Chapter 1 PDF

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Chapter 1. Introduction
MSBTE Syllabus
1 Introduction (Marks 16)
1.1 Environment: Introduction, concept of hydrosphere, Lithosphere, atmosphere and biosphere
and their Interrelationships.
1.2 Ecosystem: Concept, biotic and abiotic components of Ecosystem, biological pyramids, fresh
water ecosystem and estuarine ecosystem, forest ecosystem, tropical rain forests, grassland
ecosystem, temperate deciduous forest ecosystem.
1.3 Biodiversity: introduction, levels of biodiversity, Importance of biodiversity, value of
biodiversity, causes Of biodiversity loss, conservation strategies for Biodiversity.
1.4 Classification of pollution & pollutants
1.5 Environment & pollution control acts:
1.6 ISO 14OOO standards,
1.6 Kyoto treaty / protocol, carbon units.
5.4 Global pollution (Marks 18/4)

5.4.1 Green house effect
5.4.2 Acid rain
5.4.3 Ozone depletion problem
1.1 Introduction:
Environment pollution had been known to exist for a very long time (at least since people started
using fire thousands of years ago), but it had seen the growth of truly global proportions only
since the onset of the industrial revolution during the 19th century. The industrial revolution
brought with it technological progress such as discovery of oil and its universal use throughout
different industries.
Technological progress and efficient business practices (division of labour – cheaper production
costs – overproduction – over consumption – over pollution) had probably become one of the
main causes of serious deterioration of natural resources.
At the same time development of natural sciences led to the better understanding of negative
effects produced by pollution on the environment. Environmental pollution is a problem both in
developed and developing countries. Factors such as population growth and urbanization
invariably place greater demands on the planet and stretch the use of natural resources to the
maximum.
I.T.E Malegaon (BK) S.R.Shaha / Ele-I / Chap 1--- 1

The carrying capacity of the Earth is significantly smaller than the demands placed on it by large
numbers of human populations, and overuse of natural resources often results in nature’s
degradation.
1.2 Environment:
Our Environment is our surrounding. This includes living and non-living things around us. The
non-living components of environment are land, water and air. The living components are germs,
plants, animals and people.
All plants and animals adjust to the environment in which they are born and live. A change in any
component of the environment may cause discomfort and affect normal life. Any unfavorable
change or degeneration in the environment is known as Environmental Pollution.
We need to protect our environment to live happily.
1.2.1 Environmental segments:
The environment may broadly be considered to compromise of following four segments:

i) Lithosphere ii) Hydrosphere iii) Biosphere and iv) Atmosphere. The names of the four
spheres are derived from the Greek words for stone (litho), air (atmo), water (hydro), and life
(bio).
i) Lithosphere: The mantle(layer) of rocks constituting the earths crust is called lithosphere.
The soil covering the rocks is also considered to be important part of the lithosphere. The soil
mainly consists of complex mixture of inorganic and organic matter and water.
ii) Hydrosphere: This includes all the surface and ground water resources viz., oceans, seas,
rivers, streams, lakes, reservoirs, glaciers, polar ice caps, ground-water and water locked in rock-
crevices and mineral lying deep below the earth crust. Earth is called the blue planet, because
about 80% of its surface is covered by water. But, however about 97% of the earths water
resources is locked up in the oceans and seas, which is too saline to drink and for the direct use
for agricultural and industrial purpose. About 2.4 % is trapped in giant glaciers and polar ice-
caps. Thus not even 1.0 % of the total world’s water resource is available for exploitation by man
for domestic agricultural and industrial purpose.
iii) Biosphere: This is the region of the earth where life exists it extends from about 10,000 m
below sea level to about 6000m above sea level.
iv) Atmosphere: The atmosphere comprises of mixture of gases (eg. N2, O2, CO2, Ar etc) and
extends up to about 500 Kms above the surface of the earth. A constant exchange of matter

takes place between atmosphere, biosphere, and hydrosphere. Table 1.1 shows composition of
air in the atmosphere.
1.2.2 Composition of the atmosphere:
The atmosphere is mainly made up of certain gases, water vapour and dust particles.
i. Gases: There are several different gases in the atmosphere. The main ones are nitrogen and
oxygen. Apart from these, hydrogen, carbon dioxide, ozone, etc. are also present in the
atmosphere.
ii. Water vapour: Water from water bodies due to the heat of the sun and mixes with the air.
There is more water vapour in the lower layers of the atmosphere.
iii. Dust particles: Due to burning of fuel, construction work, mining, storms, volcanoes, etc.
innumerable dust particles are added to the atmosphere. There are more dust particles in the
lower layers of the atmosphere. Water vapour collects around these dust particles and small
droplets of water are formed.
Composition of Air in Atmosphere
Concentration :
Component
Percentage of total volume of air
Gases
Nitrogen 78.00
Oxygen 21.00
Carbon dioxide 0.034
Hydrogen Traces
Argon Traces
Methane Traces
Ozone Traces
Others: Moisture and dust particles vary with location and climate.
Table 1.1: Composition of air in the atmosphere.
1.2.3 Structure of the atmosphere:
The temperature changes as we go higher and higher, away from the earth's surface. Based
on these changes the atmosphere can be divided into four layers. The different layers of the
atmosphere are shown in figure, according to height. The atmosphere which extends up to about

500 Km above earths surface, can be broadly divided in to four major regions these are i)
Troposphere ii) Stratosphere iii) Mesosphere and iv) Thermosphere. Some important
characteristics of these regions are summarized in table 1.2.
Name of the region Height above the Earths Temperature Major chemical
surface KM. Range oc species present
Troposphere 0 – 11 15 t0 -56 O2, CO2, N2, H2O
Stratosphere 11 – 50 -56 to -02 O3
Mesosphere 50 – 85 -02 to -92 O+2 N+2
Thermosphere 85 – 500 -92 to 1200 O+2 , O+, No+
Table 1.2: Important characteristics of major regions of the atmosphere.
i. Troposphere: The layer which is closest to the earth's surface is called the troposphere.
Average height of the troposphere is 11 km. In this layer, the temperature decreases as the
height increases. Storms, clouds and rain are all formed in this layer. In the topmost layer of the
troposphere, temperature does not change according to height. It remains constant. This layer is
known as the tropopause. The tropopause is about 3 km in thickness.
ii. Stratosphere: Above the troposphere is the stratosphere. There is no movement in the air in

