SOCIAL ISSUES AND THE ENVIRONMENT

FROM UNSUSTAINABLE TO SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Sustainable Development definition: Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the
ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

In order to have sustainable development these conditions must be fulfilled.

 Population must be stabilized.

 Biodiversity must be conserved.

 Practice effective methods of pollution control for air, water and land.

 Recycling of wastes.

 Appropriate land use planning.

 Updating of environmental laws and practices.

 Slum development and sanitizing their environments.

 Greening of waste lands and marginal lands.

 Conservation of forests, woodlands, grasslands and croplands.

 Creation of environmental awareness and spreading environmental education.

The major goal of sustainable development is the conservation of natural resources in a wise manner
in order to prevent their depletion, but also on using them in a manner that will not degrade their
quality for future generation or major initiative at the international level to understand what the
meaning of sustainability was the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development
(UNCED) held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, which brought together governments of various countries
across the world. The principal outcome of the Rio conference was Agenda 21. This agenda
describes the actions necessary for progressing towards a sustainable society.

URBAN PROBLEMS RELATED TO ENERGY

Every technological achievement in human history has in a major way, been a result of an increasing
ability to harness energy, convert it to useful forms and put it to various uses. Energy is required for
all domestic and industrial activities. Earlier wood and coal were prime sources of energy. Although
electric power is used now-a-days to fulfill the energy needs, there is a lot of gap in the demand and
supply causing energy crisis to emerge as a serious problem.

Cities are the main centers of economic growth, trade education and employment. Since the dawn of
the industrial era almost two centuries ago, cities have shown a rapid growth in population,
industrialization resulting in higher energy demands.
The energy requirements in urban areas are many higher than that in rural areas.

 Activities that require greater energy (industries, institutions, transportation, etc) remain
concentrated in urban areas. The energy demand in urban areas is mainly for cooking,
transportation, water supply, medical and health care facilities, pollution control technologies
etc.

 People in urban areas have a high standard of living and demand more energy for their
comfortable life styles. The home appliances such as televisions, monitors, washing
machines, heaters, geysers, etc are commonly used by the people in cities and with a rapid
increase in population in these areas, the demand is also considerably increasing.

WATER CONSERVATION

Rain Water Harvesting

Definition: Collecting rain water on the roof of buildings or courtyards and storing it
underground to be used later on.
Rain water harvesting can be done by constructing special structures such as dug wells, percolation
pits, lagoons, check dams, tanks.
Water shed Management

Definition: It is a delineated area with a well-defined topographic boundary and one water outlet.

S. Rain water Harvesting Water shed Management

No
1. Collection of rain water and storing it It is a land area from which water flows under
underground for later use. gravity to a common water channel.
2. To raise the water table by recharging Minimizing soil erosion and moisture retention so
ground water. as to ensure good productivity of land.
3. It helps in minimizing ground water It reduces surface water pollution.
pollution.
4. It avoids flooding of roads meets the It minimizes the risk of floods, droughts and
increasing demand of water. landslides.
5. It fulfills the demand of water in It manages activities like domestic water supply,
domestic, agriculture and industry. irrigation, hydropower generation.
6. It raises the water table by recharging Social and economic development of rural areas.
the ground water.

Rain water Harvesting:

Rapid industrialization, urbanization and intensive agricultural practices have increased the demand
for water and caused severe depletion of ground water. Harvesting rain water by adopting suitable
methods revives the hope of recharging of underground water. Traditional water harvesting
techniques include kunds of Rajasthan, tanks in Gujarat and temple ponds.
Few examples of water recharging and its benefits:
1. In Maharashtra there was a severe drought in 1971-72. After about 700 percolation tanks
were built to overcome the problem of drought and convert them into green fields.
2. Gramin Vigyan Vikas Samiti built about 2000storage tanks in 25 villages in the houses of
the residents of Jodhpur district of Rajasthan after motivating them. These tanks are lined
with lime and alum that keep the stored water fresh for 4-5 months. For this work Rajinder
singh was awarded ‘Megasaysay award’.
3. In Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi campus students constructed rainwater harvesting
system to raise the ground water from 0.1 to 1.0 meter.
Water shed Management

