1252 NCERT Biology Booster

CHAPTER 38
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

NCERT BIOLOGICS ©
POLLUTION
Pollution is any undesirable change in physical, chemical
or biological characteristics of air, land, water or soil. Agents
which bring such an undesirable change are called
pollutants.
In order to control environmental pollution, the
government of India has passed the Environment
(Protection) Act, 1986 to protect and improve the quality
of our environment, i. e., air, water and soil.
AIR POLLUTION AND ITS CONTROL
1. Air pollutants cause reduced growth and yield of crops
and cause premature death of plants. It also affects the
respiratory systems of humans and other animals.
2. Harmful effects depend on the concentration of
pollutants, duration of exposure and the organism.
3. Smokestacks of thermal power plants, smelters and
other industries release particulate and gaseous
air pollutants. These pollutants must be separated
or filtered out before releasing the harmless gases into
the atmosphere.
(i) Removal of particulate matter : The most
widely used unit is electrostatic
precipitator which can remove over 99%
particulate matter present in the exhaust from a
thermal power plant. It has electrode wires that
are maintained at several thousand volts, which
produce a corona that releases electrons. These
electrons attach to dust particles giving them a
net negative charge. The collection plates are
grounded that attract the charged dust particles.
The velocity of air between the plates
must be low enough to allow the dust to
fall.
(ii) Removal of harmful gases : A scrubber
can remove harmful gases like sulphur dioxide
(SO 2 ). In a scrubber, the exhaust is passed
through a spray of water and lime. The calcium
in lime stone combines with the sulphur to
produce CaSO 4 which gets separated and clean
air free from SO 2 passes into the atmosphere.
4. According to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB),
particulate size of 2.5 micrometers or less are
responsible for causing the greatest harm to human
health. These fine particles can be inhaled deep into the
lung and can cause breathing and respiratory
symptoms, irratation, inflammations and damage to
the lungs and even premature deaths.
5. Automobiles are the major cause for atmospheric
pollution atleast in the metro cities.
Proper maintenance of automobiles along with use of
lead-free petrol or diesel can reduce the pollutants they
emit.
Catalytic converters, having expensive metals namely
platinum–palladium and rhodium as the catalysts, are
fitted into automobiles for reducing emission of
poisonous gases. As the exhaust passes through the
catalytic converter, unburnt hydrocarbons are
converted into CO 2 and water, and carbon monoxide
and nitric oxide are changed to carbon dioxide and
nitrogen gas, respectively. Motor vehicles equipped
with catalytic converter should use unleaded petrol
because lead in the petrol inactivates the catalyst.

6. In India, the Air (Prevention and Control of
Pollution) Act came into force in 1981, but
was amended in 1987 to include noise as an
air pollutant.
7. A brief exposure to extremely high sound level, 150 dB
or more generated by take-off of a jet plane or rocket,
may damage ear drums thus permanently impairing
hearing ability.
8. Even chronic exposure to a relatively lower noise level
of cities may permanently damage hearing abilities of
humans. Noise also causes sleeplessness, increased
heart beating and altered breathing pattern.
9. Reduction of noise in our industries can be affected by
use of sound absorbent materials or by muffling
(covering) noise. Stringent following of laws laid down
in relation to noise like delimitation of horn-free zones
around hospitals and schools, permissible sound-levels
of crackers and of loud speakers, timings after which
loudspeakers cannot be played, etc., need to be
enforced to protect ourselves from noise pollution.
Controlling Vehicular Air Pollution :
A Case Study of Delhi
1. In the 1990s, Delhi ranked fourth among the 41 most
polluted cities of the world.
2. Air pollution problems in Delhi became so serious that
a public interest litigation (PIL) was filed in the
Supreme Court of India. The government was asked to
take appropriate measures, including switching over
the entire fleet of public transport, i. e., buses, from
diesel to Compresssed Natural Gas (CNG). All the
buses of Delhi were converted to run on CNG by the
end of 2002.
3. CNG is better than diesel. CNG burns most efficiently,
unlike petrol or diesel. Also, CNG is cheaper than petrol
or diesel and cannot be siphoned off by thieves and
adulterated like petrol or diesel.
4. The main problem with switching over to CNG is the
diffculty of laying down pipelines to deliver CNG
through distribution points/pumps and ensuring
uninterrupted supply.
5. Parallel steps taken in Delhi for reducing vehicular
pollution include phasing out of old vehicles, use of
unleaded petrol, use of low-sulphur petrol and diesel,
use of catalytic converters in vehicles, applications of
stringent pollution-level norms for vehicles, etc. The air
quality of Delhi has significantly improved. According
to an estimate, a substantial fall in CO 2 and SO 2 has
been found in Delhi between 1997 and 2005.
6. The Government of India through a new auto fuel
policy has laid out a roadmap to cut down vehicular
pollution in Indian cities. More stringent norms for
fuels means steadily reducing the sulphur and aromatic
content in petrol and diesel fuels.
Environmental Issues 1253
7. Euro-III norms (Europe) stipulate that sulphur be
controlled at 350 ppm in diesel and 150 ppm in petrol.
Aromatic hydrocarbons are to be contained at 42% of
the concerned fuel.
8. The goal (Govt. of India), according to the roadmap, is
to reduce sulphur to 50 ppm in petrol and diesel and
bring down the level to 35%. Corresponding to the fuel,
vehicle engines will also need to be upgraded.
9. Mass Emission Standards (Bharat stage-II which is
equivalent to Euro-II norms) are no more applicable in
any cities of India. Details of the latest mass Emission
standards in India are given below:
Type of
Vehicles
Norms Cities of Implementation
Four wheelers BHARAT Throughout the country since
STAGE-III October 2010
Four wheelers BHARAT Thirteen mega cities (Delhi and
STAGE-IV NCR, Mumbai, Kolkata,Chennai,
Bangalore, Surat, Kanpur, Agra,
Lucknow and Sholapur) since
April 2010
Three wheelers BHARAT Throughout the country since
STAGE-III October 2010
Two wheelers BHARAT Throughout the country since
STAGE-III October 2010
WATER POLLUTION AND ITS CONTROL
1. Due to anthropogenic activities, the ponds, lakes,
stream, rivers, estuaries and oceans are becoming
polluted in several parts of the world.
2. Realising the importance of maintaining the
cleanliness of the water bodies, the Government of
India has passed the Water (Prevention and
Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 to safeguard our
water resources.
Domestic Sewage and Industrial Effluents
1. A mere 0.1% impurities make domestic sewage unfit
for human use.
2. Solids are relatively easy to remove. The most difficult
to remove are dissolved salts like nitrates, phosphates
and other nutrients, and toxic metals ions and organic
compounds.
3. Domestic sewage primarily contains biodegradable
organic matter, which readily decomposes with the
help of bacteria and other micro-organisms which
multiply using these organic substances as substrates.
4. It is possible to estimate the amount of biodegradable
organic matter in sewage water by measuring
Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD).
BOD : It is the amount of dissolved oxygen needed
(i. e., demand) by aerobic microbes to breakdown
organic material present in a given water sample. The
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BOD value is generally expressed in milligrams of
oxygen consumed per litre of sample during five days
of incubation at 20°C.
5. Micro-organisms involved in biodegradation of organic
matter in the receiving water body consume a lot of
oxygen, and as a result there is a sharp decline in
dissolved oxygen downstream from the point of sewage
discharge. This causes mortality of fish and other
aquatic creatures.
6. Presence of large amounts of nutrients in water bodies
also causes excessive growth of planktonic (free-
floating) algae, called an algal bloom which imparts a
distinct colour to the water bodies, Algal bloom causes
deterioration of the water quality and fish mortality.
Some bloom forming algae are extremely toxic to
human beings and animals.
7. The world’s most problematic aquatic weed, Eichhornia
crassipes (water hyacinth), has spread throughout
Indian water bodies. These plants were actually
introduced in India for their beautiful flowers but
caused havoc by their excessive growth by causing
blocks in our waterways. These are also popularly
called Terror of Bengal. They grow abundantly in
eutrophic water bodies and lead to an imbalance in the
ecosystem dynamics of water bodies.
8. Sewage from our homes as well as from hospitals are
likely to have many dangerous pathogenic microbes,
and its disposal into water without proper treatment
may cause out break of serious diseases like dysentry,
typhoid, jaundice, cholera etc.
9. Waste water from industries like petroleum, paper
manufacturing, metal extraction and processing,
chemical manufacturing etc., often contain toxic
substances like heavy metals (defined as elements with
density > 5 gm/cm 3 ) such as mercury, cadmium,
copper, lead, etc. and a variety of organic compounds.
10. A few toxic substances, often present in the industrial
waste waters, can undergo biological
magnification or biomagnification in the
aquatic food chain. Biomagnification refers to
the increase in concentration of the toxicant
at successive trophic levels. This happens because
a toxic substance (e. g ., mercury and DDT)
accumulated by an organism cannot be metabolised or
excreted, and thus passes on to the higher trophic level.
High concentrations of DDT disturb calcium
metabolism in birds, which causes thinning of egg shell
and their premature breaking, finally causing decline in
bird populations.
Note: Bioaccumulation is the accumulation of a
pollutant in the organism at a trophic level.
11. Eutrophication : It is the enrichment of a water body
with an excess amount of nutrient (mainly nitrogen
and phosphorus). This process induces growth of
plants, algae and animals and due to excess biomass
load may result in oxygen depletion of the water body.
Eutrophication is of two types :
(i) Natural Eutrophication :
(a) In a young lake the water is cold and clear,
supporting little life. With time, streams
draining into the lake introduce nutrients
like nitrogen and phosphorus, which
encourage the growth of aquatic
organisms.
(b) As the lakes fertility increases, plant and
animal life booms, and organic remains
begin to be deposited on the lake bottom.
Over centuries, as silt and organic debris
pile up, the lake grows shallower and
warmer, with warm water organisms
supplanting those that thrive in cold
environments.
(c) Marsh plants take root in the shallows and
begin to fill in the original lake basin.
Eventually, the lake gives way to large
masses of floating plants (bog), finally
converting into land.
(d) Depending on the climate, size of lake and
other factors, the natural aging of lake may
span thousands of years.
(ii) Cultural or Accelerated Eutrophication :
(a) It is caused by human activities like
dumping off effluents from industries and
homes into water bodies.
(b) During the past century, lakes in many
parts of the earth have been severly
eutrophied by the sewage and agricultural
and industrial wastes.
(c) The prime contaminants are nitrates and
phosphates, which act as plant
nutrients. They overstimulate the growth
of algae, causing unsightly scum and
unpleasant odours, and robbing the water
of dissolved oxygen vital to other aquatic
life.
(d) At the same time, other pollutants flowing
into a lake may poison whole populations
of fish, whose decomposing remains
further deplete the water’s dissolved
oxygen content. Thus, a lake can finally
collapse.
12. Thermal (heated) waste water flowing out of
electricity-generating units, e. g ., thermal power plants,
constitute another important category of pollutants.
Thermal waste water eliminates or reduces the number

