What is Pollution?
•“Pollution is the introduction of substances (or energy) that cause adverse
changes in the environment and living entities .”
• Pollution need not always be caused by chemical substances such as particulates
(like smoke and dust). Forms of energy such as sound, heat or light can also cause
pollution. These substances that cause pollution are called pollutants.
• Pollution, even in minuscule amounts, impacts the ecological balance. Pollutants
can make their way up the food chain and eventually find their way inside the
human body.
• Air pollutionis defined as the introduction of pollutants,
organic molecules, or other unsafe materials into Earth’s
atmosphere. This can be in the form of excessive gases like
carbon dioxide and other vapours that cannot be effectively
removed through natural cycles, such as the carbon cycle or
the nitrogen cycle.
8.
1. Man-made (Artificial)sources
• These are mostly linked to the combustion of several kinds of fuel.
• Immobile sources entail clouds of smoke from power plants,
industrial facilities (manufacturing works) and waste furnaces, as
well as incinerators and other sorts of fuel-burning heating
devices. In poor and developing countries, archaic biomass
burning is the chief cause of air pollution; traditional biomass
embraces wood, crop leftovers and excrement.
9.
• Movable sourcescomprise automobiles, aquatic vessels, and planes.
• Controlled burning is a procedure sometimes used in forest
management, agriculture, prairie re-establishment. Fire is an
accepted facet of both forest and grassland ecosystem and an
organized fire can be an instrument for foresters. Precise burning
kindles the sprouting of some desirable trees, thus renewing the
forest.
• Fumes from hair spray, paint, aerosol sprays, varnish and other
solvents.
10.
• Waste depositsin landfills create methane. Methane is extremely
combustible and may form an explosive and volatile concoction with
air. Methane is furthermore an asphyxiant and may displace oxygen in
a sealed-off space. Suffocation may result if the oxygen concentration
goes below 19.5% by displacement.
• Military resources, such as nuclear weapons, toxic gasses, germ
warfare and rocketry.
11.
2. Natural sources
•Dirt from natural sources, typically big areas of land with little or no plant life.
• Methane, discharged by the breakdown of food (digestion) by animals, for
example, cattle
• Smoke and CO from jungle fires.
• Volcanic activity, which emits sulphur, chlorine, and ash particulates
• Causes of Major Effects of Air Pollution
• Air pollution has a very negative effect on humans and the ecosystem. The
constituents can be dense particles, fluid, or gasses. A contaminant can be of
natural or artificial. Contaminants are categorized as primary or secondary.
13.
Effects of AirPollution on the Environment
• Global Warming & Climate Change
• Greenhouse gases like CO₂, methane trap heat in the atmosphere.
• Causes rise in Earth’s temperature, melting of glaciers,
unpredictable weather.
• Acid Rain
• Gases like sulfur dioxide (SO₂) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) mix with
rainwater.
• Damages crops, soil fertility, forests, and corrodes buildings.
14.
• Smog Formation
•Smoke + fog = smog, mostly in cities with heavy traffic.
• Reduces visibility, harms plants, and affects human health.
• Ozone Layer Depletion
• Chemicals like CFCs destroy the ozone layer.
• Increases harmful UV rays reaching Earth, causing skin cancer and
harming crops.
15.
•Harm to Wildlife& Plants
• Polluted air affects forests, reduces photosynthesis in
plants.
• Animals suffer from loss of habitat and contaminated food
chains.
16.
prevention methods forAir Pollution
• Use public transport, carpool, or eco-friendly vehicles to reduce
vehicle smoke.
• Plant more trees to absorb carbon dioxide and clean the air.
• Avoid burning waste like plastic, leaves, or garbage.
• Promote clean energy (solar, wind, CNG, LPG, electricity) instead of
coal & petrol.
• Industries should use filters and eco-friendly technology to reduce
harmful emissions.
17.
(B) Water pollution
•Water pollution is the
contamination of water
bodies like rivers, lakes,
ponds, seas, oceans, and
groundwater due to
harmful substances. It
makes water unsafe for
drinking, agriculture,
industry, aquatic life, and
the environment.
