UNIT – 4

Pollution of the Environment

4.1 Definition, Causes, Effects and control measures of Air, Water, Soil, Noise, Thermal and Nuclear Hazard

Environmental pollution

Environmental Pollution can be defined as any undesirable change in physical, chemical, or biological characteristics of any component of the environment i.e., air, water, soil which can cause harmful effects on various forms of life or property. The term pollution can be defined as influence of any substance causing nuisance, harmful effects, and uneasiness to the organisms. Any substance causing Nuisance or harmful effects or uneasiness to the organisms, then that particular substance may be called as the pollutant.

a)  Air pollution

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 the plants, animals, and humans drastically.

There is a certain percentage of gases present in the atmosphere. An increase or decrease in the composition of these gases is harmful to survival. This imbalance in the gaseous composition has resulted in an increase in earth’s temperature, which is known as global warming.

Types of Air Pollution

1. Primary Pollutants

The pollutants that directly cause air pollution are known as primary pollutants. Sulphur-dioxide emitted from factories is a primary pollutant.

2.     Secondary Pollutants

The pollutants formed by the intermingling and reaction of primary pollutants are known as secondary pollutants. Smog, formed by the intermingling of smoke and fog, is a secondary pollutant.

Causes of Air Pollution

Following are the important causes of air pollution:

1. Burning of Fossil Fuels

The combustion of fossil fuels emits a large amount of sulphur dioxide. Carbon monoxide released by incomplete combustion of fossil fuels also results in air pollution.

2.     Automobiles

The gases emitted from vehicles such as jeeps, trucks, cars, buses, etc. pollute the environment. These are the major sources of greenhouse gases and also result in diseases among individuals.

3.     Agricultural Activities

Ammonia is one of the most hazardous gases emitted during agricultural activities. The insecticides, pesticides and fertilizers emit harmful chemicals in the atmosphere and contaminate it.

4.     Factories and Industries

Factories and industries are the main source of carbon monoxide, organic compounds, hydrocarbons, and chemicals. These are released into the air, degrading its quality.

5.     Mining Activities

In the mining process, the minerals below the earth are extracted using large pieces of equipment. The dust and chemicals released during the process not only pollute the air, but also deteriorate the health of the workers and people living in the nearby areas.

6.     Domestic Sources

The household cleaning products and paints contain toxic chemicals that are released in the air. The smell from the newly painted walls is the smell of the chemicals present in the paints. It not only pollutes the air but also affects breathing.

Effects of Air Pollution

The hazardous effects of air pollution on the environment include:

1. Diseases

Air pollution has resulted in several respiratory disorders and heart diseases among humans. The cases of lung cancer have increased in the last few decades. Children living near polluted areas are more prone to pneumonia and asthma. Many people die every year due to the direct or indirect effects of air pollution.

2.     Global Warming

Due to the emission of greenhouse gases, there is an imbalance in the gaseous composition of the air. This has led to an increase in the temperature of the earth. This increase in earth’s temperature is known as global warming. This has resulted in the melting of glaciers and an increase in sea levels. Many areas are submerged underwater.

3.     Acid Rain

The burning of fossil fuels releases harmful gases such as nitrogen oxides and sulphur oxides in the air. The water droplets combine with these pollutants, become acidic, and fall as acid rain which damages human, animal and plant life.

4.     Ozone Layer Depletion

The release of chlorofluorocarbons, halons, and hydro chlorofluorocarbons in the atmosphere is the major cause of depletion of the ozone layer. The depleting ozone layer does not prevent the harmful ultraviolet rays coming from the sun and causes skin diseases and eye problems among individuals.

5.      Effect on Animals

The air pollutants suspend on the water bodies and affect the aquatic life. Pollution also compels the animals to leave their habitat and shift to a new place. This renders them stray and has also led to the extinction of a large number of animal species.

Control Measures

Following are the measures one should adopt, to control air pollution:

1. Avoid Using Vehicles

People should avoid using vehicles for shorter distances. Rather, they should prefer public modes of transport to travel from one place to another. This not only prevents pollution, but also conserves energy.

