UNIT- III

ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION 8
Definition – Causes, effects and control measures of: (a) Air pollution (b)
Water pollution (c) Soil pollution (d) Marine pollution (e) Noise pollution (f)
Thermal pollution (g) Nuclear hazards – Soil waste Management: Causes, effects
and control measures of urban and industrial wastes – Role of an individual in
prevention of pollution – Pollution case studies – Disaster management: floods,
earthquake, cyclone and landslides.

Field Study of local polluted site – Urban / Rural / Industrial / Agricultural

 ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
Pollution is the addition of unwanted, undesirable matters into the environment
making it interfere with human health, the quality of life, or the natural functioning of
ecosystems (living organisms and their physical surroundings). The Pollutants are the
substances that cause pollution, which may be either degradable or non-degradable ones.
Although many natural sources like earthquake, volcanic eruption cause pollution, mostly
the act of pollution is increased by the human activities.

AIR POLLUTION
Air is essential and is a basic requirement for all the living organisms in this
world. If it is polluted nothing can withstand in this world.

Definition:
Air pollution is the presence of one or more contaminants in the atmosphere
causing undesirable changes that are harmful to living organisms and cause damage to
the property.

Classification of Air Pollutants:

I) Based on Origin:
i) Natural sources: They are contaminants that are added to the environment
naturally. e.g. – pollen grains, microorganisms, volcanic eruption, dust, smoke, fog,
compounds of carbon, nitrogen, sulphur, radioactive substances etc.
ii) Anthropogenic sources:
a) Primary pollutants are directly emitted into the atmosphere from the
sources that could be identified. e.g. CO, NOx, SOx, lead, NH3, soot.
b) Secondary Pollutants are derived from the primary pollutant by various
chemical and photo – chemical reactions e.g. PAN(Peroxy-acyl nitrate),
ozone , aldehydes, etc.
II) Based on chemical composition:
i) Organic pollutant – e.g. Hydrocarbons, alcohols, amines, ketones, etc.
ii) Inorganic Pollutants – halogens, carbon, nitrogen, sulphur compounds, etc.

Causes Of Air Pollution:

I) Natural Causes
The Natural causes of air pollution are the pollen grains from the flowers, wind
blown dust, marsh gases like methane, hydrogen sulphide, cosmic dust, poisonous gases,
radioactive and other chemicals from the volcanic eruption, forest fires and various
microorganisms that are normally present in the air.
II) Man made or Anthropogenic Causes
The man made sources include the following .
 Agriculture: the increase in agricultural activities and the green revolution have
lead to the indiscriminate use of pesticides, insecticides, herbicides, etc.
 Automobiles: The combustion of fossil fuels and their related products will lead to
the release of harmful gases like CO, CO 2, SO2, etc. along with the emission of
lead particulates and hydrocarbons.
  Domestic sources: The burning of fossil fuels, usage of Freon and other
chlorofluorocarbons as refrigerants, coolants and in aerosols cause pollution.
 Deforestation: The indiscriminate cutting and felling of the trees and clearing of
the forest cover is known as deforestation. Plants are the only agents that maintain
the carbon dioxide and oxygen level in the atmosphere. Any disturbance to it will
thus indirectly affect this gaseous balance.
 Industries : They play a vital role in the emission of the air pollutant into the
atmosphere. The major industries include – cement, cotton mills, atomic and
thermal power stations, metallurgical operations and mining. The pollutants
include soot, ash particles due to burning of fossil fuels, various gases of CO,
CO2, SO2, NO2, NO, metals, poisonous gases like hydrogen cyanide, hydrogen
sulphide, etc.
 Population: The increase in the population will definitely lead to increase in
industrialization, urbanization, and a need for increase in food production that will
indirectly lead to increase in all manmade activities and to pollution.
 Fire: Burning of fossil fuels, incomplete combustion of the waste materials in the
road sides, burning of forest covers always lead to emission of gases like CO,
CO2, SO2, NO2, etc.
 War: The various radiations like alpha, beta, and gamma and radioactive fallouts
that are released into the atmosphere from testing nuclear explosives, and by the
usage of sophisticated explosives have resulted in pollution.

Effects of Air Pollution:

The air pollution is of global concern as the pollutant that is produced at one
country could travel a long distance and could show its impact in some other country.
The main ecological effects of air pollution are the
 Global warming or the Green house effect : The progressive heating up of the
earth surface due to the increase in the green house gases like CO 2, CH4, NOx,
water vapour in the atmosphere which absorbs and reradiate some of the
radiations back into the atmosphere is known as green house effect, which
ultimately leads to increase in the earth’s average temperature known as global
warming. This may cause melting of polar ice caps, increase in sea level, etc.
 Ozone layer depletion: Ozone is the protective layer in the earth’s atmosphere that
acts as a filter by filtering the harmful ultraviolet radiations of the sun from
reaching the earth’s surface. The air pollutants like Freon and the other CFC’s
destroy this layer and thereby have lead to the formation of the ozone hole,
through which the harmful rays from the sun could pass through. These rays are
carcinogenic, and cause ageing.
 Acid Rain: The atmospheric oxides of sulphur, nitrogen dissolve in rain water to
form sulphuric acid and nitric acid. The rainwater falls as acid rain with high pH,
which affects the trees, water bodies and buildings.
 Smog : It is a mixture of solid and liquid fog and smoke particles formed when
humidity is high. It reduces natural visibility and cause eyes and respiratory tract
irritation.
Other than the impacts on the environment, the air pollutants also have its adverse
effects on the living organisms and that of the materials. Some are discussed below.
Effect on Human:
 Oxides of Nitrogen: Bronchitis, respiratory problems, impairment of lung
defenses, pulmonary hemorrhages, destruction of cellular enzymes, emphysema,
edema of lung resulting in death
 Sulphur dioxide: Eye and respiratory tract irritation, suffocation, cough, chronic
bronchitis, injure mucous membrane and cause psychological stress.
 Carbon monoxide : CNS impairment, blood poisoning. It combines with
hemoglobin, forming carboxy hemoglobin that reduces oxygen carrying capacity
and causes respiratory failures, head ache, coma, and death. Acute poison cause
immediate death
 Ammonia : Corrosion of mucous membrane, eye, throat, respiratory tract,
irritation.
 Halogens Cl, HF : Irritation of eyes, nose, respiratory tract, Large dose –
emphysema, bronchitis. Fluorosis of bones, mottling of teeth
 Hydrocarbons: Vinyl chloride – liver cancer; Benzypyrene – Induce cancer;
Benzene – lung cancer, mucous and respiratory tract irritation; Toluene – Affect
nervous system, fatigue, weakness.
 Particulates: Asbestos – Asbestosis; Lead – Liver, kidney damage, mental
retardation, abnormalities in pregnancy, interferes in RBC maturation. Silica –
Silicosis; Coal – Black lung; Cotton – Byssinosis; Arsenic – Black foot disease,
lung and skin cancer.
 Radiation: Genetic disorders chromosomal aberration, mutations, carcinogenic,
stillbirth and reduction in life expectancy.
 Oxidants O3 : Irritation of lungs, eyes and damage lung capillaries.

Effect on Plants And Animals

 Oxides of Nitrogen: Retard photosynthesis, cause Chlorosis, leaf spotting,
breakdown of plant tissue and growth suppression.
 Sulphur dioxide: Necrosis, affect the enzymatic activity, suppress photosynthesis
and other metabolic activity, cause Chlorosis, dwarfing & affect stomatal spores.
 Fluoride : Cause acute chronic foliage injury, reduction in respiration and plant
yields. In animals they cause fluorosis of bones and mottling of teeth.
 Hydrocarbons: Chlorosis, stipples, inhibits growth, damage leaf tissues and cause
death.
 Radiation: Growth inhibition morphological changes. Cause chromosomal
mutation, and affect pollens, seeds & embryo.
 Ozone : It is a phytotoxic pollutant, they affect the mature leaf first. They reduce
growth, and cold resistance.
 Particulates: Arsenic cause arsenic pollution in animals with symptoms like
salivation, thirst, depression of CNS. Lead poisoning symptoms - lethargy,
paralysis, breathing troubles.
Effect on materials:
 Oxides of Nitrogen: Fading, colour change and loss of fiber strength, they also
cause corrosion in buildings due to formation of Nitric acid.
 Sulphur dioxide: Deterioration of marble, limestone, paper, buildings, leather, and
cause stone leprosy
 Hydrocarbons: Affect the tensile strength.
 Particulates: Damage buildings and materials, increase metal corrosion, soiling
and spotting and reduce tensile strength.
 Radiation: Fading and cracking.
 Ozone: Cracking and weakening of rubber, cause discoloration of paints.