18.
Major Causes ofWater Pollution
• Industrial Waste
• Factories discharge chemicals, heavy metals, oils, and toxins into
rivers and lakes.
• Sewage & Wastewater
• Untreated sewage from homes and cities flows directly into water
bodies.
• Agricultural Activities
• Excess use of fertilizers, pesticides, and insecticides runs off into
rivers and groundwater.
19.
• Plastic &Solid Waste
• Dumping of plastics, bottles, and garbage in rivers and oceans
causes long-term pollution.
• Thermal Pollution
• Hot water from power plants or industries changes water
temperature, killing fish.
• Religious & Human Activities
• Bathing, washing clothes, and immersing idols in rivers increase
pollution.
Effects of WaterPollution
•On Humans
• Causes diseases like cholera, diarrhea, typhoid, hepatitis.
• Unsafe drinking water affects millions worldwide.
•On Aquatic Life
• Reduces oxygen level in water, killing fish and other
species.
• Oil spills and plastics suffocate marine animals.
22.
•On Environment
• Pollutedrivers and lakes lose biodiversity.
• Soil fertility reduces when polluted water is used for
irrigation.
•On Economy
• Tourism, fishing industry, and agriculture suffer heavy
losses.
23.
Prevention of WaterPollution
• Treat industrial and sewage waste before releasing into
water.
• Reduce plastic use and encourage recycling.
• Use eco-friendly fertilizers and pesticides in farming.
• Spread awareness about keeping rivers and lakes clean.
• Government laws and strict punishments for polluters.
24.
(C) SOIL POLLUTION
•Soil pollution is defined as,
“contamination of soil by
human and natural activities
which may cause harmful
effect on living organisms”
25.
Types, effects andsources of soil
pollution
• 1.Industrial wastes
• Industrial pollutants are mainly
discharged from various origins such
as pulp and paper mills, chemical
fertilizers, oil refineries, sugar
factories, tanneries, textiles, steel,
distilleries, fertilizers, pesticides,
coal and mineral mining industries,
drugs, glass, cement, petroleum and
engineering industries etc
26.
• 2.Urban wastes
•Plastics, glasses, metallic
cans, fibers, paper, rubbers,
street sweepings, fuel
residues, leaves, containers,
abandoned vehicles and
other discarded
manufactured products.
5.Biological agents Thehuman and animal wastes, garbage, waste
water
6.Pesticides chlorinated hydrocarbon insecticide Organic phosphorous
pesticides
7.Fertilizers Different fertilizers discharge N, Na, K, S, Nitrates etc
8.Polymer, Plastics & other water
• Waste from different sources
30.
Control measures ofsoil pollution
1.Soil erosion can be controlled by a variety of forestry and farm
practices.
2.Reducing deforestation and substituting chemical manures by animal
wastes also helps arrest soil erosion in the long term.
3. Proper dumping of unwanted materials: Excess wastes by man and
animals pose a disposal problem. Open dumping is the most commonly
practiced technique.
31.
4. Production ofnatural fertilizers: Bio-pesticides should be used in
place of toxic chemical pesticides. Organic fertilizers should be used in
place of synthesized chemical fertilizers.
5. Proper hygienic condition: People should be trained regarding
sanitary habits.
6. 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 thi
32.
7. Recycling andReuse 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.
8. 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.
33.
(D) MARINE POLLUTION
•The discharge of waste
substances in to the sea
resulting in harm to the living
resources, hazards to the
human health hindrances to
the fishery and impairment of
quality use of sea water.
34.
Sources
1. Dumping thewastes
2. Oil
3. Radioactive materials (enter the ocean from nuclear weapon
testing)
4. Toxics
5. Marine Debris (Garbage like plastic bags, ropes helium balloons)
35.
Effects of marinepollution
• Heavy metals and organic pollutants damages birds by thinning of egg
shells.
• Oil pollution causes damage to marine animals and plants including
algae bird, fish etc.
