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POLLUTION AND ITS EFFECTS ON HEALTH

 Pollution is the deterioration of the environment due to the addition of
harmful materials (pollutants) to it.
 Pollutants can be natural ex- volcanic ash OR Anthropogenic such
as CO2 emission from the burning of fossil fuels.
 They can also be biodegradable or non-biodegradable based on
their disposal and Primary or secondary based on their formation.
 Types of Pollution: Air Pollution, Water Pollution, Radioactive
pollution, Soil & Plastic pollution, etc.

AIR POLLUTION
 Air pollution is the degradation of air quality due to the
contamination of pollutants.
 It was the 4th leading risk factor for early death worldwide in 2019
(State of Global Air Report 2020).
 Industries (51%), Vehicles (27%), and Crop burning (17%) are the
largest contributor to Air pollution.

Primary pollutants – Enter the atmosphere directly from

their source. E.g. – CO2.
Secondary pollutants -Forms from a chemical reaction of
primary pollutants. Ex: Ozone (O3), Acid rain.
Indoor air pollution (IAP) – The poor air quality within and
around buildings is called IAP. It is caused by burning solid
Types of air fuel such as firewood, dung for cooking.
pollutants: Outdoor (ambient) air pollution – originates from natural
and anthropogenic sources. EX – bushfires, volcanoes,
Automobile emission, etc.

 Fog is a cloud of smoke particles, water

droplets, or mixtures of these components
suspended in the air.
 Fog usually appears over a region of high
FOG
pressure where humidity is greater than 75%.
 It reduces visibility & causes accidents.
 Smoke + Fog = Smog – is a type of intense air
pollution.
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 Smog is a harmful mixture of fog, dust & air

pollutants such as nitrogen oxides, VOCs, etc.
 Impacts: cause itchy, burning eyes, damage
SMOG lung tissues, cardiac and respiratory disorders, it
can kill plants etc.
 Types: Sulfurous smog & Photochemical smog
 This occurs in a cool humid climate.
 It is a mixture of Smoke, Fog & Sulphur Dioxide.
SULFUROUS SMOG
 Chemically, it is a reducing mixture and so it is
(London smog)
also called reducing smog.
 It is also called winter smog or classic smog.
 Produced when sunlight reacts with Nitrogen
Oxides & volatile organic compounds in the
atmosphere which results in the formation of
Bad ozone.
 It is visible as a brown haze.
 Contains more oxidizing agents.
PHOTOCHEMICAL
SMOG  Often referred to as “summer smog” or “Los
Angeles smog,” it occurs most prominently in
urban areas.
 It is a component of fine particulate matter
formed through the incomplete combustion of
fossil fuels, biofuel, and biomass.
 It is a short-lived pollutant with a lifetime of only
BLACK CARBON
days to weeks.
 It is one of the main types of particles in soot.
 PM is a mixture of solid particles & liquid
droplets found in the air.
 PM10: are inhalable particles sized 10
PARTICULATE micrometers or less in diameter.
MATTER (PM)  PM2.5: fine inhalable particles, sized 2.5
micrometers or less in diameter. These are more
harmful to health as they move freely with air
current & block the tiny pores in our lungs.

ACID RAIN
 Normal rain has a pH of about 5.6 when pH falls below this; it is
called Acid rain (pH 4.2 to 4.4).
 Acid rain results when Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) & Nitrogen Oxides (NOX)
react with water, oxygen & other chemicals to form Sulfuric & Nitric
acids.
 NOx + SO2 + Moisture + other chemicals à Acid Rain (HNO3 + H2SO4)
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 Effects: Harms microorganisms in the soil + inhibit the activity of

nitrogen fixation bacteria + soil acidification + ocean acidification +
affects the growth of plants + food chain + kill aquatic animals +
corrosion of metals & weathering of stone buildings & statues.