Control of Air Pollution:

There are various methods to control air pollution. Some are discussed below:
1. Environmental education and awareness among the public: The public must be
educated about the air pollution and its adverse effects to get rid of the pollution
or at least to minimize its effect.
2. Source level reduction: Modifications like changes in raw material or the process,
or on the equipments could be made to reduce the extent of pollution at the source
itself.
3. Afforestation: Air pollution could be reduced to very high level by growing plants
which act as a sink for carbon dioxide.
4. Usage of Control devices: The particulate matters from the industries could be
removed by employing suitable control devices based on the nature of the process
and pollution strength of the industry as well as the capacity of the control device.
The various devices used are as follows:
 Gravity chamber – based on the gravitational force the particulates are
pulled down when air passes through the funnel like chamber.
 Cyclone separators – Air is passed through a cylindrical chamber where
due to centrifugal force the particulates are collected in a cone.
 Fabric Filter- The particulates are filtered and retained in the filter made
of cloth, when the polluted air passes through it.
 Scrubber – The particulates are washed away by the water sprayed from
the top, when the polluted air is passed from the bottom.
 Electrostatic precipitator – Electric current is used to charge the
particulates, whereby they move towards the electrodes and are then
removed.
Removal of gases:
 Combustion – Incinerators are used for combustion of the pollutant that
are organic in nature to be converted to water vapour and innocuous
products like CO2.
 Absorption – The gaseous effluents are passed through the scrubber or
absorber, which has suitable absorbent to remove the pollutant in the gas
stream e.g. Sodium hydroxide, are used as adsorbent for hydrogen
fluoride.
  Adsorption – In this phenomenon, the pollutant gases are adsorbed to the
surface adsorbent e.g. NOx are adsorbed by Silica gel.
5. Environment legislation: The various environmental laws that were enforced
must be made more stricter.
GRAVITY SEPARATOR

Dirty air Clean air

Factory smoke darkens the sky (1)

WATER POLLUTION
Water being the universal solvent, is the essence of all life in this blue planet,
without it all the life in earth will perish.

Definition:
Water pollution is the addition of any foreign substances into the water, making it
unfit for the use of living organisms, by changing its composition and condition.

Causes Of Water Pollution:

I) Natural causes: The organic matters that are present in the water naturally undergoes
decomposition thereby increasing the nutrient level and causing pollution.
II) Anthropogenic causes: Man’s activities for the sake of development have lead to the
pollution. Some of the causes are as follows.
 Agriculture: Fertilizer, pesticides, insecticides, herbicides and manure that are applied
to the plants to increase the productivity leach out along with the runoff and along
with soil erosion, results in water pollution.
 Domestic Sources: Domestic sewage mainly consist of toilet waste, wash waters,
kitchen waste water, etc. They mainly contains larger amount of disease causing
germs.
 Exploitation of Natural resources: The destruction of the forest have brought about
floods and run-off which carry along with it some amount of silt, that deposits at the
bottom of the water bodies thereby reducing their age.
 Eutrophication: The fertilizers, soaps and detergents add large amount of nutrients –
nitrates and phosphates to the water bodies. This increase lead to the growth of fresh
water algae and phytoplankton’s to grow well in the water, and forms a blanket over
the river. They deplete the dissolved oxygen content of the water and create an
anaerobic condition making the water unfit for usage.
 Industrial effluent: Every industry consumes water in one way or the other. These
water if not properly treated cause water pollution in the water bodies where it is
discharged. The extent of the pollution depends on the raw materials used, kind of
process and the treatment employed to treat the wastewater. The major polluting
industries include – distillery, electroplating, tanning, refineries, paper and pulp, etc.
This water has high organic content and contains some amount of metals.
 Power plants: The atomic and thermal Power plants contribute to the high
temperature of the water.
 Radioactivity: The Nuclear power plant, reactors, nuclear test all these increase the
amount of radioactive substances into the environment that causes pollution.

Effects of Water Pollution:

 Temperature: Leads to migration of the aquatic organisms and their mortality.
They deplete the dissolved oxygen level in the water body, thereby increasing the
BOD.
 Metals: Most of the metals have the capacity to bioaccumulate within the
organisms.
 Lead: Cause kidney and liver damage, mental retardation, anemia, etc.
 Mercury: Blurred vision, deafness, mental deterioration, numbness of lips,
limbs, etc. and causes Minamata disease first reported in Japan.
 Cadmium: Bone deformation, kidney damage, injure CNS, liver,
hypertension, growth retardation, and causes the disease itai-itai first
reported in Japan
 Copper: Hypertension, uremia, coma, sporadic fever.
 Chromium: Nephritis, gastro – intestinal ulceration, cancer.
 Barium: Diarrhoea, paralysis.
 Zinc: Cramps, vomiting, renal damage.
 Chlorine: Impart characteristic odour to the water and may cause stomach upset.
 Nitrates: They accumulate in the body of the children causing
methemoglobinaemia and thereby leading to blue baby syndrome. They also
cause Eutrophication.
 Fluorine: Fluorine toxicity results in fluorosis of bones and mottling of teeth.
 Phosphates: They cause Eutrophication in the water bodies.
 Pesticides: These substances get accumulated in the aquatic organism, more than
that present in the surroundings known as Bioaccumulation. Further, the increase
in trophic level increases the amount of these substances in the organisms. E.g.
the concentration of DDT in water body is say 3.0 x 10-6PPM; it amplifies to 3.0 x
10-3 PPM in zooplanktons, then to 5 x 10 -1 PPM in small fish, to 2 PPM in large
fish and further to 25PPM in case of fish eating birds. These pesticides are
carcinogens and affect the vital organs of the body.
 Oil: They affect the exchange of the gases at the surface of the water body, and
the light penetration. Resulting in the reduction of dissolved oxygen level and
again anaerobic condition. This oil also coat a layer over the gills of the fishes and
other aquatic organisms and birds.
 Siltation: Reduces light penetration, thereby reducing the photosynthesis rate
resulting in depletion of dissolved oxygen level and causing anaerobic condition.
  Radioactive substances: They are mostly carcinogenic; also cause cataracts, and
damages in genetic level
 Microorganisms: Causes water borne disease like cholera (Vibrio cholerae),
typhoid (Salmonella), and dysentery.

Control of Water Pollution:

Water treatment: The waste water that are generated from the industries and domestic
sources must be properly treated. There are three stages of the treatment.
 Primary stage :
 Grit chamber – To remove larger substances – plastic cover, glass.
 Sedimentation – To remover suspended impurities by gravitational force.
 Coagulation – Addition of chemicals to remove minute particles.
 Filtration – To filter out small suspended particles.
 Secondary treatments:
 Activated Sludge and Trickling Filters – In this method the organic substances in
the water are degraded by the microorganisms under favorable conditions.
 Tertiary or advance treatments:
 Reverse osmosis – where pressure is used to force fresh water through a thin
membrane that does not allow the minerals to pass.
 Ammonia Stripping – In this process the microorganisms degrade the various
nitrogen compounds to atmospheric nitrogen that escapes into the atmosphere.
 Adsorption – it is a surface phenomenon, in which the pollutants accumulate at
the surface of the adsorbent.
 Recycling: The wastewater after some preliminary treatments could be recycled. For
e.g. the kitchen, wastewater can be used for gardening purpose after filtration. The
recycling of water is advantageous provided the wastewater does not contain any
harmful microorganisms.
 Public awareness : Public must be educated about the ill effects and the ways and
means to control this pollution along with it the strict enforcement of the
environmental laws is also essential.

