MODULE 3

ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION

INTRODUCTION:
According to ODUM (1971), Pollution is “an undesirable change in the characteristics of air,
water and land that harmfully affect the life and also create health hazards for all living
organisms on the globe”.
According to SOUTHWICK (1976), Pollution can be defined as “the unfavorable (or)
alteration of environment caused by human activities and causing harm to human beings”.

Pollution may be defined as an undesirable change in the physical, chemical or biological

characteristics of air, water and land that may be harmful to human life and other animals, living
conditions, industrial processes and cultural assets. Pollution can be natural or manmade.
Pollutants
The agents that pollute are called pollutants. Classification of Pollutants
Pollutants are of two types:
1. Non-degradable pollutants:
These are the pollutants, which degrade at a very slow pace by the natural biological processes.
These are inorganic compounds such as salts (chlorides), metallic oxides waste producing
materials and materials like, aluminum cans, mercuric salts and even DDT.
2. Biodegradable pollutants:
These include domestic sewage that easily decomposes under natural processes and can be
rapidly decomposed by natural/ artificial methods. These cause serious problems when
accumulated in large amounts as the pace of deposition exceeds the pace of decomposition of
disposal.

TYPES OF POLLUTION:
Basically, the Pollution is of two types:
(1) Natural Pollution: This type of pollution is limited in its occurrence generally from
natural hazards like volcanic eruptions, emissions of natural gas, soil erosion, ultraviolet rays,
cosmic rays etc.
(2) Manmade Pollution: Most of the pollution is man made only. However, Pollution is
usually categorized as Air Pollution; Water Pollution; Thermal Pollution; Noise Pollution; Land
& soil Pollution; Radio Active Pollution and Marine Pollution

AIR POLLUTION
Air pollution may be described as “the imbalance in quality of air so as to cause adverse
effects on the living organisms existing on earth”. Pollution is due to the presence of
undesirable substance of sufficient quantity which exists in environment.
The substance or energy which causes pollution is called pollutant.

Types of air pollutants:

Pollutants may be classified according to origin and state of matter.

a) According to Origin: Air pollutants are divided into two categories as primary & secondary.
1) Primary air pollutants are those which are emitted directly into the
atmosphere. Eg: C; CO; CO2; SOx ; N; S; H; NOx; CFC’s etc .
2) Secondary air pollutants are those which are produced in the air by the interaction
Among the primary air pollutants or by reaction with atmospheric constituents.
Eg: Ozone (O3); Smog; Para Acetyl Nitrate (PAN); Acid Rain; Aerosols.

b) According to State of Matter: Air pollutants include fine solids; liquids and gases. Dust,
Smoke, Fumes etc are examples for solid particles whereas fog is an example for liquid particles.

PRIMARY POLLUTANTS
1. Carbon Monoxide: It is a colorless, odorless, poisonous gas that is produced by the
incomplete burning of carbon based fuels (coal, petrol, diesel and wood) which comes from the
automobile industries, exhaust devices, About 70% of CO emissions are from the transport
sector.
When the air is polluted with CO, human blood is likely to be deprived of oxygen and leads to
coma and death. In mild dosages, it leads to headache.

2. Oxides of Sulphur: SO2 is a gas produced from burning of coal, mainly in thermal power
plants. Some industries such as paper mills produce SO 2. It is injurious not only to men and
plants, but it also attacks rapidly a few rocks such as limestone, marbles, electric contacts etc. It
can even dissolve nylon.
Paper absorbs SO2 causing the paper to become brittle and fragile. SO 2 polluted air leads to
corrosion of metals such as Fe, Zn, Cu, steel etc… SO 2 is a major contributor to Smog and acid
rain.
Sulphur trioxideis more irritant than SO2 because it combines immediately with water to form
sulphuric acid.

3. Oxides of Nitrogen: Combustion of coal, oil, natural gas and gasoline which produces upto 50
ppm of Nitrogen. NOx are also produced when fossil fuels are burned especially in power plants
and motor vehicles. NO2poisoning results SILOFILTER disease. High levels of NO2 exposure
causes cough and make the human beings feel short of breath. People who are exposed to NO2
for a long time have a higher chance of getting respiratory infections.
NOx compounds contribute for the formation of Ozone. Similarly, when nitrogen oxide
when combine with SOx to form acid rain.

4. Chloro Fluoro Carbons: CFC’s (also known as Freon) are non- toxic. They contain Carbon,
Fluorine and Chlorine [Link] five main CFCs are the following:
CFC – 11 ( Trichloro Fluoro Methane CFCl 3 )
CFC – 12 ( Dichloro Fluoro Methane CF2Cl2 )
The major uses of CFCs are as coolants in refrigerators and in air conditioners; as solvents in
cleaners particularly for electronic circuit boards etc.. CFCs are the main cause of ozone
depletion. CFCs have a lifetime in the atmosphere of about 20 to 100 years, and as a result one
free chlorine atom from a CFC molecule can do a lot of damage.

SECONDARY POLLUTANTS:
1)
Ozone (O3) / Ozone layer Depletion: Ozone consists of oxygen molecules which contain
three oxygen atoms. It is not emitted directly into the air but produced in the atmosphere when
oxygen combines with oxygen radical (O.) in the presence of sunlight. Ozone protects us from
ultra violet radiation and other harmful rays.
It is observed that over the last few years, many manmade processes release gases into
atmosphere causing drastic depletion of ozone layer. The chlorine atoms cause depletion of
ozone slowly and holes are formed in the ozone layer. Ozone reacts with tissues and cause for
breathing and decrease the working ability of the lungs, chest pains and coughing. It lowers the
human body resistance power and leads to cold; pneumonia also.

Antarctic Ozone depletion: According to NIMBUS-7 satellite picture which was taken on 5 th
October, 1987 the protective ozone layer showed a hole over 50% of the area of the Antarctica
continent covering 7 million sq km.
On Jan 1st 1989, the country Montreal (Canada) proposed redesigning refrigeration, air
conditioning technology replacing the use of CFCs by ozone friendly substitutes.

2)
Smog:Smog is a combination of smoke and fog or various gases when react in the presence of
sunlight. The effects of smog on human health cause for respiratory, irritation to the eyes,
diseases related to nose, throat, bronchitis, pneumonia, headache, nerves, liver, and kidneys.
The first smog related deaths were recorded in London in 1873, when it killed 500 people. In
1892, December, London had worst experiences causing 1000 deaths. In 1940’s severe smog
began covering the cities of Los Angeles in USA.

3)
Acid rain:Acid rain has become one of the most important global environmental problems
and poses significant adverse impact on soils, rivers, lakes, forests and monuments. The
phenomenon occurs when SOx and NOx from the burning of fossil fuels such as Petrol, Diesel,
Coat etc combine with water vapour in atmosphere and fall as rain or snow or fog.
Natural sources like volcanoes, forest fires, etc also contribute SOx and NOx. Increased
urban and industrial activities cause air pollution resulting in the rise of concentration of SO 2 and
NOx. Sulphur dioxide and NO2 combines with water vapour in the atmosphere produce sulphuric
acid and Nitric acid respectively and results acid rain. Some of the examples are:
Europe and parts of W Asia have experienced rain with water pH range of 4.5 to 5.0 (acidic) in
1958.

