ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION

• The unfavourable changes in physical , chemical and biological

characteristics of surroundings that is air, water, soil due to
several human activities that causes harmful effect on our life
or that of other desirable species and cultural assets.
• POLLUTANTS: The materials which cause pollution of the
environment.
• Examples : Gaseous pollutants, metallic contaminants,
pesticides, toxic organic and inorganic
compounds,carcinogens,mutagens , teratogens, radioactive
substances.
SOURCES AND CAUSES OF ENVIRONMENT
1. Industrial activity
2. Dumping solid waste
3. Vehicles
4. Rapid urbanisation and industrialization
5. Population overgrowth
6. Combustion of fossil fuels
7. Agricultural waste
 TYPES OF POLLUTANT
• NATURAL DISPOSAL– 1. Non biodegradable-example
DDT( Dichloro diphenyl trichloro ethane)
2. Biodegradable-examples smoke, smog
, dust particles, metal like iron, lead, zinc etc.
EXISTENCE –1. Qualitative –Naturally do not occur in nature but
passed through human activities. Examples DDT, pesticides .
2. Quantitative—components whose concentration
reaches beyond a threshold volume, then they act as
pollutants. Examples –concentration of Co2,CO, No2 in the
atmosphere released by means of fires from different
industries.
• PRIMARY POLLUTANT– Substances which persists in form in
which they are directly added to the environment from some
identifiable sources. Eg. DDT
• SECONDARY POLLUTANT– Caused due to interaction among
primary pollutants. Examples PAN (Peroxy acetyl nitrate),
ozone, sulpherdi oxide etc.
• INDOOR POLLUTANT: Mosquito repellants, pesticides, paints,
varnishes,cigaratte, smoke etc.
• OUTDOOR POLLUTANT: Automobile, mining, and industrial
pollutants
 AIR POLLUTION
• The process by which some natural phenomenon or human
activities increase the amount of solid waste or concentration
of gases other than oxygen in the air which are harmful to man
and his environment.
• TYPES OF AIR POLLUTANT: 1. Gaseous pollutants- Important
gaseous pollutants are carbon di oxide, carbon mono oxide,
oxides of nitrogen, sulphur, hydrogen sulphide, hydrocarbons,
ozone and other oxidant.
• 2. Particulate pollutants- Air borne particulate materials
consists of both solid and liquid particles. They vary in size,
ranging from 0.01micron to 20 micron. Particles with least
diameter are present in aerosols.
 AIR POLLUTION
• SOURCES OF AIR POLLUTION
1.Point sources- These are sources which cause direct release of
air pollutants.
Examples: The emission of gases from industry through a
chimney.
2. Non point sources-These are sources which release substances
which are capable of undergoing chemical reactions in the
atmosphere to generate air pollutants.
3. Man made or anthropogenic sources- These are sources which
generate air pollutant by human activities.
 AIR POLLUTION
CLASSIFICATION OF AIR POLLUTANT- 1. GASEOUS AIR POLLUTANT–
Sulphur di oxide, nitrogen oxides, carbon mono oxides, carbon di
oxides.
2. PARTICULATE AIR POLLUTANT- Dust, mist, fumes, smoke, aerosols,
fog, fly ash soot, smog etc.
3. PRIMARY AIR POLLUTANT- Directly emitted from the sources like
carbon di oxide, sulphur di oxides, smoke etc.
4. SECONDARY AIR POLLUTANT- Formed by chemical reactions
among primary pollutants and chemical species present in
atmosphere.
5. INDOOR AIR POLLUTANT- Mosquito
repellant,pesticides,paints,glues,varnishes,cigaratte,smoke etc.
 DIFFERENT TYPES OF AIR POLLUTANTS AND
THEIR CONSEQUENCES
Carbon monoxides– Sources: 1. Forest Fire
2. Agricultural burning
3. Incomplete combustion of fossil fuels
4. Tobacco smoking
5. Automobile exhausts.
Effects: 1. Reduce oxygen carrying capacity by forming car
boxy haemoglobin compounds.
2. Decrease in vision and causes cardio vascular disorder
• Carbon dioxides: Sources- 1. Fossil fuel combustion
• 2. Jet plane use oxygen and release carbon dioxide.
• 3. Burning
Effects- 1. causes headache and nausea.
2.Effects on climate, increase global temperature.