of organisms sensitive to high temperature, and may
enhance the growth of plants and fish in extremely cold
areas but only after causing damage to the indigenous
flora and fauna.
A Case Study of Integrated Waste Water
Treatment
1. Waste water including sewage can be treated in an
integrated manner, by utilizing a mix of artificial and
natural processes.
2. An example of such an initiative is the town of Arcata,
situated along the northern coast of California.
Collaborating with the biologists from Humboldt
State University the town people created an
integrated waste water treatment process within a
natural system. The cleaning occurs in two stages :
(a) The conventional sedimentation, filtration and
chlorine treatments are given. After this stage,
lots of dangerous pollutants like dissolved heavy
metals still remain.
(b) To combat the dissolved heavy metals, the
biologists developed a series of six connected
marshes over 60 hectares of marshland.
Appropriate plants, algae, fungi and bacteria
were seeded into this area which neutralise,
absorb and assimilate the pollutants, i. e.,
performs bioremediation. Hence, as the water
flows through the marshes, it gets purified
naturally.
The marshes also constitute a sanctuary, with a
high level of biodiversity in the form of fishes,
animals and birds that now dwell there. A citizens
group called Friends of the Arcata Marsh
(FOAM) are responsible for the upkeep of this
wonderful project.
Note: Ecosanitation is a sustainable system for handling
human excreta, using dry composting toilets. This is
practical, hygienic, efficient and cost effective
solution to human waste disposal. Human excreta,
with this composting method, can be recycled into a
resource as natural fertilizer which reduces the
need for chemical fertilizers. There are working
‘EcoSan’ toilets in many areas of Kerala and Sri
Lanka.
SOLID WASTES
1. Solid wastes refer to everything that goes out in trash.
Municipal solid wastes are wastes from homes, offices,
stores, schools, hospitals, etc., that are collected and
disposed by the municipality.
Environmental Issues 1255
2. Burning reduces the volume of the wastes, although it
is generally not completely burnt to completion and
open dumps often serve as breeding ground for rats
and flies.
3. Sanitary landfills were adopted as the substitute for
open-burning dumps. In sanitary landfill, wastes are
dumped in a depression or trench after compaction and
covered with the dirt everyday. Landfills are also not
really much of a solution since, the amount of garbage
specially in the metros has increased so much that these
sites are getting filled too. Also, there is danger of
seepage of chemicals, etc., from these landfills
polluting the underground water resources.
4. All waste that we generate can be categorised into
three types—(i) bio-degradable, (ii) recyclable and
(iii) non-biodegradable. It is important that all garbage
generated is sorted.
5. The biodegradable materials can be put into deep pits
in the ground and left for natural breakdown. This
leaves only the non-biodegradable materials to be
disposed off. State governments across the country are
trying to push for reduction in use of plastics and use of
eco-friendly packaging. We should atleast carry
cloth/natural fibre bags when we go to shopping and
refuse polythene bags.
6. Hospitals generate hazardous wastes that contain
disinfectants and other harmful chemicals, and also
pathogenic micro-organisms. Such wastes also require
careful treatment and disposal. The use of incinerators
(for aerobic combustion) is crucial to disposal of
hospital waste.
7. Irreparable computers and other electronic goods are
known as electronic waste (e-waste). E-wastes are
buried in landfills or incinerated. Over half of the
e-waste generated in the developed world are exported
to developing coutries, mainly to China, India and
Pakistan, where metals like copper, iron, silicon, nickel
and gold are recovered during recycling process.
Recycling is the only solution for the treatment of
e-wastes.
Case Study of Remedy for Plastic Waste
1. Ahmed Khan has been producing plastic sacks for
more than 20 years. He realised that plastic waste was
a real problem. Polyblend, a fine powder of recycled
modified plastic, was developed by his company. This
mixture is mixed with the bitumen which is used to lay
roads. In collaboration with R.V. College of
Engineering and the Bangalore City
Corporation, Ahmed khan proved that blends of
polyblend and bitumen when used to lay roads,
enhanced the bitumen’s water repellant properties, and
helped to increase road life by a factor of three.
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2. The raw material for creating polyblend is any plastic
film waste. So, against the price of Rs. 0.40 per kg that
rag pickers had been getting for plastic waste, Ahmed
Khan now offers Rs. 6 per kg. Using Khan’s technique,
by the year 2002, more than 40 km of road in
Bangalore has already been laid.
AGRO-CHEMICALS AND THEIR EFFECTS
1. In the wake of green revolution, use of inorganic
fertilisers and pesticides has increased manifold for
enhancing crop production.
2. Pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, etc., are being
increasingly used. These are toxic to non-target
organisms including humans.
3. The increasing amounts of chemical fertilisers causes
eutrophication in water bodies.
Case Study of Organic Farming
1. Integrated organic farming is a cyclical, zero-waste
procedure, where waste products from one process are
cycled in as nutrients for other processes. This allows
the maximum utilisation of resource and increases the
efficiency of production.
2. Ramesh Chandra Dagar, a farmer in Sonipat has
interestingly involved the integrated organic farming.
He includes bee-keeping, dairy management, water
harvesting, composting and agriculture in a chain of
processes, which support each other and allow an
extremely economical and sustainable venture.
There is no need to use chemical fertilisers for crops, as
cattle excreta (dung) are used as manure. Crop waste is
used to create compost, which can be used as a natural
fertiliser or can be used to generate natural gas for
satisfying the energy needs of the farm.
3. Dagar has created the Haryana Kisan Welfare
Club, with a current membership of 5,000 farmers.
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
Nuclear energy was earlier thought to be a
non-polluting way for generating electricity. Later, it
was realised that the use of nuclear energy has two very
serious problems :
(a) Accidental leakage : It occurred in Three Mile
Island (Pennsylvania-USA, March 1979),
Chernobyl (Ukraine, April 1986) and Fukushima
Dai-ichi (Japan, March 2011)
(b) Safe disposal : It has been recommended that
storage of nuclear waste, after sufficient
pre-treatment, should be done in suitably
shielded containers buried within the rocks,
about 500 m deep below the earth’s surface.
However, this method of disposal is meeting stiff
opposition from the public because radioactive
wastes may come in contact with the soil bed or
ground water which can be dangerous.
Effects of Radiation from Radioactive Wastes
1. Radiations, that is given off by nuclear waste is
extremely damaging to organisms, because it causes
mutations at a very high rate.
2. At high doses, nuclear radiation is lethal but at lower
doses, it creates various disorders, the most frequent of
all being cancer. So, nuclear waste is an extremely
potent pollutant.
GREENHOUSE EFFECT AND GLOBAL
WARMING
1. The term ‘Greenhouse effect’ has been derived from a
phenomenon that occurs in a greenhouse. It looks like a
small glass house and is used for growing plants
especially during winter. In a greenhouse the glass
pannel lets the light in, but does not allow heat to
escape. So, greenhouse warms up, very much like
inside a car that has been parked in the sun for a few
hours.
2. The greenhouse effect is a naturally occurring
phenomenon that is responsible for heating of Earth’s
surface and atmosphere. Without greenhouse effect the
average temperature at surface of earth would have
been a chilly –18°C rather than the present average of
15°C.
3. Clouds and gases reflect about 1/4th of the incoming
solar radiation, and absorb some of it but almost half of
the incoming solar radiation falls on Earth’s surface
heating it, while a small proportion is reflected back.
Earth’s surface re-emits heat in the form of infra-red
radiation but part of this does note escape into space as
atmospheric gases, e. g ., carbon dioxide, methane etc.,
absorb a major fraction of it. The molecules of these
gases radiate heat energy and a major part of which
again comes to Earth’s surface, thus heating it up once
again. This cycle is repeated many times.
4. The relative contribution of different greenhouse gases
are :
(i) Carbon dioxide = 60%
(ii) Methane = 20%
(iii) CFC = 14%
(iv) N 2O = 6%
Note: The most abundant greenhouse gas is CO 2 but the
most effective one is CFCs. Water vapour can also
contribute towards greenhouse effect.
5. Increase in the level of greenhouse gases has led to
considerable heating of Earth leading to global

