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Unit-
Environmental Pollution
Defination of Environment
The surroundings or conditions in which a person, animal, or plant lives or operates. it provide water,air and food, land where we live.it is combination of natural and human made phenomenon.
Environmental pollution
It is define as undesirable change in Physical, chemical or biological characteristic of any component of environment i.e. air,water, saol which can cause harmful effect on various form of life or property.
OR
Environmental pollution is defined as “the contamination of the physical and
biological components of the earth/atmosphere system to such an extent that
normal environmental processes are adversely affected.”
Ecology
TYPES OF POLLUTION
The following are the types of pollution perceived in our environment
- (^) Noise pollution
- Water pollution
- Air pollution
- soil pollution
1) Noise pollution
Noise is derived from the Latin word “nausea” implying ‘unwanted sound’ or
‘sound that is loud, unpleasant or unexpected’.
Noise is defined as, "the unwanted, unpleasant or disagreeable sound that causes discomfort to all living beings". Sound intensity is measured in decibels (dB), that
is the tenth part of the longest unit Bel. One dB is the faintest sound that a human
ear can hear.
Causes of Noise pollution
- Industrial Noise
- Transport Noise and
- Neighbourhood noise
- Air craft
- Noise from Construction and civil engineering work Industrial Noise: It is sound with a high intensity sound caused by industry machines. Sources of such noise pollution is caused by machines from machines in various factories, industries and mills. Noise from mechanical saws and pneumatic drills is unbearable and a nuisance to the public.. Workers in steel industry, who work close to heavy industrial blowers are exposed to 112dB for eight hours suffer from occupational pollution.
Transport Noise : Transport noise mainly consists of traffic noise from road, rail and aircraft. The number of automobiles on roads like motors, scooters, cars, motor cycles, buses, trucks and diesel engine vehicles have increased enormously in the recent past further aggravating the problem of transport noise. Noise levels in most residential areas in metropolitan cities is hovering around the border line due to increased vehicular noise pollution. This high level of noise pollution leads to deafening in the elderly.
Neighbourhood noise : This type of noise includes disturbance from household gadgets and community. Common sources being musical instruments, TV, VCR, Radios, Transistors, Telephones, and loudspeakers etc. Statistically, ever since the industrial revolution, noise in the environment has been doubling every ten years. Air craft Aircraft noise is noise pollution produced by an aircraft or its components, whether on the ground while parked such as auxiliary power units, while taxiing, on run-up from propeller and jet exhaust, during take off, underneath and lateral to departure and arrival paths, over-flying while en route, or during landing
Noise from Construction and civil engineering work Noise from Construction and civil engineering work
- By improving road surface
- Turn off Appliances at Home and offices
- Shut the Door when using noisy Machines
- Use Earplugs
- Lower the volume
- Stay away from Noisy area
- Follow the Limits of Noise level
- Control Noise level near sensitive areas
- (^) Green by planning trees
- Legal restrictions on noise polluting bodies.
2 -Water Pollution
Water pollution is the contamination of water bodies, usually lakes, rivers, oceans. It cause when Pollutant are directly or indirectly discharge into water bodies without adequate treatment to remove harmful compounds.
Causes of water pollution
- Use of chemical fertilizers for the Plants
- Industrial waste
- Marine Dumping
- (^) Animal waste
- Accidental oil leakage
- Throwing of Plastics in the Ocean
- Discharge of Radioactive Wastes
- Rapid Urban Development
- Improper Sewage Disposal
- Dumping of Chemical Wastes by Big Factories
1.Use of chemical fertilizers for the Plants: farmers have used harmful fertilizers and pesticides to produce more and cope up with the demands of the growing population. This directly get flow with water in rain.
2.Industrial waste: Industries produce huge amount of waste which contain toxic chemicals and pollutants. They also contain pollutant like lead, mercury, sulphur asbestos, nitrate and many other harmful chemicals. Many Industries do not have proper waste management system and drain waste in fresh water which goes into rivers canals and later in sea.
3 Marine Dumping: The garbage produce by household in form of paper, aluminum rubber, glass, plastic, food etc are collected and released into the sea in some countries. These items take anytime from 2 weeks to 200 years to decompose. When such items enter sea, they not only cause water pollution but lso cause harm to animal / plant in sea.
4 Animal waste: the waste produce by animals is wasted away into the river when it rains it gets mixed up with other harmful chemicals and cause various water borne diseases like cholera, diarrhea, jaundice, dysentery and typhod.
5 Accidental oil leakage: Oil spill pose a huge concern as large amount of oil enter into sea and forms a layer over water and thus cuts the oxygen supply to microorganisms which quite dangerous for aquatic life.
6.Throwing of Plastics in the Ocean: Plastics are one of the most common materials that can easily get washed away by the waves.Today, plastic is used in almost any kind of manufactured object from the clothes we wear, home items, and automobile parts. It is lightweight, and it floats easily. However, plastics are non- biodegradable, and it can affect the survival of marine life for a very long time.