Discharging Of Industrial Effluent (2)

SOIL POLLUTION
Soil, the loose material that covers the land surfaces of Earth and supports the
growth of plants. Improper maintenance of which will affect the survival of all the
organisms.
Definition:
Soil pollution is addition of toxic chemical compounds, salts, pathogens,
radioactive materials, and other hazardous material into the environment that affect the
plant and animal life.

Causes of soil pollution:

 Solid waste: The main soil pollution is due to the improper disposal of the solid waste
(municipal, biomedical and hazardous waste) both degradable ones and the non-
degradable wastes such as tyres, plastic articles, shoes, glasses, etc.
 Deforestation: The indiscriminate cutting and clearing of the forest for agriculture
and settlement also leads to soil pollution.
 Agricultural Practices:
 Use of Fertilizers: Synthetic fertilizers, which are used to increase the fertility and
productivity, has now lead to pollution as most of the essential nutrients are
concentrated in the top layer of the soil.
 Use of Pesticides: Pesticides are chemicals used to combat pests in modern
agricultural practices. They include insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, etc. These
substances when applied onto the plants come in contact and accumulate in the
soil.
 Radioactive substances: The radioactive fallouts from the power plants, nuclear tests,
settle to the soil finally causing pollution
 Industrial waste: Discharge of waste water, and improper disposal of untreated
industrial wastes cause pollution, by adding large amount of toxic substances to it.
Similarly fall-out of gaseous and particulate air-pollutants from mining and smelting
operations, smoke- stacks, etc., causes pollution.

Effects Of Soil Pollution:

 Solid waste- The disposal of the degradable waste adds up to the soil toxic
substances and other pathogenic microorganisms that pose a serious health hazard
and diminishes the productivity of the plants. The dumping areas also serve as a
breeding site for germs which also facilitate the spread of the diseases, and bad
odour. Whereas the non-degradable wastes like tyres, plastic articles, shoes, clog
the air and water circulation in the different strata of the soil.
 Deforestation – Deforestation results in Erosion - loss of the top soil, thereby
decreasing the productivity. It also leads to formation of gullies. The eroded soil
settles to the bottom of the surface waters and reduces their age.
 Fertilizers – The enrichment of fertilizers in the top soil does not favour the
microbial floras that are essential to maintain the nutrient cycle. They also affect
the biochemical characteristics of the crops growing in that area, and make the
plant vulnerable for the attack of the pests. These excessive chemicals percolates
and affects the ground water, they may also enter into the surface water and cause
Eutrophication. As the soil, become highly nutritive, other unwanted plants
(weeds) start to grow in the area leading to competition among the plants.
 Pesticides - These chemical substances are mostly non – degradable ones and
hence persist in the environment for a longer time bioaccumulating in food chain
or biotransformed to become substance that is more toxic. These toxic substances
 being deleterious affect the soil fertility and crop productivity. These pesticides
enter into the water through run-off and through the food chain; they enter into
living organisms where they are proven toxics, e.g. DDT causes impotency, affect
calcium metabolism, cause decrease in the photosynthetic rate in several algae;
pyrethrum is a contact poison; Paris green is a stomach poison; dioxins causes
birth defects, insecticides mostly causes mutation and cancer.
 Radioactive substances – They cause cancer, mental retardation, mutations and
birth defects.
 Industrial waste – The metals from the industries are toxic for the growth of the
plants. These chemicals cause cancer, and affect the major organs of the body.
These industrial; waste also sometimes affect the property by bringing changes in
the pH.

Control of Soil Pollution:

 Proper management of the solid waste: Improper disposal of the solid waste must
be avoided, the degradable waste matters could be converted to manure, while the
non-degradable products must be disposed either in landfills or must be destroyed
in the incinerators, pyrolysis etc.
 Bio-fertilizers and Bio- pesticides: The usage of synthetic fertilizers should be
minimized and usage of bio-fertilizers and organic manures must be encouraged.
Similarly, replacement of the pesticides by bio-pesticides is also essential.
 Afforestation could be done to minimize the soil erosion.
 Recycling and Reuse: Minimization of the waste at source level will decrease the
extent of the pollution. Therefore, the recycling and reuse processes must be
encouraged.
 Recovery of the affected soil is very essential; the acidic soils could be brought
back to the original condition by the application of basic fertilizers like sodium
nitrate or by proper soil and water management or by the usage of chalk, fly ash,
wood ash, slag, etc. Saline soil reclamation can be obtained by the usage of acidic
fertilizers or providing good drainage and using salt free irrigation water.
Insecticides sprayed on potato to prevent potato beetles (3)

MARINE POLLUTION
The earth is made of about 75% of water. The oceans are a good source of food
resource in the near future; they also serve as an ideal place to dump the waste materials.

Definition:
It is defined as the discharge of waste substances into the sea causing threat to
living organisms, and to human health, by impairing the quality of seawater due to
changes in their condition.
Causes of Marine Pollution:
Natural causes: The marine pollution may also have a natural origin. E.g.,. They
might be due to under water gas production and eruptions
 Industries: The discharge of the industrial wastewater and solid waste into the sea
increase the toxic chemicals, degradable waste – oxygen-demanding substances.
The heated water from the coolers of the power plants also brings in pollution.
 Municipal and domestic waste: The solid and liquid waste are disposed into the
sea, all the materials deposited on the streets like rubber from auto tires,
droppings of animals, plastics, garbage, oils are washed to sea, causing pollution.
 Agriculture: The agriculture run-off with high amount of pesticides and fertilizers
increase the concentration of toxic substances that bioaccumulate.
 Spills: The oil tankers and cargo ships due to leaks or accidents may cause spills.
 Transport : The fishing boats and ships discharge old nets and useless materials,
similarly, the passengers of the ship throw unwanted and used materials like
plastics into the sea making it unfit for living organisms to live in it.
 War: The war among the countries often results in setting up of fire in oil wells,
testing and usage of nuclear bombs leading to pollution.
 Recreation: In shallow water, motor boats stir up the sediments at the bottom, a
persisting for long time. This turbidity affects the plant growth.
 Radioactive substances: The improper disposal of the wastes from nuclear power
plants, and other related industries, along with the radioactive fallouts add up the
pollution level.
 Others: The loading and unloading processes, offshore oil exploration and
extraction of oil, offshore mining causes pollution.

Effects of Marine Pollution:

 Industries: The discharge mainly contains toxic metals like mercury resulting in
diseases like Minamata, Chlorinated and hydrogenated hydrocarbons cause
patches on the skin, kidney damage, weight loss and tumors formation.
 Heat: The heated waters change the ecological conditions in water affecting the
coral reefs, and physiological conditions in other organisms.
 Municipal and domestic waste: These effluents rich in nutrients cause
Eutrophication, the organic material degrade to deplete the oxygen level in water
causing the death of many living organisms. Organic pollution also increases the
multiplication of harmful organisms, like dinoflagellates- Gymnodinium
splendens resulting in red tides and large scale fish mortality. It is also causes
severe poisoning when man consumes the fishes. The harmful bacteria cause
cholera, typhoid, diarrhoea, dysentery.
 Agriculture: Many pesticides destroy and damage the zooplanktons, reef
community. Planktonic larvae are very vulnerable and bioaccumulate these
compounds. The fertilizers increase the nutrient level of the water thereby
causing Eutrophication.
 Spills: The oil spill makes the water turbid, reducing light penetration and thereby
decreasing the photosynthetic process, depleting dissolved oxygen. Further oil
coating clog the gill slits of fishes, make them unable to respire, they also form a
 coat on the birds affecting their fright. Inhalation of aromatics results in leukemia
in man and necrosis to lower animals.
 Radioactive substances: Thus radioactive isotopes of Cs, Zn get accumulated in
the soft tissues; some isotopes also bring about genetic disorders.
 Foaming: The addition of surfactants and other synthetic detergents cause
foaming, that again covers the entire surface of the water and affects the gaseous
exchange.

