PREPARED BY
Mr. PRASANNA
DCE, BE, [Link]
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
Contamination of any part of the environment
by- product produced by human activities is
called environmental pollution.
Pollutants: Any products or the waste
produced which when released into
environment cause pollution are called
pollutants
SOURCES OF POLLUTION
Sources of pollution are many but can be
divided into two types:
1. Natural pollution
2. Man-made pollution
NATURAL POLLUTION
• Material produced by volcanic eruption
(smoke ,ash ,gases ,dust)
• Forest fire
• Floods
• Cyclones etc
MAN-MADE POLLUTION
Man made sources of pollution include
• Industries
• Urbanization
• Agriculture
• Population explosion
• Automobiles
• Nuclear Explosion ( Radio active substances )
However Industries and Urbanization are the two
main sources of pollution.
TYPES OF POLLUTION
Environmental pollution can be classified into
different types:
1. Air pollution
2. Water pollution
3. Soil pollution
4. Noise pollution
5. Radio active or Nuclear pollution.
6. Marine pollution
7. Thermal pollution
AIR POLLUTION
Addition of harmful substances to the
atmosphere is called air pollution.
Or
Air pollution is the contamination of air by
addition of unwanted matter or gases produced
by human activities.
Life-Air
Air? Not Ordinary Air!
It is Life-Air from the Skies!
• Without ‘Food’ (but ‘Water’) human
can live for ‘3 Days’.
• Without ‘Water’ human can live for ‘1
Day’. (and no ‘Food’)
• Without ‘Air’ (even with ‘Food’ and Air is so
‘Water’) human can live for ‘1 Minute’. important.
Pollution is
Ques: Guess, what is ‘Death’? a serious
Ans: No Air for ‘1 Minute’ is called as issue.
‘Death’.
1. Atmosphere is a mixture of several gases
Nitrogen (78%), Oxygen (21%), Argon ,
Carbon dioxide etc.
2. One can live for a few weeks without food,
but cannot survive without air for a minute.
3. Healthy adult inhale about 16kg of air and
respiration takes place 22000 times everyday.
4. But air is never pure due to some gases like
SO2, H2S, CO2, CO, dust, NO2, pollen of
flowers etc.
IMPORTANT AIR POLLUTANTS
1. Carbon dioxide (CO2): Largely released to
the atmosphere from burning of coal , petrol
, thermal power plants , Industries , volcanic
eruption.
Effects : Increase in concentration of carbon
dioxide. Increases in the temperature on the
surface of the earth.
Carbon Monoxide (CO)
Carbon monoxide : Produced due to the
incomplete burning of fuels particularly petrol
and other petroleum products in motor vehicles.
Other sources are furnaces , open forest fires ,
burning coalmine , factories , cigarettes etc.
Effects : Reduces oxygen carrying capacity of
blood(Hemoglobin), Irritation of eyes, lung
diseases, reduces visibility of sun light.
Nitrogen Oxide
3. Nitrogen Oxide(NO2): Produced when
burning of fuels in Engines , Nitrogen and
Oxygen of air combine to form oxides of
nitrogen. Incomplete combustion of petroleum
products also produces Nitrogen oxides.
Effects: Acid rain , Irritation lungs , urban
smog (combination of smoke and fog.)
Urban Air Pollution
• Photochemical Smog (ex: Los Angeles below)
– Brownish-orange haze formed by chemical reactions involving
sunlight, nitrogen oxide, and hydrocarbons
Sulphur Dioxide
4. Sulphurdioxide (SO2) : It is produced by
thermal power plants, auto-mobiles and all
refineries.
Effects : It causes headache, vomiting.
respiratory problems through rain water and
polluted water.
It causes acid rain.
It is harmful to plants.
Hydrocarbons
5. Hydrocarbons: Mainly consist of benzene ,
methane, benzopyrene exhausted from
vehicles.
Evaporation petrol and diesel from carburetors
.
Decomposition of organic wastes and garbage.
Suspended Particulate Matter
6. Suspended Particulate Matter: It refers to
small particles floating in the atmosphere.
It consists of smoke, soot , dust mainly from
industries , power plants and mines.
It is harmful to health, eye irrigation and
cancer.
