Page 4
 Environment & Ecology
(Revision Notes)

o Definition of E-waste: Now includes CFL and other mercury containing lamps.
o Extended producer responsibility: Recovery of 10% of waste generated by 2017-18,
which increases by 10% every year to reach 70% 2023 onwards.
o Separate producer responsibility organization (PRO) can be established by producers.
o Cost for sampling and testing of hazardous substances shall be borne by the government
for RoHS test. If product does not comply-> cost should be borne by producers.
o Role of state governments: Ensure safety, health and skill development of workers
involves in recycling operations.
o Provision for penalties + One system authorization (CPCB) for process of dismantling
and recycling.
o Deposit Refund Scheme: Producer charges an additional amount as a deposit at the
time of sale of the electrical and electronic equipment and returns it to the consumer
along with interest when the end-of-life electrical and electronic equipment is returned.
o Urban Local Bodies: Duty to collect and channelize the orphan products to authorized
dismantlers or recyclers.
• First E-waste clinic: The Bhopal Municipal corporation and CPCB joined hands to set up
country’s first e-waste clinic in Bhopal + E-waste will be collected door to door in exchange
for a fee.
7. Solid Waste: These are discarded materials which include any garbage, refuse, sludge from a
wastewater treatment plant and other discarded materials.
• Treatment and disposal of solid waste
o Open dumps: Uncovered areas used to dump solid waste of all kinds + It act as breeding
ground for flies, rats + Rainwater run-off from these dumps contaminates nearby land
and water spreading disease.
o Landfills: Garbage is dumped and pit is covered with soil, preventing breeding of flies
and rats.
o Sanitary landfills: More hygienic, lined with materials that are impermeable such as
plastics and clay and built over impermeable clay.
o Incineration plants: Process of burning waste in large furnaces at high temperature is
known as incineration + Recyclable material is segregated and rest of material is burnt
and ash is produced.
o Pyrolysis: Process of combustion in absence of oxygen or material burnt under controlled
atmosphere of oxygen + It is alternative to incineration. The gas and liquid obtained can
be used as fuels.
o Composting: Biological process in which microorganisms decompose degradable
organic waste into humus in presence of oxygen + It increases the soil’s ability to hold
water and makes the soil easier to cultivate.
o Vermiculture: Also known as earthworm farming + Earth worms added to compost
which break the waste and add excreta, making the compost very rich in nutrients.
o Bioremediation: Use of bio-culture to degrade organic waste + Environment altered to
stimulate growth of micro-organisms and degrade pollutants
§ Bio-stimulation: Widely used approach to bioremediation; stimulate natural microbial
communities with nutrients to break down contaminant.

www.sunyaias.com| Joint Telegram Channel: t.me/sunyanotes50 | 56/3, ORN, New Delhi | (8279688595) Page 5
 Environment & Ecology
(Revision Notes)

§ Bio-augmentation: Organisms selected for high degradation abilities used to inoculate

a contaminated site.
• Bio-mining: Use of separator machines to separate waste material of different sizes,
obtaining plastic, wood and metal in isolation for appropriate processing.
8. Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016
• Beyond Municipal Areas: now applicable beyond municipal areas and extend to urban
agglomerations, census towns, notified industrial townships, SEZs, state and Central
Government organizations etc.
• Source Segregation of waste has been mandated; Responsibility of Generators have been
introduced to segregate waste in three streams: Wet (Biodegradable), Dry (Plastic, metal,
wood etc), Domestic hazard wastes (diapers, napkins, empty containers of cleansing agents,
mosquito repellants, etc).
• Integration of waste pickers and dealers in the formal system by State governments, and
SHGs, or any other group to be formed
• User Fee and Spot Fine: Generator will have to pay ‘User Fee’ to waste collector and for
‘Spot Fine’ for Littering and Non-segregation.
• Provisions for Bulk and institutional generators
o All Resident Welfare and market Associations, Gated communities and institutions with
an area > 5000 sq.m should segregate waste at source in to valuable dry waste like plastic,
tin etc and handover recyclable material to either the authorized waste pickers or authorized
recyclers, or to urban local body.
• The Biodegradable waste treated through composting or bio-methanation within the
premise as far as possible.
• New township to develop in-house waste handling, and processing arrangements for
biodegradable wastes.
• Industrial Estate to earmark 5% of the total area of the plot or minimum 5 plots/sheds for
recovery and recycling facility.
• All manufactures of disposable products shall provide necessary financial assistance to
local authorities for the establishment of waste management system.
• All industrial units using fuel and located within 100km from a solid waste based RDF
plant shall make arrangements within 6 months of notification of these rules to use at least 5%
of their fuel requirement by RDF so produced.
• Non-recyclable waste having calorific value of 1500K/cal/kg or more shall not be disposed
of on landfills and shall only by utilized for generating energy either or through refuse-
derived fuel.

