Unit 5- Environmental Pollution

Pollution
• Pollution is defined as any undesirable change
or alteration in the physico-chemical and
biological characteristics of air, water and soil
which can cause harmful effect on various
forms of life or property.
 Pollutants
• Substance that cause pollution are known as
pollutnats.

• Types
1. Biodegradable; eg organic waste
2. Slowly degradable/ persistent Pollutant; eg
pesticides, DDT, Plastic
3. Non-degradable pollutant; eg Metals- Pb, Hg, cd,
Co etc
 Environmental Pollution
• Air pollution
• Water pollution
• Soil Pollution
• Noise Pollution
• Thermal Pollution
• Radioactive pollution
 Air Pollution
• It is defined as the pollution caused by
anthropogenic and natural agents that
degrades the quality of air and having impact
on living and non-living systems.
 Atmosphere
Is the envelope of gases around earth surface
Atmosphere
• Troposphere
1. Extend upto 12-15Km
2. Weather phenomenon and human activities are
prominent
3. 75% of atmospheric gases are present in
troposphere
4. Lapse rate phenomena is observed- as height
increases temperature decreases by -6.5°C/km
5. End of troposphere is marked by Tropopause
• Stratosphere
1. Extend upto 12-50Km
2. Temperature is stable
3. Have ozone layer which protect from harmful
Ultra violet radiation.
4. Temperature increases after ozone layer as
UV rays are absorbed
5. End of Stratosphere is marked by Stratopause
• Mesosphere
1. Extend upto 50-80Km
2. Temperature decreases to about -100 to -
110°C
3. End of Mesosphere is marked by Mesopause
• Thermosphere
1. Begins at 80Km and extend upto hundreds of Km
2. Heat sphere- temperature is very high as UV and
X-rays are absorbed, reaches around 2000°C
3. It has further two layers Ionosphere (80-550km)
the gases absorb UV and X-rays and get charged
and turn into ions. The other is exhosphere
which run beyond 550km to outer space
 Types of Air Pollutants
• Based on Source:
1. Primary air pollutants: pollutants which are
directly released from their source into the
environment. Eg – SO2, NO2, Particulate
matter (PM), CO2.
2. Secondary air pollutants: Pollutants which are
formed by the reaction of primary pollutants.
Tropospheric O3, acid rain, PAN etc.
• Based on Chemical composition:
1. Organic pollutant: These are those which contain
carbon and hydrogen units. For example,
aldehyde (formaldehyde) and ketone (acetone).
2. Inorganic pollutant: These are those which are
having mixed formation of compounds and
doesn’t contain carbon and hydrogen units. For
example nitrogen oxide, sulphur dioxide etc.
• Based on state of matter:
1. Particulate pollutant: dust, aerosols, mist, soot etc
2. Gaseous pollutants: CO2, NO2, SO2

• Based on nature of the pollutant:

Qualitative Pollutant: It is a pollutant which is toxic by its
nature eg lead, arsenic etc
Quantitative Pollutant: The substance becomes pollutant
when it crosses the safe permissible limit. Eg CO2
 Sources of Air Pollution

• Natural Sources: Forest fire, volcanic eruption,

methane emission from marshy areas etc.
• Anthropogenic sources: emission of pollutants
by human activities.
Industrial activity
Vehicular emissions
Domestic activity
Agriculture crop burning
Types of air pollutants and their sources
Heavy metals Vehicular emission, Carcinogenic,
Ni, Pb, As smelters neurotoxic,
teratogenic
Air pollution and climatic condition

• Air pollution is affected by different

meteorological processes.
• Wind speed and direction- Dispersion of
pollutants
• Rain fall- Removal of pollutants from
atmosphere as they wash out along with rain,
Acid rain
• Temperature- Thermal Inversion
 Acid Rain

• What is the Normal pH of Rain??