Control of Marine Pollution:

 Both in industries and domestic areas - Treatment of the wastewater and proper
disposal of the solid waste are essential.
 The oil could be removed by Skimming of the surface, by using suitable
absorbent e.g.: saw dust; by evaporation, emulsification, burning , or through
biological means using Super bug (genetically engineered organism to remove
oil)
 The thermal pollution could be minimized by using efficient heat exchangers.
 Strict enforcement of the environmental laws and awareness among the public is
essential to minimize marine pollution.
 The public awareness must be created, so as they do not drop out any waste
materials into the water.
 The offshore drilling, transportation of the oils through sea ways, must be
carefully done to prevent the environmental damages.

Usage of special nets to remove the oil spills (4)

NOISE POLLUTION

Noise Pollution or Sound Pollution is the exposure of people or animals to levels

of sound that are irritating, nerve-racking, or damaging to the ears. Just like air, water
pollution it also pollutes the environment. Sound is produced when the atmosphere is
suddenly compressed. When these sound waves are non-periodic, irregular and of long
duration, they produce an irritating effect called noise. However, being part of nature, in
recent times the world become chronically noisy.

Causes:

 Natural sources – noise caused Naturally in the environment e.g. oceans, thunder,
winds, etc
 Man made noise :

 Industrial Noise: Noise pollution that is caused by the machines in factories,

industries, mines and quarry, mills that were invented by the man during his
development. The offshore oil exploration and drilling, pneumatic drills, are
noisy.
  Transport Noise : Caused as a result of road traffic, due to motors, scooters,
cars, motor cycles, buses, trucks, diesel engine vehicles along with their a
Accessories - horns, sirens. They further include aircraft, high speed jet air
crafts, noise engines of ships, especially large vessels and supertankers.

 Neighborhood Noise: Disturbances from house hold gadgets and community

activities, the noise makers include TV, transistors, musical instruments,
vacuum cleaners, radio, telephones, washing machines fans, toys, mixers,
coolers, air conditioners, loud speakers, fire crackers, etc.

 Others : The Barking up of the dogs, etc.

Air borne noise: They are the sounds that are generated and transmitted in air directly to
human ears, they are less powerful, continue for long duration and confined to place near
origin.

Impact or Structure Borne sounds: These sounds originate and progress on the buildings
structures. They are powerful, propagate over long distance and persist for very short
duration.

Measurement :

The Quality noise depends upon, the intensity, frequency, intermittence and time of
exposure to the unpleasant sound ways. The Noise is usually measured by the sound
intensity in units of decibel (dB)which is a tenth part of the longest unit of “Bel” after
Graham Bell. It is logarithmic; each 10 decibel increase represents a tenfold increase in
noise intensity.
Decibel dB is a ratio expressed as the logarithmic scale relating to a reference sound
pressure level. The dB is expressed as

Intensity Measured (I)

Sound intensity Level = 10 log ________________________
Reference Intensity (I0)
I
Or dB = 10 log ___________
I0

Noise levels measured in dB:

Noise in dB Source
Threshold 0
Just Audible 10 Breathing
Very Quiet 30 Quiet House
Quiet 45 Low Volume Radio,
Normal 55 Normal Voice
Loud 75 Street Noise
 Very Loud 105 Jet Plane
Painfully loud 130 Pneumatic Chipper
Severely Loud 180 Space rocket

Effects:

 Noise affect the human health, comfort and efficiency

 Human Health

 They bring about hearing loss and other auditory problems,

 Affects the major organs like – heart, kidney, and liver; bring about hormonal
changes, causing major disorder like dilations of pupil, digestive spasm, etc.

 Physiological disorders arise due to imbalance functioning of body systems

this along with continuous exposure to noise leads to neurosis, insomnia,
hypertension, increase in sweating, hepatic diseases, giddiness, peptic ulcers,
and undesirable change in gastro intestinal activities, behavioral and
emotional stress.

 Recent reports suggest that the blood becomes thick and there are changes in
the breathing amplitude due to noise.

 Noise also affects the optical system causing impairment of night vision,
dilation of the pupil, and the rate of colour perception.

 It is also injurious to the pregnant woman and fetus.

 Ultrasonic sounds affect the digestive, respiratory, cardio vascular systems

and internal ear.

 Physical vibrations from hand felt tools cause white fingers disease, dead hand
or Reynaud’s phenomenon or pneumatic drill disease. Initially there is
numbness, pain and cyanosis of the finger, while in severe condition they
damage the bines, joints of the hand.

 The noise from the boilers cause “Broiler-maker deafness syndrome”

 The explosive noise at 130dB causes acoustic trauma affecting internal of the
ear.

 Even a short exposure to 150dB leads to deafness. A sound of 155dB cause

burn skin and 180dB might even cause death.
  Comfort – They cause anxiety, stress reactions and fright.

 Efficiency – causes tension, insanity, lack of concentration.

 Noise is also sometimes responsible for increased consumption of the alcohols,

drugs, tranquilizers and sleeping pills leading to emotional breakdown.

 High level of Noise also has the capacity to crack the building, whereas the most
of the materials like glasses act as the absorbers of the sound.

 The noisy level may affect the normal life and causes sudden disturbance to the
animals and the birds in their habitat.

 Sonic Boom - noise heard as a loud boom at ground level resulting from the shock
waves created by an aircraft flying above the speed of sound, affects the flight of
the birds and damages the brain in humans.
 Even the non-living things such as buildings undergo physical damage by cracks,
breakage of windows, doors and glasses etc. by sudden and explosive sounds
 High-level noise can also affect the communication between the animals. The
noise of ship engines in the oceans drowns out the long-distance calls of the
whales typically use to find each other for mating.

 Even the non-living things such as buildings undergo physical damage by cracks,
breakage etc. by sudden and explosive structure borne sounds.

Permitted Noise Level for Different Structures

S.No. Building Acceptable Noise Level (dB)
1. Schools 45 – 50
2. Library 40 -45
3. Small Office 40 -50
4. Factories 60 – 65
5. Large Public Offices, stores 50 - 60

Control:
The impact of Noise pollution can be reduced by reducing the noise at source
level, or reducing the population that are exposed, or reducing the duration of exposure.
Source level Reduction: As prevention is better than control, the source level reduction in
noise level will reduce the pollution. The industrial methods, process and equipments
must be planned in such a manner that it creates only minimum possible noise. This can
be done by using sound absorbing materials, sound proof cabins etc. E.g., noisy machines
could be enclosed in sound absorbing box.
Tree Planting: The planting of the trees like neem, coconut, tamarind, etc. near to
industries, hospitals, schools, and even in roadsides could reduce the level of the noise.
Designing: The doors and the windows of the room could be designed in such a way that
the sound that is traveling through their thin cracks could be reduced. The space between
the jams and frame might be packed with sound absorbing materials. The windows could
be made of sound absorbing glasses.
The walls, floors and ceilings could also be modified with absorbers e.g. the usage of
perforated plywood, acoustical tiles may reduce the level of noise.
Use of Silencers: Designing and fabricating of the silencers is essential. The noise from
the aircraft engines, other automobiles, equipments (both industrial and household) could
be reduced by using sound absorbing silencers. E.g. Fibrous wool could be used to reduce
noise
Zoning: Proper town planning will reduce the amount of noise due to vehicular transport,
aeroplane, railways, etc, from which the structure borne noise are produced. The city
could be divided into industrial, commercial, residential, silence zones, to reduce the
amount of population exposed to noise. Planning main traffic arteries, reduction of the
traffic density in residential areas and redesigning of building to make them noise proof
are essential.
Usage of protective aids: The workers in the industries must be provided with protective
aids like headphones, plastic and rubber ear plugs. Covering of the ears with hand or
stuffing cotton ball are other personal protective measures.
Awareness: The people must be educated through mass media, and awareness camps
could be arranged in such a manner hat they would reduce noise pollution and its
impacts.
Through law: Proper legislative measures to the industries, traffic noise and especially
during the festive time should be adopted to meet the Indian conditions. City Noise
control Codes for each major city must be provided. Anyone who overrules the laws must
be punished.