AIR POLLUTION EFFECTS, PREVENTION AND CONTROL MEASURES:

Human beings breathe 22000 times a day on the average, inhaling 16 kg of air. Atmosphere
constitutes a protective cover of gases surrounding the earth which
 sustains life and saves it from unfriendly environment.
The atmosphere consists of several layers viz. Troposphere, Stratosphere; Mesosphere;
Thermosphere & Exosphere.
The lower atmosphere i.e., the troposphere contains 70% of gaseous components of major, minor
and traces. Ultra violet radiation from the sun is absorbed by ozone in the stratosphere which is
so called ozone layer located between 17 - 26 kms above sea level.

Effects of Air pollution: The effects of pollution may be direct and affect certain organisms.
The effects of pollution may possess a hazard or nuisance. Long continued pollution even affects
the evolution of a species and eliminates organisms that cannot tolerate certain pollutants and
favor others who can eat.
Air pollution causes deaths, Impair health, reduce visibility and brings vast economic losses. It
can also cause intangible losses to historic monuments such as Taj Mahal.
Finally, Air pollution can affect the environment on a global scale.

Prevention and control of Air Pollution:

 Inputs that do not contain the pollutants.
 Operating process to minimize generation of the pollutants.
 Replacing the process with one does not generate the pollutant.
 Removing the pollutants from the process.
 Substitution of raw materials.

Eg: The substitution of high sulphur coal with low sulphur coal in power plants. Eg: Changing
a fossil fuel with nuclear energy can eliminate sulphur emission.
 By involving the Process Modification:
Eg: Chemical and petroleum industries have changed by implementing
Automated operations, computerized process control by reducing the
Oxidation ofSO2 to SO3 by reducing excess air.
 By involving the control technologies: Control equipment viz., Wet Collector
(scrubber), Gravity Settling chamber; Cyclone Collectors, Dry Scrubbers, filters,
electrostatic precipitators etc. are to be used to minimize the air pollution.

WATER POLLUTION
Hydrosphere in the universe contains water in the form of oceans, rivers, lakes, tanks and many
other water sources.
Water sources in the world are of two types.
They are (1) Marine water bodies and (2) Fresh Water bodies.
Water is a good solvent for many substances. Because of this property water cannot exist in its
pure form at many parts of the world. Water pollution is mainly because of sewage, industrial
disposals i.e., effluents.

PARAMETERS OF WATER POLLUTION:

Chemical examination of water (tests): pH; Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD), Dissolved
Oxygen (DO), etc are some of the chemical tests to find the stage of pollution of water.

1. pH: The value of pH gives the degree of acidity or alkalinity of polluted water. Determination
of pH is important in calculating the coagulant (thick or thin) dose.

2. Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD): It is defined as the quantity of oxygen utilized by micro
organisms at a temperature of 20oC, generally measured for 5 days. When water is polluted by
unwanted materials, naturally the O2 content gets reduced and that water become not fit for
consumption either by human beings or animals or plants.
Living organisms require water with some quantity of sustainable oxygen in it. That oxygen is
necessary for living organisms is generally called BOD. If there is reduction in oxygen content of
water, it becomes unfit for biological consumption because there is change in BOD.

COMMON TYPES OF WATER POLLUTANTS:

A) Based on sources B) Based on natures

A) Based on sources:
a) Disease causing agents: Bacteria, viruses, protozoan that enter water from domestic sewage
and animal wastes.
b) Water soluble inorganic chemicals: Acids, salts and compounds of toxic metals such as
Lead, Mercury can make water unfit to drink, harm fishes and other aquatic life. Also Nitrate,
Phosphate compounds dissolve in water that can cause excessive growth of algae, which then die
and decay, depleting dissolved O2 in water and killing fish.

c) Water Soluble Organic chemicals: Oil, gasoline (a type of oil is obtained from petroleum),
pesticides, detergents and many other water soluble chemicals that threaten human health and
harm fish.
d) Heat: Large quantity of water is heated when it is used in the cooling towers of thermal power
plants. When this hot water is discharged into the nearby water bodies, it causes an increase in its
temperature.
e) Sewage: sewage is waste water from municipal area where there is human habitation. Sewage
which comes from homes is called domestic sewage

B) Based on natures:
In nature water pollution is classified into three types by Kimball (1975). They are:
1. Domestic water pollution: Sewage is a part of domestic water pollution. Domestic sewage
not only contains unwanted waste materials, but it is also infested with harmful bacteria, virus
etc. These are responsible for causing diseases in animals and human beings, if they drink this
polluted water and even plants may die if polluted water is provided. Domestic water pollution
leads to Diarrhea, Cholera and Typhoid in human beings.

2. Agricultural Water Pollution: Water require for plants for its growth. Major irrigation,
minor irrigation, sprinkler irrigation, drip irrigation, lift irrigation carry waste substances and
causing water pollution in addition to the utilization of fertilizer and pesticides. Agricultural
water pollution leads to Eutrophication & Water Bloom.

Ecological effects: The important troubling ecological impacts are:

1. Excessive nutrients in water bodies promote plant growth which leads to a drop in
water quality;
2. Disruption of the natural ecosystem E.g. lack of oxygen for shelf marine life
(causing a drop in their population).
3. Decrease in the recreational and aesthetic value of water bodies
4. Health problems when it occurs in drinking water reserves
 5. Coral reef decline
6. Decreased biodiversity,
7. Changes in species composition and dominance, and
8. Toxicity effects.
9. Toxic phytoplankton species
10. Decreases in water transparency (increased turbidity)
11. Color, smell, and water treatment problems
12. Dissolved oxygen depletion
13. Increased incidences of fish kills
14. Loss of desirable fish species

3. Industrial water pollution: Many industries discharge waste materials containing harmful
chemicals. Such Industrial wastes are called effluents. The river Godavari is polluted because of
effluents released by the paper industry. It affects the entire water ecosystem causing enormous
damage to fishes, prawns and fresh water animals.
Eg: Minamata disease & Fluorosis.
Minamata disease is a neurological syndrome caused by severe mercury poisoning. Symptoms
include ataxia, numbness in the hands and feet, general muscle weakness, narrowing of the
field

of vision and damage to hearing and speech. In extreme cases, insanity, paralysis, coma,
and death follow within weeks of the onset of symptoms.
Minamata disease was first discovered in Minamata city in Japan in 1956. It was caused by the
release of methyl mercury from, the Chisso Corporation's chemical factory, which continued
from 1932 to 1968. This highly toxic chemical bio- accumulated in shellfish and fish in
Minamata
Bay which when eaten by the local people resulted in mercury poisoning. While cat, dog, pig,
and human deaths continued over more than 30 years, the government and company did little to
prevent the pollution.
Fluorosis: People suffer from a disease called fluorosis after consuming water containing
fluorine for sufficiently a long time. Quantity of fluoride in water is only 1 ppm. Diseases caused
by fluorosis are:
Back pain and cannot easily bend.
 Joints get stiffened as so movement of joints is impaired.
Teeth are the worst effected and a brown coating appears on the enamel
of teeth giving bad appearance.
Persons with fluorosis cannot erect freely.

