INTRODUCTION AND CLASSIFICATION OF POLLUTION

17.1 Introduction
Pollution is defined as ‘an undesirable change in physical, chemical and biological
characteristics of air, water and land that may be harmful to living organisms. The
Pollution Control Board, defined pollution as unfavorable alteration of our
surrounding, largely as a by-product of human activities.
17.1.1 Pollutant
Pollutant is a substance which causes pollution. Unlimited exploitation of nature has
disturbed the ecological balance between living and non living components in the
biosphere. The major environment pollutants are deposited matter, gases, metals,
fluorides, acid droplets, agro chemicals, photo chemical accidents, radioactive waste
and solid waste.
17.1.2 Classification of pollutants

Environment pollution is of many types like air pollution, water pollution, noise
pollution, soil pollution, marine pollution, etc. In developing countries major source
of environment pollutions are air pollution, water pollution and soil pollution.

1. On the Basis of Nature

Depending upon the nature of the pollutants and their interaction with environment
process, the pollution caused by different agents can be classified into the following
categories:

1. Solid pollutants.
2. Liquid pollutants
3. Gaseous pollutants
4. Pollution from Waste without Weight: This type of pollution is also
known as pollution by energy waste; Wastes without weight may be of
the following types:
• Radio-active Substance: Despite of all possible precautions in the
functioning and maintenance of nuclear reactors, it is seen that minute
quantity of radio-active waste escapes out into the environment.
• Heat
• Noise
2. On the Basis of Decomposition
 1. Non-Degradable Pollutants: These are not broken down by the natural
processes like action of microbes.
2. Degradable Pollutants or Bio-degradable Pollutants: These are natural
organic substances which can be decomposed, removed or consumed
and thus, reduced to acceptable levels either by natural processes like
biological or microbial action or by some engineered systems, like
sewage treatment plants.
17.2 Air Pollution
Air pollution is the resultant of direct or indirect change in physical, chemical and
biological characteristics of atmosphere, which mainly results from gases emission
from industry, thermal power station, auto mobile and domestic combustions, etc.

17.2.1 Air pollutants

• “Air Pollutant” can be defined as any solid, liquid or gaseous substance

present in the atmosphere in high concentration more than prescribed
limits that may be harmful to the living creatures.
• Pollutants can be classified as primary and secondary pollutants.
• Primary pollutants are carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, sulphur dioxide,
carbon monoxide and CFC.
• Secondary pollutants are acid rain and ozone.
17.2.2 Sources of air pollution
The sources of Air pollution are natural and man-made (anthropogenic).
17.2.2.1 Natural sources
The natural sources of air pollution are volcanic eruptions, forest fires, thunder
storms, cyclones, typhoons, fog, biological decay, photochemical oxidation,
deposition of dead matters, vegetation and animals etc. Radioactive minerals present
in the earth crust are the sources of radioactivity in the atmosphere.
17.2.2.2 Man-made sources

Man made sources include industry, thermal power stations, industrial units, vehicular
emissions, automobiles, farming practises, domestic equipments, nuclear weapons and
test, etc.

17.2.3 Indoor air pollution

The most important indoor air pollution is radon gas. This is responsible for a large
number of lung cancer deaths each year. These could be emitted from building
materials like bricks, concrete, tiles etc. Many houses in the underdeveloped countries
including India use fuels like coal, dung-cakes, wood and kerosene in their kitchens.
17.2.4 Air pollutants criteria
Major pollutants responsible for air pollution are: Sulfur dioxide (SO 2), nitrogen
oxides (NO2 and NO) , carbon dioxide (CO2) and carbon monoxide (CO), solid or
liquid particulates (smaller than 10 µm).
17.2.5 Gaseous pollutants
Major gaseous pollutants are

1. Sulfur dioxide (SO2)

2. Nitrogen oxides
3. Carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide
17.2.6 Ozone, photochemical smog hydrocarbon and fluorocarbons