Common Air Pollutants and Their Effects

Pollutant Sources Effects

Vehicles, power plants,
construction activities, oil
Particulate Cardiovascular diseases,
refinery,
matter (PM) reduces visibility (haze)
railway yard, industries, etc.
Can aggravate respiratory
Nitrogen Emissions from combustion
diseases, acid rain, Hazy
dioxide (NO2) processes
weather
Affects respiratory system &
Burning of fossil fuels, power
Sulfur dioxide functions of the lungs.
plants, metals processing and
(SO2) causes irritation of the eyes,
smelting facilities, vehicles
chronic bronchitis, Acid rain
Results from photochemical Affect the lungs, the
Ozone (O3) reactions b/w NOx & VOCs in respiratory tract, and the
presence of sunlight. eyes, lung cancer

FLY ASH
 Fly ash is a fine powder that is a byproduct of burning
pulverized coalin electric power generating plants.
 Indian coal is of low grade with more ash content (30-45 %)
compared to imported coal.
 MAIN COMPOSITION OF FLY ASH: Silicon dioxide (SiO2),
Aluminum oxide (Al2O3) & Calcium oxide (CaO).
 MINOR CONSTITUENTS: Arsenic, Beryllium, Boron, Cadmium,
Chromium, Hexavalent Chromium, Cobalt, Lead, Manganese,
Mercury, Molybdenum, Selenium, Strontium, Thallium, Vanadium, &
Un-burnt Carbon.
 NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF FLY ASH: It contains acidic, toxic, &
radioactive matter + Carcinogenic & damages nervous system +
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causing cognitive defects, developmental delays, and other

respiratory diseases.

 As a replacement for some of the Portland

cement contents.
 GoI has made it mandatory for use of fly ash
bricks in construction activities happening 500
km around thermal power plants.
 As soil conditioner for acidic soils. Also, it
improves the porosity & water holding capacity
Utilization of the soil.
of Fly Ash:  Maharashtra is the first state in India to adopt the
Fly Ash Utilization Policy.
 The Govt has launched the ‘ASHTRACK’ mobile
app for fly ash utilization.

THE AIR (Prevention & Control of Pollution) ACT 1981

 It was enacted to prevent, control& abate air pollution.
 Under this Act, all industries operating within designated air pollution
control areas must obtain a permit from the State Boards.
 The states are required to prescribe emission standards for industry
& automobiles.
 It expanded the authority of the CPCB to include Air Pollution under
it.
 The 1987 amendment introduced a citizen’s suit provision into the Air
Act & extended the Act to include Noise pollution.

 These are emission standards to reduce vehicular

pollution.
 Norms set by CPCB (Central Pollution Control
Board) under the Ministry of Environment & Forests
and climate change.
 India introduced emission norms in 1991 & BS-1 in
2000 based on European standards.
BS  India skipped BS-V & moved to BS-VI norms
Norms directly in 2020.
 BS-VI fuel is estimated to bring around 80%
reductions in Sulphur content.
 BS-VI will cut down the harmful NOx (nitrogen
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oxides) from diesel cars by nearly 70% and 25% in

the petrol cars.
 BS-VI will bring down the cancer-causing
Particulate Matter in diesel cars by a phenomenal
80%.

NATIONAL AIR QUALITY INDEX (NAQI)

 CPCB launched AQI in 2014 under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan to
disseminate information on air quality in an easily understandable
form for the general public.
 It transforms complex air quality data of 8 pollutants into a single
number, nomenclature, and color.
 AQI has six categories of air quality:
 Eight pollutants : Particulate Matter (PM10), Particulate Matter
(PM2.5), Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2), Sulphur Dioxide (SO2), Carbon
Monoxide (CO), Ozone (O3), Ammonia (NH3), and Lead (Pb).

NATIONAL AMBIENT AIR QUALITY STANDARDS (NAAQS)

 Notified by CPCB (under powers given to it by Air Act, 1981) in 2009.
 It covers 12 pollutants: Sulphur Dioxide, Nitrogen Dioxide, PM10, PM5,
Ozone, Lead, Carbon Monoxide, Ammonia, Benzene, Benzo Pyrene,
Arsenic, Nickel.

AIR QUALITY EARLY WARNING SYSTEM

 An initiative of the Ministry of Earth
Sciences and Environment (MoES).
 Objective: To predict extreme air pollution events over the Delhi
region & give alerts to take necessary steps as per the Graded
Response Action Plan (GRAP).
 It uses data of stubble burning incidents from the past 15 years to
predict and help authorities to act in advance.
 It is developed by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology,
Pune.

