DISASTER MANAGEMENT ASSIGNMENT

Submitted by: Revathy Balamurali

Class: S8 IT
Roll no: 40
RET18IT042
Q: Write a detailed report on the causes and impacts of air pollution and water
pollution.
Also, suggest the methods to reduce the impacts.

What is Air Pollution?

Pollution is now a commonplace term that our ears are attuned to. We hear about the various
forms of pollution every day and read about it through the mass media. Air pollution is one
such form that refers to the contamination of the air, irrespective of indoors or outside.
A physical, biological or chemical alteration to the air in the atmosphere can be termed as
pollution. It occurs when any harmful gases, dust, smoke enters into the atmosphere and
makes it difficult for plants, animals, and humans to survive as the air becomes dirty.
Air pollution can be classified into two sections – invisible and visible air pollution.
Visible air pollution, as the name suggests, can be visible. The smog you see over a city is an
example of visible pollution.
Invisible air pollutants are less noticeable, but they can be more deadly. Good examples of
invisible air pollutants are sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides.
It can be further divided into Primarily and Secondary air pollutants if we go deep.

Primarily air pollutants can be caused by primary sources or secondary sources. The pollutants
that are a direct result of the process can be called primary pollutants. A classic example of a
primary pollutant would be the sulfur-dioxide emitted from factories.
Secondary pollutants are the ones that are caused by the intermingling and reactions of
primary pollutants. Smog created by the interactions of several primary pollutants is known as a
secondary pollutant.
Top-ten Kinds of Air Pollution
• Sulfur dioxide
• Carbon monoxide
• Carbon dioxide
• Nitrogen oxides
• Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
• Particulates
• Ozone
• Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
 • Unburned hydrocarbons
• Lead and heavy metals

Sources of Air Pollution

When we try to study the sources of Air pollution, we usually enlist a series of activities and
interactions that create these pollutants. There are two types of sources that we will take a
look, namely Natural sources and Man-made sources.
Natural Sources
Natural sources of pollution include dust carried by the wind from locations with very little or
no green cover, gases released from the body processes of living beings (Carbon dioxide from
humans during respiration, Methane from cattle during digestion, Oxygen from plants during
Photosynthesis).
Smoke from the combustion of various inflammable objects, volcanic eruptions, etc. along with
the emission of polluted gases also makes it to the list of natural sources of pollution.
Man-made Sources
While looking at the man-made contributions towards air pollution, it can be further divided
into:
1. Outdoor pollution sources
2. Indoor pollution sources

Outdoor Pollution Sources

The major outdoor pollution sources include power generation, vehicles, agriculture/waste
incineration, industry and building heating systems. Smoke features as a prominent
component. The smoke emitted from various forms of combustion, like in biomass, factories,
vehicles, furnaces, etc.

Waste dumped in landfills generates methane, which is harmful in several ways. The reactions
of certain gases and chemicals also form harmful fumes that can be dangerous to the well-
being of living creatures.
Indoor Pollution Sources
In low- and middle-income countries, mostly burning fuels such as dung, coal and wood in
inefficient stoves or open hearths produces a variety of health-damaging pollutants. These
include carbon monoxide, methane, particulate matter (PM), polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAH)
and volatile organic compounds (VOC).

Even burning kerosene in simple wick lamps also produces significant emissions of fine particles
and other pollutants. Exposure to smoke from cooking fires causes 3.8 million premature
deaths each year.
Various Causes of Air pollution
1. The Burning of Fossil Fuels
Sulfur dioxide emitted from the combustion of fossil fuels like coal, petroleum for energy in
power plants, and other factory combustibles is one the major cause of air pollution.
Billions of vehicles run on roads are powered by gasoline and diesel engines that burn
petroleum for releasing energy. Petroleum is made up of hydrocarbons, and engines don’t burn
them cleanly.
As a result, pollutants such as PM, nitric oxide and NO2 (together referred to as NOx), carbon
monoxide, organic compounds, and lead emit from vehicles including trucks, jeeps, cars, trains,
airplanes, causing a high level of pollution. These modes of transportation form part of our daily
basic needs, so we rely on them heavily.
But, their overuse is killing our environment as dangerous gases are polluting the atmosphere.
Carbon Monoxide caused by improper or incomplete combustion and generally emitted from
vehicles is another major pollutant along with Nitrogen Oxides, that is produced from both
natural and man-made processes.