 Acid Rain

• Acid rain, or acid deposition, is a broad term

that includes any form of precipitation with
acidic components, such as sulfuric or nitric
acid that fall to the ground from the
atmosphere in wet or dry forms. This can
include rain, snow, fog, hail or even dust that
is acidic.
 Cause of Acid Rain
• Increased concentration of SO2 and NO2
• Combustion of fossil fuel- Coal, Petroleum and
Natural gas.
• Vehicular emission
• Industrial processes – Smelters, Coal thermal
power plant etc
• Fertilizer industries
 Effects of Acid Rain

• Effect on soil:
1. Affect the Soil quality as high acidity releases toxic metals from the soil in
available form such as aluminium,
2. it also decreases the soil nutrient content.
• Effect on Plants:
1. As soil quality decreases it affects the growth of plant species. Acid rain leaches
aluminum from the soil.  That aluminum may be harmful to plants.
2. decolouration of plant leaves due to high acidity affect their process of
photosynthesis.
• Effect on animals:
1. Animal who are acid-sensitive will be lost as the pH declines.
2. at pH 5, most fish eggs cannot hatch. At lower pH levels, some adult fish die.
3. Animals are also affected by the increased availability of metal under acidic
conditions.
• Effect on material:
1. Acid rain corrode metal and cause paint and stone to deteriorate more quickly.
2. Acid rain corrode statues, buildings, and other manmade structures, and damage
their surfaces.
 Thermal Inversion

• Temperature inversion, also called thermal

inversions occurs is a reversal of the normal
tendency of the air to cool down with altitude, in
which a layer of cool air at the surface is overlain by
a layer of warmer air.
• It can be seen during Night time or in winter season
• Under this condition pollutants are trapped near
the ground and can have severe effect on humans
and environment.
 Smog
Smoke + Fog = SMOG

Smoke like Sox and NOx comes from

indutrial and vehicular emissions
And Fog consist of particles and water
vapour
 SMOG

Photochemical
Classical Smog
Smog

5. Less harmful More harmful as it releases secondary

pollutants like O3 and PAN
6. eg- First observed in London, 1952 Eg-First observed in Los Angeles, 1950
Reactions of photochemical Smog

HC: Hydrocarbon
PAN: Peroxy Acetyl Nitrate
 Effects of SMOG
• Smog can cause or aggravate health problems such as asthma,
emphysema, chronic bronchitis and other respiratory problems as
well as eye irritation
• Ozone can damage lung tissue, and it is especially dangerous to
people with respiratory illnesses like asthma. Ozone can also cause
itchy, burning eyes.
• ozone in smog also inhibits plant growth and can cause
widespread damage to crops and forests.
• PAN damage chloroplast, electron transport system, enzyme
function, parenchyma cells which result in bronzing and necrosis
of leaves.
• PAN also cause respiratory problems and eye irritation
 Control of Air Pollution

Various methods

Controlling
Pollution control Pollution control Making Law and
Pollution at
designs Technology Policy
Source
 Controlling Pollution at Source
• Industrial Source
1. Low-sulphur fuels should be encouraged to use to reduce
the emission of sulphur dioxide and reduction in benzene
in gasoline fuels (petrol) from 10% to 1% is implemented
as per central pollution control board norms.
2. Exhaust hoods are the latest modifications in industrial
ovens which have good efficiency to recover the solvents
3. Instruments are implemented to reduce the air pollutant
concentrations. like wet scrubber, cyclone separator,
electrostatic precipitator etc.
 Controlling Pollution at Source
• Vehicular Source
1. Eradication of Old Vintage Vehicles.
2. Catalytic converters are efficient devices fitted in engines of different set
of vehicles and plays an important role in converting noxious gases in to
less harmful gases through chemical reaction.
3. Improvement in quality of vehicular fuel which will reduce the tail-pipe
emissions
4. Unleaded petrol is recommended to use especially in Delhi to reduce
the lead emissions from gasoline fuels.
5. Alternative fuels should be used in place of gasoline fuels like CNG, LPG,
biodiesel, vegetable oils, ethanol etc to curb the emission of air
pollutants.
6. To promote the use of electric vehicles
 Law and policy measure
• The Air Pollution prevention and Control Act, 1981

• The National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) were first

suggested under Air Pollution Prevention and Control Act, 1981 for
prescribing the stanadrds of different hazardous air pollutants. In
1984, a statuary body called Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB),
India adopted 12 parameters which are need to prescribed for air
quality standards. The 12 parameters are, particulate matter (PM10
and PM2.5), sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon
monoxide (CO), ammonia (NH3), ozone (O3), lead (Pb), benzene
(C6H6), benzopyrene, arsenic and nickel. CPCB had initiated this
programme and later called as National Air Monitoring Programme
(NAMP).
• National Air Quality Monitoring Programme
There are about 610 monitoring stations in 227
cities in India as on 1 January 2019. The air quality
monitoring was undertaken under the supervision
of CPCB, SPCB, DPCC, National Environmental
Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), Nagpur
and pollution contro committees. Meteorological
(weather related) parameters is also carried out
along with air quality data.
• Central motor vehicle act 1939, amended in
1989
Pollution under control(PUC) certificate