• Oil spilling in the sea causes abnormal low body temperature in birds
resulting in hypothermia. During Exxon Valdez accident 150 rare
species of bald eagles are affected by ingested oil.
36.
• Oil filmsare able to retard the rate of oxygen uptake by
water
• Hydrocarbon and benzpyrene accumulate in food chain and
consumption of fish by man may cause cancer.
• Many marine birds ingest plastic that causes gastrointestinal
disorders
37.
Control of marinepollution
• The industrial unit on the coastal lines should be equipped
with pollution control instrument.
• Urban growth near the coast should be regulated.
• Methods of removal of oil
• Physical methods
• skimming the oil off the surface with suction device.
38.
Protective method
• Municipaland industrial waste should be treated before disposing in
to sea
• Coastal waste are periodically analysed for detecting pollution level
• Soil erosion in the coastal land should be arrested be suitable
techniques.
• Recreation beaches should be maintained to meet hygienic and
aesthetic standard.
39.
(E) NOISE POLLUTION
•Noise is defined as, "the
unwanted, unpleasant or
disagreeable sound that causes
discomfort to all living beings".
Sound intensity is measured in
decibels (dB) , that is the tenth
part of the longest unit Bel. One
dB is the faintest sound that a
human ear can hear
40.
What is NoisePollution?
• Noise is the unpleasant and undesirable
sound which leads to discomfort in human
beings. Due to increasing noise around the
civilizations, noise pollution has become a
matter of concern. Some of its major causes
are vehicles, aircraft, industrial machines,
loudspeakers, crackers, etc. When used at high
volume, some other appliances also contribute
to noise pollution, like television, transistor,
radio, etc
41.
Types of NoisePollution
• Transport Noise
• It mainly consists of traffic noise which has increased in recent years with the increase in the
number of vehicles. The increase in noise pollution leads to deafening of older people,
headache, hypertension, etc.
• Neighbourhood Noise
• The noise from gadgets, household utensils etc. Some of the main sources are musical
instruments, transistors, loudspeakers, etc.
• Industrial Noise
• It is the high-intensity sound which is caused by heavy industrial machines. According to many
researches, industrial noise pollution damages the hearing ability to around 20%.
43.
Causes and Sourcesof Noise Pollution
• Industrialisation: Industrialisation has led to an increase in noise pollution as
the use of heavy machinery such as generators, mills, huge exhaust fans are
used, resulting in the production of unwanted noise.
• Vehicles: Increased number of vehicles on the roads are the second reason
for noise pollution.
• Events: Weddings, public gatherings involve loudspeakers to play music
resulting in the production of unwanted noise in the neighbourhood.
• Construction sites: Mining, construction of buildings, etc add to the noise
pollution.
44.
Noise Pollution Examples
•Unnecessary usage of horns
• Using loudspeakers either for religious functions or for political
purposes
• Unnecessary usage of fireworks
• Industrial noise
• Construction noise
• Noise from transportation such as railway and aircraft
45.
Effects of NoisePollution on Human Health
• Hypertension: It is a direct result of noise pollution which is
caused due to elevated blood levels for a longer duration.
• Hearing loss: Constant exposure of human ears to loud noise
that are beyond the range of sound that human ears can
withstand damages the eardrums, resulting in loss of
hearing.
46.
• leeping disorders:Lack of sleep might result in fatigue and low energy
level throughout the day affecting everyday activities. Noise pollution
hampers the sleep cycles leading to irritation and an uncomfortable
state of mind.
• Cardiovascular issues: Heart-related problems such as blood pressure
level, stress and cardiovascular diseases might come up in a normal
person and a person suffering from any of these diseases might feel a
sudden shoot up in the level.
47.
Prevention of NoisePollution
• Honking in public places like teaching institutes, hospitals, etc. should
be banned.
• In commercial, hospital, and industrial buildings, adequate soundproof
systems should be installed.
• Musical instruments’ sound should be controlled to desirable limits.
• Dense tree cover is useful in noise pollution prevention.
• Explosives should not be used in forest, mountainous and mining
areas.
48.
(F) THERMAL POLLUTION
•Thermal pollution is raising
temperature of water due to
addition of hot water or hot
effluents into it.