2.     Energy Conservation

A large number of fossil fuels are burnt to generate electricity. Therefore, do not forget to switch off the electrical appliances when not in use. Thus, you can save the environment at the individual level. Use of energy-efficient devices such CFLs also controls pollution to a greater level.

b)    Water  Pollution

Water pollution can be defined as the contamination of water bodies. Water pollution is caused when water bodies such as rivers, lakes, oceans, groundwater, and aquifers get contaminated with industrial and agricultural effluents.

When water gets polluted, it adversely affects all lifeforms that directly or indirectly depend on this source. The effects of water contamination can be felt for years to come.

Types of Water Pollution

1. Chemical pollution: The most common type of water pollution, chemicals can infiltrate both underground water sources and those sitting on the Earth's surface.

Causes of Water Pollution

The main causes of water pollution are attributed to

• Industrial activities
• Urbanization
• Religious and social practices
• Agricultural runoff
• Accidents (such as oil spills, nuclear fallouts etc)

Effects of Water Pollution

The effect of water pollution depends upon the type of pollutants and its concentration. Also, the location of water bodies is an important factor to determine the levels of pollution.

• Water bodies in the vicinity of urban areas are extremely polluted. This is the result of dumping garbage and toxic chemicals by industrial and commercial establishments.
• Water pollution drastically affects aquatic life. It affects their metabolism, behaviour, causes illness and eventual death. Dioxin is a chemical that causes a lot of problems from reproduction to uncontrolled cell growth or cancer. This chemical is bioaccumulated in fish, chicken and meat. Chemicals such as this travel up the food chain before entering the human body.
• The effect of water pollution can have a huge impact on the food chain. It disrupts the food-chain. Cadmium and lead are some toxic substances, these pollutants upon entering the food chain through animals (fish when consumed by animals, humans) can continue to disrupt at higher levels.
• Humans are affected by pollution and can contract diseases such as hepatitis through faecal matter in water sources. Poor drinking water treatment and unfit water can always cause an outbreak of infectious diseases such as cholera etc.
• The ecosystem can be critically affected, modified and de-structured because of water pollution

Control Measures

Water pollution, to a larger extent, can be controlled by a variety of methods. Rather than releasing sewage waste into water bodies, it is better to treat them before discharge. Practicing this can reduce the initial toxicity and the remaining substances can be degraded and rendered harmless by the water body itself. If the secondary treatment of water has been carried out, then this can be reused in sanitary systems and agricultural fields.

A very special plant, the Water Hyacinth can absorb dissolved toxic chemicals such as cadmium and other such elements. Establishing these in regions prone to such kinds of pollutants will reduce the adverse effects to a large extent.

Some chemical methods that help in the control of water pollution are precipitation, the ion exchange process, reverse osmosis, and coagulation. As an individual, reusing, reducing, and recycling wherever possible will advance a long way in overcoming the effects of water pollution.

c)     Soil Pollution

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. For example, exposure to soil containing high concentrations of benzene increases the risk of contracting leukemia. An image detailing the discoloration of soil due to soil pollution is provided below.

Types of Soil Pollution

Soil pollution mainly occurs due to the following:

1. Industrial wastes

 2. Urban wastes

 3. Agricultural practices

 4. Radioactive pollutants

 5. Biological agents

Causes of Soil Pollution

Some common causes of soil pollution are listed below,

• Improper disposal of industrial waste: industries are believed to be one of the leading causes of soil pollution due to improper management and disposal of the toxic wastes generated during industrial activities.
• Excessive and inefficient usage of pesticides and fertilizers: the agriculture industry makes extensive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides for the growth and maintenance of crops. However, excessive and inefficient use of these toxic chemicals can seriously contaminate the soil.
• Petroleum or diesel spills: leaks in fuel transportation pipes can cause fuel spills. These fuels are known to contain toxic hydrocarbons which can cause soil contamination.