warming. During the past century, the temperature of
Earth has increased by 0.6°C, most of it during the last
three decades.
6. Scientists believe that this rise in temperature is
leading to deleterious changes in the environment and
resulting in odd climatic changes (e. g ., El Nino), thus
leading to increased melting of polar ice caps as well as
of other places like Himalayan snow caps. Over many
years this will result in a rise in sea-level that can
submerge many coastal areas.
Kyoto Protocol: It was adopted in Kyoto, Japan on
11 December, 1997 (and came into force in 16
February 2005) in COP-3 (Conference of parties) and
pledges to mitigate climate change including reduction
of green house gas emission.
7. The control of global warming involves following
measures :
(i) Cutting down of fossil fuel and improving
efficiency of energy use.
(ii) Reducing deforestation and planting trees.
(iii) Slowing down the growth of human population.
OZONE DEPLETION IN THE STRATOSPHERE
1. ‘Bad ozone’ is that ozone which is formed in the
lower atmosphere (troposphere) and harms plants
and animals.
2. ‘Good ozone’ is that which is formed in the upper
atmosphere (stratosphere) and it acts as a shield
absorbing ultraviolet radiation from the sun.
3. UV-rays are highly injurious to living organisms since
DNA and proteins of living organisms preferentially
absorb UV-rays, and its high energy breaks the
chemical bonds within these molecules.
4. The thickness of the ozone in a column of air from the
ground to the top of the atmosphere is measured in
terms of Dobson Units (DU).
5. Ozone gas is continuously formed by the action of
UV-rays on molecular oxygen, and also degraded into
molecular oxygen in the stratosphere. There should be
a balance between production and degradation of
ozone in the stratosphere.
6. The balance between production and degradation of
ozone has been disrupted due to enhancement of ozone
degradation by Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).
CFCs find wide use as refrigerants. CFCs discharged in
the lower part of atmosphere move upward and reach
stratosphere. In stratosphere, UV-rays act on them
releasing Cl-atoms. Cl-atoms degrades ozone releasing
molecular oxygen, with these atoms acting merely as
catalysts; Cl-atoms are not consumed in the reaction.
Hence, whatever CFCs are added to the stratosphere,
they have permanent and continuing affects on ozone
levels.
Environmental Issues 1257
7. Although ozone depletion is occurring widely in the
stratosphere, the depletion is particularly marked over
the Antarctic region. This has resulted in the formation
of a large area of thinned ozone layer, commonly called
Ozone Hole.
8. UV-radiation of wavelengths shorter than UV-B are
almost completely absorbed by the Earth’s atmosphere,
given that the ozone layer is intact.
UV-B damages DNA and mutation may occur. It causes
aging of skin, damage to skin cells and various types of
skin cancers.
In human eye, cornea absorbs UV-B radiations, and a
high dose of UV-B causes inflammation of cornea,
called snow-blindness, cataract etc. Such exposure
may permanently damage the cornea.
9. As a result of deleterious affects of ozone depletion, an
international treaty called the Montreal Protocol,
was signed at Montreal (Canada) in 1987 (effective
in 1989) to control the emission of ozone depleting
substances. Efforts are being made for reducing the
emission of CFCs and other ozone depleting chemicals.
CFCs are being replaced by hydrofluorocarbons
(HFCs).
DEGRADATION BY IMPROPER RESOURCE
UTILISATION AND MAINTENANCE
The degradation of natural resources can occur, not just by
the action of pollutants but also by improper resource
utilisation practices.
(a) Soil Erosion and Desertification :
(i) The development of the fertile top-soil takes
centuries. But, it can be removed very easily due
to human activities like over-cultivation,
unrestricted grazing, deforestation and poor
irrigation practices, resulting in arid patches of
land.
(ii) When large barren patches extend and meet
over time, a desert is created. Internationally, it
has been recognised that desertification is a
major problem now-a-days, particularly due to
increased urbanisation.
(b) Waterlogging :
(i) Irrigation without proper drainage of water
leads to water logging in the soil, which creates
anaerobic condition harming the roots of
mesophytes.
(ii) Besides affecting the crops, water logging draws
salt to the surface of soil. The salt then is
deposited as thin crust on the land surface or
starts collecting at the roots of the plants. This
increased salt content is harmful to the growth
of crops and is extremely damaging to
agriculture.
 1258 NCERT Biology Booster
(iii) Waterlogging and soil salinity are some of the
problems that have come in the wake of Green
Revolution.
DEFORESTATION
1. Deforestation is the conversion of forested areas to
non-forested ones.
2. About 40% forests have been lost in the tropics,
compared to only 1% in the temperate region.
3. The present scenario of deforestation is particularly
serious in India. At the beginning of the 20th century,
forests covered about 30% of the land of India. By the
end of the century, it shrunk to 19.4%, whereas the
National Forest Policy (1988) of India has
recommended 33% forest cover for the plains and 67%
for the hills.
4. A number of human activities contribute to
deforestation. One of the major reasons is the
conversion of forest to agricultural land.
Note: Slash and burn agriculture/Jhum
cultivation :
(i) It is commonly practised in the north-east states of
India and has contributed to deforestation.
(ii) In this practise, the farmers cut down the trees of
the forest and burn the plant remains. The ash is
used as fertilizer and the land is then used for
farming or cattle grazing.
(iii) After cultivation, the area is left for several years so
as to allow its recovery. The farmers then move on
to other areas and repeat this process.
(iv) In earlier days when Jhum cultivation was a
prevalence, enough time-gap was given such that
the land recovered from the effect of cultivation.
With increasing population and repeated
cultivation, this recovery phase is delayed, resulting
in deforestation.
Consequences of Deforestation
1. One of the major effects is enhanced carbon dioxide
concentration in the atmosphere because trees that
could hold a lot of carbon in their biomass are lost with
deforestation.
2. Deforestation also causes loss of biodiversity due to
habitat destruction, disturbs hydrologic cycle, causes
soil erosion, and may lead to desertification in extreme
cases.
REFORESTATION
1. Reforestation is the process of restoring a forest that
once existed but was removed at some point of time in
the past.
2. Reforestation may occur naturally in a deforested area.
However, we can speed up by planting trees with due
consideration to biodiversity that earlier existed in that
area. Van Mahotosava involves tree plantation and
is celebrated during February July months.
Case Study of People’s Participation in
Conservation of Forests
(I) In 1731, the king of Jodhpur (Rajasthan) ordered his
men to arrange wood for making a new palace.
The minister and worker went to the forest inhabited
by Bishnois (tribe) to cut down trees.
A Bishnoi woman Amrita Devi showed great courage
by hugging a tree but was killed by king’s men. Her
three daughters and hundreds of other Bishnois
followed her, and lost their lives saving trees.
The Government of India has started the Amrita Devi
Bishnoi Wildlife Protection Award for
individuals/communities from rural areas who have
shown great courage and dedication in protecting
wildlife.
(II) ‘Chipko Movement’ or ‘Chipko Andolan’ was
started in March, 1974 in Gopeshwar in Chamoli
District (Uttarakhand) and was headed by Chandi
Prasad Bhatt of Gopeshwar and Sunder Lal
Bahuguna of Silyara in Tehri region (Uttarakhand). It
was initiated to protect trees. The local women showed
enormous bravery in protecting trees from the axe of
contractors by hugging them. It was one of the biggest
forest conservation movement.
Note:
1. Joint Forest Management (JFM) : Realising the
significance of participation by local communities, the
Government of India in 1980s has introduced the
concepts of Joint Forest Management (JFM) so as to
work closely with the local communities for
protecting and managing forests. In return for their
services to the forest, the communities get benefit of
various forest products like fruits, gum, rubber,
medicine etc.
2. Dasholi Gram Swarajya Mandal Movement (DGSM)
was started by Chandi Prasad Bhatt in the fight
against cutting down of trees. It is the mother
movement of chipko Movement.
 Environmental Issues 1259

Section-A : Questions Based on NCERT Textbook

Air and Water Pollution (a) A = (iv), B = (iii), C = (ii), D = (i)
1. The Environmental (Protection) Act was passed in the (b) A = (i), B = (iv), C = (iii), D = (ii)
year : (c) A = (iii), B = (ii), C = (i), D = (iv)
(a) 1986 (b) 1990 (d) A = (iv), B = (iii), C = (i), D = (ii)
(c) 1976 (d) 1995 8. Electrostatic precipitator is used to remove :
2. Which of the following represents quantitative (a) SO 2 pollution (b) Particulate matter
pollutants ? (c) CO pollution (d)All of the above
(a) CO (b) CO 2 9. Suspended particulate matter which remains in air for
(c) Nitrogen oxides (d) All of these weeks is :
3. Tropospheric ozone is ‘bad ozone’ as it harms the living (a) £ 10 mm (b) ³ 10 mm
organisms. This ozone is a secondary pollutant formed (c) ³ 20 mm (d) ³ 25 mm
by the reaction of primary pollutants like ________ and 10. Read the following statements :
_________ in the presence of sunlight and stagnant air. (i) Catalytic converters in vehicles have costly metals
(a) Nitrogen oxides ( NO x ) and volatile organic like platinum, palladium and rhodium
compounds (VOCs) (ii) The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution)Act
(b) SO 2 and NO 2 was passed in the year, 1981
(c) PAN and CO 2 (iii) Noise which is less than 80 dB cause noise
(d) SO 2 and PAN pollution
4. The harmful effects of pollutants depend on : (iv) ‘Green-muffler’ scheme is to reduce noise
(a) The concentration of pollutant pollution
(b) Duration of exposure to the pollutant (v) Lead free petrol can remove sound pollution of
(c) The organism exposed to the pollutant vehicles completely
(d) All of these Which of the above statements are correct ?
5. How peroxyacetylnitrate (which is a type of peroxyacyl (a) (iii) and (v)
nitrate) formed ? (b) (i), (ii) and (iv)
(a) Free radical reactions catalysed by UV-rays oxidize (c) (ii), (iii) and (iv)
unburnt hydrocarbons to create peroxy radicals (d) (i), (ii) and (iii)
which combine with NO 2 to form PAN 11. Match the columns w.r.t. zone wise permissible sound
(b) It is formed by the reaction between chlorine and level :
O3
Column-I Column-II
(c) It is formed by the reaction between SO 2 and O 3 in
the presence of UV-rays A. Residential (i) 65 dB

(d) Free radical reactions catalysed by UV-rays oxidize B. Commercial (ii) 75 dB

unburnt CO 2 to form hydrocarbons C. Silent zone (iii) 55 dB
6. Sulphur dioxide : D. Industrial zone (iv) 50 dB
(a) Inhibits electron transport chain in plants
(a) A = (iii), B = (i), C = (iv), D = (ii)
(b) Causes phaeophytization in lichens
(b) A = (ii), B = (iii), C = (i), D = (iv)
(c) Causes acid rain
(c) A = (iv), B = (ii), C = (iii), D = (i)
(d) All of these
(d) A = (iii), B = (i), C = (ii), D = (iv)
7. Match the columns :
12. The government of India has initiated stringent norms
Column-I Column-II for automobile fuels for the reduction in __________
A. Siderosis (i) Inhalation of cotton dust and __________content in petrol and diesel :
B. Silicosis (ii) Inhalation of asbestos dust (a) Sulphur ; aromatic content
C. Byssinosis (iii) Inhalation of stone dust (b) CO 2 ; phosphine
D. Asbestosis (iv) Inhalation of iron dust
 1260 NCERT Biology Booster

(c) Phosphine ; CH 4 19. What is true for London smog ?