49.
• Thermal pollution-
•When the temperature of a natural body of water suddenly increases or
decreases, thermal pollution occurs.
• Industries use natural water to cool down the machines and returned back to
an altered temperature.
• There are some natural causes of thermal pollution also when water is sitting
on hot surfaces that run off nearby water bodies.
50.
Causes of thermalpollution
• Soil erosion- When topsoil is removed due to heavy rain and wind
because of deforestation the water becomes more exposed to the sun
and the temperature of the water body is altered.
• Use of water as a cooling agent in industries and paper factories-
The water cools the machinery and returned back to the river with
altered temperature.
• Natural causes- Natural causes like volcanoes, geothermal vents, and
hot springs can cause heat into water bodies.
51.
Effects of thermalpollution
• Decrease Oxygen demand - When the temperature of the water
bodies rises the bond of oxygen molecule breaks as a result the
dissolved oxygen decreases and affects the fishes and marine
ecosystem.
• Increase in toxins- When water is returned back from the
industries it contains some toxic chemicals which affect the marine
ecosystem.
52.
Control measures forthermal pollution
• Cooling towers transfer heat from hot water to the
atmosphere by evaporation.
• Cooling ponds are the best way to cool thermal discharges.
• Artificial lakes are manmade water bodies that offer once
through cooling.
53.
(G) Nuclear Pollution
•Nuclear pollution is the
physical pollution of air,
water and soil by radioactive
materials.
• Nuclear pollution is also
known as radiation pollution.
54.
• Why isradioactive pollution dangerous?
• Such type of pollution results in the emission of ionizing radiation.
This type of radiation can cause damage to tissues and DNA in
genes.
55.
• Sources ofNuclear Pollution
• The sources of radioactivity include both natural and manmade.
• Nuclear accidents from Nuclear Plants
• The Use of Nuclear Weapons as Weapons of Mass Destruction
• Improper handling of radioactive substances.
• Cosmic Rays and Other Natural Sources.
56.
How Is NuclearPollution Caused?
• occur in one of two ways:
• Naturally occurring radioactivity
• Man-made radioactivity
• Natural radioactivity, as the name suggests, occurs naturally in
our environment. Some radioactive elements such as uranium and
thorium are present in rocks and soil, albeit in trace quantities.
Interestingly, humans and all other living organisms contain nuclides
such as carbon-14, which are created by cosmic rays.
57.
• Man-made radioactivityis the result of nuclear weapon discharge
or a nuclear reactor containment breach. In such scenarios, all living
organisms in the vicinity of the nuclear event will become
contaminated by fission products and remnants of nuclear fuel. This
can be in the form of radioactive dust or even particles that are found
on various surfaces.
58.
• Examples ofRadioactive Pollution
• One of the most infamous cases that resulted in radioactive
pollution was the Chernobyl disaster. Other examples include:
• Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Disaster
• Nuclear fallout (after atmospheric nuclear explosions)
• Criticality accidents
59.
4.3.SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT
•The term solid waste management mainly refers to the complete
process of collecting, treating and disposing of solid wastes.
• In the waste management process, the wastes are collected from
different sources and are disposed of. This process includes collection,
transportation, treatment, analysis and disposal of waste. It needs to
be monitored so that strict regulations and guidelines are followed.
60.
Sources of SolidWastes
• Solid domestic garbage.
• Solid waste material from various industries.
• Solid agricultural waste.
• Plastics, glass, metals, e-waste, etc.
• Medical waste.
• Construction waste, sewage sludge
Types of solidwastes
1.Landfill: It involves burying the
waste in vacant locations around
the city. The dumping site should
be covered with soil to prevent
contamination.
• Benefits: A sanitary disposal
method if managed effectively.
• Limitations: A reasonably large
area is required.
63.
2. Incineration: Itis the controlled
oxidation (burning/thermal
treatment) of mostly organic
compounds at high temperatures to
produce thermal energy, CO2, and
water.
• Benefits: Burning significantly reduces
the volume of combustible waste.
