INTRODUCTION:

Pollution is a global challenge in the 21st Century era. Pollution is one of the several
factors that have affected our planet for a long period due to many man-made or natural
activities. It was previously much greener and healthier. Pollution is a harmful
phenomenon that causes a variety of health problems. Pollution is derived from the
Latin term ‘pollute,’ which simply means contamination. Thus, pollution is defined as
something that contaminates the environment. When an amount of chemical or kind of
energy is released into the environment quicker than it can be dispersed or securely
stored it is referred to as pollution. We can also define pollution as any artificial and
natural elements that are being created, consumed, and discarded in an unhealthy
manner. By the middle of the twentieth century, the general people had become aware
of safeguarding the air, water, and land habitats from different types of pollution. Rachel
Carson’s book Silent Spring, published in 1962, highlights the attention to environmental
damages caused by the inappropriate use of pesticides such as DDT and other chronic
chemicals. This led to accumulation of chemicals in the food chain and disturbed the
natural cycle of ecosystems on a large scale.

Air pollution, water pollution, soil pollution, noise pollution, and marine pollution are the
most common types of pollution classified as different types of environmental pollution.
Specific sorts of pollution, such as noise and light pollution are also becoming a cause
of concern in modern civilization. Pollutants from different sources degrade the quality
of air, water, and land.

ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION:
Environmental pollution occurs whenever there is an undesired alteration in the
environment that has negative consequences on plants, animals, and human beings.
When the concentration of a substance exceeds its natural abundance, it is classified
as a pollutant. Pollutants are substances that pollute the environment. Pollutants can
be present in the form of liquid, solid, or gas in the atmosphere. The increased intensity
of pollutants might be caused due to various human activities or natural phenomena.
We are harming our nature, and nature in turn harms us more in the form of disasters.
More attention is required to preserve the ecosystem, balance resources, and minimize
the negative consequences of human activities on nature. Every living organism is
dependent on nature for survival, so we need to conserve. Traditional sources of
pollution such as industrial emissions, poor sanitation, inadequate waste management,
contaminated water supplies, and exposure to indoor air pollution from biomass fuels
harm huge numbers of people in developing countries

POLLUTION:
Pollution is defined as an addition or excessive addition of certain materials to the
physical environment (water, air, and lands), making it less fit or unfit for life.
POLLUTANTS:
Pollutants are the materials or factors, which harm the natural quality of any component
of the environment.
For example, smoke from industries and automobiles, chemicals from factories,
radioactive substances from nuclear plants, sewage of houses, and discarded
household articles are common pollutants.

CLASSIFICATIONS:
i) According to the form in which they persist after release into the environment.
● Primary Pollutants: These persist in the form in which they are added to the
environment. E.g., DDT, and plastic.
● Secondary Pollutants: These are formed by interaction among the primary
pollutants. E.g., peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN) is formed by the interaction of
nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons.
ii) According to their existence in nature.
● Quantitative Pollutants: These occur in nature and become pollutants when their
concentration reaches beyond a threshold level. E.g., carbon dioxide and nitrogen
oxide.
● Qualitative Pollutants: These do not occur in nature and are man-made. E.g.,
fungicides, herbicides, DDT, etc.
iii) According to their nature of disposal.
● Biodegradable Pollutants: Waste products, which are degraded by microbial
action. E.g., sewage.
● Non-biodegradable Pollutants: Pollutants, which are not decomposed by
microbial actions. E.g., plastics, glass, DDT, salts of heavy metals, radioactive
substances, etc.
iv) According to origin.
● Natural
● Anthropogenic

CAUSES OF POLLUTION:
● Uncontrolled growth in the human population
● Rapid industrialization
● Urbanization
● Uncontrolled exploitation of nature
● Forest fires, radioactivity, volcanic eruptions, strong winds, etc.

AIR POLLUTION:
Air pollution is one such form that refers to the contamination of the air, irrespective of
indoors or outside. A physical, biological, or chemical alteration to the air in the
atmosphere can be termed pollution. It occurs when any harmful gases, dust, or smoke
enter the atmosphere and makes it difficult for plants, animals, and humans to survive
as the air becomes dirty.
The WHO defines air pollution as the presence of materials in the air in such
concentration which is harmful to man and his environment. Several ingredients find
their way into the air and these are mostly gases, which rapidly spread over wide areas.