the stratosphere. The quantity of vapour, dust particles, etc. in this layer is very small. It extends
from 11 to 50 km from the earth's surface. In the lower part of the· stratosphere, there is a layer
of ozone. The ultra-violet rays from the sun are very harmful to living organisms. The ozone
layer absorbs these rays and thus protects the living organisms.
iii. Mesosphere: Above the stratosphere is the mesosphere. It extends from 50 to 85 Km. the
lowest temperature in the atmosphere is recorded in this layer.
Above the mesosphere is the layer called ionosphere. It extends from a height of 50 Km to 500
Km. Radio waves are reflected from this layer. Hence, this layer is useful for telecommunication.
iv. Thermosphere: The highest layer of the atmosphere is known as thermosphere. In it,
temperature increases with increase in height. Light gases like hydrogen are found in this layer.
All four spheres can be and often are present in a single location. For example, a piece of soil will
of course have mineral material from the lithosphere. Additionally, there will be elements of the
hydrosphere present as moisture within the soil, the biosphere as insects and plants, and even
the atmosphere as pockets of air between soil pieces.
1.2.4 Importance of the atmosphere:
Like a protective shell, the atmosphere safeguards the living organisms. It also helps to control
the temperature of the earth.
Air is thick at sea level and as we go above sea level, the air layer becomes thinner with less
oxygen. Beyond 12 kilometers, above sea level, the composition of the air changes. This layer
contains more ozone. Ozone absorbs ultraviolet rays present in sunlight, which otherwise would
reach the earth and cause injury to plants and animals. Air is the carrier of sound. In the absence
of air, we cannot hear. When the volume of sound increases, it causes noise. This can frighten
animals and irritate people. Continuous exposure to noise may lead to loss of hearing. Therefore
quietness is essential to improve the environment.
Carbon dioxide and other poisonous gases are produced by burning fuel. This pollutes the air.
Refrigerators and other gadgets release gases that can harm the ozone layer. All this leads to
global warming which has endangered the living world. Hence, it is necessary to take precautions
not to pollute the atmosphere. Wherever possible, trees should be planted and protected. We
must be alert ourselves and also explain the importance of the atmosphere to our friends,
neighbours and others. Only then will our existence be sustained.

1.3 Ecosystem:
Ecosystem is geographical area of variable size where plants animals the landscape
and climate all interact together.
Different plants and animals are found in different environments, suitable to them. Any change in
that environment may affect their living. Study of plants and animals in relation to one another
and to their surrounding is ecology.
In an ideal condition, we can live together with plants and animals, without disturbing each other
this is known as ecological balance.
Examples of ecosystems
x fresh water ecosystem x forest ecosystem x Savanna

x estuarine ecosystem x tropical rain forests x Taiga
ecosystem
x Desert x Tundra
x grassland ecosystem
x Ocean ecosystem
x temperate deciduous
forest ecosystem
1.3.1 Parts of ecosystem are grouped under biotic and abiotic components
i. Biotic Factors
Biotic, meaning of or related to life, are living factors. Plants, animals, fungi, protist and bacteria
are all biotic or living factors.
ii. Abiotic Factors
Abiotic, meaning not alive, are nonliving factors that affect living organisms. Environmental
factors such habitat (pond, lake, ocean, desert, mountain) or weather such as temperature, cloud
cover, rain, snow, hurricanes, etc. are abiotic factors.
Biotic and abiotic factors are interrelated. If one factor is changed or removed, it impacts the
availability of other resources within the system.
1.3.2 The Impact of Changing Factors
If a single factor is changed, perhaps by pollution or natural phenomenon, the whole system
could be altered. For example, humans can alter environments through farming or irrigating.
While we usually cannot see what we are doing to various ecosystems, the impact is being felt all
over. For example, acid rain in certain regions has resulted in the decline of fish population.

1.3.3 Processes of Ecosystems
This figure with the plants, zebra, lion, and so forth illustrates the two main ideas about how
ecosystems function: ecosystems have energy flows and ecosystems cycle materials.
These two processes are linked, but they are not quite the same (see Figure). Energy enters the
biological system as light energy, or photons, is transformed into chemical energy in organic
molecules by cellular processes including photosynthesis and respiration, and ultimately is
converted to heat energy. This energy is dissipated, meaning it is lost to the system as heat;
once it is lost it cannot be recycled. Without the continued input of solar energy, biological
systems would quickly shut down. Thus the earth is an open system with respect to energy.
Elements such as carbon, nitrogen, or phosphorus enter living organisms in a variety of ways.
Plants obtain elements from the surrounding atmosphere, water, or soils. Animals may also
obtain elements directly from the physical environment, but usually they obtain these mainly as a
consequence of consuming other organisms. These materials are transformed biochemically
within the bodies of organisms, but sooner or later, due to excretion or decomposition, they are
returned to an inorganic state. Often bacteria complete this process, through the process called
decomposition or mineralization. During decomposition these materials are not destroyed or lost,
so the earth is a closed system with respect to elements. The elements are cycled endlessly
between their biotic and abiotic states within ecosystems. Those elements whose supply tends to
limit biological activity are called nutrients.
Figure 1.2. Energy flows and material cycles.

1.3.4 Ecological pyramids
Ecological pyramids are quantitative ways of representing relationships between organisms in an

ecosystem, built up from bars stacked one above another. It is standard practice to place
producers at the bottom of the pyramid, with primary consumers, secondary consumers, tertiary
consumers etc above them. The width of each bar should be proportional to the quantity that is
being displayed, and the height is usually the same for each bar.

It is possible to produce pyramids to describe either a food chain or a food web.
In the case of a food web, all the producers, primary consumers, secondary consumers, tertiary
consumers are lumped together (into the appropriate categories!). Food pyramids are often used
in order to show the efficiency of transfer from one trophic level to the next. Just as in
constructing a building, a broad and firm foundation is necessary if the upper layers are to be
properly supported.
The pyramid of energy flow is also called as biological pyramid. The energy that we (humans)
acquire comes from lower species of the food chain and their energy originates from the Sun.
We can create an energy flow pyramid to illustrate that energy flow.
The energy transfer from one trophic level to the next is about 10%. The pyramid shows how
energy decreases at each successive trophic level.
For example, if there are 10,000 calories at one level, only 1,000 are transferred to the next. This
10% energy and material transfer rule can be depicted with an ecological pyramid that looks as
shown in fig.
1.3.5 Types of Ecosystem
Various types of ecosystems are shown in fig.
There main two types of ecosystem are as follows-
1. Natural Ecosystem
The natural ecosystem deals with all kinds of natural components like forest, grassland, plants,
river, rocks etc. there is no involvement of living beings.

Further, it is classified into two parts, that are-
a. Terrestrial Ecosystem
All types of forest, deserts, trees, plants, and grasslands etc are said to be terrestrial
ecosystem. It is a broad term which is used for the components which are not based on water.
b. aquatic ecosystem
This type of ecosystem located in water area located in water area like sea, lake, pond, pools,
ditch, river etc.
It is divided into two parts- Marine ecosystem and freshwater ecosystem. Ecosystem constituents
are purifying water, sheltering wild animals and recharging ground water.
Freshwater, this may be Lotic (flowing like stream, river etc) and Lentic (stable like lake, pond,
pools, ditch, swamp etc) or wetland.
2. Artificial Ecosystem
The artificial ecosystem is also known as man-made or man-engineered ecosystems. All types of
artificial ecosystems are introduce and managed by man.
Gardens are also artificial ecosystem that are made and maintained by human. We can add any
type of plant according to our likeness in the garden.
Similarly villages, cities, towns and aquarium are also made by human.
Let us see few of these in details:
i. Fresh water ecosystem

In contrast to the Marine ecosystem, freshwater ecosystems only cover 0.8% of the Earth's
surface and contain 0.009% of its total water. There are three basic types of freshwater
ecosystems:
x Lentic: Still or slow-moving water like pools, ponds, and lakes.
x Lotic: Fast-moving water like streams and rivers.
x Wetlands: Places where the soil is saturated or inundated for at least some time.
The earth used to have a natural fresh water ecosystem when God created it. Since that day due
to constant population growth, and the need for bigger and better ways of supplying the world's
food, housing, and material needs, The earth's air, water and mineral supplies have been
polluted through constant use without concern of the natural balance that nature intended.