www.sunyaias.com| Joint Telegram Channel: t.me/sunyanotes50 | 56/3, ORN, New Delhi | (8279688595) Page 6
 Environment & Ecology
(Revision Notes)

AIR POLLUTION
1. Introduction: Air pollution is presence of any solid, liquid, gaseous and other substances in the
atmosphere in such concentration that may interfere with the normal environmental processes.
2. Causes: It is aggravated because of increasing traffic, growing cities, rapid economic
development and industrialization.
3. Primary and Secondary air pollutants
Primary Pollutants Secondary Pollutants
Directly emitted from the sources to Result of chemical and photochemical reactions
the atmosphere of of primary pollutants

Affect Living things directly and indirectly Affect living things directly. Although, they can
(by forming secondary pollutants) also affect indirectly via some intermediate

Usually Unstable pollutants Usually stable or inert

They can be control by reducing Complicated to stop because of the interlinked
anthropogenic emissions chemical reactions.
Examples: Particulate Matter, Examples: Tropospheric Ozone (O3), acid rain,
Carbon Monoxide, Sulfur dioxide, VOCs Secondary particulate matter (SPM) etc.
etc.

4. Major Air pollutants

• Carbon Monoxide: Colourless, odourless gas produced by incomplete burning of carbon-
based fuels, cigarettes etc. + It lowers amount of oxygen entering blood + Major role in the
formation of ground-level ozone and can elevate concentrations of methane.
• Carbon dioxide: It is a colorless and non-flammable gas at normal temperature and pressure,
emitted as a result of burning of coal, oil and natural gas + Concentrations of 7% may cause
suffocation, even in the presence of sufficient oxygen.
• Chloroflorocarbons (CFCs): Gases emitted from air conditioning systems and refrigeration
+ Rise to stratosphere-> reduction of ozone layer.
• Lead: Present in petrol, diesel, lead batteries, paints etc + It cause nervous system damage
and digestive problems.
• Ozone: Occurs naturally in upper layers of atmosphere + It shields earth from harmful
ultraviolet rays.
• Ground level ozone: Pollutant with high toxicity, vehicles and industries are major sources
+ It lowers our resistance to cold and pneumonia + It is formed when nitrogen oxides and
VOCs interact in the presence of sunlight.
• Benzene: Natural constituent of crude oil and is one of the elementary petrochemicals + It
increase the risk of cancer, bone marrow failure and other illnesses.
• Nitrogen Oxide: Causes smog and acid rain; produced from burning fuels like petrol,
diesel; make children susceptible to respiratory diseases; Agricultural fertilisation and the
use of nitrogen-fixing plants also contribute to atmospheric NOx.

www.sunyaias.com| Joint Telegram Channel: t.me/sunyanotes50 | 56/3, ORN, New Delhi | (8279688595) Page 7
 Environment & Ecology
(Revision Notes)