Causes of Air Pollution:

1. Burning of Fossil Fuels: Sulphur dioxide emitted from the combustion of fossil fuels
like coal, petroleum, and other factory combustibles is one of the major causes of air
pollution. Pollutants emitted from vehicles cause an immense amount of pollution.
Carbon Monoxide produced by improper or incomplete combustion emitted from
vehicles is another major pollutant along with Nitrogen Oxide that is produced from
both natural and manmade processes.
2. Agricultural Activities: Ammonia is a very common by-product of agriculture-related
activities and is one of the most hazardous gases in the atmosphere. The use of
insecticides, pesticides, and fertilizers in agricultural activities emits harmful chemicals
into the air and causes water pollution.
3. Exhaust from Factories and Industries: Manufacturing industries release a large
amount of carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, organic compounds, and chemicals into the
air thereby depleting the quality of air. Petroleum refineries also release hydrocarbons
and various other chemicals that pollute the air and also cause land pollution.
4. Mining Operations: Mining is a process wherein minerals below the earth are
extracted using large equipment. During the process dust and chemicals are released
into the air causing massive air pollution.
5. Indoor Air Pollution: Household cleaning products and painting supplies emit toxic
chemicals into the air and cause air pollution.
6. Suspended Particulate Matter: Suspended particulate matter popular by its acronym
SPM, is another cause of pollution.

Types of Air Pollutants:

Primarily air pollutants can be caused by primary sources or secondary sources. The
pollutants that are a direct result of the process can be called primary pollutants. A
classic example of a primary pollutant would be the Sulphur dioxide emitted from
factories
Secondary pollutants are the ones that are caused by the intermingling and reactions of
primary pollutants. Smog created by the interactions of several primary pollutants is
known to be a secondary pollutant.

Effects of Air Pollution on Animals:

Different air pollution pollutants have a variety of effects on animal health. Below listed
are a few discussed effects on animal health due to air pollution:
● Through the lungs, carbon dioxide enters the bloodstream and generates
carboxyhemoglobin. As a result, blood’s oxygen-carrying capacity is diminished.
● Disorders, such as asthma and bronchitis, are more likely to be caused by SO2
exposure.
● Benzene exposure causes cancer in animals. Eye, nose, and throat irritation may
be caused by temporary effects.
● Some smoky substances (aerosols) can cause long-term respiratory problems
as well as irritate the skin, throat, and nose as allergens.
● The liver, neurological system, and reproductive system are affected by Lead
exposure.
● Anaemia, neurological problems, erratic behavior, and high blood pressure are all
side effects.
● The central nervous system, liver, heart, and fetus are all affected by Mercury and
Cadmium exposure.

Effects of Air Pollution on Plants:

● Ozone depletion in the lower atmosphere limits respiration, blocks stomata,
hinders photosynthesis, and results in stunts plant growth and further
development.
● The absorption of hydrocarbons causes the leaves of trees to turn yellow and the
fruits to fall off at their immature stage.
● Lichens are commonly known as pollution indicators because they are sensitive
to pollution so they act as indicators. More pollution can affect the lichen
community’s survivability.
● Fluoride triggers necrosis on both sides of tree leaves resulting in rotting and
falling of the leaves.
● Ozone damages the chlorenchyma in plants, causing the plant to rot earlier.

Effects of Air Pollution on Climate:

Greenhouse gases (GHGs) are the first thing that comes to mind while discussing
climate change globally. Carbon dioxide is the most frequent gas created by human
activity. Carbon dioxide is primarily produced by the extraction and combustion of fossil

fuels such as coal, natural gas, and oil. It accounts for 64% of man-made global
warming. Short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs) such as black carbon (BC), particulate
matter (PM2.5), methane, and ground-level ozone are other major contributors to
climate change. Climate change not only impacts global temperatures, but also causes
hindrances in precipitation patterns, wind patterns, tropical storm frequency, sea-level
rise, and other aspects.
Control Measures: The atmosphere has several built-in self-cleaning processes such as
dispersion, gravitational settling, flocculation, absorption, rain-washout, etc. to cleanse
the atmosphere. However, control of contaminants at their source level is a desirable
and effective method through preventive or control technologies:

1. Source Control: Some measures that can be adopted in this direction are
● Using unleaded petrol.
● Using fuels with low Sulphur and ash content.
● Encouraging people to use public transport, walk or use a cycle as opposed to
private vehicles.
● Ensure that houses, schools, restaurants, and playgrounds are not located on
busy streets.
● Plant trees along busy streets as they remove particulates, and carbon dioxide
and absorb noise.
● Industries and waste disposal sites should be situated outside the city preferably
downwind of the city.
● Catalytic converters should be used to help control emissions of carbon
monoxide and hydrocarbons.

2. Control Measures in Industrial Centers:

● Emission rates should be restricted to permissible levels by every industry.
● Incorporation of air pollution control equipment in the design of plant layout must
be made mandatory.
● Continuous monitoring of the atmosphere for pollutants should be carried out to
know the emission levels.