Effects of Soil Pollution

1. Effects on Human Beings

Soil contaminants can exist in all three phases (solid, liquid, and gaseous). Therefore, these contaminants can find their way into the human body via several channels such as direct contact with the skin or through the inhalation of contaminated soil dust.

The short term effects of human exposure to polluted soil include:

• Headaches, nausea, and vomiting.
• Coughing, pain in the chest, and wheezing.
• Irritation of the skin and the eyes.
• Fatigue and weakness.

A variety of long-term ailments have been linked to soil pollution. Some such diseases are listed below.

• Exposure to high levels of lead can result in permanent damage to the nervous system. Children are particularly vulnerable to lead.
• Depression of the CNS (Central Nervous System).
• Damage to vital organs such as the kidney and the liver.
• Higher risk of developing cancer.

It can be noted that many soil pollutants such as petroleum hydrocarbons and industrial solvents have been linked to congenital disorders in humans. Thus, soil pollution can have several negative effects on human health.

2.     Effects on Plants and Animals

Since soil pollution is often accompanied by a decrease in the availability of nutrients, plant life ceases to thrive in such soils. Soils contaminated with inorganic aluminium can prove toxic to plants. Also, this type of pollution often increases the salinity of the soil, making it inhospitable for the growth of plant life.

Plants that are grown in polluted soil may accumulate high concentrations of soil pollutants through a process known as bioaccumulation. When these plants are consumed by herbivores, all the accumulated pollutants are passed up the food chain. This can result in the loss/extinction of many desirable animal species. Also, these pollutants can eventually make their way to the top of the food chain and manifest as diseases in human beings.

3.     Effects on the Ecosystem

• Since the volatile contaminants in the soil can be carried away into the atmosphere by winds or can seep into underground water reserves, soil pollution can be a direct contributor to air and water pollution.
• It can also contribute towards acid rain (by releasing huge quantities of ammonia into the atmosphere).
• Acidic soils are inhospitable to several microorganisms that improve soil texture and help in the decomposition of organic matter. Thus, the negative effects of soil pollution also impact soil quality and texture.

Control Measures

Several technologies have been developed to tackle soil remediation. Some important strategies followed for the decontamination of polluted soil are listed below.

• Excavation and subsequent transportation of polluted soils to remote, uninhabited locations.
• Extraction of pollutants via thermal remediation – the temperature is raised in order to force the contaminants into the vapor phase, after which they can be collected through vapor extraction.
• Mycoremediation involves the use of fungi for the accumulation of heavy metal contaminants.

d)    Noise Pollution

 Noise is the unpleasant and undesirable sound which leads to discomfort to human beings. The intensity of sound is measured in decibels (dB). The faintest sound which can be heard by the Human ear is 1 Db. Due to increasing noise around the civilizations; noise pollution has become a matter of concern. Some of its major causes are vehicles, aircraft, industrial machines, loudspeakers, crackers, etc. Some other appliances also contribute to noise pollution like television, transistor, radio, etc. when used at high volume.

Types of Noise Pollution

Following are the three types of pollution:

• Transport Noise

It mainly consists of traffic noise which has increased in recent years with the increase in the number of vehicles. The increase in noise pollution leads to deafening of older people, headache, hypertension, etc.

• Neighbourhood Noise

The noise from gadgets, household utensils etc. Some of the main sources are musical instruments, transistors, loudspeakers etc.

• Industrial Noise

It is the high-intensity sound which is caused by heavy industrial machines. According to many researches industrial noise pollution damages the hearing ability to around 20%.

Causes of Noise Pollution

Following are the causes and sources of noise pollution:

• Industrialization: Industrialization has led to an increase in noise pollution as the use of heavy machinery such as generators, mills, huge exhaust fans, etc are used resulting in the production of unwanted noise.
• Vehicles: Increased number of vehicles on the roads are the second reason for noise pollution.
• Events: Weddings, public gatherings involve loudspeakers to play music resulting in the production of unwanted noise in the neighbourhood.
• Construction sites: Mining, construction of buildings, etc add to the noise pollution.