• Limitations: Smoke and fire hazards
may exist.
64.
• Composting: Itis a natural process
of recycling organic matter like
leaves and food scraps into
beneficial fertilizers that can
benefit both soil and plants.
• Benefits: It is beneficial for crops and
is an environment-friendly method.
• Limitations: Requires high-skilled
labour for large-scale operation.
65.
• Recycling: Itis a process of
converting waste material into
new material. Examples: wood
recycling, paper recycling, and
glass recycling.
• Benefits: It is environment-friendly.
• Limitations: It is expensive to set
up and not reliable in case of an
emergency.
66.
• Vermicomposting: Vermicompostingis a
bio-conversion technique that is
commonly used to handle solid waste.
Earthworms feed on organic waste to
reproduce and multiply in number,
vermicompost, and vermiwash as
products in this bio-conversion process.
• Benefits: It reduces the need for chemical
fertilizers and enhances plant growth.
• Limitations: It is time-consuming and
requires extra care.
Harmful Effects ofSolid Waste
• Bad odour of waste
• Production of toxic gases
• Degradation of natural beauty
• Air pollution
• Water pollution
• Soil pollution
• Spread of diseases
• Effect on biodiversity
69.
Important Points AboutSolid Waste Management
• With rapid urbanisation, industrialisation, and an explosion in population
in India, solid waste management will be a key challenge for state
governments and local municipal bodies in the 21st century.
• The urban poor is particularly vulnerable, as they generally live in
informal settlements with little or no access to solid waste collection and
in locations near open landfills.
• The ‘Swachh Bharat Abhiyan’ was created to tackle these issues related
to waste management, and it created awareness among the people about
the proper treatment of solid waste. Since the launch of this campaign,
the waste management concept has started to gain momentum.
INDIVIDUALS ROLE INPREVENTION OF
POLLUTION
• Individuals should minimize wastage of resources such as electricity.
Every unit of electricity saved is equivalent unit of electricity
• Individuals should prefer walking or use cycles instead of using motor
vehicles, especially when distances to be travelled are small. •
Individuals can make considerable contribution by using mass
transport (buses, trains, etc) instead of using personal vehicles.
72.
• When goingto workplace, colleagues from nearby localities should
pool vehicles instead of going in individual personal vehicles.
• Taking personal vehicles for periodic pollution checks at centres
approved by authorities.
• Individuals should reuse items whenever possible.
• Products that are made of recycled material should be given
preference.
• Use gunny bags made of jute instead of plastic bags
73.
• Use waterresources efficiently.
• Use renewable resources by installing equipment such as solar heaters
and using solar cookers.
• Avoid making noise producing activities such as listening to loud music.
• Use handkerchiefs instead of paper tissues.
• Organize drives to clean streets and clean drains with help of other people
of locality.
• Spread awareness and inspire other people to prevent pollution.
Individuals should be encouraged to acquire information and innovations
from world over and implement them locally
74.
4.6 DISASTER MANAGEMENT
(A)FLOODS
•flood is an overflow of water on
land. Sometimes a river might
receive extra water, either from
heavy rains or other natural
disasters. When this happens,
the water overflows from its
normal path in the river bed
and onto the dry land.
75.
• Flood frequencyis referred as 10-year flood, 100year flood,
etc. A 10-year flood at any point in a stream is that discharge
of water which may be expected to occur on average once in
10 years.
• Floodplains are generally fertile, flat and easily formed.
76.
CAUSES OF FLOOD
•Construction of buildings in a flood plain
• Deforestation
• Heavy rainfall
• Urbanization
• Earthquakes
77.
Effects of flood
•Erosion of top soil
• Damage and loss to land, house and property
• Spread of endemic waterborne diseases
• Interruption of basic facilities of community such as highways,
railways, telephone, electricity and day-to-day essentials
• Silting of reservoirs and dams
78.
FLOOD CONTROL
• Constructionof flood control dam
• Deepening, widening and straightening of streams
• Lining of streams
• Banning of construction of buildings in floodplains ‘
• Converting flood-plains into wildlife habitat, parks, and recreation
areas.
