Human activities directly or indirectly affect the environment adversely. A stone crusher
adds a lot of suspended particulate matter and noise into the atmosphere. Automobiles
emit from their tail pipes oxides of nitrogen, sulphur dioxide, carbon dioxide, carbon
monoxide and a complex mixture of unburnt hydrocarbons and black soot which pollute
the atmosphere. Domestic sewage and run off from agricultural fields, laden with pesticidesand fertilizers, pollute water bodies. Effluents from tanneries contain many harmful chemicals
and emit foul smell. These are only a few examples which show how human activities
pollute the environment. Pollution may be defined as addition of undesirable material into
the environment as a result of human activities. The agents which cause environmental
pollution are called pollutants. A pollutants may be defined as a physical, chemical or
biological substance unintentionally released into the environment which is directly or
indirectly harmful to humans and other living organisms.Pollution may be of the following types:
• Air pollution
• Noise pollution
• Water pollution
• Soil pollution
• Thermal pollution
• Radiation pollution
Air pollution is a result of industrial and certain domestic activity. An ever increasing use of
fossil fuels in power plants, industries, transportation, mining, construction of buildings,
stone quarries had led to air pollution. Air pollution may be defined as the presence of
any solid, liquid or gaseous substance including noise and radioactive radiation in the
atmosphere in such concentration that may be directly and indirectly injurious to humans
or other living organisms, plants, property or interferes with the normal environmental
processes. Air pollutants are of two types (1) suspended particulate matter, and (2) gaseous
pollutants like carbon dioxide (CO2
), NOx The stratosphere has an ozone layer which protects the earth’s surface from excessive
ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the Sun. Chlorine from chemicals such as
chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) used for refrigeration, air conditioning, fire extinguishers,
cleaning solvents, aerosols (spray cans of perfumes, medicine, insecticide) cause damage
to ozone layer chlorine contained in the CFCs on reaching the ozone (O3
) layer split the
ozone molecules to form oxygen (O2
). Amount of ozone, thus gets reduced and cannot
prevent the entry of UV radiation. There has been a reduction of ozone umbrella or shield
over the Arctic and Antarctic regions. This is known as ozone hole. This permits passage
of UVradiation on earth’s atmosphere which causes sunburn, cataract in eyes leading to
blindness, skin cancer, reduced productivity of forests, etc. Under the “Montreal Protocol”
amended in 1990 it was decided to completely phase out CFCs to prevent damage of
ozone layer.
3. Definition of pollution
⚫Pollution is the introduction of
contaminants into a natural environment
that causes instability, disorder, harm or
discomfort to the ecosystem .
⚫Pollution can take the form of chemical
substances or energy such as noise, heat
or light.
4. Air pollution : Definition
Air pollution is the
introduction of chemicals,
particulate matter, or
biological materials that
cause harm or discomfort
to humans or other living
organisms, or damages
the natural environment
into the atmosphere.
5. - Industries.
-Automobiles and Domestic
fuels
-Fire
-High Proportion of
undesirable gases, such as
sulphur dioxide and carbon
monoxide
Air pollution : Causes
7. How to prevent air pollution ?
⚫Carpool
⚫Walk or ride a bicycle
⚫Connect your outdoor
lights to a timer or use
solar lighting.
⚫Wash clothes with warm
or cold water instead of
hot.
⚫Plant trees etc…….
8. Water pollution is the
contamination of water bodies
(e.g. lakes, rivers, oceans,
aquifers and groundwater).
Water pollution : Definition
11. ⚫Turn off running
water
⚫Fertilize correctly
⚫Organize or
participate in a clean
up
⚫Join a special
society devoted to
the prevention of
water pollution
Water pollution : Solutions
12. Noise pollution : Definition
Noise pollutionis
displeasing human,
animal or machine-
created sound that
disrupts the activity
or balance of human or
animal life.
13. ⚫Traffic Noise
⚫Air craft Noise
⚫Noise from
construction and civil
engineering works.
⚫Noise from the
Industries.
⚫Noise from other
sources.
Noise pollution : Causes
15. How to prevent noise pollution
⚫The government should
ensure the new machines
are noise proof.
⚫Airports should be away
from residential areas.
⚫‘No horn’ boards should
be put on/near school
areas.
⚫We should talk less and
work more.
16. LAND POLLUTION
Land pollution is the
destruction of Earth's land
surfaces through misuse
of land resources by
human activities. Polluted
land has deposits of liquid
and solid waste such as
rubbish, garbage, paper,
glass and plastic objects.
17. ⚫Accidental Spills
⚫Industrial Accidents
⚫Landfill and illegal dumping
⚫Agricultural practices
⚫Mining and other industries
⚫Oil and fuel dumping
⚫Buried wastes
⚫Drainage of contaminated
surface water into the soil
⚫Electronic waste
Land pollution : Causes
18. Land pollution : Effects
⚫Contaminated lands and environments can:
⚫Cause problems in the human respiratory
system.
⚫Cause problems on the skin.
⚫Cause various kinds of cancers.
19. Land pollution : Effects
⚫The toxic materials that pollute the soil can
get into the human body directly by:
⚫into contact with the skin.
⚫washed into water sources like reservoirs
and rivers.
⚫Eating fruits and vegetables that have been
grown in polluted soil.
⚫Breathing in polluted dust or particles.
20. How to prevent land pollution
⚫More and more land should be
brought under farming.
⚫Trees should be planted
everywhere.
⚫Waste matter should be
disposed immediately
⚫Avoid drilling lands for
underground water.
⚫Avoid using fertilizer and
pesticides for farming.