Chemical Pollution

Chemical pollution is defined as the presence or increase in our environment of

chemical pollutants that are not naturally present there or are found in amounts higher
than their natural background values. Most of the chemicals that pollute the environment
are man-made, resulted from the various activities in which toxic chemicals are used for
various purposes.

Chemical intoxication is caused by exposure to chemical pollutants and can have

immediate effects or delayed effects, which may appear after weeks or even months after
the exposure occurred. Severe chemical intoxication may cause the death of the person
that inhales an increased quantity of such substances.
Chemical compounds are organic or inorganic chemicals that are the main causes of chemical pollution.
The most common chemical pollutants are those compounds used across large areas and which are
persistent, meaning they do not easily degrade in nature. Examples are most pesticides, herbicides,
insecticides used in agriculture and gardening, as well as chlorinated solvents used in many industrial
processes and dry-cleaning activities.

Based on their chemical structure, chemical contaminants can be classified into naturally occurring and
man-made categories. They can be organic or inorganic (organic compounds always contain carbon and
carbon-hydrogen bonds, whereas most inorganic compounds do not contain carbon).
Examples of Chemical Pollutants

Chemical pollutants mostly result from various human activities like the manufacturing, handling, storing, and disposing
of chemicals. These occur in industrial places and activities such as oil refineries, coal power plants, construction, mining
& smelting, transportation, agricultural use of pesticides and insecticides, as well as household activities.

The chemical industry is another example in this sense, mainly because it is usually linked to polluted waste streams. In
fact, the waste streams from chemical industry are now strictly controlled and treated before being released into the
environment. But this was not always the case in the past and many rivers and surface water bodies were contaminated by
the numerous waste streams coming from various chemical plants, as well as other industrial sources. Even though
measures were taken to reduce this type of pollution, its effects are still visible.

Household chemicals involve a variety of chemical products and mixtures that can easily become chemical pollutants
when released into the environment. Even the everyday detergents are chemical compounds that may pollute our
environment! Read the labels of detergent products to confirm that they contain a variety of potentially hazardous
chemicals.
The Effects of Chemical Pollution

Chemical pollution can be caused by a variety of chemicals from a variety of sources and
can involve a variety of health effects from simple digestive problems to chemical
intoxication and sudden death by poisoning. The effects are usually related to the exposure
to high amounts of chemicals. Chemical pollution leads to various serious diseases,
generally by consuming poisonous food, drinking highly contaminated water, or breathing
highly contaminated air.

Chemical intoxication can have severe health effects that may trigger immediate
symptoms and diseases or delayed effects which may appear after weeks or months since
the exposure occurred. This is based on the type of pollutants and on the amounts to which
you are exposed.
Various chemical pollutants may accumulate in the aquatic sediments over longer periods of time. This
means that, if no tests are performed, chemical pollution in the ocean water could pose serious health
risks to the ecosystem and ultimately could cause mild or deadly chemical intoxication in humans after
the consumption of contaminated fish or seafood. However, there are prevention tips you can follow to
minimize exposure to chemical pollution.
 Range and level of pollution
Range is the area of variation between upper and lower limits on a particular scale. Level is a
position on a scale of amount, quantity, extent, or quality.

Water
Rain and groundwater tend to be naturally slightly acidic, usually no lower than 6 on the pH
scale. Most plants and animals tolerate this level of acidity without any problems.
An increased carbon dioxide concentration will therefore lower pH, whereas a decrease will cause
it to rise. Temperature will also affect the equilibrium and the pH. In pure water, a decrease in pH
of about 0.45 occurs as the temperature is raised by 25 °C. The pH of most drinking-water lies
within the range 6.5–8.5.
Soil
A number of environmental, chemical, and management factors affect the biodegradation of
soil pollutants, including moisture content, pH, temperature, the microbial community that is
present, and the availability of nutrients. Biodegradation is facilitated by aerobic soil
conditions and soil pH in the neutral range (between pH 5.5 to 8.0), with an optimum
reading occurring at approximately pH 7, and a temperature in the range of 20 to 30°C. 

Air
The AQI is an index for reporting daily air quality. the AQI as a yardstick that runs from 0 to
500. The higher the AQI value, the greater the level of air pollution and the greater the health
concern. For example, an AQI value of 50 represents good air quality with little potential to
affect public health, while an AQI value over 300 represents hazardous air quality.
The purpose of the AQI is to help you understand what local air quality means to your health. To make it easier to understand, the AQI is divided into six categories:
 Biomagnification

Biomagnification, also known as bio amplification or

biological magnification, is the increasing
concentration of a substance, such as a toxic
chemical, in the tissues of organisms at successively
higher levels in a food chain.
 Causes

Persistence – where the substance cannot be broken

down by environmental processes.
Food chain energetics – where the substance's
concentration increases progressively as it moves up
a food chain.
 Low or non-existent rate of internal degradation or
excretion of the substance – often due to water-
insolubility.
 EXAMPLE

