POLLUTION

POLLUTION

The term pollution refers to any change in the natural

quality of the environment brought about by chemical,
physical or biological factors.
Environmental pollution refers to any unfavourable
alteration of our surroundings wholly or largely as a by-
product of man’s actions
POLLUTANTS

Pollutants are the products which are released into the

biosphere in large quantities and which affect the normal
functioning of the ecosystem and have an adverse effect on
plants, animals and man.
TYPES OF POLLUTANTS

On the basis of degradation, pollutants are divided into two

categories:
i. Biodegradable pollutants: the pollutants which can be
degraded by biological or microbial actions are
biodegradable pollutants. Eg: sewage etc.
ii. Non-Biodegradable pollutants: the pollutants which
are not degraded by microbes or degrade at a slow rate
are non-biodegradable pollutants. Eg: glass, plastics,
pesticides etc.
On the basis of origin in environment, pollutants are
classified into two categories:
I. Primary pollutants: the pollutants that are directly
introduced by the sources in the environment are primary
pollutants. Eg:ash, smoke, dust, carbon di-oxide etc.
ii. Secondary pollutants: the pollutants formed by the
chemical reaction of primary pollutants in the
environment are secondary pollutants. Eg: nitrogen when
reacts with sun light forms peroxyacetyl nitrate which is
more harmful than primary pollutants.
On the basis of existence in nature, pollutants are divided
into two categories:
i. Quantitative pollutants: these exist in nature but they
act as pollutants when their concentration level increases
up to a critical level in the atmosphere. Eg: carbon
dioxide, nitrogen dioxide etc.
ii. Qualitative pollutants: these are not present in the
environment but are developed due to man’s activities. Eg:
pesticides, herbicides, chemical fertilizers etc.
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