Pollution is an undesirable change in the physical, chemical or biological characteristics of air, water and soil that may harmfully affect the life or create potential health hazard of any living organism. Pollution is thus direct or indirect change in any component of the biosphere that is harmful to the living components and in particular undesirable for man, affecting adversely the industrial progress, cultural and natural assets or general environment of living society .

1. 1
Prepared by
Karwan O. Ali
May 2017

2. 2
Table of Contents
Environmental Pollution and Control --------------------------------------------------------------1
1. Introduction-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------3
2. Types of pollutions--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------4
2.1 Water pollution ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------4
2.1.1 What are the causes of water pollution? -----------------------------------------------------5
2.1.2 Control of water pollution ----------------------------------------------------------------------8
2.2 Air pollution--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------8
2.2.1 Causes of Air pollution--------------------------------------------------------------------------9
2.2.2 What are the common air pollutants around? . --------------------------------- 10
2.2.3 Air pollution control --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11
2.3 Soil pollution ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12
2.3.1 Examples of soil contaminants--------------------------------------------------------------- 13
2.3.2 Soil pollution control -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 15
2.4 Thermal pollution ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 16
2.4.1 Causes of Thermal Pollution-------------------------------------------------------------------- 17
2.4.2 Thermal pollution control -------------------------------------------------------------------- 18
2.5 Radioactive pollution ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 19
2.5.1 Causes of radioactive pollution. ------------------------------------------------------------- 20
2.5.2 Effects of radioactive pollution.-------------------------------------------------------------- 20
2.5.3 Control of Radioactive Pollution: ----------------------------------------------------------- 21
2.6 Noise pollution --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 22
2.6.1 Sources of noise pollution--------------------------------------------------------------------- 23
2.6.3 Control of noise pollution--------------------------------------------------------------------- 24
2.7 Light pollution --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 26
2.7.1 Main sources of light pollution -------------------------------------------------------------- 26
2.7.2 Effects of Light Pollution --------------------------------------------------------------------- 27
2.7.3 Control of light pollution --------------------------------------------------------------------- 29
 MOST IMPORTANT-------------------------------------------------- 29
3. Environmental Pollution Conclusion----------------------------------------------------------------- 30
4. References -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 32

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1. Introduction
Pollution is an undesirable change in the physical, chemical or biological characteristics of
air, water and soil that may harmfully affect the life or create potential health hazard of any
living organism. Pollution is thus direct or indirect change in any component of the biosphere
that is harmful to the living components and in particular undesirable for man, affecting
adversely the industrial progress, cultural and natural assets or general environment of living
society [1]
.
Any substance which causes pollution is called a pollutant. A Pollutant may thus include any
chemical or geochemical (dust, sediment, grit etc.) substance, biotic component or its
product, or physical factor (heat) that is released intentionally by man into the environment
in such a concentration that may have adverse harmful or unpleasant effects.
A Pollutant has also been defined as “any solid, liquid or gaseous substance present in such
concentration as may be or tend to be injurious to the environment.” Pollutants are the
residues of things we use and throw away. There are many sources of such pollutants. The
lakes and rivers are polluted by water from chemical and other factories, and the air by gases
of automobile exhausts, industries, thermal power plants etc [1]
.
There has been a serious concern all over the world about the rivers turning murky, fish
rotting on sea shores, tree withering, cities choking with foul air, toxic chemicals being
cycled into food stuffs and disease epidemics appearing so frequently.
The developed countries have been exploiting every bit of natural resource to convert them
into goods for their comfort, and to export them to needy developing world. In doing so, the
industrialized countries dump lot of materials in their environment which becomes polluted.
In one way pollution has been “exported” to developing countries and around the world [1]
.

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2. Types of pollutions
Different type of pollution are categorized based on the part of the environment which they
affect or result which the particular pollution causes. Each of these types has its own
distinctive causes and consequences. Categorized study of pollution helps to understand the
basics in more detail and produce protocols for the specific types. Accordingly, the main
types of pollution are water pollution, Air pollution, soil pollution, thermal pollution,
radioactive pollution, noise pollution and light pollution [2]
.
2.1 Water pollution
Over two thirds of Earth's surface is covered by water; less than a third is taken up by land.
As Earth's population continues to grow, people are putting ever-increasing pressure on the
planet's water resources. In a sense, our oceans, rivers, and other inland waters are being
"squeezed" by human activities—not so they take up less room, but so their quality is
reduced. Poorer water quality means water pollution [3]
.
Water pollution can be defined in many ways. Usually, it means one or more substances
have built up in water to such an extent that they cause problems for animals or people.
Oceans, lakes, rivers, and other inland waters can naturally clean up a certain amount of
pollution by dispersing it harmlessly. If you poured a cup of black ink into a river, the ink
would quickly disappear into the river's much larger volume of clean water. The ink would
still be there in the river, but in such a low concentration that you would not be able to see
it. At such low levels, the chemicals in the ink probably would not present any real problem.
However, if you poured gallons of ink into a river every few seconds through a pipe, the
river would quickly turn black. The chemicals in the ink could very quickly have an effect
on the quality of the water. This, in turn, could affect the health of all the plants, animals,
and humans whose lives depend on the river [3]
.