• Ozone (O3) is outcome of chemical reaction between nitrogen dioxide

and volatile organic components. Ozone layer in stratosphere protects
from harmful UV rays via absorbs ultra violet radiation. Ozone is the
key component of photochemical smog.
• Nitric oxide in the atmosphere with ozone causes elimination of ozone
layer. Thinning or hole of ozone layer can cause skin cancer .It is
estimated that 1% reduction in ozone increases UV radiation by 2%.
• The main hydrocarbon are benzene, venzbyrene and methane and it
emerges from motor vehicles. Hydrocarbons combine with nitrites under
UV radiation and form other pollutants known as photochemical
products such as Aldehydes, Ozone Pans, Olifins, etc.
• On the other hand fluorocarbons at higher level are toxic and creates
problem of fluorosis, the source of fluoride in the environment are
industrial process of phosphate fertilizers, aluminum, fluorinated
plastics, uranium and other metals
17.2.7 Ozone layer depletion

Earth's stratospheric ozone layer, which contains about 90 percent of the ozone in the
atmosphere, makes the planet habitable by absorbing harmful solar ultraviolet (UV)
radiation before it reaches the planet's surface. UV radiation at higher levels it can
cause skin cancer and immune system suppression.depletion of ozone layer was
identified during 1970’s.this is mainly happened due to more release of manmade
industrial chemicals called chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), which at the time were
widely used as refrigerants, in aerosol sprays, and in manufacturing plastic foams.
CFC molecules are inert in the troposphere, so they are transported to the stratosphere,
where they photolyze and release chlorine (Cl) atoms. Chlorine atoms cause catalytic
ozone loss by cycling with ClO .

17.2.8 Particulate matters

• Discrete mass of any material which exist as a solid or liquid droplets

and microscopic, sub microscopic dimension is known as particulate
matter(PM).The main source of particulate matter are fuel combustions
and industrial operations like mining, smelting ,polishing ,pesticides,
fertilizer and chemical fertilizers,
• Particulate matters can have adverse effect on human health and are
generally less than 10 µm size.
17.2.9 Effects of air pollution

• Nitrogen dioxide has more harmful effect as compare to nitric oxide.

Exposure to NO2 causes resistance in air movement in lungs.
• Nitric oxide and carbon monoxide can combine haemoglobin to reduce
oxygen caring capacity of blood.
• These pollutants affect plants by entering through stomata. Particulate
pollutants affect the photo synthetic activity which may damage the
plants and can affect productivity. Air pollutants can enhance the acidity
of water resources therefore can adversely affect aquatic life. Material
can be damaged due to effect of pollutants when exposed to the
environment
17.2.10 Prevention and control of air pollution

Steps to control and prevention of air pollution

• Engineers should consider the possibility by changing the manufacturing

process. For example to minimise the high level of lead in air simple
solution is to eliminate lead in gasoline (supply of unleaded petrol)
• Use CNG (compressed natural gas) as an alternative fuel .
• Use gas additives to improve combustions.
• Control devices: The following items are commonly used as pollution
control devices by industry or transportation devices. They can either
destroy contaminants or remove them from an exhaust stream before
they are emitted into the atmosphere.
1. Mechanical collectors (dust cyclones, multicyclones)
2. Electrostatic precipitators An electrostatic precipitator (ESP), or
electrostatic air cleaner is a particulate collection device that removes
particles from a flowing gas (such as air) using the force of an induced
electrostatic charge.
 Baghouses Designed to handle heavy dust loads, a dust collector
3.
consists of a blower, dust filter, a filter-cleaning system, and a dust
receptacle or dust removal system.
4. Wet scrubber is a form of pollution control technology. The term
describes a variety of devices that use pollutants from a furnace flue gas
or from other gas streams.
17.3 Noise Pollution
Noise can be defined as wrong sound in wrong place at wrong time. Sound at
undesirable level creates pollution because it cause discomfort to the people. There
are two basic properties of sound i.e. loudness and frequency. Loudness is strength of
sensation of sound perceived by individual and is measured in terms of decibel, where
as frequency of sound defined as number of vibrations per second and measured as
hertz (Hz).
Human ear is sensitive to frequency between 20-20000 Hz. whereas best range of
hearing is 2000-10000 Hz
17.3.1 Sources of noise pollution
Major sources of noise pollution are industries, transportation, and community,
religious and cultural activities. Loudspeaker and amplifiers used in different
occasions is another source of noise pollution
17.3.2 Effects of noise pollution

• Noise pollution is harmful to body and mind. It causes irritation and

headache. It may cause number of physiological disorder like neurosis
anxiety, insomnia, hipper tension, behaviour and emotional stress.

