The document discusses various environmental issues including air pollution, water pollution, soil pollution, and some major environmental disasters. It notes that air pollution is caused by industries and vehicles emitting pollutants such as carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter. Water pollution stems from waste dumping, oil spills, and heavy metals. Soil pollution arises from improper waste disposal, agriculture, and urbanization. Three significant environmental disasters highlighted are the Bhopal gas tragedy, Chernobyl disaster, and Kuwait oil well fires. Sustainable development is presented as a way to meet resource needs of future generations.

1. Environmental Awareness Payel Bera ID: GYV11-371 Environmental Awareness By: Payel Bera ID: GYV11-371

2. What is Environment ?? Environment means our surrounding Environment includes air water soil Biological environment- flora, fauna noise aesthetics cultural, socio-economic, political conditions “ Environment” Photo. Gev.com 18 April. 2011. 30 Aug. 2011. <http://www.gev.com>

3. Why Care for Environment ?? It affects our ability to live on Earth It affects our health, our economy, our existence “ Environment” Photo. CTSonline.ca 30 Aug. 2011. <http://www.CTSonline.ca>

4. Threats to Environment Air pollution Tonnes of pollutants dumped in air by industries, vehicles Green coverage decreasing day by day

5. Air Pollutants CO 2 CO Nitrogen oxides (NO x ) Sulfur oxides Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) Particulate Matter Toxic metals- lead, cadmium

6. Effects of Air Pollution Dust Particles of small sizes damages lungs– causing respiratory symptoms like cough, wheezing, asthma etc Excess Carbon Monoxide can cause death Excess CO 2 , CH 4 (Green house gases) causing Global warming Polar ice caps melting Higher sea levels  floods “ Environment” Photo. Gabicilla.blogspot.com 19 Oct. 2011. 30 Aug. 2011. <http://www.gabicilla.blogspot.com> “ Flood” Photo. Southasia.oneworld.net 26 June. 2009. 30 Aug. 2011. <http://www.southasia.oneworld.net>

7. Contd Cancer causing potential of diesel exhaust is very high Poly aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and particulate matter of diesel exhaust  10 times more potent to cause mutation NOx reduces oxygen carrying capacity of blood, can cause cancer, emphysema NOx  Ozone  respiratory problems

8. Protect Environment (What can we do?) Preventive action is the best Spread the awareness among people Conduct epidemiological studies– how air quality affects health???????? Pressurize governments for proper policies for e.g. - prevent dieselization of private vehicles Promote usage of bicycles “ Bicycle Cycling” Photo. bicyclecycling.com 30 Aug. 2011. <http://www.bicyclecycling.com>

9. Contd. Zoning and transport infrastructure planning Introduction of cleaner engines and cleaner fuels like CNG (compressed Natural Gas) Stricter regulations for vehicular and industrial emissions and regular compliance checking Stop burning of wastes

10. Water Pollution Stop misuse and wastage of water!!!

11. Causes Dhobi Ghat on river plastics and garbages dumped into river “ Washing of our sins and clothes at Ganges” Photo. indianimages.com 30 Aug. 2011. <http://www.indianimagescom> “ Rag pickers collect plastic wastes on the banks of river Yamuna” Photo. 2space.net 19 Oct. 2009. 30 Aug. 2011. <http://www.2space.net>

12. Contd. Clay idols discarded into river Human corpse discarded into river “ Human corpse” Photo. Forums.earthnetworks.com 30 Aug. 2011. <http://www.forums.earthnetworks.com> Ecofriends.org 30 Aug. 2011 <http://www.ecofriends.org>

13. Oil Spills A bird covered with oil Oil spill cleaning process “ Oil Spill” Photo. En.wikipedia.org 30 Aug. 2011. <http://www.en.wikipedia.org> Anand, Rajat “Oil Spill” Photo. Globalcrisisnews.com 22 May. 2010. 30 Aug. 2011. <http://www.globalcrisisnews.com>

14. Water Pollutants Heavy metals--- chromium, nickel, copper etc Inorganic chemicals– acids, alkalis, inorganic salts Nutrients- Nitrogen, Phosphorus Disinfection byproduts– trihalomethanes etc Microorganisms

15. Effects Cadmium causes Itai Itai disease Mercury causes Minamata disease Microorganisms causes diseases like dysentry, diarrohea Excess nutrients cause eutrophication Decreases dissolved oxygen concentration Affects aquatic life Itai Itai disease Minamata disease Thijssen, Sandy.“Itai itai disease” Physiology.be 30 Aug. 2011 . <http://www.physiology.be> Shareef, Rishan M..“Minamata disease” mrishaanshareef.blogspot.com 30 Aug. 2011. <http://www.mrishaanshareef.blogspot.com>

16. Soil Pollution It is the degradation of Earth's land surfaces by human activities and misuse of land resources.

17. Causes Haphazard disposal of urban and industrial wastes Exploitation of minerals Harmful agricultural practices Population increasing Higher food demand Intensive agriculture Forest converted to agricultural fields monoculture Excessive use of fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides

18. Contd. Urbanization Construction, destruction of forests Informal settlements, poorly maintained sewage pipes Construction debris More land required for landfill sites “ Urbanization” Photo. Lv-staff.francisparker.org. 30 Aug. 2011. <http://www.blog.newscollective.com>

19. Effects Can seriously disrupt the balance of nature Pesticides can damage crops Some pollutants can get into our systems indirectly from eating vegetables grown in contaminated soil. Reduced aesthetic appeal

20. What can we do? Three R– Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Collect degradable and non degradable waste in separate bins

21. Contd. Soil remediation for polluted soil Plant more trees Afforestation reduces soil erosion

22. Worst Environmental disasters 1)Bhopal Gas Tragedy Dec 2, 1984 45 tonnes of poisonous Methyl isocyanate escaped from Union Carbide Plant Thousands died within hours Sinha, Arpita. “Justice still eludes Bhopal gas survivors” Photo. Blog.newscollective.com 14 June. 2010. 30 Aug. 2011. <http://www.blog.newscollective.com>

23. 2) Chernobyl Disaster April 26, 1986 One reactor of chernobyl power plant of Ukraine exploded Massive radiation sent into the atmosphere Loup, Kibiloki. “Chernobyl Disaster” Photo. Electrodes.wordpress.com 12 July. 2009. 30 Aug. 2011. <http://www.electrodes.wordpress.com>

24. 3) Kuwait Oil well fire After Gulf War around 600 oil wells were put ablaze intentionally They burnt for 7 months Smoke, soot, black rain Lakes of oil created Animals died “ Kuwait oil well fires 1991” Photo backwoodsweb.com Aug.1991. 30 Aug. 2011. <http://wwwbackwoodsweb.com>

25. Sustainable Development Development in a way so that resources are able to meet the demands of future generations “ Sustainable Development” Photo. Sthelens.gov.uk. 30 Aug. 2011. <http://www.sthelens.gov.uk>

27. About Green Yatra Green Yatra is a registered non-profit trust and a non-government organization (NGO) dedicated to the protection and conservation of our Mother Earth and it’s environment. Green Yatra was started and run by individuals who share a strong love and passion for protecting and respecting our only source of life—Mother Nature. visit us @: www. greenyatra.org Contact us @: [email_address] Be with us in twitter: https://twitter.com/Greenyatra Join us face to face us in facebook: http://www.facebook.com/greenyatra