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2.1.1 What are the causes of water pollution?
2.1.1.1 Sewage and Wastewater
Domestic households, industrial and agricultural practices produce wastewater that
can cause pollution of many lakes and rivers [4]
.
 Sewage is the term used for wastewater that often contains faeces, urine and laundry
waste.
 There are billions of people on Earth, so treating sewage is a big priority.
 Sewage disposal is a major problem in developing countries as many people in these
areas don’t have access to sanitary conditions and clean water.
 Untreated sewage water in such areas can contaminate the environment and cause
diseases such as diarrhea.
 Sewage in developed countries is carried away from the home quickly and
hygienically through sewage pipes.
 Sewage is treated in water treatment plants and the waste is often disposed into the
sea.
 Sewage is mainly biodegradable and most of it is broken down in the environment.
 In developed countries, sewage often causes problems when people flush chemical
and pharmaceutical substances down the toilet. When people are ill, sewage often
carries harmful viruses and bacteria into the environment causing health problems.
2.1.1.2 Industrial water and water pollution
Industry is a huge source of water pollution, it produces pollutants that are extremely harmful
to people and the environment [4]
.
 Many industrial facilities use freshwater to carry away waste from the plant and
into rivers, lakes and oceans.
 Pollutants from industrial sources include:
 Asbestos – This pollutant is a serious health hazard and carcinogenic.
Asbestos fibers can be inhaled and cause illnesses such as asbestosis,
mesothelioma, lung cancer, intestinal cancer and liver cancer.

6. 6
 Lead – This is a metallic element and can cause health and environmental
problems. It is a non-biodegradable substance so is hard to clean up once the
environment is contaminated. Lead is harmful to the health of many animals,
including humans, as it can inhibit the action of bodily enzymes.
 Mercury – This is a metallic element and can cause health and environmental
problems. It is a non-biodegradable substance so is hard to clean up once the
environment is contaminated. Mercury is also harmful to animal health as it
can cause illness through mercury poisoning.
 Nitrates – The increased use of fertilizers means that nitrates are more often
being washed from the soil and into rivers and lakes. This can
cause eutrophication, which can be very problematic to marine environments.
 Phosphates – The increased use of fertilizers means that phosphates are more
often being washed from the soil and into rivers and lakes. This can cause
eutrophication, which can be very problematic to marine environments.
 Sulphur – This is a non-metallic substance that is harmful for marine life.
 Oils – Oil does not dissolve in water, instead it forms a thick layer on the
water surface. This can stop marine plants receiving enough light
for photosynthesis. It is also harmful for fish and marine birds.
 Petrochemicals – This is formed from gas or petrol and can be toxic to marine
life.
2.1.1.3 Oil Spills at the Water Surface
Because most kinds of oil are less dense than water, most spilled oil floats on the water
surface. It spreads out and is pushed across the water by wind and currents [5]
.
How spilled oil affects near-surface creatures depends on when and where the oil spills—
those creatures might or might not even be in the area at the location and time of a spill.
That's because things are always changing at the surface: flocks of seabirds come and go;
plankton, jellyfish, and other kinds of creatures bloom (reproduce) at certain seasons and
then die off to become much less numerous at other times. Birds that float on the water
surface and dive to feed can be oiled if they happen to be in the same place as an oil slick.
Seabirds keep themselves warm through their feathers, and when these get oiled, the birds

7. 7
become chilled and often die. This is called hypothermia. Since birds preen themselves to
clean their feathers, they can also ingest oil, causing illness or death.
Marine mammals such as seals, whales, or porpoises must surface to breathe. If they become
oiled, this may irritate their eyes or skin, or they may breathe in harmful oil fumes. Seals and
sea lions are especially at risk of oiling when their haul out or pupping areas have been oiled
[5]
.
2.1.1.4 Marine dumping
Dumping of litter in the sea can cause huge problems. Litter items such as 6-pack
ring packaging can get caught in marine animals and may result in death. Different items
take different lengths of time to degrade in water [4]
:
 Cardboard – Takes 2 weeks to degrade.
 Newspaper – Takes 6 weeks to degrade.
 Photodegradable packaging – Takes 6 weeks to degrade.
 Foam – Takes 50 years to degrade.
 Styrofoam – Takes 80 years to degrade.
 Aluminum – Takes 200 years to degrade.
 Plastic packaging – Takes 400 years to degrade.
 Glass – It takes so long to degrade that we don’t know the exact time.
2.1.1.5 Underground storage leakages
A tank or piping network that has at least 10 percent of its volume underground is known as
an underground storage tank (UST). They often store substances such as petroleum, that are
harmful to the surrounding environment should it become contaminated. Many UST’s
constructed before 1980 are made from steel pipes that are directly exposed to the
environment. Over time the steel corrodes and causes leakages, affecting surrounding soil
and groundwater [4]
.
2.1.1.6 Nuclear waste – how it is produced
Nuclear waste is produced from industrial, medical and scientific processes that
use radioactive material. Nuclear waste can have detrimental effects on marine habitats.
Nuclear waste comes from a number of sources [4]
:
 Operations conducted by nuclear power stations produce radioactive waste. Nuclear-
fuel reprocessing plants in northern Europe are the biggest sources of man-made
nuclear waste in the surrounding ocean. Radioactive traces from these plants have
been found as far away as Greenland.