Effects of Noise Pollution

Noise pollution can be hazardous to human health in the following ways:

• Hypertension: It is a direct result of noise pollution which is caused due to elevated blood levels for a longer duration.
• Hearing loss: Constant exposure of human ears to loud noise that are beyond the range of sound that human ears can withstand damages the eardrums resulting in loss of hearing.
• Sleeping disorders: Lack of sleep might result in fatigue and low energy level throughout day affecting everyday activities. Noise pollution hampers the sleep cycles leading to irritation and uncomfortable state of mind.
• Cardiovascular issues: Heart related problems such as blood pressure level, stress, and cardiovascular diseases might come up in a normal person and person suffering from any of these diseases might feel the sudden shoot up in the level.

Control Measures

Some noise pollution preventive measures are provided in the points below.

• Honking in public places like teaching institutes, hospital, etc. should be banned.
• In commercial, hospital, and industrial buildings adequate soundproof systems should be installed.
• Musical instruments sound should be controlled to desirable limits.
• Dense tree cover is useful in noise pollution prevention.
• Explosives should be not used in forest, mountainous, and mining areas.

Key takeaways

1. The term pollution can be defined as influence of any substance causing nuisance, harmful effects, and uneasiness to the organisms.
2. The intensity of sound is measured in decibels (dB).

4.2 Types of pollutants and their fate in environment, Biodegradable and non-degradable pollutants

All living organisms depend upon a balanced environment for growth, development and reproduction.

All the components required by the organisms are present in the environment. When the balance of the environment gets disturbed for one reason or the other survival of living organisms becomes difficult.

This balance of the environment may be disturbed by the entrance of some harmful and unwanted components in the environment.

These unwanted, harmful components make the environment polluted. This is called pollution. Thus, any undesirable change of the physical, chemical or biological characteristics of the environment, which is harmful to man directly or indirectly through animals, plants, industrial units or raw materials, is called pollution. The substance which contaminates air, water and soil are called pollutants.

The pollutants can be classified into two groups:

1. Biodegradable pollutants

2. Non-biodegradable pollutants.

1. Biodegradable pollutants:

Those pollutants which can be broken down into simpler, harmless, substances in nature in due course of time (by the action of micro-organisms like certain bacteria) are called biodegradable pollutants. Domestic wastes (garbage), urine, faecal matter, sewage, agriculture residues, paper, wood, cloth, cattle dung, animal bones, leather, wool, vegetable stuff or plants are biodegradable pollutants.

2. Non-biodegradable pollutants:

Those pollutants which cannot be broken down into simpler, harmless substances in nature, are called non-biodegradable pollutants. DDT, plastics, polythene, bags, insecticides, pesticides, mercury, lead, arsenic, metal articles like aluminum cans, synthetic fibres, glass objects, iron products and silver foils are non-biodegradable pollutants.

Key takeaways

1. All living organisms depend upon a balanced environment for growth, development and reproduction.

4.3 Climate change, Acid rain, Global Warming, Ozone layer depletion and Greenhouse Effect.

Global warming

Global warming is a Global phenomenon. It refers to a gradual increase in the temperature of the Earth due to trapping of green house gases. A gradual increase in the overall temperature of the earth's atmosphere generally attributed to the greenhouse effect caused by increased levels carbon dioxide, CFCs, and other pollutants. Warming of the climate system is unequivocal, and scientists are 95-100% certain that it is primarily caused by increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases produced by human activities such as the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation. Gases such as CO2, SO2, NO2,CH4, etc. Are the green house gases. Most of these are the polluting gases that are produced by the industries. These gases trap the heat from the sunrays that are reflected from the sun.

Causes of Global Warming 

It is the effect of the process of trapping of Heat due to CO2 which has been going on since times unknown. As we burn fossil fuels like coal, oil and natural gas for energy or cut down and burn forests to create pastures and plantations, carbon accumulates and overloads our atmosphere. Certain waste management and agricultural practices aggravate the problem by releasing other potent global warming gases, such as methane and nitrous oxide.