Proper utilization of land and water resources for optimum production without damaging the natural
resources is known as water shed management. It is a holistic approach. It includes soil and moisture
conservation, afforestation, water harvesting, horticulture grassland development and increases soil
fertility. It enhances the water table by increasing the soil moisture retention. Water shed
management utilizes the natural resources for sustainable agricultural practices with a view to
improve rural economy of the region and socio-economic conditions of rural people. Above all,
watershed management helps to ensure ecological balance.

RESETTLEMENT AND REHABILITATION OF PEOPLE: PROBLEMS AND CONCERNS.

In the process of development over exploitation of natural resources, generally occurs many
developmental projects, displace the native people which effects the economic and psychological
distress to the local community.

Displacement due to dams:

Many large dams construction made a serious impact on the displacement of the people. These
people lost their ancestral home, tradition, profession or occupation. The Hirakund dam displaced
more than 20,000 people and the problem is not solved yet. Similar incidence took place for
Bhakranagal dam, Tehri dam where people have not been rehabilitated.

Displacement due to mining:

Mining is another cause for the displacement of the people. Several hectares of land are covered in
mining operations and native people are force to leave that area. Jharia coal fields of Jharkhand are a
big issue for the displacement of the people.

Displacement due to National parks:

A major portion of the forest is declared as a core area where the entry of local dwellers or tribals is
prohibited. In this case a tribal people need to look into their own problems and they have to search
for some employment. Some incidents took place in Valmiki Tiger Reserve (Bihar) where people
opted for illegal works like logging and poaching as they were felt cheated by the government due to
not getting the compensation. The Wayanad wildlife sanctuary 53,000 tribal families were displaced.
By 2003, 843 families could get compensation, remaining people in distress they start digging the
wells and constructed huts in the forest which resulted into the conflict between forest officials and
tribal people ultimately causing deaths to the people.

To avoid rehabilitation problems the following measures would be taken:

 Proper cash compensation should be reached to concerned people.
 With the help of NGO’s their mindset up should be prepared before displacement.
 Break-up of families is a common factor during displacement that should be avoided by
proper education.
 The tribal should get aware regarding market policies and trends and proper utilization of
given compensation.
 They should be encouraged in such a way that their social and cultural functions. Their folk
songs and dances should not be vanished with their displacement.
Geographical Information System

A GIS integrates spatial and other kinds of information within a single system to provide a
consistent framework for analyzing geographic (spatial) data. A GIS makes connections between
activities based on geographic proximity.
The digital data structure can be conceptualized as a set of “floating electronic maps” with a
common registration allowing the used to “look” down (drill down) and across the stack of maps.
The spatial relationships can be summarized (data base inquiries)

Scope Of GIS
An information system has a full range of
functions to find:
 Hospitals & Health care Centers
 Schools, Colleges & Edu. Campus
 Hotels, Restaurants
 Banks , ATMs
 Govt. Offices, Police Stations
 Railway Stations, Bus Stations, etc.

Advantages
With help of GIS, we can easily analyze and identify the
Expected location.
Easy to Use
General purpose solving application.
Allocates the map (How to reach).
Estimate the Availability of end user (visiting office).
Requirement Specification
Client
Software Requirements:
Operating System: Windows XP or higher
Web browser: Internet Explorer 6.0 or higher
Hardware Requirements:
Processor: P IV or higher
RAM: 512MB