A fresh water ecosystem consists of natural vegetation, plants, minerals, micro-organisms, fish,
some algae growth, plenty of sunshine and a natural undisturbed, unpolluted environment. A
fresh water spring flows naturally through the mountains and rolling hills and can be enjoyed by
many for drinking purposes. Undisturbed and free from pollution keeps a fresh water ecosystem
free from outside interference and will remain fresh for years and years to come.
Nature provides everything that is needed for the fresh water Eco system including the plants,
natural organisms and life, and it also is usually located in a nice shaded area from to much
sunshine to protect its ecosystem. The World is full of fresh water that hasn't been disturbed, but
unfortunately due to growth and population, many of the world's fresh water ecosystems have
been destroyed.
Beautiful islands around the world like Hawaii and the Bahama's provide a true serenity and calm
serene environment and much of the inland waters and ponds have abundant fresh water
ecosystems. A good sign of any fresh water is that you will see abundant life and natural growing
vegetation. Fish, insects, algae, and a rich natural growing plant system is all part of the natural
fresh water and all will thrive and survive as long as the water isn't polluted or disturbed.
Although fresh water algae provides fish with a constant food source and is a big part of a
natural fresh water ecosystem, to much algae can cause a lack of oxygen for other plant life and
also for fresh water fish. The natural occurring vegetation can be actually be harmed by to much
of the fresh water algae. If you are starting a fresh water aquarium in your home, keep this in
mind to protect your fresh water ecosystem, and this will protect your fresh water fish and
vegetation.
ii. Estuarine ecosystem
An estuary is a partly enclosed coastal body of water with one or more rivers or streams flowing
into it, and with a free connection to the open sea.
Estuaries form a transition zone between river environments and ocean environments and are
subject to both marine influences, such as tides, waves, and the influx of saline water; and river
influences, such as flows of fresh water and sediment. The inflow of both seawater and
freshwater provide high levels of nutrients in both the water column and sediment, making
estuaries among the most productive natural habitats in the world.
Most modern-day estuaries were formed during the Holocene epoch by the flooding of river-
eroded or glacially-scoured valleys when sea level began to rise about 10,000-12,000 years ago.
Estuaries are typically classified by their geomorphological features or by water circulation

patterns and can be referred to by many different names, such as bays, harbors, lagoons, inlets,
or sounds, although sometimes these water bodies do not necessarily meet the above criteria of
an estuary and may be fully saline.
Estuaries are amongst the most heavily populated areas throughout the world, with about 60%
of the world’s population living along estuaries and the coast. As a result, estuaries are suffering
degradation by many factors, including sedimentation from soil erosion from deforestation,
overgrazing, and other poor farming practices; overfishing; drainage and filling of wetlands;
eutrophication due to excessive nutrients from sewage and animal wastes; pollutants including
heavy metals, PCBs, radionuclides and hydrocarbons from sewage inputs; and diking or damming
for flood control or water diversion.
iii. Forest ecosystem:
A growing forest is a carbon sink; in other words, it fixes more carbon through photosynthesis
than the amount it releases via respiration. When the forest reaches maturity, an equilibrium is
created between the quantity of carbon fixed and the amount released.
While a forest contains carbon in its trees, in a northern climate, carbon is mostly stored in
forest soils as:
x humus (stable organic matter, rarely attacked by decomposers);
x roots in the soil;
x non-decomposed plant litter on the ground;
x heterotrophic organisms on the ground.
In forest ecosystems, natural disturbances as well as those induced by human activities lead to
changes in the rates of carbon fixation and release (photosynthesis and respiration). For
example, climate warming could accelerate decomposition of plant litter by enhancing the
respiration of decomposers. In such a case, the forest soil could become a source of carbon; in
other words, more carbon would be released than fixed.
Major reasons for different types of forest ecosystems are temperature and rainfall change.
x Climate, plants and animal species of region varies with latitude and longitude.
x The unique thing is that every species has adapted to the climate and has found its place
in the community.
iv. Tropical rain forests
Tropical rainforests are home to thousands of species of animals, plants, fungi and microbes.
Scientists suspect that there are many species living in rainforests have not yet been found or
described.

There are areas of rainforests where plants are densely packed. Areas where sunlight can reach
the surface are full of interesting plants. In other areas a canopy, made from the branches and
leaves of tall trees, shades the ground below, preventing smaller plants from growing.
Rainforests get their name because they receive a lot of rain - an average of 80 inches (203 cm)
a year! Rainforests are found at and near the equator, where it is always warm and muggy. The
temperature doesn't change very much during the year.
Today, most of the industrialized world senses little connection to the tropical forest, living in
large, busy cities far away from these fertile ecological powerhouses. We forget that the forest
regularly saves our global food supply by offering new, disease-resistant crops. We forget about
the hundreds of billions of dollars worth of trade in tropical timber, non-timber forest products,
and forest-derived drugs. We forget about things that are ultimately beyond value: the
livelihoods of millions of forest peoples, a stable and livable climate for us all, the existence of
most of our fellow species, and simple things we take for granted, like regular rain and clean air.
In tropical nations, many developing and debt-ridden, the forest is cleared in the hope of
securing an economic future. Huge industrial interests, including timber, agriculture, and mining,
see an "endless," profitable supply of cheap resources just waiting to be taken. Meanwhile, family
farmers and loggers feel they have no option but to deforest in order to feed their families.
However, innumerable studies and recent history show that little security can be found in tropical
deforestation.
Thus far, our human family has erased half of our original endowment of tropical forests. Our
world is now facing the greatest extinction crisis since the fall of the dinosaurs 65 million years
ago. The future of over 50% of Earth's plants and animals -- and hundreds of human cultures --
will be determined within the next few decades. Since our lives are so dependent on the forest's
bounty, our future is at stake as well.
v. Temperate deciduous forest ecosystem
A temperate deciduous forest, more precisely termed temperate broadleaf forest or

temperate broadleaved forest, is a biome found in the eastern and western United States,
Canada, central Mexico, southern South America, Europe, West Asia, China, Japan, North Korea,
South Korea and parts of Russia. A temperate deciduous forest consists of trees that lose their
leaves every year. Examples include oak, maple, beech, and elm.

a) Organisms and their adaptations
Many well-known animals live in this kind of forest. Some examples are the Eastern Gray
Squirrel, bears, beavers, foxes, deer, rats, snakes, mice, wolves, raccoons, and large birds of
prey like red-tailed hawks. These animals have unique adaptations suited for seasonal life. For
example, some rodents store up fat, then hibernate during cold winters. Birds include the bald
eagle, nightingale, cardinals, hawks, and the snowy owl.
The plants are adapted to survive in these conditions. For example, trees like the palm, white
spruce, and the elm have leaves that absorb water and sunlight. The soaring branches do more
than just provide shade for other creatures of this biome; they also provide nutrients necessary
for the tree to live. Another example of adaptation: these trees shed their leaves in the winter. By
shedding their leaves, they cannot transpire. Consequently, they are able to retain water for the
winter.
b) Climate
The temperate deciduous forest has a temperate climate, with summer highs of around 80 to 90°
Fahrenheit (27 to 32° Celsius). Winter highs are around 30 to 55° Fº (-1 to 15° C). Temperate
forests get about 35 to 60 inches (900 to 1500 millimeters) of precipitation per year. Precipitation
is spread out relatively evenly throughout the year. Snowfall amounts vary widely, from none to
very little to 30 inches (75 centimeters) per year.
c) Human effects
Humans have often colonized areas in the temperate deciduous forest. They have also harvested
wood for timber. As a result, less than one quarter of original forests remain. Temperate forests
have also been used for farming.
vi. Grassland ecosystem

x Grasslands are regions where average precipitation (Rainfall) is high (250-1500mm) for
grass and for trees to grow.
x Rainfall is erratic and uncertain in these regions. So erratic that drought and fire prevent
large stands of trees from growing.
x Regions found is central &south America, sub equatorial Africa &south Australia ,South
India.
x Soils rich and deep ideal for grasses.
Three Main Types of Grasslands