The major greenhouse gases are water vapour, which causes about 36–70% of the greenhouse effect; carbon dioxide (CO2), which causes 9–26%; methane (CH4), which causes 4–9%; and ozone (O3), which causes 3-7%. Clouds also affect the radiation balance. 

Human activity since the Industrial Revolution has increased the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, leading to increased radioactive forcing from CO2, methane, troposphere ozone, CFCs and nitrous oxide.

Effects of global warming

• Sea level rise is accelerating. The planet's temperature is rising.
• Dangerous heat waves are becoming more common.The number of large wildfires is growing.
• Extreme storm events are increasing in many areas. More severe droughts are occurring in others. These are having significant and harmful effects on our health, our environment, and our communities.

Prevention of Global Warming 

The various ways to control Global Warming are: -

• Control of population. But, since it is not possible to control population, the best way to control Global warming is by planting trees - Decrease deforestation/plant forests
• Produce more fuel-efficient vehicles 
• Use of ecofriendly and biodegradable products.
• Improve energy-efficiency in buildings 
• Develop carbon capture and storage processes

Acid rain

 ACID RAIN is a rain or any other form of precipitation that is usually acidic i.e. it has low pH. Acid rain is caused by emissions of Sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide, which react with water molecules in the atmosphere to produce acids.

Involves deposition of aqueous acids, acidic gases and acidic salts. Acid deposition has 2 parts: wet and dry - Wet deposition refers to acidic rain, fog & snow - Dry deposition refers to acidic gases and particles - Half of the acidity in the atmosphere falls back to earth through dry deposition.

Sources

Acid rain comes from chemical reactions in the atmosphere among oxygen, water and sulfur or nitrogen oxides. When sulfur dioxide dissolves in small droplets of water in clouds, it reacts with the hydrogen and oxygen of the water to form a weak solution of sulfuric acid. Similarly, nitrogen oxides form weak nitric acid in water droplets. The clouds can drift over hundreds of miles carrying their acid droplets. When conditions are right for rain, the droplets grow and fall to the ground. In many areas of the United States, such as the great plains, the acid rain falls mostly on land used for agriculture.

Causes of Acid Rain

The primary cause of acid rain is the emission of harmful gases and emissions by industrial power plants and factories, and to some extent, cars as well. 

Burning of fossil fuels lead to emission of gases that give oxides of Sulphur and nitrogen. 

Burning of gasoline and diesel in cars build the amount of acidified water droplets in the atmosphere.

Effects of Acid Rain 

The effects of acid rain are unhealthy and harmful. Buildings, national monuments and bridges tend to deteriorate faster. 

Acid rain has been found to be very hard on trees. It weakens them by washing away the protective film on leaves, and it stunts growth.

The biggest reason to find satisfactory solutions for acid rains is the damage to natural ecosystems. This rain will affect the plants, trees, rivers, lakes, soil and land wherever it may fall on.

Animals and plants that live in such areas are severely affected. Their food sources get diminished, they may develop unhealthy diseases or mutations, or they may even die in extreme cases,

EFFECT ON HUMANS

The pollutants that cause acid rain—Sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides damage human health. These gases interact in the atmosphere to form fine sulphate and nitrate particles that can be transported long distances by winds and inhaled deep into people's lungs. When we breathe in air pollution, these very fine particulates can easily enter our body, where they can cause breathing problems (asthma), bronchitis and over time even cause skin cancer.

Solutions for acid rain

 To solve the acid rain problem, people need to understand how acid rain damages the environment. They also need to understand what changes could be made to the air pollution sources that cause the problem. Use Low Sulphur Coal The amount of Sulphur oxides emitted by a power plant can be reduced by burning coal with a very low percentage of Sulphur present.

Ozone layer depletion

The ozone layer in the upper atmosphere absorbs the sun’s ultraviolet radiation, preventing it from reaching the earth’s surface. This layer in the atmosphere protects life on earth from the dangerous UV radiation from the sun. The chemicals called chlorofluorocarbons or CFCs, which were used as refrigerants and aerosol spray propellants, posed a threat to the ozone layer. 