CONTROL MEASURES OF WATER POLLUTION:

1. Drinking water should be boiled, cooled and then used.
2. Disinfection of drinking water should be done by using chemicals like bleaching powder.
3. Pesticides and insecticides should be prevented from nearby use of water lakes,ponds
and pools.
4. Drainage water should not be allowed to mix with drinking water.
5. Drainage system should be maintained properly.
6. Chlorination process is to be adopted for drinking water. For 1 litre of water 30 - 40 mg
of chlorine is to be added to get perfect disinfection. It kills bacteria, fungi, fungal spores
and other microbes also.

SOIL POLLUTION
Definition:
Soil pollution is defined as the build-up in soils of persistent toxic compounds, chemicals, salts,
Radioactive materials, or disease causing agents, which have adverse effects on plant growth and animal
health. Soil is the thin layer of organic and inorganic materials that covers the Earth's rocky surface.
The organic portion, which is derived from the decayed remains of plants and animals, is concentrated
in the dark uppermost topsoil. The inorganic portion made up of rock fragments, was formed over
thousands of years by physical and chemical weathering of bedrock. Productive soils are necessary for
agriculture to supply the world with sufficient food.
There are many different ways that soil can become polluted, such as:
• Seepage from a landfill
• Discharge of industrial waste into the soil
• Percolation of contaminated water into the soil
• Rupture of underground storage tanks
• Excess application of pesticides, herbicides or fertilizer
• Solid waste seepage

The most common chemicals involved in causing soil pollution are:

 • Petroleum hydrocarbons
• Heavy metals
• Pesticides
• Solvents

Types of Soil Pollution

• Agricultural Soil Pollution and pollution due to urban activities
i) Pollution of surface soil
ii) Pollution of underground soil
• Soil pollution by industrial effluents and solid wastes
i) Pollution of surface soil
ii) Disturbances in soil profile

CAUSES OF SOIL POLLUTION:

Soil pollution is caused by the presence of man-made chemicals or other alteration in the natural
soil environment. This type of contamination typically arises from the rupture of underground
storage links, application of pesticides, and percolation of contaminated surface water to
subsurface strata, oil and fuel dumping, leaching of wastes from landfills or direct discharge of
industrial wastes to the soil. The most common chemicals involved are petroleum hydrocarbons,
solvents, pesticides, lead and other heavy metals. This occurrence of this phenomenon is
correlated with the degree of industrialization and intensities of chemical usage.
A soil pollutant is any factor which deteriorates the quality, texture and mineral content of the
Soil or which disturbs the biological balance of the organisms in the soil. Pollution in soil has
adverse effect on plant growth.

Pollution in soil is associated with

• Indiscriminate use of fertilizers
• Indiscriminate use of pesticides, insecticides and herbicides
• Dumping of large quantities of solid waste
• Deforestation and soil erosion

1. Indiscriminate use of fertilizers:

Soil nutrients are important for plant growth and development. Plants obtain carbon, hydrogen
and oxygen from air and water. But other necessary nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus,
potassium, calcium, magnesium, sulfur and more must be obtained from the soil. Farmers
generally use fertilizers to correct soil deficiencies. Fertilizers contaminate the soil with
impurities, which come from the raw materials used for their manufacture. Mixed fertilizers
often contain ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3), phosphorus as P2O5, and potassium as K2O. For
instance, arsenic, lead and cadmium present in traces in rock phosphate mineral get transferred to
super phosphate fertilizer. Since the metals are not degradable, their accumulation in the soil
above their toxic levels due to excessive use of phosphate fertilizers becomes an indestructible
poison for crops.
The over use of NPK fertilizers reduce quantity of vegetables and crops grown on soil over the
years. It also reduces the protein content of wheat, maize, grams, etc., grown on that soil. The carbohydrate
quality of such crops also gets degraded. Excess potassium content in soil decreases Vitamin C and
carotene content in vegetables and fruits. The vegetables and fruits grown on over fertilized soil are more
prone to attacks by insects and disease.

2. Indiscriminate use of pesticides, insecticides and herbicides:

The first widespread insecticide use began at the end of World War II and included DDT
(dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane) and gammaxene. Insects soon became resistant to DDT
and as the chemical did not decompose readily, it persisted in the environment. Since it was
soluble in fat rather than water, it biomagnified up the food chain and disrupted calcium
metabolism in birds, causing egg shells to be thin and fragile. As a result, large birds of prey
such as the brown pelican, ospreys, falcons and eagles became endangered. DDT has been now
been banned in most western countries. Ironically many of them including USA still produce
DDT for export to other developing nations whose needs outweigh the problems caused by it.
The most important pesticides are DDT, BHC, chlorinated hydrocarbons,
organophosphates,
aldrin, malathion, dieldrin, furodan, etc. The remnants of such pesticides used on pests may
get adsorbed by the soil particles, which then contaminate root crops grown in that soil. The
consumption of such crops causes the pesticides remnants to enter human biological systems,
affecting them adversely.
An infamous herbicide used as a defoliant in the Vietnam War called Agent Orange
(dioxin), exposure to Agent Orange.
Pesticides not only bring toxic effect on human and animals but also decrease the fertility of the
soil. Some of the pesticides are quite stable and their bio- degradation may take weeks and even
months.
Pesticide problems such as resistance, resurgence, and health effects have caused scientists to
seek alternatives. Pheromones and hormones to attract or repel insects and using natural enemies
or sterilization by radiation have been suggested

3. Dumping of large quantities of solid waste:

In general, solid waste includes garbage, domestic refuse and discarded solid materials such as
Those from commercial, industrial and agricultural operations. They contain increasing amounts
of paper, cardboards, plastics, glass, old construction material, packaging material and toxic or
otherwise hazardous substances. Since a significant amount of urban solid waste tends to be
paper and food waste, the majority is recyclable or biodegradable in landfills. Similarly, most
agricultural waste is recycled and mining waste is left on site.
The portion of solid waste that is hazardous such as oils, battery metals, heavy metals from
smelting industries and organic solvents are the ones we have to pay particular attention to.
These can in the long run, get deposited to the soils of the surrounding area and pollute them by
altering their chemical and biological properties. They also contaminate drinking water aquifer
sources. More than 90% of hazardous waste is produced by chemical, petroleum and metal-
related industries and small businesses such as dry cleaners and gas stations contribute as well.

4. Deforestation and soil erosion:

Soil Erosion occurs when the weathered soil particles are dislodged and carried away by wind
or water. Deforestation, agricultural development, temperature extremes, precipitation including
acid rain, and human activities contribute to this erosion. Humans speed up this process by
construction, mining, cutting of timber, over cropping and overgrazing. It results in floods and
cause soil erosion.

