Written by Aakash Raj

ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
 Environmental Pollution can be defined as any undesirable change
in physical, chemical, or biological characteristics of any
component of the environment i.e. air, water, soil which can cause
harmful effects on various forms of life or property.
 Pollution: The term pollution can be defined as influence of any
substance causing nuisance, harmful effects, and uneasiness to the
organisms
 Pollutant:- Any substance causing Nuisance or harmful effects or
uneasiness to the organisms, then that particular substance may
be called as the pollutant.

TYPES OF POLLUTION
 WATER POLLUTION
 AIR POLLUTION
 LAND and SOIL POLLUTION
 MARIN POLLUTION
 NOISE POLLUTION
 THERMAL POLLUTION
 NUCLEAR HAZARDS

WATER POLLUTION

 Water Pollution can be defined as alteration in
physical, chemical, or biological characteristics of
water through natural or human activities and
making it unsuitable for its designated use.
 Fresh Water present on the earth surface is put to
many uses. It is used for drinking, domestic and
municipal uses, agricultural, irrigation, industries,
navigation, recreation. The used water becomes
contaminated and is called waste water.

SOURCES OF WATER POLLUTION
 Most of Water Pollution is man made It may also occur
naturally by addition of soil particles through erosion animal
wastes and leaching of minerals from rocks
 The sources of water pollution can be classified as
 Municipal Waste Water
 Industrial Waste
 Inorganic Pollutants
 Organic Pollutants
 Agricultural Wastes
 Marine Pollution
 Thermal pollution

MUNICIPAL WASTE WATER

INDUSTRIAL WASTE
The major source of water pollution is the
waste water discharged from industries
and commercial bodies, these industries
are chemical, metallurgical, food
processing industries, textile, paper
industries. They discharge several
organic and inorganic pollutants. That
prove highly toxic to living beings.

INDUSTRIAL WASTE

INORGANIC POLLUTANTS
 They include fine particles of different metals, chlorides,
sulphates, oxides of iron, cadmium, acids and alkalies.

ORGANIC POLLUTANTS
 They Include oils, fats, phenols, organic acids grease and
several other organic compounds

AGRICULTURAL WASTES
 Chemical fertilizers and pesticides have
become essential for present day high
yielding crops.
 Consequently , they have become a
potential source of water pollution. These
fertilizers contain major plants nutrients
mainly nitrogen, phosphorous, and
potassium.
 Excess fertilizers may reach the ground
water by leaching or may be mixed with
surface water of rivers, lakes and ponds
by runoff and drainage.

MARINE POLLUTION
 Ocean are the final sink of all natural and manmade
pollutants. Rivers discharge their pollutants into the sea.
The sewage and garbage of costal cities are also dumped
into the sea. The other sources include, discharge of oils,
grease, detergents, and radioactive wastes from ships.

THERMAL POLLUTION
 Thermal Pollution of water is caused by the rise in
temperature of water. The main source of thermal pollution
are the thermal and nuclear power plants. The power
generating plants use water as coolants and release hot
water into the original source. Sudden rise in temperature
kills fish and other aquatic animals.

AIR POLLUTION

 Air pollution is the introduction of chemicals,
particulate matter, or biological materials that
cause harm or discomfort to humans or other living
organisms, or cause damage to the natural
environment or built environment, into the
atmosphere.
 A substance in the air that can cause harm to
humans and the environment is known as an air
pollutant.

CAUSES OF AIR POLLUTION
 Carbon dioxide-this happens because of
Deforestation and fossil fuel burning.
 Sulfur dioxide –Due to the burning of sulfur
containing compounds of fossil fuels.
 Sulfur oxides- very dangerous to humans at a
high concentration. Sulfur in the atmosphere is
responsible for acid rain.

CONSEQUENCES OF AIR POLLUTION
 CO2 is a good transmitter of sunlight, but it also
partially restricts infrared radiation going back
from the earth into space, which produces the so-
called greenhouse effect that prevents a drastic
cooling of the Earth during the night.
 CO2 in atmosphere --> GLOBAL WARMING

LAND POLLUTION

 Land pollution is the demolition of Earth's land
surfaces often caused by human activities and their
misuse of land resources. It occurs when waste is
not disposed properly.
 Urbanization and industrialization are major
causes of land pollution.