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 Mining and refining of uranium and thorium are also causes of marine nuclear waste.
 Waste is also produced in the nuclear fuel cycle which is used in many
industrial, medical and scientific processes.
2.1.2 Control of water pollution
1. Administration of water pollution control should be in the hands of state or central
government.
2. Scientific techniques should be adopted for environmental control of catchment areas of
rivers, ponds or streams
3. Industrial plants should be based on recycling operations as it helps prevent disposal of
wastes into natural waters but also extraction of products from waste.
4. Plants, trees and forests control pollution as they act as natural air conditioners.
5. Trees are capable of reducing sulphur dioxide and nitric oxide pollutants and hence more
trees should be planted.
6. No type of waste (treated, partially treated or untreated) should be discharged into any natural
water body. Industries should develop closed loop water supply schemes and domestic
sewage must be used for irrigation.
7. Qualified and experienced people must be consulted from time to time for effective control
of water pollution.
8. Public awareness must be initiated regarding adverse effects of water pollution using the
media.
9. Laws, standards and practices should be established to prevent water pollution and these
laws should be modified from time to time based on current requirements and technological
advancements.
10. Basic and applied research in public health engineering should be encouraged [6]
.
2.2 Air pollution
Pollution is now a common place term that our ears are attuned to. We hear about the various
forms of pollution and read about it through the mass media. Air pollution is one such form
that refers to the contamination of the air, irrespective of indoors or outside. A physical,
biological or chemical alteration to the air in the atmosphere can be termed as pollution. It
occurs when any harmful gases, dust, smoke enters into the atmosphere and makes it difficult
for plants, animals and humans to survive as the air becomes dirty.

9. 9
Air pollution can further be classified into two sections- Visible air pollution and invisible
air pollution. Another way of looking at Air pollution could be any substance that holds the
potential to hinder the atmosphere or the well-being of the living beings surviving in it. The
sustainment of all things living is due to a combination of gases that collectively form the
atmosphere; the imbalance caused by the increase or decrease of the percentage of these
gases can be harmful for survival [7]
.
2.2.1 Causes of Air pollution
1. Emissions from industries and manufacturing activities .
Consider a typical manufacturing plant: You will notice that there are long tubes (called
chimneys) erected high into the air, with lots of smoke and fumes coming out of it. Waste
incinerators, manufacturing industries and power plants emit high levels of carbon
monoxide, organic compounds, and chemicals into the air. This happens almost everywhere
that people live. Petroleum refineries also release lots of hydrocarbons into the air.
2. Burning Fossil Fuels .
After the industrial age, transportation has become a key part of our lives. Cars and heavy
duty trucks, trains, shipping vessels and airplanes all burn lots of fossil fuels to work.
Emissions from automobile engines contain both primary and secondary pollutants. This is
a major cause of pollution and one that is very difficult to manage. This is because humans
rely heavily on vehicles and engines for transporting people, good and services.
Fumes from car exhausts contain dangerous gases such as carbon monoxide, oxides of
nitrogen, hydrocarbons and particulates. On their own, they cause great harm to people who
breathe them. Additionally, they react with environmental gases to create further toxic
gases.

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3. Household and Farming Chemicals .
Crop dusting, fumigating homes, household cleaning products or painting supplies, over the
counter insect/pest killers, fertilizer dust emit harmful chemicals into the air and cause
pollution. In many cases, when we use these chemicals at home or offices with no or little
ventilation, we may fall ill if we breathe them [8]
.
2.2.2 What are the common air pollutants around? .
.
Carbon Monoxide (CO) .
Fuel combustion from vehicles and engines. .
Reduces the amount of oxygen reaching the body’s organs and tissues; aggravates heart
disease, resulting in chest pain and other symptoms.
Ground-level Ozone (O3) .
Secondary pollutant formed by chemical reaction of volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
and NOx in the presence of sunlight. Decreases lung function and causes respiratory
symptoms, such as coughing and shortness of breath, and also makes asthma and other lung
diseases get worse.

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Lead (Pb) .
Smelters (metal refineries) and other metal industries; combustion of leaded gasoline in
piston engine aircraft; waste incinerators (waste burners), and battery manufacturing.
Damages the developing nervous system, resulting in IQ loss and impacts on learning,
memory, and behavior in children. Cardiovascular and renal effects in adults and early
effects related to anemia.
Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) .
Fuel combustion (electric utilities, big industrial boilers, vehicles) and wood burning.
Worsens lung diseases leading to respiratory symptoms, increased susceptibility to
respiratory infection.
Particulate Matter (PM) .
This is formed through chemical reactions, fuel combustion (e.g., burning coal, wood,
diesel), industrial processes, farming (plowing, field burning), and unpaved roads or during
road constructions. Short-term exposures can worsen heart or lung diseases and cause
respiratory problems. Long-term exposures can cause heart or lung disease and sometimes
premature deaths.
Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) .
SO2 comes from fuel combustion (especially high-sulfur coal); electric utilities and industrial
processes as well as natural occurrences like volcanoes. Aggravates asthma and makes
breathing difficult. It also contributes to particle formation with associated health effects [8]
.
2.2.3 Air pollution control
The atmosphere has several built-in self-cleaning processes such as dispersion, gravitational
settling, flocculation, absorption, rain-washout, etc. to cleanse the atmosphere. However,
control of contaminants at their source level is a desirable and effective method through
preventive or control technologies [9]
. .
Source control: Some measures that can be adopted in this direction are:
1.Using unleaded petrol
2.Using fuels with low sulphur and ash content