EFFECTS OF SOIL POLLUTION

1. Agricultural
• Reduced soil fertility
• Reduced nitrogen fixation
• Increased erosion
 • Larger loss of soil and nutrients
• Deposition of silt in tanks and reservoirs
• Reduced crop yield
• Imbalance in soil fauna and flora
2. Industrial
• Dangerous chemicals entering underground water
• Ecological imbalance
• Release of pollutant gases
• Release of radioactive rays causing health problems
• Increased salinity
• Reduced vegetation
3. Urban
Clogging of drains
• Inundation of areas
• Public health problems
• Pollution of drinking water sources
• Foul smell and release of gases
• Waste management problems

CONTROL MEASURES OF SOIL POLLUTION

The following steps have been suggested to control soil pollution. To help prevent soil erosion,
we can limit construction in sensitive area. In general we would need less fertilizer and fewer
pesticides if we could all adopt the three R's: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. This would give us
less solid waste.
1. Reducing chemical fertilizer and pesticide use Applying bio-fertilizers and manures can
reduce chemical fertilizer and pesticide use. Biological methods of pest control can also reduce
the use of pesticides and thereby minimize soil pollution.

2. Reusing of materials
Materials such as glass containers, plastic bags, paper, cloth etc. can be reused at domestic levels
rather than being disposed, reducing solid waste pollution.
3. Recycling and recovery of materials
This is a reasonable solution for reducing soil pollution. Materials such as paper, some kinds of
plastics and glass can and are being recycled. This decreases the volume of refuse and helps in
the conservation of natural resources. For example, recovery of one tonne of paper can save 17
trees.
4. Reforesting
Control of land loss and soil erosion can be attempted through restoring forest and grass cover
to check wastelands, soil erosion and floods. Crop rotation or mixed cropping can improve the
fertility of the land.
5. Solid waste treatment
Proper methods should be adopted for management of solid waste disposal. Industrial wastes

can be treated physically, chemically and biologically until they are less hazardous. Acidic and
alkaline wastes should be first neutralized; the insoluble material if biodegradable should be
allowed to degrade under controlled conditions before being disposed.

NOISE POLLUTION
Everyone knows that sound is a form of energy that is capable of causing disturbances in human
beings. Ears are the hearing organs in human beings.
A thin membrane is called Tympanum (or) ear drum receives the vibrations produced
by sound to a limited extent. Human ear is capable of perceiving about 85 decibels of sound.
Beyond the limit, the ear drum cannot bear sound.
In nature, we hear different types of sounds. Sound is a kind of vibration which travel through
air, water, and are sensed by the ear. This is from music, speech, etc from radio / television /
computers etc., one thing in this matter is that we can increase the volume of sound or decrease
as per our taste whereas, a noise is a sound which cannot be heard clearly and only mixed sounds
will be heard.
For eg: in an office one is talking on mobile, phone ringing another side, ring tones in some
person's hands, loud conversations with one and another etc., this is called noise. One cannot
increase or decrease the volume of noise. In general, a sound is a vibration from a particular
machine, place or material which can be heard clearly whereas a noise a mixed vibrations that
will come to us from all directions. A sound can be clear and can be able to hear, whereas a noise
will not be clear and cannot be heard.
SOURCES OF NOISE:
Noise is an unwanted sound and noise pollution occurs through different sources:
1. Vehicles produce noise that leads to noise pollution.
2. Automobile industry is another source of noise pollution.
3. Noise pollution is very common in industrial areas where machines are working for
factories making more noise.
The sources of noise are more in urban and industrial areas, than in rural areas. The sources of
noise may be stationary or mobile. The stationary sources include industries, loud speakers,
mining operations, use of machineries, TV, Radio and Grinders etc. The mobile sources include
Road Traffic, Highway Noise, Railway Traffic and Air Traffic.

(1) Stationary sources:

a) Industrial noise: The main categories of industrial activity that are particularly
relevant to the study of noise are the following:
Product fabrication, Product assembly, Power generation by means of generators, Combusting
process in furnaces (burning of gases)
b) Noise from construction works: Construction noise, a major source of noise
pollution is emitted by construction equipment. The sources of noise are dozers excavators, front
end loaders, soil compactors, cranes, air compressors, concrete vibrators, riveting steel structure
during the casting, dismantling of construction materials etc...
c) Noise from other sources: These include sources such as sirens, barking dogs,
ambulances, Police vehicles, Fire engines etc.

(2) Mobile sources:

Road traffic: Of all sources of noise pollution, road traffic is the most prevalent and
perhaps the most source of noise pollution. More people are exposed to noise from motor
vehicles and the noise depends on various factors such as Road location, Road design, Vehicle
standards, Driver behaviors, Horns, Traffic density. ,
Noise of common road vehicles

Vehicle type Noise (db)

Medium road traffic (Main roads) 70- 80

Heavy road traffic (High ways) 80- 90
Buses & Trucks upto 3.5 tons 85- 95
Trucks upto 3.5-12 tons 90-100
Motor cycles 90-105

It can be observed that motor cycles with their exposed engines and inadequate silencing
arrangements are notorious noise producers, which produce more than 30 times sound than a
small passenger car.

a) Railway traffic: Noise from railway traffic is not serious nuisance as compared to the road
traffic noise. The level of noise associated with rail traffic is related to the type of engine, the
speed of the train, track type and condition. The majority of noise emitted by trains is produced
by the engine (or) by the interaction of wheels with the tracks, horns, warning signals at
crossings etc..,

b) Air traffic: The noise of air craft is different from that of road traffic in the sense it is
intermittent. Noise is maximum during takeoff and landing. Noise made by jet planes is more
disturbance than that of propeller driven air craft. Supersonic air craft produce noise at high
levels due to its intensity.

EFFECTS OF NOISE:
At 120 decibels the ear registers pain but hearing damage begins about 85 decibels. Apart from
hearing loss, noise can cause lack of sleep, irritation, indigestion, ulcers, High B.P., Heart
diseases , Stress etc.,.
1. Annoyance (Feeling slightly angry): One of the most important effects of noise on human is

annoyance. Due to this breathing rate affects.

[Link]- induced hearing loss: Exposure to noise for a long enough duration results in damage
to the inner ear and thus decreases one’s ability to hear. The louder the noise the less time it
takes to cause hearing loss.

[Link] on sleep: Noise disturbs sleep. It has been found that the cases related to various
levels of noise are associated with sleep disturbances. Sleep disturbance
by noise depends on the characteristics of the noise such as frequency,
loudness and whether the noise is continuous or intermittent.
Other effects: There are many other effects of noises such involve aggression (ready to attack).
People may turn mad and nerves may not function normally, People may be deformed in many
ways including increased stress and strain, nonfunctioning of hands, legs etc due to noise
pollution if exposed continuously.