Chloro Fluro Carbons
7. Chloro Fluro Carbons: Compounds of
chlorine, fluorine and carbon popularly known
as CFCs
These are emitted from industries , air
conditioners , Refrigerators , Foam plastics
Effect: Most dangerous form of air pollution.
Causes Ozone depletion
Air Pollution - Side Effects
Side Effects of Air Pollution are many!
A few are mentioned below:
• Acid Rain - and therefore Water Pollution.
• Global Warming 1 - due to Air Pollution.
• Ozone Layer Depletion - due to Air Pollution.
• Global Warming 2 - due to Ozone Layer Depletion.
• Increase of Smog, Haze, Particulate, Dust, Toxic Brue.
• Global Dimming - due to Air Pollution.
• Ecological Issues - too much Rain or no Rain - destruction of
Farmers plans - Farmer suicides in some Countries - Ethiopian
famine, etc.
• Environmental Disorder - disturbs natural Human Life.
Air Pollution - Health Effects
Health Effects of Air Pollution are many! A few are mentioned below:
• Pollutants: sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, nitric oxide, carbon
monoxide, photochemical oxidants, toxic metals.
• Health Effects: wheezing, coughing, lungs/breathing quality,
dust allergy, sleeplessness (insomnia).
• Long-term Health Effects: emphysema, bronchitis, asthma,
weakness, stamina loss, skin irritation/diseases.
• Effect on Generations: reduced stamina, reduced strength and
energy, reduced bone tissue strength, reduced health, prone to
diseases and bacterial infection, reduced life, birth with
deformation.
EFFECTS OF AIR POLLUTION
Effects on atmosphere
• Concentration of carbon dioxide in the air
Causes the risk of temperature and depletion of
ozone.
• Air pollutants have impact on humidity ,clouds,
rainfall
• They cause acid rain smog etc.
EFFECTS ON HEALTH
• SO2 and CO can cause illness and even death.
• CO2 often affects oxygen carrying capacity of
blood.
• Sudden leakage of toxic gases from chemical
and gas plants causes loss of life.
• Pollutants like lead , asbestos , silica , carbon ,
zinc , copper , dust etc cause many diseases.
• It affects respiratory system and causes
bronchitis , asthma ,emphysema and lung
cancer.
Other Effects
• Air pollution can also cause damage to
property and materials
• The smoke, dust and oxides of sulphur have
harmful effect on structures
• Ex. Oil refinery at Mathura has affected
whiteness of the Tajmahal
Air (Prevention and control of
pollution) Act 1981
• The Air (Prevention and control of Pollution) Act,
1981 is an act of the Parliament of India to control
and prevent air pollution in India.
• This was first attempt by the Govt of India to
combat air pollution.
• This act to provide for the prevention, control and
abatement of air pollution.
• In 1987 this act was amended to include noise as
air pollutant
PREPARED BY
Mr. PRASANNA
DCE, BE, [Link]
Water Pollution
• The contamination of water by
addition of toxic pollutants which are
harmful to living organisms is called
water pollution.
OR
• Water pollution is defined as the
presence of solid, liquid or gaseous
contaminants that may alter the
quality of water and water become
unfit for its desired use then it is
considered as polluted water.
Point sources of Water Pollution
Pollutant enters the water
then such sources of
pollution are identified as
point sources of pollution.
Industrial discharge pipes
Point sources of Water Pollution
Municipal sewage
Point sources of Water Pollution
Waste water/sewage water
treatment plants
Sources of water pollution
1. Domestic sewage
The sewage contains human
faeces, urine, kitchen wastes,
street wastes and organic
substances.
The undesirable effects include
spreading of water borne
diseases.
Sources of water pollution
2. Natural water Pollution
Contaminants entering water via
rainfall, storm, ice melting. Also
decaying of plants, dead animals
and organic leachates from animal
excreta will introduce
microorganisms in water
Sources of water pollution
3. Agriculture Pollution of water. • Land slide at Jodupal Madikeri
Soil washings from land
surfaces, fertilisers, insecticides,
pesticides or weedicide.
Sources of water pollution
4. Mining Pollution of water . It
occurs due to ore washing acid
drainage, inert suspended solids
and soluble toxic materials.
Sources of water pollution
5 . Industrial Pollution of water.
It occurs due to effluents coming
from industrial activities food
processing, drugs and chemicals.
