Chapter 17
Sources of Pollution
Short Answer Questions
Question 1
Name any three air pollutants and the sources of each of them.
Answer
Three air pollutants are-
1. Carbon Monoxide — It is produced by gasoline fuel, motor vehicles fuel, burning of
wood and coal, solid waste disposal and industrial processes.
2. Nitrogen Oxides — Its primary sources are motor vehicles and power generation
stations, combustion of organic matters, furnace stacks and incinerators.
3. Hydrocarbons — These are produced by motor vehicles, industrial processes, garbage
and agricultural waste.
Question 2
What are natural sources of air pollution? Name one industry which pollutes the atmosphere with
gaseous as well as with particulate matter.
Answer
Natural sources of air pollution produce air pollutants as a result of natural phenomena. These
include volcanic eruptions, deflation of sand and dust as well as forest, or wild fires of natural
vegetation, etc.
Automobile industry pollutes the atmosphere with gaseous as well as with particulate matter.
Question 3
What is known as smog? What harm is done by smog especially in winter?
Answer
Smog is a combination of smoke and fog.
During the winter months, due to severe cold, the use of coal and fossil fuels to heat homes and
for other purposes increases. These lead to the formation of smog. Smog is harmful for health as
it causes asthma, bronchitis, shortness of breath, eye and nose irritation, etc. It also reduces
visibility and leads to problems in traffic movement.
Question 4
Name three gases emitted during burning of garbage.
Answer
Three gases emitted during burning of garbage are-
1. Carbon dioxide
2. Sulphur dioxide
3. Nitrogen oxides
Question 5
Mention any two sources of water pollution.
Answer
Two sources of water pollution are-
1. Domestic sources, like phosphates from detergents and fertilisers.
2. Industrial sources, like heavy metals and synthetic organic compounds.
Question 6
Name two heavy metals from industries that pollute water.
Answer
Two heavy metals from industries that pollute water are-
1. Lead
2. Manganese
Question 7
Mention any two sources of soil pollution.
Answer
Two sources of soil pollution are-
1. Chemical fertilisers
2. Biomedical waste
Question 8
Why radioactive pollutants are very dangerous?
Answer
Radioactive pollutants are very dangerous because of the following reasons-
1. Radioactive wastes from atomic reactors are hazardous to living organisms.
2. Even if radioactive wastes are buried underground, they may escape into the
surroundings.
3. Inert gases escape as vapours and pollute the environment.
4. The radioactive wastes emitted during the testing of nuclear weapons makes the
surrounding materials radioactive.
5. Radioactive materials are carried away to distant places by winds. They are brought down
by rain. Raindrops containing these radioactive particles fall on earth,and affect the soil
causing soil pollution.
6. The radioactive materials in the soil reach water sources, where the aquatic organisms
absorb and accumulate them through the food chains and pass them on to human beings.
Question 9
In cities flyovers are constructed with large sheets of fibre glass on the outer side of the flyovers.
Give reason.
Answer
This is done in order to reduce noise pollution. Flyovers experience heavy vehicular traffic,
which generates continuous and high levels of noise. Fiberglass sheets act as sound barriers,
absorbing and deflecting traffic noise away from surrounding residential and commercial areas,
thus minimizing noise pollution.
Question 10
How does lighting of crackers cause pollution?
Answer
Lighting of crackers significantly contributes to Air Pollution and Noise pollution.
1. Air Pollution: Crackers release harmful gases like sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides,
carbon monoxide, and particulate matter into the atmosphere. These reduce air quality
and can cause respiratory issues.
2. Noise Pollution: Loud explosions from crackers exceed safe decibel levels, causing
hearing discomfort, stress, and disturbance to humans and animals.
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Question 1(a)
With reference to noise pollution, answer the following:
When does sound become a source of noise pollution?
Answer
Noise pollution refers to an unwanted sound which produces unpleasant effects and discomfort.
Sound becomes unwanted when it interferes with normal activities such as sleeping,
conversation or disrupts one's quality of life.
Question 1(b)
With reference to noise pollution, answer the following:
How does traffic contribute to noise pollution?
Answer
The rapidly increasing number of vehicles on the roads are a big source of noise pollution.
Increasing traffic jams in congested areas lead to repeated hooting of horns by impatient drivers
causing noise pollution.
Question 1(c)
With reference to noise pollution, answer the following:
Why are the construction sites considered as worse than factories in their contribution to noise
pollution?
Answer
The construction sites are considered as worse than factories in their contribution to noise
pollution because whatever construction takes place noise emissions levels are higher as well as
the equipment is inherently noisy.
In the era of fast urbanisation the demolition and the repair activities along with the huge
machines used for the purposes create a great deal of noise to the annoyance of the people living
near the sites of construction.
Question 1(d)
With reference to noise pollution, answer the following:
How do the airplanes cause noise pollution? Why is there more noise pollution during landing as
compared to during take-off?
Answer
The airplanes cause noise pollution as the noise made by the jet planes is more disturbing than
that of the old propeller driven aircraft because it is of far higher pitch. Jet noise is caused by the
violent mixing of the jet of gases from the engine with the surrounding air. It is at maximum
level during take-off when the engine delivers maximum thrust, and reduces rapidly as the
aircraft climbs.
During landing, the main source of high-frequency noise is the sound made by the air
compressor and turbine blades. Air crafts pass close to the ground for quite a distance during
landing operation and this noise often constitutes a more sustained environmental nuisance than
the intense noise of shorter duration produced during take-off. Hence, there is more noise
pollution during landing as compared to during take-off.