The destruction of the ozone layer is seen to cause increased cases of skin cancer and cataracts. It also causes damage to certain crops and to plankton, thus affecting natures food chains and food webs. This in turn causes an increase in carbon dioxide due to the decrease in vegetation. Protecting the Ozone Layer Ban the use of CFC’s Have to replace with something Current replacements are greenhouse gases and do not eliminate ozone depletion, just slow it down.

Key takeaways

1. ACID RAIN is a rain or any other form of precipitation that is usually acidic i.e. it has low pH.
2. The pollutants that cause acid rain—Sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides damage human health.
3. The ozone layer in the upper atmosphere absorbs the sun’s ultraviolet radiation, preventing it from reaching the earth’s surface. 

4.4 Disaster Management-Flood, Earthquake, Cyclone, Hurricane, Landslides, Waste Water

Disaster is a sudden calamity which brings misfortune and miseries to humanity.

Types:

1. Natural disaster

 2. Man-made disaster

Natural disaster: Floods, Cyclones, earth quakes, landslides. etc

Man-made disaster: Accidents, pollutions, fire accidents, bomb blasts.

FLOODS:

Defined as a situation when the river over flows is banks and the water spreads in the surrounding areas and submerging them. It usually occurs in rainy season.

Causes

• Heavy intense rain falls
• Melting of accumulated snow
• Melting of snow combine with rains
• over saturated soil when the ground cannot hold any more water
• Urbanization

Control

1. Forecast, warning and advice should be provided through media to educate aware people about steps to be taken on the event of mishap.
2. Valuable house hold items, animals and materials like food, clothes, medicines etc. should be shifted to safe places.
3. Elderly people and children should be evacuated to safer place on emergency.
4. By the construction of protective works.

EARTHQUAKE:

Sudden vibration caused on the earth surface due to sudden release of tremendous amount of energy stored in the rocks under the earth crust is called earthquake.

A focus of an earthquake is the point of initial movement. Epicenter is the point on the surface directly above the focus.

Measure of Earth quake-Richter scale

Magnitude of earthquake is a measure of amount of energy released in the earthquake. Earthquake is recorded by seismograph.

• Less than 4-insignificant
• 4-4.9-minor
• 5-5.9-damaging
• 6-6.9-destructive,
• 7-7.9-major
• Above 8- great
• Primary effect of earth quake: Shaking

Sometimes a permanent vertical or horizontal displacement of the ground .This affects people bridges, dams, pipe lines.

Secondary effects

Rocks slides, flood caused by the subsidence of land, coastal areas are severely damaged. Earth quake generated water wave called Tsunami and also called tidal waves that travel as fast as 950km/hr.

Precautionary measures

• People should come out of their homes and stay in the open till the tremors subside.
• People already out of home should stay away from the building electric poles, trees and any tall objects that have chances of falling down.
• After the earth quake relief camp by the Government or other social groups should be conducted for the affected people.

CYCLONE:

An atmospheric closed circulation, rotating anti- clock wise in the northern hemi sphere and clock wise in southern hemisphere.

Cyclone is an area of low pressure in the centre and high pressure outside. Powerful swirling storm that measures from 300- 500 km in diameter. The wind in the centre of cyclone blows in the speed of 120km/hr.

In India cyclone originates from Bay of Bengal are more in number and intensity. Relatively less south-west Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea. In India cyclones occur during October-December or April-May.

EFFECTS

• Damage to human life, crops, roads, transport, and communication could be heavy.
• Cyclone slows down developmental activities of the area.

Management

• Meteorological Departments forecast by satellite images the weather conditions which reveal the strength and intensity of the storm.
• Radar systems is used to detect cyclone and cyclone warning.
• The effect of cyclone is minimized by planting more trees on the coastal belts, constructional dams, wind breaks etc.

LAND SLIDES:

A landslide is a sudden collapse of large mass of hill side.