• The National Auto Fuel Policy was anounced in

2003 and the policy initiated a phase out
program for introducing EURO 2 TO 4emission
fuel regulation by 2010.
Now BS VI is passed in 2020
 Pollution control design
• Green belt design
• Green building
 Pollution control technology
• Control for Particulate Matter
1. Wet Scrubbers are used to take away the pollutants from furnace flue
gas. They consequently pass through scrubbing liquid and hence,
particulate matter is removed.
2. Electrostatic Precipitator (ESP) is also a fine device for removal of PM
which is based on the principle of opposite charges attract each other.
The dust particles which are having positive charge, they get deposited
on negative charge electrode (cathode) and similarly, negative charge
dust particle deposits on positive charge electrode (anode).
3. Cyclone Separators: Particulate matter is removed by centrifugal force
taking place in a rotator machine. It will remove particles 10 microns
or larger.
ESP
Cyclonic separator
• Control for NOx
1. Exhaust gas recirculation (EGR).
2. Catalytic converter.

• Control for SOx

1. sorbent injection
2. flue gas desulfurization

• Systems to Decrease VOC

1. Gas Flare
2. Biofilters are devices that use living matter to trap biologically
degradable pollutants.
 Water Pollution
• Water pollution is the contamination of
aquatic bodies with substances that has
harmful effect on life forms and Environment.

Types

Surface Water Ground Water Marine

Pollution Pollution Pollution
• Point Source Pollution: If pollutants are
discharged from one place or spot for e.g. an
effluent pipe of a plant, oil spillage from a
tanker, smoke stcak discharge etc. The
pollution from such a source is known as point
source pollution.
• Non-point source Pollution: If the pollution is
not coming from a specific point.
 Sources of Surface Water Pollution
S. Source Type of pollutant
No
.
1. Domestic Domestic Sewage from household
activities
Organic materials are food and
vegetable waste, excreta, faecal matter
inorganic materials such as phosphates
and nitrates from soaps and detergents.
2. Agriculture Fertilisers: Inorganic Plant nutrients eg-
phosphate, nitrate
Pesticides: Chemicals like
organochlorine, organophosphate they
are organic chemicals
Effect
1. The organic waste Decrease
Dissolved Oxygen (DO) and
Increase Biological oxygen
demand (BOD)
2. Pathogens like bacteria,
viruses, worms etc can cause
diseses like cholera, typhoid,
hepatitis etc.
1. Eutrophication is the effect of
excessive fertiliser that enters
water body.
2. Pesticides are highly persistent
compound like DDT and cause
bioaccumulation and
biomagnification.
• BOD: it is the amount of oxygen required by
the microorganisms to degrade organic
material or organic waste.

Dissolved oxygen (DO)

Microbes
Organic Waste
Eutrophication: Effect of fertilizers
 Effect of pesticides
Bioaccumulation is the accretion of substances like pesticides, metals and various
organic compounds into the body of living organism over a period of time. This
can occur either because the chemical gains entry faster than it can be utilized,
or because the chemical cannot be metabolized by the organism.

Bioconcentration refers to uptake and accumulation of a chemical substance

from water alone. Compounds like DDT and tetra-ethyl lead, being lipids soluble,
are stored in the body’s adipose tissues, which are used for energy production,
the compounds on being
released cause acute poisoning.

Biomagnification also known as bioamplification or biological magnification, on

the other hand is the amplification in the concentration of a substance up the
trophic level.
S. Source Type of pollutants Effect
No
3. Industries Toxic Chemicals: Acids, salts, metals Effect of toxic chemicals: Unfit for
Radioactive waste drinking, harm aquatic life, reduce
Hot water crop yield, corrosion of equipment
if this water is used

Radioactive waste: Can accumulate

in tissues and organs, can cause
birth defects, cancer and genetic
damage.