17.3.3 Control of noise pollution

• Eliminate the noise at source by use of silencing devises.

• Control the noise transmission level using sound absorbers and acoustic
tiles.
• Using self precaution measures such as ear plugs and earmuffs.
• Creating buffer zone between high noise level zone and residential areas
by afforestation.
• Taking strict statuary measure to govern the noise level in sensitive areas
like schools, hospitals, etc
17.4 Water Pollution
Water pollution is referred as a presence of foreign substances or impurities which can
contribute to health hazards by lowering water qualities and making it unfit for use.
17.4.1 Sources of water pollution
Main sources of water pollution are

• Pollution due to decaying of plants ,animals and organic matter in water

bodies
• Addition of soil-silt washings, insecticides, herbicide and fungicides are
agricultural sources can be water pollution.
• Ore washing, inert suspended solid and soluble toxic materials.
• Sewage obtained from domestic promises, institutions and industrial
buildings are main sources of pollution of water in cities.
• Industrial Effluents are one of the important agents of water pollution.
• Accidental spillage of chemical or petroleum products also contributes
towards water pollution.
• Ground water pollution with arsenic, fluorides and nitrites which are
poisonous in nature are posing serious health problems.
• Major point sources of water pollution are industries, power plants,
underground coalmines, offshore oil wells etc.
17.4.2 Water pollutants

Major water pollutants are

1. Organic pollutants: Water carrying organic pollutants have decreased

level of oxygen and such organic pollutants promote disease causing
agent.
2. Inorganic pollutants: Inorganic pollutants include inorganic salts,
metallic compounds, trace elements and organ metallic compounds.
3. Thermal pollutants: Main source of thermal pollutants are coal water
plants, nuclear water plants and other industrial process.
4. Sediments
5. Radioactive materials
17.4.3 Effects of water pollution

• Sewage is an excellent medium for growth of pathogens which are

responsible for spread of many diseases.
• Water pollution makes the drinking water unfit for domestic use.
Industrial effluents have harmful effect on living organism and can lead
to death.
 • Radioactive substances present in the water may cause cancer, eye,
cataract and DNA breakage; it may also destroy biological immune
system.
• Residual toxic compounds of pesticides may cause many health
problems.
• Sediments reduce the light penetration in water which lowers the
photosynthetic activity of aquatic plants.
• Toxic substances observed into tissues from polluted water can cause
injuries leading death of the plant.
• Eutrophication: It is the ecosystem response to the addition of artificial
or natural substances, such as nitrates and phosphates, through fertilizers
or sewage, to an aquatic system. One example is the "bloom" or great
increase of phytoplankton in a water body as a response to increased
levels of nutrients. Negative environmental effects include hypoxia, the
depletion of oxygen in the water, which induces reductions in specific
fish and other animal populations. Eutrophication can be human-caused
or natural. Untreated sewage effluent and agricultural run-off carrying
fertilizers are examples of human-caused eutrophication. However, it
also occurs naturally in situations where nutrients accumulate (e.g.
depositional environments), or where they flow into systems on an
ephemeral basis.
17.4.4 Prevention and control of water pollution
It is said that prevention is better than cure. Strict legislation can help to reduce water
pollution and policy maker should formulate strategies to prevent water pollution
sources.
Following measures can help to control water pollution