 User can print and save the image of the required map.
 User can view different parameters of particular area.
 User can get path from source to destination.
 GIS will also provide working hours
Remote sensing is the acquisition of information about an object or phenomenon without making
physical contact with the object and thus in contrast to on-site observation. Remote sensing is used
in numerous fields, including geography, land surveying and most Earth Science disciplines (for
example, hydrology, ecology , oceanography, glaciology, geology); it also has military, intelligence,
commercial, economic, planning, and humanitarian applications.
In current usage, the term "remote sensing" generally refers to the use of satellite- or aircraft-based
sensor technologies to detect and classify objects on Earth, including on the surface and in
the atmosphere and oceans, based on propagated signals (e.g. electromagnetic radiation). It may be
split into "active" remote sensing (i.e., when a signal is emitted by a satellite or aircraft and its
reflection by the object is detected by the sensor) and "passive" remote sensing (i.e., when the
reflection of sunlight is detected by the sensor.

S.No. Remote Sensing

1   It is a surveying and data collection technique
2 It can retrieve large amounts of data
3 It reduces manual field work dramatically
4 It allows retrieval of data in regions difficult or impossible to access
5 It allows collection of more data in a short period of time
6 Mostly use in data collection
7 Has a more complex user interface
8 It covers a limited study area at a time
9 Less robust
10 Less ideal for communicating information between departments
Geographical Information System
1 It is a computer system consisting of hardware and software
2  It can cope with larger amounts of data
3 It can cover large study areas
4 It can cope with unlimited and frequent data edits
 5 More robust and resistant to damage
6 Faster and more efficient
7 It requires less person, time and money
8 Mostly used for data analysis
9 Has a more simplified user interface
10 Is an ideal tool for communication between different departments

Remote Sensing and Geographical information System

Gives the information about physical and biological resources also degree of degradation

1. Conservation of biodiversity
2. Species monitoring

3. Site selection

4. Disaster management

5. Soil Resources

6. Water resources

Green building concept

Definition: A Green Building is one which uses less water, optimizes energy efficiency, conserves
natural resources, generates less waste and provides healthier space for occupants as compared to
conventional buildings.
Objectives: Green Buildings are designed to reduce the overall impact on human health and the
natural environment by the following ways

1. Using energy, water and other resources efficiently.

2. By reducing waste, pollution, and environmental degradation.

Principles:

1. Structure Efficiency: It is the concept of sustainable building and has largest impact on cost
and performance. It aims to minimize the environment impact associated with all life-cycles.
2. Energy Efficiency: The layout of the construction can be planned so that natural light pours
for additional warmth. Shading the roof with trees offers an eco-friendly alternative to air
conditioning.

3. Water Efficiency: To minimize water consumption one should aim to use the water which
has been collected, used, purified and reused.

4. Material Efficiency: Materials should be use that can be recycled and can generate surplus
amount of energy. An example of this are solar power panels, not only they provide lightening but
they are also a useful energy source. 
5. Waste And Reduction: It is probable to reuse resources. What may be waste to us may have
another benefit to something else.

Indian Green Building Council:

The Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) was formed in the year 2001 by Confederation of
Indian Industry (CII). The aim of the council is to bring green building movement in India and
facilitate India to become one of the global leaders in green buildings by 2015.
Example: Rajiv Gandhi International Airport Hyderabad:
India‟s first Greenfield airport is undeniably among the top 10 green buildings in India. First airport
in asia to be certified with „SILVER‟ rating.
This green building ensures optimal use of natural light and minimal wastage of electricity or energy
consumption.
Environmental Impact Assessment

 EIA is a procedure to plant any developmental activity with well defined environmental
goals so that damage due to activity both during developmental stage and production stage
have minimum impact on environment.
 NEPA, USA in 1969 - guidelines for EIA through council of Environmental Quality (CEQ)