Question 2(a)
Air pollution is the contamination of air by pollutants. In this context answer the following:
Based on their origin, how can air pollutants be classified?
Answer
Air pollutants can be classified as-
1. Primary Pollutants
2. Secondary Pollutants
Question 2(b)
Air pollution is the contamination of air by pollutants. In this context answer the following:
How does the use of automobiles cause air pollution?
Answer
Vehicles are mainly responsible for more than 80% of total air pollution. The major pollutants
released from automobiles, locomotives, aircraft etc., include carbon monoxide, unburnt
hydrocarbons and nitrogen monoxide. In the major metropolitan cities like Delhi, Mumbai and
Kolkata, vehicular exhaust accounts for 75% of all CO, 45% of all hydrocarbons, 40% of all
oxides and 30% of all suspended particulate matter.
Air pollution is also caused by the gaseous and volatile hydrocarbons such as methane, acetylene
and ethylene. Some hydrocarbons like ethylene, which undergo chemical reactions in the
presence of sunlight and nitrogen oxide form photochemical oxidants that are harmful. Fuel
combustion in automobiles also produces nitrogen dioxide.
Question 2(c)
Air pollution is the contamination of air by pollutants. In this context answer the following:
How do industries pollute the air?
Answer
Industries such as chemical industries, paper and pulp mills, cotton mills and petroleum
refineries produce most air pollution. The cement factories emit dust, which is potential health
hazard. The smoke coming out from the factories has small particles of dust, carbon, metals,
other solids, liquids and radioactive materials which get mixed in smoke and pollute the air.
The burning of sulphur in coal or heavy oil in thermal power plants releases sulphur dioxide in
the air. Sulphur dioxide combines with oxygen and water to form sulphuric acid in the
atmosphere which is a health hazard. Besides, it produces acid rain.
Question 2(d)
Air pollution is the contamination of air by pollutants. In this context answer the following:
Mention any three air pollutants and two sources of each.
Answer
Three air pollutants are-
1. Carbon monoxide — It is produced by gasoline fuel and motor vehicles fuel.
2. Nitrogen oxides — Its primary sources are motor vehicles and power generation stations.
3. Hydrocarbons — These are produced by motor vehicles and industrial processes.
Question 3(a)
With reference to the sources of water pollutants answer the following questions:
What are the domestic sources of water pollution?
Answer
Man uses water for drinking, preparation of food, bathing, for cleaning the house, etc. Most of
the used water is drained out through municipal drains and poured into a river or lake. Domestic
waste water that is mixed with other wastes such as plastic, detergents, animal dung and human
faecal material is known as municipal waste.
Many detergents and fertilisers contain phosphates. When phosphates are discharged into
waterways, their remnants promote rapid growth of algae. Such enrichment process is known as
eutrophication. Aquatic weeds multiply rapidly in many water bodies. They interfere with
fishing, navigation and irrigation.
Question 3(b)
With reference to the sources of water pollutants answer the following questions:
Why is it harmful to dispose of household detergents in water bodies?
Answer
Many detergents contain phosphates. When phosphates are discharged into waterways, their
remnants promote rapid growth of algae. Such enrichment process is known as eutrophication.
Aquatic weeds multiply rapidly in many water bodies. They interfere with fishing, navigation
and irrigation.
Question 3(c)
With reference to the sources of water pollutants answer the following questions:
In what way does the industrial waste pollute water?
Answer
Industries dealing with chemicals, pulp and paper, food processing, etc. produce waste material
such as heavy metals or synthetic organic compounds. These reach water bodies either through
direct discharge or by leaching from waste dumps. Among the heavy metals, cadmium, lead,
mercury, copper, chromium etc., get into water.
The industrial waste mixed with water makes it poisonous and unhygienic. It may also cause
various diseases in humans and animals, if consumed without treatment.
Question 3(d)
With reference to the sources of water pollutants answer the following questions:
What are the sources of radioactive pollution? Describe each of them.
Answer
The two main sources of radioactive pollution are-
1. Natural sources — These sources are cosmic rays with energetic radiations reaching the
earth from outer space. Though they are a major hazard in space, they are not dangerous
for organisms on earth.
2. Man made sources — The following sources cause radioactive pollution-
i. X-rays waste — The use of X-rays is common for detecting skeletal disorders.
Cancer patients undergo radium and other isotope radiations. The X-rays pass
through genetic cells and affect the chromosomes, resulting in mutations.
ii. Radioactive fallout from nuclear plants — In a nuclear power establishment,
both fuel elements and coolants are sources of radiation pollution. Radioactive
wastes from atomic reactors are hazardous to living organisms. Even if
radioactive wastes are buried underground they may escape into the surroundings.
Inert gases escape as vapours and pollute the environment.
iii. Nuclear weapons — Testing of nuclear weapons involves using radioactive
substances like Uranium 235 and Plutonium 239 for fission. The radioactive
waste emitted during these tests makes the surrounding materials radioactive.
Radioactive particles are carried away to distant places by wind. They are brought
down by rain. Raindrops containing these radioactive particles fall on earth and
affect the soil causing pollution. From the soil, the radioactive materials reach
water sources, where the aquatic organisms absorb and accumulate them through
the food chains and pass them on to human beings.
iv. Radioactive isotopes — Radioactive isotopes are used in research laboratories.
When the waste water from these laboratories reaches the rivers, streams, lakes
etc., through the sewers they cause water pollution.