• Suspended Particulate matter: Solids in air in form of smoke, dust, vapour suspended for
extended periods + The main source of haze-> reduces visibility.
• Sulphur dioxide (SO2): India is largest emitter of anthropogenic SO2 + It is a colourless
gas, nasty and sharp smell + It reacts with other to form sulfuric acid, sulfurous acid etc.;
largest source is burning of fossil fuels by power plants and other industrial facilities + Other
sources include extracting metal from ore, volcanoes, locomotives, ships etc + It react with
other compounds to form Particulate matter (PM) + It harm trees by damaging foliage and
decreasing growth.
o Major SO2 hotspots in India: Singrauli (MP), Nevyeli (Tamilnadu), Talcher and
Jharsuguda in Odisha, Ramagundam in Telangana and Chandrapur in Maharastra.
o Norilsk smelter complex in Russia is the largest SO2 emission hotspot in the world
followed by Kriel in Mpumalanga province in South Africa.
5. Smog: Term used by HA Des Voeux; smoke + fog (smoky fog) caused by the burning of large
amounts of coal, vehicular emission and industrial fumes (Primary pollutants) + Smog contains
soot particulates like smoke, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide.
• Photochemical Smog: Also known as Los Angeles smog + It occurs most prominently in
urban areas that have large numbers of automobiles (Nitrogen oxides) + It is formed when
pollutants such as nitrogen oxides (primary pollutant) and organic compounds (primary
pollutants) react together in the presence of sunlight-> Ozone is formed + It causes a light
brownish coloration of the atmosphere, reduced visibility, plant damage, irritation of the
eyes, and respiratory distress.

Fig: Photochemical Smog

• Sulfurous smog: Also called London smog + It results from a high concentration of Sulfur
dioxide in the air and is caused by the use of sulfur-bearing fossil fuels, particularly coal +
It is aggravated by dampness and a high concentration of suspended particulate matter in the
air.
6. Indoor air pollution: Rural areas at greatest risk-> rely on traditional fuels such as firewood,
charcoal etc. + release of particulates, carbon monoxide, organic matter and formaldehyde +
Urban areas-> construction of sealed buildings, use of synthetic materials etc.
7. Pollutants
• Volatile organic compounds (VOCs): Indoor sources are perfumes, hair sprays, air
fresheners etc; cause irritation of eye, nose and throat, suspected to damage liver and other
parts of the body.

www.sunyaias.com| Joint Telegram Channel: t.me/sunyanotes50 | 56/3, ORN, New Delhi | (8279688595) Page 8
 Environment & Ecology
(Revision Notes)

• Tobacco: Smoke generates chemicals which are carcinogenic + Health effects include
burning eyes, nose and throat irritation.
• Biological pollutants: Includes pollen from plants, mite and hair from pets, fungi, parasites
and some bacteria.
• Formaldehyde: Mainly from carpets, particle boards, and insulation foam; causes irritation
to eyes and nose.
• Radon: Gas emitted naturally by the soil. Poor ventilation-> confined inside the houses and
cause lung cancers.
• Particulate pollutants: These are matter suspended in air such as dust and soot. Major
source are industries, vehicles, power plants, construction activities, oil refinery, etc + Size
ranges from 0.001 to 500 micrometres (µm) in diameter. As per CPCB, particulate size 2.5
µm or less in diameter (PM 2.5) are greatest harm + It can be inhaled deep into the lungs and
can cause respiratory symptoms, irritation, pneumoconiosis, coughing, and fibrosis – excess
deposition of fibrous tissue.
8. Fly Ash: It is a coal combustion byproduct produced in coal based thermal power plants. It is
mainly composed of Aluminum silicate, Silicon dioxide and Calcium oxide + It is oxide rich and
consist of silica, alumina, oxides of iron, calcium and magnesium and toxic metals like arsenic,
cobalt and copper + It is captured by electrostatic precipitators.
• Environment effects: Pollute air and water; causes respiratory problems, settles on leaves and
crops near -> lowers the plant yield.
• Advantages: It is a Pozzolan, a substance containing aluminous and siliceous material that
forms cement in the presence of water. Cement can be replaced by fly ash upto 35% + fly
ash bricks (light weight, high strength and durability) + reclamation of wastelands + filling
abandoned mines + enhances water holding capacity of the land + utilized in agriculture as
soil conditioners + tiles manufacturing and road embankments construction etc.
• Reducing Fly ash pollution: Washing the coal at its place of origin, capturing fly ash before
it is released in air by Chimney.
• Steps taken to Promote Fly ash
o Various notification for fly ash utilization since 1999
§ 2016 notification: Every agency engaged in construction within a radius of 300km of
coal based thermal power plant should use ash based products for construction.
§ Maharastra: First state to have Fly Ash Utilization policy.
§ GST rates on fly ash and its products reduced to 5%.
§ ASHTrack Mobile app for better management of fly ash -> act as an interface between
flyash producers and potential users such as road contractors, cement plants etc.
9. Control measures: Destroying pollutants by thermal combustion; collection of the pollutant;
arresters (separate particulate matters from contaminated air); Scrubbers (clean air for both
dust and gases); control of automobile exhaust; catalytic converter filters in vehicles; lead free
petrol etc.
10. Stubble burning: It is the practice of intentionally setting fire to straw stubble that remains after
grains, such as rice and wheat, have been harvested + Every year, when winter sets in, Delhi’s air
pollution peaks with the air quality index (AQI) often plunging to the ‘severe’ and ‘hazardous’
categories.

