ENVIRONMENTA

L
POLLUTION
 Definition
• Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into the natural
environment that cause adverse change, in the form of killing of life,
toxicity of environment, damage to ecosystem and aesthetics of our
surrounding.
• An unwanted change in the environment which involves the physical,
biological and chemical changes involving air, water and land which
affects the human life in one way or the other.
• Pollution has become a serious issue after World War II in developing
countries due to unchecked rapid industrialization. Pollution is the
root cause of many diseases that kill and disable living organisms.
Types of Pollution

• Air Pollutition
• Soil Pollution
• Water Pollution
• Marine Pollution
• Noise Pollution
• Thermal Pollution
• Nuclear Hazards
 Air Pollution
• Def: Air pollution refers to any physical, chemical or biological change
in the air. It is the contamination of air by harmful gases, dust and
smoke which affects plants, animals and humans drastically.
• Causes: Burning of fossil fuels, Automobiles, Agricultural activities,
Factories and Industries, Mining activites, Domestic sources
• Effects: Diseases, Global warming, Acid rains, Ozone layer depletion,
Effect on animals
• Control Measures: Tree plantation, Avoid using vehicles, Energy
conservation, Use of clean energy resources, Diluting air pollutants
 Soil Pollution
• Def: Soil pollution refers to the contamination of soil with anomalous
concentrations of toxic substances.It is a serious environmental concern
since it harbours many health hazards.
• Causes: Excessive/improper use of pesticides in agriculture, Excessive
industrial activity, Poor management or inefficient disposal of waste,
Presence of heavy metals
• Effects: Effect on human beings, effect on plant and animals, contributes
to acid rain, effect on soil quality and texture, crop yield is effected
• Control Measures: Use of pesticides should be minimized, improving
cropping techniques, Pits for dumping waste
 Water Pollution
• Def: Water pollution occurs when harmful substances (often chemicals
or microorganisms) contaminate a stream, river, lake, ocean, aquifer,
or other body of water, degrading water quality and rendering it toxic
to humans or the environment.
• Causes: Agriculture, Sewage and waste water, Oil pollution,
Radioactive substances, Deforestation
• Effects: On human health, on aquatic life, on Food chain, On ecosystem
• Control Measures: Sewage wastewater treatment, Industrial
wastewater treatment, Agricultural wastewater treatment,
management of erosion and sediment control
 Marine Pollution
• Def: Marine pollution is a mixture of both chemical contamination
and trash. The act of marine pollution occurs when chemicals and
trash are either washed, blown or intentionally dumped into the
ocean.
• Causes: Intentional discharge, Oil Spills, Littering, Ocean mining
• Effects: Harmful to Marine species, depletion of oxygen, threat to
human health
• Control Measures: Reduce chemical fertilizer use, Opt for reusable
utensils, Proper dispose of trash
 Noise Pollution
• Def: Noise pollution is displeasing or excessive noise disrupt the
activity or balance of human or animal life. Noise means disgust or
discomfort hearing from environment.
• Causes: Industrialization, Vehicles, Events, Construction sites
• Effects: Hypertension, Hearing loss, Sleeping disorders, Cardiovascular
issues, High stress levels
• Control Measures: Ban honking in public places, Dense tree cover, No
use of explosives
 Thermal Pollution
• Def: Thermal pollution may also be referred to as thermal enrichment.
When the temperature of a natural body of water suddenly increases
or decreases, thermal pollution occurs.
• Causes: Use of water as a cooling agent in industrial plants, Soil
erosion, Runoff from paved surfaces , Natural causes such as
volcanoes, geothermal vents, and hot springs, Deforestation
• Effects: Decrease in dissolved oxygen (DO) levels, Increase in toxins,
Ecological impact
• Control Measures: Cooling Ponds, Artificial Lake, Water Recycling
 Nuclear Hazards
Def: The radiation hazard in the environment comes from ultraviolet,
visible, cosmic rays and micro wave radiation which produces genetic
mutation in man.
• Causes:
Natural Sources – This is in space which emits cosmic rays.
Man made Sources – (Anthropogenic sources) these are nuclear power
plants, X-rays, nuclear accidents, nuclear bombs, diagnostic kits.
• Effects: Genetic Mutations, Effects on Marine life, Effects on Plants,
Effects on Wildlife, Burns