Chapter 16
Pollution — A Rising Environmental
Problem
Progress Check 1
Question 1
Mention whether the following statements are True (T) or False (F).
(i) Pollution and pollutant are one and the same thing.
(ii) Rubber tyres of motor vehicles contribute to particulate pollution.
(iii) The chief gaseous air pollutants are CO 2 and SO2.
(iv) Kitchen garbage and leftovers in food dishes can be used for making manure (compost).
(v) Brick kilns give out both gaseous and particulate pollutants.
Answer
(i) False
Corrected statement — Pollutant are the agents that cause pollution.
(ii) True
(iii) True
(iv) True
(v) True
Question 2
Name any four ways to control vehicular air pollution.
Answer
Four ways to control vehicular air pollution are:
1. Efficient engine
2. Good quality automobile fuels
3. Lead free petrol
4. Greater use of compressed natural gas
Question 3
Name any two small scale industries that can be the source of particulate air pollution.
Answer
Two small scale industries that can be the source of particulate air pollution are:
1. Stone drilling
2. Brick kiln
Question 4
Give two examples of gaseous air pollutants.
Answer
1. Carbon dioxide (CO 2)
2. Sulphur dioxide (SO 2)
Progress Check 2
Question 1
Mention whether the following statements are True (T) or False (F).
(i) Liquid kitchen waste alone constitutes the sewage.
(ii) Household detergents are safe and non-contributors to water pollution.
(iii) Industrial wastes mainly consist of chemical pollutants.
(iv) Thermal power plants give out a lot of hot waste water.
(v) Hot water discharged into water bodies hardly affects the fish and other aquatic life.
Answer
(i) False
Corrected statement — Liquid waste from kitchen, toilet and household constitutes sewage.
(ii) False
Corrected statement — Household detergents are not safe and are contributors to water
pollution.
(iii) True
(iv) True
(v) False
Corrected statement — Hot water discharged into water bodies affects the fish and other
aquatic life.
Progress Check 3
Question 1
Mention whether the following statements are True (T) or False (F).
(i) Soil pollution is largely localised.
(ii) Fly-ash and metallic ash are examples of urban domestic waste.
(iii) Chemical fertilisers may reach the rivers but do not harm the fish.
(iv) Biomedical waste may consist of both biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste.
(v) X-rays are a potential source of radiation pollution.
(vi) Unwanted disturbing sound, even if it is music next door, is noise.
(vii) People routinely working in noisy places are not much affected by noise.
Answer
(i) True
(ii) False
Corrected statement — Fly-ash and metallic ash are examples of urban industrial waste.
(iii) False
Corrected statement — Chemical fertilisers may reach the rivers and harm the fish due to
eutrophication.
(iv) True
(v) True
(vi) True
(vii) False
Corrected statement — Even though people working in noisy places may appear to adapt, long-
term exposure to noise can still negatively impact their health, well-being, and productivity.
Progress Check 4
Question 1
Mention whether the following statements are True (T) or False (F).
(i) Diseases like cholera and jaundice are the results of soil pollution.
(ii) CO2 and methane are directly contributing to global warming.
(iii) Erosion of ancient monuments and statues is caused by acid rain which itself is the result
of gaseous pollution.
(iv) Use of unleaded petrol and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) in automobiles is one of the
methods of abatement of gaseous and particulate air pollution.
Answer
(i) False
Corrected statement — Diseases like cholera and jaundice are the results of water pollution.
(ii) True
(iii) True
(iv) True
(v) True
Multiple Choice Type
Question 1
Which of the following is an example of a green-house gas ?
1. Sulphur dioxide
2. Methane
3. Oxygen
4. Nitrogen
Answer
Methane
Reason — Methane leads to retention of solar radiation in the atmosphere increasing the
temperature.
Question 2
The prime source of chlorofluorocarbons is:
1. Domestic sewage
2. Refrigeration equipment
3. Industrial effluents
4. Vehicular emissions
Answer
Refrigeration equipment
Reason — Refrigeration equipment contain chlorofluorocarbons as cooling agent.
