POLLUTION – TYPES AND SOURCES
Question 1 -- What is pollution? What is a pollutant?
Answer – Pollution is any activity that violates the original character
of nature and leads to its degradation is called pollution.
Pollutant is a substance that causes pollution and harms plants,
animals and man—Eg. Carbon Dioxide, Carbon Monoxide, etc.
Question 2 -- Give the difference between natural and man-made
pollutants.
Answer
Natural pollutants Man-made pollutants
Natural pollutants are Man-made pollutants are
produced as a result of natural produced as a result of human
phenomena. activities.
Example: Example:
Volcanic eruptions and Industrial pollution and
wildfires. vehicular emissions.
Question 3 -- What is air pollution? Give a source of air pollution.
Answer -- Air pollution is the contamination of air by nature and
human sources which affects the well-being of human beings,
animals, plants and their environment.
Forest fires, dust storms, automobiles, burning of garbage, etc.
Question 4 -- Define water pollution.
Answer -- Water pollution can be defined as an alteration in water's
physical, chemical or biological characteristics, making it unsuitable
for designated use in its natural state.
Question 5 -- What is soil pollution? Why should we avoid soil
pollution?
Answer – Soil pollution is defined as the change in physical,
chemical, and biological condition of the soil through man’s
intervention resulting in degradation in quality and productivity of
soil.
We should avoid soil pollution because of the following reasons-
1. The pollutants enter the food chain at the plant level and get
magnified as we move up the food chain.
2. The pollutants remain in the soil for relatively longer periods.
Question 6 -- What is radioactive pollution?
Answer -- Radioactive pollution is the emission of highly charged
particles and electromagnetic rays entering the Earth’s atmosphere
from outer space.
Question 7 -- What is noise pollution?
Answer -- Noise pollution is defined as an unwanted sound that is an
irritant and a source of stress.
Question 8 -- What are man-made causes of radioactive pollution?
Why is radioactive pollution more harmful than other types of
pollution?
Answer -- There are mainly two man-made causes of radioactive
pollution:
1. Nuclear fuels used in atomic reactors — There are two types of
waste formed in a Nuclear Reactor which cause pollution:
i. The fission products remain in both the primary and
secondary fuels.
ii. Waste products in the coolant
2. Nuclear Weapons — The development and testing of Nuclear
weapons creates the risk of leakage of radioactive radiation in
the environment. The atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and
Nagasaki caused huge destruction and had an enormous impact
on the environment till decades later.
Radioactive pollution is more harmful than other types of pollution
because the high-level products of nuclear waste remain in the
environment for several hundred years. Leakage in nuclear reactors
causes environmental pollution and the leakage may result in the
death of several people.
Question 9 -- How is noise a source of pollution? Why do we need to
look at the problem of noise pollution seriously?
Answer -- Noise is a physical form of pollution which is not directly
harmful to the life-supporting systems. It is not fatal to human life, yet
its effects cannot be overlooked because repeated exposure to noise
reduces the sleeping hours, productivity or efficiency of a human
being affects the peace of mind and invades the privacy of a human
being.
------ NOTES ------
Short note on air pollution –
Air pollution refers to any physical, chemical or biological change in
the air. It is the contamination of air by harmful gases, dust and smoke
which affects plants, animals and humans drastically.
There is a certain percentage of gases present in the atmosphere. An
increase or decrease in the composition of these gases is harmful to
survival. This imbalance in the gaseous composition has increased the
earth’s temperature, which is known as global warming.
Types of Air Pollutants---
Primary Pollutants
The pollutants that directly cause air pollution are known as primary
pollutants. Sulphur dioxide emitted from factories is a primary
pollutant.
Secondary Pollutants
The pollutants formed by the intermingling and reaction of primary
pollutants are known as secondary pollutants. Smog, formed by the
intermingling of smoke and fog, is a secondary pollutant.
Major gaseous air pollutants
They include Carbon Dioxide, Hydrogen Sulphide, Sulphur Dioxide
and Nitrogen Oxide, etc.
Natural sources are volcanic eruptions, forest fires, dust storms, etc.
Man-Made sources include automobiles, industries, burning of
garbage and brick kilns, etc.