Hot water also known as thermal

pollution once discharge in water
body increases its temperature, as
a result warm water decreases the
solubility of oxygen and DO
decreases it also changes the
breeding cycle of aquatic
organisms.
4. Mining Release metals and chemicals The process of extraction of
minerals exposes heavy metals
and sulphur that were earlier
inaccessible. Various metals can
have huge impact on health of
organism
5. Input of Suspended Particles in water bodies Interfere with light penetration
 Contaminant and Diseases
Contaminant Disease Effect
Cadmium (Cd) Itai-itai severe pain in joints and vertebral column
The consequences are
softening of the bones and kidney failure
Mercury (Hg) Minamata loss of muscular coordination affecting speech, eyeball movements,
Disease swallowing, walking etc., lack of
sensation in the palms and feet, weakness in the muscles, hearing
impairement, reduced visual field, etc. Such a neurological syndrome, in
extreme cases, can lead to
insanity, paralysis, coma and death
Arsenic (As) Blackfoot coldness or numbness in the appendicular extremities,
Disease especially in the feet along with the irregular cramps and pain in lower leg
severe systematic arteriosclerosis and gangrene like symptoms, affects
the feet and occasionally the fingers.
Nitrate Methemoglobi nitrates are ingested or in taken are transformed into
nemia nitrites in the alimentary system. The nitrites reacting with blood
haemoglobin forms methaemoglobin. The haemoglobin molecule cannot
bind to the oxygen. The body is thus deprived of oxygen supply. This is
fatal in the infants as they have very little amount of methaemoglobin
reductase
which could revert such effect. The syndrome is called blue baby
syndrome or methaemoglobinemia. The symptoms are shortness of
breath, vomiting and diarrhea.
Sources of Ground Water pollution
• Landfill sites
• Mining
• Septic tanks
• Chemical fertilisers and pesticides
• Leakage from underground storage tanks for
gasoline or hazardous substances
 Sources of Marine water pollution

• Industrial Effluent release

• Domestic sewage
• Chemical fertilisers and pesticides
• Oil spill
Oil spill
 Causes of oil spill
• During extraction of petroleum from sea floor
• During transportation- leakage from oil
tankers
• Oil accidents
 Effect of oil spills
• The chemicals in oil is toxic for aquatic animals and result in
mortality of various aquatic birds, fishes and mammals
• Fishes show mortality (death) because the fish gills get
laden with oil after the slimy mucus of gills is affected.
• Oil disrupts the insulating capacity of feathers. Death
occurs due to loss of buoyancy and subsequent drowning
of birds.
• Oil also affect the feathers of birds as a result they cannot
fly and they die because of starvation or predation.
Case study of oil spill
 Treatment of oil spill

• Using emulsifiers or chemical dispersant

• Bioremediation
• Burning
 Thermal Pollution

• The water pollution due to the heat is

popularly known as thermal pollution. Hot
water from different sources when enters into
the water bodies affects the water bodies
adversely.
 Sources of Thermal Pollution
• Industries: Thermal Power Plant, Nuclear power plant,
refineies, steel mills etc.
• In the thermal power plants about 70% of the heat is
lost as waste which is absorbed by the cooling water.
• Such types of water often raise the temperature upto
10-15 degree centigrade and became dangerous for
the aquatic ecosystem.
• Sewage and industrial waste also rise of temperature
of water bodies by 4-6 degree centigrade.
 Effect of Warm water
• The quantity of the dissolve oxygen also get effected by the presence
of the hot water as the oxygen present into the water body bobbles
out from the water body. It is also called as the gas bobble diseases of
water.
• Small animals, phytoplankton, zooplankton, small fishes get affected
and killed by the hot water.
• Cell walls of such type of animals and plants severely damage due to
the hot water.
• Hot water may adversely affect the enzyme and metabolic activities of
the plants and animals.
• The hot water makes the aquatic organism susceptible towards toxic
chemical and bacterial/viral/fungal infections.
• Thermal pollution adversely affects the overall ecological balance of
the aquatic ecosystem, e.g. it affects the hatching of the eggs of some
fishes, while other insects begin hatching with slight rise in the water
temperature.
 Control of Thermal Pollution
• Cooling ponds
• Cooling Towers
• Spray ponds
Cooling Pond
Spray Ponds
Cooling Tower
 Control of water pollution

Methods

Water
Awareness Legal Policy Treatment
technology
• Awareness: Mass awareness through
campaigns, various environmental
movements, print and digital media etc.
• Wise use of water and prevent its overuse and
exploitation
• Prevent water pollution
 Legal policy

• International Law
1. The International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution of the Sea from oil
tankers, London, 1954.
2. The International Convention for the Prevention of pollution from Ships, 1973,
(MARPOL 73/78),
3. UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, 1982 enforced in 1994.
4. London Dumping Convention, 1972.
5. Convention on the control of trans-boundary movement of hazardous wastes and their
disposal, 1989, Basel.
6. 1998 OSPAR Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North
East Atlantic.
7. Nairobi International Convention on the Removal of Wrecks, 2007