Question 3
Which of the following gas can cause acid rain ?
1. Sulphur dioxide
2. Ammonia
3. Hydrogen
4. Nitrogen
Answer
Sulphur dioxide
Reason — Sulphur dioxide reacts with water to form sulphuric acid causing acid rain.
Question 4
Which of the following is responsible for causing the ozone hole ?
1. Methane
2. Carbon dioxide
3. Aerosols
4. Sulphur dioxide
Answer
Aerosols
Reason — Aerosols are responsible for causing the ozone hole.
Question 5
Which of the following is non-biodegradable ?
1. Tea leaves
2. Wood
3. Animal bones
4. Nylon
Answer
Nylon
Reason — Nylon is non-biodegradable.
Question 6
One of the best solutions to get rid of non-biodegradable wastes is :
1. Dumping
2. Incinerating
3. Recycling
4. Composting
Answer
Recycling
Reason — One of the best solutions to get rid of non-biodegradable wastes is Recycling.
Question 7
An undesirable change in the environment is called as :
1. Pollutant
2. Population
3. Pollution
4. None of these
Answer
Pollution
Reason — An undesirable change in the environment is called as pollution.
Question 8
The greenhouse effect leads to:
1. Thermal pollution
2. Oil spills
3. Droughts
4. Global warming
Answer
Global warming
Reason — Global warming is caused due to greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and
methane.
Question 9
The energy content of X-rays is usually measured in:
1. Proton
2. Protium
3. Photon
4. None of these
Answer
Photon
Reason — The energy content of X-rays is usually measured in photon.
Question 10
Which of the following is a radioactive pollutant ?
1. Iodine-131
2. Iodine-113
3. Iodine-313
4. Cobalt-16
Answer
Iodine-131
Reason — Iodine-131 is radioactive pollutant which can cause thyroid cancer.
Assertion Reason Type
Question 11
Assertion (A): Pesticides are the chemical substances used in agriculture to destroy pests.
Reason (R): DDT is an example of a pesticide which is widely used all over India. Pests are the
enemies of crop.
1. A is True and R is False.
2. A is False and R is True.
3. Both A and R are True.
4. Both A and R are False.
Answer
A is True and R is False.
Explanation
DDT was banned for agricultural use in India in 1972.
Currently, the sole consumer of DDT in India is the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare,
which utilizes it to control vector-borne diseases by spraying it on walls in houses and
buildings affected by malaria in both rural and urban areas.
Question 12
Assertion (A): Ozone layer is a sort of sunscreen present high up in the atmosphere which
prevents the harmful ultra-violet rays of the sun from harming us.
Reason (R): Ozone is an allotropic form of carbon which is formed in the atmosphere due to
the release of chloroflurocarbons.
1. A is True and R is False.
2. A is False and R is True.
3. Both A and R are True.
4. Both A and R are False.
Answer
A is True and R is False.
Explanation
Ozone is an allotropic form of oxygen. Chloroflurocarbons damage the ozone layer.
Question 13
Assertion (A): The greenhouse effect is exacerbated by the presence of nitrogen oxides and
sulphur oxides in the atmosphere, intensifying the absorption of heat and contributing to global
warming.
Reason (R): Oxides of nitrogen and sulphur, primarily released through industrial activities and
combustion processes, amplify the greenhouse effect by enhancing the heat-trapping
capacities of the atmosphere, leading to an increase in the average global temperatures.
1. A is True and R is False.
2. A is False and R is True.
3. Both A and R are True.
4. Both A and R are False.
Answer
Both A and R are False.
Explanation
While nitrogen oxides and sulphur oxides contribute to air pollution and have various
environmental impacts such as acid rain, they are not significant greenhouse gases. The
primary greenhouse gases responsible for the greenhouse effect and global warming are
carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O).
