NATIONAL ENGLISH SCHOOL

CLASS IX

SUBJECT EVS

CHAPTER AIR

Long answer questions—

1. Define pollution. How do humans contribute to pollution?

Ans—pollution is defined as an undesirable change in the physical chemical or biological
characteristics of our air land and water that can harmfully affect human life or other
organisms.
Human activities that contribute to pollution are—
i. Deforestation--cutting down trees increases the concentration of carbon dioxide in
the atmosphere.
ii. Burning of garbage—large variety of toxic chemicals released into the air by burning of
garbage.
iii. Brick kilns—burning of bricks and huge amount of carbon dioxide and carbon
monoxide along with smoke and dust.
iv. Burning of fossil fuels—many polluting gases released by the combustion of fossil
fuels.

2. What are the sources and ingredients of vehicular pollution?

Ans--the sources of vehicular pollution are— burning of fossil fuels, gasoline, emission of
pollutants during the manufacturing process, refueling and oil refining.
Ingredients of very killer pollution are--
• Ozone—hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides.
• Particulate matter--particles of soot, metals and pollens.
• Oxides of nitrogen (NOx)—nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide.
• Oxides of sulphur (SOx)--Sulphur dioxide and sulphur trioxide.
• Oxides of carbon--carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide.

3. How brick kilns cause air pollution?

Ans—brick kiln pollution is caused by the use of biomass or coal to burn the bricks. Burning of
biomass or coal releases huge amount of carbon dixide,carbon monoxide, Sulphur dioxide and
hydrocarbons along with smoke and dust. Does from brick kilns is hazardous to plants and
human beings. In humans asthma bronchitis and lung cancer may occur by the inhalation of
dust from brick kilns.

4. Write short note on industrial pollution.

Ans--a large number of industries like chemical industries, paper mills, cotton mills,
metallurgical units, oil refineries, power plants are responsible for high percentage of air
pollution. Carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, Sulphur dioxide, oxides of nitrogen at the
common pollutants released from industries. Dust emitted from the cement factories is a
 potential health hazard. The smoke coming out from chimneys of the industries contain
carbon, dust particles, metals which get mixed with smoke and cause air pollution. Burning of
fossil fuels like coal and petroleum release carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, Sulphur dioxide,
soot and and which which which is together known as suspended particulate matter SPM.
Thermal power plants also release Sulphur dioxide which reacts with water vapour present in
the atmosphere to produce sulfuric acid.

5. Write a note on burning garbage.

Ans-- large varieties of toxic chemicals are released into the air by the burning of garbage.
These toxic chemicals fall back to the surface of Earth as particles or in raindrops and
contaminate water plants and soil. These accumulate in the fats of animals and fish. These
toxins effectively find their way up to the food chain in to the food we eat and poison our
bodies causing serious health issues. Personal garbage fires burn at lower temperatures and
release more toxic air pollutants than a full scale municipal incinerator.municipal incinerators
are equipped with pollution emission control systems.

6. Smog and suspended particulate matter are the major pollutants of an urban or crowded city.
Justify in the terms of their components and function touching upon their sources.
Ans—smog hanging over cities is the most familiar form of air pollution. Smog is the intense
local pollution usually trapped by thermal inversion. It contains ozone which is very harmful.
When oxides of nitrogen and volatile organic compounds react in the atmosphere in the
presence of sunlight photochemical smog is formed.
Particulate matter includes a wide range of pollutants like road dust, diesel soot, fly ash,
woodsmoke, nitrates in fertilizers, sulphate aerosols, lead and arsenic. Dust consists of
particles larger than 10 microns which are formed by the physical process like grinding or
breaking up of rocks, soil, wood, coal. The principal source of particulate matter is a
combustion of fossil fuels, chemical reactions in industries, farming and during construction of
road.

7. Write in detail about Bhopal gas tragedy.

Ans—Bhopal tragedy occurred on 3rd December 1984. It is a case of air pollution in which
methyl isocyanate gas got released from a pesticide manufacturing plant of Union Carbide
factory.it was an industrial disaster that occurred in the city of Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh,
India. The factory released 42 tons of methyl isocyanate gas. More than 25000 people died
after inhaling this deadly gas. Apart from methyl isocyanate the gas cloud contained
phosgene, hydrogen cyanide, carbon monoxide, hydrogen chloride, nitrous oxide, mono
methyl amine and carbon dioxide.
The initial effects of gas exposure were coughing, vomiting, severe eye irritation and
suffocation. People those who ran away could survive while those who were found to sleep
were found to be
dead.
Respiratory difficulties, neurological disorders, reproductive difficulties and birth defects
where found in the affected person.
 Leaves on trees went yellow and fell off. Buffaloes and other animals who inhaled MIC were
killed. Contamination was also found in the underground water. The water bodies, soil and air
were found to be contaminated.

8. How does air pollution affect our country's economy?

Ans-- Air pollution affects our country's economy. Poor air quality threatens not only the well
being of city dwellers but also our long-term productivity. Economic losses due to air pollution
includes—
• Deteriorating quality of life
• Material and vegetation damage
• Reduce tourism to the country
• Discourage foreign investments
• Loss of productivity due to pollution related illness becomes direct economic cost.
Drivers and commuters face the greatest health risk due to prolonged exposure to
vehicular pollution inevitable in their livelihood.