Automobile pollution:
Automobiles, aeroplanes, ships and trains are the major sources of
Carbon Monoxide and Hydro-carbons compounds of Nitrogen and
Oxygen are the major sources of pollution in the air.
The emission of Nitrogen oxide by a large number of supersonic
transport aeroplanes may cause deterioration of the ozone layer which
may cause serious damage to the flora and fauna.
Burning of Fossil Fuels
The combustion of fossil fuels emits a large amount of sulphur
dioxide. Carbon monoxide released by the incomplete combustion of
fossil fuels also results in air pollution.
Agricultural Activities
Ammonia is one of the most hazardous gases emitted during
agricultural activities. Insecticides, pesticides and fertilisers emit
harmful chemicals into the atmosphere and contaminate it.
Mining Activities
In the mining process, the minerals below the earth are extracted
using large pieces of equipment. The dust and chemicals released
during the process not only pollute the air but also deteriorate the
health of the workers and people living in the nearby areas.
Radioactive elements
Emit α, β, γ rays into the air.
Effects of Air Pollution
Diseases
Air pollution has resulted in several respiratory disorders and heart
diseases among humans. The cases of lung cancer have increased in
the last few decades. Children living near polluted areas are more
prone to pneumonia and asthma. Many people die every year due to
the direct or indirect effects of air pollution.
Global Warming
Due to the emission of greenhouse gases, there is an imbalance in the
gaseous composition of the air. This has led to an increase in the
temperature of the earth. This increase in the earth’s temperature is
known as global warming. This has resulted in the melting of glaciers
and an increase in sea levels. Many areas are submerged underwater.
Acid Rain
The burning of fossil fuels releases harmful gases such as nitrogen
oxides and sulphur oxides into the air. The water droplets combine
with these pollutants, become acidic and fall as acid rain which
damages human, animal and plant life.
Ozone Layer Depletion
The release of chlorofluorocarbons, halons, and
hydrochlorofluorocarbons in the atmosphere is the major cause of the
depletion of the ozone layer. The depleting ozone layer does not
prevent the harmful ultraviolet rays coming from the sun and causes
skin diseases and eye problems among individuals.
Effect on Animals
The air pollutants suspend in the water bodies and affect aquatic life.
Pollution also compels the animals to leave their habitat and shift to a
new place. This renders them stray and has also led to the extinction
of many animal species.
Q1 What is the major cause of air pollution?
The main cause of air pollution is the burning of fossil fuels. Harmful
gases like sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide etc. are released into the
atmosphere due to incomplete combustion of fossil fuels which
pollutes the air.
Q2 How does air pollution cause global warming?
In air pollution, the release of greenhouse gases changes the gaseous
composition of the atmosphere and causes an increase in the
temperature of the earth. This increased temperature of the earth is
known as global warming.
Q3 What is acid rain? Name the gases responsible for acid rain.
Acid rain is the precipitation of acid in the form of rain. The harmful
gases like nitrogen oxides and sulphur oxides are released into the
atmosphere by burning fossil fuels. These pollutants react with the
rainwater and fall as acid rain.
Q4 Deforestation is a major reason for air pollution. Explain.
Deforestation can be defined as the large-scale removal of trees from
forests or other lands. Plants utilise carbon dioxide (CO2) from the
atmosphere for the process of photosynthesis, this causes a decrease
in the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere. As the number of trees
declines due to deforestation, the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere
increases, causing air pollution.
Short note on water pollution –
Earth is covered with 71% water and 29% land. The pollution of
water makes life difficult. Man has polluted not only the surface water
but also the groundwater. Water is the most precious natural resource
that exists on our planet.
Sources of freshwater pollution :
Natural sources and Man-made sources.
1] Natural sources:
The natural sources are gases, animal waste, living organisms, soil,
minerals and other pollutants soluble in water.
Poisonous minerals like Nickel, Cobalt, Lead Mercury etc. are also
responsible for water pollution.
2] Human sources:
Urbanisation and industrialisation have resulted in excessive water
pollution.
Classified as follows:
a) Sewage and Domestic waste :
b) Industrial waste :
c) Agricultural waste :
d) Nuclear waste :
e) Oil spills :
f) Thermal pollution :
