Regulation – 2022 (CBCS Scheme) Environmental Studies – BCS508

MODULE 4 - GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

Global Environmental Concerns (Concept, policies and case-studies): Ground water
depletion/recharging, Climate Change; Acid Rain; Ozone Depletion; Radon and Fluoride
problem in drinking water; Resettlement and rehabilitation of people, Environmental
Toxicology.

SESSION Topics BL CO

01 Ground water depletion/recharging L2 CO4

02 Climate Change, Acid Rain L2 CO4

03 Ozone Depletion L2 CO4

04 Radon and Fluoride problem in drinking water L2 CO4

05 Resettlement and rehabilitation of people L2 CO4

06 Environmental Toxicology. L2 CO4

Global Environmental Concerns

1) Groundwater Depletion and Recharging

Concept: Groundwater is a vital resource for drinking, agriculture, and industry. Depletion
occurs when the rate of extraction exceeds the rate of recharge. Recharging involves
replenishing groundwater through natural processes like rainfall and infiltration.

Policies:
 Water conservation measures: Promoting efficient water use in agriculture, industry,
and households.
 Rainwater harvesting: Encouraging the collection and storage of rainwater for
groundwater recharge.
 Artificial recharge: Implementing techniques like injection wells to artificially recharge
aquifers.

Case Study:
 India: Over-extraction of groundwater for agriculture and domestic use has led to
severe depletion in many regions, resulting in water shortages and land subsidence.

Groundwater recharge is divided into two parts:

 Natural recharge: The process of Recharge of ground water naturally is called natural
recharge.

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 Regulation – 2022 (CBCS Scheme) Environmental Studies – BCS508

 Artificial recharge: The practice of artificially obstructing the flowing rainwater and
inducing its infiltration to increase the ground water reservoir is called artificial
recharge. It is carried out when natural recharge cannot fulfil the requirements
throughout the year.

Natural Recharge
Rainwater enters inside the soil through voids and the recharge is natural recharge.
The conditions favourable for natural recharge are:
1) Sandy or permeable soil 4) Streams
2) Rocky strata with fractures 5) Forest land
3) Perennial rivers 6) Comparatively level land with less slope

Artificial Recharge
Due to rapid industrialization, population increase, intensive agriculture, urbanization,
etc. the use of water has been considerably increased. For these purpose water is pumped
from the ground water sources.

The aquifers are not recharged at the same rate at which water is pumped out. Thus the
water table falls every year. To fulfil the needs artificial recharge is carried out.

2) Climate Change
Concept: A long-term shift in Earth's average weather conditions, primarily caused by
human activities like burning fossil fuels.

Policies:
 International agreements: The Paris Agreement aims to limit global warming to well
below 2 degrees Celsius.
 Renewable energy: Promoting the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy
sources.

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 Regulation – 2022 (CBCS Scheme) Environmental Studies – BCS508

 Carbon pricing: Implementing carbon taxes or emissions trading schemes to discourage

carbon emissions.

Case Study:
 Rising sea levels: Climate change is causing sea levels to rise, threatening coastal
communities and ecosystems.

3) Acid Rain
Concept: Precipitation with acidic components, primarily sulfur and nitrogen oxides, that
can harm aquatic ecosystems and buildings.

Acid rain is rain with a pH below 5.6 that's acidic due to pollutants in the air:

Causes
Acid rain is caused by sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides that are released into the
atmosphere from vehicles and factories. These gases react with oxygen and water vapor
to form acids like sulfuric acid and nitric acid.

Effects
 Acid rain can be harmful because it:
 Reduces soil fertility
 Affects vegetation
 Damages marble monuments and other structures
 Can harm aquatic animals if mixed with sea or ocean water
 Can cause skin cancer in humans
 Can burn plants
 Can harm health if used for drinking

Policies:
 Emissions controls: Reducing emissions of sulfur and nitrogen oxides from power plants
and industrial facilities.
 Clean air regulations: Implementing stricter air quality standards to limit acid rain-
causing pollutants.

Case Study:
 Europe: In the past, acid rain caused significant damage to forests and lakes in parts of
Europe. Strict emissions controls have helped to reduce acid rain in recent decades.

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 Regulation – 2022 (CBCS Scheme) Environmental Studies – BCS508

4) Ozone Depletion
Concept: The thinning of the ozone layer in the stratosphere, primarily caused by the
release of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).

Policies:
 Montreal Protocol: An international agreement that phased out the production and
consumption of CFCs and other ozone-depleting substances.

Case Study:
 The ozone hole: A large hole in the ozone layer was discovered over Antarctica in the
1980s. Thanks to the Montreal Protocol, the ozone hole is gradually healing.

5) Radon and Fluoride Problem in Drinking Water

Concept: Radon and fluoride are naturally occurring elements that can contaminate
drinking water. Excessive exposure to radon can pose health risks, while fluoride can
cause dental fluorosis.

High levels of fluoride in drinking water can cause fluorosis, a condition that can lead to
bone and joint deformities, neurological problems, and gastrointestinal issues. Fluoride
can also cause dental fluorosis, which is a disturbance of dental enamel. High levels of
fluoride can also damage the kidneys, brain, thyroid, and liver over time.

Policies:
 Water quality standards: Setting limits for radon and fluoride in drinking water.
 Public awareness campaigns: Educating the public about the risks of radon and fluoride exposure.

Case Study:
 United States: Many areas in the United States have high levels of radon in
groundwater. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has implemented programs to
encourage radon testing and mitigation.

Resettlement and Rehabilitation of People

Concept: The process of relocating people from areas affected by environmental
degradation or development projects.