CONTROL MEASURES:

Noise pollution could be controlled by either reducing the noise at the source or by preventing its
transmission.
The first step in the prevention of noise pollution is to control the noise at source itself.
For eg: Lubrication of machines reduces the noise produced, Tightening the loose nuts, Reducing
the vibrations produced by machines etc…
Failing to control the noise at its source, the second step is to prevent its transmission for eg:
keeping the noise machine covered in an enclosure so that the sound does not escape and reach
the receivers, construction of noise barriers on road sides, sound proof the buildings by using
heavy curtains on the windows, acoustical tiles on the ceiling and walls, by sealing the cracks in
the walls to reduce the noise coming from outside.
If the noise levels are not able to bring down to the desired levels in some cases, the only
alternative is to follow:
• Avoiding horns except in emergency situations.
• Sound proof or eco-generators and Turning down the volume of stereos.
• Conducting the awareness programs

MARINE POLLUTION
The discharge of waste substances in to the sea resulting in harm to the living resources, hazards to the
human health hindrances to the fishery and impairment of quality use of sea water.
Causes
1. Dumping the wastes: Dumping of untreated wastes and sewages in the oceans by coastal towns,
cities and industries. Rivers on the way to sea carry huge amount of sewage garbage agricultural
discharge pesticide heavy metals. Huge quantity of plastic dumped in to the sea.
2. Oil: This is discharged in to the sea as crude oil and as separate fraction. Oil and it’s fractions
are used in houses automobiles and industries. This causes devastation of marine environment
3. Radioactive materials enter the ocean from nuclear weapon testing.
4. Toxics: Toxic waste is the most harmful form of marine pollution. Once toxic wastes affects an
organism it quickly passes along the food chain and as sea food which cause various problems.
5. Marine Debris: Garbage like plastic bags, ropes helium balloons

Effects of marine pollution

1. Heavy metals and organic pollutants damages birds by thinning of egg shells and tissue damage
of egg.
2. Oil pollution causes damage to marine animals and plants including algae bird, fish etc.
3. Oil spilling in the sea causes abnormal low body temperature in birds resulting in hypothermia.
During Exxon Valdez accident 150 rare species of bald eagles are affected by ingested oil.
4. Oil films are able to retard the rate of oxygen uptake by water.
5. Hydrocarbon and benzopyrene accumulate in food chain and consumption of fish by man may
cause cancer.
6. Many marine birds ingest plastic that causes gastrointestinal disorders.
7. Oil spills inhibit photosynthesis and the growth of planktons. All aquatic animals depend either
directly of indirectly on planktons the basis of tropic chain.
Control of marine pollution
[Link] industrial unit on the coastal lines should be equipped with pollution control instrument.
Methods of removal of oil by skimming the oil off the surface with suction device or Chemical
methods like dispersion , emulsification etc. Municipal and industrial waste should be treated
before disposing in to sea
2. Coastal waste are periodically analyzed for detecting pollution level
3. Soil erosion in the coastal land should be arrested be suitable techniques
4. Recreation beaches should be maintained to meet hygienic and aesthetic standard.
Thermal pollution
Thermal pollution is defined as the addition of excess of undesirable heat to water thereby making
it harmful to man, animal or aquatic life.
Sources of Thermal Pollution
1. Nuclear power plants: Nuclear power plants including drainage from hospitals, research
institutions, nuclear experiments and explosions discharge a lot of heat that is not utilized.
2. Coal-fired power plants: Coal fired power plants constitute a major source of thermal pollution.
The condenser coils in such plants are cooled with water from nearby lakes or rivers. The
resulting heated water is discharged into streams thereby raising the water temperature by 15C.
3. Industrial effluents: Industries like textile, paper, pulp and sugar manufacturing release huge
amounts of cooling water along with effluents into nearby natural water bodies.
4. Domestic Sewage: Domestic sewage is discharged into rivers, lakes, canals or streams with
minimal treatment or without any treatment. These wastes have a higher organic temperature
and organic load.
5. Hydro-electric power: Generation of hydroelectric power sometimes leads to negative thermal
loading in water systems.
Effects of Thermal pollution
1. Reduction in dissolved oxygen: Concentration of Dissolved Oxygen (DO) decreases with
increase in temperature.
2. Increase in toxicity The concentrated pollutant causes the rise in the temperature of water
which increases the toxicity of the poison present in water. The toxicity in water will increase
the death rate in marine life.
[Link] of Biological activities Temperature changes disrupt the entire marine ecosystem
because changes in temperature causes change in physiology, metabolism and biological
process like respiration rate, digestion, excretion and development of an aquatic organism
[Link] in reproduction: In fishes, several activities like nest building, spawning, hatching,
migration and reproduction depend on optimum temperature.
Control measures for thermal pollution: The following measures can be taken to prevent or
control high temperature caused by thermal pollution:
1. Heated water from the industries can treated before discharging directly to the water bodies.
2. Heated water from the industries can be treated by the installation of cooling ponds and cooling
towers.
 3. Industrial treated water can be recycled for domestic use or industrial heating.
4. Through artificial lakes: In this lake Industries can discharge their used or heated water at one
end and water for cooling purposes may be withdrawn from the other end. The heat is eventually
dissipated through evaporation.

SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT

Solid wastes are the material that arises from various human and economic activities. It is being
produced since the beginning of civilization. Ever increasing population growth, urbanization
and industrialization are contributing to the generation of solid waste in huge quantities.

Waste is enviable; waste is by product of human activity which has lack of use. The term waste
refers to the useless material generated from different sources such as household, public places,
hospital, commercial centre construction sites and production of waste from industries.

Waste can be classified through various methods on the basis of physical state (solid, liquid and
gaseous) and then within solid waste (according to its original use packaging waste, food waste
etc.) material (glass, paper etc.) physical properties, domestic, commercial, biodegradable, non-
biodegradable etc. Solid wastes have prevailing characteristics which sets them apart from the
liquid and gaseous wastes.

The characteristics are that the waste remains highly visible in the environment. Liquid wastes
are quickly relegated to sewer and are out of sight and gaseous wastes disperse in to the
atmosphere. Accumulation of large quantities of solid wastes is having an adverse impact on the
environment.

Types of solid wastes: Depending on the nature of origin, solid wastes are classified into
1. Urban or municipal wastes
2. Industrial wastes
Sources of urban wastes: Domestic wastes containing a variety of materials thrown out from
homes. Ex: Food waste, Cloth, Waste paper, Glass bottles, Polythene bags, Waste metals, etc.
Commercial wastes: coming out from shops, markets, hotels, offices, institutions, etc. Ex:
Wastepaper, packaging material, cans, bottle, polythene bags, etc.
Construction wastes: includes wastes of construction materials. Ex: Wood,Concrete, Debris, etc.
Biomedical wastes: It includes mostly waste organic materials Ex: Anatomical wastes,Infectious
wastes, etc.
Classification of urban wastes
Bio-degradable wastes - Those wastes that can be degraded by micro-organisms are called bio-
degradable wastes Ex: Food, vegetables, tea leaves, dry leaves, etc.
Non-biodegradable wastes: Urban solid waste materials that cannot be degraded by
microorganisms are called non-biodegradable wastes. Ex: Polythene bags, scrap materials, glass
bottles, etc.
Sources of industrial wastes:
The main source of industrial wastes is chemical industries, metal and mineral processing
industries. Ex: Nuclear plants: It generated radioactive wastes.
Thermal power plants: It produces fly ash in large quantities.
Chemical Industries: It produces large quantities of hazardous and toxic materials.
Other industries: Other industries produce packing materials, rubbish, organic wastes, acid, alkali,
scrap metals, rubber, plastic, paper, glass, wood, oils, paints, dyes, etc.

Waste management is the collection, transport, processing, recycling or disposal, and monitoring
of waste materials. The term usually relates to materials produced by human activity, and is
generally undertaken to reduce their effect on health, the environment or aesthetics. Waste
management is also carried out to recover resources from it. Waste management can involve
solid, liquid, gaseous or radioactive substances, with different methods and fields of expertise for
each.