GRADED RESPONSE ACTION PLAN (GRAP)

 It is a set of stratified actions to enforce in the NCR if the pollution
level reaches a certain specified limit.
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 It was formulated by Environment Pollution (Prevention & Control)

Authority (EPCA) on the advice of the Supreme Court in 2016.
 Objective: To specify actions required to control air pollution, when
the air quality moves from ‘Poor’ to ‘Very Poor’ on AQI.
 GRAP works only as an emergency measure, not throughout the
year.
 These measures were earlier implemented in Delhi only. However
recently GRAP has been extended to the NCR towns also.

CENTRAL POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD (CPCB) OF INDIA

 The CPCB is a statutory
organization established under the Water (Prevention and Control
of Pollution) Act, 1974.
 It is also entrusted with the powers & functions
under the Air (prevention and control of pollution) Act,
 It works under the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change
(MoEF&CC).
 Important functions: To prevent, control & abate water & air
pollution in the country + To provide technical services to the
MoEF&CC under the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act,
1986 + Collect, compile & publish technical and statistical data
relating to water and air pollution.

LOW-EMISSION (GREEN) CRACKERS

 These are produced using less harmful raw materials & have
additives which reduce emissions by suppressing dust.
 Developed by CSIR-NEERI
 Names of these crackers are: “Safe Water Releaser (SWAS)”, “Safe
Minimal Aluminum (SAFAL)” & “SAFE THERMITE CRACKER
(STAR)”.
 Firecrackers are regulated by PESO.
 PESO (Petroleum & Explosives Safety Organisation) is an office
under the Department for Promotion of Industry & Internal Trade,
Ministry of Commerce and Industries.

ENVIRONMENT POLLUTION CONTROL AUTHORITY (EPCA)

 EPCA is Supreme Court mandated statutory body.
 Notified by Environment Ministry in 1998 under Environment
Protection Act, 1986.
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 Objective: to protect and improve the environmental

quality & pollution control in the NCR-National Capital
Region (Delhi).
 Enforces Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in NCR as per
the pollution levels.
 EPCA has the power to take actionsuo-moto.

AIR POLLUTION IN DELHI

 Air quality in Delhi is the worst of any major city in the world – WHO

 It is a yearly problem and seasonal.

 Geography: change in wind direction during
winter (northwesterly), dip in wind speed, &
dust storms (from the Gulf) make the
landlocked Delhi region more prone to
pollution.
Causes of air  Vehicular Pollution& firecrackers
pollution:  Emissions from nearby industries & thermal
power plants.
 Stubble burning in surrounding states.
 The introduction of BS-VI vehicles, push for
electric vehicles (EVs), Odd-Even scheme to
reduce vehicular pollution.
 Delhi is the 1st city in India running with BS-VI
fuels & scheduled to use Hydrogen-CNG
 Implementation of the GRAP
 Subsidy to farmers for buying Turbo Happy
Measures Seeder to reduce stubble burning.
 Torrefaction.
taken to
 Development of the National AQI for public
tackle:
information.
 The initiative of ‘The Great Green Wall of
Aravalli’ green ecological corridor along with
Aravalli range from Gujarat to Delhi.
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Hydrogen- Compressed Natural Gas (HCNG)

HCNG is a hydrogen-enriched Compressed Natural Gas (CNG).

 Cleaner, safer & more economical than CNG

 It reduces the engine’s unburned hydrocarbon
emissions and speeds up the process of
combustion.
Benefits:
 Ensures 70% more Carbon Monoxide reductions
compared to CNG.
 It requires new infrastructure to prepare HCNG
 Determining the most optimized H2/ NG (Natural
Gas) ratio
Concerns:
 Costlier than CNG

TORREFACTION: is a thermal process to convert biomass into a coal-like material, which has
better fuel characteristics than the original biomass. Torrefied biomass is more brittle, making
grinding easier & less energy-intensive.

HAPPY SEEDER: is a tractor-mounted machine that cuts & lifts rice straw, sows wheat into the
bare soil, and deposits the straw over the sown area as mulch.

THE GREAT GREEN WALL OF ARAVALLI

 It will be a 1,400km long & 5km wide green belt from Gujarat to the
Delhi-Haryana border.
 The ‘Green wall’ idea mooted in the COP14 of UNCCD, India in
2019.
 It intends to restrict land degradation & the eastward march of
the Thar Desert.
 Also, it will act as a barrier for dust coming from the deserts in
western India and Pakistan.

