Revision Notes

Class 8 Science
Chapter 18 - Pollution of Air and Water

● Pollution is a change in the physical, chemical, or biological features of air,

water, or land that can be damaging to human life and other creatures, as well
as living circumstances, industrial operations, and cultural assets.

● Pollutants are the agents that cause pollution in our environment. Pollutants are
substances that pollute the air, water, or land. For eg. smoke, dust, fog and
gases like sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide.

● The contamination of air by contaminants that can harm live creatures and
nonliving components is known as air pollution.

● Air Pollution Sources:

A. Sources from nature: Forest fires or volcanic eruptions produce smoke and dust.
Methane gas is produced as a result of the decomposition of organic matter.
B. Man-made Exhaust gases from factories, power plants, and autos are among
the sources.
The principal air pollutants include carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, carbon
dioxide, methane, and sulphur dioxide.
Smog is a mixture of smoke and chemicals in the air, along with the fog. Ozone,
sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and carbon monoxide are some of the chemical
components of smog. Smog can exacerbate breathing problems such as asthma
and coughing.

● Steps to reduce air pollution include:

A. Using CNG and unleaded gasoline in autos.
B. Using alternative fuels such as solar, hydropower, and wind energy.
C. Trees are being planted.
D. Bicycling, taking public transportation or carpooling to school.
E. Keeping leaves, rubbish, and vegetable debris from being burned.
F. Cigarette smoking restrictions.

● Global warming is caused by rising quantities of greenhouse gases such as CO2

and CFC (Chlorofluorocarbon). Excessive usage of CFCs depletes the ozone
layer, which protects the earth from the sun's harmful UV rays.

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● Greenhouse Effect and Global Warming:
The sun's rays warm the earth's surface, causing the greenhouse effect and
global warming. The earth absorbs some of the radiation that falls on it and
reflects some of it back into space. Because of the presence of greenhouse gases
such as water vapour, carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide, a portion of
the reflected radiation gets trapped in the atmosphere. This is referred to as the
greenhouse effect.

● The stored radiation warms the globe, even more, causing problems like
glaciers melting and rising sea levels. Global warming is the name given to this
occurrence.

● Water pollution is defined as the contamination of water by undesirable and

harmful things such as sewage, poisonous chemicals, silt, and other
contaminants. Some of the biggest impurities of water are sewage, agricultural
chemicals, and industrial waste.

● Potable water is water that has been filtered and is safe to drink. Water is an
extremely valuable natural resource. It is imperative that we learn to conserve
it.

● In 1985, the Ganga Action Strategy, an ambitious plan to save the river, was
established. Its goal was to lower the river's pollutant levels. However, the
growing population and industrialisation have already irreversibly ruined this
majestic river. In 2016, the Indian government established a new project called
the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG).

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