Equipment Used to Control Air Pollution:

Air pollution can be reduced by adopting the following approaches.
● Ensuring a sufficient supply of oxygen to the combustion chamber and adequate
temperature so that the combustion is complete thereby eliminating much of the
smoke consisting of partly burnt ashes and dust.
● To use mechanical devices such as scrubbers, cyclones, bag houses, and
electrostatic precipitators in manufacturing processes. All methods retain
hazardous materials that must be disposed of safely. The wet scrubber can
additionally reduce Sulphur dioxide emissions.
● The air pollutants collected must be carefully disposed of. The factory fumes are
dealt with through chemical treatment.

WATER POLLUTION:
Water pollution may be defined as the alteration in physical, chemical, and biological
characteristics of water which may cause harmful effects on humans and aquatic life.

Sources of Water Pollution:

1. Point Sources: These are pollutants that are discharged at specific locations through
pipes, ditches, or sewers into bodies of surface water.
Ex: Factories, sewage treatment plants, abandoned underground mines, and oil tankers.
2. Non-point Sources: These pollutants cannot be traced to a single point of discharge.
They are large land areas or air-sheds that pollute water by runoff, subsurface flow, or
deposition from the atmosphere.
Ex: Acid deposition, runoff of chemicals into surface water from croplands, livestock
feedlots, logged forests, urban streets, lawns, golf courses, and parking lots.

Types, Effects, and Sources of Water Pollution:

Water pollution is any chemical, biological or physical change in water quality that
harms living organisms or makes water unsuitable for desired uses.

[Link] Pollutants Human Sources Health Effects

1 Infectious agent Human and animal Variety of diseases

Ex: Bacteria, viruses, waste
protozoa, and parasitic
worms.

2 Oxygen-demanding Sewage, animal Degrade water quality by depleting

wastes (Dissolved feedlots, paper mills, the water of dissolved oxygen. This
oxygen) and food processing causes fish and other forms of
Ex: Organic wastes such facilities oxygen-consuming aquatic life to
as animal manure and die
plant debris

3 Inorganic chemicals Surface runoff, ● Make fresh water unusable

Ex: Water soluble industrial effluents, for drinking and irrigation
inorganic chemicals: and household ● Cause skin cancer and neck
Acids, compounds of cleansers damage, damage to the
toxic nervous system, liver, and
metals such as lead kidneys
(Pb), ● Harm fish and other aquatic
arsenic (As), selenium life
(Se), and salts such as ● Lower crop yields
NaCl in oceans and ● Accelerate corrosion of
fluoride (F-) found in metals exposed to such
some soils. water
4 Organic chemicals Industrial effluents, ● Can threaten human health
Ex: Oil, gasoline, plastics, household cleansers, by causing nervous system
pesticides, cleaning and surface runoff damage and some cancers
solvents, and detergents. from farms ● Harm to fish and wildlife

5 Plant nutrients Sewage, manure, and ● Can cause excessive growth

Ex: Water soluble runoff of agricultural & of algae and other aquatic
compounds containing urban fertilizers plants, which die, decay, and
nitrate, phosphate, and deplete dissolved oxygen in
ammonium ions water thereby killing fish
● Drinking water with excessive
levels of nitrates lower the
oxygen-carrying capacity of
the blood and can kill urban
children and infants

6 Sediment Land erosion ● Causes cloudy water thereby

Ex: Soil, silt, etc. reducing photosynthetic
activity
● Disruption of the aquatic food
chain
● Carries pesticides, bacteria,
and other harmful
substances
● Settles and destroys feeding
and spawning grounds of fish
● Clogs and fills lakes, artificial
reservoirs, stream channels,
and harbors

7 Radioactive materials: Nuclear power plants, Genetic mutations, birth defects,

Ex: Radioactive isotopes mining and processing and certain cancers
of Iodine, Radon, of uranium and other
Uranium, ores, nuclear weapon
Cesium, and Thorium production, and
natural sources

8 Heat (Thermal pollution) Water cooling of ● Low dissolved oxygen levels

Ex: Excessive heat electric power plants thereby making aquatic
and some types of organisms more vulnerable
industrial plants to disease, parasites, and
toxic chemicals
● When a power plant starts or
shuts down for repair, fish
and other organisms adapted
to a particular temperature
 range can be killed by an
abrupt temperature change
known as thermal shock

Control Measures of Water Pollution:

1. Administration of water pollution control should be in the hands of the state or
central government.
2. Scientific techniques should be adopted for environmental control of catchment
areas of rivers, ponds, or streams.
3. Industrial plants should be based on recycling operations as it helps prevent the
disposal of wastes into natural waters and also the extraction of products from
waste.
4. Plants, trees, and forests control pollution as they act as natural air conditioners.
5. Trees are capable of reducing Sulphur dioxide and nitric oxide pollutants and
hence more trees should be planted.
6. No type of waste (treated, partially treated, or untreated) should be discharged
into any natural water body. Industries should develop closed-loop water supply
schemes and domestic sewage must be used for irrigation.
7. Qualified and experienced people must be consulted from time to time for
effective control of water pollution.
8. Public awareness must be initiated regarding the adverse effects of water
pollution using the media.
9. Laws, standards, and practices should be established to prevent water pollution
and these laws should be modified from time to time based on current
requirements and technological advancements.
10. Basic and applied research in public health engineering should be encouraged.