• Prevent generation of pollutants at first place. Control the pollutants to

minimise its effects on water pollution.
• Domestic and industrial waste water should be disposed off only after
treatment.
• Enforce pollution control laws strictly.
• Use treatment plants to clean discharged industrial waste water and
utilise it for irrigation purpose.
• Discourage excess use of pesticide and insecticide.
• Water bodies should be regularly cleaned of aquatic weed and wild
plants
• Create public awareness regarding water pollution
• Afforestation will help to reduce the pollution and water erosion
 • Use methods of biological nitrogen fixation to improve soil health and
adopt integrated pest management to minimise chemical contamination
in water.
17.5 Thermal Pollution
Thermal pollution, also known as heat pollution, is releasing of heat in air or water
causing undesired changes to environment .It can be both natural as in case of forest
fires and heat emanating from volcanoes, or it can be from manmade sources.
17.5.1 Sources of thermal pollution
There are several discrete sources of Thermal Pollution

1. Thermal Power Plants

2. Industries
3. Release of domestic sewerage
4. Nuclear Sources
17.5.2 Effects of thermal pollution

• Solubility of oxygen has inverse proportionality relationship with

temperature. That is, with increase in temperature of water bodies,
oxygen content of water decreases. Dissolved oxygen is essential
component for survival for aquatic life.
• High surface water temperature also has detrimental effect on
penetration of oxygen in deep cold water. Thus, it also affects on deep
sea species.
• Increase in water temperature has harmful effect on population of
aquatic species who are sensitive to temperature changes .On the other
hand it propagates temperature change tolerant species. Thus, adversely
affecting balance of the aquatic ecosystem.
17.5.3 Control of thermal pollution
17.5.3.1 Cooling towers
Water from water body affected is directed pumped towards the cooling tower having
condensers, usually with temperature control. After bringing water temperature to
desire level, it is returned to the source. Use of condenser makes this method
expensive.
17.5.3.2 Cooling ponds
These are the most cost effective way to tackle thermal pollution. In this method, heat
of heating effluents on surface of the water is dissipated in atmosphere.
17.5.3.3 Artificial lake
These are the man made bodies of water .Effluents are discharged into the lake and
heat is gradually lost to the atmosphere through evaporation.
17.6 Marine Pollution
Marine Pollution refers to degradation of marine ecosystem by discharge of pollutants
in large water bodies, in particular the sea and the oceans.
17.6.1 Sources of marine pollution

• Major concern for Marine ecosystem is Oil Spills. Origin of oil spills can
be attributed to natural phenomenon and also due to human activities.
Natural sources are oil seeps at geographical fault lines in the ocean
floors .Human activities leading to oil spills include leaking of oil
tankers, well blowouts, drilling oil rigs, etc.
• Addition of pollutants to sea by rivers flowing into seas.
• Addition of pollutants due to human activities such as industrial
activities, agriculture practices and tourism along coastline.
• Over exploitation of aquatic resources such as excessive fishing in
particular region can adversely affect marine ecology.
• Mining of minerals at coast and sea-bed near coast results in defiling the
marine ecological system.
17.6.2 Control of marine pollution
• Reducing the cases of oil spills due to leaking of tankers and well
blowouts.
• Use of effective measures to control oil spills such as use of sinking
material such as chalk and dispersants.
• Developing no fishing zones in areas where aquatic life has been
adversely affected due to excessive fishing.
• Checking addition of toxic waste to rivers flowing into seas.
• Banning mining activities in and around coastal regions and on sea bed.
• Minimizing human activities in coastal regions adjoining areas sensitive
marine ecosystem such as coral reefs.
17.7 Soil Pollution
Soil pollution is contamination of upper layer of earth’s crust by chemicals or other
toxic substances that lead to either reduction in fertility of soil in terms of crop
production or whose addition results in detrimental effects to soil microorganism,
insects, plant life and organism who consume those plants.
17.7.1 Sources of soil pollution

• Industrial Wastes.
• Improper Use of fertilizers, insecticides, pesticides, etc.
• Urban waste consisting of solid waste and sludge also contribute heavily
towards soil pollution.
• Radioactive Pollutants
17.7.2 Effects of soil pollution