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3.Encouraging people to use public transport, walk or use a cycle as opposed
to private vehicles
4.Ensure that houses, schools, restaurants and playgrounds are not located on
busy streets
5.Plant trees along busy streets as they remove particulates, carbon dioxide and
absorb noise
6.Industries and waste disposal sites should be situated outside the city
preferably on the downwind of the city.
7.Catalytic converters should be used to help control emissions of carbon
monoxide and hydrocarbons
2.3 Soil pollution
Soil pollution is defined as the presence of toxic chemicals (pollutants or contaminants) in
soil, in high enough concentrations to pose a risk to human health and/or the ecosystem. In
the case of contaminants which occur naturally in soil, even when their levels are not high
enough to pose a risk, soil pollution is still said to occur if the levels of the contaminants in
soil exceed the levels that should naturally be present [10].
All soils, whether polluted or unpolluted, contain a variety of compounds (contaminants)
which are naturally present. Such contaminants include metals, inorganic ions and salts (e.g.
phosphates, carbonates, sulfates, nitrates), and many organic compounds (such as lipids,
proteins, DNA, fatty acids, hydrocarbons, PAHs, alcohols, etc.). These compounds are
mainly formed through soil microbial activity and decomposition of organisms (e.g., plants
and animals). Additionally, various compounds get into the soil from the atmosphere, for
instance with precipitation water, as well as by wind activity or other types of soil
disturbances, and from surface water bodies and shallow groundwater flowing through the
soil. When the amounts of soil contaminants exceed natural levels (what is naturally present
in various soils), pollution is generated. There are two main causes through which soil
pollution is generated: anthropogenic (man-made) causes and natural causes [10]
.

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2.3.1 Examples of soil contaminants
There is a large variety of pollutants that could poison the soil. Examples of the most
common and problematic soil pollutants can be found in the chart below [10]
.
Oil Pollutant Potential Sources Poisoning Symptoms/Effects
Lead (Pb)  Lead paint
 Mining
 Foundry activities
 Vehicle exhaust
 Construction
activities
 Agriculture
activities
(pesticide with
lead such as lead
arsenate that was
banned)
 Affects the nervous system and memory,
growth and development, as well as
cognitive development (lower IQs)
 Learning difficulties
 Autism in genetically predisposed people
 Growth reduction and weight loss
 Impairs the pituitary-thyroid endocrine
system
 Favors osteoporosis
Mercury (Hg)  Mining
 Incineration of
coal
 Alkali and metal
processing
 Medical waste
 Volcanoes and
geologic deposits
(natural sources)
 Accumulation in
plants and
vegetables grown
on polluted soils
 Itching, burning, pain
 Damage to brain, kidneys, and lungs
 Pink disease (acrodynia) – skin discoloration
(pink cheeks, fingertips, toes), while red
cheeks and nose in affected children
 Desquamation (peeling off in layers of dead
skin)
 High blood pressure and hypersalivation
 Tachycardia
 Loss of hair, teeth, nails, photophobia,
kidney dysfunction, memory impairment,
insomnia in children

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Arsenic (As)  Mining
 Coal-fired power
plants
 Lumber facilities
(used as CCA –
chromate copper
arsenate – in
pressure treated
wood)
 Electronics
industry
 Foundry activities
 Agriculture
(Pesticides)
 Natural
accumulation
 If ingested – the most specific effects relates
to skin pattern
changes and cancer (including liver, kidney,
bladder, prostate and lung cancer); also at
lower doses, the digestive system may be
affected with symptoms such as nausea
vomiting, stomach irritation, diarrhea,
damage to blood vessels
 If inhaled – skin changes; irritation of throat
and lungs, circulatory problems, nervous
system disorders
Other metals (Cu, Zn,
Ni, etc.)
 Mining
 Foundry activities
 Construction
activities
 Depending on the metals, symptoms can
include nausea, vomiting, pain, hematemesis
(vomiting of blood), hypotension, cramps,
diarrhea etc.
PAHs (polyaromatic
hydrocarbons)
 Coal burning
 Vehicle emissions
 Accumulation in
plants and
vegetables grown
on polluted soils
 Cigarette smoke
 Wildfires
 Agricultural
burning
 Harm to skin, body fluids, and the
autoimmune system
 Eye irritation, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
 Cataracts
 Kidney and liver damage
 Cancer (skin, lung, bladder, gastrointestinal)
 Difficulty in reproduction in animals (not yet
confirmed in humans)

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 Wood burning
 Constructions
 Industrial plants
 Accumulation in
plants and
vegetables grown
on polluted soils
Herbicides/Insecticides  Agricultural
activities
 Gardening
 Large range of effects, from skin rashes
to death.
2.3.2 Soil pollution control
1. Soil erosion can be controlled by a variety of forestry and farm practices.
Ex: Planting trees on barren slopes
Contour cultivation and strip cropping may be practiced instead of shifting
cultivation
Terracing and building diversion channels may be undertaken.
Reducing deforestation and substituting chemical manures by animal wastes also helps arrest
soil erosion in the long term. .
2. Proper dumping of unwanted materials: Excess wastes by man and animals pose a
disposal problem. Open dumping is the most commonly practiced technique. Nowadays,
controlled tipping is followed for solid waste disposal. The surface so obtained is used for
housing or sports field.
3.Production of natural fertilizers: Bio-pesticides should be used in place of toxic chemical
pesticides. Organic fertilizers should be used in place of synthesized chemical fertilizers.
Ex: Organic wastes in animal dung may be used to prepare compost manure instead of
throwing them wastefully and polluting the soil.
4. Proper hygienic condition: People should be trained regarding sanitary habits.