Effects
a) Health Hazard
If solid wastes are not collected and allowed to accumulate, they may create unsanitary
conditions. This may lead to epidemic outbreaks. Many diseases like cholera, diarrhea,
dysentery, plague, jaundice, or gastro-intestinal diseases may spread and cause loss of human
lives. In addition, improper handling of the solid wastes is a health hazard for the workers who
come in direct contact with the waste.
b) Environmental Impact
If the solid wastes are not treated properly, decomposition and putrefaction may take place,
causing land and water pollution when the waste products percolate down into the underground
water resources. The organic solid waste during decomposition may generate obnoxious odors.
Stray dogs and birds may sometimes invade garbage heaps and may spread it over the
neighborhood causing unhygienic and unhealthy surroundings.

Control measures

An integrated waste management strategy includes three main components

1. Source reduction
2. Recycling
3. Disposal
Source reduction is one of the fundamental ways to reduce waste. This can be done by
using less material when making a product, reuse of products on site, designing products or
packaging to reduce their quantity. On an individual level we can reduce the use of unnecessary
items while shopping, buy items with minimal packaging, avoid buying disposable items and
also avoid asking for plastic carry bags.

Recycling is reusing some components of the waste that may have some economic value.
Recycling has readily visible benefits such as conservation of resources reduction in energy used
during manufacture and reducing pollution levels. Some materials such as aluminum and steel
can be recycled many times. Metal, paper, glass and plastics are recyclable. Mining of new
aluminum is expensive and hence recycled aluminum has a strong market and plays a significant
role in the aluminum industry. Paper recycling can also help preserve forests as it takes about 17
trees to make one ton of paper. Crushed glass (cullet) reduces the energy required to manufacture
new glass by 50 percent. Cullet lowers the temperature requirement of the glassmaking process
thus conserving energy and reducing air pollution.

However even if recycling is a viable alternative, it presents several problems. The

problems associated with recycling are either technical or economical. Plastics are difficult to
recycle because of the different types of polymer resins used in their production. Since each type
has its own chemical makeup different plastics cannot be recycled together. Thus separation of
different plastics before recycling is necessary. Similarly in recycled paper the fibers are
weakened and it is difficult to control the colour of the recycled product. Recycled paper is
banned for use in food containers to prevent the possibility of contamination. It very often costs
less to transport raw paper pulp than scrap paper. Collection, sorting and transport account for
about 90 percent of the cost of paper recycling.
The processes of pulping, deinking and screening wastepaper are generally more
expensive than making paper from virgin wood or cellulose fibers. Very often thus recycled
paper is more expensive than virgin paper. However as technology improves the cost will come
down.

Disposal of solid waste is done most commonly through a sanitary landfill or through
incineration. A modern sanitary landfill is a depression in an impermeable soil layer that is lined
with an impermeable membrane. The three key characteristics of a municipal sanitary landfill
that distinguish it from an open dump are:

• Solid waste is placed in a suitably selected and prepared landfill site in a carefully prescribed
manner.

• The waste material is spread out and compacted with appropriate heavy machinery.
• The waste is covered each day with a layer of compacted soil. The problems with older
landfills are associated with groundwater pollution. Pollutants seeping out from the bottom of a
sanitary landfill (leachates) very often percolate down to the groundwater aquifer no matter how
thick the underlying soil layer. Today it is essential to have suitable bottom liners and leachate
collection systems along with the installation of monitoring systems to detect groundwater
pollution.

The organic material in the buried solid waste will decompose due to the action of
microorganisms. At first the waste decomposes aerobically until the oxygen that was present in
the freshly placed fill is used up by the aerobic microorganisms. The anerobes take over
producing methane which is poisonous and highly explosive when mixed with air in
concentrations between 5 and 15 percent. The movement of gas can be controlled by providing
impermeable barriers in the landfill. A venting system to collect the blocked gas and vent it to
the surface where it can be safely diluted and dispersed into the atmosphere is thus a necessary
component of the design of sanitary landfills.
 Even though land filling is an economic alternative for solid waste disposal, it has become
increasingly difficult to find suitable land filling sites that are within economic hauling distance and very
often citizens do not want landfills in their vicinity. Another reason is that no matter how well engineered
the design and operation may be, there is always the danger of some environmental damage in the form of
leakage of leachates. Incineration is the process of burning municipal solid waste in a properly designed
furnace under suitable temperature and operating conditions. Incineration is a chemical process in which the
combustible portion of the waste is combined with oxygen forming carbon dioxide and water, which are
released into the atmosphere.

This chemical reaction called oxidation results in the release of heat. For complete
oxidation the waste must be mixed with appropriate volumes of air at a temperature of about
815o C for about one hour.

Incineration can reduce the municipal solid waste by about 90 percent in volume and 75
percent in weight. The risks of incineration however involve airquality problems and toxicity and
disposal of the fly and bottom ash produced during the incineration process. Fly ash consists of
finely divided particulate matter, including cinders, mineral dust and soot. Most of the
incinerator ash is bottom ash while the remainder is fly ash. The possible presence of heavy
metals in incinerator ash can be harmful. Thus toxic products and materials containing heavy
metals (for example batteries and plastics) should be segregated.

Thus extensive air pollution control equipment and high-level technical supervision and
skilled employees for proper operation and maintenance is required. Thus while sanitary landfills
and incinerators have their own advantages and disadvantages, the most effective method of
solid waste management is source reduction and recycling.

Vermi – Composting
Nature has perfect solutions for managing the waste it creates, if left undisturbed. The
biogeochemical cycles are designed to clear the waste material produced by animals and plants.
We can mimic the same methods that are present in nature. All dead and dry leaves and twigs
decompose and are broken down by organisms such as worms and insects, and is finally broken
down by bacteria and fungi, to form a dark rich soil-like material called compost.

These organisms in the soil use the organic material as food, which provides them with
nutrients for their growth and activities. These nutrients are returned to the soil to be used again
by trees and other plants. This process recycles nutrients in nature. This soil can be used as a
manure for farms and gardens.

Environmental problems and health risks caused by hazardous wastes.

As most of the hazardous wastes are disposed of on or in land the most serious environmental
effect is contaminated groundwater. Once groundwater is polluted with hazardous wastes it is
very often not possible to reverse the damage.

Pesticides are used increasingly to protect and increase food production. They form residues in
the soil which are washed into streams which then carry them forwards. The residues may persist
in the soil or in the bottom of lakes and rivers. Exposure can occur through ingestion, inhalation
and skin contact resulting in acute or chronic poisoning. Today we have an alternative to the
excess use of pesticides through the use of Integrated Pest Management (IPM). The IPM system
uses a wide variety of plants and insects to create a more natural process. The natural balance
between climate, soil and insect populations can help to prevent an insect from overpopulating an
area and destroying a particular crop.

Lead, mercury and arsenic are hazardous substances which are often referred to as heavy metals.
Lead is an abundant heavy metal and is relatively easy to obtain. It is used in batteries, fuel,
pesticides, paints, pipes and other places where resistance to corrosion is required. Most of the
lead taken up by people and wildlife is stored in bones. Lead can affect red blood cells by
reducing their ability to carry oxygen and shortening their life span. Lead may also damage nerve
tissue which can result in brain disease. Mercury occurs in several different forms.