 Tropical

 Temperate
 Polar (tundra)
a. Soil
x Aboveground parts of most of the grasses die and decompose each year, allowing
organic matter to accumulate and produce a deep, fertile soil. The soil is held in place by a
thick network of intertwined roots of drought-tolerant grasses.
x Because of their thick and fertile soils, temperate grasslands are plowed up and widely
used to grow crops.
x The plowing however breaks up the soil leaving it vulnerable to erosion by wind and
w a t e r.
b. Major Human Impacts on Grasslands

 Conversion of savanna and temperate grassland to cropland.
 Release of carbon dioxide to atmosphere from burning and conversion of grassland to
cropland.
 Overgrazing of tropical and temperate grasslands by livestock.
c. Environmental Damage and Solutions
 Grasslands are adapted to high levels of animal impact by herds of animals. Animal
impact includes dunging, urinating, trampling, rubbing, wallowing, salivating, etc. Their
trampling and dunging is extremely beneficial to the land and has maintained the
grasslands for millions of years. The beneficial effects of animal impact exist only on high
impact for a short duration. Low impact for a long duration leads to environmental
damage because plants and soils do not get a chance to recover and restore itself,
therefore becoming overgrazed.
 Animal impact maintains grasslands by:

 Planting seeds and guaranteeing good seed-to-soil contact
 Breaking soil crusts that obstruct the process of seed germination and rainfall
absorption
 Pruning plants to keep them fertile and active
 Eliminating weeds
 Mulching the soil surface with trampled vegetation, which protects it from
erosion and reduces soil surface evaporation
 Composting plant material
 Fertilizing the soil

 If grasslands do not have any animal impact, they will deteriorate, especially in very dry
areas. When grazing animals leave an ecosystem, damage to the land will occur.
Example: Nevada used to be a grassland 100 years ago, but today it is mostly an arid
desert.
 Animal impact is the most effective way known to renew the damaged land and deserts.
 Today, animal impact is used worldwide to:

 Help vegetation in mine dumps in Nevada and Arizona, U.S.A.
 Restore desertified grasslands in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and the western U.S.
 Control invasive weeds in South Africa, Oregon and Montana.
 Repair erosion damage in Mexico and California.
 Prevent soil-surface erosion in Australia
 Build new topsoil at rates of up to 1" per year
 Increase the ability of soil to absorb water in Australia, Africa, and New Mexico.
 Encourage biodiversity in Australia, Africa and the western US.
1.3.6 Biodiversity
Biodiversity is the degree of variation of life forms within a given ecosystem, biome, or an
entire planet.
Biodiversity is a measure of the health of ecosystems. Greater biodiversity implies greater health.
Biodiversity is in part a function of climate. In terrestrial habitats, tropical regions are typically
rich whereas Polar Regions support fewer species.
Rapid environmental changes typically cause mass extinctions. One estimate is that less than 1%
of the species that have existed on Earth are extinct. The growing impact of human activities on
nature is causing a rapid loss of biodiversity. The main cause is the destruction of ecosystems of
great interest, when put into cultivation land clearing forests or draining wetlands when
conditions change water or air pollution or where habitats are destroyed in extracting resources.
Besides hunting, the introduction of alien species and other actions have caused the
extinction of a number of species. The destruction of the rainforest is the greatest threat to
biodiversity and species richness that is huge. Other very delicate ecosystems and diversity are
the coral reefs and in recent years are having serious problems with difficult solutions. They are
also considerably damaged wetlands, marshes, etc

1.3.7 Importance of Biodiversity: While the term "biodiversity" may not be well known or
understood, the ecological services provided by biodiversity are vital to everyday life. Not a day,
hour, or even second goes by that we do not depend on biodiversity for survival.
• The air we breathe is a product of photosynthesis by green plants.
• Insects, worms, bacteria, and other tiny organisms break down wastes and aid in the
decomposition of dead plants and animals to enrich soils.
• More than 90 percent of the calories consumed by people worldwide are produced from 80
plant species.
• Almost 30 percent of medicines are developed from plants and animals, and many more are
derived from these sources.
Ecosystems are the full tapestry of nature that support life and they also provide valuable
services.
• Wetland ecosystems filter out toxins, clean the water, and control floods.
• Estuaries act as marine-life nurseries.
• Forest ecosystems supply fresh water, provide oxygen, control erosion, and remove carbon
from the atmosphere. Many species, working together, are needed to provide these critical
services. The loss of biodiversity reduces nature's ability to perform these functions. As greater
fluctuations occur, ecosystems as a whole become less stable. Instability causes ecosystems to
be more vulnerable to extreme conditions and may also decrease productivity.
1.3.8 Conservation of Bio-Diversity: There are two approaches to conserve biodiversity,
i. protect species and individual stocks and ii. protect habitats in which they live. The essential
thing is the conservation of entire ecosystems, ensuring their functionality.
Efforts directed towards the species and populations, while important, require a great deal of
time and effort, these measures include legal protection of individual species, management plans
and ex-situ conservation, i.e to protect populations plants and animals in zoos and seed banks.
Gene banks are collections of specimens and genetic material. Some banks intend to reintroduce
banked species to the ecosystem (e.g. via tree nurseries).
Ex-situ conservation serves as insurance against the loss of genetic diversity and species in
nature as seedlings to reintroduce or enhance wild populations. Moreover, seed banks are a
source of genetic diversity for agricultural research
Exotic species removal allows less competitive species to recover their ecological niches.
Once the preservation of the remaining native species in an area is assured. "missing" species
can be identified and reintroduced using databases such as the Encyclopedia of Life and the
Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