SOIL POLLUTION:
Soil pollution is defined as the contamination of soil by human and natural activities
which may cause harmful effects on living organisms.

Types, Effects, and Sources of Soil Pollution:

[Link] Pollutants Sources Health Effects

1 Industrial waste Industrial pollutants are These pollutants affect and alter
mainly discharged from the chemical and biological
various origins such as pulp properties of soil. As a result,
and paper mills, chemical hazardous chemicals can enter the
fertilizers, oil refineries, sugar human food chain from the soil or
factories, tanneries, textiles, water, disturb the biochemical
 steel, distilleries, fertilizers, process and finally lead to serious
pesticides, coal and mineral effects on living organisms
mining industries, drugs,
glass, cement, petroleum, and
engineering industries, etc.

2 Urban wastes Plastics, glasses, metallic Alter the constitution of the soil
cans, fibers, paper, rubbers, ● Cause waterlogging
street sweepings, fuel ● Cause biomagnifications of
residues, leaves, containers, toxic materials through the
abandoned vehicles, and food chain
other discarded manufactured
products

3 Agricultural Fertilizers, pesticides, Water logging, salinization,

practices weedicides, farm wastes, micronutrient imbalance, loss of
manure debris, soil erosion fertile soil

4 Radioactive The atomic reactor, nuclear Mutations, changes in functions of

pollutants radioactive devices, the living beings, biomagnifications,
explosion of hydrogen cancers, infant mortality
weapons, and cosmic
radiation

5 Biological Human and animal wastes, A variety of diseases cause a

agents garbage, wastewater nutrient imbalance

6 Pesticides chlorinated hydrocarbon ● Reduces the activity of sex

insecticide hormones of male and
Organic phosphorous female
pesticides ● Causes diseases in human
beings

7 Fertilizers Different fertilizers discharge The nitrate causes cancer and blue
N, Na, K, S, Nitrates, etc. baby syndrome in infants

8 Polymer, Waste from different sources Biomagnifications, and

plastics & other waterlogging, create cancers in
water animals and human beings

Control Measures of Soil Pollution:

1. Soil erosion can be controlled by a variety of forestry and farm practices. Ex:
Planting trees on barren slopes.
2. Contour cultivation and strip cropping may be practiced instead of shifting
cultivation.
3. Terracing and building diversion channels may be undertaken.
 4. Reducing deforestation and substituting chemical manures with animal wastes
also helps arrest soil erosion in the long term.
5. Proper Dumping of Unwanted Materials: Excess wastes by man and animals
pose a disposal problem. Open dumping is the most commonly practiced
technique. Nowadays, controlled tipping is followed for solid waste disposal. The
surface obtained is used for housing or sports fields.
6. Production of Natural Fertilizers: Bio-pesticides should be used in place of toxic
chemical pesticides. Organic fertilizers should be used in place of synthesized
chemical fertilizers. Ex: Organic wastes in animal dung may be used to prepare
compost manure instead of throwing them wastefully and polluting the soil.
7. Proper Hygienic Condition: People should be trained regarding sanitary habits.
Ex: Lavatories should be equipped with quick and effective disposal methods.
8. Public Awareness: Informal and formal public awareness programs should be
imparted to educate people on health hazards through environmental education.
Ex: Mass media, educational institutions, and voluntary agencies can achieve this.
9. Recycling and Reuse of Wastes: To minimize soil pollution, the wastes such as
paper, plastics, metals, glasses, organics, petroleum products, industrial
effluents, etc. should be recycled and reused. Ex: Industrial wastes should be
properly treated at the source. Integrated waste treatment methods should be
adopted.
10. Ban on Toxic Chemicals: Ban should be imposed on chemicals and pesticides
like DDT, BHC, etc. which are fatal to plants and animals. Nuclear explosions and
improper disposal of radioactive wastes should be banned.

SOUND/NOISE POLLUTION:
Noise is defined as the unwanted, unpleasant, or disagreeable sound that causes
discomfort to all living beings. Sound intensity is measured in decibels (dB), which is the
tenth part of the longest unit Bel. One dB is the faintest sound that a human ear can
hear.