• National Law
1. The Water (Prevention and Control of pollution) Act, 1974 further amended in 1988.
2. The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Cess Act, 1977, last amended in 2003.
 Water Treatment Plant
• Sewage treatment plant (STP)
• Effluent treatment plant (ETP)

• Primary Treatment: Physical treatment

• Secondary treatment: Biological treatment
• Tertiary treatment: Chemical treatment
Water Treatment Plant
 Secondary treatment
• Activated Sludge method
• Trickling filter method
 Tertiary treatment
• Chemical treatment
1. Aluminium chloride
2. Ozonisation
3. chlorination
Root Zone technology
 Soil Pollution
• Definition: An undesirable change in the
natural, physical, chemical or biological
components of the soil.
• Sources of Soil Pollution:
- Natural Sources: (Plant Residues and Animal
Residues, soil erosion)
- Anthropogenic Sources: (Domestic,
Agriculture, Industries, Radioactive waste)
 Impacts of Soil Pollution
• Decreases soil fertility that makes the soil
inhabitable for plants and other organisms
• Adversely effects soil microbial population
• Indiscriminate use of agro-chemicals destroy soil
flora and fauna and soil properties
• Acid rain increases the soil acidity which develops
unhealthy condition for plant growth
• Radioactive pollution is lethal to plant and
microbial life and has far reaching effects
 Control Measures
• Control of pesticide pollution can be carried out by:
i. Lowering its use in agriculture.
ii. Use of degradable insecticides like organic
phosphates.
iii. Use of short-lived chemical pesticides.
iv. Adopting biological control
v. Releasing sterile males into the natural population
of insects.
vi. Rotation and diversification of crops etc.
 Cont.
2. Control of fertilizer pollution
3. Control of pollution due to garbage
4. Control of acid rains
5. Control of radioactive based soil pollution
6. Discharge of hot liquids and oil leakage in the soil
should be avoided.
7. Sewage should be biologically treated and
converted into manure instead of its uncontrolled
release into the soil.
 Noise Pollution
• Noise is an unwanted and unpleasant sound
that may create some adverse effects to
human and environment.
• The sound intensity has been measured in
terms of decibel (dB) and frequency is
expressed as hertz (Hz)
 Sources of noise pollution
• Domestic sources: TV, machine, mixer grinder,
radio etc
• Cultural activity: use of loud speakers in different
programs, burning of crackers on Diwali etc
• Transportation: noise fron vehicles, horns
• Construction activities: different machines used
for construction work
• Industrial activities: machinery used in industries
create lot of noise.
 Effects of Noise pollution
• Hearing Damage:
1. Noise induced permanent threshold shift (NIPTS)- chronic exposure to
high noise level
2. Noise induced temporary threshold shift (NITTS)- acute exposure to
high noise level

• Interfere in communication: difficulty in communicating for humans

as well as animals like birds

• Physiological effect: high noise level can cause high blood pressure,
increased heart rate, headache, digestive disorder etc

• Psychological effects: Anxiety, difficult to concentrate, frustration and

irritation, emotional imbalance etc.
Control Measures of noise pollution

Control Methods

Modify the path of

Controlling
the sound
Protecting Legal
noise at source transmission reciever Measures
 Controlling noise at source
• Industries:
 Using new machinery
 Oiling of machinery
 Using acoustic walls around machinery
 Locating noisy machinery away from workers.
• Vehicles:
 Banning old vehicles
 Reducing the usage of horns
 Using silencer
• Cultural activity
 Limiting the duration of use of loudspeakers
 Banning the manufacturing of crakers with high noise intensity.
 Modify the path of the sound transmission

• Designing Green belts around industries and

road network
• Better city planning
• Using acoustic or sound proofing wall around
noisy area.
 Protecting receiver
• Industrial worker should be provided with
protective measures-
 Ear muffs
 Ear plugs
 Legal measures
• Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and State Pollution Control
Boards (SPCBs) have been given power to the frame certain rule and
regulations to control noise pollution. Certain rule and regulations are:

i. Silence zone should be created near hospitals and educational institute.