www.sunyaias.com| Joint Telegram Channel: t.me/sunyanotes50 | 56/3, ORN, New Delhi | (8279688595) Page 9
 Environment & Ecology
(Revision Notes)

• Torrefaction: It is a thermal process to convert biomass into a coal-like material, which

has better fuel characteristics than original biomass + Torrefied biomass is more brittle,
making grinding easier and less energy-intensive.

• Pusa bio-decomposer: It is developed by scientists at the Indian Agricultural Research

Institute, which turns crop residue to manure in 15-20 days by accelerating the
decomposition process.
• Turbo Happy Seeder (THS): It can uproot stubble and also sow seeds in the area cleared;
can then be used as mulch for the field.
11. Acid Rain: Normal rain has a pH of about 5.6. When pH falls below this; it is called acid rain (pH
4.2 to 4.4) + Caused by atmospheric pollution from acidic gases such as sulphur dioxide and oxides
of nitrogen emitted from the burning of fossil fuels.

12. Taj Trapezium zone: SC ruling, 1996-> Banned the use of coal/ coke in industries located in the
TTZ; ordered switching over from coal to natural gas + Central Government in exercise of the
powers conferred under EPA, 1986 constituted the Taj Trapezium Zone Pollution (Prevention and
Control) authority in 1998.
13. Bharat Stage Emission Standards: Instituted to regulate output of certain air pollutants by
vehicles and other equipment using internal combustion engine; standards set up by the CPCB
under MoEFCC; based on European regulations first introduced in 2000.
• BS-3: Since 2010, BS 3 norms have been enforced across the country.
• BS-4: Applicable throughout country from 1st April 2017.
• BS-5: GOI decided to skip the standards and directly move to BS-6 standards by 2020.
• BS-6: It will be applicable throughout the country from April 2020 for all vehicles.
14. Differences in BS4 and BS6 Standards

www.sunyaias.com| Joint Telegram Channel: t.me/sunyanotes50 | 56/3, ORN, New Delhi | (8279688595) Page 10
 Environment & Ecology
(Revision Notes)

• Sulphur amount: The main difference is the reduction in amount of Sulphur in fuel -> equip
vehicles with better catalytic converters.
• NOX emission: NOX emission from diesel is expected to come down by 70% and by 25%
in petrol vehicles.
• Lower limit for HC and NOx in diesel engine.

g/km g/km g/km g/km g/km Sulphur

Petrol Emission Norms CO HC NOx HC+ NOx PM
BS 3 2.3 0.2 0.15 - -
BS4 1.00 0.1 0.08 - - 50ppm
BS6 1.00 0.1 0.06 - 0.005 10ppm (10 mg/kg)
Diesel Emission Norms CO HC NOx HC+NOx PM
BS3 0.64 - 0.50 0.56 0.05
BS4 0.50 0.25 0.30 0.025 50ppm
BS 6 0.50 0.06 0.17 0.005 10ppm
15. Others:
• Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) and Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) are being
introduced with the roll-out of Bharat Stage VI norms.
• Real Driving Emission (RDE) will be introduced in India for the first time with the
implementation of Bharat Stage VI emission norms.
• Onboard Diagnostics (OD) has been made mandatory for all vehicles.
• Fuel Injection technology: Mandatory for two wheelers; first such norm in India, filter out
PMs and Nox etc.
• Sulphur conetnt: Sulphur traces in BS6 fuel is five times lower (10 ppm) as compared to
sulphur traces in BS4 fuel (50 ppm).
• Nitrogen oxide level for BS6-grade diesel engines and petrol engines will be brought down by
70% and 25%, respectively.
• Particulate matter: BS VI can bring PM in diesel cars down by 80 percent. The new norms
will bring down nitrogen oxides from diesel cars by 70 per cent and in petroleum cars by 25
per cent.
16. International Efforts
• Alliance for Clean Air: Part of WEF’s shaping the future of cities to create a shared set of
tools for analyzing the current situation and prioritizing actions.
o Clean Air Fund: It aims to harness $20 million in initial funding to provide targeted grants
to a range of organizations that are combating air pollution.
o The new Clean Air Fund aims to support projects that “democratize” air quality data,
making knowledge about air quality more widely accessible to large numbers of people in
cities.
• Climate and Clean air coalition: It aims to unite governments, civil society and private
sector, committed to improving air quality and protecting the climate by reducing short-lived
climate pollutants across sectors.
o Objective: To address short-lived climate pollutants.
o Initial focus: Methane, black carbon, and HFCs