CAUSES OF LAND POLLUTION
Four Main causes of land pollution:
Construction
Agriculture
Domestic waste
Industrial Waste

CONSTRUCTION
 Buildings take up resources and land, the trees are
chopped down and used to make buildings.
 Takes away the places for animals and other
organisms to live.

AGRICULTURE
 As there are more and more people inhabiting the
earth, food is in higher demand and so forests are
chopped down and turned into farmland
 In addition, herbicides, pesticides, artificial
fertilizers, animal manure are washed into the soil
and pollute it.

DOMESTIC WASTE
 Tons of domestic waste is dumped every day. Some waste
from homes, offices and industries can be recycled or
burnt in incinerators .
 There is still a lot of garbage, such as refrigerators and
washing machines that are dumped in landfills simply
because they cannot be reused in anyway, nor recycled .

INDUSTRIAL WASTE
 Plastics factories, chemical plants, oil refineries,
nuclear waste disposal activity, large animal farms,
coal-fired power plants, metals production factories
and other heavy industry all contribute to land
pollution.

Marine
Pollution

Introduction
• The sea is indispensable to life on earth
• Coral reefs.
• Marine accidents potentially cause serious harm .

What has Happened &
What can happen

What has Happened &
What can happen

What has Happened &
What can happen

What has Happened &
What can happen

What has Happened &
What can happen

Causes :
• Toxic Ocean Pollutants:
Sources : The leaking of landfills, dumps, mines
and farms.
Enters our food chain .
Lead: Affects brain, kidneys.
Effects :
• Food poisoning.

Causes:
• Marine Garbage :
• Virtual dumping ground for trash.
• Fishing nets, plastics, general household garbage.
• Animals sometimes eat trash products and die.
Effects :
• Depletes the oxygen

Causes:
• Sewage Disposal in Ocean
• Great Stink of London
• Nutrient loading in the ocean ecosystem.
Effects :
•Poisoning of shellfish fisheries.

Causes:
• Non-Point Pollutants
• Sources : Farmland, Industries, Urban &
Atmospheric Runoffs .
• Eutrophication.
Effects :
•Contaminate coastal swimming areas and seafood,
spreading cholera, typhoid and other diseases

Conventions :
• London Convention
• 1973 Convention
• The Protocol of 1997
• The 2006 amendments

Prevention & Control :
• Spills - Detection and Cleanup
• Strict discipline
• emergency contingency plan
• Oil spill clean up equipment

• Domestic sewage
• Green infrastructure approach
• Septic tank

• Industrial wastewater treatment
• Dissolved air flotation

• Urban runoff
• Best management practices

Conclusion:
• What is our future ?
• Preserve the continental biotopes.
• Brighter future for our oceans.

NOISE POLLUTION

 Noise pollution is excessive, displeasing human,
animal, or machine-created environmental noise
that disrupts the activity or balance of human or
animal life.
 Sound becomes undesirable when it disturbs the
normal activities such as working, sleeping, and
during conversations.
 World Health Organization stated that “Noise must
be recognized as a major threat to human well-
being”

SOURCES OF NOISE POLLUTION
 Transportation systems are the main source of noise
pollution in urban areas.
 Construction of buildings, highways, and streets cause a lot
of noise, due to the usage of air compressors, bulldozers,
loaders, dump trucks, and pavement breakers.
 Industrial noise also adds to the already unfavorable
state of noise pollution.
 Loud speakers, plumbing, boilers, generators, air
conditioners, fans, and vacuum cleaners add to the existing
noise pollution.

EFFECTS OF NOISE POLLUTION
 According to the USEPA, there are direct links between
noise and health. Also, noise pollution adversely affects the
lives of millions of people.
 Noise pollution can damage physiological and
psychological health.
 High blood pressure, stress related illness, sleep disruption,
hearing loss, and productivity loss are the problems related
to noise pollution.
 It can also cause memory loss, severe depression, and panic
attacks.

SOLUTIONS FOR NOISE POLLUTION
 Planting bushes and trees in and around sound
generating sources is an effective solution for noise
pollution.
 Regular servicing and tuning of automobiles can
effectively reduce the noise pollution
 Social awareness programs should be taken up to educate
the public about the causes and effects of noise pollution.
 Workers should be provided with equipments such as ear
plugs and earmuffs for hearing protection.