79.
(B)Earthquake
• n earthquakerefers to the shaking of the earth’s surface caused by a
sudden release of energy within the earth’s crust. This release of
energy generates waves, commonly known as S waves. The intensity
and characteristics of an earthquake are determined by the some
activities occurring in a specific region.
• An earthquake in simple words is the shaking of the earth. It is a
natural event. It is caused due to release of energy, which generates
waves that travel in all directions. Earthquakes occur all the time, all
over the earth.
80.
What to doDuring an Earthquake?
Before the Earthquake
81.
Make Connections Flexible
•Ensure that gas lines and appliances are properly installed with
flexible connections. This helps prevent gas leaks and reduces the risk
of fire hazards during an earthquake.
Create an Earthquake Readiness Plan
• Develop a well-thought-out plan that includes identifying a shelter
area in your home. Stock up on essential supplies such as canned
food, a well-stocked first aid kit, dust masks, goggles, firefighting
equipment, a flashlight and a working battery-operated radio. These
provisions will prove invaluable in the event of an earthquake.
82.
Consult Architects andStructural Engineers
• Building sturdy structures is vital for minimizing earthquake damage and
ensuring the safety of occupants. If you reside in an earthquake-prone area,
it’s crucial to consult with architects and structural engineers before
constructing buildings. They can guide you in implementing the necessary
measures and adhering to regulations set by the disaster management
committee.
Spread Awareness
• Share the knowledge and importance of earthquake preparedness with your
friends and family. By educating those around you, you contribute to
creating a safer community.
Stay Indoors
• Remainindoors until the shaking stops and it is officially announced that
it is safe to exit. Taking cover beneath a sturdy table or bed can provide
vital protection against falling objects.
Avoid Hazardous Areas
• Steer clear of bookcases, heavy furniture and appliances that may topple
over during the earthquake. Your safety should always be the top priority.
85.
Find a SafeSpot
• Seek shelter under a sturdy piece of furniture, such as a table or bed.
Hold on to a post or any other fixture to maintain stability and
minimize the risk of injury.
If Outdoors, Move to an Open Area
• If you are outside when the earthquake occurs, find a clear spot away
from buildings, trees and power lines. These objects pose a significant
danger during seismic activity.
Administer First Aid
•Attend to individuals with minor injuries using first aid kits. For those with more
severe injuries, it’s essential to wait for professional medical help and avoid
moving them until it is safe.
CPR and Rescue Breathing
• If someone is not breathing, administer rescue breathing. If the person has no
pulse, perform CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) until medical assistance
arrives.
Be Mindful of Hazards
• Attend any tumbling shelves or falling items and be cautious around damaged
walls made of bricks or other unstable materials. Your safety should be a priority.
88.
Effects of earthquake
•Ground shaking
• Liquefaction of ground
• Ground displacement
• Landslides
• Flood
• Fire
89.
Control of earthquake
•There is virtually no technique to control the occurrence of
earthquake. However, certain preventive measures can be taken to
minimize the damage.
• Minimizing development activity (especially construction, mining,
construction of dams and reservoirs) in areas known to be active
zones.
90.
(C) CYCLONE
• Cyclonesare large revolving
tropical storms caused by
winds blowing around a
central area of low
atmospheric pressure.
91.
Worst Affected Regionsin India
• along the coast are vulnerable but Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry,
Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, West Bengal, and Gujarat are most
prone to damages from cyclone. Only about 7 percent of the
tropical cyclones in the world originate in the Arabian Sea
and Bay of Bengal but these are some of the most
devastating and damaging, says the IMD.
92.
(D) LANDSLIDES
• Landslidesoccur when mass of earth material move
downward. It is also called mass wasting or mass movement.
• Sudden landslide occurs when unconsolidated sediments of
a hillside are saturated by rainfall or water logging.
93.
Control measures forlandslides
• Avoid construction activity in landslide occurring areas.
• Reducing slope of hilly side.
• Stabilizing the slope portion .
• Increasing plantation of deep rooted vegetation on the slope