Types of Noise: Environmental noise has been doubling every ten years. Noise is
classified as
1. Industrial Noise
2. Transport Noise
3. Domestic Noise

1. Industrial Noise: It is a sound with a high-intensity sound caused by industry

machines. Sources of such noise pollution are 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. The Indian Institute of Oto-Rino
Laryngology, Chennai reported that increasing industrial pollution damages hearing
ability by at least 20%. Workers in the steel industry, who work close to heavy industrial
blowers, are exposed to 112dB for eight hours and suffer from occupational pollution.
2. Transport Noise: Transport noise mainly consists of traffic noise from roads, rail, and
aircraft. The number of automobiles on roads like motors, scooters, cars, motorcycles,
buses, trucks, and diesel engine vehicles has increased enormously in the recent past
further aggravating the problem of transport noise. Noise levels in most residential
areas in metropolitan cities are hovering around the borderline due to increased
vehicular noise pollution. This high level of noise pollution leads to deafening in the
elderly.
3. Domestic Noise: This type of noise includes disturbance from household gadgets
and the community. Common sources of noise are musical instruments, TV, VCRs,
Radios, Transistors, Telephones, loudspeakers, etc. Statistically ever since the industrial
revolution, noise in the environment has doubled every ten years.

Effects of Noise Pollution:

1. Noise pollution affects both human and animal health. It leads to
a. Contraction of blood vessels
b. Making skin pale
c. Excessive adrenaline in the bloodstream is responsible for high blood
pressure.
d. Blaring sounds are known to cause mental distress
e. Heart attacks, neurological problems, birth defects, and abortion
2. Muscle contraction leads to a nervous breakdown, tension, etc.
3. The adverse reactions are coupled with a change in the hormone content of
blood, which in turn increases heartbeat, constriction of blood vessels, digestive
spasms, and dilation of the pupil of the eye.
4. Adverse effects on health, work efficiency, and behavior. Noise pollution may
cause damage to the heart, brain, kidneys, and liver and may produce emotional
disturbance.
5. The most immediate and acute effect of noise is impairment of hearing that
diminishes some parts of the auditory system. Prolonged exposure to noise of
certain frequency patterns leads to chronic damage to the inner ear.
6. Impulsive noise may cause psychological and pathological disorders.
7. Ultrasonic sound can affect the digestive, respiratory, and cardiovascular
systems, and semicircular canals of the internal ear.
8. The brain is adversely affected by loud and sudden noise by jets and airplanes.
People are subjected to psychiatric illness.
9. Recent reports suggest that blood is thickened by excessive noise.
10. The optical system of human beings is also affected by noise pollution. Severe
noise pollution causes
a. Popular dilation
 b. Impairment of night vision and
c. Decrease in rate of color perception

Control Measures of Noise Pollution:

1. Source Control: This includes source modification such as acoustic treatment to
machine surface, design changes, limiting operational timings, etc.
2. Transmission Path Intervention: This includes containing the source inside a
sound-insulating enclosure, constructing a noise barrier, or provision of sound-
absorbing materials along the path.
3. Receptor Control: This includes protection of the receiver by altering the work
schedule or provision of personal protection devices such as ear plugs for
operating noisy machinery. The measure may include dissipation and deflection
methods.
4. Oiling: Proper oiling will reduce noise from the machine.

Preventive Measures of Noise Pollution:

1. Prescribing noise limits for vehicular traffic.
2. Ban honking (usage of horns) in certain areas.
3. Creation of silence zones near schools and hospitals.
4. Redesigning buildings to make them noise-proof.
5. Reduction of traffic density in residential areas.
6. Giving preference to the mass public transport system.

MARINE POLLUTION:
Marine Pollution refers to the phenomenon when people spread substances like
industrial waste, agricultural waste, residential trash, etc., on the water bodies.

Chemicals and debris, mostly from terrestrial sources, are washed or blown into the
ocean, making up marine pollution. Pollution harms the environment, the health of all
organisms, and economic structures worldwide. There are various kinds of impact of
pollution on aquatic, plant and human life.

What is Marine Pollution?