(d) Aromatic content ; CO 2 (a) It is also called photochemical smog
13. Acid rain is due to : (b) PAN and O 3 are the important components
(a) Oxides of sulphur and nitrogen (c) H 2S and SO 2 are involved
(b) Oxides of carbon and nitrogen (d) It occurs at high temperature
(c) Oxides of carbon and sulphur 20. Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act was
(d) Oxides of calcium passed in the year :
14. Acid rain is a mixture of : (a) 1974 (b) 1980
(a) H 2CO 3 and H 2SO 4 (c) 1995 (d) 1998
(b) H 2SO 4 and HNO 3 21. A mere _________ impurities make domestic sewage
(c) HNO 2 and HCl unfit for human use :
(d) H 2CO 3 and HCl (a) 10% (b) 0.1%
15. The diagram provided below is to remove which type of (c) 30% (d) 8%
pollution ? 22. The diagram provided below is to remove which type of
Clean air pollution ?
Discharge corna
Negatively charged wire

Lime spray Dirty air Clean air

Dirty air
Particulate
matter
Collection plate grounded

(a) Particulate matter only (a) Particulate matter

(b) Dust particles only (b) Gaseous pollution
(c) Sound pollution (c) SO 2 pollution
(d) Gaseous pollution (d) Sound pollution
16. Electrostatic precipitators can remove over _________ 23. Motor vehicles equipped with catalytic converter
particulate matter present in the exhaust from a should use unleaded petrol because :
thermal power plant. (a) Pb activates catalytic converters
(a) 80% (b) 20% (b) Pb inactivates catalytic converters
(c) 35% (d) 99% (c) Pb does not acts a catalyst
17. Carbon monoxide has _______ times more affinity than (d) All of the above
O 2 for haemoglobin : 24. Read the following statements :
(a) 150 (b) 200 (i) Catalytic converters convert unburnt
(c) 95 (d) 500 hydrocarbons into CO 2 and H 2O
18. Which of the following is correct for Los-Angeles smog? (ii) Catalytic converter convert carbon monoxide and
(a) It is also called classical smog nitric oxide into CO 2 and N 2
(b) It occurs at a low temperature (iii) Automobiles are the major cause for atmospheric
(c) H 2S and SO 2 are involved pollution in the world
(d) Secondary pollutants are involved (iv) Proper maintenance of automobiles alongwith
the use of lead-free petrol or diesel can reduce the
pollutants they emit
 Environmental Issues 1261

(v) In India, the Air (Prevention and Control of 29. The phytoplanktons and zooplanktons absorb DDT in
Pollution) Act came into force in 1981 and their :
amended in 1987 to include noise as air pollutant (a) Fats and oils (b) Protein
Which of the above statements are correct ? (c) Carbohydrates (d) None of these
(a) (i), (ii), (iv) and (v) 30. The major source of phosphate and nitrate pollution in
(b) (i), (ii), (iii) (iv) and (v) water bodies is through :
(c) (iii), (iv) and (v) (a) Detergents and fertilizers or sewage
(d) (i), (ii) and (iii) (b) Vegetable matter
25. Water having dissolved oxygen (DO) below ________ is (c) Acid rain
considered polluted. (d) Faecal matter
(a) 8 mg/litre (b) 80 mg/litre 31. Eutrophication :
(c) 70 mg/litre (d) 95 mg/litre (a) Is due to the addition of artificial or natural
26. Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) is the amount of nutrients mainly phosphates and nitrates
dissolved oxygen (DO) needed by aerobic organisms to (b) Is more precisely hypertrophication
break down ___________ in a given sample of water. (c) Results in algal bloom
(a) Inorganic compounds (d) Is related to all of the above
(b) Organic compounds 32. Match the columns :
(c) Settleable compounds
Column-I Column-II
(d) Inorganic + organic compounds
27. Which of the following is not incorrect ? A. Cadmium (i) Minamata

(a) BOD is similar in function to COD in that both B. Copper (ii) Itai-itai
measure the amount of organic compounds in C. Lead (iii) Hypertension and uremia
water D. Mercury (iv) Brain, kidney and liver damage
(b) COD involves oxidation of few organic compounds
(c) BOD involves oxidation of almost all organic (a) A = (ii), B = (iii), C = (i), D = (iv)
compounds (b) A = (iv), B = (i), C = (ii), D = (iii)
(d) All of the above (c) A = (iii), B = (ii), C = (iv), D = (i)
28. Identify A and B in the graph given below : (d) A = (ii), B = (iii), C = (iv), D = (i)
33. The cause of Minamata disease is due to the poisoining
Fish kill and Reappearance
disappearance of of clean water of :
clean water organisms organisms
(a) Methyl mercury (b) Methyl cyanide
(c) Lead (d) Copper
C 34. Black foot disease is caused by :
O A (a) Copper (b) Arsenic
N
C (c) Lead (d) Mercury
E
N 35. The accumulation of pesticides or other accumulation
T in an organism is called :
R
A (a) Biomagnification (b) Bioaccumulation
T
I (c) Bioremediation (d) Biodegradation
O 36. The accumulation of pesticides or other pollutants in
N B
organisms in increasing concentrations along the food
Direction of flow chain at higher trophic level is called :
Sewage discharge (a) Biomagnification (b) Bioaccumulation
(c) Bioremediation (d) Biodegradation
(a) A = BOD; B = Dissolved O 2
37. Dyslexia may be caused due to :
(b) A = Dissolved O 2 ; B = COD
(a) Lead poisoning (b) Copper poisoning
(c) A = Dissolved O 2 ; B = BOD
(c) Carbonates (d) H 2CO 3
(d) Either (b) and (c)
 1262 NCERT Biology Booster

38. Hot water : (c) Increased terrestrial fungal growth

(a) Is a type of pollutant from industries (d) None of the above
(b) Input in natural water bodies reduces the dissolved 47. Water pollution is best determined by :
oxygen (a) Turbidity and BOD
(c) Input in natural water bodies causes damage to (b) Acidity
indigenous flora and fauna (c) Alkalinity
(d) Is related to all of these (d) Hardness
39. Which of the following is related to integrated waste 48. Green-house gases :
water treatment process within a natural system ? (a) Absorb short wavelength radiations
(a) Chipko movement (b) Absorbs long-wave radiations from earth
(b) Jhum cultivation (c) Do not absorb radiations
(c) Joint Forest Management (JFM) (d) Include CO 2 only
(d) Friends of Arcata Marsh (FOAM) 49. ‘Agenda-21’ was adopted in :
40. ‘EcoSan’ toilets working in Kerala and Sri Lanka : (a) Montreal protocol
(a) Is a sustainable system for handling human excreta (b) Helsinki declaration
using dry composting toilets (c) Kyoto protocol
(b) Recycles human excreta into a natural fertilizer (d) Earth summit
(c) Is cost-effective solution to human waste disposal 50. ‘Blue-baby’ syndrome :
(d) Is related to all of the above (a) Is also called methaemoglobinemia
41. Eichhornia crassipes or ‘Terror of Bengal’ : (b) Is caused by CH 4 and nitrite
(a) Is a highly invasive terrestrial weed (c) Both (a) and (b)
(b) Causes eutrophication (d) Increases O 2 carrying capacity of blood, damages
(c) Cannot be used as a raw material for biogas respiratory and vascular systems
production 51. What is the advantage of CNG over petrol ?
(d) Increases the dissolved oxygen of water bodies (a) It is cheaper than petrol or diesel
42. Water pollution due to faecal matter is indicated by : (b) It burns most efficiently unlike petrol or diesel
(a) Escherichia coli (b) Rhizobium (c) It cannot be siphoned off by thieves and
(c) Bacillus (d)Streptococcus adulterated like petrol or diesel
43. Which gas was responsible for ‘Bhopal gas tragedy’ (d) More than one option is correct
which leaked from the Union Carbide Factory ?
Solid Wastes
(a) Methyl isocyanate (MIC)
(b) CH 4 52. Find the incorrect match :
(c) N 2O (a) Positive soil pollution — Addition of pesticides
(d) CO (b) Negative soil pollution — Removal of top layer
44. Bharat stage-III is emission norm to reduce : of soil
(a) N 2O and NO 2 (c) e-waste — Radioactive waste
(b) Aromatic compounds and sulphur (d) Hospital waste — Incinerators
(c) Particulate matter 53. Incineration is different from pyrolysis as :
(d) CO 2 (a) It utilizes a very high temperature
45. The most dangerous automobile pollutant is : (b) It is controlled anaerobic combustion
(a) Pb (b) Cu (c) It is controlled aerobic combustion
(c) As (d) Hg (d) It detoxifies plastic wastes only
46. Which one is not an effect of acid rain falling in a water 54. Sanitary landfills are not very reliable method for
body ? municipal solid waste disposal as :
(a) Increased NO –3 and SO 2– (a) Due to the generation of huge amount of garbage
4
specially in metros these get filled quickly
(b) Decreased insect population
(b) The toxic garbage can pollute the underground
water resources
 Environmental Issues 1263