www.sunyaias.com| Joint Telegram Channel: t.me/sunyanotes50 | 56/3, ORN, New Delhi | (8279688595) Page 11
 Environment & Ecology
(Revision Notes)

o Initiated by the governments of Bangladesh, Canada, Ghana, Mexico, Sweden and the
United States, along with UNEP.
17. Government Initiatives
• Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) : EPCA was
constituted with the objective of ‘protecting and improving’ the quality of the environment and
‘controlling environmental pollution’ in the National Capital Region + The EPCA also assists
the apex court in various environment-related matters in the region + EPCA is Supreme Court
mandated body tasked with taking various measures to tackle air pollution in the National
Capital Region + It was notified in 1998 by Environment Ministry under Environment
Protection Act, 1986.
• Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM): It replaced Environment Pollution
(Prevention and Control) Authority + formed by an ordinance in 2020 + It will be a statutory
authority + It will supersede bodies such as the central and state pollution control boards of
Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, UP and Rajasthan + To be chaired by a government official of the rank
of Secretary or Chief Secretary + The chairperson will hold the post for three years or until s/he
attains the age of 70 years + It will have members from several Ministries as well as
representatives from the stakeholder States + It will have experts from the Central Pollution
Control Board (CPCB), Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Civil Society.
o Powers and functions: Can issue directions to these state governments on issues
pertaining to air pollution + It will entertain complaints as it deems necessary for the
purpose of protecting and improving the quality of the air in the NCR and adjoining
areas + lay down parameters for control of air pollution.
• Air (Prevention and control of pollution) act, 1981: It was enacted to implement decisions
taken at Stockholm conference in 1972 + Aimed to improve quality of air and to prevent,
control, and abate air pollution + Expanded authority of the central and state boards
established under the Water act to include air pollution control.
Important Provisions
o Definitions of the terms: Section 2(a) defines an ‘air pollutants’ as any solid liquid or
gaseous substance which may cause harm or damage the environment, humans, plants,
animals, or even damage property + It defines air pollution as presence of any dangerous
pollutant that makes the air unbreathable + 1987 amendment also added ‘noise’ to the list
of harmful substances.
o Demarcation of high pollution areas: Declaration of certain heavily polluted areas as Air
pollution control area and no industrial plant shall be operated in these areas without
prior consent of the State Pollution Control Board.
o Emission control: The State Government and the respective Boards may give instructions
to under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1939 to ensure emission standards for automobiles.
o Consent from state board: All industries operating within designated air pollution control
areas must obtain a “consent” (permit) from the State Boards.
o States not having water pollution boards were required to set up air pollution boards.
o Amendment act empowered SPCB and CPCB to close a defaulting industrial plant.
o The 1987 amendment introduced a citizen’s suit provision into the Air Act and
extended the Act to include noise pollution.