I. spraying a marsh to control mosquitoes will cause trace amounts of DDT to

accumulate in the cells of microscopic aquatic organisms, the plankton, in
the marsh.
II. In feeding on the plankton, filter-feeders, like clams and some fish, harvest
DDT as well as food. (Concentrations of DDT 10 times greater than those in
the plankton have been measured in clams.)
III. The process of concentration goes right on up the food chain from one
trophic level to the next. Gulls, which feed on clams, may accumulate DDT
to 40 or more times the concentration in their prey. This represents a 400-
fold increase in concentration along the length of this short food chain.
Heavy metals and other substances
 Nuclear Pollution
When we go in detail about each kind of pollution, the facts may seem very surprising
and it is also wondering to know about nuclear pollution. Many people ask does nuclear
energy cause pollution. The answer is a big, bold YES. Here, we discuss a lot about what is
nuclear pollution, its causes, effects and also prevention. Dig deep into these topics and
know more and more about nuclear pollution. The after effects of nuclear pollution are
even more dangerous than you could even dream about.

Earth has provided us with so many resources. What we are giving in return? As the
saying goes give and take, earth may kick back at some point of time for what we do to her.
Exploiting the resources is not only what we do, we also pollute the planet so deeply and
badly. Let us see now what is nuclear pollution and effects.
Radiation is a term given for waves caused by electromagnetism and high energy particles. Well
known electromagnetic waves are radio waves, light, infrared rays, UV rays, X rays, Gamma rays.
These are well known and are used extensively in the fields of communications, industry, medicine
and research.

Radioactive substances have High energy particles which are tiny bits of matter that are made to
move at high speeds releasing nuclear radiation. There are about 50 naturally occurring radioactive
substances and More than 2000 man-made ones. There are three kinds of radioactive radiation – alpha
particles, beta particles and gamma radiation.
Another kind of radiation we face each day is cosmic radiation. This is the radiation that reaches us from outer
space but is filtered out to a large extent by the layers of atmosphere that surrounds our earth

Contamination of the atmosphere by radiation and radioactive particles is called nuclear pollution
Causes Of Nuclear Pollution

Most activities that involve radioactive substances have potential to contaminate the
environment .these include

 Nuclear weapons testing-

Beginning with the Second World War when Japan was subdued after the use of the nuclear
bombs on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, countries have been in the race to develop their
own nuclear arms, in the name of defense, but more to threaten rival nations. These were led by
US, Russia, Britain, France and China. Nowadays N. Korea, Iran and many of the developing
countries are equipped to build these weapons as well.
Testing the weapons involves explosions is the atmospheric layer called stratosphere. The
exploded debris emitting radiation then falls back to the earth. Some of the radiation is absorbed
by our atmosphere. But some of it reaches the earth falling on areas that are far away from the site
where the weapon was released initially. This is called Fallout. When these particles settle on the
vegetation and are consumed by animals they enter into the food chain. When fallout settles over
the sea, the ecosystem of the sea gets affected and again entering the food chain.

 Nuclear Power Plants

Intense Nuclear energy from radioactive fuel is used to heat water to steam. The steam is then
used to turn the turbines that in turn work the generators to produce electricity. Small amounts of
radiation are released during this process into the water which may then dispose off
indiscriminately causing nuclear pollution.
 Improper disposal of spent nuclear fuel.

Spent nuclear fuel contains very active radioactive atoms that remain so sometimes almost for
600yrs or more. These must be disposed of in a very careful manner, with strict regulations in well
designated spaces. But the fact is many governments tend to approve of dumping nuclear fuel as
far from their country as possible. The favorite dumping ground of many countries was the Pacific
Ocean. Greenpeace an organization dedicated to preserving the environment and saving the earth
from pollution has brought attention to this activity and opposes it with fervor.

Some plants store spent fuel in underground water pools as these release a high amount of heat
and need to be cooled down. There is always the danger of seepage into the land nearby,
contaminating ground water and surrounding lands.

On a smaller scale is the radioactive waste that is produced in diagnostic Imaging in Health
sector.
 Accident/Damage to Nuclear power plants

This most famous of these was the Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster in Russia in 1986. The fallout of
this accident was felt over three countries- Russia, Ukraine and Belarus. The area surrounding the
reactor is still polluted and not suitable for inhabitation or farming.

The other more recent accident was the Fukushima Daichii nuclear disaster on March 11th, 2011.
An earthquake followed by a tsunami caused the main reactors and supplementary generators severe
damage. Inadequate preparation to deal with an incident of this scale was also a factor that leads to
hydrogen explosions and the seepage of radioactive material in the ground water.
Effects of Nuclear Pollution

The effect of nuclear pollution is seen on every organism in the environment from the bacteria to
plants to human beings. Nothing is spared:

 The immediate and closest to the source, experience Radiation Sickness. In small doses of 75-
200 rems. One experiences vomiting, fatigue and loss of appetite. At higher exposures of 300
rem and more changes in the blood cells and bleeding occurs. Above 600 rems there is loss of
hair, loss of immunity usually resulting in death in a few days to weeks. Radiation causes
changes in the cell and gene structure of rapidly multiplying cells of the body, such as bone
marrow, skin, intestines, lymphoid tissue and embryo.