Heavy road transport ( 15)

Area Noise level in dB

Day time Night Time
Industrial 75 70
Commercial 65 55
Residential 55 45
Silence zone 50 40

THERMAL POLLUTION
Pollution due to heat is known as Thermal Pollution. The excessive heat
discharged into the water bodies increase the temperature of them, thereby causing
Thermal pollution.

Definition:
Thermal Pollution is the harmful increase in water temperature in streams, rivers,
lakes and coastal ocean waters.
Causes of Thermal Pollution:
1. Thermal power plants 5. Nuclear power plants.
2. Coal – fired plants 6. Domestic sewage
3. Hydroelectric power effluent 7. Removal of trees and soil erosion
4. Industrial effluents 8. Oil refineries

The dumping of hot water from factories, power plants and removal of vegetation
that shade the water bodies increases the temperature of the waters causing thermal
pollution.
Most of the industries use water both in the process as well as for cooling; the
resultant warm water is usually discharged into near by water bodies. The power plants
use the water mostly as cooling agent. When the hot effluents are discharged into the
water, they cause Thermal pollution.
The water bodies are directly subjected to the sunlight when the trees are
removed. Similarly, soil erosion makes the water muddy, that result in large absorbance
of the sunlight and the corresponding increase in the temperature.

Effects of Thermal Pollution:

 Temperature increase in water cause increases in the rate of reactions in water.
 Dissolved Oxygen concentration decreases in the water
 The properties of water show wide changes, both physically and chemically e.g.
viscosity of water, and solubility of gases decreases.
 The aquatic organisms cannot survive in hot waters as most of the Biological
activities like digestion, metabolism, respiration, excretion and various other
biochemical and physiological process are controlled by temperature. The
temperature changes will totally affect the entire system.
 The rate of photosynthesis and plant decay increases, with increase in the
temperature. This pile of dead plants leads to increase in the bacteria.
 There occurs an overall change in the ecosystem, as the species that can tolerate
the high temperature, invade and destroy the sensitive ones. E.g. at very high
temperature the Cyanobacteria grow extensively invading the sensitive ones.
 Increase in the nutrient content from the pollution sources, with increase in the
temperature increases the growth rate of algae, bringing about changes in the food
chain, depleting the dissolved oxygen, thereby creating anaerobic condition
making the water unfit for usage.
 Reproductive rate changes, with increase in temperature the deposition of eggs by
he female, is increased. E.g., shellfish spawn within four hours when the
temperature of water reaches the critical level.
 Thermal pollution also causes the organisms very sensitive to the attack of the
parasites and other diseases causing agents.

Control Thermal Pollution:

 Shoreline deforestation must be prevented, similarly the soil erosion must be
prevented by employing good agricultural practices.
  More efficient technologies for power production could be opted.
 The industries, power plants must discharge their hot waters only after prior
treatment of the water.
 Cooling Ponds: The hot effluent from the industries is allowed to discharge into
the shallow lakes 1 or 2 m deep. After the water gets cooled they are discharges
into the water bodies or reused for cooling from the other end.
 Spray Ponds: The heat of the hot waters is transferred to the atmosphere when the
water is sprayed through the nozzles in spray ponds.
 Cooling Towers: In the cooling towers the hot water transfers heat from cooling
water to the atmosphere, by passing the hot water in pipes flowing downwards
and cool air form the bottom of the tower upwards.
 Public awareness and environmental education, along with government support
will surely eradicate the thermal pollution.
Cooling Pond (5)

NUCLEAR HAZARD
Radiation refers to waves or particles. Radioactivity is a process in which an
unstable nuclei emits rays or particles, and such substances are called “Radioactive
substances” e.g., Radium, Uranium.

Definition:
The contamination of the environment brought about by the radioactive element,
making it unfit for the living organisms to live in it is called radioactive pollution.

Causes of Radioactive Pollution

 Natural Causes: Solar radiation, Cosmic Rays, Radio nuclides in the earth crust,
and environmental radiations.
 Anthropogenic Causes: Usage of the Radio isotopes in agriculture, medicine,
Medical-x-rays, electric fields, radioactive fallout, testing weapons, nuclear
reactors, research laboratories, atomic power plants and nuclear accidents.
 Miscellaneous Sources: The radiation from these sources constitute only minimal
amount. TV sets, watches, clocks etc., are radioactive.
Types of Radiation:
 Electro Magnetic Radiation (EMR) or Non-ionizing radiation: Most of these rays
can only cause excitation of the atoms but not produce an electric charge on to
them. E.g., X-rays, UV and IR rays, radio waves, gamma rays, visible spectrum,
etc.
 Particulate or Atomic Radiation: These radiation consists of a stream of minute
particles like electrons, neutrons, protons, which move in a straight line and also
causes ionization i.e. a process in which an atom or molecule loses or gains
electrons, acquiring an electric charge or changing an existing charge. The
radiations are Cosmic rays, alpha particles, beta particles, proton particles, etc.
Units of Radiation:
The radiations are measured in Becquerel, Curie, Roentgen, Rutherford, Gray.
Atomic Bomb:
In the fission reactions, collisions between neutrons and uranium or plutonium
atoms cause the atoms to split into pairs of nuclear fragments, releasing energy and more
neutrons. These neutrons released hit other atoms and create more fission reactions until
all the fissile material is exhausted or scattered. This process releases enormous energy in
the form of extreme heat and a massive shock wave, along with the emission of gamma
rays and neutrons. The temperature increases to millions of degrees and vaporizes the
surrounding materials. The explosion also produces a fire ball. Similarly in the hydrogen
bombs the fusion reaction is initiated, during which many nucleus fuse together
generating a large amount of energy.

Effects of Radioactive Pollution:

 Bioaccumulation: Many of the radioactive materials accumulate in the biological
organism, without being excreted. This results in the increases in concentration of
the substance as we move through he food chain, thus affecting the ecosystem as
a whole.
 Effects in Humans:
 Genetic: i) The radiation affects the reproductive cells; the extent of the
damage depends on the exposure intensity and time. ii) They cause teratogenic
effect, mutations, chromosomal aberrations, break ups in the DNA strand, still
births, microcephaly and also even affect the cell cycle - meiosis. Though the
effects are not exposed, they become prevalent in their forth-coming
generations.
 Somatic: The radiations also affect the somatic cells of the body, they cause
cancer – uncontrolled growth of the cells, mental retardation, cataracts,
vomiting, nausea, affect the cell cycle – mitosis, anemia, premature ageing of
skin, ulcers in mouth, general malaise, septicemia, and affects the biochemical
processes in the living system. E.g. Iodine-131 is a potential source of internal
radiation, its accumulation in the thyroid, increases the incidence of thyroid
cancer. Cesium-137, chemically resembles potassium, and it is found
throughout and irradiates the entire body.
 Effect on plants - The radiations also affect the other living organisms, they cause
Chlorosis, necrosis, mutations, increases the mortality rate.