Very Short Answer Type
Question 1
Name the following pollutants:
(i) A pollutant which is mainly responsible for causing acid rain.
(ii) Any two chemicals leading to the formation of ozone holes.
Answer
(i) SO2
(ii) Bromochlorodifluoromethane and chlorofluoromethane.
Question 2
Match the items in column I with the closely related ones in column II.
Column I Column II
(i) Chlorofluocarbons (CFCs) (a) Global warming
(ii) Fly ash (b) Biodegradable
(iii) Cow dung (c) Nuclear radiation pollutant
(iv) CO2 and methane (d) Acid rain
(v) Sulphur dioxide (e) Industrial waste
(vi) Iodine - 131 (f) Ozone depletion
Answer
Column I Column II
(i) Chlorofluocarbons (CFCs) (f) Ozone depletion
(ii) Flyash (e) Industrial Waste
(iii) Cow dung (b) Biodegradable
(iv) CO2 and methane (a) Global Warming
(v) Sulphur dioxide (d) Acid Rain
(vi) Iodine - 131 (c) Nuclear Radiation Pollutant
Question 3
Fill in the blanks:
(i) Rubber particles and dust raised by running motor vehicles are examples of ...............
pollutants.
(ii) Too frequent exposure to ............... in a medical diagnostic technique may damage
chromosomes.
(iii) Thermal power plants give out a lot of ............... waste water.
(iv) Sewage is a liquid waste from ...............
Answer
(i) Rubber particles and dust raised by running motor vehicles are examples
of particulate pollutants.
(ii) Too frequent exposure to X-ray in a medical diagnostic technique may damage
chromosomes.
(iii) Thermal power plants give out a lot of hot waste water.
(iv) Sewage is a liquid waste from domestic activities.
Question 4
Write the full forms of each :
(a) DDT
(b) ODF
(c) CFCs
(d) CNG
(e) LPG
Answer
(a) DDT — Dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane
(b) ODF — Open Defecation Free
(c) CFCs — Chlorofluorocarbons
(d) CNG — Compressed Natural gas
(e) LPG — Liquefied Petroleum Gas
Question 5
Give two examples of :
(a) Biodegradable wastes
(b) Non-biodegradable wastes
(c) Particulate pollutants
(d) Greenhouse gases
(e) Radioactive pollutants
Answer
(a) Dung, Leaves
(b) Plastics, Electronic waste
(c) Rubber particles, dust particles
(d) Carbon dioxide, Sulphur dioxide
(e) Iodine-131, Cobalt 60
Short Answer Type
Question 1
List two major harmful effects of each of the following:
(i) Rivers contaminated with sewage.
(ii) Too much gaseous exhausts containing CO 2 and SO2
(iii) Pesticides such as DDT used in agriculture.
(iv) Prolonged noise such as the one produced by crackers
Answer
(i) Two major harmful effects of rivers contaminated with sewage are:
1. Sewage disposed of into rivers cause diseases such as diarrhoea, dysentery, cholera,
typhoid, and jaundice.
2. The flora and fauna of rivers, sea and oceans is adversely affected.
(ii) Two major harmful effects of too much gaseous exhausts containing CO 2 and SO2 are:
1. Excess emissions of CO 2 and SO2 will increase the temperature of earth i.e global
warming would increase.
2. SO2 emissions would lead to severe lung and respiratory diseases.
(iii) Two major harmful effects of pesticides such as DDT used in agriculture are:
1. Pesticides kill soil microbes which are responsible to recycle the nutrients in the soil.
2. Pesticides can cause short-term adverse health effects, and can enter the food chain
and affect the health of humans as well as animals.
(iv) Two major harmful effects of prolonged noise such as the one produced by crackers are:
1. Prolonged exposure to the high decibel noise damages eardrums and can bring
permanent hearing impairment.
2. Interrupts concentration of thought and disturbs peace of mind.
Question 2
List the three major constituents of sewage.