 Those exposed from a distance may not show any immediate symptom. But the tendency to
develop various forms of cancers and have a shortened life span is seen. Radiation also causes
cell mutations which can be transferred to the next generation.
 Foetuses are affected with birth defects and cancers. They may also have a shorter life
span.

 Plants die and some show genetic changes and stunted growth. Animals are also affected
and do not survive for too long.

 The radiation in the atmosphere will not dissipate quickly. Every water source will also be
affected. In fact it may take years or centuries to reach a point where such a space may
become habitable.

 An average person will be exposed to about 180 milli rem of radiation in a year from
exposure to natural radiation, medical and dental X rays, Colour TVs, airport baggage X
rays etc.
Prevention of Nuclear pollution

 Whilst undergoing procedures for X rays or radiation therapy, correct protection gear such as lead aprons must
be worn. This includes pregnant women. Using lead sheathed walls in imaging facilities is also mandatory.

 As a lay person one must be aware of the dangers of nuclear pollution. If living in the vicinity of a nuclear
plant or hearing of one being planned, one should use one’s right to make sure the governing bodies are planning
thoroughly on the building, implementing and disposal of the wastes. Make certain that the authorities are
prepared in case of a disaster, to handle all the situations such as containing the contamination to arranging an
evacuation.

 While working at a radiation facility or in nuclear plant workers are always monitored for the amount of
radiation they have been exposed to.

 Radioactive wastes are actually recyclable to a good extent because usable fuel is still being created in the
wasted material which can then be reprocessed.
 Governments are authorizing research on developing better means for disposal of radioactive
wastes. The most feasible method now appears to be deep underground storage of wastes.

 Power plants must ensure that the radioactive fuel and wastes are being transported and
disposed of in safe containers which are long lasting and unbreakable.

 Governing agencies need to make sure that radioactive material does not fall into wrong
hands that will, for a profit sell these to people who are in the business of war mongering.

Nuclear energy is a clean source of energy, inexpensive and extensive too. With a small
amount of fuel a large amount of energy can be generated. Though there have been mishaps in
the past and wrongful use of this energy, there is still great potential for it. Any well intentioned
effort must be backed by good research, a well-designed plan and proper back up plans for any
setbacks. The safety of the environment and the people must always come first.
Minimum Standards For Submission Of Pollution Control Plans

The following criteria should be addressed when preparing a Pollution Control Plan for the
Environment Protection Authority. Please refer to the Environment Protection Guidelines
for Construction and Land Development in the ACT, March 2011 (the Guidelines) for more
detailed information.

Contact Details (including mobile numbers)

> Company undertaking the works

> Site foreman

> Project manager

> Environment Protection Agreement number and expiry date

General
> Plans must be architecturally drawn
> Provide two A3 copies of the plan
> Include a clear legend and orientation
> Indicate block, section and district
> Indicate the intent of the plan, i.e. demolition civil works or
construction
> Indicate total site area
> Illustrate clear site boundaries
> Illustrate contours

> Illustrate overland water flow paths and appropriate controls

> Detail staging of works

> Specify location of site shed/s

> Provide details and location of contractor parking

> Where notes do not fit, please attach them to the plan

Stabilised Access Point

> Identify stabilised entry/exit points

 > Describe construction specifications
Sediment & Erosion Controls

(may include sediment fencing, filter rolls or diversion/ catch drains)

> Provide details using diagrams and explanatory notes

> Where controls are outside site boundary approval must be provided by the appropriate
land manager

Sediment Control Pond (blocks greater than 1 ha)

 > Specify location and pond size

 > Provide details of catchment area (including areas outside site boundary)

 > Provide information regarding dosing and discharge as detailed in the Guidelines
Material Stockpile And Waste Management

(including concrete truck wash down and brick cutting area)

> Specify location

> Detail controls

Please note that material and waste must be located onsite unless you receive approval from
Territory and Municipal Services for temporary use of the nature strip.

Dust Suppression

> Provide details for dust suppression (including spoil management and covering and securing
loads entering and exiting the site)

> Seek alternatives to water where possible (some examples can be found in the guidelines)
Maintenance Of Controls

> Provide details of pollution control maintenance schedule including daily/weekly

inspection of stabilised access, sediment erosion controls, and adjacent roads (an example
can be found in the Guidelines)

Spoil Management

> Indicate if it is a balanced site

> If it is not a balanced site, provide details such as spoil quantity , description,
destination and transporter (requirements are detailed in the Guidelines)

> If accepting more than 100m3 an Environmental Authorization is required in certain

areas.
Thank you