www.sunyaias.com| Joint Telegram Channel: t.me/sunyanotes50 | 56/3, ORN, New Delhi | (8279688595) Page 12
 Environment & Ecology
(Revision Notes)

o Penalties: failure to comply with CPCB directives would result in imprisonment of 1

year + It is extendable to 6 years with a fine with the additional fine of Rs 5000 per day
• National Clean air program (NCAP)
o Launched by the MoEFCC in January 2019; first-ever effort in the country to frame a
national framework for air quality management with a time-bound reduction target.
o It seeks to cut the concentration of coarse PM10 and PM2.5 by at least 20% in the next
five years i.e, by 2024, with 2017 as the base year for comparison.
o The plan includes 102 non-attainment cities, across 23 states and Union territories, which
were identified by CPCB on the basis of their ambient air quality data between 2011
and 2015.
o City specific plan: Separate emergency action plan will be created for each of the 102
cities.
o Maharashtra tops the list with 17 cities including Pune and Nagpur, while UP is second
with 15 cities, including Lucknow and Varanasi.
• Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP): Formulated in 2016 and notified in 2017 for Delhi
NCR to take institutionalized measures when air quality deteriorates, hence works only as an
emergency measure.

• National Air Quality Monitoring Programme: CPCB is executing body + Objectives are
to determine the status and trends of ambient air quality; To ascertain whether the prescribed
ambient air quality standards are violated; to obtain the knowledge and understanding
necessary for developing preventive and corrective measures.
o Under the NAMP, four air pollutants SOx, NOx, Suspended Particulate Material (SPM)
and Respirable Suspended Particulate Matter (RSPM) have been identified for regular
monitoring at all the locations.
• National Ambient Air Quality Standards:12 pollutants are covered under it which are
Sulphur Dioxide (SO2) Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2), PM 10, PM2.5, Ozone (O3), Carbon
Monoxide (CO), Ammonia (NH3), Lead, Benzene (C6H6), Benzo(a)Pyrene (BaP),
Arsenic(As), Nickel (Ni). The mandate provided to the CPCB under Air (Prevention and
Control of Pollution) Act empowers it to set standards for the quality of air.

www.sunyaias.com| Joint Telegram Channel: t.me/sunyanotes50 | 56/3, ORN, New Delhi | (8279688595) Page 13
 Environment & Ecology
(Revision Notes)

• National Air Quality Index: It is a number used by government agencies to communicate

the public how polluted the air quality is or how polluted it is forecasted to become.
o Launched in Sep 2014 as part of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan by MoEFCC.
o Nodal Agency: CPCB is the nodal agency; developed color coded air-quality index to
mark hazardous levels for the public benefit.
o Six AQI categories: Good, Satisfactory, moderately polluted, poor, very poor and severe.
o 8 pollutants: PM10, PM2.5, NO2, SO2, CO, 03, NH3 and Pb.

• Clean Air better life Initiative: It is a joint initiative by NITI Aayog and CII aimed at coming
up with a roadmap to solve Delhi’s air quality crisis.
• Sameer App: It provides hourly updates on the National Air Quality Index + Developed
by the CPCB provides information on air quality for more than 100 cities + Represents the
listed cities in a colour-coded format based on their AQI levels + Also be used to file or track
complaints related to garbage dumping, vehicular emissions in a particular area.
• SAFAR App: National initiative introduced by the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) to
measure the air quality of a metropolitan city, by measuring the overall pollution level and the
location-specific air quality of the city.
o Indigenously developed by IITM, Pune and is operationalized by IMD.
o It gives out real-time air quality index on a 24x7 basis with color-coding and also
provides 72 hours advanced forecast.
o SAFAR is an integral part of India’s first Air Quality Early Warning System
operational in Delhi.
o Parameters: Temperature, rainfall, humidity, wind speed, and wind direction, UV
radiation, and solar radiation.
o Pollutants monitored: PM2.5, PM10, Ozone, Carbon Monoxide (CO), Nitrogen Oxides
(NOx), Sulfur Dioxide (SO2), Benzene, Toluene, Xylene, and Mercury.

www.sunyaias.com| Joint Telegram Channel: t.me/sunyanotes50 | 56/3, ORN, New Delhi | (8279688595) Page 14
 Environment & Ecology
(Revision Notes)