1.4 Pollution and Pollutants:
Pollution is the noun derived from the verb pollute, meaning: to foul. In order to get a better
understanding of it, let’s have a look at some common definitions.
i) Environmental pollution is the contamination of the physical and biological components of

the earth/atmosphere system to such an extent that normal environmental processes are
adversely affected.
ii) Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into the environment that cause harm or
discomfort to humans or other living organisms, or that damage the environment. These
contaminants can come in the form of chemical substances, or energy such as noise, heat or
light. Pollutants can be naturally occurring substances or energies, but are considered
contaminants when in excess of natural levels.
iii) Pollution is the addition of any substance or form of energy (e.g., heat, sound, and
radioactivity) to the environment at a rate faster than the environment can accommodate it by
dispersion, breakdown, recycling, or storage in some harmless form.
In one word, environmental pollution takes place when the environment cannot process and
neutralize harmful by-products of human activities (for example, poisonous gas emissions) in due
course without any structural or functional damage to its system.
1.4.1 Types of Pollution:
Pollution can be classified in to various types on different basis
i) By Source of pollution
a) Anthropogenic (Human Caused) Sources of Pollution
Industries
Automobiles
Domestic fuels etc.
b) Natural Sources of Pollution
Volcanic eruptions
Dust storms
Smoke from forest and grass fires
ii) By the object of pollution:

a) Air pollution
b) Water pollution
c) Soil pollution (contamination) / Land pollution

iii) By the economic source (originator) of pollution:
a) Agricultural pollution
b) Industrial pollution
c) Transport pollution
d) Car pollution / Heavy vehicle pollution
e) Ship pollution
f) Airplane pollution
g) Commercial and domestic sector pollution
iv) Other types:
a) Radioactive pollution (contamination)
b) Chemical pollution
c) Invasive species pollution
d) Light pollution
e) Noise pollution
f) Visual pollution
g) Thermal pollution
1.4.2 Pollutants:
Pollutants are compounds which are dangerous to the environment.
Pollutants are any substances that under excessive quantity in a wrong place and a
wrong time will cause impurity to the living environment. Simply put, they are the things
that cause pollution. Pollutants can be chemicals, ashes, sediment, organisms, heat, radiation,
etc. which if exposed to the living environment will cause bad effects.
They can also be harmful to humans in the long-term range. They come from mineral and fossil
sources or are produced by humans themselves.
Many pollutants have a poisonous effect on the body. Carbon monoxide is an example of a
substance which is damaging to humans. This compound is taken up in the body instead of
oxygen. That makes the body suffocate and in severe cases may lead to death.
Some pollutants became dangerous by reaction with other naturally occurring compounds. The
oxides of nitrogen and sulfur are released from impurities in fossil fuels when they are burnt.
They react with water vapor in the atmosphere to become acid rain. Acid rain damages buildings
and makes lakes unable to support marine life, which causes fish and water plants to die.

Some pollutants imbalance environmental processes by causing an excess of a compound which
is already present naturally. Carbon dioxide is already present in the atmosphere - indeed it is
vital for life on earth. Carbon-dioxide helps keep the earth warm by trapping infra-red radiation,
which would otherwise be reflected in to space. However if there is too much of it present the
earth's temperature will rise too high. It is thought that this would cause many destructive effects
including the flooding of many low-lying areas, and an imbalance of the earth's weather system.
Another example of these compounds is nitrate-containing fertilizers. When these leak in to

streams they cause plants and algae to grow too fast. This restricts light for plants on the river-
bed and they decay. Microbes feed off the decaying plants and use up all the oxygen in the lake,
causing fish and other plants to start dying off
Compounds can be bad pollutants not just by how damaging they are but also because of other
relevant factors, such as the length of time that they stay dangerous. Uranium is a radioactive
element used in nuclear fission power plants. Once it has been used it is often highly radioactive,
meaning even small traces are able to cause cancer and damage unborn children. It will stay like
this for many millions of years and has to be kept under adequate storage. Because of the
difficulties in safely containing this element many people think it is inevitable that radiation will
escape and cause damage to the environment.
1.4.3 Classification of pollutants:
According to interest and priority of user, various approaches are used to classify pollutants:
i) A Formal (simplistic) approach:
Pollutants
Material Energy
Substances
Organic Inorganic Heat Sound Radiation

Chemicals Chemicals Eg. Waste Heat in cooling Eg. Noise Eg. Gamma Rays
Water from a power station X-rays
Solids Liquids Gases Solids Liquids Gases

Eg. Plastics Eg. Oil Eg. Hydrocarbons Eg. Fluorides Eg. Mercury Eg. Sulphur dioxide

ii) A Medium-Based approach:
Environmental Pollution
Air Pollution Water Pollution Land Pollution
Surface Water Under ground Water MarineWater

Pollution Pollution Pollution
iii) An Ecological Approach: Here it is possible to divide pollutants in to two major classes
a) Those who have counter part in nature, eg. Sulphur dioxide, and the organic
components of sewage
b) Those who have no counter part in nature, eg. DDT, plastics, freons and PCDs.
iv) Specialized System: These are devised for special purpose.

a) Route of entry in body: One of the example in system in which reflects the route of
entry in to the body e.g. Pollutants which are ingested, pollutants which are inhaled, and
those which traverse the skin.
b) Origin: Pollutants may be classified as primary or secondary. Primary pollutants are
those directly emitted from the source. Secondary pollutants are those formed in
atmosphere after they have been emitted from the source. For example ozone is formed
from the NO2 photolytic cycle-not directly from the source; hence it is a secondary
pollutant. On the other hand, NO and NO2 is formed directly from the combustion of
fuels: it is a primary pollutant.
v) The Function approach: This approach is a system of characterizing waste according to

its intrensic properties as given below
a) Toxicity: this parameter assesses risk to life. And pollutants are classified in to toxic
and Non-toxic.
b) Persistence: A measure how long pollutant remains in environment.
c) Mobility: this characteristic is useful in disposing a pollutant.
d) Ability to concentrate in living tissue: pollutants can accumulate in living tissue,
a phenomenon known as bio-concentration of biological amplification. Substances can
show this effect include DDT and certain heavy metals, Eg. Mercury and lead. This is an
important factor which must be taken in to consideration when devising limits and
standards.
e) Controllability: A measure how readily a pollutant may be removed or neutralized.
In general for study purpose pollutant may group in following types:

i) Heavy metal ii) Radioactive material
iii) Biological pollutant iv) Machineries
v) Transportation vi) Synthetic chemicals
1.5 Environment and Pollution Control acts:
The developed countries like USA, USSR, UK, France, Japan, etc have taken serious measures to
protect their countries from pollution. They have passed various bills, and laws have been made
for strict enforcement of rules.
In our country, no attention was paid for controlling the environmental effects of developmental
projects, almost till the year 1968 or so. It was in the 4th five year plan period (1968-1973),
when, for the first time, environmental aspects were introduced for harmonious development.
In the year 1970, the Government of India, appointed a committee under the chairmanship of
Pandit Pitamber Pant (a member of the planning commission), which prepared a country report
for presenting in the U.N. Conference on Human Environment, in 1972. Soon thereafter, a
National Committee on Environmental Protection and Coordination was set up in the Deptt. of
Science and Technology, for advising the G.o.I on environmental matters.
The 5th five year plan (1973-1977) continued to stress upon the environmental considerations.
During this plan period, a central law was enacted; under the name of "Water' (Prevention
and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974". This law was meant for' checking and preventing water
pollution, which had become quite prominent by that time, at several places in the country. As a
result of this legislative enactment of 1974, a central board, called Central Board for the
Prevention and Control of Water Pollution, was constituted for monitoring and detecting
pollutions of water bodies, and for initiating remedial measures, including prosecutions in courts,
so as to prevent the influential industrialists and municipalities from throwing their industrial
wastes and sewages into our precious water bodies.
This act of 1974 also stipulated that the various States of lndia will separately constitute such
pollution control boards in their respective States, and the central board will serve as a watchdog
body to advice and watch the performance of State boards, besides exercising its separate
authority in respect of union territories, which are directly governed by the centre.
Another important act, called the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Cess Act,
1977, was also passed by the parliament, which has proved quite effective in reducing the
quantities of industrial wastes, as the act promotes recycling and reuse of the wastes.
Protection of environment was further stressed in the 6th five year plan (1980-1985), which