 India – 1969 Gazette notification of EIA was issued

Objectives

1. Provide Healthy environment for present and future generations

2. To preserve historical, cultural, natural heritages

3. To achieve balance BW population and resources

4. To achieve sustainable development with minimum Env degredation

1. Screening: Resereve Forest, Coastal Regulatory zone developmental activities are not
allowed.
2. Scoping: Rapid EIA – requires single season data or Comprehensive EIA - Detailed
seasonal data
3. Baseline data: Overall environmental setting of the project locations includes Site location
and topography, Regional demography (Population within 10 50 km radius), Historical/
cultural heritage, Geology (soil type), Hydrology 9water resources), Meteorological (Temp,
Rainfall, wind speed and direction, storms) Ecology (Flora and Fauna). Data collected by
Primary methods (Actual visit to site and study parameters by) Secondary methods (Various
Organizations and boards), use of GIS and Remote Sensing.
4. Impact identification: Identification of full range of environmental impacts (Positive,
Negative, Direct or indirect)
5. Impact Prediction: Magnitude and Changes are going to occur due to project are predicted
by mathematical models.
6. . Impact evaluation: Long term effects and side effects of project are evaluated Ex. Loss of
Rare species, degradation of lake.
 7. 7. Mitigation Measures: On the above data mitigation measures are suggested to avoid,
reduce or rectify the adverse change.
8. 8. Decisions analysis: Public participation by arranging group discussion or giving
questionnaire method to arrive a decision about project.
9. 9. Environmental Impact statement (EIR): Final EIS is prepared in specified format
provide by MoEF based on data obtained and review suggestions.
10. 10. Environmental Audit: Compares the impacts in EIS before the project and actual
impacts after implementation of project

Environmental Management Plan: After impact prediction and evaluation an EMP is prepared to
minimize the negative impacts and increase the positive impacts, restore the damages done to
different env components. A comprehensive mitigation measures and future guidelines for
maintenance of good quality env.
1. Technological Solutions: Selection of appropriate technology - Cleaner Technology,
Recovery and Recycling technologies, appropriate raw materials.
2. Preventive Methods: a) Loss of biodiversity due to project minimized by migrating of such
species to nearby afforested area, b) To prevent the loss of soil fertility, layer by layer
dumping of the soil is done during digging, which can be restored later, c) Adverse
visual/esthetic impact can be prevented sensitive building design with proper colour
matching and plantation of trees
 3. Control Methods: Particulate matter can be controlled by using cyclone separators, bag house
filters, wet scrubbers and Electrostatic precipitators. Boundary walls around stone crushing
units, use of frequent water spray to stop the migration of particulate matter.
4. Treatment Methods: Primary, Secondary, Tertiary methods
5. Green Belt development: Green belt around development sites – absorbs toxic gases, noise –
selection of species based on soil type and climate – higher capacity to tolerate and absorb
toxic pollutants. Succulent and broad leaved tress show greater Air Pollution Tolerance
Index( APTI)

ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS
Environmental ethics refers to the issues, principles and guidelines relating to human interactions
with their environment. The new environmental ethics give as much importance to revitalizing
growth as they do to sustainability that is to developmental processes that last. Sustainability
requires at least a constant stock of natural capital constructed as the set of all environmental assets.

S. No Anthropogenic world view Eco-centric world view

1. Man is the planet’s most important
species and is the in-charge of the rest of
nature.
2. Earth has an unlimited supply of
resources and it all belongs to us.
3. Economic growth is very good and more
the growth the better it is, because it
raises our quality of life.
4. A healthy environment depends upon a
healthy economy.
5. The success of mankind depends upon
how good managers we are for deriving
benefits for us from nature.
Nature exists not for human beings alone but for all
the species.
The earth resources are limited and they do not
belong only to human beings.
Economic growth is good till it encourages earth
sustaining development and discourages earth-
degrading development.
A healthy economy depends on a healthy
environment.
A success of mankind depends upon how best we
can cooperate with the rest of the nature while
trying to use the resource of nature for our benefit.