As per the World Health Organization (WHO), exposure to outdoor air pollution contributes to
as much as 0.6 to 1.4 percent of the burden of disease and 4.2 million deaths every year.
2. Agricultural Activities
Ammonia is a very common byproduct of agriculture-related activities and is one of the most
hazardous gases in the atmosphere. The use of insecticides, pesticides, and fertilizers in
agricultural activities has grown quite a lot. They emit harmful chemicals into the air and can
also cause water pollution.
Farmers also set the field and old crops on fire in order to keep them clean for the next round
of sowing. The burning to clean fields is said to cause pollution by releasing harmful gases in the
air.
3. Waste in Landfills
Landfills are land areas in which waste is deposited or buried. These deposited or buried wastes
generate methane. Methane is a major greenhouse gas that is highly flammable and very
hazardous.
E-waste is another grave concern involving a lot of unscientific dismantlings such as chemical
leaching, burning wires and others.
4. Exhaust From Factories and Industries
Manufacturing industries release a large amount of carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, organic
compounds, and chemicals into the air, thereby depleting the quality of air.

Manufacturing industries can be found at every corner of the earth, and there is no area that
has not been affected by it. Petroleum refineries also release hydrocarbons and various other
chemicals that pollute the air and also cause land pollution.
5. Mining Operations
Mining is a process wherein minerals below the earth are extracted using large equipment.
During the process, dust and chemicals are released in the air causing massive air pollution.
This is one of the reasons which is responsible for the deteriorating health conditions of
workers and nearby residents.
6. Indoor Air Pollution
Household cleaning products, painting supplies emit toxic chemicals in the air and cause air
pollution. Have you ever noticed that once you paint the walls of your house, it creates some
sort of smell that makes it literally impossible for you to breathe?
Suspended particulate matter popular by its acronym SPM, is another cause of pollution.
Referring to the particles afloat in the air, SPM is usually caused by dust, combustion, etc.
Around seven million premature deaths caused every year due to the combined effects of
ambient (outdoor) and household air pollution cause, WHO says.
7. Natural Events
There are certain natural events such as volcanoes, forest fires, and dust storms, which are
nature-born and cause air pollution.
Disastrous Effects of Air pollution
1. Respiratory and Heart Problems
The effects of air pollution are alarming. They are known to create several respiratory and heart
conditions like asthma, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, heart attacks and strokes along with
cancer, among other threats to the body. Several million are known to have died due to the
direct or indirect effects of Air pollution.
2. Child Health Problems
Air pollution is detrimental to your health even before you take your first breath. Exposure to
high air pollution levels during pregnancy causes miscarriages as well as premature birth,
autism, asthma and spectrum disorder in young children.
It also has the potential to damage early brain development in a child and cause pneumonia
that kills almost a million children below 5 years. Children are at a greater risk of short term
respiratory infections and pulmonary diseases in areas exposed to air pollutants.
3. Global Warming
Another direct effect is the immediate alterations that the world is witnessing due to global
warming.
With increased temperatures worldwide, an increase in sea levels and melting of ice from
colder regions and icebergs, displacement, and loss of habitat have already signaled an
impending disaster if actions for preservation and normalization aren’t undertaken soon.
4. Acid Rain
Harmful gases like nitrogen oxides and sulfur oxides are released into the atmosphere during
the burning of fossil fuels. When it rains, the water droplets combine with these air pollutants,
becomes acidic and then falls on the ground in the form of acid rain. Acid rain can cause great
damage to humans, animals, and crops.
5. Eutrophication
Eutrophication is a condition where a high amount of nitrogen present in some pollutants gets
developed on the sea surface and turns itself into algae and adversely affects fish, plants, and
animal species.
The green-colored algae that are present on lakes and ponds are due to the presence of this
chemical only.
6. Effect on Wildlife
Just like humans, animals also face some devastating effects of air pollution. Toxic chemicals
present in the air can force wildlife species to move to a new place and change their habitat.
The toxic pollutants deposit over the surface of the water and can also affect sea animals.

7. Depletion of the Ozone Layer

Ozone exists in the Earth’s stratosphere and is responsible for protecting humans from harmful
ultraviolet (UV) rays. Earth’s ozone layer is depleting due to the presence of
chlorofluorocarbons, hydrochlorofluorocarbons in the atmosphere.
As the ozone layer becomes thin, it will emit harmful rays back on earth and can cause skin and
eye-related problems. UV rays also have the capability to affect crops.

Impressive Solutions To Air Pollution

1. Use the Public Mode of Transportation
Encourage people to use more and more public modes of transportation to reduce pollution.
Also, try to make use of carpooling. If you and your colleagues come from the same locality and
have the same timings, you can explore this option to save energy and money.
2. Better Household Practices
Discard fireplaces and/or wooden stoves used for heating homes. Use gas logs in place of wood.
Also, eliminate the use of gas-powered lawn and gardening equipment. Avoid setting fire to
garbage, dry leaves, or other materials in your yard, and lighting bonfires in the open. Try to
mulch or compost your yard waste. Use cleaning products and paints that are environmentally
friendly.
3. Conserve Energy
Switch off fans and lights when you are going out. A large number of fossil fuels are burnt to
produce electricity. You can save the environment from degradation by reducing the number of
fossil fuels to be burned.
4. Understand the Concept of Reduce, Reuse and Recycle
Do not throw away items that are of no use to you. Instead, reuse them for some other
purpose. For example, you can use old jars to store cereals or pulses.