16. 16
Ex: Lavatories should be equipped with quick and effective disposal
methods.
5. Public awareness: Informal and formal public awareness programs should be imparted
to educate people on health hazards by environmental education.
Ex: Mass media, Educational institutions and voluntary agencies can achieve
this.
6. Recycling and Reuse of wastes: To minimize soil pollution, the wastes such as paper,
plastics, metals, glasses, organics, petroleum products and industrial effluents etc.
should be recycled and reused.
Ex: Industrial wastes should be properly treated at source. Integrated waste
treatment methods should be adopted.
7. Ban on Toxic chemicals: Ban should be imposed on chemicals and pesticides like
DDT, BHC, etc. which are fatal to plants and animals. Nuclear explosions and improper
disposal of radioactive wastes should be banned [10]
.
2.4 Thermal pollution
When someone thinks of pollution, the idea of thermal pollution often doesn’t come to mind.
People will first think of things like carbon emissions, personal pollution and waste, and a
variety of other changing factors. However, thermal pollution is a real and persistent problem
in our modern society. In layman’s terms, thermal pollution is when an industry or other
human-made organization takes in water from a natural source and either cools it down or
heats it up. They then eject that water back into the natural resource, which changes the
oxygen levels and can have disastrous effects on local ecosystems and communities.
Thermal pollution is defined as sudden increase or decrease in temperature of a natural body
of water which may be ocean, lake, river or pond by human influence. This normally occurs
when a plant or facility takes in water from a natural resource and puts it back with an altered
temperature. Usually, these facilities use it as a cooling method for their machinery or to
help better produce their products [11]
.

17. 17
2.4.1 Causes of Thermal Pollution
1. Water as Cooling Agent in Power, Manufacturing and Industrial plants:
Production and Manufacturing plants are biggest source of thermal pollution. These plants
draw water from nearby source to keep machines cool and then release back to the source
with higher temperature. When heated water returns to the river or ocean, the water
temperature rises sharply. When oxygen levels are altered in the water, this can also degrade
the quality and longevity of life in wildlife that lives underwater. This process can also wipe
away streamside vegetation, which constantly depends on constant levels of oxygen and
temperature. By altering these natural environments, industries are essentially helping
decrease the quality of life for these marines based life forms and can ultimately destroy
habitats if they are not controlled and careful about their practices [11]
.
2. Soil Erosion: Soil erosion is another major factor that causes thermal pollution. Consistent
soil erosion causes water bodies to rise, making them more exposed to sunlight. The high
temperature could prove fatal for aquatic biomes as it may give rise to anaerobic conditions.
3. Deforestation: Trees and plants prevent sunlight from falling directly on lakes, ponds or
rivers. When deforestation takes place, these water bodies are directly exposed to sunlight,

18. 18
thus absorbing more heat and raising its temperature. Deforestation is also a main cause of
the higher concentrations of greenhouse gases i.e. global warming in the atmosphere.
4. Runoff from Paved Surfaces: Urban runoff discharged to surface waters from paved
surfaces like roads and parking lots can make water warmer. During summer seasons, the
pavement gets quite hot, which creates warm runoff that gets into the sewer systems and
water bodies.
5. Natural Causes: Natural causes like volcanoes and geothermal activity under the oceans
and seas can trigger warm lava to raise the temperature of water bodies. Lightening can also
introduce massive amount of heat into the oceans. This means that the overall temperature
of the water source will rise, having significant impacts on the environment.
2.4.2 Thermal pollution control
The following methods can be adapted to control high temperature caused by thermal
discharges:
1. Cooling towers: Use of water from water systems for cooling systems for cooling
purposes, with subsequent return to the water way after passage through a condenser,
is called cooling process. Cooling towers transfer heat from hot water to the
atmosphere by evaporation. Cooling towers are of two types:
(i) Wet cooling tower: Hot water coming out from the condenser (reactor) is allowed
to spray over baffles. Cool air, with high velocity, is passed from sides, which takes
away the heat and cools the water. .
(ii) Dry cooling tower: Here, hot water is allowed to flow in long spiral pipes. Cool
air with the help of a fan is passed over these hot pipes, which cools down hot water.
This cool water can be recycled .
2. Cooling ponds: Cooling ponds are the best way to cool thermal discharges. Heated
effluents on the surface of the water in cooling ponds maximize dissipation of heat to
the atmosphere and minimize the water area and volume. The warm water wedge acts
like a cooling pond.

19. 19
3. Spray ponds: The water coming out from condensers is allowed to pass into the ponds
through sprayers. Here water is sprayed through nozzles as fine droplets. Heat from
the fine droplets gets dissipated to the atmosphere.
4. Artificial lakes: Artificial lakes are manmade water bodies that offer once-through
cooling. The heated effluents can be discharged into the lake at one end and water for
cooling purposes may be withdrawn from the other end. The heat is eventually
dissipated through evaporation [12]
.
2.5 Radioactive pollution
Radioactive pollution can be defined as the release of radioactive substances or high-energy
particles into the air, water, or earth as a result of human activity, either by accident or by
design. The sources of such waste include: 1) nuclear weapon testing or detonation; 2) the
nuclear fuel cycle, including the mining, separation, and production of nuclear materials for
use in nuclear power plants or nuclear bombs; 3) accidental release of radioactive material
from nuclear power plants. Sometimes natural sources of radioactivity, such as radon gas
emitted from beneath the ground, are considered pollutants when they become a threat to
human health.
Since even a small amount of radiation exposure can have serious (and cumulative)
biological consequences, and since many radioactive wastes remain toxic for centuries,
radioactive pollution is a serious environmental concern even though natural sources of
radioactivity far exceed artificial ones at present [13]
.