• Industrial effluents containing toxic chemicals dumped on land cause

soil pollution and enter in food chain, which has adverse effect on
human health .
• Solid waste dumped on land cause disruption in everyday life and
destroys natural beauty of the landscape.
• Dumped waste and organic waste give rise to foul odour.
• Pathogenic bacteria cause diseases like cholera.
• Biomagnification: Biological magnification also known as
bioamplification, is the increase in concentration of a substance that
occurs in a food chain. Biological magnification refers to the process
whereby certain substances such as pesticides or heavy metals move up
the food chain, work their way into rivers or lakes, and are eaten by
aquatic organisms such as fish, which in turn are eaten by large birds,
animals or humans. Bioaccumulants are substances that increase in
concentration in living organisms as they take in contaminated air, water,
or food because the substances are very slowly metabolized or excreted.
There is good evidence that DDT, DDE, PCBs, toxaphene, and the
organic forms of mercury and arsenic do biomagnify in nature. e.g
endosulphon banned in some states due to overuse on cashewnut
plantations.
17.7.3 Control measures of soil pollution

• Industries should be banned from dumping toxic chemicals on

agricultural land and proper disposal methods should be used.
• Government should provide subsidies, concessions and tax exemption to
companies that use recycled raw materials.
• Application of organic manures and pesticides should be encouraged in
agriculture.
• Plastic carry bags should be replaced by jute bags.
• Public awareness campaigns should be organized.
• Solid waste from urban and industrial areas should be disposed of using
proper techniques.
• Trees and grass should be grown to check soil erosion.
17.8 Nuclear Hazards
Radioactive (nuclear) pollution is a special form of physical pollution related to all
major life-supporting systems – air, water and soil. It is always convenient to discuss
radioactive pollution separately because its nature of contamination is different from
other types of pollution. Its effects are also of special kinds.
17.8.1 Sources of nuclear pollution

1. Source of energy of Sun and other stars is nuclear energy (nuclear fusion
reaction taking place in the core), therefore the cosmic rays emanating
from sun and other stars are primary source of nuclear hazards.
2. Use and testing of nuclear weapons leads unprecedented loss to life and
property as was the case in Second World War.
3. Natural emission of radiation from radioactive isotopes, such as Uranium
present in earth’s crust.
4. Mining, processing and extraction of radioactive ores.
5. Use of radioactive isotopes in nuclear reactors.
6. Problem associated disposal of nuclear waste from nuclear reactors.
7. Accidental leakages in nuclear power plants and other nuclear facilities.
17.8.2 Effects of nuclear hazards

• Effects of nuclear hazards are prolonged and can haunt civilizations for
year and can have adverse effect on generations to come.
• Exposure to nuclear radiations can affect genetic make-up by breaking
the chemical bonds that hold the DNA together. Thus the effect can be
transferred to future generations.
• Nuclear explosion and nuclear weapons can cause mass destruction to
life and property of a scale unprecedented in history of mankind.
• Nuclear hazards are transferred in food chains from bottom to top with
transfer of nuclear elements from prey to the predator.
• Continuous exposure to radiation can lead to cancer.
17.8.3 Nuclear disaster
Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombing in World War-II(1945) & Chernobyl
Nuclear Power Plant Disaster (1986) and meltdown of nuclear reactors in Fukushima
Nuclear Power Plant in March 2011 are examples of nuclear disaster that can be cited
from history that have caused mass destruction to life and property.
17.8.4 Nuclear hazard control

• Nuclear Power plants and research facilities should be set up after

careful evaluation in less inhabited areas.
• Nuclear Power Plants must be carefully designed to minimize risks of
leakage.
• Strict vigilance bodies should be constituted and laws should be enforced
to ensure nuclear safety.
• Summits and conferences must be organized to facilitate the evolution
and exchange of new research and ideas in field of nuclear safety.
• Efficient nuclear waste disposal mechanism should be evolved.
• Preventive measures must be taken to minimize risks associated with
occupation connected to processing of nuclear material.
• Disarmament of nuclear weapons must be strongly advocated in
International Diplomacy