When substances utilized or spread by people, such as agricultural, industrial,
residential trash, noise, excess carbon dioxide, particulates, invading creatures, etc.
reach the water and have adverse impacts, this phenomenon is referred to as marine
pollution. Most of this trash (80%) comes from land-based activities, although marine
transportation also plays a considerable role. Because the majority of inputs come from
land, whether through rivers, sewage, or the atmosphere, continental shelves are more
susceptible to pollution. Air pollution contributes to ocean contamination by
transporting iron, carbonic acid, silicon, nitrogen, pesticides, sulphur, and dust particles.
Causes of Marine Pollution:
● Ship or Cargo Discharge: Ships damage rivers and oceans in a variety of ways.
Oil spills can have disastrous consequences. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
(PAHs), which are found in crude oil, are extremely difficult to clean up and can
persist for years in the sediment & marine environment. Oil spills are perhaps the
most emotionally charged kind of marine pollution. While a tanker catastrophe
may make front-page news, much of the oil in the world’s waters comes from
smaller sources like tankers emptying ballast water from oil tanks used on
returnships, leaking pipelines, or motor oil flushed down sewers.
● Surface Runoff from Paved Areas: Water temperature can be influenced by
runoff from parking lots, roadways, and other surfaces. Temperatures might rise
during the summer, resulting in warm water discharge. Marine pollution can
occur if runoff reaches sewer systems and aquatic bodies.
● Natural Occurrences: Marine pollution is caused by more than just humans.
Excess heat in bodies of water can be caused by natural factors such as
geothermal vents, hot springs, and volcanoes. In addition, lightning can cause
heat to be released into bodies of water.
● Pesticides & Herbicides are used to control pests that impede crop yield on
agricultural land. Pesticides that remain and accumulate in soils can affect the
biological processes, enhance plant uptake of the chemical, and be hazardous to
soil species, resulting in soil pollution. The persistence of pesticides and
herbicides is determined by the chemical, which influences adsorption dynamics
and, as a result, fate & transport in the soil ecosystem. Animals that feed infected
bugs and soil organisms can collect pesticides.
● Pesticides made from natural ingredients are known as biopesticides (plants,
microorganisms, animals, certain minerals). As an alternative to standard
pesticides, biopesticides can help to minimize overall marine pollution since they
are easy to use, have a short residual time, and are generally non-toxic to useful
invertebrates and vertebrates. However, there are also worries that biopesticides
may deleteriously impact non-target species populations.
● Contamination occurs when naturally existing soil and rocks chemicals dissolve
in water. Iron, radionuclides, Sulfates, manganese, fluorides, arsenic, and
chlorides are among these compounds. Others, such as potting soil components,
may seep into underground water and move as particles. As per the WHO
records, Fluoride and arsenic are the most common contaminants. The
Groundwater Assessment Platform can be used to investigate the natural causes
of pollution, and GAP uses geological, environmental, and topographical data to
calculate pollution levels.

Effects of Marine Pollution:

Nutrient pollution, is a type of water pollution that impacts the life of aquatic bodies, is
water contamination by excess nutrients. It happens when the marine system gets
polluted with fertilizers and pesticides. After that, they integrate into the food chain and
become part of the ecosystem which causes various harmful impacts on the living
beings. These toxic pesticides create mutations and diseases in the marine food webs,
which can endanger the entire food web and humans. It impacts biochemistry, the
reproduction process, and tissue matter. These can modify tissue matter, biochemistry,
behaviour, and reproduction and suppress and alter the growth of marine life. Toxins
from the sea can be transferred to land animals that eat fish or fish hydrolysate.
Pollutants are then transferred to dairy products & meat from these land animals.

Steps to Prevent Marine Pollution:

● Stop using plastic & littering because these items clog drains and pollute the
oceans.
● Ensure that the chemicals listed above are not utilized anywhere near streams of
water, and attempt to reduce your use of them.
● Farmers must transition away from artificial fertilizers and pesticides and toward
organic farming methods.
● Make use of public transportation and decrease your carbon footprint by taking
simple but significant steps that will help reduce pollution in the environment and
secure a healthy and safe future for future generations.

Oceans are the biggest bodies of water in the world. In recent decades, excessive
human activities have harmed marine life in the world’s waters. The introduction of
dangerous chemicals such as oil, industrial, plastic, and agricultural waste and chemical
particles into the water is ocean pollution.

SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT:

Solid waste is one of the biggest contributors behind the deteriorating quality of soil
across the world. Open burning of solid waste contributes to air pollution. Moreover,
unabated disposal of solid waste in freshwater resources results in increased levels of
water pollution as well. To control the detrimental effects of solid waste on the
environment, solid waste management is an important step. Different techniques and
methodologies are used to manage solid waste in an environmentally-friendly manner
thereby reducing its negative impact on the soil, water, air and nature as a whole.

What is Solid Waste Management?

One of the control measures to prevent the negative impacts of solid waste is proper
management of solid wastes. Waste can be defined as substances that are disposed of
or are disposed of according to the provisions of law. Depending on the physical states
of wastes, there are two types of wastes – solid and liquid [Link] wastes are any
disposed materials that have resulted from industries, commercial uses, mining,
agricultural and household or community activities. In order to classify waste as non-
liquid/ solid, it must have 20% of its content as solid and must not liberate any liquids
while transporting it. The collection, treatment and disposal of this solid waste in a
proper manner is called solid waste management. On the other hand, liquid waste is
defined as wastewater, fats, oils or grease (FOG), or sludges and hazardous household
liquids that are harmful or potentially harmful to humans or the environment. In this
article, let us learn in detail about solid waste management.

Types of Solid Waste:

We can classify solid waste in a number of ways. Based on the effects of solid waste on
the environment and the health of humans, it can be differentiated between hazardous
waste and non-hazardous waste.

Hazardous Waste:
Wastes generated in industries and hospitals are generally hazardous in nature as they
contain toxic substances. Resource Conservation and Recovery Act have come up with
four important characteristics that define waste as hazardous – reactivity, ignitability,
corrosivity or toxicity.