Nuclear explosion (6)

Control of Radioactive Pollution:

 The usage of the atomic bombs must be prevented.
 The process, equipments used in the power plants could be modified by further
research in such a way that it would minimize the environmental degradations due
to nuclear pollution.
 The area where radioactive substances are used should be enclosed in broad
concrete walls to prevent the radiations from emerging out.
  The industries, power plants must carefully work upon the radioactive substances
to prevent any accidents.
 The workers must use protective aids like protective garment, spectacles and must
undergo periodical medical checkups. They must also use suitable indicators to
know the total amount of radiation to which they are exposed.
 Proper disposal of the radioactive wastes are necessary

SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT

The surplus materials both solid and semisolid forms from suburban,
commercial, mining, industrial and agricultural activities that leads to environmental
degradations, making the place unfit for use are regarded as solid wastes.
Hazardous Wastes are wastes that can cause death, illness, or injury to people or
destruction of the environment if improperly treated, stored, transported, or discarded.
These substances are either ignitable or corrosive or reactive or toxic.
Waste Not, Want Not

Causes of solid waste:

 Domestic sources: The waste from the cooking, cleaning, gardening, washing
along with toilet waste, constitute domestic waste.
 Institutional sources: The waste materials from the office, schools, etc.
 Commercial sources: The waste from small shops, stores, ware houses, etc.
 Industrial sources: Depending on the raw material and process the nature of the
solid waste differs. These wastes also include the miming wastes.
 Power plants: Radioactive and hazardous wastes.
 Agricultural and farming sources: The left over plant after harvest, plant debris,
animal wastes, plastic, paper bags, etc.
 Municipal sources: demolition, street, sweeping, sewage treatment wastes,
sludges, construction, plant debris, etc.
 Increase in population: The establishment of a new community will certainly
increase the pollution level.
 Lack of Public awareness: The general public without proper awareness and their
unconcerned attitude to the environment result in the improper usage of material
and their disposals.

Sources and Type of Pollutants:

S.No Major Cause Type of pollutant

1. Domestic Garbage (bio degradable wastes) – food, human and

animal wastes, Rubbish (non-bio degradable wastes)
plastics, glass, rubber, paper, ashes and residues(due to
burning), Hazardous waste –toxic batteries, pesticides,
 drugs.

2. Institutional Rubbish, food waste, paper, plastics, etc.

3. Commercial Waste cloth, paper, plastic materials.

Hazardous materials – radioactive substances, metals

4. Industrial tailings, Garbage, rubbish from raw materials, waste
containers, etc.

5. Power Plants Radioactive wastes, waste equipments and containers.

Debris of plants, animal wastes, plant wastes – rice husk,

6. Agricultural and farming corn residue, and slaughterhouse wastes. Hazardous waste
like pesticide, fertilizers packages,

Wastes from construction and demolition of buildings,

7. Municipal
Hazardous – sludges from treatment plants.

Hazardous waste - Diseased organs, body parts rich in

pathogens, used cottons, bandages, syringes other glass
8. Hospital waste
and plastic materials and containers. The toilet waste is
also included.

Classification of solid waste:

 Garbage: degradable wastes from food
 Rubbish: nondegradable wastes, either combustible (such as paper, wood, and
cloth) or noncombustible (such as metal, glass, and ceramics)
 Ashes: residues of the combustion of solid fuels
 Mining wastes: slag heaps and coal refuse piles
 Large wastes: demolition and construction debris and trees, dead animals
 E – Waste: used and old electronic goods.
 Industrial wastes: such materials as chemicals, paints, and sand
 Agricultural wastes: farm animal manure and crop residues
 Sewage-treatment solids: material retained on sewage-treatment screens, settled
solids, and biomass sludge

Effects of Solid Waste:
 The improper disposal of the solid waste causes breeding of the mosquitoes, flies
in the area making it unaesthetic, thereby reducing its value.
  These places act as a good home for the pathogens. These microorganisms start to
degrade the organic matter (garbage), and multiply at faster rate and spread the
diseases rapidly.
 When hazardous wastes are disposed onto to the environment, they do not
degrade but either bioaccumulate or get biotransformed to form a more hazardous
substance.
 When the solid wastes come in contact with the water there is a leachate problem
that extracts all the hazardous wastes into it and reaches the ground water where it
causes ground waster pollution.
 The incomplete burning of the solid waste results in production of carbon
monoxide that causes methemoglobinaemia. Similarly the burning of plastics
produces harmful dioxins.
 The wastes also sometimes block the sewage passage.
 The air above hazardous waste may become dangerously contaminated by direct
emission, or escaping gas. Basements of homes built over uranium mine tailings
often contain high levels of radioactive radon gas escaping from the radioactivity
below.
 Compounds such as dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), PCBs, and dioxins
are more soluble in fats than in water and therefore tend to build up in the fats
within plants and animals.

Solid Waste (7)

Recycling Of Aluminium (8)

Control of Solid Waste:

 Source level reduction: To reduce the amount of waste generation at source level,
the industrial process could be modified, or substitution of raw material could be
done.
 Recycling: The recycling process reclaims the original material and uses it in new
products. The recycling requires various steps depending upon the materials.
Everything from precious metals to broken glass, from old newspapers to plastic
spoons, can be recycled. E.g. sulfur is recovered and recycled from smelters,
refineries are used for sulfuric acid production
 Reuse: The wastes materials are properly cleaned, disinfected, and are then
reused. Here, the energy requirement is minimum than that in the recycling
process. E.g. the Soft drink bottles could be reused.
 Solid Waste Management: The solid waste if properly managed is a wealth.
Therefore, it is very much essential to treat and dispose them in proper manner.
Solid waste management is the collection, treatment, utilization and disposal of
the solid waste, in an economical manner to maintain aesthetic condition and
sanitation in the surrounding.
Various steps and methods involved are as follows:
 Collection: Collection of waste at least once or twice a week is necessary.
 Segregation: It is necessary to separate the hazardous from harmless waste to
prevent the latter from being contaminated. Hand or machine sorting could be
 done. E.g. magnetic separators used to remove metals; air classifiers used o
separate the papers.
 Pulverization: The homogeneous mass of the solid waste is obtained by crushing
or grinding them in gyratory or jaw crushers.
 Compacting and Bailing: The pulverized wastes are then compacted in pneumatic
or hydraylic presses to reduce their volume, storage area and also reduce the
transport charges.
Disposal methods:
Biodegradation:
 Composting – It is the decomposition of organic material like plant debris,
manure from plant-eating animals, waste food materials, etc. (free form the
pathogens) by the action of microorganisms in the presence of oxygen to convert
them into humus. This nutrient rich material is used in gardening and farming to
improve soil and enhance plant growth. Vermicomposting is a process in which
the earthworms are employed to degrade the solid waste.
 Land filling- It is the process in which the waste materials are buried under the
soil in natural or excavated holes or depressions for safe means of disposal of
waste. Landfills are the sites where the waste materials are buried. Secure landfills
are necessary to dispose the hazardous wastes.

Thermal Process:
 Incineration- In this process the waste are subjected to controlled combustion to
convert them into gases, water vapour and non-combustable, harmless residues.
The furnace used for this purpose is known as the incinerator.
 Pyrolysis - It is a complex chemical process in which the solid wastes are
subjected to combustion at 6000C to 10000C, in absence of oxygen.
 Refuse Derived Fuel - The combustable solid waste are segregated, shredded and
burnt in boilers as substitutes for fossil fuels.

ROLE OF AN INDIVIDUAL IN THE PREVENTION OF POLLUTION

The increase in industrialization, urbanization, population explosion, resource
exploitation, along with lack of environmental awareness, education and unconscious
attitude towards environment had lead to POLLUTION, resulting in jeoparadisation of
our blue planet.

Man hasn't been a creator, only a destroyer. Forests keep disappearing,

rivers dry up, wild life's become extinct, the climate's ruined and the land
grows poorer and uglier every day.
- Anton Chekhov
 It is in the hands of the entire individuals to co-operate and overcome this great
monster, the Pollution. It the responsibility of every one of us to leave a good
environment for our future generation.