Sources of water pollution
4. Mining Pollution of water . It
occurs due to ore washing acid
drainage, inert suspended solids
and soluble toxic materials.
Sources of water pollution
6 . Municipal Pollution of water.
Municipal Pollution of water. It
occurs due to sewage coming
from homes, bathrooms,
apartments, hospitals, commercial
and industrial buildings.
Sources of water pollution
7. Pollution of water due to
accidental events. It occurs due
to leakage, spillage and run offs
of chemicals/ oils/petrol/diesels/
acids during loading and
unloading, transit at tanker/
trucks/lorries on the road sides.
Sources of water pollution
8. Thermal and radioactive waste.
Different Industries and nuclear
power plants use water and
discharge the heated water into
nearby water bodies. Nuclear
reactors, nuclear explosions,
medicinal use and research
laboratories are main source of
radioactive waste.
Sources of water pollution
9. Bio degradable and non bio
gradable. Consists of organic
waste from domestic sewage.
They are decomposed by micro
organisms naturally or can be
artificially decomposed in
chemical treatment plants.
Types of Water Pollutants
Oxygen demanding waste -
Example. Human, animal waste, decaying vegetation
Disease causing wastes -
Example. Bacteria and viruses
Synthetic organic compounds -
Example. Detergents, oil, Insecticides
Inorganic chemicals and mineral substances
Example: Hg, Cd2+, Pb2+ etc.
Types of Water Pollutants
Plant nutrients.
Example. Nitrates, Phosphates.
Sediments and suspended solids
Example. Slit from land erosion
Radio active substances/wastes
Thermal discharge
Example. Water used for cooling in industry
Oil from oil spills and washing of automobiles pollutes river and
lakes.
Characteristics of water pollutants
1. Water pollutants changes the colour of water.
2. They change the taste and odour of water.
3. They affect the pH value of water
4. They cause normal water to become hard and poisonous
5. They cause the turbidity in water
6. They increase the temperature of water
Natural or unpolluted water is colourless, odourless and
transparent
Control measures of water pollution
There are many methods to control water pollution –
The sources of potable water must be away from the industries.
This is to avoid seepage of toxic industrial effluents.
The industries should be given training and facilities to treat
their sewage before discharging it.
Safe disposal of sewage water is done effectively by installing
the sewage water treatment plants, septic tank etc,
Reducing the use of pesticides, insecticides and chemical
fertilisers. This will prevent runoffs of the material into nearby
water sources.
Control measures of water pollution
Waste waters should be properly treated by primary and
secondary treatments to reduce the BOD (Biological Oxygen Demand)
and COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand) up to the permissible level for
discharge.
Proper chlorination should be done to prevent the formation of
chlorinated hydrocarbons or disinfections should be done by ozone
or ultraviolet radiations.
Proper planning of towns for its development
Water (Prevention and control of pollution) act 1974
The Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 was
adopted by the Indian parliament with the aim of prevention and
control of Water Pollution in India.
Under Water Act 1974, Sewage or pollutants cannot be
discharged into water bodies including lakes and it is the duty of the
state pollution control board to intervene and stop such activity.
Anyone failing to abide by the laws of under is liable for
imprisonment under Section 24 & Section 43 ranging from not less
than one year and six months to six years along with monetary fines
PREPARED BY
Mr. PRASANNA
DCE, BE, [Link]
When going to workplace, colleagues from nearby
localities should pool vehicles instead of going in
individual personal vehicles.
Taking personal vehicles for periodic pollution checks
at centres approved by authorities.
Individuals should reuse items whenever possible.
Products that are made of recycled material should be
given preference.
Use gunny bags made of jute instead of plastic bags.
Take part in environment conservation drives such as
tree planting drives.
Use water resources efficiently.
Use renewable resources by installing equipment such
as solar heaters and using solar cookers.
Dispose potentially harmful products such as cells,
batteries, pesticide containers, etc properly.
Use of refrigerators should be minimised wherever
possible as they are main source of CFC, which is
responsible for Ozone layer depletion.
Follow and promote family planning, as more population
means more resources utilized and more resources utilized
imply more pollution.
Avoid making noise producing activities such as listening to
loud music.
Use handkerchiefs instead of paper tissues.
Spread awareness and inspire other people to prevent
pollution. Individuals should be encouraged to acquire
information and innovations from world over and implement
them locally.