(c) Both (a) and (b) Radioactive Wastes

(d) These wastes are non-biodegradable 61. Find the wrong match w.r.t. radioactive nuclear
55. Why plastics are not ecofriendly ? disasters :
(a) Non-biodegradable (a) Three Mile Island — Pennsylvania, USA (1979)
(b) Takes a very long time to degrade (b) Chernobyl incident — Ukraine (1986)
(c) Pollutes soil and water resources (c) Fukushima Dai-ichi — Japan (2011)
(d) Because of all of the above (d) Bhopal gas tragedy — India (1984)
56. Who is related to ‘Polyblend’ ? 62. Which of the following is correct ?
(a) Ahmed Khan (a) Radioactive radiation causes mutation
(b) Ramesh Chandra Dagar (b) Radioactive radiation can cause cancer
(c) Ramdev Mishra (c) Radioactive waste is shielded in containers burried
(d) Swaminathan within rocks, about 500 m deep below earth’s
57. ‘KK Polyblend’ : surface
(a) Is bitumen-plastic mixture (d) All of the above
(b) Increases road life 63. Match the columns :
(c) Was developed by Ahmed Khan Column-I Column-II
(d) All of the above
A. Cobalt-60 (i) Replaces calcium in bone,
58. Read the following statements : causes bone cancer and
(i) As a result of green revolution, use of inorganic leukaemia
fertilizers and pesticides has increased for B. Iodine-131 (ii) Replaces K and Na in
enhancing crop production muscles
(ii) DDT, PCB, Aldrin and BHC are chlorinated C. Cesium-137 (iii) Damages lymph nodes,
WBC and bone marrow
hydrocarbons
D. Strontium-90 (iv) Used in tumor therapy, is
(iii) Parathion and malathion are organophosphorus
source of gamma radiation
compounds to induce mutation in plants
(iv) Ramesh Chandra Dagar established the
integrated organic farming in Noida, UP (a) A = (iv), B = (iii), C = (i), D = (ii)
(v) Organocarbamates and organophosphorus (b) A = (iv), B = (iii), C = (ii), D = (i)
compound effect the nervous system (c) A = (iii), B = (iv), C = (ii), D = (i)
How many of the above statements are correct ? (d) A = (ii), B = (iii), C = (iv), D = (i)
(a) Four (b) Three Greenhouse Effect and Global Warming
(c) Two (d) Five
64. What is the result of green-house effect ?
59. ‘The Haryana Kisan Welfare Club’ is run by :
(a) Melting of polar ice-caps
(a) Ramesh Chandra Dagar
(b) CO 2 fertilization effect
(b) Ahmed Khan
(c) Rising of sea-level and global warming
(c) Swaminathan
(d) All of the above
(d) Ramdeo Mishra
65. IPCC :
60. Which of the following is correct ?
(a) Is intergovernmental pannel on climate change
(a) Over half of the e-waste generated in the developed
(b) Moniters atmospheric greenhouse gas
world are exported to developing countries
concentration
(b) During the past century, the temperature of earth
(c) Provides an internationally accepted authority on
has increased by 0.6°C
climate change
(c) Slash and burn agriculture or Jhum cultivation in
(d) Is related to all of these
the north-eastern states of India contributes to
deforestation
(d) All of these
 1264 NCERT Biology Booster

Ozone Depletion in the Stratosphere Deforestation

66. ‘Good ozone’ : 73. The National Forest Policy (1988) of India has
(a) Is found in stratosphere recommended _______ of forest cover for the plains
(b) Protects living organisms from the harmful effects and ________ for hills.
of UV-rays (a) 67%, 30% (b) 33%, 67%
(c) Both (a) and (b) (c) 22%, 88% (d) 85%, 15%
(d) Is found in troposphere 74. What is/are the effect(s) of deforestation ?
67. Ozone hole is marked over _________ each year (a) Enhanced CO 2 concentration
between __________ and __________. (b) Desertification
(a) Antarctica ; Late August; Early October (c) Global warming
(b) Antarctica ; Late January ; Early October (d) All of the above
(c) Africa ; Late August ; Early October 75. Van Mahotsava is celebrated during the month(s) of :
(d) Africa ; Late January ; Early October (a) February and July (b) August
68. Nobel prize for chemistry (1995) for the discovery of (c) October (d) November and March
ozone hole and ozone depletion was awarded to : 76. Which of the following is correct for Chipko
(a) Mario Molina (b) Paul Crutzen movement?
(c) Sherwood Rowland (d) All of these (a) Was started in March 1974 in Gopeshwar in
69. Which treaty is related to control the emission of Chamoli district
ozone- depleting substances (ODS) ? (b) Was headed Chandi Prasad Bhatt of Gopeshwar
(a) Montreal Protocol (Canada) in 1987 and effective and Sunder Lal Bahuguna of Silyara in Tehri region
in 1989 (c) Both (a) and (b)
(b) Kyoto Protocol (d) It is completely different in terms of aims in
(c) DGSM comparison to Appiko movement
(d) Bali Action Plan (2007) 77. The mother movement of Chipko movement was :
70. ODS include : (a) Dasholi Gram Swarajya Mandal Movement
(a) CFC (DGSM) started by Chandi Prasad Bhatt
(b) CH 4 (b) DGSM started by Sunder Lal Bahuguna
(c) CCl 4 , halons, N 2O (c) DGSM started by Amrita Devi
(d) All of these (d) DGSM started by Ahmed Khan
71. Snow-blindness is caused by : 78. Chipko movement was started in :
(a) Infra-red rays (b) UV-B rays (a) Jaipur
(c) Green light (d) Red light (b) Gujarat
72. The thickness of ozone in a column of air from the (c) Bengal
ground to the top of the atmosphere is measured in (d) Garhwal Himalaya (Uttarakhand)
terms of :
(a) Decibel (dD)
(b) Dobson unit (DU)
(c) Hertz (Hz)
(d) Foot-candle (ft-c)
 Environmental Issues 1265

Answers (Section-A)

1. (a) 2. (d) 3. (a) 4. (d) 5. (a) 6. (d) 7. (d) 8. (b) 9. (a) 10. (b)
11. (a) 12. (a) 13. (a) 14. (b) 15. (d) 16. (d) 17. (b) 18. (d) 19. (c) 20. (a)
21. (b) 22. (a) 23. (b) 24. (a) 25. (a) 26. (b) 27. (a) 28. (d) 29. (a) 30. (a)
31. (d) 32. (d) 33. (a) 34. (b) 35. (b) 36. (a) 37. (a) 38. (d) 39. (d) 40. (d)
41. (b) 42. (a) 43. (a) 44. (b) 45. (a) 46. (c) 47. (a) 48. (b) 49. (d) 50. (a)
51. (d) 52. (c) 53. (c) 54. (c) 55. (d) 56. (a) 57. (d) 58. (a) 59. (a) 60. (d)
61. (d) 62. (d) 63. (b) 64. (d) 65. (d) 66. (c) 67. (a) 68. (d) 69. (a) 70. (d)
71. (b) 72. (b) 73. (b) 74. (d) 75. (a) 76. (c) 77. (a) 78. (d)
 1266 NCERT Biology Booster

Section-B : Questions from NCERT Exemplar

1. Non-biodegradable pollutants are created by : 11. The green scum seen in the fresh water bodies is :
(a) Nature (b) Excessive use of resources (a) Blue green algae (b) Red algae
(c) Humans (d) Natural disasters (c) Green algae (d) Both (a) and (c)
2. According to the Central Pollution Board, particles that 12. The loudness of a sound that a person can withstand
are responsible for causing great harm to human health without discomfort is about :
are of diameter : (a) 150 db (b) 215 db
(a) 2.50 micrometers (b) 5.00 micrometers (c) 30 db (d) 80 db
(c) 10.00 micrometers (d) 7.5 micrometers 13. The major source of noise pollution, world wide is due
3. The material generally used for sound proofing of to :
rooms like a recording studio and auditorium, etc. is : (a) Office equipment
(a) Cotton (b) Coir (b) Transport system
(c) Wood (d) Styro foam (c) Sugar, textile and paper industries
4. Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) is : (d) Oil refineries and thermal power plants
(a) Propane (b) Methane 14. Match correctly the following and choose the correct
(c) Ethane (d) Butane option :
5. World’s most problematic aquatic weed is :
Column-I Column-II
(a) Azolla (b) Wolffia
A. Environment Protection Act (i) 1974
(c) Eichhornia (d) Trapa
6. Which of the following causes biomagnification ? B. Air Prevention and Control (ii) 1987
of Pollution Act
(a) SO 2 (b) Mercury
C. Water Act (iii) 1986
(c) DDT (d) Both (b) and (c)
D. Amendment of Air Act to (iv) 1981
7. The expanded form of DDT is : include noise as pollutant
(a) Dichloro diphenyl trichloroethane
(a) A = (iii), B = (iv), C = (i), D = (ii)
(b) Dichloro diethyl trichloroethane
(b) A = (i), B = (iii), C = (ii), D = (iv)
(c) Dichloro dipyrydyl trichloroethane
(c) A = (iv), B = (i), C = (ii), D = (iii)
(d) Dichloro diphenyl tetrachloroacetate
(d) A = (iii), B = (iv), C = (ii), D = (i)
8. Which of the following material takes the longest time
15. Catalytic converters are fitted into automobiles to
for biodegradation ?
reduce emission of harmful gases. Catalytic converters
(a) Cotton (b) Paper
change unburnt hydrocarbons into :
(c) Bone (d) Jute
(a) Carbon dioxide and water
9. Choose the incorrect statement :
(b) Carbon mono-oxide
(a) The montreal protocol is associated with the
(c) Methane
control of emission of ozone depleting substances
(d) Carbon dioxide and methane
(b) Methane and carbon dioxide are greenhouse gases
16. Why is it necessary to remove sulphur from petroleum
(c) Dobson units are used to measure oxygen content
products ?
(d) Use of incinerators is crucial to disposal of hospital
(a) To reduce the emission of sulphur dioxide in
wastes
exhaust fumes
10. Among the following which one causes more indoor
(b) To increase efficiency of automobiles engines
chemical pollution ?
(c) To use sulphur removed from petroleum for
(a) Burning coal
commercial purposes
(b) Burning cooking gas
(d) To increase the life span of engine silencers
(c) Burning mosquito coil
(d) Room spray
 Environmental Issues 1267

17. Which one of the following impurities is easiest to 21. Match the items in column-I and column-II and choose
remove from waste water? the correct option :
(a) Bacteria (b) Colloids
Column-I Column-II
(c) Dissolved solids (d) Suspended solids
A. UV (i) Biomagnification
18. Which one of the following diseases is not due to
contamination of water ? B. Biodegradable organic (ii) Eutrophication
matter
(a) Hepatitis-B (b) Jaundice
C. DDT (iii) Snow blindness
(c) Cholera (d) Typhoid
D. Phosphates (iv) BOD
19. Nuisance growth of aquatic plants and bloom-forming
algae in natural waters is generally due to high The correct match is :
concentration of : (a) A = (ii), B = (i), C = (iv), D = (iii)
(a) Carbon (b) Sulphur (b) A = (iii), B = (ii), C = (iv), D = (i)
(c) Calcium (d) Phosphorus (c) A = (iii), B = (iv), C = (i), D = (ii)
20. Algal blooms impart a distinct colour to water due to : (d) A = (iii), B = (i), C = (iv), D = (i)
(a) Their pigments 22. In the textbook you came across three Mile Island and
(b) Excretion of coloured substances Chernobyl disasters associated with accidental leakage
(c) Formation of coloured chemicals in water of radioactive wastes. In India we had Bhopal gas
facilitated by physiological degradation of algae tragedy. It is associated with which of the following ?
(d) Absorption of light by algal cell wall (a) CO 2 (b) Methyl iso-cyanate
(c) CFCs (d) Methyl cyanate