Some of the ethical guidelines on environmental protection are enlisted below:

1. The earth is the habitat of all living species and not of human beings alone.
2. Natural resources and energies are depleting fast. We must protect them.
3. Keep yourself informed about ecological changes and developments.
4. Involve yourself in the care of the earth and experience nature.
5. You should not run after gains at the cost of nature, rather should strive to restore its
damaged majesty.
6. Observe austerity, reserve scare resources for the future and the future generation.
7. Think of the global cause and act for local protection.
8. You should consume the material goods in moderate amounts so that all may share the
earth’s precious treasure of resources.

CLIMATE CHANGE

Climate is the average weather of an area. The intergovernmental panel on climate change (IPCC) in
1990-1992 published best available evidence about past climate change. Small changes in climatic
conditions may lead to migration of animals and disturb plant communities and humans.
Anthropogenic activities are upsetting the delicate balance that has established between various
components of the environment.
This may upset the hydrological cycle result in floods and droughts in different regions of the world.
The global change in temperature will be uniform everywhere and will fluctuate in different regions.
It will disturb the global pattern of winds and ocean currents as well as the timing and distribution of
rain fall. This disturbs global hydrological cycle. The climate is changing due to global warming,
acid rains, ozone layer depletion and nuclear winter.

GLOBAL WARMING
The process of heating up of globe is called global warming. This phenomenon is similar to that of
green house or glass house in which glass roof allows solar radiation inside but prevents the escape
of the heat generated inside the green house. As a result inside temperature of the green house will
rise and allow tropical plants to grow on temperate soils without any discomfort.

Causes:
1. Carbon dioxide (CO2): It is an important green house gas and contributes about 55%. It stays
in the atmosphere for about 500 years. Prior to industrial revolution, the carbon dioxide
concentration in the earth’s atmosphere was 280 ppm and by 1994 it was 358 ppm with an
annual increase of 1.5 ppm. Fossil fuel burning, deforestation are contributors of carbon
dioxide.
2. Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs): It is responsible for 24% of the human contribution to green
house gases. The main source of CFCs include leaking air conditioners, refrigerators,
evaporation of industrial solvents, aerosols, production of plastic foams, propellants. It takes
10-15 years to reach the stratosphere and generally trap 1500 to 7000 times more heat per
molecule of the carbon dioxide. It stays for 65 to 110 years in the stratosphere. The
concentration of CFC is 0.00225 ppm and increasing at a rate of 0.5 % annually.
3. Methane (CH4): It is produced anaerobic ally through bacterial activity in bogs, moist places,
paddy fields, natural wetlands. Its concentration is around 1.675 ppm and increasing at a rate
of 1.1% annually. One molecule of methane is 25 times as effective as CO 2 molecule at
trapping heat, it contributes around 18% of the total global warming. It stays in the
troposphere for 7-10 years.
4. Nitrous oxide (N2O): This gas is produced through bacterial activity in the soil, from burning
of biomass and nitrogen rich fuels, from nylon products. Its concentration in the atmosphere
is 0.3 ppm and is rising at a rate of about 0.2% annually. One molecule of N 2O is 250 times
as effective as CO2 molecule at trapping heat.
Effects
1. Global temperature increases which makes the earth warmer.
2. It makes rise in sea level which makes serious flooding and submergence of low lying coastal
areas. The Netherlands, Maldives, Bangladesh, Egypt, India and China are some of the worst
victims of sea level rise.
3. Two of the Maldives islands were already vanished.
4. Experience of hotter summers.
5. Unexpected climate change, increased storms and floods.
6. Shift in rainfall patterns and consequent change in cropping patterns, reduced agricultural
production, drinking water shortage, famine, starvation and hunger deaths.
7. Spread of epidemics by favouring pests and pathogens eg: malaria, dengue.
8. Frequent dust storms and hurricanes are witnessed soil erosion losses will be accelerated.

