A COMPLETE NOTE ON ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION.

1. ENVIRONMENTAL
POLLUTION

2. Define pollution
Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into
the natural environment that cause adverse
change. Pollution can take the form of chemical
substances or energy, such as noise, heat or light.
Pollutants, the components of pollution, can be
either foreign substances/energies or naturally
occurring contaminants. Pollution is often
classed as point source or nonpoint source
pollution.

3. What is water pollution?
• Water pollution is the contamination of water
bodies (e.g. lakes, rivers, oceans, aquifers and
groundwater). This form of environmental
degradation occurs when pollutants are
directly or indirectly discharged into water
bodies without adequate treatment to remove
harmful compounds.

4. Types Of Water Pollution
Point source water pollution refers to
contaminants that enter a waterway from a
single, identifiable source, such as a pipe or
ditch. Examples of sources in this category
include discharges from a sewage treatment
plant, a factory, or a city storm drain, municipal
storm sewer systems, as well as industrial storm
water, such as from construction sites.

5. Nonpoint Source Pollution refers to diffuse
contamination that does not originate from a
single discrete source. NPS pollution is often
the cumulative effect of small amounts of
contaminants gathered from a large area. A
common example is the leaching out
of nitrogen `compounds from fertilized
agricultural lands.

6. Groundwater Pollution
A spill or ongoing release of chemical or radionuclide
contaminants into soil (located away from a surface
water body) may not create point or non-point source
pollution but can contaminate the aquifer below,
creating a toxic plume.

7. WATER POLLUTANTS
• Chemical – When various chemicals are the water pollution
causes. The following chemicals are the most common water
pollutants:
 Crude oil and various petroleum products (including gasoline,
diesel fuel, kerosene, motor and lubricating oils, jet fuel). These
compounds are lighter than water and thus always sit on top of water
forming sheens of “free product”. However, part of these compounds
dissolve in water and, even in small amounts may be harmful and at
the same time may remain unnoticeable by the eye
 Chlorinated solvents which sink in water (are denser than water)
and are quite persistent and toxic. These compounds thus, cannot be
seen by the eye, in contrast with petroleum products that are easily
seen as sheens on top of water surface.

8.  Fertilizers (including nitrates and phosphates) – while small
amounts are useful to life, higher amounts of nitrates and phosphates
in water are only beneficial to algae and harmful microorganisms
and are poisonous to human and aquatic life. These contaminants
cannot be seen themselves in water (as they do not form sheens or
color the water), but their effects can. The typical effect of water
pollution by fertilizers (usually through agricultural runoff) is the
fast and abundant water growth.
 Pesticides/insecticides/herbicides – comprise a large number of
individual chemicals that get into water due to agricultural activities
directly (by spraying over large areas) or indirectly with agriculture
runoff. The insecticide DDT is a typical example of such type of
water pollutant.

9.  Perchlorate – Perchlorate Salts Are Used In Rocket Fuels, As Well
As Many Other Applications Such As Fireworks, Explosives, Road
Flares, Inflation Bags, Etc. This Contaminant Is Usually Associated
With Military Bases, Construction Sites (When Explosives Are
Used). However, Natural Formation In Arid Areas May Account For
Perchlorate In Water, Too (E.G., In Chile, Texas Or California
Where Natural Formation Of Perchlorate Has Been Observed)
• Radiological – when radioactive materials are the water
pollutant causes.
• Biological – when various microorganisms (e.g., bacterial
species and viruses), worms, and/or algae occurring in a large
number are the water pollution causes. This type of pollution is
caused by decaying organic material in water, animal wastes, as well
as improper disposal of human wastes.

10. How Does Water Pollution Affect Us?
Water pollution may cause a large variety of diseases and
poses a serious problem for human health. This is mainly
because we may get exposed to polluted water in various
ways, including, but not necessarily limited to:
• Drinking polluted water
• Bathing or showering in polluted water
• Swimming in polluted water
• Breathing the vapors of a polluted water while sitting next
to a polluted water source
• Consuming polluted food (meat and/or vegetables) affected
by polluted water
• Consuming meat from animals fed with polluted water of
food affected by polluted water (e.g. vegetables irrigated
with polluted water or grown in an area with polluted
groundwater)

11. DISEASE
• The effects of water pollution may appear
immediately after exposure and be more or less
violent in the case of drinking water with a high
amount of pollutants. On the other hand, the
effects may appear some time after repetitive
exposure to water contaminated with lower
amounts of pollutants. The health effects of
drinking contaminated water may range from
simple intoxication and stomach aches to deadly
diseases or sudden death.