NATION CLEAR AIR PROGRAMME (NCAP)

 It was launched by the MoEF&CC in 2019
 It is the first-ever effort by India to frame a national framework for
air quality management with a time-bound reduction
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 Objective: to reduce particulate matter (PM) pollution by 20-30% in

at least 102 non-attainment cities by2024 with 2017 as the base
year.
 Non-attainment cities: These are those that have fallen short of the
NAAQS for over five years.

NITROGEN POLLUTION
 Nitrogen becomes a pollutant when it escapes into the environment &
reacts with other organic compounds.
 Sources: Agriculture, fossil fuel burning sewage etc.,
 Impacts: global warming, acid rain and eutrophication etc.,
 UNEP’s Colombo Declaration: Aims to halve Nitrogen waste by 2030
 Joint initiative of UNEP, the International Nitrogen Initiative & Global
Environmental Facility

NOTABLE DISASTERS

 Bhopal gas tragedy, 1984

 Caused by Methyl Iso Cyanide (MIC)
gas leak from the Union Carbide
Factory, Bhopal.
 MIC is used in the manufacture of
polyurethane foam, pesticides, &
plastics.

 Visakhapatnam Gas leak, 2020

CHEMICAL
 Caused by Styrene gas leak at the LG
DISASTERS
Polymers chemical plant, Vizag.
 Styrene (C6H5CH=CH2)is a
flammable liquid (can evaporates
easily) used in the manufacturing of
polystyrene plastics, fiberglass,
rubber, & latex.
 Exposure to Styrene can cause
Irritation to the eyes, skin, nose &
damages Central nervous system and
kidney.
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 The Chernobyl disaster, 1986,

NUCLEAR Ukraine (the then USSR).
DISASTERS  Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster in
Japan, 2011.

WATER POLLUTION
 Water pollution is the contamination of water bodies, usually as a
result of human activities.
 Point pollution sources, where the source is a well-defined
location.
 Non-point pollution sources, which are spread over larger areas.
 Causes: Agricultural sources, Sewage water, Industrial effluents,
Thermal Pollution, Oil-spills, ships & other economic activities.
 Effects: Decline on Dissolved oxygen, Increase in BOD, Death of
Aquatic species, Eutrophication etc.

DISSOLVED OXYGEN BIOLOGICAL OXYGEN CHEMICAL OXYGEN

(DO) DEMAND (BOD) DEMAND (COD)
 DO is the  BOD is the  COD measures
amount of amount of the amount of
oxygen that is oxygen required oxygen in ppm
present in water. by required to
 Oxygen is microorganisms oxidize organic
poorly soluble in for the aerobic and oxidizable
water. Its decomposition inorganic
solubility is of organic compounds in
related to matter in the the water
Pressure & water body. sample.
Temperature.  It is a measure  Breakdown of
 The higher the of the amount of organic matter
temperature, the oxygen required is done by
lower is the DO to remove waste chemical
levels in the organic matter reagents.
water. from water.  CoD is a
 During summer  It is used as an slightly better
due to increased indicator of the mode used to
biological degree of measure
oxidation, the pollution. pollution load in
DO level  The greater the water than
reduces. BOD indicates BoD.
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the lower
amount of DO
available in the
water.

EUTROPHICATION
 It indicates excessive plant and algal growth due to the increased
availability of nutrients (Nitrates & Phosphates) in water bodies.
 It occurs naturally but human activities such as fertilizers, industrial
wastewater, sewage disposal accelerate it.

 Algal blooms limit light penetration, reducing

growth and causing the death of plants and
marine species.
 Dead Zones (Biological Deserts): When algal
blooms die, microbial decomposition severely
depletes dissolved oxygen & creates a hypoxic or
‘dead zone. Most of the animal life either dies or
migrates from the zone.
 Water pollution
Consequences
 Affects biodiversity & productivity of the
ecosystem.
 New species invasion & loss of native species.

Tubifex worms or sludge worm: These pose a significant risk for trophic transfer & Bio-
magnification of micro-plastics up the aquatic food chain. They can survive in heavily polluted
areas where almost no other species can endure. It is an indicator species for polluted water.