1. Reactivity: Substances that are reactive, are in an unstable condition normally and
can cause explosions and produce toxic fumes and gases when in contact with water.
2. Ignitability: Substances that can easily ignite and burn at a vigorous and persistent
rate.
3. Corrosivity: Substances that have pH level lower than 2 or greater than 12.5 with
capability of corroding metal surface are corrosive in nature.
4. Toxicity: Substances that are harmful or fatal for human consumption are toxic in
nature.

Examples of hazardous wastes: pesticides, insecticides, paints, cleaners, batteries,

kerosene, chlorine bleach, prescription drugs, mothballs, fire extinguisher, toilet cleaners,
medical waste, radioactive waste etc.

Non-Hazardous Waste:
Waste that does not harm people’s health or the environment directly and whose
disposal is less stringent is called non-hazardous waste. This waste can be divided into
two kinds –

1. Municipal Solid Waste: This is commonly known as the garbage or trash that we
collect at a domestic level from homes, schools, commercial level and clinics. This
includes everyday items like paper, newspaper, food waste, glass, furniture, clothing,
plastics etc. The high level of urbanization today has increased the level of municipal
solid waste that is generated these days. Items like construction waste, automobiles
bodies, combustion ash, industrial wastes, and municipal sludges are not included in
municipal solid waste even if these wastes are disposed of in municipal landfills or
incinerators.
2. Non-municipal Solid Waste: Agricultural waste, construction waste, automobile
bodies, combustion ash, mining wastes, industrial wastes, and municipal sludges are
the main components of the non-municipal solid waste.
Solid Waste Characteristics:
In order to have a better understanding of solid waste, we can analyse its characters in
two parameters –

Physical Characteristics:
1. Density: It is defined as the mass per unit volume. The densities of solid wastes vary
with location, duration of time in storage, the season of the year etc. If a certain amount
of waste needs to be disposed of in a landfill, it needs to be compacted or reduced to an
optimum density. Any normal compaction can reduce the volume of wastes by 75%,
thereby increasing the density manifold. So, 100 kgm3 becomes 400 kgm3 in density
after compaction. Note: the compaction ratio is not more than 1.5:1. Changes in density
can occur due to disposal, scavenging, wetting, drying, handling, etc.
2. Moisture: It is the ratio of the water weight to the total weight of the waste. The
moisture content in solid waste is not more than 20%. .Moisture content = Wet weight-
dry weight/Wet weight ×100
3. Size: The size of waste varies from particle size, small size, medium, large to huge.
Size can be calculated by any of the following formulas –Size = length of the waste
component in mm.
4. Optical Property: Solid wastes can be opaque like bricks, woods, batteries, etc.
translucent like tissues, butter paper, frosted glass or transparent like glass and plastic
sheets.
5. Magnetic Property: Solid wastes with metallic contents that have magnetic
properties and can easily be separated by magnetic separators like batteries, iron rods,
etc.

Chemical Properties:
1. Combustibility: A solid waste which has ignitability as one of its properties is
combustible in nature. E.g. Wastes like paper, leaves, matchbox, etc. Solid wastes that
are non-combustible in nature are glass, ceramic, metal, dust and ash.
2. Contents: Chemical content of most of the dry solid wastes is carbon, hydrogen,
nitrogen, sulphur, and oxygen. Metals may also be present in some solid waste.
3. Volatility: The portion of the waste which gets converted into vapour during
combustion. In a typical municipal solid waste, the volatility rate ranges between 40% –
60%.

Lipids, carbohydrates, proteins, natural fibres, plastics also make up the composition of
solid wastes and therefore its percentage increase and decrease changes the chemical
composition of the solid waste.

Sources of Solid Waste:

There are many sources of solid wastes. The most prominent ones are –

● Household
● Commercial
● Institutional
● Construction & demolition
● Municipal Services
● Treatment plant sites
● Industrial
● Agricultural
● Biomedical

Methods of Solid Waste Management & Treatment of Solid Waste:

There are various methods of solid waste management. The most recognized ones
include:

1. Solid Waste Collection: Collection refers to the method in which solid wastes are
collected for transportation to final disposal. A collection system should be planned
keeping in mind that there is no overload of storage systems and the process of
collection also takes place periodically. These days in the country solid waste collection
is done on a daily basis by the municipal corporations where the wastes are then
transported to the disposal site.
2. Separation: It is the manual sorting of solid waste before disposing it. For e.g. sorting
out the dry solid waste from the wet solid wastes or sorting out between biodegradable
wastes and non-biodegradable wastes.
3. Sanitary Landfill: This is the most common and popular way of carrying out the
disposal of solid waste today. The trash that is collected by the municipal workers is
transported to huge areas of land that are dug deep. In these areas, the garbage is
spread out and once the land is full, it is topped with layers of soil, sand, and gravels to
prevent any water seepage. These days layers of plastic and sand are used to line
landfills with an impervious liner to prevent any percolation and contamination of
groundwater.
4. Incineration: In simple terms, this method is the burning of solid wastes at a very high
temperature until the waste turns to ashes. Incinerators today are made in a way that
does not give off a large amount of heat energy. Recycling incinerators have also come
up that transforms the heat energy from the furnace into the boiler. These are called
waste-to-energy plants. These are very expensive in nature. Although incineration helps
in reducing the volume of the solid waste to 20-30% of the original volume, it emits
gaseous pollutants through the smoke and can also cause a fire.
5. Recycling: Recycling is the conversion of discarded solid waste into new products.
Recycling reduces solid waste and helps in recovering the material to make new
products for reuse. Hence, the three Rs – Recycle, Reduce and Reuse. The waste
collected is segregated and then re-processed to create new ones. For example,
collecting plastics to create new plastic materials. Other examples are – glass, metal,
paper, e-waste.
6. Composting: Composting is a biological process in which biodegradable solid wastes
are allowed to decompose in the presence of a microorganism like fungi & bacteria
which turns this degradable waste into organic matter. The decomposed matter is high
in carbon and nitrogen and therefore, functions well as eco-friendly manure to be used
in agricultural practices for growing plants and trees.
7. Pyrolysis: Pyrolysis is a chemical decomposition process whereby solid wastes are
subjected to heat up to 430 degrees Celsius at a specific pressure and in presence of
oxygen. The waste gets converted to solid residue of ash, carbon and some liquid. The
method may be effective in managing solid waste but it can cause incomplete
combustion which can produce toxic residue which will again require proper treatment.

Importance of Solid Waste Management:

Solid waste management is an essential service in this modern society. Solid waste
management is important because it is very important to manage and handle solid
waste according to prescribed law to ensure that the environment is not littered and
polluted as it can not only be very harmful for the environment at large, but also the
people who are a part of the environment. Environmental hygiene and public health are
the biggest reasons as to why solid management is so necessary today. Other
objectives include reduction and elimination of waste materials for better quality of life
and economic development in the society.
Seven Principles of Solid Waste Management:
The seven principles or the 7 Rs of solid waste management are as following –

1. Rethink: This is the stage where you should rethink before buying anything – is an
item really necessary? Will it not get wasted if you do not have an urgent need for it? For
e.g. you should not buy plastic water bottles as they are very harmful for the
environment. Instead, buy a glass bottle or a steel one for reuse.
2. Refuse: Refuse buying overpacked materials and plastic bags for your items. Carry
your own paper or jute bag and use that for every shopping experience. Refuse to harm
nature.
Reduce: Try to reduce the waste you generate at home. Buy things only that you require.
Reuse plastic bags that you have. Reuse glass jars, storing containers, and paper. Turn
your biodegradable waste into compost for plants. Try to avoid taking paper receipts
when you withdraw money. Reduce unnecessary solid waste.
3. Reuse: The best way to reuse discarded items is to recycle most of them so that they
turn to valuable items. Plastic items, glass, paper etc can be easily recycled and hence,
reused. You can also reuse old clothes by donating them or using them at home.
4. Repurpose: Repurposing or upcycling is changing or modifying the item in a way to
reuse them. For e.g. using an old tire as a swing on your tree, painting your old shoes to
make them new, using small glass jars as candle stands etc.
5. Repair: Repairing broken or old materials to bring them back to life and to minimize
the generation of waste is very important in solid waste management. For example,
repairing your radio instead of throwing it in junk or repairing your broken chair.
6. Rot: Rotting or composting is a biological process in which biodegradable solid
wastes are allowed to decompose in the presence of a microorganism like fungi &
bacteria turning the waste into organic matter which is high in carbon and nitrogen and
therefore, functions well as an eco-friendly manure to be used in agricultural practices
for growing plants and trees.

Effects of Poor Solid Waste Management:

1. Littered Environment: If there is no proper waste disposal system, then the solid
wastes will be thrown in heaps on roads and the environment will become more and
more polluted. People will clean their homes, but their surroundings will be littered and
because of that air, water, and land pollution will increase.
2. Effect on Human Health: Improper disposal of solid waste can lead to pollution of air,
water and land that can in turn cause various health risks. The polluted air can lead to
bronchitis, asthma, lung cancer; water containing lead etc can lead to growth problems
and even reproductive issues etc.
Emission of toxic gases: If there is poor solid waste management in function then toxic
substances will not be disposed properly and then these substances will release toxic
fumes which can be fatal to our health.
3. Effect on Land and Marine Creatures: Since water, land, and air will pollute high
levels of poisonous substances like plastic, metals, chemicals etc consumed by
animals on land and marine animals can lead to their death.