• Sulphur dioxide- Sources- 1. Combustion of coal and

petroleum products
• 2. sulphuric acid plants
• 3.metallurgical operations
• Effects of sulphur dioxides- 1.Irritation of throat
and eyes
• 2. Suffocation
• 3. Asthma
• 4. Chronic bronchitis
• Oxides of nitrogen: Sources- 1.Nitric acid plants
• 2. Automobile exhausts
• 3. Explosives
• 4.Fertilizer industries
• Effects- 1. Headache
• 2. Respiratory irritation
• 3. impairment of lung defences
• 4. corrosion of teeth
• 5. loss of appetite
Mercury
Sources- 1.Mining and refining of mercury
2. industries linked with manufacture of medical products
Effect- 1.Inhalation of mercury vapours cause toxic effects
2. Highly toxic organo mercurical may cause damage of brain and nervous
system.
• LEAD
Sources- 1. Automobile emission, electroplating waste, plumbing, lead
paint industry, printing etc.
Effects- Liver and kidney damages, mental retardation in children,
abnormalities in fertility and pregnancy, gastrointestinal damage.
Particulates matter OR Suspended Particulates matter -
Mixture of solid particles and liquid droplets suspended in the air
having the diameter size of 0.0002micrometers to 500 micrometers.
TYPES-A. Coarse particles- Diameter size greater than 2.5 micrometers
and less than 10 micrometers
B. Fine particles- less than 2.5micrometer.
• Sources of particulate matter- 1. volcanoes, 2.
Blowing of dust and soil by wind, 3.Forest and grassland fire,
3.fly ash from smelters and mining operations, 4. Smoke from
incomplete combustion.
• Effects- 1.Chronic respiratory disease 2. Bronchitis, 3.
Asthma increase, 4. Birth defects, 5. Lung cancer, 6. Asbestosis
• Fly Ash- When coal burns it gives rise to a wide range of
particulate matter mainly the metal oxides.
• Smog- Smog is the combination of various gases with water
vapour and fine particles. Smoke particles get trapped in the
fog giving it a yellow or black colour. It is dangerous for plants,
animals, human beings and materials.
• There are two different types of smog-
Photochemical Smog- This smog is produced when
sunlight acts upon motor vehicle exhaust gases such as
nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds. Ozone,
aldehydes, peroxyacetyl nitrates and volatile organic
compounds are the main components of photochemicalsmog.
• Effects of photochemical smog- Ozone which is the
main components of photochemical smog causes sore
throats, inflammation, discharges in nasal passage.
• In plants ozone attacks plants mainly citrus fruits, potatoes,
legumes, soybeans etc.
• 2. London smog- When sulphur is emitted in large
amount and air contains high liquid water contents, then
London smog is formed. In 1952, 4000 deaths cause in London
due to yellow fog.
 CONTROL OF AIR POLLUTION
• DEVICE TO CONTROL AIR POLLUTION
1. CATALYTIC CONVERTER- These are used in almost all of the
vehicle to decrease air pollution. These convert pollutants
into less harmful product. Carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides,
volatile organic compounds are converted to nitrogen,
carbon di oxide and water.
2. GRAVITY SETTLING CHAMBER- It is the least efficient one. Gas
containing particulate matter enters into the chamber by the
inlet. Particulate matter is separated from the gas inside the
chamber .But they are not suitable for particles less than 60
microns.
• ELECTROSTATIC PRECIPITATOR- It is the most efficient method
among all these methods and it can separated very small
sized particulates.
• CYCLONE SEPARATORS
• FABRIC FILTER.
• WET SCUBBER etc
 WATER POLLUTION
• Water pollution is defined as presence of any foreign
substance or energy in water in such concentration and for
such duration that tends to degrade the quality of water so
that humans, animals or any other organism cannot enjoy
the beneficial qualities of water but the use constitutes a
hazards.
• SOURCES OF WATER POLLUTION-
• 1. Point sources- Example-Municipal and industrial
• 2. Non point sources-Mining runoff and acid rain.
• ANOTHER SOURCES OF WATER POLLUTION-
• 1. Municipal pollution- Domestic sewage which includes the discharges from
toilets, wash room, kitchens, institutions, commercial and industrial buildings etc.