7.Discharge of Radioactive Wastes : High concentrations of radioactive waste can cause great alarm to the public. It can cause illness such as cancer which can ultimately cause the death of a person.
8.Rapid Urban Development
Through the years, we have witnessed the exodus of people in towns and cities. People began to build houses, roads, and big industries. Thereafter, there is a physical disturbance of the land and factories began to dump their chemical wastes in the bodies of water.
Big factories flush down waste products in the water, and this is one of the major causes of ocean pollution.
On the other hand, ordinary people also cause water pollution and not just big factories. Everyone is guilty of pouring chemicals or detergents in their drains or toilets. This toxic pollution can enter the wastewater from highway runoff.
- When cooking your food, do not throw excess fat or oil down in the drain. Drain your dirty dishes in the container and discard it as a solid waste once it is full and it dries.
- Do not make your toilet as your wastebasket. Do not flush unnecessary things in the toilet because this will only clog up your drains. It is unsustainable, and it will only lead to massive pollution in the end.
- Switch to the use of a water-efficient toilet in your home. If you think this is costly, you can use a brick or a ½ gallon container to reduce the amount of water released in each flush and be able to reduce the space. With this, you can save water which is being unnecessarily flushed down the toilet.
- If you are a farmer, allow your animals to graze only when it is a well- vegetated pasture to prevent soil erosion. If you have a garden at home, avoid the use of pesticides to make your plants grow.
- Always keep your vehicles in good condition to avoid oil spills in the water.
- Avoid using plastics if possible especially when dining. Say no to straws, plastic cups, and plastic utensils when you dine and get out in the beach.
- Do your part by picking up some litter that you see in the environment. Pick up those candy wrapper, plastic, and others. With this, you can also lead as a good example and encourage others to also do their part.
- Some people flush down the unused pharmaceutical drugs down the drains until it accumulates into massive amounts. You can prevent this incident from happening by dropping off the unused medicines at a drug drop-off which is usually organized by the government and other organizations.
3) Air pollution
4) soil pollution
Soil Pollution Soil pollution is defined as the contamination of soil causing adverse effects on living organisms in it.
Causes of soil pollution
- Soil erosion Soil erosion can be defined as the movement of topsoil from one place to another. Soil erosion is a natural process due to wind, flood and due to human activities like- construction, overgrazing, farming and deforestation.
- Industrial wastes Various pollutants exists in environment from industrial wastes. Discharge from Chemical industries, Fertilizer Company, pharmaceutical companies are highly polluting.
- Urban wastes Because of modem life style and eating habits the urban wastes are becoming very dangerous to the human beings. Urban wastes include both which is a non-degradable material and harmful to the society in long run.
- Agricultural practice Use of strong fertilizer, pesticides and inorganic chemicals for increasing productivity.
- Biological agents : Human and animal excreta wastes enter the soil pores and decompose pathogenic bacterial present in those wastes spread infection.
Effects of soil pollution
- Toxic compounds affect plant growth and human life also.
- Water logging and salinity makes soil infertile.
- Hazardous chemicals enter into food chain from soil disturbing the biochemical process.
- Nervous disorders, gastrointestinal disorder, joint pain, respiratory problems are the effects seen on human beings.
Control measures for preventing soil pollution
- Soil erosion must be prevented or controlled by proper tree plantation.
- All the wastes from industry, domestic, must be dumped with proper treatment.
- Use of sunthetic fertilizers must be avoided instead natural fertilizers must be preferred.
- Educate people regarding consequences of soil pollution and to prevent soil pollution.
- Strict enforcement of environment protection law.
- Toxic and non-degradable materials must be totally banned. 7. Recycling and reuse of industrial and domestic wastes can minimize soil pollution considerably.
Environmental laws for controlling pollution Pollution laws have become very important for industries. The industries creating pollution has to work under the permissible limit given in these laws. Disobedience of these pollution laws can lead to closer of industry and criminal prosecution for management.
It is worthwhile to mention that all industries are not creating pollution. From last some years the procedure under labour laws are made simple and transparent. Now most of the industry can deal with these laws without any difficulty and complication.
There are three main laws relating to pollution.
- The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act- 1981.
- The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act- 1974.
- The Environment (Protection) Act-1986.
- Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution Union Territories) Rules,
- Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Rules, 1982.
- Bio-Medical Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 1998.
- Central Board for the Prevention and Control of Water Pollution (Procedure for Transaction of Business) Rules, 1975.
- Chemical Accidents (Emergency Planning Preparedness and Response) Rules, 1996.
- Hazardous Waste (Management & Handling) Rules, 1989.
- Manufacture, Storage and Import of Hazardous Chemicals Rules,
- National Environment Tribunal Act, 1995.
- Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000.
- Recycled Plastics Manufacture and Usage Rules, 1999.
- Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Cess Act, 1977.
- Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Cess Rules, 1978.
- Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Rules, 1975.