Types

• Shallow disrupted land slide
• decoherent landslide

Factors causing landslides

• Caused by rain forces increasing top material weight, lubricating the material layer or making slope top steep.
• Gravity-gravity works more effectively on steeper slopes
• Weather: Most slides occur during or after heavy rains

Effects

• Flow deposit blocks the road and diverts the passage

Prevention

• Revegetate the area to prevent the surface erosion. Inspect and repair all drainage system. Collect runoff from roofs and improved areas and convey water from the steep slopes in a well-designed pipe system.

Environmental movements; Chipko, silent valley Bishnois of Rajasthan

The Bishnois, a small community in Rajasthan, value their trees and wildlife as much as their lives. following one of the 29 rules given by their guru, the Bishnois would do anything to prevent the destruction of trees by human beings, including hugging the trees if they are threatened in any way; the destroyer cannot cut the trees without cutting these human bodies. Amrita Devi, a female villager hugged the trees and encouraged others to do the same. 363 Bishnoi villagers were killed in this movement. Bishnoi movement – 1700s.

Chipko Movement- 1973 Mr. Bahuguna enlightened the villagers by conveying the of the forests (especially the right to fodder) should go to local people. the Chipko movement gathered momentum in 1978 when the women faced police firings and other tortures. then the state chief minister, Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna set up a committee to look into the matter, which eventually ruled in favor of the villagers. importance of trees in the environment which checks the erosion of soil, cause rains and provides pure air. the women of Advani village of tehri-Garhwal tied the sacred thread around trunks of trees and they hugged the trees, hence it was called ‘Chipko movement’ or ‘hug the tree movement’. the main demand of the people in these protests was that the benefits

Key takeaways

1. Sudden vibration caused on the earth surface due to sudden release of tremendous amount of energy stored in the rocks under the earth crust is called earthquake.
2. Magnitude of earthquake is a measure of amount of energy released in the earthquake. Earthquake is recorded by seismograph.

4.5 Management and Solid Waste management.

Causes

1. Lack of Policies to Control Pollution

Lack of effective policies and poor enforcement drive allowed many industries to bypass laws made by the pollution control board, which resulted in mass-scale pollution that affected the lives of many people.

2. Unplanned Industrial Growth

In most industrial townships, unplanned growth took place wherein those companies flouted rules and norms and polluted the environment with both air and water pollution.

3. Use of Outdated Technologies

Most industries still rely on old technologies to produce products that generate a large amount of waste. To avoid high cost and expenditure, many companies still make use of traditional technologies to produce high-end products.

4. Presence of a Large Number of Small-Scale Industries

Many small-scale industries and factories that don’t have enough capital and rely on government grants to run their day-to-day businesses often escape environment regulations and release a large number of toxic gases in the atmosphere.

5. Inefficient Waste Disposal

Water pollution and soil pollution are often caused directly due to inefficiency in the disposal of waste. Long term exposure to polluted air and water causes chronic health problems, making the issue of industrial pollution into a severe one. It also lowers the air quality in surrounding areas, which causes many respiratory disorders.

6. Leaching of Resources from Our Natural World

Industries do require a large amount of raw material to make them into finished products. This requires the extraction of minerals from beneath the earth. The extracted minerals can cause soil pollution when spilled on the earth. Leaks from vessels can cause oil spills that may prove harmful to marine life.

7. Natural Resource Use

Raw material is a must for industries, which often requires them even pulling out underground elements. One of the most common forms of leaching from natural resources is fracking for oil.

When industries extract minerals, the process causes soil pollution and also causes oil leaks and spills that are harmful and even deadly to people and animals.

Effects

1. Water Pollution

The effects of industrial pollution are far-reaching and liable to affect the ecosystem for many years to come. Most industries require large amounts of water for their work. When involved in a series of processes, the water comes into contact with heavy metals, harmful chemicals, radioactive waste, and even organic sludge.