Answer
Three major constituents of sewage are:
1. Kitchen wastes
2. Sanitary waste
3. Waste from agricultural lands
Question 3
What are the common sources of oil spills ? how do they affect sea life.
Answer
The common sources of oil spills are the overturned oil tankers, offshore oil mining and oil
refineries.
Oil pollution kills a lot of marine life (fish, birds, etc.) The sea birds and sea animals sometimes
get thick, greasy coating on their bodies due to oil spills.
Question 4
Mention any two measures to minimise noise pollution.
Answer
Measures to minimise noise pollution are:
1. Prohibiting blowing of horns.
2. Restriction on loud speakers, specially during night.
Question 5
Briefly mention about 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan'. When was it launched and what are its
objectives?
Answer
'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan' is a significant cleanliness campaign started by the Government of
India. It was officially launched on 2nd October 2014 with a dream of a clean and hygienic
India. It emphasized upon people to neither litter nor let others litter. Millions of people from
different sections of the society came forward and joined this mass movement of cleanliness.
Following are some objectives of the campaign:
1. To clean the streets, roads and infrastructure of the country's cities and towns.
2. To eliminate open defecation through the construction of individual, cluster and
community toilets.
3. To establish accountable mechanisms of monitoring latrine use
4. To achieve efficient solid and liquid waste management systems.
Descriptive Type
Question 1
Define the following terms:
(a) Pollution
(b) Waste
(c) Air pollution
(d) Oil spills
(e) Pesticides
(f) Sanitary landfills
(g) Noise
Answer
(a) Pollution — Pollution is the addition of any such constituent to air, water or land which
deteriorates the natural quality of the environment.
(b) Waste — Waste is any unwanted or undesired material or substance resulting from
industrial, commercial mining, and agricultural operations, and from community activities.
(c) Air pollution — Air pollution means degradation of the air quality which harmfully affects
the living organisms as well as certain objects.
(d) Oil spills — Oil spills are accidental discharges of petroleum in oceans or estuaries.
(e) Pesticides — Pesticides are substances used to kill, repel, or control certain forms of plant
or animal life that are considered to be pests.
(f) Sanitary landfills — Sanitary landfills are the places where the wastes are dumped in a
ground depression and covered with dirt every day.
(g) Noise — Noise is defined as any unpleasant/loud undesired sound interfering with one's
hearing and concentration.
Question 2
Distinguish between the following pairs:
(a) Sewage and effluents
(b) Biodegradable and Non-biodegradable waste
(c) Smoke and smog
Answer
(a) Difference between sewage and effluents —
Sewage Effluents
Sewage is the liquid waste from domestic Effluents are the liquid wastes produced by
activities. factories.
(b) Difference between biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste —
Biodegradable waste Non-biodegradable waste
Biodegradable wastes are substances which can be Non-biodegradable wastes are
broken down by microorganisms into harmless substances which cannot be broken
and non-toxic substances. down by microorganisms.
Examples: Leaves, dung. Examples: Plastic, glass.
(c) Difference between smoke and smog —
Smoke Smog
Smoke contains a lot of particulate pollutants Smoke mixed with dust particles and small
which pollute the air. drops of fog is called smog.
Structured / Application / Skill Type
Question 1
A lot of fish are dying near a sea shore. Describe any two possible causes.
Answer
Two possible causes of the death of many fishes near a sea shore can be:
1. Industrial Waste — Large number of industries produces waste water which contains
various types of chemical pollutants. Such wastes are commonly discharged into the
rivers. These chemicals cause irritation to the body systems of fish.
2. Thermal Pollution — Many industries such as thermal power plants, oil refineries,
nuclear plants use water for cooling their machinery. This hot waste water may be 8-
10°C warmer than the intake water. This hot water is released into the nearby streams,
rivers or the sea and causes warming. The sudden fluctuation in the temperature of
water kills the fishes and harms the plant life growing in it.
Question 2
Look at the cartoonist's presentation of a kind of pollution given below.