BIO-MAGNIFICATION
 It is the process where toxic substances move up the food chain and
become more concentrated at each level. Ex: DDT
 It adversely affects human and marine life. It can also destroy Coral
Reefs.
 It can disrupt the food chain.
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OCEAN ACIDIFICATION
 Ocean acidification is the reduction in the pH of seawater due to
excessive absorption of CO2 by the oceans.
 Effects: Loss of Coral reefs, marine biodiversity, disruption in food
chain etc.

DISEASES ASSOCIATED WITH WATER POLLUTION

Disease Potential sources / cause& their effects

Minamata Neurological disease caused by severe mercury poisoning.
Blue Baby It is a bluish discoloration of infants’ skin because of poorly
Syndrome oxygenated blood due to Nitrate contamination in water.
Itai-Itai Cadmium pollution causing lung and liver cancer.
Skeletal Fluoride contamination causing teeth deformity, hardening
Fluorosis of bones and joint pains.
Trachoma An infectious eye disease caused by unclean water

THERMAL POLLUTION
 Thermal pollution is the degradation of water quality by any process
that changes ambient water temperature.
 CAUSES / SOURCES OF THERMAL POLLUTION: Industries &
Nuclear power plants + Deforestation + Soil erosion + Urban runoff +
Natural causes like volcanoes + Hot springs + Bio-medical wastes +
Domestic sewage
 EFFECTS NEGATIVE EFFECTS ON HUMAN, WILDLIFE &
MARINE LIFE: Increase in toxin levels in water + Decrease in DO
(Dissolved Oxygen) Levels + Disrupts the stability of the food chain +
Affects reproductive process + Species migration & Loss of
biodiversity.
 CONTROL MEASURES: Could be reused for Biological applications
such as soil warming, Fish culture etc.

SOIL POLLUTION

Soil pollution is the deterioration in quality & fertility of soil due to the
presence of toxic pollutants.
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CAUSES: Natural + Anthropogenic EFFECTS

 Poor Agricultural &  Naturally contributes to air
Livestock practices. pollution
 Improver solid waste  may alter plant metabolism
management & reduce crop yields
 Unsafe storage of  Bio-magnification
hazardous chemicals &  leads to soil erosion &
nuclear waste eutrophication
 Urban and transport  Reduced nitrogen fixation &
infrastructure loss of soil nutrients
 Natural calamities  Carcinogenic

Soil Contaminants and Their Effects On Health & Environment

SUBSTANCE POTENTIAL SOURCES & THEIR EFFECTS

 Lead paint, mining, foundry activities, vehicle
exhaust, construction-activities, agriculture activities,
and batteries etc.,
Lead (Pb)
 May leads to Learning difficulties, abdominal cramps
& vomiting, Fatigue, Neurological problems,
Headache, Growth reduction etc.
 From mining, incineration of coal, alkali and metal
processing, medical waste, volcanoes & geologic
deposits.
 A tingling sensation in one’s limbs, Speech
Mercury
impairment, Loss of balance & coordination,
(Hg)
Tremors, Depression, mood changes, Severe
neurological damage, Itching, burning, pain, Damage
to brain, kidneys, and lungs, Pink disease (acrodynia)
– a skin discoloration, High BP & Hyper-salivation
 From mining, coal-fired power plants, lumber
facilities, electronics industry, foundry activities,
agriculture, natural accumulation.
Arsenic (As)  Leads to Neurotoxicity, abdominal pain, muscle
cramps, blood in urine, pregnancy complications,
infant mortality, cognitive problems in infants, bladder
or lung cancer
Herbicides  From agricultural activities, gardening etc.
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/Insecticide  Birth defects, Endocrine disruption, Reproductive

problems, Leukemia and other cancers.
 Mining; foundry activities; construction activities
 Lung cancer, Neurological problems, Childhood
Nickel
developmental issues, Kidney and liver failure,
Cardiovascular disease.

NOISE POLLUTION

It is an unwanted or excessive sound that can have adverse effects on

human health, wildlife, and the environment.