o The WMO has recognized SAFAR as a prototype activity on the basis of the high-quality
control and standards maintained in its implementation.
• Comprehensive Environment Pollution Index: It is an Environment assessment index
developed by CPCB and IIT Delhi; assess environment quality of identified industrial
clusters; help to plan individual pollution mitigation measures for air, water and soil in
respective industrial area.
• WAYU (Wind Augmentation PurifYing Unit)
o Developed to address air pollution at traffic intersections and dense traffic zones.
o Indigenously developed by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research - National
Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI).
o It has capacity to purify the air in an area of the 500-meter square.
§ Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) authority: Supreme court
mandated body to tackle air pollution in National Capital region; notified under EPA,
1986; mandated to improve quality of environment and implement Graded response
action plan in NCR; can take complaints suo motu or on the basis of a filed complaint.
18. International Efforts
• CLRTAP: It is an international convention on controlling Air Pollution + It came into force
in March 1983 and has 51 parties + Formed within the ECE, the UN Economic Commission
for Europe, United States and Canada + Aimed initially to reduce effects of acid rain through
control of the emissions of sulphur, later widened to include nitrogen pollutants, VOCs and
photochemical oxidants.
• Gothenburg Protocol: It is also known as Multi-effect protocol + It aims to abate
acidification, eutrophication and ground level ozone + Adopted by the countries of
UNECE on 30 November 1999 + It is a part of the convention on long Range
Transboundary Air Pollution + It sets emission ceilings for four pollutants Sulphur, NOx,
VOCs and ammonia + By July 2019, the revised protocol had finally been ratified by the
needed eighteen Parties, and it entered into force on 7 October 2019.

PLASTIC POLLUTION

1. Plastic pollution: India produces around 10 million tonnes of plastic per year of which around 5
million tonnes is rendered waste every year.
• Effects of Plastic pollution
o Environment: Ingestion, choking and entanglement hazards to wildlife; eventually enter the
food chain for humans as well.
o Health: Toxic chemicals such as styrene and Benzene-> Carcinogenic; nervous, respiratory
and reproductive system; vector borne diseases like Malaria, dengue due to inadequate SWM.
o Economic: Visual pollution-> affects tourism sector.
o Exacerbate disasters like floods by blocking the drains etc.
• Plastic waste management rules, 2016:
o Increased minimum thickness of plastic carry bags from 40-50 microns; minimum thickness
of plastic sheets increased to 50 microns.
o Phasing out of non-reusable Multi-layered plastic
o Expanded the coverage even to rural areas

www.sunyaias.com| Joint Telegram Channel: t.me/sunyanotes50 | 56/3, ORN, New Delhi | (8279688595) Page 15
 Environment & Ecology
(Revision Notes)

o Extended producer responsibility (EPR) for producers and generators

o Shopkeepers and vendors-> register with local authority and money collected should be used
for sustainable management of waste.
o Gainful usage of plastic waste promoted in rail construction and waste to oil conversion.
• Plastic waste management (Amendment) rules, 2022
o Single-use plastic: The manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of
it will be prohibited with effect from the 1st July, 2022.
o The ban will not apply to commodities made of compostable plastic.
o The permitted thickness of the plastic bags, currently 50 microns, will be increased
to 75 microns from 30th September, 2021, and to 120 microns from the 31st December,
2022.
o EPR certificates: allow for sale and purchase of surplus extended producer responsibility
certificates.
o Centralized online portal: centralised online portal by Central Pollution Control Board
(CPCB) for the registration as well as filing of annual returns by producers, importers and
brand-owners, plastic waste processors of plastic packaging waste by 31st March, 2022.
o For banning other plastic commodities-> government has given industry 10 years
from the date of notification for compliance.
o Environmental compensation: levied based upon polluter pays principle, with respect
to non-fulfilment of EPR targets by producers, importers and brand owners.
2. Types of Plastics
• Thermoplastics: Which can be melted when heated and hardened when cooled-> reheated,
reshaped and frozen repeatedly.
o Examples: Polyethylene Teraphtalate (PET), Low density polyethylene (LDPE) etc.
• Thermosets: After they are heated, these plastics cannot be re-melted and reformed.
o Examples: Polyurethane (PUR), Phenolic resins, Urea formaldehyde (UF) resins etc.
• Microplastics: Most plastics do not degrade; instead slowly breakdown into smaller fragments
known as microplastics.
3. Initiatives to fight plastic pollution
• Clean seas campaign: It is an initiative by UNEP launched in 2017 to reduce and eliminate use
of single use plastic, cosmetics and micro-plastic sources; engages governments, the general public
and the private sector in the fight against marine plastic pollution.
• India and Norway on sidelines of CMS COP-13 issued joint statement towards mitigating marine
plastic litter.
• World Environment Day, 2018 the world leaders vowed to “Beat Plastic Pollution” & eliminate
its use completely.
• Honolulu strategy: Framework for comprehensive and global collaborative effort to reduce
ecological, human health and economic impacts of marine debris worldwide.