ii. Use of sound amplifiers should be strictly restricted.
iii. All the vehicle should have effective silencers and uncontrolled blowing
of horn should be declared illegal.
iv. Mid-night aircraft flight should be restricted/minimised.
v. Restriction on the factory noises should be handled legally and
soundless machineries should be promoted.
vi. Developmental authorities should have a legal procedure and protocol
to establishsignificant number of green belts in and around cities.
 Nuclear Hazard
• Nuclear hazard can be stated as potential risk
arising due to exposure to radiation
emanating from the atomic nuclei or
radioactive material.
• Eg- X-rays, U235, Carbon 14 etc
 Cause of Nuclear/Radioactive pollution
• Natural source:
1. Cosmic rays from space
2. Radon 222
3. Rocks and soil ahving radioactive material

• Anthropogenic source
1. Nuclear accidents
2. Weapons of Mass destruction/Nuclear weapons
3. Use of radioisotopes in laboratories and research work
4. Mining
 Effects of Radiation
• Genetic Damage: damage DNA structure,
cause genetic mutation
• Somatic Damage: accumulate in your body
and cause damage to different organs, causes
various type of cancers.
Short range effects
• The short-range effects are acute and expressed within few days or weeks
after the
• exposure to radiation. The effects may be:
• i. physical crippling or
• ii. immediate death
Long range effects
• The long-range effects take longer time to express. Such delayed effects of
the
• radiations are now centres of the World’s interest. These include:
• (i) Genetic changes
• (ii) point mutation and chromosomal aberration
• (iii) increase incidence of tumour and cancer
• (iv) Shortening of the life span
• (v) Loss of vitality
• (vi) Anaemia
• (vii) Haemorrhages etc.
 Protective measures
• Delay and decay: The radioactive waste generated from
nuclear reactors, industries should be stored in airtight
containers and allowed to decay deep beneath the ground
in pits.
• Concentrate and contain: The small amount of high
radioactive waste should be mixed with other components
such as concrete and solidified and dumped deep in ocean
or beneath the earth.
• Dilute and disperse: The moderately or weak radioactive
waste should be released in the environment after diluting
it with some inert materials.
 Case studies
Chernobyl disaster

• The Chernobyl Disaster took place in April 1986 in Ukraine formerly known to part of USSR
• In a routine maintenance of one of the four nuclear reactors of the plant a sudden power
surge caused uncontrolled chain reaction in one of the reactors leading to explosions in the
reactor. The explosion exposed the nuclear reactors causing spread of radioactive material
in atmosphere.
• The explosion had released around 30 percent of 190 metric tons of Uranium being used in
reactors.
• It is estimated that 335,000 people were evacuated and more than hundreds died due to
• explosion.
• The periphery of the nuclear reactor approximately 19 miles wide was cordoned off as
“exclusion zone” with no human activity. The incident site has been covered with thick
sheets of steel in order to limit radiation leakage.
• More than 34 years on, the scientists opine that the area won’t be habitable for next 20000
years.
• The researchers predicted contamination of surrounding areas with high radiation which
led to low and high-level radiation exposure to as many 10,000 people causing radiation
related cancer which led to there death in later years.
Fukushima Disaster
• The Fukushima disaster occurred in March 2011 in one of the islands
in Japan.
• The accident was rated 7 by INES scale due to high radioactive
release for 5-6 days.
• Four nuclear reactors were damaged in the incident leading to
radiation fallout
• in the region.
• The accident mainly happened due to a major earthquake followed
by 15 m high Tsunami causing damage to the reactors.
• There were no reports of death due to radiation sickness but more
than hundred thousand people were evacuated from the area as
precaution.
• The radiation mainly consisted of Iodine-131, Caesium-134,
Caesium-137, strontium-90, and Plutonium-238.
 Solid Waste Management
• the unwanted or useless solid materials
generated from human activities in residential,
industrial or commercial areas and discarded
is known as solid waste.
 Types and sources of solid waste
• Domestic Waste (Municipal solid waste (MSW))
• Commercial waste
• Biomedical waste
• Construction and Demolition waste
• Horticulture waste and waste from slaughter
houses
• Industrial waste: Hazardous waste
• E-waste
 Effects of solid waste
• Municipal solid wastes heap up on the roads due to improper disposal
system.
• Waste dumping allows biodegradable materials to decompose under
uncontrolled and unhygienic conditions. This produces foul smell and breeds
various types of insects and infectious organisms besides spoiling the
aesthetics of the site.
• Industrial solid wastes are sources of toxic metals and hazardous wastes,
which may spread on land and can cause changes in physicochemical and
biological characteristics thereby affecting productivity of soils and causing
pollution.
• Toxic substances may leach or percolate to contaminate the ground water.
• Burning of some of these materials produces dioxins, furans and
polychlorinated biphenyls, which have the potential to cause various types of
ailments including cancer.
Solid Waste management
 Solid Waste Management

• Reduce: The reduction of waste generation can be started from households by

reducing the packages of commodities, increasing durability, avoiding
disposable or single use plastic items, usage of jute bags or cloth bags for
marketing etc. Reducing paperwork in homes and offices and promoting e-
mails or e-bills should be promoted.