Control Measures
1. Replace carbon fuels (fossil fuels and biomass) with hydrogen fuels and other clean energy
forms such as solar, wind and electric energy.
2. Increasing efficiency and practicing conservation can save 50% of energy.
3. Make every effort to slow the growth of the human population.
4. Shift from coal to natural gas.
5. Reduce beef production.
6. Efficiently remove carbon dioxide from stacks.
7. The tropical forests being phyotosynthetically active throughout the year are acting as
valuable sinks off atmospheric carbon dioxide.
8. Plant more trees.
9. Remove atmospheric carbon dioxide by utilizing photosynthetic algae.
10. Cut down the current rate of use of CFCs.
ACID RAINS
Acid rains are formed due to washed of oxides of sulphur and nitrogen from the atmosphere by the
rain. It is a by product of development and industry. Robert Angus Smith coined the term “Acid
Rain”. The acid properties are due to the presence of hydrogen ions (H+), which are highly reactive.
The higher the concentration of hydrogen ion the more acidic is the solution. The concentration of
hydrogen is measured in pH scale, which goes from 0 (highly acidic eg HCl) through 7 (neutral eg:
distill water) to 14 (highly basic e.g: sodium hydroxide).

Causes
Natural sources:
Nitric acid may be created by thunder storms and sulphuric acids are produced during volcanic
eruptions and forest fires.
Anthropogenic sources:
Sulphuric acid is released from power plants, smelters, heating of homes, incinerators and
automobiles and nitric acids from nuclear explosions power plants, automobiles.

Acid depositions are of two types: Dry deposition and wet deposition.
1) Dry deposition: Oxides of sulphur and nitrogen fall back directly to the ground around the point
of emission without delay as gases and aerosols. This is called dry deposition.
2) Wet deposition: Settling of acidic gases through precipitation in various forms of rain, snow, hail,
fog at a distance far from the emission sources is called wet deposition.

Effects:
 A majority of the fresh water organisms are adapted to a neutral pH in the range of 6 to 8.
The acidic pH affects the functions of enzymes, hormones, and other proteins in the bodies of
all living organisms.
 Several lakes in America, Sweden, Norway and Canada are now seen fishless because of acid
rains.
 Acid precipitation intercepted by tree foliage may lead to necrosis, chlorosis and leaching of
nutrients.
  Tree growth rate will be reduced
 Premature drop of leaves will take place.
 Soil biology and soil chemistry will be altered and cause damage to plant root system and
soil microbes will be destroyed.
 It causes deterioration of buildings especially made of marble e.g. monuments like Taj Mahal
crystals of calcium and magnesium sulphate are formed as a result of corrosion caused by
acid rain.
 It damages stone statues. Priceless stone statues in Greece and Italy have been partially
dissolved in acid rain.
 Due to acid rain it causes cracking flaking and crumbling of the surface of the stones.
 The dry deposition is responsible for the irritation and burning of eyes, nostrils and exposed
parts of body.
 Chronic respiratory problems of the urban environment.
 It damages metal and car finishes.

Control
1) Fuel desulphurization: Crushing and washing of coal reduces 8-15% of sulphur dioxide.
2) Fuel switching: It involves replacement of high sulphur fuels with low sulphur alternatives.
3) Lime injection multistage burning (LIMB): Through this 50% of sulphur dioxide and 30% of
nitrous oxide can be reduced.
4) Fluidized Bed Combustion (FBC): In this process coal, lime-stone and sand are washed and made
to boiling by subjecting them to air under pressure. In this process it is possible to remove SO 2 by
100% and NOx by 80%
5) Flue Gas Desulphurization (FGD): This will be taken up by using dry and wet scrubbers. Nearly
80 to 95% of SO2 is removed.
6) Catalytic converters: it reduces the generation of nitrogen oxides.
7) Liming of lakes and soils should be done to correct the adverse effects of acid rains.