contained a separate chapter on 'Environment and Development' during this plan period, a
separate Department of Environment was set up on November 1, 1981, at the level of central
cabinet. Air pollution was also recognized, and a central legislation, called Air (Prevention and
Control at Pollution) Act, 1981, was enacted. The water pollution control boards were given
the additional charge of looking after air pollution control also.
A third act, called The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 has also been promulgated by
the Parliament after the occurrence of the Bhopal gas tragedy. This act extends to whole of
India, and central Government has been empowered for taking any measures, which in its
opinion, are necessary for improving and protecting the environment. Under section 9 of this act,
it has also been made obligatory on the part of industries to prevent and mitigate environmental
pollution, which may be caused due to any accident or unforeseen act at their industry. Under
section 10 and 11 of this act, Government officers, empowered by the Central Government, may
now enter the premises of the industries and collect samples, and/or carry out any reasonable
action deemed fit for environmental protection.
Severe fines and penalties, including imprisonments up to 5 years have been prescribed for
failures and continued failures on the part of industries failing to comply with the act, under
section 5 of the act.
Moreover, in order to check the emitted smokes from badly maintained automobiles, containing
too much of lead, carbon monoxide and particulate matter, a fourth legislation, called Motor
Vehicles Act, 1988, has been passed by the parliament. The implementation of exhaust
standards framed under Central Motor Vehicles Rules 1989, was to come into force w.e.f. 1-7-
1989. However, due to non-availability of monitoring equipments, like smoke-meters and gas-
analysers, for checking the quality of exhaust emissions, and also due to political and other
influences, this act largely remains on the statue books of the country.
Even after many years of the enactment of this legislation, nothing serious is being done to check
and prevent the polluting vehicles, barring a few pollution checks carried out on private cars, in
Delhi. The authorities are thus, simply relaxing, blaming interference from the politicians and the
courts.
In order to prevent loopholes in the effective implementation of these environmental laws, the
Government is now thinking to constitute special environmental courts, for speedy trial of the
offenders of anti-pollution laws; and also to carry out annual environmental audits, to easily
detect disobedience of such laws by individual industries.

1.6 ISO 14000 Standards:
ISO 14000 is a series of standards being prepared by the International Standards Organization
(ISO), for Environment Management System.
ISO 14000 group of standards cover the following areas:

i) Environmental Management Systems (14001, 14002, 14004)
ii) Environmental Auditing (14010, 14011, 14012)
iii) Environmental Labeling (14020, 14021, 14022, 14023, 14024, 14025)
iv) Evaluation of Environmental Performance (14031)
v) Life-Cycle Assessment (14040, 14041, 14042, 14043)
ISO 14001 is the only standard intended for registration by third parties. All the others are for
guidance. ISO 14001 is a management standard, it is not a performance or product standard.
The underlying purpose of ISO 14001 is that companies will improve their environmental
performance by implementing ISO 14001, but there are no standards for performance or the
level of improvement. It is a process for managing company activities that impact the
environment.
1.6.1 Important characteristics of ISO 14001 are:

i) It is comprehensive: all members of the organization participate in environmental
protection, the EMS considers all stakeholders, and there are processes to identify all
environmental impacts.
ii) It is proactive: it focuses on forward thinking and action instead of reacting
to command and control policies.
iii) It is a systems approach: it stresses improving environmental protection by using a
single environmental management system across all functions of the organization.
1 .6 .2 The Environmental Management System contains the following

elements:
x An environmental policy supported by top management.
x Identification of environmental aspects and significant impacts.
x Identification of legal and other requirements.
x Environmental goals, objectives, and targets that support the policy.
x An environmental management program.
x Definition of roles, responsibilities, and authorities.
x Training and awareness procedures.
x Process for communication of the EMS to all interested parties.
x Document and operational control procedures.

x Procedures for emergency response.
x Procedures for monitoring and measuring operations that can have a significant impact
on the environment.
x Procedures to correct nonconformance.
x Record management procedures.
x A program for auditing and corrective action.
x Procedures for management review.
1.6.3 Why to have these standards?
A set of international standards brings a world-wide focus to the environment, encouraging a

cleaner, safer, healthier world for us all. The existence of the standards allows organizations to
focus environmental efforts against internationally accepted criteria.
At present many countries and regional groupings are generating their own requirements for
environmental issues and these vary between the groups. A single standard will ensure that there
are no conflicts between regional interpretations of good environmental practice.
The fact that companies may need environmental management certification to compete in the
global marketplace could easily overshadow all ethical reasons for environmental management.
Within Europe, many organizations gained ISO9000 Registration primarily to meet growing
demands from customers. ISO 9000 quality registration has become necessary to do business in
many areas of commerce. Similarly, the ISO 14000 management system registration may
become the primary requirement for doing business in many regions or industries.
1.7 Kyoto Treaty / Protocol:
The Kyoto Protocol is an agreement under which industrialized countries will reduce
their collective emissions of greenhouse gases by 5.2% compared to the year 1990 (but
note that, compared to the emissions levels that would be expected by 2010 without the
Protocol, this limitation represents a 29% cut). The goal is to lower overall emissions of six
greenhouse gases: carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, sulfur hexafluoride,
hydrofluorocarbons, and perfluorocarbons averaged over the period of 2008-2012.
National limitations range from 8% reductions for the European Union and some others to 7%
for the US, 6% for Japan, 0% for Russia, and permitted increases of 8% for Australia and 10%
for Iceland.
It was adopted for use on 11 December 1997 by the 3rd Conference of the Parties, which was
meeting in Kyoto - Japan, and it entered into force on 16 February 2005. As of May 2008, 182

parties have ratified the protocol. Of these, 36 developed countries are required to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions to the levels specified for each of them in the treaty (representing
over 61.6% of emissions from Annex I [developed] countries), with three more countries
intending to participate. One hundred thirty-seven (137) developing countries have ratified the
protocol, including Brazil, China and India, but have no obligation beyond monitoring and
reporting emissions. The United States is the only developed country that has not ratified the
treaty and is one of the significant greenhouse gas emitters.
1.7.1 Carbon unit and carbon trading:
1 kg carbon dioxide = 1 carbon unit.
The concept of carbon unit is useful in carbon Trading. To understand the concept read the
following passage.
Problem: It is firmly believed that Carbon emissions into the earth’s atmosphere have resulted
in drastic climatic changes. And industries are responsible for polluting the atmosphere resulting
in some of natures shocking disasters.
Solution: NGOs or non-profit organizations for long have been screaming for everybody’s
attention towards this huge problem, but no one seems to care enough, not until there is a
financial incentive attached to it. That’s what the governments of various countries have been
trying to come up with, a trading mechanism where companies gain a monetary benefit out of
polluting the air less.
Kyoto protocol’s goal is exactly that. The idea is to divide the whole world into two, one who can
afford making changes to their existing infrastructure and the ones who cannot. As everybody is
polluting, be it a developed country or a developing country, the financial aspect has to be kept
in mind. All developed countries will have to cut down their emissions by some x percentage or
else they pay heavy fines. Now, one way of measuring how much they are polluting the air less,
is by clean each tonne reduction of CO2 a unit and a company must own those amounts of units
at the end of every period.
They have various ways to generate this unit:

i) Invest in CDM/JI Projects
ii) Buy these credits from market
i) CDM/JI Projects: CDM or Clean Development Mechanism is a project which is

executed in a developing country who cannot, on its own, afford to bring that technology change
in the existing infrastructure which will result in less carbon emission. So a company in a
developed world can give money to a company in a developing world to buy the necessary

technology and in turn own the carbon units generated by bringing that technology change and
thus meet the targets set by their governments. This will help developing countries to get the
much needed financial help and in turn help the developed countries to sell their carbon units
and earn some profits out of it. And it really doesn’t matter, from where on earth carbon
emissions are reduced, because it will be beneficial for the environment any ways. JI or Join
Implementation is a similar approach, only difference being the both the parties involved in
executing such a project are from the developed world.
Estimates of the global warming potential (GWP) of gases released by production and combustion
of fuels. 1 kg carbon dioxide = 1 carbon unit. The GWP of methane and nitrous oxide is measured
as carbon dioxide equivalents.
Fuel Natural Petrol Diesel Coal Grid electricity Grid electricity
ga s (night) (day)
Price in 0.2 per 2.3 per 2.4 per 2.9 per 0.6 per kWh 0.7 per kWh
carbon units kWh litre litre kg
Table 1.3: Translating emissions into fuels' carbon-unit cost.
ii) Carbon Trading: the second option for companies in the developed world is that if
they do fall short of the emission targets, they can buy those from the market, from someone
who was successful in meeting those targets and has a surplus of carbon unit with him.
All fuels would be rated for their greenhouse emissions and individuals and organizations
purchasing them would have to surrender carbon units according to this rating in addition to
paying cash. The price of various fuels in terms of carbon units is set out in the table 1.3. There
would be a national market in carbon units in which low users could sell their surplus, and higher
users could buy more.
1.8 Global Pollution:
Each kind of pollution has significant impacts to our everyday lives, affecting all living and non-
living factors in the biosphere and the atmosphere and also involves socio-economic factors.
These impacts have caused significant changes to the environment we are living in. It is seen
that pollution has a global effects like:
x Climatic pattern change.
x Biodiversity degradation and diseases.
x Food contamination and food web distortion.
x Economical effects.
x Alteration to geographical landscapes.
x Ozone depletion and acid rain.
x Alteration to lifestyle.

x Reduced visibility/clarity of air.
Let us see some effects related to global pollution.
1.9 Green house effect:
The "greenhouse effect" is the heating of the Earth. Certain gases in the atmosphere like water
vapor, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, and methane, trap energy from the sun. Without these
gases, heat would escape back into space and Earth’s average temperature would be about 60ºF
colder. Because of how they warm our world, these gases are referred to as greenhouse gases.
It is named this way because of a similar effect produced by the glass panes of a greenhouse.
As shown in fig. Shorter-wavelength solar radiation from the sun passes through Earth's
atmosphere, and then is absorbed by the surface of the Earth, causing it to warm. Part of the
absorbed energy is then reradiated back to the atmosphere as long wave infrared radiation.
Little of this long wave radiation escapes back into space; the radiation cannot pass through the
greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. The greenhouse gases selectively transmit the infrared
waves, trapping some and allowing some to pass through into space. The greenhouse gases
absorb these waves and reemits the waves downward, causing the lower atmosphere to warm.
The greenhouse effect is important. Without the greenhouse effect, the Earth would not be warm
enough for humans to live. But if the greenhouse effect becomes stronger, it could make the
Earth warmer than usual. Even a little extra warming may cause problems for humans, plants,
and animals.

Fig 1.5: The Green house effect.
1.9.1 Human contribution (causes) to Green House effect: The problems begin
when human activities distort and accelerate the natural process by creating more greenhouse
gases in the atmosphere than are necessary to warm the planet to an ideal temperature. The
activities that are responsible for producing green house gases are:
i) Burning natural gas, coal and oil (including gasoline for automobile engines) raises the level of
carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
ii) Some farming practices and land-use changes increase the levels of methane and nitrous
oxide.
iii) Many factories produce long-lasting industrial gases that do not occur naturally, yet contribute
significantly to the enhanced greenhouse effect and “global warming”.
iv) Deforestation also contributes to global warming. Trees use carbon dioxide and give off
oxygen in its place, which helps to create the optimal balance of gases in the atmosphere. As

more forests are logged for timber or cut down to make way for farming, however, there are
fewer trees to perform this critical function.
v) Population growth is another factor in global warming, because as more people use fossil fuels
for heat, transportation and manufacturing the level of greenhouse gases continues to increase.
As more farming occurs to feed millions of new people, more greenhouse gases enter the
atmosphere.
1.9.2 Effects:
Generating more green-house gases will result in global warming causing problems like:
i) Melting of polar ice and oceanic expansion. This results in flooding of coastal areas, swamps,
wetlands and river deltas. Some small islands may even vanish completely consequential to
flooding.
ii) Cold and warm Gulf Stream alteration caused by desalination of the Atlantic Ocean, possibly
causing a new Ice Age.
iii) Increase in number and severity of tropical storms and cyclones.
iv) Flooding and erosion of agricultural plots. This damages crops and soils and decreases
harvest.
v) Major shifts in ecosystems and decreasing biodiversity.
vi) Evaporation of water supplies, causing drinking water scarcity.
vii) Saltwater penetration of groundwater zones.
viii) More extreme weather, causing hotter and drier summers and colder winters.
ix) More contagious diseases because the environment is more positive for pathogens and some
dangerous insects, such as the malaria mosquito.
1.10 Acid Rain:
"Acid rain" is a broad term used to describe several ways that acids fall out of the atmosphere. A
more precise term is acid deposition, which has two parts: wet and dry.
Wet deposition refers to acidic rain, fog, and snow. As this acidic water flows over and through
the ground, it affects a variety of plants and animals. The strength of the effects depend on
many factors, including how acidic the water is, the chemistry and buffering capacity of the soils
involved, and the types of fish, trees, and other living things that rely on the water.

Fig 1.6: Acid Rain
Dry deposition refers to acidic gases and particles. About half of the acidity in the atmosphere
falls back to earth through dry deposition. The wind blows these acidic particles and gases onto
buildings, cars, homes, and trees. Dry deposited gases and particles can also be washed from
trees and other surfaces by rainstorms. When that happens, the runoff water adds those acids to
the acid rain, making the combination more acidic than the falling rain alone.
Scientists discovered, and have confirmed, that sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx)
are the primary causes of acid rain. Most of these pollutants are from automobile and industrial
exhausts’. Acid rain occurs when these gases react in the atmosphere with water, oxygen, and
other chemicals to form various acidic compounds. Sunlight increases the rate of most of these
reactions. The result is a mild solution of sulfuric acid and nitric acid. Acid rain can occur
naturally, from the volcanic eruptions also.
1.10.1 How Do We Measure Acid Rain?
Acid rain is measured using a scale called "pH." The lower a substance's pH, the more acidic it is.
Pure water has a pH of 7.0. Normal rain is slightly acidic because carbon dioxide dissolves into it,
so it has a pH of about 5.5. As of the year 2000, the most acidic rain falling in the US had a pH of
about 4.3.
1.10.2 Effects of Acid Rain:
i) Acid rain causes acidification of lakes and streams and contributes to damage of trees at high
elevations (for example, red spruce trees above 2,000 feet) and many sensitive forest soils.