(i) Name the kind of pollution.
(ii) List the sources of pollution.
(iii) Mention any two harmful effects of this pollution.
Answer
(i) Noise Pollution
(ii) Industrial machines, workshops, trains, automobiles on the streets, jet aircrafts landing and
taking off in the air, loud conversation and the radio or television inside houses, the
loudspeakers and musical bands in public places, etc.
(iii) Two harmful effects of noise pollution are:
1. It lowers efficiency of work.
2. It disturbs sleep and leads to nervous irritability.
Question 3
The following picture depicts a certain phenomenon.
(i) Name the phenomenon and explain it.
(ii) Enlist the sources that are responsible for the above mentioned phenomenon.
(iii) List out the effects of the above phenomenon on humans.
Answer
(i) The phenomenon depicted in the picture is Ozone layer depletion. It is a phenomenon in
which certain gaseous compounds such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) break down into
chlorine atoms which in turn break down ozone (O 3) into oxygen (O2) and O.
(ii) The sources responsible for ozone layer depletion are gaseous compounds such as
chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) released from refrigerators, aerosol spray cans and packaging
material styrofoam.
(iii) Effects of ozone layer depletion on humans are:
1. Sun burn
2. Genetic disorders
3. Skin cancer
Question 4
The picture below shows a campaign recently started by the Indian Government.
(i) When was this campaign launched ?
(ii) Mention the chief objectives of this campaign.
Answer
(i) This campaign was launched on 2nd October 2014.
(ii) Chief objectives of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan are:
1. To clean the streets, roads and infrastructure of the country's cities and towns.
2. To eliminate open defecation through the construction of individual, cluster and
community toilets.
3. To establish accountable mechanisms of monitoring latrine use.
4. To achieve efficient solid and liquid waste management systems.
Question 5
The figure given below shows a kind of pollution. Study the figure and answer the following
questions.
(a) Define the kind of pollution shown here.
(b) Name two types of the kind of pollution shown here.
(c) Write two main sources of above mentioned pollution with one example each.
(d) Write two points to control the given pollution.
Answer
(a) Air pollution is shown in the figure. Air pollution means degradation of the air quality which
harmfully affects the living organisms as well as certain objects.
(b) Two types of Air pollution are:
1. Gaseous pollution
2. Particulate pollution
(c) Gaseous pollution — The exhaust given out by vehicles is the source of gaseous pollution,
e.g., cars or vehicles running on petrol or diesel.
Particulate pollution — The smoke released by the factory chimneys into the air are the main
sources of particulate pollution, e.g., factory chimneys, brick kilns.
(d) Two ways to control air pollution are:
1. Use of unleaded petrol and CNG in automobiles.
2. Installation of tall chimneys in factories and fitting them with filters and electrostatic
precipitators.
Question 6
Study the figure shown here and answer the following questions.
(a) Identify the kind of pollution and define it.
(b) Mention four main sources of the pollution.
(c) Write two harmful effects of the above-mentioned pollution for the living organisms.
Answer
(a) Acid rain. Gases such as CO2, SO2 and oxides of nitrogen get dissolved in rain drops falling
on the earth as rain. This constitutes acid rain.
(b) Four main sources of acid rain are:
1. Exhaust from vehicles contains CO 2, SO2 and CO.
2. Smoke released by factory chimneys contain CO 2, SO2 and oxides of nitrogen.
3. Burning of garbage releases CO2 and other harmful gases.
4. Brick kilns produce ash which mixes with air to contribute to acid rain.
(c) Two harmful effects of acid rain on the living organisms are:
1. Damage to vegetation by pollution of the soil.
2. Fish and other aquatic organisms are harmed due to increased acidity of water in lakes
and rivers.
Question 7
Study the pictures given below of the two main categories of wastes and
answer the questions:
(i) Identify the categories of wastes in (A) and (B).
(ii) Which of the above category of wastes can be used to prepare compost?
(iii) Mention one control measure to manage the waste of category (B).