These are either dumped into open oceans or rivers. As a result, many of our water sources have a high amount of industrial waste in them, which seriously impacts the health of our ecosystem. The same water is then used by farmers for irrigation purposes, which affects the quality of food that is produced.

2. Soil Pollution

Soil pollution is creating problems in agriculture and destroying local vegetation. It also causes chronic health issues to the people that come in contact with such soil on a daily basis.

3. Air Pollution

Air pollution has led to a steep increase in various illnesses, and it continues to affect us on a daily basis. With so many small, mid and large-scale industries coming up, air pollution has taken a toll on the health of the people and the environment.

4. Wildlife Extinction

By and large, the issue of industrial pollution shows us that it causes natural rhythms and patterns to fail, meaning that the wildlife is getting affected in a severe manner. Habitats are being lost, species are becoming extinct, and it is harder for the environment to recover from each natural disaster.

Major industrial accidents like oil spills, fires, the leakage of radioactive materials and damage to property are harder to clean-up as they have a higher impact in a shorter timeframe.

5. Global Warming

With the rise in industrial pollution, global warming has been increasing at a steady pace. Smoke and greenhouse gases are being released by industries into the air, which causes an increase in global warming.

 Melting of glaciers, extinction of polar bears, floods, tsunamis, hurricanes are few of the effects of global warming.

6. Biodiversity Loss

Industrial pollution continues to cause significant damage to the earth and all of its inhabitants due to chemical wastes, pesticides, radioactive materials etc. It affects wildlife and ecosystems and disrupts natural habitats. Animals are becoming extinct, and habitats are being destroyed.

The increasing liquid, solid and hazardous wastes undermine ecosystem health and impact on food, water and health security. Industrial pollution disasters, including oil spills and radioactive leakage, take years to decades to clean up.

7. Atmospheric Deposition

Cadmium enrichment of soil can also be associated with industrial pollution. Top soils contaminated by mine spoil showed a wide range of Cd concentrations.

Industrial effluents are commonly discharged to surface water drainage systems after clarification in tailing ponds. Recent investigations have disclosed very high concentrations of Cd in the overbank and bottom sediments of the rivers.

An integrated waste management strategy includes three main components

1. Source reduction

2. Recycling

3. Disposal

Source reduction is one of the fundamental ways to reduce waste. This can be done by using less material when making a product, reuse of products on site, designing products or packaging to reduce their quantity. On an individual level we can reduce the use of unnecessary items while shopping, buy items with minimal packaging, avoid buying disposable items and also avoid asking for plastic carry bags.

Recycling is reusing some components of the waste that may have some economic value. Recycling has readily visible benefits such as conservation of resources reduction in energy used during manufacture and reducing pollution levels. Some materials such as aluminium and steel can be recycled many times. Metal, paper, glass and plastics are recyclable. Mining of new aluminium is expensive and hence recycled aluminium has a strong market and plays a significant role in the aluminium industry. Paper recycling can also help preserve forests as it takes about 17 trees to make one ton of paper. Crushed glass (cullet) reduces the energy required to manufacture new glass by 50 percent. Cullet lowers the temperature requirement of the glassmaking process thus conserving energy and reducing air pollution.

Key takeaways

1. When industries extract minerals, the process causes soil pollution and also causes oil leaks and spills that are harmful and even deadly to people and animals.
2. Recycling is reusing some components of the waste that may have some economic value.

REFERENCES:

1. Textbook Of Environmental Science By Deeksha Dave And E.Sai Baba Reddy, Cengage

Publications.

2. Text Book Of Environmental Sciences And Technology By M.Anji Reddy, BS Publication.

3. Comprehensive Environmental Studies By J.P.Sharma, Laxmi Publications.

4. Environmental Sciences And Engineering – J. Glynn Henry And Gary W. Heinke – Prentice Hall Of

India Private Limited.

5. A Text Book Of Environmental Studies By G.R.Chatwal, Himalaya Publishing House

6. Introduction To Environmental Engineering And Science By Gilbert M. Masters And Wendell P. Ela -

Prentice Hall Of India Private Limited.