20. 21
2.5.1 Causes of radioactive pollution.
Radioactive pollution is caused when radioactive matter is allowed to contaminate the
environment. There are several main ways in which this can happen [14]
.
A key cause of radioactive pollution is breaches at nuclear power plants, which can result in
leakages of radioactive matter into the environment. As nuclear energy becomes a big
alternative to fossil fuels, this risk increases.
Another cause is chemical spills. Radioactive chemicals can, whether due to improper
transport or to containers breaking, spill out into the atmosphere and onto the ground.
Another cause of radioactive pollution is when scientific experiments involving radiation are
not conducted with the proper care. A famous case is the scientist Marie Curie, whose studies
into the curative effects of radiation actually caused her to fall ill from radiation poisoning.
Nevertheless, her discoveries helped us to make great strides towards treating and curing
cancer.
In sum, wherever there is radioactive material, there is the danger of radioactive pollution.
Radioactive material must be handled with great care. Below, the effects of radioactive
pollution are explained. These effects are what will occur if radioactive material is not
handled properly. After that, you will find a list of preventative measures that can be taken
to keep living beings safe from radioactive pollution.
2.5.2 Effects of radioactive pollution.
Radiation alters and destroys cells in living organisms. Whether an organism is a plant or an
animal (including a human), radiation can result in illness or death [14]
.
Radioactive pollution can cause genetic mutations in living organisms, and in their
descendants. If an animal is exposed to radioactive pollution, for example, it may give birth
to babies that have severe congenital defects. These mutations can also cause cancer,
sometimes several years in the future, as well as conditions such as infertility and
Radiation can also have a burning effect: chemical burns are slightly different from the burns
that come from excessive heat as chemicals need not be at a high temperature for an organism

21. 21
to feel a burning sensation when they come into contact with them. However, radioactive
burns can cause blistering, reddening, pain and damage to skin tissue.
Damage to the soil and plants is another key effect of radioactive pollution. Radioactive
pollution can leave soil infertile and unfit for crops for several decades. It can leave the air
unsafe to breathe, too.
2.5.3 Control of Radioactive Pollution:
Since radioactive pollution is highly hazardous to human health therefore prevention and
control of radioactive pollution is inevitable. The radioactive pollution can be controlled by
number of ways which are as follows [15]
:
• Leakage from the radioactive materials including the nuclear reactors, industries and
laboratories need to be checked.
• The disposal of radioactive material must be safe and secure.
• Radioactive materials must be stored in safe places and must be changed into harmless
form.
• The radioactive wastes with a very low radiation must be put into the sewage.
• The nuclear power plants must follow all the safety instructions.
• The protective garments must be worn by the workers who work in the nuclear plants.
• The natural radiation must be at the permissible limits.
• Nuclear devices should be exploded under ground.
• Contaminants may be employed to decrease the radioactive emissions.
• Production of radio isotopes needs to be minimized.
• Extreme precautions should be taken during the disposal of industrial wastes containing
radionuclides.
• High chimney and ventilations should be used at working places where radioactive
contamination is high.
• In nuclear reactors, closed cycle coolant system with gaseous coolants of very high purity
may be used to prevent extraneous activation products.
• Fission reactions need to be minimized.
• In nuclear mines, wet drilling may be employed along with underground drainage.
• Nuclear medicines and radiation therapy should only be applied when absolutely
necessary.

22. 22
2.6 Noise pollution
Most of us are very used to the sounds we hear in everyday life. Loud music, the television,
people talking on their phone, the traffic and even pets barking in the middle of the night.
All of these have become a part of the urban culture and rarely disturb us. However, when
the sound of the television keeps you from sleeping all night or the traffic starts to give you
a headache, it stops becoming just noise and start turning into noise pollution. For many of
us, the concept of pollution is limited to nature and resources. However, noise that tends to
disrupt the natural rhythm of life makes for one solid pollutant [16]
.
By definition, noise pollution takes place when there is either excessive amount of noise or
an unpleasant sound that causes temporary disruption in the natural balance. This definition
is usually applicable to sounds or noises that are unnatural in either their volume or their
production. Our environment is such that it has become difficult to escape noise. Even
electrical appliances at home have a constant hum or beeping sound. By and large, lack of
urban planning increases the exposure to unwanted sounds. This is why understanding noise
pollution is necessary to curb it in time.

23. 23
2.6.1 Sources of noise pollution
 Household sources [17]:
Gadgets like food mixer, grinder, vacuum cleaner, washing machine and dryer, cooler,
air conditioners, can be very noisy and injurious to health. Others include loud speakers
of sound systems and TVs, ipods and ear phones. Another example may be your
neighbor’s dog barking all night every day at every shadow it sees, disturbing everyone
else in the apartment.
 Social events:
Places of worship, discos and gigs, parties and other social events also create a lot of
noise for the people living in that area. In many market areas, people sell with loud
speakers, others shout out offers and try to get customers to buy their goods. It is
important to note that whey these events are not often, they can be
called 'Nuisance' rather than noise pollution.
 Commercial and industrial activities:
Printing presses, manufacturing industries, construction sites, contribute to noise
pollutions in large cities. In many industries, it is a requirement that people always
wear earplugs to minimize their exposure to heavy noise. People who work with lawn
mowers, tractors and noisy equipment are also required to wear noise-proof gadgets.
 Transportation:
Think of aero planes flying over houses close to busy airports like Heathrow (London)
or Ohare (Chicago), over ground and underground trains, vehicles on road—these are
constantly making a lot of noise and people always struggle to cope with them [17].
2.6.2 Effects of noise pollution
Generally, problems caused by noise pollution include stress related illnesses, speech
interference, hearing loss, sleep disruption, and lost productivity. Most importantly,
there are three major effects we can look at [18]
:
 Hearing
the immediate and acute effect of noise pollution to a person, over a period of time, is
impairment of hearing. Prolonged exposure to impulsive noise to a person will damage
their eardrum, which may
result in a permanent hearing impairment.

