🌍 UNIT 2 : ENVIRONMENTAL
POLLUTION
💧 1. WATER POLLUTION
📌 Introduction
Water pollution = Contamination of water bodies (rivers, lakes, groundwater) by
harmful substances.
📊 Water Quality Standards
Water quality is measured using:
pH (6.5 – 8.5 ideal)
Dissolved Oxygen (DO)
Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)
Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD)
Turbidity
Total Dissolved Solids (TDS)
Higher BOD → More organic pollution.
🏭 Sources of Water Pollution
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Industrial discharge
Domestic sewage
Agricultural runoff (fertilizers, pesticides)
Oil spills
Thermal pollution
🧪 Classification of Water Pollutants
Physical → Suspended solids, heat
Chemical → Acids, heavy metals, pesticides
Biological → Bacteria, viruses
Radioactive → Nuclear waste
⚠️ Effects
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Waterborne diseases (cholera, typhoid)
Fish death (low DO)
Eutrophication
Drinking water contamination
🌫️ 2. AIR POLLUTION
📌 Composition of Air
Gas Percentage
Nitrogen (N₂) 78%
Oxygen (O₂) 21%
Argon 0.93%
CO₂ 0.04%
🌍 Structure of Atmosphere
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Troposphere (Weather occurs here)
Stratosphere (Ozone layer)
Mesosphere
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Thermosphere
📏 Ambient Air Quality Standards (AAQS)
Measured for:
PM₁₀
PM₂.₅
SO₂
NO₂
CO
O₃
Standards set to protect public health.
🧪 Classification of Air Pollutants
1️⃣ Primary Pollutants
Directly emitted
CO
SO₂
NOx
PM
2️⃣ Secondary Pollutants
Formed in atmosphere
Ozone (O₃)
Smog
🚗 Sources of Common Pollutants
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Pollutant Source
PM Construction, vehicles
SO₂ Coal burning
NOx Automobiles
CO Incomplete combustion
Auto Exhaust Petrol & diesel engines
⚠️ Effects
Respiratory diseases
Asthma
Global warming
Acid rain
Smog formation
🔊 3. NOISE POLLUTION
📌 Introduction
Unwanted or excessive sound causing discomfort.
🔊 Sound vs Noise
Sound → Pleasant
Noise → Unpleasant
📏 Noise Measurement
Measured in decibels (dB)
Safe limit ≈ 55 dB (residential)
85 dB → Harmful
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🚦 Causes
Traffic
Industries
Construction
Loudspeakers
⚠️ Effects
Hearing loss
Stress
Hypertension
Sleep disturbance
🌍 4. LAND POLLUTION
📌 Sources
Industrial waste
Agricultural chemicals
Landfills
Mining
⚠️ Effects
Soil infertility
Groundwater contamination
Food chain contamination
✅
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✅ Control & Prevention
Reduce plastic
Proper waste disposal
Organic farming
Recycling
🗑️ 5. SOLID WASTE
📌 Generation
Households
Industries
Commercial areas
♻️ Management
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Segregation (Dry / Wet)
Recycling
Composting
Landfilling
Incineration
🏥 6. BIO-MEDICAL WASTE
📌 Generation
Hospitals
Clinics
Laboratories
Includes:
Syringes
Bandages
Human tissues
⚠️ Management
Color-coded segregation
Incineration
Autoclaving
Safe disposal
💻 7. E-WASTE
📌 Generation
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Computers
Mobiles
TVs
Batteries
⚠️ Issues
Heavy metals (Lead, Mercury)
Soil & water contamination
♻️ Management
Authorized recycling centers
Component recovery
Safe dismantling
🌧️ 8. ACID RAIN
📌 Cause
SO₂ + NOx + Water vapor → Sulfuric & Nitric acids
⚠️ Effects
Damages crops
Corrodes buildings
Acidifies lakes
🛡️ 9. OZONE LAYER DEPLETION
📌
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📌 Cause
CFCs destroy ozone in stratosphere.
⚠️ Effects
Skin cancer
Eye cataracts
UV radiation increase
✅ Mitigation
Ban CFCs
Use eco-friendly refrigerants
Follow Montreal Protocol
📝 QUICK REVISION TABLE
Type Major Cause Main Effect
Water Sewage Disease
Air Vehicles Respiratory issues
Noise Traffic Hearing loss
Land Solid waste Soil damage
Acid Rain SO₂, NOx Crop damage
Ozone depletion CFCs UV radiation
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