• 2. Agricultural pollution- Waste from agricultural practices like plant nutrients,

insecticides, pesticides etc are also introduced into water.

• 3.Mining Pollution- Fines or tailing from ore washing are disposed off in water
suspensions, which are ultimately transferred to the natural stream and
which,thus,get polluted.

• 4.Industrial pollution- Most of rivers and fresh water streams are seriously
polluted due to industrial effluents. These contain both organic and inorganic
hazardous materials and non biodegradable one too.
 ORIGIN AND EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT WATER
POLLUTANT
• PATHOGEN--- disease causing agent like protozoa,
viruses,helminth.
SOURCE
1. Sewage discharge
2. Waste water from industries
3. Meat processing
EFFECTS---
1. Cholera, Typhoid, Dysentery,
Polio,Giardiasis,Hepatitis.
• NUTRIENT---Chemical elements and compounds which are
needed for growth of living things. Nitrogen,phosphorus,carbon,
sulphur ,calcium, potassium etc are examples of nutrient.
• SOURCES– 1.agricultural runoff
2.Waste water from fertilizer industries.
3. Sewage disposal
EFFECTS– Eutrophication-Nutrients can increase the growth of
algae and other organic matter. Leads to algal bloom. The
dissolved oxygen of water is used up by them. Many fish and
other animals are killed due to lack of dissolved oxygen. This
disturb the nitrogen and phosphorus cycle.
• HEAVY METALS– SOURCES
• 1. Mining and processing of ores.
2. Mine drainage and leaching of mining wastes.
3. power plants
4. weapons production industries.
Effects-
Mercury Nitrates– Causes minamata disease ( Japan 1952), Blue
baby syndrome in infants. Chromosomal damage.
Lead- Dyslexia disease Nausea, vomoting,loss of appetite anaemia,
damage to liver, kidney, brain cells, mental retardation, increase
blood pressure, loss of muscle elastricity.
• Arsenic-Black foot disease causes diarrhoea.
• Cadmium-Itai-Itai disease. Deformities in skeletal system,
heart diseases, high blood pressure, Anaemia, brittle bone,
severe pain in bones and joints.
• Fluoride—Knock knee disease. A condition of having the
knees turned inward.
• Zinc– Cramps, renal damage.
• Copper –Uraemia
• Chromium– Gastrointestinal ulcers, disorders developed in
the nervous system.
 CONTROL OF WATER POLLUTION
• Waste water Treatment process- Waste water treatment operates in
following four sequences..
• 1.Pre treatment—Large solid like plastics, sticks, rags can be easily removed during
this treatment.
• 2. Primary treatment—In this steps grinder, separators can be used. It uses screening
process, communitor, grit chambers etc. Metals ,rocks are caught in this process.
• 3 Secondary treatment- Secondary treatment process mainly involves the biological
treatment process. Micro organisms degrade the biological content of the sewage.
Following are the commonly used methods for secondary treatment processes..
1.Trickling filter.
2. Rotating Biological Contactor
3. Activated sludge
4. Oxidation Pond.
• Activated Sludge- This method uses the suspended
growth of microorganisms to remove biological oxygen
demand and suspended solids in water.
• Oxidation pond- they are used to receive waste water that
has been already passed through a stabilization pond or
primary settling tanks.
• Tertiary treatment
 NOISE POLLUTION
• Vibrations transmitted through an elastic medium like air,
water, soil with frequencies in the approximate range of 20 to
20,000 hertz capable of being detected by ears is known as
sounds.
• The word noise comes from Latin word nausea meaning sea
sickness.
• Noise pollution is defined as environmental noise or an
unwanted sound that is annoying , distracting, physically
harmful.
• Decibel is used as a measure of sound intensity level.
• Sound level 80dB—Level of tolerance
• 90dB– Hearing loss begins if a person is exposed for eight
hours a day.
• 140dB – Painful level of noise
• 180dB—Very harmful level.
The Noise pollution ( Regulation and Control ) Rules, 2000 of the central govt. –
Area Limits in dB
Day Time Night time
1.Industrial Area 75 70
2.Commercial Area 65 55
3.Residential Area 55 45
4.Slience Zone 50 40
SOIL OR LAND POLLUTION