24. 24
 Marine Animals
Marine scientists are concerned about excessive noise used by oil drills, submarines
and other vessels on and inside the ocean. Many marine animals, especially whales, use
hearing to find food, communicate, defend and survive in the ocean. Excessive noises
are causing a lot of injuries and deaths to whales. For example, the effect of a navy
submarine’s sonar can be felt 300 miles away from the source.
 Effects on general health
Health effects of noise include anxiety and stress reaction and in extreme cases fright.
The physiological manifestations are headaches, irritability and nervousness, feeling of
fatigue and decreases work efficiency. For example, being pounded by the siren of fire
fighters, police or ambulance in your city all night everyday leave people (especially
elderly people) stresses and tired in the morning.
2.6.3 Control of noise pollution
Noise pollution can be effectively controlled by taking the following measures [19]
:
1. Control at Receiver’s End:
For people working in noisy installations, ear-protection aids like ear-plugs, ear-muffs, noise
helmets, headphones etc. must be provided to reduce occupational exposure.
2. Suppression of Noise at Source:
This is possible if working methods are improved by:
(a) Designing, fabricating and using quieter machines to replace the noisy ones.
(b) Proper lubrication and better maintenance of machines.
(c) Installing noisy machines in sound proof chambers.
(d) Covering noise-producing machine parts with sound-absorbing materials to check noise
production.

25. 25
(e) Reducing the noise produced from a vibrating machine by vibration damping i.e. making
a layer of damping material (rubber, neoprene, cork or plastic) beneath the machine
(f) Using silencers to control noise from automobiles, ducts, exhausts etc. and convey
systems with ends opening into the atmosphere.
(g) Using glass wool or mineral wool covered with a sheet of perforated metal for the purpose
of mechanical protection.
3. Acoustic Zoning:
Increased distance between source and receiver by zoning of noisy industrial areas, bus
terminals and railway stations, aerodromes etc. away from the residential areas would go a
long way in minimizing noise pollution. There should be silence zones near the residential
areas, educational institutions and above all, near hospitals.
4. Sound Insulation at Construction Stages:
(a) Sound travels through the cracks that get left between the door and the wall. For reducing
noise, this space (jamb frame gap) should be packed with sound absorbing material.
(b) Sound insulation can be done by constructing windows with double or triple panes of
glass and filling the gaps with sound absorbing materials.
(c) Acoustical tiles, hair felt, perforated plywood etc. can be fixed on walls, ceilings, floors
etc. to reduce noise (especially for sound proof recording rooms etc.)
5. Planting of Trees:
Planting green trees and shrubs along roads, hospitals, educational institutions etc. help in
noise reduction to a considerable extent.
6. Legislative Measures:
Strict legislative measures need to be enforced to curb the menace of noise pollution. Some
of these measures could be:
(a) Minimum use of loudspeakers and amplifiers especially near silence zones.

26. 26
(b) Banning pressure horns in automobiles.
(c) Framing a separate Noise Pollution Act.
2.7 Light pollution
Light pollution is excessive, misdirected or inappropriate outdoor lighting. Too much of light
pollution washes out view of the Universe, result in increase in the energy consumption,
interferes with astronomical research, disrupts ecosystems, affects the health and safety of
humans and wildlife. It may surprise you to know that light pollution can have as great an
impact on the planet as levels of carbon monoxide and other airborne pollutants.
When most people talk about light pollution they are speaking of all the ways that man made
light is changing the natural lighting of the environment. For example, all the lights of a city
change the way light and dark fall. There is really no more night there, and plants or animals
that are dependent on that night illumination are compromised. There are other reasons why
maintaining natural light is important too [20]
.
2.7.1 Main sources of light pollution
Below are a few sources that contribute to light pollution [21]:
 Electronic Advertising Boards and Commercial Centers:
Many of the large electronic sign boards in the cities and on highways are lit up by
powerful lights that focus on the boards from below. Lights end up reflected upwards off
the boards. Restaurants, discos, pubs, games and shops in the cities also use a lot of light
to attract customers. Many of the lights they use are not directed to any particular place,
making its dispersion more than intended.
 Night Sports grounds:
Floodlights that light stadiums and other places of sports often contribute to light
pollution as the powerful lights end up upwards. These include the large light posts on
the car parks.