www.sunyaias.com| Joint Telegram Channel: t.me/sunyanotes50 | 56/3, ORN, New Delhi | (8279688595) Page 16
 Environment & Ecology
(Revision Notes)

MERCURY POLLUTION
1. Mercury pollution: Mercury is global and ubiquitous metal that occurs naturally and has broad
uses + Human activities like mining and fossil fuel combustion have led to widespread global
mercury pollution.
• Sources of pollution: Element in earth’s crust, natural sources like volcanic eruptions and
emissions from ocean; anthropogenic sources include coal burning power plants, burning
hazardous waste, producing chlorine, breaking mercury products and spilling mercury.
• Harmful effects: It is considered as one of top ten hazardous chemicals of major public
health concern (WHO) + Bio-accumulates and bio-magnify in food chain + Methy mercury
is neurotoxin which impacts function and development of central nervous system + The
reproductive problems (fish have difficult schooling and decrease spawning success) + It
impairs mammals motor skills which affect their ability to hunt.
2. Minamata Convention: It is an international treaty signed in 2013 aimed to protect human health
and the environment from anthropogenic emissions and releases of mercury and its compounds
+ It also addresses interim storage of mercury and its disposal once it becomes waste +
It isagreed at 5th session of Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee in Geneva, Switzerland
and entered into force in 2017 + More than 140 countries including India have ratified the
convention.
• Major highlights of the convention:
o Ban on new mercury mines
o Phase-out of existing mercury mines
o Control mercury air emissions from coal-fired power plants, certain non-ferrous metals
production, cement production etc.
o Regulation of the informal sector of artisanal and small-scale gold mining.
o Phase out to reduce mercury use in certain products such as batteries, switches,
pesticides etc.
o Provision for technical assistance, information exchange, public awareness and
research and monitoring.
• Others: Convention gives five-year time to India to control and reduce emissions from new
power plants and 10 years-time for already existing power plants.

www.sunyaias.com| Joint Telegram Channel: t.me/sunyanotes50 | 56/3, ORN, New Delhi | (8279688595) Page 17
 Environment & Ecology
(Revision Notes)

NITROGEN POLLUTION
1. Nitrogen Pollution: Nitrous oxide (N2O) is three hundred times more potent green-house gas
than carbon dioxide + Nitrogen pollution is caused by emission of excess of Nitrogen from the
use of chemical fertilizers, livestock manure and burning fossil fuels etc.

2. International Nitrogen Initiative: It is an international program set up in 2003 under

sponsorship of Scientific committee on problems of environment (SCOPE) and from
International Geosphere- Biosphere program (IGBP) + It aims at optimizing nitrogen’s
beneficial role in sustainable food production and minimize negative effects on health and
environment resulting from food and energy production.
3. UNEP Colombo Declaration: It has been developed with technical support of International
Nitrogen Management System (INMS), a joint activity of the UNEP and the International
Nitrogen Initiative supported by Global Environmental Facility + It aims to halve nitrogen
waste by 2030 + It calls upon UN agencies, other international organizations, academic and
civil society organizations to support its implementation.
4. Miscellaneous
Disease Potential Sources/Cause and their effects
Pneumoconiosis Coal dust, asbestos
Byssinosis Byssinosis
Minamata Neurological disease caused by severe mercury
poisoning
Blue Baby Syndrome It is a bluish discoloration of infants skin because of
poorly oxygenated blood due to Nitrate contamination
in water.
Itai-Itai Cadmium pollution causing softening of bones; lungs
and liver cancer.
Skeletal Fluorosis Fluoride contamination causing teeth deformity,
hardening of bones and joint pains.

Trachoma Infectious eye disease caused by unclean water.

Black Foot disease Arsenic

www.sunyaias.com| Joint Telegram Channel: t.me/sunyanotes50 | 56/3, ORN, New Delhi | (8279688595) Page 18