Answers (Section-B)
1. (c) 2. (a) 3. (d) 4. (b) 5. (c) 6. (d) 7. (a) 8. (c) 9. (c) 10. (a)
11. (d) 12. (d) 13. (b) 14. (a) 15. (a) 16. (a) 17. (d) 18. (a) 19. (d) 20. (a)
21. (c) 22. (b)
 1268 NCERT Biology Booster

Section-C : Assertion-Reason Type Questions

Instructions :
1. If both assertion and reason are true and the reason is the correct explanation of the assertion then mark (a).
2. If both assertion and reason are true but the reason is not the correct explanation of the assertion, then mark (b).
3. If assertion is true but reason is false, then mark (c).
4. If both assertion and reason are false statements then mark (d).
1. A: Deforestation is one main factor contributing to R: They form toxic photoproducts in the cells.
global warming. 11. A: A scrubber can remove gases like SO 2 .
R: Besides CO 2 , two other gases-methane and CFC are R: In a scrubber, the exhaust is passed through a spray
also included under greenhouse gases. of lime water.
2. A: The concentration of methane in the atmosphere 12. A: According to Central Pollution Control Board
has more than doubled in the last 250 years. (CPCB) particulate size of 2.5 mm or less in
R: Wetlands and rice fields are the major source of diameter are responsible for causing greatest harm
methane. to human health.
3. A: Pollution is always caused by human activities. R: The particulates can be inhaled deep into the lungs
R: Pollution is not different from contamination. and can cause breathing and respiratory symptoms.
4. A: CFCs are responsible for ozone depletion. 13. A: PAN and O 3 are secondary pollutant.
R: Ozone level decreases by as much as 67% every R: These are formed by the reactions of primary
year. pollutants.
5. A: Due to pollution, atmospheric concentration of CO 2 14. A: Phaeophytization is the conversion of phaeophytin
is increasing which will be harmful for C 4 -plants into chlorophyll-a.
whereas productive for C 3 -plants. R: NO 2 causes phaeophytization.
R: C 4 -plants have greater efficiency for CO 2 as CO 2 is 15. A: Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) burns more
fixed by PEP-carboxylase. efficiently than petrol and diesel.
6. A: Amount of organic biodegradable compounds present R: CNG is costlier than petrol and diesel.
in water is measured by the BOD of that water. 16. A: Both PAN and O 3 are oxidants.
R: During biodegradation of biodegradable R: PAN is chemically more stable than ozone.
compounds, O 2 is released by bacteria. 17. A: Both high SO 2 and PAN concentration inhibits
7. A: Algal blooms are formed in nutrient-less water. electron transport system (ETS) in plants.
R: Algal blooms in water turn it unfit for human R: Both SO 2 and PAN are secondary pollutants.
consumption but cause enormous growth of fish. 18. A: The biomagnification of DDT can cause decline in
8. A: SPM is an important pollutant released by diesel bird population like eagles and hawks.
vehicles. R: DDT causes thinning of egg shells by disturbing
R: Catalytic converters greatly reduce pollution calcium metabolism.
caused by automobiles. 19. A: The value of COD is higher than BOD for the same
9. A: Methane gas contribute to 20% of different sample of water.
components of greenhouse gases. R: Both COD and BOD are indicators of water quality.
R: Introduction of multi-point fuel injection engines in 20. A: The most effective green house gas is
automobiles has decreased methane content in the chlorofluorocarbons.
exhausts. R: The most abundant green house gas is CO 2 .
10. A: Ionizing radiations are harmful for the living
organisms.

Answers (Section-C)
1. (b) 2. (a) 3. (d) 4. (b) 5. (c) 6. (c) 7. (d) 8. (b) 9. (b) 10. (c)
11. (a) 12. (a) 13. (a) 14. (d) 15. (c) 16. (b) 17. (c) 18. (a) 19. (b) 20. (b)
 Environmental Issues 1269

Section-D : Brainstormer

1. Which of the following is incorrect for electrostatic (a) A = (iii), B = (i), C = (iv), D = (ii)
precipitator? (b) A = (iii), B = (i), C = (ii), D = (iv)
(a) The velocity of contaminated air between the (c) A = (ii), B = (i), C = (iii), D = (iv)
plates must be high (d) A = (i), B = (ii), C = (iv), D = (iii)
(b) It can remove over 99% particulate matter present 5. Excess water logged condition in agricultural field
in the exhaust from a thermal power plant leads to :
(c) The electrons are made to attach to the dust (a) Poor aeration along with high salinity
particles (b) Poor aeration along with low salinity
(d) The collection plates are grounded (c) Good aeration along with low salinity
2. Read the following statements : (d) Good aeration along with high salinity
A. Pollution is caused by humans only. 6. Green house gases absorb :
B. Anthropogenic pollution is responsible for 99.95% (a) UV rays efficiently
of atmospheric pollution (b) Long-wave radiations emitted from earth
Choose the correct option : (c) Only short-wave radiations emitted from the earth
(a) A is correct and B is incorrect (d) Infra-red radiations only
(b) Both A and B are correct 7. ‘CO 2 fertilisation effect’ will benefit :
(c) A is incorrect and B is correct (a) C 3 plants
(d) Both A and B are incorrect (b) C 4 plants
3. Read the following statements : (c) CAM plants
(i) The Air Prevention and Control Act was
(d) Neither C 3 nor C 4 plants
amended in the year 1981 to include noise as
air-pollutant 8. The events that occur during eutrophication is
(ii) The sound level, 150 dB poses no harm to provided below :
human ear (i) Depletion of dissolved oxygen (DO)
(iii) CNG is cheaper than petrol/diesel (ii) A pond receives excess phosphate and nitrate
(iv) The ‘Bharat Stage’ norms are undertaken to (iii) Excessive growth of algae
reduce vehicular sound pollution (iv) Aerobic bacteria oxidise the dead/decayed algal
(v) Bioaccumulation is the accumulation of a matter
pollutant in the organism at a trophic level Arrange the events in correct order :
Which of the above statements are correct ? (a) (i) ® (iv) ® (ii) ® (iii)
(a) (i), (ii), (iii) (b) (ii) ® (iv) ® (iii) ® (i)
(b) (iii), (v) (c) (iii) ® (i) ® (iv) ® (ii)
(c) (iv), (v) (d) (ii) ® (iii) ® (iv) ® (i)
(d) (iii), (iv), (v) 9. The Joint Forest Management (JFM) introduced by the
4. Match column-I with column-II : Govt. of India in 1980s is for the :
(a) Conservation of forest in a sustainable manner
Column-I Column-II
(b) Exclusion of participation of local communities
A. The Earth Summit (i) Mitigate climatic (c) Exclusion of distribution of forest products
change
(d) Conservation of forest in a sustainable manner
B. Kyoto Protocol (ii) Protection of
without the support of local communities
wetlands
C. Montreal Protocol (iii) Conservation of
10. Read the following statements :
Biodiversity (i) BOD is a method used to indicate the excessive
D. Ramsar Convention (iv) Protection of level of non-biodegradable pollutant in water
stratospheric ozone (ii) Photochemical smog differs from London or
classical smog in producing an oxidising
atmosphere
1270 NCERT Biology Booster

(iii) EcoSan toilets is a hygienic and efficient method How many of the above statements are incorrect ?
for human waste disposal (a) Four (b) Three
(iv) Deforestation results in decreased CO 2 (c) One (d) Two
concentration in the atmosphere
(v) Good ozone is found in the lower atmosphere
(troposphere)

Answers (Section-D)
1. (a) 2. (d) 3. () 4. (a) 5. (a) 6. (b) 7. (a) 8. (d) 9. (a) 10. (b)
 Environmental Issues 1271

Section-E : Latest Previous Years Questions

1. Match the columns : 8. Which one causes degradation of RBC?

(a) Hydrocarbons
Column-I Column-II
(b) Sulphur compounds
A. Nitrous oxide (i) Secondary pollutant
from car exhausts
(c) Ammonia
B. Chlorofluorocarbons (ii) Combustion of fossil (d) Arsenic compounds
fuels 9. Freon gas causing stratosphere O 3 depletion is mainly
C. Methane (iii) Denitrification released from:
D. Ozone (iv) Refrigerators aerosols (a) Refrigerators
sprays (b) Automobiles
E. Carbon dioxide (v) Cattle rice fields toilets (c) Thermal power plants
(a) A = (ii), B = (iv), C = (v), D = (i), E =(ii) (d) Steel industry
(b) A = (v), B = (i), C = (iii), D = (iv), E =(ii) 10. Eutrophication is excess growth of:
(c) A = (iv), B = (v), C = (i), D = (ii), E =(iii) (a) Bryophytes
(d) A = (i), B = (iii), C = (iv), D = (iv), E =(ii) (b) Algae and aquatic plants
2. Anthracosis is caused by: (c) Gymnosperms
(a) Iron dust (b) Coal dust (d) Pteridophytes
(c) Cane fibre (d) Silica 11. Cause of decline in population of reptiles and birds is:
3. Which is correct ascending arrangement of BOD of (a) Bioinsecticides (b) Biofertilizers
sewage (S) distillery effluent (DE), paper mill effluent (c) DDT (d) Both (a) and (b)
(PE) and sugar mill effluent (SE): 12. World Summit on Sustainable Development (2002)
(a) SE< PE< S< DE was held in:
(b) PE< S < SE < DE (a) South Africa (b) Brazil
(c) S< DE< PE< SE (c) Argentina (d) Sweden
(d) SE < S < PE < DE 13. A lake near a village suffered heavy mortality of fish
4. Ozone is passed through swimming pool because it: within a span of a few days. The possible reasons are:
(a) Absorbs UV radiations A. Lots of urea and phosphate fertilizers were used in
(b) Acts as disinfectant nearby crops
(c) Is easily available from O 2 B. The area was sprayed with DDT by an aircraft
(d) All of the above C. Lake water turned green and stinky
5. Eutrophication of water bodies leading to killing of D. Phytoplankton population declined reducing
fishes is mainly due to: photosynthesis
(a) Non availability of oxygen (a) A, B (b) A, C
(b) Non-availability of light (c) B, C (d) C, D
(c) Non-availability of food 14. According to Central Pollution Control Board, air
(d) Non-availability of essential minerals pollutants responsible for great harm have a size (in
6. Photochemical smog does not contain: mm) of :
(a) PAN (b) Ozone (a) 1.0 or less (b) 1.5 or lens
(c) Nitrogen dioxide (d) SO 2 (c) 2.5 or less (d) 5.2 – 2.5
7. What is relative contribution of CO 2 , CH 4 , CFC and N 2 O 15. If global warming continues, organism facing severe
to global warming ? threat is:
(a) 20%, 14%, 60%, 6% (a) Banana (b) Dolphin
(b) l4%, 6%, 20%, 60% (c) Cow (d) Snow Leopard
(c) 60%, 20%, 14%, 6% 16. The first biocide used on a large scale was:
(d) 6%, 14%, 20%, 60% (a) Bordeaux mixture
(b) DDT
 1272 NCERT Biology Booster