Policies:
 Fair compensation: Ensuring that displaced people receive fair compensation for their
losses.
 Rehabilitation programs: Providing support for displaced people to rebuild their lives in
new locations.

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 Regulation – 2022 (CBCS Scheme) Environmental Studies – BCS508

Resettlement and rehabilitation (R&R) of people is a process that involves relocating a

population to a new location and providing assistance to the affected people. The process
has two parts:

Resettlement: Involves moving the affected population to a new residential area.

Rehabilitation: Involves providing assistance to the affected population

Environmental Toxicology
Concept: The study of the harmful effects of pollutants on living organisms.

Policies:
 Toxic substance regulation: Implementing regulations to control the production, use,
and disposal of toxic substances.

 Risk assessment: Conducting risk assessments to evaluate the potential health and
environmental effects of pollutants.

Environmental toxicology is related to the study of various effects of synthetic and natural
pollutants in the environment. It is mainly related to the study of anthropogenic origin
environmental chemicals. Environmental toxicology is categorized into two types namely
Ecotoxicology and Environmental Health Toxicology. .

 Ecotoxicology: It is the study of the harmful effects of the toxic chemicals on biological
organisms. It effect mainly the community, biosphere and ecosystem level.

 Environmental Health Toxicology: It mainly deals with the study of adverse and harmful
effects of environmental chemicals on human health.

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 Regulation – 2022 (CBCS Scheme) Environmental Studies – BCS508

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ)

1. The pH value of the acid rain water is

a. 5.7 b. 7.0 c. 8.5 d. 7.5.

2. The primary cause of the acid rain around the world is

a. CFC b, SO₂ c. CO d.O

3. Which of the following is the remedial measure for acid rain

a. reducing the release of oxides of nitrogen and sulphur in to the atmosphere.
b. use of coal, free from sulphur
c. use of electrostatic precipitator & catalytic converters
d. all of the above

4. Acid rain can be controlled by

a. reducing SO2 and NO2 emissions. b. Reducing oxygen emission.
c. Increasing number of lakes. d. increasing the forest cover.

5. Atmospheric oxidation of SO₂ to SO, is influenced by

a. sunlight. b. Humidity c. presence of hydrocarbons d. all of these

6. Reduction in brightness of the famous Taj Mahal is due to

a. global warming. b. Air pollution c. ozone depletion d. Afforestation.

7. The Effect of Acid rain

a. Reduces soil fertility. b. Causing respiratory problems
c. Increases atmospheric temperature. d. skin cancer

8. The process of movement of nutrients from the soil by the Acid rain is called
a. Transpiration. b. evapo transpiration c. Leaching d. Infiltration.

9. Ozone layer is present in

a. Troposphere b. Stratosphere c. Mesosphere d. Thermosphere

10. Which of the following statements about ozone is true?

a. Ozone is a major constituent of photochemical smog
b. Ozone protects us from the harmful uv radiation of sun
c. Ozone is highly reactive
d. All of the above

11. Major compound responsible for the destruction of stratospheric ozone layer is
a. Oxygen
b. CFC
c. Carbon dioxide
d. Methane

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 Regulation – 2022 (CBCS Scheme) Environmental Studies – BCS508

12. Ozone laver thickness is measured in

a. PPM b. PPB c. Decibels d. Dobson units

13. Normal average thickness of stratospheric ozone layer across the globe is around
a. 200 DU b. 300 DU c. 400 DU d. 500 Du

14. Chloro Fluro Carbon's(CFC) are

a. Non toxic b. Non flammable c. Non carcinogenic d. All the above

15. Ozone layers absorbs

a. UV rays b. Infra red rays c. Cosmic rays d. CO

16. Which of the following is not an ill effect of acid rain?

a. results in killing fish b. causes stone leprosy.
c. leaches nutrients from the soil. d. causes cataract.

17. Formation of ozone layer is explained by

a. Rosenmund reaction b. Henderson's reaction
c. Chapman's reaction. d. Perkin's reaction

18. Each Chlorine free Radical can destroy the following number of ozone molecules.
a. 1000 b. 10,000 c. 1,00,000 d. 100

19. Freons are

a. HFC b. CFC c. NFC d. Hydrocarbons.

20. Which of the following statements about ozone is true?

a. Ozone is a major constituent of photochemical smog
c. Ozone protects us from the harmful UV radiation of sun.
b. Ozone is highly reactive
d. All of the above

21. Ozone depletion causes

a. snow blindness b. Photochemical smog. c. acid rain d. vomiting

22. Which of the following statement is not true about animal husbandry?
a. it is a part of agricultural activity. b. it is breeding, feeding management of animals.
c. it is livestock production. d. it is protection of wild life

23. Which of the following is the purpose of animal husbandry?

a. conservation of animal husbandry. c. production of meat.
b. conservation of wildlife. d. conservation of forests.

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 Regulation – 2022 (CBCS Scheme) Environmental Studies – BCS508

24. Domesticated animals are used for

a. Dairy products. b. production of meat. c. production of fiber. d. all of these

25. Acid rain has been increasing day by day due to

a) Urabnisation b) industrialization
c) increase in vehicle population d) none of the above

26. Ozone hole was first discovered over

a) Arctic b) Antarctica c) tropical region d) Africa

27. CFCs have been used as

a) Solvent b) refrigerants c) blowing agents for polymer forms d) all of these

28. World Ozone day is being celebrated on

a) September 5 b) October 15th c) September 16 d) September 11

29. Bhopal Gas Tragedy caused due to leakage of

a) Methyl Iso Cyanate (MIC) d) methane b) SO2 c) Mustard gas

30. Animal husbandry results in

a) Global warming b) Acid rain c) Ozone depletion d) none of these

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