Bhopal gas tragedy, a disaster that happened by
a Gas leak is considered as one of the world's
worst Industrial disaster that occurred on the
night of December 2–3, 1984 at the Union
carbide India Limited (UCIL) Pesticide plant in
Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India.
A leak of Methyl Isocyanate (MIC) gas
and other chemicals from the plant
resulted in the exposure of thousands of
people. The toxic substance spread its
way in and around the neighborhood
located near the plant. That Resulted in a
very high death toll. The official
immediate death toll was 2,259 and the
government of Madhya Pradesh has
confirmed a total of 3,787 deaths related
to the gas release .
Storing MIC in large tanks and filling beyond
recommended levels.
The flare tower and several vent gas scrubbers had been
out of service for five months before the disaster.
Failure of several safety systems .
Also some safety systems being switched off to save money
Lack of skilled operators-No proper training was given to
them.
• The scientific reason that caused the accident was that water
entered the tank where about 40 cubic meters of MIC was stored.
• As a result, the safety valve of the tank burst because of the
increase in pressure. • It is presumed that between 20 and 30 tonnes
of MIC were released during the hour that the leak took place.
The gas leaked from a 30 m high chimney and this height was not
enough to reduce the effects of the discharge.
Use of more dangerous pesticide manufacturing
method for decreasing the generation cost.
Plant located very close to a densely populated
area.
Lack of skilled operators.
Reduction of safety management.
The Donora Smog disaster occurred in October 1948 in the town of
Donora, Pennsylvania. It is one of America’s worst air pollution
disasters.
Donora a town of 14,000 (at the time) on the Monongahela River, in a
valley. The town was home to a number of steel mills and zinc smelting
plants that released excessive amounts of sulfuric acid, carbon
monoxide, and other harmful pollutants that were released into the
atmosphere for years before to the disaster.
On October 26th, weather conditions brought a heavy
fog into Donora- the fog appear(s) to have trapped the
air born pollutants (emitted from the plants ) close to the
ground where they were inhaled by local residents.
Almost immediately there was a wave of calls to the
hospitals of the area. And those with known respiratory
problems were advised to leave town immediately
however 11 people, all elderly, had already passed.
Many attempted to leave the area but heavy
smog and then increased traffic made it nearly
impossible. The hospitals became flooded with
complaints and calls of inability to breathe.
Love canal was built by William Love in suburb of
Nigeria falls, New York.
The Love Canal area was originally the site of an
abandoned canal that became a dumping ground for
nearly 22,000 tons of chemical waste (including
polychlorinated, dioxin, and pesticides) produced by the
Hooker Chemicals and Plastics Corporation in the
1940s and ’50s.
In the following years, the site was filled in and
given by the company to the growing city of
Niagara Falls, which allowed housing to be
built on it.
In 1978, however, state officials detected the
leakage of toxic chemicals from underground
into the basements of homes in the area.
Subsequent investigations established an
abnormally high incidence of chromosomal
damage among the area’s residents,
presumably caused by their long-term exposure
to the toxic chemical wastes.
Residents complain about foul smell. Children
playing in canal area recived chemical burns.
Much of Love Canal was then evacuated, the
abandoned land being purchased by the state of
New York. The canal was capped and fenced
off, and the buildings around it were razed.
The Worst Nuclear Disaster in History 100
times more radioactivity than Hiroshima.
Where is Chernobyl? -In Northern Ukraine -10
miles away from Belarus -80 miles North of
Kiev
The Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant • Located
11 miles north of the city of Chernobyl
Plant consisted of 4 reactors
Produced 10% of Ukraine’s electricity
Construction began in the 1970’s
Reactor #4 was completed in 1983
At the time of the accident, reactors #5 and #6
were in progress.
The power plant designed to produce 1000MW electrical
energy, was working continuously for two years. Shut
down on 25th April for normal repair work.
Due to faulty shutting down process – SEVERE
EXPLOSION
Severity – 1000 tonnes steel concrete lid blew off.
Fire started up to 2000C
Fuel and radioactive debris spread out on volcanic cloud.
Neighboring countries Poland, Sweden, Denmark and
Norway were also affected.
5,06,000 people were affected
Risk of severe diseases like cancer, leukaemia,
loss of hair, damaged skin etc..
2000 people were died.
