Comprehensive Environment Notes for UPSC
A. Pollution: Pollutants, Sources & Diseases
Air Pollution
Pollutants: PM2.5, PM10, SO2, NOx, CO, O3, Lead, Benzene, VOCs, Ammonia, Dioxins
Sources: Vehicles, industries, biomass burning, fossil fuels
Diseases/Effects: Asthma, bronchitis, lung cancer, heart disease, reduced immunity
Water Pollution
Pollutants: Hg, As, Pb, Cd, Cr, Ni, Nitrates, Phosphates, Pathogens, Oil, Detergents, Pesticides
Sources: Sewage, agriculture runoff, industrial effluents, oil spills
Diseases/Effects: Cholera, hepatitis, Minamata disease, Itai-itai, Blue Baby Syndrome
Soil Pollution
Pollutants: Pesticides (DDT), Heavy metals, Plastic waste, PAHs, Hydrocarbons
Sources: Agrochemicals, mining, landfill, industrial dumping
Diseases/Effects: Skin disorders, cancer, loss of fertility, crop toxicity
Noise Pollution
Pollutants: Loud, continuous or sudden sounds (>85 dB)
Sources: Traffic, construction, loudspeakers, industrial noise
Diseases/Effects: Hearing loss, insomnia, hypertension, stress
Thermal Pollution
Pollutants: Hot water, coolants
Sources: Thermal/nuclear power plants
Diseases/Effects: Reduced oxygen, aquatic biodiversity loss
Radioactive Pollution
Pollutants: Uranium, Plutonium, Cesium-137, Iodine-131
Sources: Nuclear accidents, radioactive waste, radiotherapy
Diseases/Effects: Cancer, genetic mutations, radiation sickness
Light Pollution
Pollutants: Excessive artificial light
Sources: Streetlights, urban sprawl, advertisements
Diseases/Effects: Disrupts sleep, wildlife cycles, eye strain
Plastic Pollution
Pollutants: Microplastics, single-use plastics
Sources: Packaging, landfill, marine waste
Diseases/Effects: Endocrine disruption, marine species death, soil infertility
B. Heavy Metals: Sources & Diseases
Lead (Pb)
Sources: Batteries, paints, pipes, e-waste
Diseases/Effects: Anemia, developmental delay, kidney damage
Mercury (Hg)
Sources: Mining, thermometers, coal combustion
Diseases/Effects: Minamata disease, tremors, memory loss
Arsenic (As)
Sources: Groundwater, pesticides, tanneries
Diseases/Effects: Skin lesions, cancer, Blackfoot disease
Cadmium (Cd)
Sources: Batteries, fertilizers, mining
Diseases/Effects: Itai-itai disease, bone & kidney damage
Chromium (Cr6+)
Sources: Tanneries, dyes, electroplating
Diseases/Effects: Skin burns, lung cancer, DNA damage
Nickel (Ni)
Sources: Electroplating, alloys, fossil fuels
Diseases/Effects: Allergies, lung fibrosis, cancer
Aluminium (Al)
Sources: Cookware, water, deodorants
Diseases/Effects: Linked to Alzheimer's, neurotoxicity
Iron (Fe)
Sources: Steel industry, natural erosion
Diseases/Effects: Hemochromatosis, liver damage (excess)
Manganese (Mn)
Sources: Mining, smelting
Diseases/Effects: Parkinson-like symptoms
Zinc (Zn)
Sources: Galvanization, smelting
Diseases/Effects: Nausea (excess); poor immunity (deficiency)
Copper (Cu)
Sources: Plumbing, electronics, mining
Diseases/Effects: Wilson's disease, liver damage
Selenium (Se)
Sources: Industrial waste, coal ash
Diseases/Effects: Nerve damage (excess); cardiomyopathy (deficiency)
Barium (Ba)
Sources: Industrial waste, drilling fluids
Diseases/Effects: Muscle issues, heart arrhythmias
Cobalt (Co)
Sources: Batteries, pigments
Diseases/Effects: Thyroid issues, heart problems
C. Greenhouse Gases: Sources & Effects
Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
Sources: Fossil fuels, deforestation
Diseases/Effects: Global warming, ocean acidification, respiratory irritation
Methane (CH4)
Sources: Livestock, rice paddies, landfills, oil & gas leaks
Diseases/Effects: Potent warming agent, asthma, lung issues
Nitrous Oxide (N2O)
Sources: Fertilizers, biomass burning, fuel combustion
Diseases/Effects: Ozone layer depletion, nerve damage
Ozone (O3)
Sources: Formed by NOx + VOCs under sunlight
Diseases/Effects: Smog, asthma, eye irritation
CFCs
Sources: Refrigerants, aerosol sprays
Diseases/Effects: Ozone hole -> UV exposure -> skin cancer, cataracts
Water Vapor (H2O)
Sources: Evaporation (natural), intensified by warming
Diseases/Effects: Amplifies global warming
Sulfur Hexafluoride (SF6)
Sources: Electrical insulators, electronics
Diseases/Effects: Potent GHG, no direct health effect
