ASSIGNMENT ENVIRONMENTAL

POLLUTION

Submitted by- Jaspreet Singh

170280258
Btech CSE (5th Sem)

Submitted To- Prof Gurbahar Singh

 Environmental Pollution
Introduction-
 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.

 Environmental pollution is increasing with each passing year and inflicting grave and
irreparable injury to the world. Environmental pollution is of different types namely air,
water, soil, noise and light-weight. These cause damage to the living system. How
pollution interacts with public health, environmental medicine and the environment has
undergone dramatic change. Recent oil spills in the Yellowstone River, Alaska tundra
and Enbridge (Wisconsin) demonstrate how pollution can directly and indirectly impact
man’s health environmental pollution was not a medical/public health issue nor was it
discussed in clinical settings. Since the 1950s, environmental medicine has been
discussed more frequently through a greater awareness in public health and preventive
medicine; although today, there is now a focus on occupational medicine. Environmental
and occupational medicine are however more commonly viewed as an integrated subject,
with emphasis given to industrial issues. Certainly, pollution problems have been
recognized in the distant past but were more easily mitigated by nature due to the limited
complexity of the pollutant, its degradability (e.g. biodegradable organics) and lower
industrialization. Health-related effects from environmental pollution have been well
known, but were not fully realized until highly notable events like the Donora
(Pennsylvania) smog occurrence in 1948 resulting in later public health programs
including in their training a discussion of environmental medicine. There has been an
increased awareness of how pollution is observed regarding its health impact and
attitudes toward public health and environmental medicine. Damage from oil spills will
not only influence public health but overall disease rates for years to come. As
environmental pollution increases so will the importance of environmental medicine in
managing its consequences
 Types of Environmental Pollution-

1. Air Pollution- Air pollution refers to the release of pollutants like toxic gases,
biological molecules, and particulate matter into the atmosphere. The pollutants can be
derived from several sources including both natural processes and human activity.
Volcanic eruptions, automobile, and industrial effluents, etc., are some examples of air
pollution sources. Carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, chlorofluorocarbons, aerosol
sprays, etc., are some examples of air pollutants. Such pollution can be highly detrimental
to the health and well-being of all life forms on earth.

High air pollution levels can cause immediate health problems including:

1. Aggravated cardiovascular and respiratory illness

2. Added stress to heart and lungs, which must work harder to supply the body with oxygen
3. Damaged cells in the respiratory system

Long-term exposure to polluted air can have permanent health effects such as:

1. Accelerated aging of the lungs

2. Loss of lung capacity and decreased lung function
3. Development of diseases such as asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, and possibly cancer
4. Shortened life span

2. Soil Pollution- When the soil of an area is contaminated, it leads to soil pollution or
land degradation. The soil is essential to the growth of all plants including crops. Thus,
degradation in the soil quality translates to lower yields and poor health of crops grown
on such soil. Industrial and agricultural chemicals are the common pollutants
contaminating the soil.
3. Water Pollution- In simple terms, the contamination of water bodies likes lakes,
rivers, ponds, aquifers, etc., by pollutants is called water pollution. Like air pollution,
water pollution is one of the most harmful types of pollution. It can have extremely
disastrous consequences for all living beings using the contaminated water. A major
volume of the all the pollutants produced on land end up in water bodies. Toxic wastes
released by industries, pathogens released in sewage, harmful chemicals present in
agricultural runoffs, etc., are some of the top water pollutants. The contamination of
water can lead to epidemics and even pandemics that can wipe out the population of an
entire species or even more than one species. Thus, water pollution has a highly adverse
impact on the environment, society, and economy of a place.
4. Radioactive Pollution- When radioactive substances are present in areas where their
presence is undesirable or unintended, it results in a type of pollution called radioactive
contamination. Such substances are highly toxic to all life on earth. Radioactive
 substances trigger mutations in the genetic material of living organisms, leading to
different types of cancers. Exposure to such toxins can also adversely impact the different
systems of the body. Death or disfiguration are common effects of exposure to
radioactive waste. Irresponsible management of such wastes or radioactive disasters are
the common causes of radioactive contamination.
5. Visual Pollution- Everyone loves to see clean and green spaces and beautiful vistas.
When human activity installs ugly barriers to this vision of open and clutter-free
landscapes, it is called visual pollution. The installation of billboards, open storage of
trash, networks of electric wires crisscrossing each other above the street, etc., create
visual pollution. This type of pollution generates distraction, eye fatigues, diversity in
opinions, and other psychological problems.

6. Thermal Pollution- An induced change in the temperature of large volumes of water

causes thermal pollution. This type of pollution leads to the degradation of water quality
as the warm water does not provide ideal living conditions for aquatic flora and fauna.
For example, when water used as a coolant in power plants or that used in industries is
released into a natural water body, the warm or hot water mixes with the rest of the water
to raise the overall temperature of the aquatic ecosystem. Higher temperatures also alter
the composition of dissolved elements in water. The flora and fauna living in the area that
was earlier adapted to a particular temperature range can be killed by this abrupt change
in the water temperature. Thus, aquatic life experiences a thermal shock due to thermal
pollution.