27. 27
 Streetlights and car lights:
In some cities, hundreds of miles of powerful streetlights stay on all night. This, together
with the vehicles that use the roads all contribute a lot to the light being directed above
and to other unintended places. It has been estimated that about 35% to 50% of all light
pollution is produced by roadway lighting (Ref 13). — light pollution environmental
effects of roadway lighting, carl shaflik, basc, peng
 City Parks, Airports, public places:
Many of these areas use many old-fashioned lights that are not shielded and have a lot
of it emitting light upwards.
 Residential Areas:
Light pollution in these areas tends to be of the glare and spillover type. Garden and
landscape lights intended to add aesthetics to the landscape and architecture often end
up as a nuisance at night, because they tend to cause irritation to people as they walk or
drive in these areas.
2.7.2 Effects of Light Pollution
According to environmentalists and researchers, light pollution causes visibility disruptions
and nuisance especially from glares and the spillover effects which may lead to human health
problems. Light pollution also changes the natural illumination at night by brightening the
skies and leads to the disruption of the ecosystem [22]
.
Here are the specific and major effects of light pollution.
1. Wildlife Implications
Many wildlife animals such as mammals, birds, reptiles and insects are naturally
photoperiodic. Many characteristics of these animals’ behavior and physiology depend on
the circadian rhythms, that is, the day and night influences [22]
.
On this regard, growth, development, reproduction, eating and locomotion all depend on the
balance between day and night. Hence, any amounts of artificial lights introduced in their
respective environments can seriously alter their natural cycles and operations.

28. 28
For instance, hundreds of wildlife such as deer and zebras are killed on the roads in the
evenings since the glares blind and distort their night locomotive aspects. Sea turtles have
also been found to be highly reliant on natural lighting for reproduction, movement, eating,
and development which can be heavily impacted by artificial lighting.
2. Ecosystem Disruptions in General
In general, artificial lighting heavily impacts and threatens the balance of the ecosystem
because numerous wildlife including plants and animals highly depend on the nocturnal and
diurnal influences. Light pollution negatively impacts on animal and plant physiology
thereby modifying the competitive interactions of the animals, tampers with their migratory
patterns, and distorts predator-prey relations [22]
.
Light reflections can equally prevent natural UV rays from reaching the planet which is
responsible for the continuity of plant life. Simply put, light pollution modifies the daily
rhythm and cycles of life which are directed by darkness and light, thus upsetting the
ecological activities.
3. Effects on Humans
Spillovers and glare are some of the lighting outcomes that cause eye strain, loss of clear
vision, aging of the eyes, and stress which most people complain about. The human eye is
equipped to naturally adjust to the day and night patterns so as to see in the right manner [22]
.
Too much light can damage human eyes and even harm the hormone melatonin which is
responsible for regulating diurnal and nocturnal visions. This can result in sleep disorders
and other health implications such as stress, exhaustion, headaches, increased anxiety, and
some forms of obesity may develop. The general quality of life is also affected by light
pollution, and it can interfere with crucial navigation systems for planes which may lead to
accidents.

29. 29
2.7.3 Control of light pollution
 REDUCTION
The best way to control light pollution is reduced consumption of energy. Before
illuminating buildings on festive occasions or using high power bulbs for any type of purpose
we first must make a ceiling of energy consumption to put a red line and declare we have to
make all arrangements within that amount of energy [23]
.
 HIGH QUALITY FIXTURES
We must use fixtures for bulbs and other illuminating items of high quality so that light does
not distract from its original object and does not disturbs others by trespassing into the others
properties [23]
.
 USE OF ADVANCE LIGHTING SOURCES
After the introduction of LEDs now there is no need to use old type of high voltage bulbs
and we should try to use every lightening object of LED category. In this way we can get
the required amount of light by consuming less energy and creating less heat as well [23]
.
 MOST IMPORTANT
By controlling light pollution either through reduced lighting or through using LED sources
of lights we consume less energy and reduce our energy bill. In this way we cut our energy
bill and save a sizeable amount of money [23]
.

30. 31
3. Environmental Pollution Conclusion
 Presence of dangerous unnatural ingredients causing imbalance in the ecosystems
and health hazards to human beings and animals is called pollution [24]
.
 Pollution is mainly found in air, water, soil, food, light, and sound.
 Major human activities like industries, agriculture, and health care, transport, and
dwelling and energy generation are the causes of pollution [24]
.
 Many industries like textile, paper, steel, sugar, petroleum, food, chemical and
cement industries cause air pollution, water pollution and soil pollution [24]
.
 Industrial pollutants include gases like methane, cyanides, carbon tetrachloride,
carbon disulphides, carbon monoxide, hydrogen disulphides, hydrochloric acids,
ammonia, and sulphur dioxide as well as multiples of liquid / solid compounds [24]
.
 Modern agriculture - encouraging the large scale of fertilizers and pesticides - is
primary cause of drinking water pollution.
 Transport has been the main reason for air pollution in most cities. Vehicular trffic
releasing carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide has caused large scale
air pollution in cities.
 Pollution of air is the major cause human health problems such as respiratory
problems, lung / throat, cancer etc. Pollution of water is also the main cause of health
problems like gastro - enteritis formation of ulcers, tumors.
 Health problems due to pollution range form simple vomiting and skin irritations to
intestinal cancer, brain tumors, from simple fever to fatal hepatitis, from throat
irritation to deadly heart diseases.
 Foods that we eat are polluted because of use of pesticides, use of polluted water or
microbial activities. Many persistent pesticides enter food chains and accumulate in
bodies at a larger concentrations.

31. 31
 Soil pollution by various solids and liquids has created imbalances in soil ecosystems
besides creating number of ecological hazards in cities and villages [24]
.
 Control of pollution has been a formidable challenge to human civilization. As the
pollution grows with the civilization and growing population, the control of pollution
is more challenging.
 Several measures have been adopted, suggested imposed in industries, in agriculture
and urban dwellings to control the pollution [24]
.

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