Answer
(i) A - Biodegradable waste and B - Non-biodegradable waste
(ii) A
(iii) Recycling the materials into new products.
Question 8
Pollution is on the rise due to a rapid increase in the number of automobiles and buildings. All
of these release a large amount of harmful gases and particulate pollutants in the atmosphere
which react with atmospheric moisture and produce various kinds of acidic gases.
(i) Mention two main gases which are emitted from the industries into the atmosphere.
(ii) What are the two main acids produced in the atmosphere when poisonous gases combine
with the atmospheric moisture ?
(iii) Write two harmful effects of acid rain.
Answer
(i) CO2 and SO2
(ii) H2SO4 and HNO3
(iii) Two harmful effects of acid rain
1. Damage to vegetation by pollution in soil.
2. Corrosion of buildings and monuments.
Question 9
Excessive use of fertilizers is harmful because these fertilizers are washed away with rain
water and reach ponds, lakes, etc. causing pollution and various other changes in the water
bodies. Which of the following options does not occur because of the water pollution caused
by fertilizers ?
1. Faster growth of bacteria
2. Faster growth of fish and other aquatic animals
3. Consumption of a lot of oxygen
4. Death of fish and other aquatic animals
Answer
Faster growth of fish and other aquatic animals
Reason — Excess fertilisers in water cause eutrophication. This leads to increased growth of
algae and decomposer bacteria, which consume a large amount of dissolved oxygen. As a
result, fish and other aquatic animals may die due to lack of oxygen instead of growing faster.
Case Study Based Answer
Question 1
Pollution affects our climate and environment in several ways, like acid rain, greenhouse effect
and global warming, ozone layer depletion, etc. The earth's temperature is maintained by the
balance of incoming and outgoing solar radiations. Solar energy from the sun passes through
the atmosphere to the earth and reflected back into space. While greenhouses help plants
thrive in cold winters, the greenhouse effect has become a major cause of global warming.
(i) Greenhouses are small houses specially constructed to grow plants during adverse climatic
conditions. Choose the incorrect statement from the following options :
1. These houses are structures built with walls and roofs, made up of glass and other
transparent materials.
2. The roofs and walls of these houses are covered with green grasses to maintain the
internal temperature.
3. The glass panels all around the greenhouse let sunlight enter but do not allow the heat
to escape.
4. Both 1 and 3
(ii) The rise in earth's temperature is called global warming which is caused due to many
reasons. Choose the incorrect option from the statements given below :
1. Depletion of ozone layer in the atmosphere is the main cause of global warming.
2. Increased industrialisation, burning of fuels in houses and rising population release
more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, causing global warming.
3. Greenhouse gases accumulate in the atmosphere which prevent the escape of heat.
4. Deforestation is also an additional cause of global warming.
(iii) Ozone is an allotropic form of oxygen which forms a sort of a screen high up in the
atmosphere. Though it is highly poisonous and harmful to all living organisms, it is essential
for the existence of life on earth. Choose the incorrect option :
1. Ozone occurs in significant amounts in the stratosphere which absorbs ultraviolet
radiations.
2. It prevents the harmful infrared rays coming down to the earth from the sun.
3. CFCs and HCFCs released from refrigerators and aerosol sprayers deplete ozone layer
and create a hole in the ozone layer.
4. Depletion of ozone layer can cause skin cancer, genetic disorders, cataract, etc.
Answer
(i) The roofs and walls of these houses are covered with green grasses to maintain the internal
temperature.
Reason — Greenhouses are made of glass or other transparent materials that allow sunlight to
enter and help retain heat inside.
(ii) Depletion of ozone layer in the atmosphere is the main cause of global warming.
Reason — Global warming is mainly caused by the increased concentration of greenhouse
gases in the atmosphere.
(iii) It prevents the harmful infrared rays coming down to the earth from the sun.
Reason — The ozone layer absorbs harmful ultraviolet rays, not infrared rays.