 Affects both the health & behavior, of people

and wildlife.
 Cardiovascular disorders, hypertension, high-
Effects of
stress levels, tinnitus, hearing loss, sleep
Noise
disturbance
Pollution
 Cognitive Issues & Behavioral Change
 Control at receiver’s end
 Suppression of Noise at Source
 Acoustic Zoning
 Sound Insulation at Construction Stages
Control  Planting trees
measures  Strict legislative measures

RADIOACTIVE POLLUTION
 Radioactive pollution is the result of the release of radioactive
substances into the environment.
 Radioactive substances are those which can emit high energy
particles like alpha, beta & gamma rays.
 These substances are highly unstable & are continuously emitting
these particles to gain some stability.
 It is not a constant or regular phenomenon & hence the duration
and frequency of pollution vary with time & conditions.

 Uranium mining& processing

 Nuclear power reactors, & use of
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radionuclides in industries
Causes /  Nuclear tests carried out by the
Sources of defence personnel, wars; and
Radioactive  Disposal of nuclear waste.
Pollution  Natural sources like; radiation from
space & earth crust.
 Genetic Mutations
 Causes cancer, leukemia, anemia,
hemorrhage, premature aging etc.,
 Soil infertility
 Radioactive material can enter the
Effects food chain, remains in the
environment for hundreds of years
causing somatic damage ie damage to
organs of the body.

LIGHT POLLUTION
 Light pollution is excessive, misdirected, or obtrusive artificial (usually
outdoor) light.
 Consequences: it washes out starlight in the night sky, interferes
with astronomical research, disrupts ecosystems, has adverse health
effects and wastes energy.

SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT

 Solid waste consists of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW), e-waste &
Biomedical wastes.
 Solid Waste Management involves a collective activity involving
segregation, collection, transportation, re-processing, recycling &
disposal of various types of wastes.

E-WASTE:
 E-waste is any electrical or electronic equipment that’s been
discarded.
 India’s first e-waste clinic – at Bhopal.

E-waste sources Constituents Health effects

PCBs, glass panels, and Lead Damage nervous systems, &
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Computer monitors kidney

Impair child’s brain

development
Accumulates in kidney&liver
Resistors &
Cadmium
Semiconductors
Causes neural damage
Damages brain
Relays and switches,
Mercury
&PCBs
Respiratory & skin disorders
Galvanized steel plates &
Chromium Causes Bronchitis
decorator or hardener
Burning produces Dioxin that
Cabling, Computer&
Plastics &PVC causes reproductive&
housing
developmental problems
Brominated
Electronic equipments &
flame- Disrupt endocrine systems
circuit boards
retardants
Barium,
Muscle weakness & damages
Front panels of CRTs Phosphorus &
heart, liver
Heavy metals
Stomach cramps, nausea, liver
Copper wires, PCB tracks. Copper
damage
Skin Allergy
NickelCadmium batteries Nickel
asthma
Li can pass into breast milk& may
harm a nursing baby
Lithium-ion battery Lithium
may cause lung edema
Carcinogenic
Motherboards Beryllium
Beryllium

E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2016

 Notified by the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change
 The new e-waste rules included CFL & other Mercury-containing
lamps, as well as other such equipment.
 For the first time, the rules brought the producers under Extended
Producer Responsibility (EPR), along with targets.
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 Producers can have a separate Producer Responsibility Organisation

(PRO) & ensure the collection & disposal of E-waste in an
environmentally sound manner.
 Deposit Refund Scheme has been introduced, wherein the producer
charges an additional amount as a deposit at the time of sale and
returns it to the consumer along with interest when equipment is
returned.
 The role of State Governments has been also introduced to ensure
the safety, health & skill development of the workers involved in
dismantling & recycling operations.
 Bulk consumers have to file annual returns it prescribes a waste
collection target of 30% waste generated for the first 2 years and
progressively going up to 70% in the 7th year from rule notified.
 Provision of penalty for violation of rules.
 Urban Local Bodies has been assigned the duty to collect &
channelize the orphan products to authorized dismantlers or
recyclers.