7. Plastic Pollution- As the name suggests, plastic pollution is caused by plastic

accumulation in the environment. Plastic, a non-biodegradable substance, is extremely
harmful to all life on earth. Every year, thousands of animals lose their lives due to plastic
pollution. Ingestion of plastics or entanglement in plastic objects kill these animals. Most
of the plastic waste generated in the world end up in the oceans where they cause great
harm to the marine ecosystem.

8. Noise Pollution- When the environment is filled with unnecessary or unpleasant

sounds that are harmful to animals and plants, it is called noise pollution. Transport
vehicles, machinery, industries, loud music, people yelling, etc., are some of the most
common sources of noise pollution. This type of pollution on the long-term can give rise
to chronic diseases like cardiovascular diseases. The psychological health of people can
also be affected by noise.
Q2. Describe the various types of engineering devices that are used to control
emission of particulate matter from industries, factories and Plants.

1. Absorption and Wet Scrubbing Equipment- Scrubbing is a physical process

whereby particulates, vapors, and gases are controlled by either passing a gas stream
through a liquid solution or spraying a liquid into a gas stream. Water is the most
commonly used absorbent liquid. As the gas stream contacts the liquid, the liquid absorbs
the pollutants, in much the same way that rain droplets wash away strong odors on hot
summer days. Gas absorption is commonly used to recover products or to purify gas
streams that have high concentrations of water-soluble compounds. Absorption
equipment is designed to get as much mixing between the gas and liquid as possible.
2. Adsorption- The process of adsorption involves the molecular attraction of gases or
vapors (usually volatile organic compounds (VOCs)) onto the surface of certain solids
(usually carbon, molecular sieves, and/or catalysts). This attraction may be chemical or
physical in nature and is predominantly a surface effect. Activated carbon (charcoal),
which possesses the large internal surface area needed to adsorb large quantities of gases
within its structure, is often used to remove VOCs from flue gases. After the activated
carbon is saturated with VOCs, it is often treated (by heat and/or steam) to strip off the
collected VOCs. The VOCs are then sent for further treatment, and the carbon is reused
in the adsorption reactor. Adsorption is affected by the temperature, flow rate,
concentration, and molecular structure of the gas.
3. Fabric Filters or Bag Houses- Fabric filters, also commonly referred to as bag
houses, are used in many industrial applications. They operate in a manner similar to a
household vacuum cleaner. Dust-laden gases pass through fabric bags where the dry
particulates are captured on the fabric surface. After enough dust has built up on the
filters, as indicated by a build up in pressure across the fabric, dust is periodically
removed by blowing air back through the fabric, pulsing the fabric with a blast of air, or
shaking the fabric. Dust from the fabric then falls to a collection hopper where it is
removed. As dust builds up on the fabric, the dust layer itself can act as a filter aid
improving the removal efficiency of the device.
4. Catalytic Reactors or Catalysts- Catalytic reactors, referred to as selective
catalytic reduction (SCR) systems, are used extensively to control NOx emissions arising
from the burning of fossil fuels in industrial processes. Ammonia is injected and mixed
with the flue gases upstream of the SCR reactor. In the SCR reactor, ammonia and NOx
react to form nitrogen and water. Greater than 90% NOx removal is possible with these
systems. Catalytic reactors also perform thermal destruction functions like incinerators,
but at lower temperatures and for selected waste gases only. They incorporate beds of
solid catalytic material that the unwanted gases pass through, typically for oxidation or
reduction purposes.
 5. Cyclones- Dust-laden gas is whirled rapidly inside a collector shaped like a cylinder (or
cyclone). The swirling motion creates centrifugal forces that cause the particles to be
thrown against the walls of the cylinder and drop into a hopper below. The gas left in the
middle of the cylinder after the dust particles have been removed moves upward and exits
the cylinder. Cyclones operate to collect relatively large size PM from a gaseous stream,
and can operate at elevated temperatures. Cyclones are typically used for the removal of
particles 50 microns (µm) or larger. Efficiencies greater than 90% for particle sizes of 10
µm or greater are possible, and efficiency increases exponentially with particle diameter
and with increased pressure drop through the cyclone.
6. Electrostatic Precipitators (ESPs)- ESPs are relatively large, low velocity dust
collection devices that remove particles in much the same way that static electricity in
clothing picks up small pieces of lint. Transformers are used to develop extremely high
voltage drops between charging electrodes and collecting plates. The electrical field
produced in the gas stream as it passes through the high voltage discharge introduces a
charge on the particles, which is then attracted to the collecting plates. Periodically the
collected dust is removed from the collecting plates by a hammer device striking the top
of the plates (rapping) dislodging the particulate, which falls to a bottom hopper for
removal.
7. Incinerators- Incineration involves the high efficiency combustion of certain solid,
liquid, or gaseous wastes. The reactions may be self-sustaining based on the
combustibility of the waste, or may require the addition of auxiliary fuels, such as natural
gas or propane. They may be batch operations or continuous as with flares used to burn
off methane from landfills. When not burning solids, they are also called thermal
oxidizers, and these devices can operate at efficiencies of 99.99% (as with hazardous
waste incinerators).
8. Biofilters- Biofilters operate to destroy VOCs and odors by microbial oxidation of
these problem compounds. They are most effective on water-soluble materials. The
polluted air is passed through a wetted bed, which supports a biomass of bacteria that
absorb and metabolize pollutants. Efficiencies over 98% are possible with this
application.