Mercury is used in the production of chlorine. It is also used as a catalyst in the production of
some plastics. Industrial processes such as the production of chlorine and plastics are responsible
for most of the environmental damage resulting from mercury. Our body has a limited ability to
eliminate mercury. In the food web mercury becomes more concentrated as it is taken up by
various organisms. In an aquatic environment, mercury can be absorbed by the plankton which
are then consumed by fish. In addition, fish take up mercury through their gills and by eating
other fish contaminated with mercury. Generally older the fish greater is the mercury
concentration in its body. Birds that eat the fish concentrate even more mercury in their bodies. It
is a cumulative poison ( it builds up in the body over long periods of time) and is known to cause
brain damage.
Thousands of chemicals are used in industry every day. When used incorrectly or inappropriately
they can become health hazards. PCBs (Polychlorinated biphenyls) are resistant to fire and do
not conduct electricity very well which makes them excellent materials for several industrial
purposes. Rainwater can wash PCBs out of disposal areas in dumps and landfills thus
contaminating water. PCBs do not break down very rapidly in the environment and thus retain
their toxic characteristics. They cause long term exposure problems to both humans and wildlife.
PCBs are concentrated in the kidneys and liver and thus cause damage. They cause reproductive
failure in birds and mammals.

Today the most common methods for disposing off hazardous wastes are land disposal and
incineration. In countries where there is abundant land available for disposal for example, North
America land disposal is the most widely used method. In countries like Europe and Japan where
land is not readily available and is expensive, incineration is the preferred method for disposal. In
spite of strong laws however illegal dumping of these wastes continues. Hazardous waste
management must move beyond burying and burning. Industries need to be encouraged to
generate less hazardous waste in their manufacturing processes. Although toxic wastes cannot be
entirely eliminated, technologies are available for minimizing, recycling and treating wastes. An
informed public can also contribute in a big way towards this end. It is essential for us to
understand the ill effects of chemical substances so that we can make informed decisions about
its use. We might decide that the benefits of the use of a toxic substance do not outweigh the
risks and choose not to use it at all or we may decide that it is acceptable to use a substance under
certain specific circumstances where it is adequately controlled and exposure to toxic levels is
prevented

ROLE OF INDIVIDUALS IN PREVENTION OF POLLUTION

The role of an individual in maintaining a pollution free, pure and congenial environment and
in preserving its resources is actually the need of the hour. Individuals can, however, play an
important role in abatement of air, water, soil or noise pollution in the following simple
manners:
1) Develop respect or reverence for all forms of life.
2) Each individual must try to answer four basic questions: Where do the things that I
consume come from? What do I know about the place where I live? How am I connected to
the earth and other living things? What is my purpose and responsibility as a human being?
3) Try to plant trees wherever you can and more importantly take care of them. They
reduce air pollution.
4) Reduce the use of wood and paper products wherever possible. Manufacturing paper
leads to pollution and loss of forests which releases oxygen and takes up carbon dioxide. Try
to recycle paper products and use recycled paper wherever possible.
5) From the mail you receive reuse as many envelopes that you can.
6) Do not buy furniture, doors, window frames made from tropical hardwoods such as teak
and mahogany. These are forest based.
7) Help in restoring a degraded area near your home or join in an afforestation program.
8) Use pesticides in your home only when absolutely necessary and use them in as small
amounts as necessary. Some insect species help to keep a check on the populations of pest
species.
9) Advocate organic farming by asking your grocery store to stock vegetables and fruits
grown by an organic method. This will automatically help to reduce the use of pesticides.
10) Reduce the use of fossil fuels by either walking up a short distance using a car pool,
sharing a bike or using public transport. This reduces air pollution.
11) Shut off the lights and fans when not needed.
12) Don’t use aerosol spray products and commercial room air fresheners. They damage the
ozone layer.
13) Do not pour pesticides, paints, solvents, oil or other products containing harmful
chemicals down the drain or on the ground.
14) Buy consumer goods that last, keep them as long as possible and have them repaired as
far as possible instead of disposing them off. Such products end up in landfills that could
pollute ground water.
15) Buy consumer goods ages in refillable glass containers instead of cans or throwaway
bottles.
16) Use rechargeable batteries.
17) Try to avoid asking for plastic carry bags when you buy groceries or vegetables or any
other items. Use your own cloth bag instead.
18) Use sponges and washable cloth napkins, dish towels and handkerchiefs instead of
paper ones.
19) Don’t use throwaway paper and plastic plates and cups when reusable versions are
available.
 20) Recycle all newspaper, glass, aluminum and other items accepted for recycling in your
area. You might have to take a little trouble to locate such dealers.
21) Set up a compost bin in your garden or terrace and use it to produce manure for your
plants to reduce use of fertilizers.
22) Try to lobby and push for setting up garbage separation and recycling programs in your
localities.
23) Choose items that have the least packaging or no packaging Start individual or
community composting or vemicomposting plants in your neighborhood and motivate people
to join in.
24) Do not litter the roads and surroundings just because the sweeper from the Municipal
Corporation will clean it up. Take care to put trash into dustbins or bring it back home with
you where it can be appropriately disposed.
25) You must realize that you cannot do everything and have solutions for every problem in
the world. You can however concentrate on issues that you feel strongly about and can do
something about. Focusing your energy on a particular issue will help you get better results.
26) You could join any of the several NGOs that exist in our country or become volunteers.
Organize small local community meetings to discuss positive approaches of pollution
prevention.
27) Learn about the biodiversity of your own area. Understand the natural and cultural
assets. This would help you to develop a sense of pride in your city/town/village and will
also help you understand the problems facing their survival.
28) You cannot improve your world by not voting. You have the option to make a choice
rather than complain later on.
29) It is important that you do not get discouraged at the first sign of trouble. Do not dwell
on the negative aspects. But take positive actions wherever you can to make the world a
better place to live in.
30) When talking to elected officials always be courteous and reasonable. You may disagree
with a particular position but be respectful in doing so as you will gain little by being hostile
and brash.
31) Take care to put into practice what you preach. Remember environment protection
begins with YOU
ROLE OF SOCIETY IN PREVENTION POLLUTION
Solid waste management is a critical challenge for sustainable development, and society plays a
crucial role in addressing this issue. Effective waste management requires collective action from
individuals, communities, businesses, and governments. Here's how society can contribute:
Waste Minimization at Source
Reduce Consumption: Society should aim to reduce the generation of waste by adopting
sustainable consumption patterns. This involves using products more efficiently, avoiding single-
use plastics, and supporting businesses that prioritize eco-friendly packaging.
Reuse and Repurpose: Encouraging people to reuse items and repurpose materials can
significantly reduce the amount of waste that ends up in landfills. For example, old furniture can
be refurbished instead of discarded.
Proper Segregation of Waste
Household Segregation: At the household level, segregating waste into categories like
biodegradable, non-biodegradable, and recyclables ensures that waste can be appropriately
processed. Segregation at source simplifies recycling and reduces contamination.
Education and Awareness: Society should be educated about the importance of waste segregation
and how to properly sort waste. Community programs, workshops, and awareness campaigns can
play a major role in fostering this habit.
Promoting Recycling and Composting
Support Recycling Programs: Recycling facilities depend on individuals correctly disposing of
recyclable materials like paper, plastics, glass, and metals. Communities can support and advocate
for better recycling infrastructure.
Composting Organic Waste: Households and communities can take up composting organic waste
(food scraps, garden waste) to reduce the load on landfills and generate nutrient-rich compost for
gardening purposes.
Active Participation in Waste Collection and Disposal
Community Clean-up Initiatives: Residents can organize or participate in community clean-up
drives to keep neighborhoods clean. These initiatives can help raise awareness about the problem
of littering and improper waste disposal.
Support Municipal Waste Programs: Society should cooperate with municipal authorities by
following designated waste collection schedules, paying waste management fees, and avoiding
illegal dumping of waste.
Advocacy and Policy Support
Push for Better Policies: Citizens can advocate for stricter regulations around waste management,
promoting policies that mandate recycling, proper waste treatment, and reduction in waste
generation by industries.
Corporate Responsibility: Society should demand businesses to adopt environmentally-friendly
production practices, reduce packaging waste, and engage in extended producer responsibility
(EPR).
Adopting Zero-Waste and Circular Economy Practices
Zero-Waste Lifestyles: People can adopt a zero-waste mindset by prioritizing minimal waste in
daily life, such as carrying reusable bags, bottles, and containers.
Circular Economy Support: A circular economy, where products are designed to last longer and be
reused or recycled, can be supported by encouraging businesses to take back products at the end of
their lifecycle.
Behavioral Change and Cultural Shift
Fostering Environmental Responsibility: Shifting social norms around consumption and waste
disposal can play a significant role. By making sustainable choices a part of daily life, society can
collectively reduce the waste burden.
Involving Youth and Schools: Environmental education in schools can instill a sense of
responsibility from an early age. Involving the youth in waste management campaigns and
sustainability initiatives can drive long-term change.