5. Emphasis on Clean Energy Resources

Use of Clean energy technologies like solar, wind and geothermal is on the rise these days.
Governments of various countries have been providing grants to consumers who are interested
in installing solar panels for their homes. Undoubtedly, this can go a long way to curb air
pollution.
6. Use Energy-Efficient Devices
CFL lights consume less electricity than their counterparts. They live longer, consume less
electricity, lead to lower electricity bills, and also help you to reduce pollution by consuming
less energy.
Several attempts are being made worldwide on personal, industrial, and governmental levels to
curb the intensity at which air pollution is rising and regain a balance as far as the proportions
of the foundation gases are concerned.
This is a direct attempt at slacking Global warming. We are seeing a series of innovations and
experiments aimed at creating alternate and unconventional options to reduce pollutants. Air
pollution is one of the larger mirrors of man’s follies, and a challenge we need to overcome to
see a better tomorrow.
WHAT IS WATER POLLUTION

The World Health Organisation (WHO) says that polluted water is water whose composition
has been changed to the extent that it is unusable. In other words, it is toxic water that cannot
be drunk or used for essential purposes like agriculture, and which also causes diseases like
diarrhoea, cholera, dysentery, typhoid and poliomyelitis that kill more than 500,000 people
worldwide every year.
The main water pollutants include bacteria, viruses, parasites, fertilisers, pesticides,
pharmaceutical products, nitrates, phosphates, plastics, faecal waste and even radioactive
substances. These substances do not always change the colour of the water, meaning that they
are often invisible pollutants. That's why small amounts of water and aquatic organisms are
tested to determine water quality.
MAIN CAUSES OF WATER POLLUTION
It is sometimes caused by nature, such as when mercury filters from the Earth's crust, polluting
oceans, rivers, lakes, canals and reservoirs. However, the most common cause of poor quality
water is human activity and its consequences, which we will now go on to explain:
1. GLOBAL WARMING- Rising global temperatures caused by CO2 emissions heat the water,
reducing its oxygen content.
2. DEFORESTATION - Felling forests can exhaust water resources and generate organic
residue which becomes a breeding ground for harmful bacteria.
3. Industry, agriculture and livestock farming - Chemical dumping from these sectors is
one of the main causes of eutrophication of water.
4. Rubbish and faecal water dumping-The UN says that more than 80% of the world's
sewage finds its way into seas and rivers untreated.
5. Maritime traffic- Much of the plastic pollution in the ocean comes from fishing boats,
tankers and cargo shipping.
6. Fuel spillages-The transportation and storage of oil and its derivatives is subject to
leakage that pollutes our water resources.

EFFECTS OF WATER POLLUTION

Deteriorating water quality is damaging the environment, health conditions and the global
economy. The president of the World Bank, David Malpass, warns of the economic impact:
"Deteriorating water quality is stalling economic growth and exacerbating poverty in many
countries". The explanation is that, when biological oxygen demand — the indicator that
measures the organic pollution found in water — exceeds a certain threshold, the growth in the
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the regions within the associated water basins falls by a third.
In addition, here are some of the other consequences:

• Destruction of biodiversity. Water pollution depletes aquatic ecosystems and triggers

unbridled proliferation of phytoplankton in lakes — eutrophication —.
• Contamination of the food chain. Fishing in polluted waters and the use of waste water
for livestock farming and agriculture can introduce toxins into foods which are harmful
to our health when eaten.
• Lack of potable water. The UN says that billions of people around the world have no
access to clean water to drink or sanitation, particularly in rural areas.
• Disease. The WHO estimates that about 2 billion people have no option but to drink
water contaminated by excrement, exposing them to diseases such as cholera, hepatitis
A and dysentery.
• Infant mortality. According to the UN, diarrhoeal diseases linked to lack of hygiene
cause the death of about 1,000 children a day worldwide.
PREVENTION OF WATER POLLUTION
Half of the world's inhabitants will live in water-scarce areas by 2025, so every drop of
polluted water today is an irreparable loss for tomorrow. That's why we must prevent water
pollution with measures like the following:

• Reduce CO2 emissions to prevent global warming and acidification of the oceans.
• Reduce the use of chemical pesticides and nutrients on crops.
• Reduce and safely treat waste water so that, as well as not polluting, it can be reused for
irrigation and energy production.
• Restrict the use of single-use plastics that end up floating in rivers, lakes and oceans,
many as microplastics.
• Encourage sustainable fishing to ensure the survival of species and avoid depletion of
the seas.