The individuals can

 Stop over exploitation of the natural resources.
 Use renewable resources like – solar, wind, geothermal energy, than opting for
non-renewable resources like coal, oil.
 Minimize Waste production.
 Treat and dispose the waste properly.
 Stop the use of plastics
 Use the biofertilizers and biological pest management, so that the consumption of
the synthetic fertilizers and pesticides could be minimized.
 Have a policy of recycling, recovery and reuse.
 Approach the government and take legal actions on the persons who pollute the
environment.
 Select the Ecofriendly products for usage in day today life, which will reduce the
escape of harmful chemicals like CFC to environment.
 Take up tree plantations, as the trees are the major source to reduce pollution -
prevent landslides, and soil erosion, etc.
 Minimize the usage of vehicles that run on fuels and prefer bicycles.
 Avoid dropping of wastes in the roadsides and must try to maintain a neat and
tidy atmosphere in the surroundings.
 Upgrade the knowledge in the field of environment - ecology, pollution and its
impact, environmental laws, and other social and related issues.
 Promote the knowledge in the latest technologies that will produce a pollution
free environment.
 Do research and project works to find out new ways and means to reduce
pollution
 Create awareness among the public about human activities that cause
environmental degradation.
 Join help the government and the NGO’s by rendering their help to make the only
home of man – OUR EARTH a better place to live in.

MAN should realize that – the Three R’s

Recovery, Recycling, Reuse would reduce pollution.

POLLUTION CASE STUDIES

AIR POLLUTION
Bhopal Gas Tragedy
Date December 3rd 1984
Place Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India.
Source Union Carbide of India, Ltd. – Pesticide Chemical Industry
Started February 1980.
Safety device Scrubber, flare tower
Manufacturing Batteries, carbaryl pesticides, foams, plastics, adhesives, using Methyl
product IsoCyanate(MIC) as a raw material.
Reason Due to high pressure, the safety valve of the tank got opened automatically
releasing the gas that was stored for 2h. About 40tons of gas along with
traces of phosgene escaped.
Spread The deadly poisonous gas (MIC + COCl2 + HCl)spread to a distance of
40km, seriously affecting the people at a distance up to 8km around the
factory. The concentration of MIC was about 2PPM.
Effects About 50,000 people fled, there was suffocation, coughing, chest pain,
abdominal pain; irritation and burning of eyes for the people who were
exposed. Out of 2,50,000 people about 65,000 were severely affected from
eye, respiratory, neuromuscular, gastrointestinal, lung fibrosis, pulmonary
edema. About 1,000 became blind. It also has long term effects on the
chromosomes and immune system of the survivors today
Lesson An awareness among the public must be created about the safety measures,
and must have to do with basic human concern on safety.

WATER POLLUTION
Minamata disease:
Date From 1953 to 1963
Place Minamata – Small village on the western Coast of the island Kyushu of
Japan.
Source Shin-Nihon Chisso Hiryo Corp. chemical firm
Started 1949
Manufacturing Plastic industry producing vinyl chloride and acetaldehyde from acetylene
product using mercuric chloride as catalyst.
Bioaccumulation The inorganic mercury is converted to methyl mercury in anaerobic
condition, which bioaccumulated in the fishes.
Disease Minamata disease
Cause Consumption of finfish and shell fish that was contaminated with mercury

Symptoms Numbness, vision problems, hearing loss, dysphasia, sensory loss in the
limbs, ataxia, dizziness, malaise, headache, muscular tremors, convulsions
and other neurological disorders resulting in death.
Result Mass death oh fishes, sea birds, cats, etc. about 52 persons were killed.

Lesson Treatment of the effluent is essential, hazardous substances could be

substituted with the harmless ones. Strict enforcement of the
environmental laws are essential.
 NUCLEAR POLLUTION
Chernobyl disaster
Date 26th April 1986
Place Ukrainian republic of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
(USSR)
Source Chernobyl Nuclear Power Station near Kier
Process The plant contains four reactors in which the fuel uranium
undergoes nuclear fission reaction releasing tremendous amount
of heat.
Reason for Poor design of the reactor.
accident Failure of the cooling system.
Carelessness of the operators.
Lead to the explosion of the reactor producing a plume of
radioactive debris containing 20 types of radioactive materials –
Cesium, Plutonium, etc.
An estimated 100 to 150 million curies of radiation escaped into
the atmosphere before cleanup.
Spread Drifted over parts of the western USSR, Eastern Europe, and
Scandinavia
Affected areas The Ukrainian, Belorussian, and Russian republics of the USSR
were contaminated,
Result Resulting in the evacuation and resettlement of roughly 200,000
people. Chronic diseases like leukemia, loss of hair, ulceration,
fibrosis, skin cancer, anemia, cataracts, blood abnormalities,
thyroid cancer, bone necrosis, atrophy, cesium bioaccumulated in
the plants and animals.
Protective To reduce emissions, the reactor was bombarded with 5,000
measures metric tons of shielding material consisting of lead, boron, sand,
and clay. A second concrete foundation was constructed under the
reactor to prevent contamination of groundwater. An enormous
concrete-and-steel shell was erected over the damaged reactor to
prevent radioactive materials, including gases and dust, from
escaping. About 50,000 people were relocated. The affected were
admitted in the hospitals. Top soil was removed and awareness
programs were conducted. People were asked not to take up any
contaminated milk, fruits, etc.
Lesson It is necessary to have a proper maintenance of equipments, the
nuclear reactors are to be properly designed, negligence and
human errors are to be minimized.

MARINE POLLUTION
Bombay High Oil Slick
Date May 17,1993
Place Mumbai, Maharastra, India.
Source Arabian Sea - Bombay High Oil field
Cause The Bombay High huge off shore oil field has 30platforms, for
people to work. Each of these has a wellhead that pumps oil to the
Uran tank. Accidental rupturing of the Uran tank pipelines resulted
in huge oil spill covering 4km length and 400m wide was formed
in the Arabian Sea called as Bombay High Oil Slick.
Effects Death of planktons, seaweeds about 400 species of algae, fishes,
other marine animals, and birds, leading to the destruction of
Biodiversity.
Oil slick prevented penetration of sunlight and air exchange,
causing decreasing in photosynthetic rate and depletion in
dissolved oxygen.
It lead to air pollution when the lighter fractions evaporated in the
air, and damaged the coral reefs when the thicker components
sunk.
Management of The lighter compound by natural purification vaporized and were
Oil slick removed.
Straw was absorbent oil and was wetted.
Genetically Engineered ‘super bug’ Pseudomonas putida was
spreaded over the wetted straw, which degraded oil spill within 15
days.
Small amount of oil were made to sink by spreading high-density
powder.
Lesson It is necessary to have a check on the pipes lines and other
connection carefully to prevent such accidents.

SOLID WASTE
Love Canal
Date 1930 – 1953 found 1978
Place Love Canal Dump Site 16acre, near Niagara Falls, New Tork.
Source Hooker chemical and Plastic Corporation
Cause Dumping of Hazardous Waste – 2000MT of chemical waste
including toxic pesticides, herbicides and carcinogens. In 1954 a
school and a play ground were built on the top of the chemical
dump.
Effect Ground water contamination, birth defects in children, chronic
problems like bronchitis, asthma, continuous miscarriage and still
births.
Management The site has been abandoned, and clean up actions have been
carried out.
Lesson Shows the damages and dangers due to toxic, hazardous wastes,
also reflects human errors and negligence. So proper management
 of Solid Waste is essential.

DISASTER MANAGEMENT

Disaster:
Disaster is a sudden, accidental event that causes many deaths and injuries and
significant property damage. Common natural causes of disasters are earthquakes, floods,
typhoons, hurricanes and tornadoes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, wildfires, landslides
and avalanches. “Man-made” disasters - the collapse of buildings, bridges, tunnels etc.
Disaster management is the act of handling or controlling disasters. It includes –
prediction of occurrence, prevention, protection, resettlement and rehabilitation.

In nature there are neither rewards nor punishments—there are

consequences.
-Robert G. Ingersoll

FLOODS
Definition:
A very large amount of water temporarily overflowing from a water body, into the
land that is dry or the waters that are unable to drain off in to the water channels. The area
that could be covered in water, when a river is floods, is called flood plain.

