Introduction

Iyyanki V. Muralikrishna, Valli Manickam, in Environmental Management, 2017

Environmental pollution is one of the most serious problems facing humanity and
other life forms on our planet today. Environmental pollution is defined as “the
contamination of the physical and biological components of the earth/atmosphere
system to such an extent that normal environmental processes are adversely
affected.” Pollutants can be naturally occurring substances or energies, but they
are considered contaminants when in excess of natural levels. Any use of natural
resources at a rate higher than nature’s capacity to restore itself can result in
pollution of air, water, and land.

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Exploring the Potential and Opportunities of Current Tools for Removal of Hazardous
Materials From Environments
Vimal Chandra Pandey, Vijai Singh, in Phytomanagement of Polluted Sites, 2019

Abstract
Environmental pollution is one of the most serious global challenges. Wild-type
organisms have a slower degradation rate of hazardous materials. Currently,
advanced molecular biology tools along with conventional approaches allow us to
rapidly degrade or accumulate hazardous materials from environments. This can help
modify microorganisms to gain the ability to sense and degrade hazardous chemicals
from contaminated sites, in turn, allowing us to grow vegetation and improve crop
productivity. In this chapter, conventional and advanced molecular biology tools
for the removal and detoxification of contaminants from soil and water to improve
environmental conditions are highlighted.

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Societal Responsibility and Economic Viability

Dilip Kumar, Deepak Kumar, in Management of Coking Coal Resources, 2016

6.2.11.2.5 Ecological Issues

Environmental pollution represents an obstacle to the economical exploitation of
coal deposits. In industrialized countries, the rules for protection of the
environment are stricter than in developing countries. Thus, to get a license to
open mines involves lengthy procedures which in turn cause delay. Indian
authorities have also started to put stringent conditions in place regarding
environmental pollution. Consequently, ecological problems can be totally
prevented, but such measures are costly.

Some environmental consequences of mining and processing coal deposits are

deforestation, land damage, water pollution and hydrological damage, air pollution,
noise pollution, ground vibration and rock dispersal, and visual impact. Such
environmental impacts are increasing day by day because the scale of individual
mining operations is increasing as mining of lower grade deposits increases. The
current trend toward surface mining, and mine mechanization, is also aggravating
such problems.

The use of environmental standards as criteria for decision making in a developing

country like India has to be properly assessed. If the norms of developed countries
are applied in India, costs will be very high. Thus, the standards selected should
be compatible with the country’s economic situation.

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Particulate Matter and Its Size Fractionation

Prabhat K. Rai, in Biomagnetic Monitoring of Particulate Matter, 2016

1.1.1 Pollution Science

Environmental pollution is the unfavorable alteration of our surroundings, wholly
or largely as a byproduct of man’s actions, through direct or indirect effects of
the changes in the energy pattern, radiation levels, and chemical and physical
constitution and abundance of organisms. Environmental pollution is a global
problem and is common to both developed as well as developing countries, which
attracts the attention of human beings for its severe long-term consequences. The
decline in environmental quality as a consequence of pollution is evidenced by loss
of vegetation, biological diversity, excessive amounts of harmful chemicals in the
ambient atmosphere and in food grains, and growing risks of environmental accidents
and threats to life support systems. Pollution is viewed from different angles by
different people but is commonly agreed to be the outcome of urban-industrial and