• Reuse: The habit of re-using the commodities should be promoted. One can
donate the books, old clothes, and electronics by getting in touch with the
organizations that can direct you to the needful people who may find need of
these resources.

• Segregation of Waste: Recyclable (Non biodegradable) and Biodegradable

waste

• Recycle: Segregation of waste is paramount for recycling of waste. Segregation

of paper, metals, glasses, and plastics from the organic waste is very important.
These wastes than can be used for recycling and creating a new product that
• Compost: Composting is a natural process that
involves using micro-organisms for decomposition
of biodegradable waste. The organic waste
consisting of agricultural or kitchen waste can be
used for composting. This process requires
aeration for proper and faster decomposition.

1. Composting
2. Vermicomposting (using Earthworms)
 Recovery: Waste to Energy
• Incineration: Incineration is a waste treatment process
where combustion happens at very high temperature
converting them into ashes releasing gases and heat.
It is also considered as a waste to energy processes.
• The biomedical waste and hazardous waste are
treated through incineration process as they cannot
be treated with conventional methods.
• The disadvantage of incineration process is release of
harmful gases like dioxins and furans that can cause
severe health problems in humans.
• Pyrolysis: It is the thermal decomposition of materials at elevated
temperatures in an inert atmosphere. Pyrolysis is most commonly
used in the treatment of organic materials. It is one of the
processes involved in charring wood.[2] In general, pyrolysis of
organic substances produces volatile products and leaves a solid
residue enriched in carbon, char.
• Gasification: It is a process that converts biomass- or fossil fuel-
based carbonaceous materials into gases. This is achieved by
reacting the feedstock material at high temperatures (typically
>700 °C), without combustion, via controlling the amount of oxygen
and/or steam present in the reaction. The resulting gas mixture is
called syngas (from synthesis gas) or producer gas and is itself a fuel
due to the flammability of the H2 and CO of which the gas is largely
composed.
• Anaerobic digestion: It is a sequence of processes by which
microorganisms break down biodegradable material in the absence
of oxygen. It produces Methane.
Refuse: Dumping of Waste
Refuse: Dumping of Waste
Green House Effect and Climate Change
 Green House Effect
• The greenhouse effect is a natural process that warms the
Earth's surface. When the Sun's energy reaches the Earth's
atmosphere, some of it is reflected back to space and the rest is
absorbed and re-radiated by greenhouse gases. The absorbed
energy warms the atmosphere and the surface of the Earth.
• Green House Gases (GHG): carbon dioxide (CO2), methane
(CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), ozone (O3), water vapor (H2O),
chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs).
• In absence of GHG Earth average temperature would be -
18°C Green house effect adds 33°C = 15°C
• The higher concentration of GHGs in environment after human
activities enhanced the green house effect which led to Global
warming and climate change
 Sources of GHGs
• Natural Sources:
1. Forest Fire,
2. Volcanic eruption,
3. methane emission from marshy areas
4. Microbial Processes

• Anthropogenic Sources:
1. Deforestation
2. Fossil fuel burning: electricity, transportation, Industries
3. Agriculture: use of fertilizers, Paddy cultivation
4. Landfill sites
5. CFC in refrigerators and ACs
 Effect of Global Warming
• By the year 2100 average temperature of Earth would rise by 1.4°C to 5.8°C
over 1990 level.
1. Effect on atmosphere: Warming of troposphere is accompanied by cooling
of the upper strata of atmosphere. Cooling of stratosphere will increase the
size of ozone hole.
2. Effect on Weather and Climate: extreme cases of drought and floods.
3. Melting of Glaciers and Ice sheet: with increase in temperature the glaciers
and ice cover will melt and decrease the stored fresh water source.
4. Changes in Sea level: Sea level will rise due to thermal expansion and
melting of glaciers and ice sheet.
5. Effect on range on species: Many species will die because they are sensitive
to temperature. Rise in temperature will push temperature range pole
wards
6. Ocean acidification and Coral bleaching: Decrease in the pH of the Earth's
oceans, caused by the uptake of carbon dioxide (CO. 2) from the
atmosphere and forming carbonic acid in water.
When water is too warm, corals will expel the algae (zooxanthellae) living in
their tissues causing the coral to turn completely white.
8. Increase in infectious and Vector borne
diseases.
7. Effect on agriculture:
• Positive effect of CO2 Fertilization
• Negative effect
High temperature: causes water stress and
closure of stomata
Extreme and uncertain rainfall pattern
Increase in pest infection
Measures to Mitigate Climate Change effect