13. WHAT IS AIR POLLUTANT?
•Any visible or invisible particle or gas found in the
air that is not part of the original, normal
composition.

14. Natural:forest fires, pollen, dust
storm
Unnatural: man-made; coal, wood
and other fuels used in cars, homes,
and factories for energy

16. AQI: Air Quality Index
•Indicates whether pollutant levels in air may cause
health concerns.
•Ranges from 0 (least concern) to 500 (greatest
concern)

18. 5 Major Pollutants:
1..) Carbon Monoxide
2.) Sulfur Dioxide
3.) Nitrogen Dioxide
4.) Particulate Matter
5.) Ground Level
Ozone

19. Carbon Monoxide
•colorless, odorless
•produced when carbon does not burn
in fossil fuels
•present in car exhaust
•deprives body of O2 causing
headaches, fatigue, and impaired
vision

20. Sulfur Dioxide
•produced when coal and fuel oil
are burned
•present in power plant exhaust
•narrows the airway, causing
wheezing and shortness of
breath, especially in those with
asthma

21. Nitrogen Dioxide
•reddish, brown gas
•produced when nitric oxide
combines with oxygen in
the atmosphere
•present in car exhaust and
power plants
•affects lungs and causes
wheezing; increases chance
of respiratory infection

22. Particulate Matter
•particles of different sizes and
structures that are released into the
atmosphere
•present in many sources including
fossil fuels, dust, smoke, fog, etc.
•can build up in respiratory system
•aggravates heart and lung disease;
increases risk of respiratory infection

23. Ground Level Ozone
•at upper level, ozone shields Earth from
sun’s harmful UV rays
•at ground level, ozone is harmful
pollutants
•formed from car, power and chemical
plant exhaust
•irritate respiratory system and asthma;
reduces lung function by inflaming and
damaging lining of lungs

26. •Combination of gases with water vapor
and dust
•Combination of words smoke and fog
•Forms when heat and sunlight react
gases (photochemical smog)
•Occurs often with heavy traffic,
high temperatures, and calm winds

28. •Limits visibility
•Decreases UV radiation
•Yellow/black color over cities
•Causes respiratory problems and
bronchial related deaths

36. Definition
Sound, a normal feature of our life, is the means of
communication and entertainment in most animals,
including human beings. It is also a very effective
alarm system. A low sound is pleasant whereas a
loud sound is unpleasant and is commonly referred
to as ‘noise’. Noise can be defined as an unpleasant
and unwanted sound.

37. WHAT IS NOISE POLLUTION?
Sound that is unwanted or disrupts one’s quality of life
is called as noise. When there is lot of noise in the
environment, it is termed as noise pollution.
Sound becomes undesirable when it disturbs the
normal activities such as working, sleeping, and during
conversations.
It is an underrated environmental problem because of
the fact that we can’t see, smell, or taste it.
World Health Organization stated that “Noise must be
recognized as a major threat to human well-being”

38. Sources of Noise Pollution
1. Transportation systems are the main source of noise
pollution in urban areas.
2. Construction of buildings, highways, and streets cause a
lot of noise, due to the usage of air compressors,
bulldozers, loaders, dump trucks, and pavement
breakers.
3. Industrial noise also adds to the already unfavorable
state of noise pollution.
4. Loud speakers, plumbing, boilers, generators, air
conditioners, fans, and vacuum cleaners add to the
existing noise pollution.