 Similar to automobiles, lubrication of the machinery
and servicing should be done to minimize noise
generation.
 Soundproof doors and windows can be installed to
block unwanted noise from outside.
 Regulations should be imposed to restrict the usage
of play loudspeakers in crowded areas and public
places.
 Factories and industries should be located far from
the residential areas.

THERMAL POLLUTION

Nuclear Power Plants
 Nuclear power plants use
water as a cooling agent.
 After the water is used,
it is put back into a
water supply at 9-20oC
warmer
This 1988 thermal image of the Hudson
River highlights temperature changes
caused by discharge of 2.5 billion gallons
of water each day from the Indian Point
power plant. The plant sits in the upper
right of the photo — hot water in the
discharge canal is visible in yellow and
red, spreading and cooling across the

CAUSES
DISCHARGE OF HEATED WATER OR HOT
WASTE MATERIAL INTO WATER BODIES
FROM
 NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS
 INDUSTRIAL EFFLUENTS
 DOMESTIC SEWAGE
 HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER
 COAL FIRED POWER PLANTS

NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS
 Nuclear power plants use water as a cooling
agent.
 After the water is used, it is put back into a
water
supply at 9-20oC
 Emissions from nuclear reactor increase the
temperature of water bodies.

Coal-fired power plants
 Coal is utilized as a fuel
 Condenser coils are cooled with
water from nearby lake or river
 The heated effluents decrease
the DO of water
 Damages the marine organisms

Industrial Effluents
Discharged water from steam-electric power
industry
using turbo generators will have a higher
temperature
ranging from 6 to 9˚C than the receiving water
In modern stations, producing 100 MW, nearly one
million gallons are discharged in an hour with
increase
in temperature of the cooling water passing by 8 to
10 ˚C

Domestic sewage
Sewage is commonly discharged into
lakes,
canals or streams
Municipal sewage normally has a higher
temperature than the receiving water
Increase in temperature of the receiving
water decreases the DO of water.
The foul smelling gases increased in
water
resulting in death of marine organisms

Hydro electric power
generation
Generation of hydroelectric power sometimes
results in
negative thermal loading in water systems
Creates less heat on water sources less than
nuclear
power plant

The
Future
is
Now

Wanted Water Quality Board Actions
1. The Water Quality Board requests TDEC
conduct a study of the cumulative water quality
impacts of the thermal pollution caused by
existing and proposed power generating plants
on the Tennessee River, including the climatic
scenarios of prolonged drought and warmer
temperatures.
2. The Water Quality Board requests that TDEC
participate in the environmental scoping of the
impacts upon the waters of the State of TN of the
proposed TVA Bellefonte, AL nuclear power
plants and report periodically to the Board.

CONTROL MEASURES
 Cooling towers
 Cooling ponds
 Spray ponds
 Artificial lakes

Nuclear Hazards

 Radionuclides are elements (uranium 235, uranium 283,
thorium 232,potassium 40, radium 226, carbon 14 etc) with
unstable atomic nuclei and on decomposition release
ionizing radiations in the form of alpha, beta and gamma rays.
 Out of the known 450 radioisotopes only some are of
environmental concern like strontium 90, tritium, plutonium 239,
argon 41, cobalt 60, cesium 137, iodine 131, krypton 85 etc.
 These can be both beneficial and harmful, depending on the
way in which they are used.
 We routinely use X-rays to examine bones for fractures, treat
cancer with radiation and diagnose diseases with the help of
radioactive isotopes.
 About 17% of the electrical energy generated in the world
comes from nuclear power plants.

 Radioactive substances when released into
the environment are either dispersed or
become concentrated in living organisms
through the food chain.
 Other than naturally occurring radioisotopes,
significant amounts are generated by human
activity, including the operation of nuclear
power plants, the manufacture of nuclear
weapons, and atomic bomb testing.

 For example, strontium 90 behaves like calcium and is
easily deposited and replaces calcium in the bone
tissues. It could be passed to human beings through
ingestion of strontium-contaminated milk.
 Another example is tritium, which is radioactive
hydrogen. Nuclear power plants routinely and
accidentally release tritium into the air and water. Tritium
has a half- life of 12.3 years.
 It emits radioactive beta particles. Once tritium is inhaled
or swallowed, its beta particles can bombard cells
causing a mutation.