• Increasing Vegetation Cover

• Reduction in the use of chemical nitrogen
fertilizers
• Replacement of CFCs with HFCs
• Alternative of fossil fuel and encourage the use
of Renewable energy
• National and International Initiatives: Kyoto
protocol, 1997; Paris agreement 2015, Ministry
of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
 Ozone depletion

• Ozone Properties
1. O3
2. a gas composed of three atoms of oxygen
3. bluish gas that is harmful to breathe
4. Nearly 90% of the Earth's ozone is in the
stratosphere and is referred to as the ozone
layer
5. Ozone absorbs a band of ultraviolet radiation
called UVB, UVA
The Ultraviolet Spectrum
400nm 100nm
Radio IR Visible UV X-Rays
Light

l
 UV light: 100 to 400 nm
UV-A UV-B UV-C Far UV

UV spectrum – 4 regions

o Far UV: 100 – 200 nm

o UV – C : 200 – 280 nm 300nm 200nm

o UV – B : 280 – 315 nm DNA damaging range

o UV – A : 315 – 400 nm
 UV ozone generation
and destruction: equilibrium

• O2 + h185  2O.

• O. + O 2 + M  O3 + M

• O3 + h254  O 2 + O.

Equilibrium between production and

destruction
 Ozone depletion or ozone hole
• Thinning of ozone layer in stratosphere which
protect us from harmful UV radiations is
known as ozone hole or ozone depletion

• The ozone hole is defined as the area having

less than 220 dobson units (DU) of ozone in
the overhead column (i.e., between the
ground and space).
 Ozone depleting substances ODS
• CFCs,
• HCFCs,
• Halogens- Cl, Br, I
• methyl bromide,
• carbon tetrachloride, and
• methyl chloroform.
 Halogen catalysis of ozone destruction

                                                                             
 CFC ozone depletion reaction

• CF2Cl2 + h  Cl. + CF2Cl

• Cl. + O3  ClO + O2

• ClO + O3  2O2 + Cl.

• ClO + O .  O2 + Cl.
 Spring time ozone depletion in polar areas

• In polar areas during winters cold air is trapped as a result

of polar vertex- which are strong circulating winds
• The cold temperature allow the formation of polar
stratospheric clouds (PSCs).
• These PSCs contains chemicals rich in chlorine restricted
inside them during winter season
• When sun hits the PSCs during early spring the cloud
breaks and the large amount of chlorine chemicals are
released in atmosphere where they destroy the ozone
layer. Thus, Ozone hole or depletion happens during spring
time in polar areas.
 Effects of Ozone depletion
• Effect on humans: high incoming UV B can cause skin cancer, cataract
quick ageing and weakened immune system in humans
• Effect on Plants: UV radiations can affect the physiological processes in
plants like photosynthesis, flowering, nutrient uptake etc
• Effect on animals: UV radiation can cause skin and eye cancer
• Effect on marine system: UV radiation will affect the productivity of
ocean as it leads to motility of phytoplankton.
• Effect on biogeochemical cycle: UV radiation can affects the sources and
sinks of certain gaseous and sedimentary nutrients and affects the
biogeochemical cycle. Eg it can lead to dissociation of organic matter thus
releasing CO2 and metals and other substances boud to them.
• Effect on material: Sythetic polymers or Biopolymers are adversely
affected by UV radiation and lead to the break down of these materials.
 Measures to mitigate Ozone depletion

• Ban CFCs
• Alter the use of CFCs and HCFCs with HFCs
• Restricted use of chemical fertilizers
• Montreal protocol 1987: to ban the use of
ODS globally and CFCs.
 Assignment
• Topics:
• Ganga pollution and Ganga Action plan (GAP),
• Yamuna pollution and Yamuna action Plan
• Delhi air pollution and public health issues
• Plastic waste management rules
• Bhopal gas tragedy and any pollution case study.
• Swach Bharat Abhivyan
• Hazardous Waste and Its Management
• E-Waste and its Management

• Last date of Submission: 29/1/21