Revision Notes on Pollution of Air and

Water
What is air?
Air is a combination of different gases that form the atmosphere of the Earth. The constituents of
air are nitrogen (78%), oxygen (21%), water vapour, carbon dioxide and other gases such as
helium, ozone, argon etc (0.04%) along with dust particles, pollens and spores. This constituent of
air may vary on other planets. However, some planets do not have air. Space contains no air.

Figure 1 Constituents of air

What is Air Pollution?
According to the World Health Organization, air pollution is defined as the presence of different
substances in a certain concentration in the air that causes harm to human beings and the
environment.

In other words, when the air gets contaminated due to harmful and unnecessary substances that
can affect the living and non-living things on the earth it is called air pollution.

How does Air get polluted?

Air Pollutants: Any unwanted or harmful substance present in the air that decreases its quality
and contaminates it is called air pollutants. For example, smoke is an air pollutant. Air pollutants
can be classified into different categories based on their sources.

1. Indoor and Outdoor Air Pollutants

Indoor pollutants
These pollutants are generated indoors in houses, institutions, buildings or commercial facilities.
Indoor air pollution may not severely impact people's health but can certainly affect them in the
long run. Different indoor pollutants are:
• tobacco smoke

• biological pollutants like pet hair, fungi, bacteria, pollens etc

• building materials like lead and asbestos (asbestos can cause cancer)

• gases such as carbon monoxide

Figure 3 Indoor Air Pollutants

Outdoor Pollutants
Outdoor air pollution refers to the contamination of the air in the open environment. Outdoor air
pollutants generally arise from the burning of fossil fuels, smoke from industries and vehicles. They
adversely affect the quality of the air and hence the whole environment of the earth. Different
outdoor pollutants are:

• carbon monoxide

• nitrogen oxide

• Sulphur Dioxide

• hydrocarbons

Causes of Air Pollution

• Air pollution from Natural Sources: sometimes forest fires or volcanic eruptions can lead to
the release of an excess of smoke and dust in the atmosphere.
• Burning of fossil fuels: coal and petroleum used in industries and vehicles when burnt release
harmful substances in the air such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and sulphur dioxide.
 • Exhaust from factories: many industries release harmful substances like carbon dioxide,
hydrocarbons and other harmful chemicals in the air which decrease its quality.
• Agricultural activities: usage of insecticides, fertilizers and pesticides lead to release of
chemicals in the air. Agricultural activities also lead to the release of ammonia in the
atmosphere which is extremely hazardous for us.
• Pollution due to households: paints, cleaning products, air conditioners, refrigerators and
other appliances used in houses also contribute to air pollution. The air conditioners and
refrigerators release chlorofluorocarbons that damage the ozone layer of the earth. Burning of
wood and cow dung cakes in rural areas also leads to air pollution.
• Mining activities: mining results in the release of a large amount of dust and chemicals in the
air.

Effects of Pollutants on the Environment

Pollutants Source Effects

● Poisonous gas

Carbon monoxide It is produced due to improper combustion of fuels

● Decreases blood’s oxygen carrying
capacity

● Causes difficulty in breathing

Smog It is a combination of fog and smoke ● Can cause asthma, wheezing, cough

● Leads to decreased visibility

● Leads to respiratory problems

Sulphur dioxide Produced mainly due to the combustion of coal

● Can cause lung damage

Produced from air conditioners, refrigerators and

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) ● Deteriorate the Ozone Layer
aerosols

● Cause decrease visibility

Suspended particulate matter
Produced due to the burning of fuels
(SPM)
● Lead to problems in breathing
 The Greenhouse Effect
1. As the sun rays enter the earth's atmosphere, some of the radiation gets reflected back into space
while some of it is trapped inside the earth's atmosphere.

2. This is possible because of certain greenhouse gases in the earth's atmosphere which can trap
the heat of the sun. For example, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and water vapour can
trap the sun’s radiation inside the earth. This phenomenon is called the greenhouse effect.
3. Due to this greenhouse effect, the earth has a stable temperature that can support the existence
of life on it. The greenhouse effect provides the required warmth to the earth.

4. However, due to excess of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, the greenhouse effect is becoming
a serious trouble for the earth.

5. The excess of greenhouse gases leads to absorption of more heat inside the Earth which further
leads to a gradual rise in the temperature of the Earth. This phenomenon of increased temperature
of the earth is called global warming.

Figure 7 Greenhouse Effect

Sources of carbon dioxide on earth:
1. Human activities such as the burning of fossil fuels and industrial activities etc are causing a
release of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
2. Cutting of forests imbalances the carbon dioxide and oxygen amounts in the air as plants take
up the carbon dioxide from the environment and in return release oxygen. Therefore deforestation
leads to increased presence of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
Effects of global warming
 Figure 8 Effects of Global Warming
Prevention of Air Pollution
1. Switching to cleaner fuels can lead to decreased air pollution.

2. Generating awareness among people about air pollution and its harmful effects will encourage
them to participate in preventing it.

3. Increasing the usage of solar energy, wind energy and hydropower.

4. Planting more and more trees around the cities in rural areas.

5. Instead of burning dry leaves and other organic materials they should be dumped into compost.

6. Sharing vehicles or using public transport to reduce the number of vehicles on the road and hence
the air pollution.

7. Using eco-friendly paints and cleaning products for household and other buildings.

Water Pollution
• Water is not only necessary for the existence of life on the earth but it is required to perform
several days to day activities like cleaning, washing clothes, bathing, cooking etc.

• Due to these activities, several substances get mixed up in water which makes it unsafe for
further consumption.

• This addition of biological, chemical and physical substances in water is called water pollution.
 • These substances contaminate water and make it unfit for consumption of human beings and
animals are called water pollutants.

Figure 10 Sources of Water pollution

Water pollution and its Effects

Water Pollution Sources Pollutants Effects

● increase toxicity in plants and an

• Arsenic
● affect the soil and hinder the growth
Industries
• Lead increase the acidity of the soi
eries, textile mills, Sugar mills, paper
• Chlorides ● hot water increases the temperature
factories, chemical factories)
bodies
o hot water
● affect plants and animals living

● cause groundwater pollution

● contaminate water bodies

Chemicals – copper, arsenic, sulphates, lead,
Pesticides and Weedicides ● increased algae in ponds and lakes
chlorine, sulphur, nitrogen, oxygen
the level of oxygen in the wate

● leads to the killing of aquatic ani

• food waste ● pollutes groundwater

Untreated sewage • detergents ● causes diseases like jaundice, chol
• microorganisms typhoid and viral infections
 How is water purified?
• In order to prevent water pollution, water from households, industries and other sources is
treated in a sewage treatment plant and then it is released in the water bodies.

• Also, water from the water bodies is treated before passing it on to the households and other
industries to ensure that it is fit for the usage.
How water is made safe for drinking?
1. Filtration: it is a physical method of removing impurities from water. Many households use water
purifiers that can filter water and make it safe for drinking.
2. Boiling: it kills the germs present in the water. Many people boil water before drinking it.
3. Chlorination: Chlorine is a natural cleaning agent for water which makes it fit for the consumption.
Often chlorine tablets are added in water to remove impurities from it.

How to prevent water pollution?

1. Industries should strictly adhere to the laws and do not dispose untreated sewage water into the
rivers or any other water body directly.

2. More water treatment plants should be established near the industrial areas.

3. We should save water as much as we can, for example, we can make sure that there are no
leaking taps in the houses.

4. We should reuse water if we can, for example, the water that we use for washing clothes can also
be used for cleaning the house floors.