39. Effects of Noise Pollution
• Effects on Human
• Effects onAnimals
• Effects on Environment
• (Vegetation, Property)

40. Effects on Human
o Hearing Impairment
o Interference with Spoken
Communication
o Decrease in Efficiency
o Lack of Concentration
o Fatigue
o Sleep Disturbances
o Cardiovascular Disturbances

41. Continued……
• Disturbance in Mental Health
• Impaired Task Performance
• Negative Social Behavior and Annoyance
reactions
• Abortion
• Abnormal Fetus
• Temporary or Permanent Deafness

42. Diseases Caused by Noise Pollution
• High Blood Pressure
• HeartAttack
• Cancer
• Asthma
• Coughing, wheezing
• Deafness
• Annoyance
• Stress
• Anxiety
• Reduced lung development
• Bronchitis
• Insomnia
• Arterious Clerosis

43. Effect onAnimals
• Damages Nervous system
• Altering Prey/predator detection
• Creates problems in Navigation
• They become Dangerous andAttacking
• Raise Metabolism
• Reduction of useable Habitat
• Death of Certain Species
• Genetic and Evolutionary Problems

44. Continued…..
• Hormone imbalance
• Chronic Stress
• Panic and Escape Behavior
• Abandonment of Offspring
• Injury
• Loudness of Interspecies Communication

45. Effects on Environment
Breakage of Earth Barrier
Poor Quality of Crops
Damages Buildings, bridges andMonuments
Weakens the Edifice of Building

46. Solid waste management

47. Definition
• Waste (or wastes) are unwanted or unusable materials.
Waste is any substance which is discarded after primary
use, or it is worthless, defective and of no use.
• Solid waste is the unwanted or useless solid materials
generated from combined residential, industrial and
commercial activities in a given area.

48. Sources Of Solid Waste
Residential
Food wastes, paper, cardboard, plastics, textiles, leather, yard wastes,
wood, glass, metals, ashes, special wastes (e.g., bulky items, consumer
electronics, white goods, batteries, oil, tires), and household hazardous
wastes.).
Industrial
Housekeeping wastes, packaging, food wastes, construction and
demolition materials, hazardous wastes, ashes, special wastes.
Commercial
Paper, cardboard, plastics, wood, food wastes, glass, metals, special
wastes, hazardous wastes.

49. Institutional
Paper, cardboard, plastics, wood, food wastes, glass, metals, special
wastes, hazardous wastes.
Construction and demolition
Wood, steel, concrete, dirt, etc.
Municipal services
Street sweepings; landscape and tree trimmings; general wastes from
parks, beaches, and other recreational areas; sludge.
Process (manufacturing, etc.)
Industrial process wastes, scrap materials, off-specification products,
slay, tailings.
Agriculture
Spoiled food wastes, agricultural wastes, hazardous wastes (e.g.,
pesticides).

50. Hazardous Wastes
Radioactive wastes, toxic chemicals. Flammable wastes, explosives,
hazardous biological wastes from hospitals or research institutions.
Pathological Wastes
Carcass of animals slaughter house wastes (blood, pieces of meat, hair,
fat, bone chippings, hides, skin excretions etc.

51. Effect of Solid Waste Disposal
1. Contaminates water and air, resulting into diseases and
dysentery in Human beings.
2. Mosquitoes breed in the stagnant water, blocked due to
waste choked in the drains.
3. Decomposition of solid waste spreads obnoxious odour
in the air, thus polluting it.
4. Burning of waste, especially plastic adds up obnoxious
fumes in the air.
5. Garbage dumps and decomposed waste helps many
harmful species to breed in them.
6. The infected water supply also leads to large scale
epidemics.

52. Methods of solid waste management
i. Sanitary Land Filling:
In a sanitary landfill, garbage is spread out in thin layers,
compacted and covered with clay or plastic foam. In the
modern landfills the bottom is covered with an impermeable
liner, usually several layers of clay, thick plastic and sand.
The liner protects the ground water from being contaminated
due to percolation of leachate.
ii. Incineration:
The term incinerates means to burn something until nothing
is left but ashes. An incinerator is a unit or facility used to
burn trash and other types of waste until it is reduced to ash.

53. iii. Composting:
Composting is a biological process in which micro-
organisms, mainly fungi and bacteria, convert degradable
organic waste into humus like substance. This finished
product, which looks like soil, is high in carbon and nitrogen
and is an excellent medium for growing plants.
iv. Pyrolysis:
Pyrolysis is a form of incineration that chemically
decomposes organic materials by heat in the absence of
oxygen. Pyrolysis typically occurs under pressure and at
operating temperatures above 430 °C

54. THANKING YOU
P r e s e n t a t i o n C o m p i l e d B y : -
S u v a n k a r R a y
A s s t . P r o f e s s o r
M a n g a l a y a t a n U n i v e r s i t y