Q3. List the various factors which affect the dispersion of air pollutants into
atmosphere.
Once in the environment, air pollutants may be dispersed via air, water, soil, living organisms
and food. The pathways of dispersion vary greatly, depending upon both the emission source and
the pollutant concerned. Rates and patterns of dispersion also depend to a large extent upon
environmental conditions. Pollution dispersal in the air is affected by many factors:
 meteorological conditions (especially wind speed, wind direction and atmospheric stability),
 the emission height (e.g. ground level sources such as road traffic or high level sources such
as tall chimneys),
 local and regional geographical features,
 the source (e.g. fixed point, such as a chimney, or a diffuse number of sources such as cars
and solvents).
During dispersion pollutants undergo a wide array of changes and transfers. Dilution occurs
owing to mixing into the air. Separation or accumulation of pollutants occurs on the basis of
physical characteristics of the pollutant. Chemical reactions occur, breaking down the original
pollutant or converting it into new compounds. Some pollutants can also be removed from the
transporting medium through deposition, for example, by settling out under the effects of gravity,
by rain wash or by interception (scavenging) by plants and other obstructions.

Q3. Difference between natural and manmade pollution.

Natural Pollution Manmade Pollution

It is caused by natural factors.
Natural calamities are a major reason of
natural pollution.
Natural Pollution do not affects the
environment vigorously.
Examples of Natural pollution are-
1. Volcanic Eruptions
2. Forest fires due to lightning.
3. Wind Erosion.
4. Acid rain (intermediate of natural
and manmade).
Natural Pollution can be reduced by (mostly
natural) humans like-
1. Building warning sign boards.
2. Sudden warning and alertness on
natural calamity.
3. Attempting appropriate actions to get
rid off the natural pollution.
It is caused due to activities of Humans.
Development of society can be a reason of
manmade pollution.
These days manmade pollution has escalated
rapidly out of control as well as the air pollution
caused by cars and factories.
Examples of Manmade pollution are-
1. Carbon Monoxide gas from vehicles.
2. Sulphur Dioxide from factories.
3. Plastic pollution.
4. Noise pollution.
Manmade Pollution can be controlled by human
measures like-
1. Engineering Devices (Biofilters,
incinerators, ESPs, etc).
2. Pollution awareness expeditions.
3. Less use of burning fuels.
Q4. How temperature inversion will affect the dispersion of pollution?
Temperature inversions have a great effect on air pollution. Whether it's a blanket of smog over a city
or the melting of ice packs due to ozone depletion, atmospheric temperature inversions are intricately
involved. They influence the scope and intensity of the effects of air pollution on a temporary, localized
basis as well as long term and globally.

Under most circumstances, the temperature of the atmosphere decreases with height, meaning it gets
colder the higher you go. However, a temperature inversion occurs when the atmosphere actually
becomes warmer as altitude increases. This typically occurs within a defined layer of the atmosphere.
Temperature inversions, when they occur, have a major impact on air pollution and air quality. There
are two types of inversions -- permanent and surface -- and each corresponds to a different impact.

Permanent temperature inversions occur high above the surface of the planet. In regard to air pollution,
the most important of these is the stratosphere. This atmospheric layer stretches from an average of
seven miles to 31 miles above the earth's surface. The stratosphere sits atop the troposphere, which is
the lowest layer of the atmosphere and home to the majority of all weather. The stratosphere’s
temperature inversion impacts global, long-term air pollution.

Surface temperature inversions occur directly above the earth’s surface, in the lower troposphere.
They're frequently triggered by rapid surface cooling, caused by the release of radiant energy overnight.
These inversions are also frequent during the winter months, when nights are long and the sun, low on
the horizon, heats the atmosphere more than the planet’s surface. Surface inversions impact local,
short-term air pollution.

Atmospheric Effects

Temperature inversions affect air pollution because they change the dynamics of air
movement. Warm air rises in the atmosphere because it is less dense and, therefore, more
buoyant than the cooler air above it. This tendency to rise is what creates the vertical
development found in thunderstorms. However, a temperature inversion prevents this vertical
movement, also known as convection. Stated differently, inversions function like an
atmospheric lid or blanket. This smothering effect traps air pollutants and allows their
concentrations to increase.

Air Pollution Effects

Surface inversions are responsible for producing smog, trapping the pollutants produced by
vehicles, fires and industrial activities. Furthermore, the hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides
present in these trapped pollutants are converted into harmful ozone by sunlight, which reduces
air quality. The stratosphere’s inversion traps pollutants within the stable layer, which is
something that typically occurs when greenhouse gases are injected high into the atmosphere
by volcanic eruptions. Without the vertical mixing provided by convection, these gases remain
suspended within the inversion layer and result in a long-term impact on the global climate.