A few occupations that involve radioactive exposures
are
 uranium mineworkers,
 radium watch dial painters,
 technical staff at nuclear power plants, etc. Exposure
to radioactive and nuclear hazards has been clinically
proven to
 cause cancer, mutations and
 teratogenesis (Teratogenesis is a prenatal toxicity
characterized by structural or functional
defects in the developing embryo or fetus).

 Nuclear hazard effects can be either initial or residual.
 Initial effects occur in the immediate area of explosion and are
hazardous immediately after the explosion where as the residual
effects can last for days or years and cause death.
 The principal initial effects are blast and radiation. Blast causes
damage to lungs, ruptures eardrums, collapse sstructures and causes
immediate death or injury. Thermal Radiation is the heat and light
radiation, which a nuclear explosion’s fireball emits producing
extensive fires, skin burns, and flash blindness.
 Nuclear radiation consists of intense gamma rays and neutrons
produced during the first minute after the explosion. This radiation
causes extensive damage to cells throughout the body. Radiation
damage may cause headaches, nausea,
vomiting, diarrhea, and even death, depending on the radiation dose
received.

Sources
 The sources of radioactivity include both
natural and manmade.
Natural sources
 Cosmic rays from outer space
 Emissions from radioactive materials in the
earth’s crust (rocks, marine sediments
etc)

 Man-made sources include the nuclear wastes produced during
 Mining and processing of radioactive ores
 Use of radioactive materials in power plants
 Use of radioactive isotopes in medical technology (x-ray machines,
radioisotopes used in medicine)
 Industrial applications include wastes from nuclear reactors
 Research applications: radioactive fallouts during nuclear weapons
testing.
 In a nuclear power plant, any leak or accident taking place emit
nuclear radiation.
 In either case it results in nuclear hazard.
 Nuclear tests Conducted under the ground or under oceans which
also release radiation.
 Uranium mining and milling, Nuclear reactors and reprocessing of
nuclear fuel cause nuclear pollution.

EFFECTS
 Studies - health effects due to radiation are dependent on
the level of dose, kind of radiation, duration of exposure
and types of cells irradiated.
 Radiation effects can be somatic or genetic.
 Somatic affects the function of cells and organs. It causes
damage to cell membranes, mitochondria and cell nuclei
resulting in abnormal cell functions, cell division, growth and
death.
 Genetic affects the future generations. Radiations can cause
mutations, which are changes in genetic make up of cells.
These effects are mainly due to the damages to DNA
molecules.
 People suffer from blood cancer and bone cancer if exposed
to doses around 100 to 1000 roentgens.

CONTROL MEASURES
 Laboratory generated nuclear wastes should be disposed off safely and
scientifically.
 Nuclear power plants should be located in areas after careful study of
the geology of the area, tectonic activity and meeting other established
conditions.
 Appropriate protection against occupational exposure
 Leakage of radioactive elements from nuclear reactors, careless use of
radioactive elements as fuel and careless handling of radioactive
isotopes must be prevented.
 Safety measure against accidental release of radioactive elements must
be ensured in nuclear plants.
 Unless absolutely necessary, one should not frequently go for diagnosis
by x rays.
 Regular monitoring of the presence of radioactive substance in high risk
area should be ensured.

WAYS TO STOP POLLUTION
 We believe that it is the responsible thing to do to
increase recycling.
 It is just like doing laundry and separating blacks
and colors.
 The residents of the country should also try and do
their part and put in at least one day of litter picking
up.

GLOBAL WARMING AND THE
GREENHOUSE EFFECT

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GLOBAL WARMING
AND THE GREENHOUSE EFFECT
Global warming refers to a rise in the
temperature of the surface of the earth.
The Greenhouse Effect is a process by which
thermal radiation from a planetary surface is
absorbed by atmospheric greenhouse gases,
and is re-radiated in all directions.

SOME PROOF OF GLOBAL WARMING
PORTAGE GLACIER ALASKA THEN…. PORTAGE GLACIER ALASKA NOW….

COLORADO RIVER, AS OF
JUNE 2002
COLORADO RIVER, AS OF
DECEMBER 2003

ANY QUESTIONS??

THANK YOU