Causes of Floods:
 Torrential rain - Powerful flowing of rain producing large quantity of water, when
soil and vegetation cannot absorb all the water, the amount of runoff water
increases. Deforestation - removes the vegetation, leading to Soil Erosion and
Siltation of the river, which reduces the capacity of the water body.
 Poor maintenance of Soil - Poor agricultural practices, shifting of agriculture
indirectly causes floods.
 Earthquakes & Winds - Coastal areas flooded by unusually high tides induced by
severe winds over ocean surfaces, or by tsunamis caused by undersea
earthquakes.
 Urbanization – Conversion of fields and woodlands into dwelling places.
 Dam failure – Improper maintenance or due to heavy rainfall, the dam sometimes
breaks up resulting in flood.
 Ice & Snow: Floods in rivers also arise due to melting of ice or due to jamming of
the water bodies by icebergs.
 Imprudent behavior of human – careless activities of the humans.

Types of Floods:
  Urban Flood – Floods that are mainly caused by the urbanization – clearing of the
forest, industrialization, etc.
 River Flood – Due to torrential rain, hurricanes etc, rivers may be flooded.

 Coastal Flood - Due to tidal waves, earthquakes, volcanoes, the coastal are might
be flooded.
 Flash Floods – Intense rainfall over a short area.

Effects of floods:

 Damage property and endanger the lives of humans and animals

 The vegetative top soil is lost, diminishing the agriculture.
 Outbreak of endemic water borne diseases like cholera arise
 The places becomes the breeding sites for flies and insects.
 Basic facilities like railways, electricity, telephone are cut off.
 The very essential requirement the drinking water becomes contaminated.
 Rapid runoff causes soil erosion as well as sediment deposition problems
downstream.
 Spawning grounds for fish and other wildlife habitat are often destroyed.
 Prolonged high floods delay traffic and interfere with drainage and economic use
of lands.
 High-velocity currents increase flood damage;
 Bridge abutments, bank lines, sewer outfalls, and other structures within
floodways are damaged, and navigation and hydroelectric power are often
impaired.
 Financial losses due to floods are commonly millions of dollars each year.

Protective steps:

 Stay away from the flooded areas, and move to higher grounds.
 Avoid construction of the buildings in the low lying areas.
 The usage of the contaminated stuffs by the flood waters must be prevented.
 Clean drinking waters and important documents could be kept safe.
 Should have a general idea about floods and its safety measures.
 An artificial embankment of the house and river could be constructed to prevent
the rainwater.
 It is essential to switch off the electric lines.

Proceedings to do after flood:

 Necessary medical care must be fetched from the near hospitals
 Listen to weather reports
 Disaster area must be avoided.
 Drainage, electric lines must be checked.
 Can do possible helps to the Government and other NGO’s in flood relief.
Organizations involved in flood relief:
National Disaster Management (NDM), Indian Army, United nations Disaster
management Team (UNDMT), Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS)

Control of Floods:
 reforestation
 Construction of levees, raising of the riverbed, dams, reservoirs, and floodways
(artificial channels that divert floodwater).

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EARTHQUAKES

Definition:

It is the violent shaking of the earth crust that makes the ground to vibrate in the
form of waves from the center, causing destruction to buildings and installations.
Epicenter is the origin of earthquake. The study of earthquake is seismology.

Measurement:

Seismograph is used to record earthquake in units of Richter. Richter of less then

4.5 the effect is less, between 5 to 6.9, the effect is moderate, if it ranges from 7 to 7.9 the
effect is great.

Causes of earthquakes:

 Tectonic occurrence due to faulting, breaking of rocks, folding of stratas.

 Volcanic activity and eruptions of magma
 Injecting fluids into deep wells for fuel disposal
 Filling reservoirs with waters
 Firing underground nuclear tests blast

Types of earthquakes:

 Volcanic earthquake – Caused mainly due to the eruption of the volcanoes

 Tectonic earthquake – Mainly due to changes in the stratas inside the earth
 Plutonic earthquake – They occur in greater depths and may be similar to that of
the tectonic earthquakes.

Effects of earthquakes:

 Death of humans and animals

 Heavy toll to the economy and living organisms.
  Collapse of the buildings, bridges, dams, towers.
 Basic requirements like shelter, food, electricity, telephone, transport, are cut off
 Numerous fissures appear in the land.
 Dust and dirt accumulates and indirectly causes pollution of all types.
 Psychologically affect the people.
 Causes fire and tsunami waves.
 Lack of clean water, spread of diseases.
 Causes dangerous landslides, mudslides and avalanches.

Control Measures:

 Construction could be avoided in earthquake prone areas.

 Proper Planning of the structural design, safer building standards, usage of
flexible, reinforced materials that can withstand shaking in buildings could be
adopted.
 Vulnerable buildings in high risk might be redesigned, rebuilt.
 Faster communication strategies, emergency preparedness must be improved.
 Risk assessment maps, such as geologic hazard and seismic hazard zoning maps,
would be made use to understand where faults are located and how to build near
them safely.
 Tsunami early warning systems can prevent some damage.
 People could be educated about the earthquakes, and after effects of it and the
ways and means, they should follow during earthquake.
 Power lines and pipe lines could be constructed with additional care.

Safety measures during and after earthquakes:

 People indoors should protect themselves from falling objects and flying glass by
taking refuge under a heavy table.
 After an earthquake, people should move outside of buildings, assemble in open
spaces, and prepare themselves for aftershocks.
 They should also listen for emergency bulletins on the radio,
 Stay out of severely damaged buildings.
 Avoid coastal areas in the event of a tsunami.
 Keep a stock of drinking water and food stuffs.
 Help others and develop confidence
 Shut of the kitchen gas and put off any material on fire.
 Those moving in vehicle stop and stay.
 Do not run near buildings.

Earthquakes (10)

CYCLONE
Definition:

A large-scale storm system with heavy rain and winds that rotate
counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere
around and toward a low-pressure center.
The cyclones are short with greater diameter (to about 150 to 1500km), whose
central calm area called eye has a diameter of 30 to 50km, traveling at a speed of 120 to
200km/h denoted in knots. They move faster over the ocean than in land.
Effects of cyclones:
 The sea becomes turbulent.
 Storm surge – sudden raise of the water due to low pressure, winds and under
water shape of bay may result.
 Low-pressure area at the center of the cyclones causes the seawater to rise
towards it, while the wind pushes water towards the coast, the level of the water
still raises.
 Waves attack the shore far inland to about 30km when the cyclone hits the coast

Destruction due to cyclones:

 Results in Torrential rain especially during summer, though valuable source of

water they sometimes cause floods.
 On steep slopes, winds could cause dangerous mudslides and land slides.
 Causes enormous death.
 Damage to property – buildings, communication system, roads.
 Submerging of low lying areas , e.g. Submerging of Thanushkody.
 Destruction of vegetation and economy
 Coastal destruction by storm waves and very high tides.
 Causes erosion.
 Contamination of food and drinking
 Spreading of endemics.
 Causes problems in the atmosphere.

Cyclone (11)

LANDSLIDES
Landslides are descending or movement of a mass of earth and rock from one
place to another or down a mountain slope due to gravity.

Causes of Landslides:
 Earthquakes – sudden shaking of the earth
 Extensive rainfall – may cause saturation of the soil and excess weight due to
accumulation of the rainfall might cause landslides.
 Snow melt, ocean wave and tides, rapid change in temperature results in the
increasing weathering process, thereby causing landslides.
  Forest fires, over development of the hill slides, cause destruction in the forest
cover resulting in increase in floods and erosion, causing weakening the earth.
 Mining and quarrying process damages the earth thereby reducing its strength.
 Undercutting the trees weakens the trees making the area prone to landslides.
 Landslides are more prevalent on steep slopes as above certain angle of
inclination the rock slips.

Effects of Landslides:
 Leads to drowning and death of humans and animals.
 Blocks roads, rails and other transports.
 Causes floods due to blockage in river channels.
 Damage in property.

Control of Landslides:
 Avoid the landslide prone areas
 Slope reduction
 Slope stabilization measures.
 Prevention of rock falls and landslides in Highways.
 Rearing of vegetation
 Stop overloading of the slopes.
 Improving drainage facilities.
Landslide (12)