ii) In addition, acid rain accelerates the decay of building materials and paints, including
irreplaceable buildings, statues, and sculptures that are part of our nation's cultural heritage.
iii) Prior to falling to the earth, SO2 and NOx gases and their particulate matter derivatives,
sulfates and nitrates, contribute to visibility degradation and harm public health.
iv) It also causes Separation of poisonous minerals such as aluminum and mercury from the
surrounding ground, increasing the risk of contamination to lakes/water sources.
v) Acid rain affects us in many different ways. One major way is our health. Breathing and lung
problems in children and adults who have asthma and in children have been linked to acid air
pollution. Everything that we eat, drink, and breathe has at one time come in contact with acid
deposits. This could threaten our health by making us become sick.
1.11 zone Layer depletion:
Ozone layer is a protective layer in our atmosphere (O3, three oxygen atoms). It's about 19 to 30
km in distance from the Earth surface. It plays an important role of blocking ultraviolet (UV) rays
that come from the sun, which, if there was no ozone layer ever, cancer would dominate and
even no life would be in this world! The concentration of the layer is usually under 10 parts
ozone per million. The ozone layer is made up by the action of sunlight to oxygen, and the
amount is stabled by the existence of nitrogen.
In today's trends there is a noticeable depletion of the ozone layer. It's popularly known since
1970 that a substance called CFC (chlorofluorocarbon) is threatening the layer. This substance is
usually contained in refrigerators, coolants, and aerosol sprays. When we use much of those
things (which contain CFC), we are continually depleting our Earth's ozone layer. However, most
of the latest products today do not contain CFC anymore. Some other substances, like bromine
halocarbons and nitrous oxides are also possible threats.
1.11.1 How CFC depletes the ozone layer?
CFC molecule, consisting of one atom for each fluorine and carbon and 3 chlorine atoms, is hit by
the UV rays. One chlorine atom breaks apart. It will hit an ozone (O3) and takes one oxygen
atom away to create chlorine monoxide, thus leaving one oxygen molecule (O2). Another oxygen
atom breaks the chlorine monoxide and takes the oxygen atom away, leaving one chlorine atom,
leaving no ozone molecule. Process repeats.

Fig: 1.7: A pictorial explanation of how the interaction of CFCs and UV radiation
damage the ozone layer.
1.11.2 effects of ozone layer depletion:

a) More ultraviolet rays come to Earth (this could make the Earth just like a cooking oven) cancer
would dominate and even no life would be in this world.
b) More heat, thus increasing the risk of global warming
1.12 Eutrophication
Eutrophication is caused by an increase in plant nutrients in water. The higher availability of

nutrients causes certain water plants, such as algae and duckweed, to grow so extensively. This
blocks sunlight supplies to water. The plants also use all available oxygen supplies, which will not
be renewed because heterotrophic plants and bacteria need light to perform photosynthesis.
Eutrophication causes ecosystem disruption. Nitrogen pollutants such as nitrogen oxides and
ammonia contribute to this problem.
Exersice
Q. Define Pollution and Pollutants.
Q. What is Environment? State its segments.
Q. State importance of atmosphere to human beings.
Q. Define Ecosystem give any four examples of ecosystem.
Q. What are components of ecosystem.

Q. Write a note on i. Fresh water ecosystem, ii. Estuarine ecosystem iii. forest ecosystem iv.
Tropical rain forests v. grassland ecosystem vi. Temperate deciduous forest ecosystem.
Q. Define Biodiversity. Write its importance.
Q. What strategies are used to conserve Biodiversity.
Q. Write a note on biological pyramid
Q. Classify Pollutants.
Q. Classify pollution.
Q. State types of pollution.
Q. State any four pollution control acts in India.
Q. Write a note on Kyoto Protocol.
Q. What is carbon unit? State concept of carbon trading intended in Kyoto Protocol.
Q. State ISO-14000 standards of pollution control.
Q. List eight global effects of pollution.
Q. Explain phenomenon of Green House Effect (Global warming) with its cause and effects.
Q. Explain phenomenon of Acid Rain with its cause and effects.
Q. Explain phenomenon of Ozone Layer Depletion with its cause and effects.
Q. Write a note on Eutrophication.

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llll M

5.4 Global pollution (Marks 18/4)

I.T.E Malegaon (BK) S.R.Shaha / Ele-I / Chap 1--- 1

We need to protect our environment to live happily.

1.2.1 Environmental segments:

The environment may broadly be considered to compromise of following four segments:

I.T.E Malegaon (BK) S.R.Shaha / Ele-I / Chap 1--- 2

1.2.2 Composition of the atmosphere:

Composition of Air in Atmosphere

Table 1.1: Composition of air in the atmosphere.

1.2.3 Structure of the atmosphere:

I.T.E Malegaon (BK) S.R.Shaha / Ele-I / Chap 1--- 3

Table 1.2: Important characteristics of major regions of the atmosphere.

I.T.E Malegaon (BK) S.R.Shaha / Ele-I / Chap 1--- 4

1.2.4 Importance of the atmosphere:

I.T.E Malegaon (BK) S.R.Shaha / Ele-I / Chap 1--- 5

x fresh water ecosystem x forest ecosystem x Savanna

ii. Abiotic Factors

1.3.2 The Impact of Changing Factors

I.T.E Malegaon (BK) S.R.Shaha / Ele-I / Chap 1--- 6

Figure 1.2. Energy flows and material cycles.

I.T.E Malegaon (BK) S.R.Shaha / Ele-I / Chap 1--- 7

Ecological pyramids are quantitative ways of representing relationships between organisms in an

I.T.E Malegaon (BK) S.R.Shaha / Ele-I / Chap 1--- 8

1.3.5 Types of Ecosystem

Various types of ecosystems are shown in fig.

There main two types of ecosystem are as follows-

I.T.E Malegaon (BK) S.R.Shaha / Ele-I / Chap 1--- 9

Let us see few of these in details:

i. Fresh water ecosystem

I.T.E Malegaon (BK) S.R.Shaha / Ele-I / Chap 1--- 10

ii. Estuarine ecosystem

I.T.E Malegaon (BK) S.R.Shaha / Ele-I / Chap 1--- 11

iii. Forest ecosystem:

iv. Tropical rain forests

I.T.E Malegaon (BK) S.R.Shaha / Ele-I / Chap 1--- 12

v. Temperate deciduous forest ecosystem

A temperate deciduous forest, more precisely termed temperate broadleaf forest or

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vi. Grassland ecosystem

Three Main Types of Grasslands

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b. Major Human Impacts on Grasslands

c. Environmental Damage and Solutions

 Animal impact maintains grasslands by:

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 Today, animal impact is used worldwide to:

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1.3.8 Conservation of Bio-Diversity: There are two approaches to conserve biodiversity,

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i) Environmental pollution is the contamination of the physical and biological components of

1.4.1 Types of Pollution:

Pollution can be classified in to various types on different basis

ii) By the object of pollution:

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Pollutants are compounds which are dangerous to the environment.

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Another example of these compounds is nitrate-containing fertilizers. When these leak in to

1.4.3 Classification of pollutants:

i) A Formal (simplistic) approach:

Organic Inorganic Heat Sound Radiation

Solids Liquids Gases Solids Liquids Gases

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