ROLE OF NGO AND GOVT. AGENCIES IN PREVENTION OF POLLUTION:

Role of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in Pollution Prevention
a. Advocacy and Policy Influence
Lobbying for Environmental Legislation: NGOs play a crucial role in pressuring
governments to enact stringent laws that regulate pollution. They often work as watchdogs,
ensuring that industries and governments comply with environmental standards.
Raising Public Awareness: NGOs conduct awareness campaigns through social media,
workshops, and public events to educate citizens about the dangers of pollution and ways to
mitigate it.
b. Grassroots Mobilization
Organizing Clean-up Drives and Tree Planting Campaigns: NGOs often engage in
hands-on projects to reduce pollution, such as cleaning rivers, beaches, or urban spaces,
and reforestation efforts to reduce carbon footprints.
Capacity Building: NGOs can empower communities by providing education and
resources to help them monitor and manage pollution locally. They also organize
workshops and training sessions to help people understand the environmental impact of
their actions.
c. Research and Innovation
Research on Pollution Control: NGOs often conduct independent research to identify the
sources of pollution and propose innovative solutions. This data can be used to influence
policies and industrial practices.
Technology and Solutions Advocacy: By promoting and piloting green technologies
(such as renewable energy projects or waste treatment systems), NGOs can demonstrate
practical, scalable pollution prevention methods.
d. Legal Action and Accountability
Litigation Against Polluters: Many NGOs file public interest litigations (PILs) against
companies or organizations violating environmental laws, holding them accountable for
causing pollution.
Environmental Watchdogs: NGOs often monitor environmental changes, pollution
levels, and governmental actions, reporting violations and raising alarms when necessary.

Role of Government Agencies in Pollution Prevention

a. Legislation and Regulation
Establishing Environmental Laws: Governments create and enforce laws that regulate
air, water, and soil pollution, such as the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, and waste
management policies.
Setting Standards: Agencies like environmental protection agencies (EPAs) set standards
for pollution levels that industries and businesses must follow. They regulate emissions,
waste disposal, and pollutant discharge into natural bodies of water.
Monitoring and Enforcement: Government agencies are responsible for monitoring
pollution levels in air, water, and land, enforcing regulations, and imposing penalties on
 violators. Regular inspections and audits help ensure compliance.
b. Infrastructure and Services
Public Waste Management Systems: Governments provide essential services such as
waste collection, recycling facilities, sewage treatment plants, and sanitation services.
Proper infrastructure is crucial for preventing pollution.
Investment in Green Infrastructure: Government investment in sustainable energy,
public transportation, water treatment plants, and waste management systems plays a
significant role in reducing pollution.
c. Promoting Renewable Energy and Sustainability
Subsidies for Clean Energy: Governments can offer subsidies and incentives to promote
the use of renewable energy, such as solar, wind, and hydropower, to reduce the reliance on
fossil fuels that contribute to air pollution.
Supporting Research and Innovation: By funding research into pollution control
technologies and renewable energy, government agencies help facilitate innovations that
can reduce environmental harm.
d. Public Awareness and Education Campaigns
Environmental Education Programs: Government agencies collaborate with schools and
community organizations to integrate environmental education into curricula, raising
awareness about pollution prevention from an early age.
Public Campaigns: Agencies often launch campaigns to raise public awareness of
pollution issues, such as reducing plastic waste, conserving water, and limiting emissions.
e. International Cooperation
Participation in Global Agreements: Governments collaborate at the international level
through agreements like the Paris Climate Agreement to reduce global pollution and
mitigate climate change. They commit to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, promoting
green technologies, and adopting sustainable practices.

Pollution prevention is a collective effort that requires active participation from society, NGOs,
and government agencies. Society plays a crucial role in adopting sustainable behaviors and
supporting green initiatives, while NGOs serve as advocates, educators, and innovators, driving
grassroots movements and holding violators accountable. Government agencies, on the other hand,
are responsible for setting and enforcing regulations, providing essential infrastructure, and
promoting green policies. Collaboration between these groups is key to achieving a cleaner and
more sustainable environment for future generations.
MODEL QUESTIONS:
1. Define criteria pollutants with example
2. Define inversion.
3. Mention any two aerobic methods available for sludge treatment
4. Suggest a method to determine BOD in waste water
5. Distinguish between loudness and annoyance

6. Supersonic jets cause pollution by thinning of

(a) Sulphur dioxide layer

(b) Ozone layer

(c) Carbon dioxide layer

(d) None of these

7. Define Compositing.
8. Acid rain is due to air pollution by ____________________

9. Which of the following solid wastes describes the term ‘Municipal Solid Waste’?

(a) Toxic

(b) Hazardous

(c) Non-toxic

(d) Non-hazardous

10. Why is recycled paper banned for use in food containers?

11. The organic material of the solid waste will decompose

(a) By the flow of water

(b) By the soil particles

(c) By the action of microorganisms

(d) By oxidation
12. Decomposition of domestics wastes under natural processes is known as ___________________

13. Sludge bulking can be controlled by ______________________

14. The disposal of screen is done by __________________

15. Which of the following are the primary causes of water pollution?
(a) Plants
(b) Animals
(c) Human activities
(d) None of these
16. What is the health effects of excess fluoride in drinking water?
(a) Fluorosis
(b) Toothaches
(c) Lung disease
(d) Intestinal infection