Gokhale Education Society’s

B.Y.K College of Commerce

Project Report
On

Basic Course in Environmental

Awareness – (M)
2020-2021

By
Mohammad Rahil Parvez Khan
Class:- SY BBA

Guided by
Dr. Sushumna Kane
 Index

[Link] Topic Page no.

1. Introduction 3
2. Causes of pollution due to
5
urbanization
3. Effects of pollution 8
4. Control measures for pollution 9
5. Role of an individual in
10
prevention of pollution
 Introduction
• What is pollution ?
Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into the natural environment
that cause adverse [Link] can take the form of chemical
substances or energy, such as noise, heat, or light. Pollutants, the

components of pollution, can be either foreign substances/energies or

naturally occurring contaminants. Pollution is often classed as point source

or nonpoint source pollution. In 2015, pollution killed 9 million people
worldwide.
Major forms of pollution include air pollution, light pollution, litter, noise
pollution, plastic pollution, soil contamination, radioactive contamination,
thermal pollution, visual pollution, and water pollution.
Causes of pollution due
to urbanization
• Air Pollution:- The burning of fossil fuels for transportation and electricity
produces both primary and secondary pollutants and is one of the biggest
sources of air pollution. The fumes from car exhausts contain dangerous
gases and particulates including hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides, and carbon
monoxide. These gases rise into the atmosphere and react with other
atmospheric gases creating even more toxic gases.

• Water pollution:- Pesticides and herbicides applied to crops and residential

areas concentrate in the soil and are carried to the groundwater by
rainwater and runoff. For these reasons anytime someone drills a well for
water it must be checked for pollutants. Industrial waste is one of the main
causes of water pollution, by creating primary and secondary pollutants
including sulphur, lead and mercury, nitrates and phosphates, and oil spills.
• Land and soil pollution:- Land pollution is the destruction of land as a
result of human’s activities and the misuse of land resources. This occurs
when humans apply chemicals such as pesticides and herbicides to the
soil, dispose of waste improperly, and irresponsibly exploit minerals
through mining. Soil is also polluted through leaking underground
septic tanks, sewage systems, the leaching of harmful substances from
landfill, and direct discharge of waste water by industrial plants into
rivers and oceans.
• Noise and light pollution:- Noise is considered an environmental
pollutant caused by household sources, social events, commercial and
industrial activities, and transportation. Light pollution is caused by the
prolonged and excessive use of artificial lights at night that can cause
health problems in humans and disrupt natural cycles, including wildlife
activities.
 Effects of pollution
• Environmental degradation:- The environment is the first casualty for
the increase in pollution weather in air or water. The increase in the
amount of CO2 in the atmosphere leads to smog which can restrict
sunlight from reaching the earth. This very scenario affects the process
of photosynthesis in plants, thereby hindering their growth. Gases like
Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide can also cause acid rain. Again, water
pollution in terms of the oil spill may lead to the death of several wildlife
species.
• Human health:- The decrease in the quality of air leads to several
respiratory problems including asthma or lung cancer. Chest pain,
congestion, throat inflammation, cardiovascular disease, respiratory
disease are some of the diseases that can be caused by air pollution.
Water pollution occurs due to contamination of water and may pose skin
related problems including skin irritations and rashes. Similarly, noise
pollution leads to hearing loss, stress, and sleep disturbance.
• Global warming:-The emission of greenhouse gases particularly CO2 is
leading to global warming. Every other day new industries are being set
up,All of them, in a direct or indirect way, lead to an increase in CO2 in the
environment. The increase in CO2 leads to the melting of polar ice caps
which increases the sea level and pose danger for the people living near
coastal areas. new vehicles come on roads and trees are cut to make way
for new homes.
• Ozone layer depletion:- The ozone layer is the thin shield high up in the
sky that stops ultraviolet rays from reaching the earth. As a result of
human activities, chemicals, such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), are
released into the atmosphere thereby contributing to the depletion of the
ozone layer.
• Infertile land:-Due to the constant use of insecticides and pesticides, the
soil may become infertile. Plants may not be able to grow properly. Various
forms of chemicals produced from industrial waste are released into the
flowing water which also affects the quality of the soil.
 Control measures for
pollution
Pollution prevention approaches can be applied to all potential and actual
pollution-generating activities, including those found in the energy, agriculture,
federal, consumer and industrial sectors. Prevention practices are essential for
preserving wetlands, groundwater sources and other critical ecosystems - areas
in which we especially want to stop pollution before it begins.

In the energy sector, pollution prevention can reduce environmental damages

from extraction, processing, transport and combustion of fuels. Pollution
prevention approaches include:

• increasing efficiency in energy use;

• use of environmentally benign fuel sources.

In the agricultural sector, pollution prevention approaches include:

• Reducing the use of water and chemical inputs;

• Adoption of less environmentally harmful pesticides or cultivation of crop
strains with natural resistance to pests; and
• Protection of sensitive areas.

In the industrial sector, examples of P2 practices include:

• Modifying a production process to produce less waste

• Using non-toxic or less toxic chemicals as cleaners, degreasers and other
maintenance chemicals
• Implementing water and energy conservation practices
• Reusing materials such as drums and pallets rather than disposing of them
as waste

In homes and schools examples of P2 practices include:

• Using reusable water bottles instead of throw-aways

• Automatically turning off lights when not in use
 Role of an
individual in
prevention of
pollution
Direct Role of an Individual involves those
functions which are done by individual himself.
Since nature cannot solve the problem of
pollution on its own basis, it is the duty of man to
find means to solve this problem.
Since the cause of pollution is mainly human
beings, only they can minimize it by preventing
its increase and spread. One can remember the
old saying that prevention is better than cure. A
man should regulate and reduce the causes of
pollution at every step.