OZONE LAYER DEPLETION

Ozone is a blue coloured triatomic allotrope of oxygen with a characteristic pungent smell. Christian
Schohnbein named it in 1839 as ‘ozone’ because of its peculiar smell. In the stratosphere ozone is
continuously being created by the absorption of short wave-length ultra violet radiations. Ultraviolet
radiations less than 242 nanometers decompose molecular oxygen into atomic oxygen by photolytic
decomposition.
O2 + hv = O + O
The atomic oxygen rapidly reacts with molecular oxygen to form ozone
O + O2 = O3
The most common unit to measure ozone is the Dobson unit (DU) which is named after the ozone
pioneer G.M.B.Dobson. The average thickness of ozone layer in tropics is 250 DU, temperate 350
DU, where as at sub polar regions it is on an average 450 DU.

Causes
 Cooling agents such as air conditioners, refrigerators, freezers and coolers release 30% of
CFCs.
 Aerosols include hair spray, deodorants, paints, insect repellents, fumigants liberates 25% of
chloroflourocarbons.
 Solvents such as woolen garments and electronic circuits release 20% of
chloroflourocarbons.
 Foaming agents include furniture and car seats, package materials, insulators, fast food
containers, polystyrene cups, shaving foams liberate 25 % of chloroflourocarbons.
Ozone depletion
In the stratosphere UV radiation breaks CFC molecule and releases chlorine atom.
UV + chlorofluorocarbon = Clº
Clº + O3 = ClO + O2
ClO + O = Cl + O
A single chlorine atom can destroy nearly 100000 molecules of ozone before it drifts down and
washed away.

Type of UV Wavelength Range Effect on % absorption of radiation by ozone

radiation (nm) life layer
UV-A 315-400 Harmless 0% absorbed (totally allowed to
earth)
UV-B 280-315 Harmful 95% absorbed (only 5% allowed to
earth)
UV-C 30-280 Lethal 100% absorbed

Effects
1. The ultra violet ‘B’ rays affect DNA, any change in DNA can result in mutation and cancer.
2. Easy absorption of UV rays by the lens and cornea of eye will result in increase in incidents
of cataract.
3. Melanin producing cells of the epidemics will be destroyed by UV-rays resulting in immuno-
suppression.
4. Crops like peas, beans, melons, cabbage, potato tomato, sugar beet, and radish are sensitive
and get damaged very easily.
5. Paints and fabrics will fade faster.
6. Ultraviolet radiation deep in aquatic water bodies effects phytoplanktons, shrimps, crabs, fish
etc.

Action to be taken
To save ozone layer
 Buy ozone friendly products.
 CFC should be recovered and recycled.
 Avoid disposable polystyrene tea cups.

To escape from UV radiation

 Stay away from sun between 10 am to 3 pm.
 Use wide hats.
 Cover body fully with thick cloths.
 Use UV filtered sunglasses.

NUCLEAR ACCIDENTS AND HOLOCAUST

Due to nuclear accidents or holocaust the combustion of wood, plastic, petroleum, forest etc takes
place. Large quantity of black soot will be carried to the stratosphere. Black soot will absorb solar
radiation and won’t allow the radiations to reach the earth. Therefore cooling will result. The
infrared radiations which are re-radiated from the atmosphere to the earth will have very less water
vapour and carbon dioxide to absorb them, so cooling will occur. Slowly the temperature decreases.
There will be reduction in the water evaporation. Due to sudden lowering temperature at a cost of
nuclear explosion is called Nuclear Winter. This phenomenon is opposite to global warming.
The Chernobyl nuclear accident, 1986 has resulted in wide spread contamination of radioactive
substance. It also affected many nations like Dresden, Germany, Norway, Sweden, and Netherlands.

The nuclear holocaust in Japan 1945 was dropped (atomic bombs) on Hiroshima and Nagasaki of
Japan. It has forceful explosion of trinitrotoluene (TNT) in which radioactive strontium replaces
calcium in bones. This resulted in bone deformities.