(c) Thurioside (c) Kyoto Protocol

(d) Benzene hexachloride (d) Montreal Protocol
17. Which is not an air pollutant? 25. In human body chlorinated hydrocarbon accumulate
(a) Phosphate (b) Hydrocarbons in:
(c) Pollen grains (d) Carbon monoxide (a) Bones (b) Brain
(e) Sulphur dioxide (c) Fatty tissue (d) Skin
18. What are correct? 26. The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution). Act was
A. Benzene hexachloride is non-biodegradable amended in 1987 to include one of the following as
pollutant pollutant:
B. Anthropogenic air pollutants are natural in origin (a) Dust (b) Noise
C. Carbon monoxide is primary air pollutant (c) Water (d) None of these
D. SO 2 causes brown air effect during traffic 27. Biomagnification is highest in:
congestion in cities. (a) Primary consumers
(a) A, B (b) A, C (b) Secondary consumers
(c) B, C (d) B, D (c) Producers
19. UNEP stands for: (d) Decomposers
(a) United Nations Ecotype Programme 28. Increase in concentration of a toxicant at successive
(b) United Nations Ecological Programme trophic levels is called:
(c) United Nations Education Programme (a) Algal bloom
(d) United Nations Environment Programme (b) Biomagnification
20. Pesticides are considered as hazardous because they: (c) Eutrophication
(a) Persist in environment (d) Accelerated eutrophication
(b) Do not enter food chain 29. Biomagnification of DDT causes decline in bird
(c) Affect target organism only population by:
(d) Do not kill natural enemy populations (a) Bringing disturbance in calcium metabolism
21. Maximum ozone depletion is caused by: (b) Thining of egg shell
(a) CO 2 (b) CFC (c) Premature breaking of eggs
(c) SO 2 (d) CH 4 (d) All of the above
22. Steps taken by government of India in controlling air 30. Appropriate measures to reduce overall green house
pollution are: gas emissions are commitments of:
(a) Compulsory mixing of 20 % ethyl alcohol in petrol (a) Kyoto Protocol
and 20% biodiesel in diesel (b) Montreal Protocol
(b) Use of CNG as fuel by buses and trucks (c) Environment Act
(c) Compulsory PUC certification of petrol (d) Earth Summit
driven vehicles which tests for CO and 31. The two gases making highest relative contribution to
hydrocarbons the green house gases are:
(d) Permission to use only pure diesel with a maximum (a) CH 4 and N 2O (b) CFCs and N 2O
500 ppm sulphur (c) CO 2 and NO 2 (d) CO 2 and CH 4
23. DDT residues are rapidly passed through food chain as 32. An indicator species of polluted waters is :
DDT is: (a) Tubifex
(a) Water soluble (b) Phytoplankton
(b) Moderately toxic (c) Zooplankton
(c) Liposoluble (d) Prawn
(d) Nontoxic to aquatic animals 33. Most toxic product of vehicle pollution had been:
24. Global agreement to reduce release of ODS is: (a) Pb (b) CO 2
(a) Vienna Convention (c) CO (d) NO x
(b) Rio de Janeiro Conference
 Environmental Issues 1273

34. Most harmful pesticide is: 43. If a water body is contaminated with toxicant, its
(a) 2,4-D (b) 2,4,5-T biomagnification will be more marked in:
(c) DDT (d) PAN (a) Plankton (b) Small fish
35. Which year, Air (Prevention and control of pollution) (c) Birds (d) Water
Act was amended to include noise as an air pollutant? 44. Carbon dioxide is called as green house gas because:
(a) 1972 (b) 1981 (a) It emits light
(c) 1987 (d) 1990 (b) It traps infra red radiations
36. Calcium metabolism in birds gets disturbed due to (c) It traps ultraviolet radiations
effect of: (d) It is involved in photosynthesis
(a) Mercury (b) Cadmium 45. Cattle ranches cause acute green house effect because
(c) DDT (d) Lead of:
37. Match the items of Column I and Column II and select (a) Methanogenic bacteria in rumen
the correct combinations: (b) Mechanised milking practices
Column-I Column-II
(c) Decomposition of organic remains in faeces
(d) Decomposition of left over fodder
A. Electrostatic (i) Removes gases like
precipitator SO 2 46. Select the correct statement about particulate matter:
B. Scrubber (ii) Reduces automobile (a) 10 mm size creates, severe lung damage
emission (b) More than 2.5 mm gets trapped in lungs and causes
C. Catalytic converter (iii) Removes particulate problems
matter (c) Less than 2.5 mm penetrates deep into lungs
(a) A = (ii), B = (iii), C = (i) (d) None of the above
(b) A = (iii), B = (ii), C = (i) 47. Slash and burn agriculture is:
(c) A = (i), B = (ii), C = (iii) (a) Organic farming
(d) A = (iii), B = (i), C = (ii) (b) Step farming
38. At present the concentration of atmospheric CO 2 is: (c) Crop rotation
(a) 100 ppm (b) 240 ppm (d) Jhum cultivation
(c) 380 ppm (d) 520 ppm 48. UV radiations, cause:
39. Eutrophication is often seen in: (a) Formation of thymine dimers
(a) Oceans (b) Mountains (d) Addition of base pairs
(c) Deserts (d) Fresh water lakes (c) Deletion of base pairs
40. In vehicles, catalytic converter are used to: (d) Methylation of bases
(a) Increase mileage 49. The highest amount of CO 2 is evolved from:
(b) Convert CO 2 to carbonates (a) Oceans (b) Rivers
(c) Increase efficiency of lead petrol (c) Ponds (d) Forests
(d) Convert CO to CO 2 50. O 3 in ozone layer is formed by action of :
41. In an area where DDT has been used extensively, bird (a) IR radiation (b) Blue radiation
population declined because : (c) UV radiation (d) Other radiation
(a) Birds stopped laying eggs 51. Which is always present in photochemical smog?
(b) Earthworms disappeared (a) O 3 (b) CO 2
(c) Cobras started feeding on birds (c) CH 4 (d) SO 2
(d) Many bird eggs did not hatch 52. In a polluted environment, maximum pollution will
42. Which greenhouse gas contributes 20 % of global occur in:
warming? (a) Primary producers
(a) Methane (b) N 2O (b) Tertiary consumers
(c) CFCs (d) CO 2 (c) Secondary consumers
(d) Primary consumers
 1274 NCERT Biology Booster

53. Kyoto protocol was endorsed at: (a) 50 in deep

(a) CoP-4 (b) CoP-3 (b) 100 m deep below ocean bed
(c) CoP-5 (d) CoP-5 (c) 75 m deep
54. The Air Prevention and Control of Pollution Act came (d) 500 m deep
into force in: 62. Thickness of ozone in column of air from ground to top
(a) 1990 (b) 1975 of atmosphere is measured in terms of:
(c) 1981 (d) 1955 (a) Decibel units (b) Pascal units
55. Global warming can be controlled by: (c) Svedberg units (d) Dobson units
(a) Increasing deforestation, reducing efficiency of 63. A citizen group called ‘Friends of Arcata Marsh’
energy use (FOAM) belongs to:
(b) Reducing deforestation, cutting down use of fossil (a) Germany (b) USA
fuel (c) Canada (d) UK
(c) Reducing deforestation, increasing use of fossil 64. The prime contaminants in the lakes eutrophied by
fuel sewage and agricultural wastes are:
(d) Increasing deforestation, slowing down the growth (a) Sulphates and phosphates
of human population (b) Nitrates and sulphates
56. Which is not correct about harmful effect of SPM of 2.5 (c) Nitrates and phosphates
mm or less? (d) Nitrates and carbonates
(a) It can directly enter our circulatory system 65. Water Hyacinth is termed as ‘terror of Bengal’. It causes
(b) It can cause inflammation and damage to the lungs death of fish because it:
(c) It can be inhaled into lungs (a) Covers water surface and inhibits sunlight to pass
(d) It can cause respiratory problems through
57. The second commitment period for Kyoto Protocol was (b) Drains oxygen from water that causes oxygen
decided at: deficiency
(a) Bali (b) Doha (c) Absorbs nutrients from water that causes
(c) Cancun (d) Durban malnutrition
58. Biochemical oxygen demand measures: (d) Releases CO 2 in huge amount which is lethal to
(a) Industrial pollution fish.
(b) Air pollution 66. With rise of water temperature, dissolved oxygen:
(c) Dissolved oxygen required for decomposers (a) Remains unchanged
(d) Pollution capacity of effluents (b) Increases in amount
59. Knock-Knee syndrome results due to pollution of: (c) Decreases in amount
(a) Heavy metals (b) Fluorides (d) Is more available to aquatic organisms
(c) Nitrates (d) Phosphates 67. “Kyoto Protocol” is a multinational treaty for :
60. A large quantity of urban sewage is drained to a nearby (a) Phasing out green house gases
river. Which among the given conditions would happen (b) Controlling ozone destroying substances
after mixing of sewage into the river? (c) Management of hazardous wastes
(i) BOD of receiving water body increases (d) Conservation of biodiversity
(ii) DO of receiving water body decreases 68. Main cause of eutrophication is:
(ii) It will not cause mortality among fishes and other (a) Fluctuation of temperature
aquatic creatures (b) Unusual growth of aquatic vegetation
(iv) It will lead to nutrient enrichment of receiving (c) Enrichment of nutrients
water body (d) Abundance of microorganisms
(a) (i), (ii) and (iii) (b) (i), (ii) and (iv) 69. If there was no CO 2 in the earth’s atmosphere the
(c) (ii) and (iii) (d) (iii) and (iv) temperature of the earth’s surface would be:
61. It has been recommended that storage of nuclear waste (a) Same as the present level
after sufficient pretreatment should be done in suitably (b) More than the present level
shielded containers buried within rocks about:
 Environmental Issues 1275