PLASTICS POLLUTION
 It is the harmful accumulation of synthetic plastic products in the
environment.
 India aims to eliminate single-use plastic by 2022.
 UNEP’s 2018-World Environment Day’s theme: ‘Beat Plastic
Pollution’.
 Causes / Sources of Plastic Pollution: Households + Industrial use
+ Bio-medical wastes + Agriculture + Fishing and marine economic
activities.
 Effects: Upsets the food chain + Contributes to Air, Soil as well as
Water pollution.
MICRO-PLASTICS
 Microplastics are any type of plastic fragment that is less than
5 mm in length. Ex: Microbeads, microfibers.
 They enter natural ecosystems from a variety of sources,
including cosmetics, clothing, & industrial processes.
 Concerns: toxins, can block the gastrointestinal tracts of
organisms.

THE GLOBAL TOURISM PLASTICS INITIATIVE

 The Initiative is led by UNEP & the World Tourism Organization, in
collaboration with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation.
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 Aims to address the root causes of plastic pollution.

 Developed within the framework of the ‘One Planet Sustainable
Tourism Programme’.
 It enables businesses, governments, & other tourism stakeholders to
make a set of concrete & actionable commitments by 2025.

OZONE POLLUTION:
 Ozone can be good or bad, depending on where it is found. It is a
secondary pollutant.
 Stratospheric ozone is good ozone that protects the earth from UV
radiation.
 Ground-level ozone, which is bad ozone, is a colourless & highly
irritating gas that forms just above the earth’s surface (lower
troposphere).

 Health problems including chest pain, coughing,

throat irritation, reduced lung function, can
worsen bronchitis, emphysema, & asthma
 It inhibits photosynthesis thus, slows down
Harmful plant growth & reduces CO2 absorbing ability.
 Decreased photosynthesis increases CO2
effects:
concentration in the atmosphere.

GOTHENBURG PROTOCOL, 1999

 Aims to Abate Acidification, Eutrophication & Ground-level Ozone.
 Also known as the Multi-effect protocol, was adopted by the countries
of UNECE (United Nations Economic Commission for Europe).
 The protocol sets national emission ceilings for 2010 up to 2020 for
four pollutants: Sulphur dioxide, Nitrogen oxides (Nox), volatile
organic compounds (VOCs) & Ammonia (NH3).
 The protocol also is a part of the convention on long Range
Transboundary Air Pollution.

BIOREMEDIATION

Bioremediation is the process of using organisms to neutralize or remove

contamination from waste.
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TYPES OF BIOREMEDIATION
Here contaminated waste is treated right at its point of origin.

In-situ bioremediation techniques:

 Biosparging: air & nutrients (if needed) are

injected into the saturated zone to increase the
biological activity of the indigenous
microorganisms.
 Phytoremediation: use of plants to remove
contaminants.
 Bioventing: blowing air through the soil to
increase the oxygen level in the waste to
neutralize certain oxygen-sensitive
metals or chemicals.
 Bioleaching: removing metals from soil using
living organisms. For example, fish bones to
attract & hold heavy metals such as Lead and
Cadmium.
 Composting: containing waste so a natural decay
In-situ
Bioremediation and remediation process occurs.
 Bio-augmentation: adding microbes & organisms
to strengthen the same in waste to allow them to
take over and decontaminate the area.
 Bio-stimulation: the use of microbes designed to
remove contamination applied in a medium to the
waste.
 Oilzapper & Oilivorous-S: oil spill
treatment bacteria, feed on hydrocarbon
compounds present in crude oil & oily sludge.
Contaminated waste is removed & transported to a processing
site for treatment.

Ex situ bioremediation techniques:

 Land-farming: turning contaminated soil for

aeration & sifting to remove contaminants, or
deliberately depleting soil of nitrogen to remove
nitrogen-based organisms.
 Bioreactor: the use of specially designed
Ex-situ-
Bioremediation: containers to hold the waste while bioremediation
occurs
 Windrows: rely on the periodic turning of piled
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polluted soil to enhance bioremediation by

increasing degradation activities of indigenous
and/or transient hydrocarbonoclastic
bacteria present in polluted soil.
 Biolpiling – It is a hybrid of composting & land
farming.
 Useful for destruction of a wide variety of
Advantages Of contaminants + Can be carried out on-site, without
Bioremediation: disturbing normal activities + Less expensive &
effective treatment.
 Limited to only biodegradable compounds +
Disadvantages Of Biological processes are often highly specific +
Bioremediation: Takes a longer time & consumes more area as well
as water.