(c) Less than the present level 77. Relationship between DO and BOD is that they :
(d) Dependent on O 2 content of atmosphere (a) Are directly proportional
70. Which of the following statements does not apply to (b) Are inversely proportional
eutrophication ? (c) Are not related
(a) It is natural ageing of a lake by nutrient enrichment (d) Always remain equal to each other
of its water 78. Match column-I with column-II :
(b) In a young lake the water is cold and clear and
Column-I Column-II
supports less life
(c) The nutrients such as sulphur and phosphorus A. Pollen grains (i) Photochemical smog
encourage the growth of aquatic organisms in the B. PAN (ii) Particulate pollution
lake C. CO 2 (iii) Global warming
(d) Pollutants released by man radically accelerate the D. Cadmium (iv) Itai-itai disease
ageing process of a lake
(a) A = (ii), B = (i), C = (iii), D = (iv)
71. A scrubber in the exhaust of a chemical industrial plant
(b) A = (iv), B = (ii), C = (i), D = (iii)
removes:
(c) A = (i), B = (ii), C = (iii), D = (iv)
(a) Particulate matter of the size of 5.0 micrometre or
above (d) A = (iii), B = (i), C = (ii), D = (iv)
(b) Gases like ozone and methane 79. Select the correct statement(s) pertaining to Chipko
movement :
(c) Particulate matter of the size of 2.5 micrometre or
less (a) It was led by Sunder Lal Bahuguna in the
Tehri-Garhwal district
(d) Gases like sulphur dioxide
(b) It was tree hugging movement
72. The UN conference of parties on climate change in the
year 2011 was held in : (c) It received global attention on environment
protection
(a) Qatar (b) Poland
(d) All are correct
(c) South Africa (d) Peru
80. Select the non-degradable pollutant(s) from the
73. Rachel Carson’s famous book “Silent Spring” is related
following :
to :
(a) Plastics (b) Organochlorine
(a) Ecosystem management
(c) Heavy metals (d) All of these
(b) Pesticide pollution
81. Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) may not be a good
(c) Noise pollution
index for pollution for water bodies receiving effluents
(d) Population explosion
from :
74. Which of the following is not one of the prime health
(a) Petroleum industry (b) Sugar industry
risk associated with the greater UV-radiation through
(c) Domestic sewage (d) Dairy industry
the atmospheric ozone ?
82. A lake which is rich in organic waste may result in :
(a) Increased liver cancer
(a) Increased population of fish due to lots of nutrients
(b) Increased skin cancer
(b) Mortality of fish due to lack of oxygen
(c) Reduced immune system
(c) Increased population of aquatic organisms due to
(d) Damage to eyes
minerals
75. Phenomenon involving increase in concentration of
(d) Drying of lake due to algal bloom
non-biodegradable pollutants from lower to higher
trophic levels is called : 83. Which one of the following statements is not valid for
aerosols ?
(a) Biomagnification (b) Bioaccumulation
(a) They alter rainfall and monsoon patterns
(c) Bioinvasion (d) Biodegradation
(b) They cause increased agricultural productivity
76. Which one of the following combinations is wrong ?
(c) They have negative impact on agricultural land
(a) Rio convention — Air pollution
(d) They are harmful to human health
(b) Kyoto protocol — Climate change
84. In stratosphere, which of the following element acts as
(c) Montreal protocol — Ozone depletion
a catalyst in degradation of ozone and release of
(d) Ramsar convention — Wetland conservation
molecular oxygen?
 1276 NCERT Biology Booster

(a) Carbon (b) Cl Column-I Column-II

(c) Fe (d) Oxygen A. Eutrophication (i) UV-B radiation
85. World Ozone Day is celebrated on :
B. Sanitary landfill (ii) Deforestation
(a) 5th June
C. Snow blindness (iii) Nutrient enrichment
(b) 21st April D. Jhum cultivation (iv) Waste disposal
(c) 16th September
(d) 22nd April (a) A = (ii), B = (i), C = (iii), D = (iv)
86. Which of the following is a secondary pollutant? (b) A = (i), B = (iii), C = (iv), D = (ii)
(a) CO (b) CO 2 (c) A = (iii), B = (iv), C = (i), D = (ii)
(c) SO 2 (d) O 3 (d) A = (i), B = (ii), C = (iv), D = (iii)
87. Match the items given in column-I with those in
column-II and select the correct option given below :

Answers (Section-E)

1. (a) 2. (b) 3. (b) 4. (b) 5. (a) 6. (d) 7. (c) 8. (d) 9. (a) 10. (b)
11. (c) 12. (a) 13. (b) 14. (c) 15. (d) 16. (b) 17. (a) 18. (b) 19. (d) 20. (a)
21. (b) 22. (c) 23. (c) 24. (d) 25. (c) 26. (b) 27. (b) 28. (b) 29. (d) 30. (a)
31. (d) 32. (a) 33. (a) 34. (c) 35. (c) 36. (c) 37. (d) 38. (c) 39. (d) 40. (d)
41. (d) 42. (a) 43. (c) 44. (b) 45. (c) 46. (c) 47. (d) 48. (a) 49. (a) 50. (c)
51. (a) 52. (b) 53. (b) 54. (c) 55. (b) 56. (a) 57. (b) 58. (c) 59. (b) 60. (b)
61. (d) 62. (d) 63. (b) 64. (c) 65. (b) 66. (c) 67. (a) 68. (c) 69. (c) 70. (b)
71. (d) 72. (c) 73. (b) 74. (a) 75. (a) 76. (a) 77. (b) 78. (a) 79. (d) 80. (d)
81. (a) 82. (b) 83. (b) 84. (b) 85. (c) 86. (d) 87. (c) .

Hints
Section-A
2. (d) Quantitative pollutants : These become
pollutant only when their concentration reaches
beyond a critical value in the environment, e. g .,
CO 2 , CO.
Qualitative pollutants : These pollutants are
passed through human activities and not normally
found in the environment e. g ., DDT
8. (b) Electrostatic precipitator can remove almost 99%
of particulate matter present in the exhaust of
thermal power plant.
10. (b) Noise more than 80 dB causes noise pollution.
In Green muffler scheme, trees are planted on
roadsides which act as sound absorbers/breakers
to reduce sound pollution.
15. (d) It is the diagram of scrubber.
18. (d) Los-Angeles smog : It is also called
photochemical smog. PAN, O 3 (secondary
pollutants) and NO x are important components. It
is formed at high temperatures.
19. (c) London-smog : It is also called classical smog.
H 2S and SO 2 are important components
(secondary pollutants are not present). It is
formed at low temperatures.
22. (a) It is the diagram of electrostatic precipitator.
24. (a) Automobiles are the major cause of atmospheric
pollution in the big or metro cities only.
27. (a) Both BOD and COD can measure the amount of
organic compounds in water. Chemical Oxygen
Demand (COD) is a measure of oxygen required
Section-B
2. (a) Particulate size 2.5 mm or less in diameter are
inhaled deep into the lungs and causes breathing
and respiratory symptoms, irration, inflammation
and damage to lungs.
3. (d) Styro foam is trademark brand of polystyrene
foam used for making insulation board.
Section-C
2. (a) Wetlands and rice fields are marshy areas where
methanogens are present in abundance.
6. (c) During biodegradation, O 2 is consumed by aerobic
bacteria.
Environmental Issues 1277
for the decomposition of organic matter and
decomposition of inorganic chemicals.
44. (b) Bharat stage emission norms is to reduce the
sulphur and aromatic content in petrol and diesel.
45. (a) Lead (Pb) causes neurological disorder in children
and cardiovascular defects in adults. Lead also
affects kidney function, immune system,
reproductive and development system.
50. (a) Nitrates from polluted water body gets reduced
into nitrites in the animal/human body. Nitrites
combine with haemoglobin which causes
Blue-baby syndrome/methaemoglobinemia. It
reduces the O 2 -carrying capacity of blood,
damages respiratory, vascular system and causes
suffocation.
53. (c) Incineration is aerobic combustion of solid
waste at high temperature.
Pyrolysis is anaerobic combustion of solid waste
at high temperatures.
58. (a) Ramesh Chandra Dagar, established the
integrated organic farming in Sonipat (Haryana).
61. (d) Bhopal gas tragedy occurred on 2nd December
1984, when the poisonous gas methyl isocyanate
(MIC) leaked from a pesticide plant of Union
Carbide factory. MIC becomes reactive on
combination with water.
73. (b) The forest cover recommendation for hills (67%)
is almost double than plains (33%) to prevent the
landslides in hilly region.
15. (a) Catalytic converter change unburnt hydrocarbons
into CO 2 and H 2O, carbon monoxide into CO 2 and
nitrogen oxides into N 2 .
18. (a) Hepatitis-B spreads through contact of
contaminated blood, semen or other body fluids.
19. (d) Phosphates and nitrates are good nutrients for
algae which causes algal bloom
14. (d) Phaeophytization is the conversion of
chlorophyll-a into phaeophytin. It is caused by
high SO 2 pollution.
 1278 NCERT Biology Booster

17. (c) SO 2 is primary pollutant whereas PAN is

secondary pollutant.

Section-D
1. (a) The velocity of the contaminated air between the 6. (b) Earth’s surface re-emits heat in the form of
plates must be low enough to allow the dust to fall. long-wave infra-red radiation which is absorbed
2. (d) Pollution can be natural as well as anthropogenic by greenhouse gases.
(man made). Natural pollution is responsible for 7. (a) ‘CO 2 fertilisation effect’ is the increase in
99.95% of atmospheric pollution whereas, atmospheric CO 2 concentration which will
anthropogenic pollution accounts only for 0.05% increase the productivity of C 3 plants.
of atmospheric pollution. 10. (b) (i), (iv) and (v) are incorrect.
3. (b) The statements (iii) and (v) are correct.
The Air Prevention and Control Act came into
force in 1981, and amended in 1987.
The sound level, 150 dB may damage ear-drum.
The ‘Bharat Stage’ norms have been undertaken to
check air pollution created by vehicles.