8.

Pollution

Observe

8.1 Various problems of environment

1. Why these problems in environment may have been arised?
2. What should be done to overcome these problems?
Many problems have been arisen on the earth due to human interference in the nature.
Industrialization, increasing population, mining, transportation, indiscriminate use of
pesticides and fertilizers are causing pollution on the earth. It is affecting human beings.
Pollution : Contamination of natural environment that will be harmful to ecosystems is called
as pollution.

Can you tell? 1. Where do you see the pollution around you?
2. How does the pollution occur?
Pollutants :
Factors affecting natural functions of ecosystem
and causing harmful effects on abiotic and biotic
factors are called as pollutants. Pollutants make the
environment poisonous and unhealthy.
Pollutants may be natural or man made. Natural
pollutants are destroyed in due course of time by
nature’s rule; however, man made pollutants are not.

8.2 Save me my children !

Think about it. If natural materials are pollutants, why do we not perceive their
adverse effects during their use? When such materials are referred
as pollutants?

Activity : You yourself survey your residential area and identify the
Try this polluted locations. Try to identify the pollutant at each polluted location.

Use your brain power 1. Which types of pollutant are observed?

2. Whether the pollutants are degradable or non-degradable?

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A. Air Pollution :
1. Plot a graph showing the proportion of various gases in earth’s
atmosphere.
Can you recall? 2. Why is it said that air is homogenous mixture of different gases?
3. Which different hazardous gases are released through fuel
combustion?
Contamination of air by harmful substances like poisonous gases, smoke, particulate matter,
microbes, etc. is called as air pollution.
Reasons of air pollution
Which factors are responsible for pollution shown in the following
Can you tell? pictures?

8.3 Air pollution due to different factors

Reasons of air pollution

Natural reasons Manmade reasons

1. Volcanic eruption: Solid, gaseous and 1. Fuel: I. Burning of fuel like coal, timber,
liquid materials emerge out through LPG, kerosene, diesel, petrol releases
eruption. Ex. Hydrogen sulphide, sulphur carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide,
dioxide, carbon dioxide, ammonium nitrogen oxide, sulphur dioxide, lead
chloride, hydrogen, vapors, dust, etc. compounds, etc. are released in air.
2. Earthquake: Poisonous gases and water II. Burning of solid waste, agricultural
vapors from inside of earth are released waste, etc. in open space causes air
into air. pollution.
3. Cyclones and dust storms: Dust, soil, 2. Industrialization: Smoke is released in
garbage, pollens, microbes are mixed with large quantity from various factories.
air. sulphur powder, nitrogen oxide, Cotten
4. Forest fires: Forest fires release carbon seed powder in air.
dioxide, sulphur dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, 3. Atomic energy plants and blasts: Use of
smoke in air. elements like uranium, thorium, graphite,
5. Microbes in air: spores of bacteria, fungi plutonium release radiations in air and
are mixed with air thus pollution occurs.

1. What are reasons other than above mentioned responsible for air
pollution?
Think about it. 2. Whether the vehicles with two stroke engine cause more pollution
than four stroke engine?
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Internet My Friend Peeping in the history
1. Collect information about 1. There had been thick fog in London due to air
larger volcanoes of the world. pollution during 5th – 9th Dec.1952. Smoke due
2. Collect information about to burning of coal had been mixed. Dark shadow
effect of air pollution on of this SMOG remained on the city for
consecutive 5 days. Same situation occurred
human health from large
again during 3rd – 6th Dec.1962.
cities and villages from 2. In 1948, Petersburg was named as 'BLACK
Maharashtra. CITY' when smoke and soot casued night like
situation during day time.

Sr. Air Pollutants Source Effects

No.
1. Sulphur dioxide (SO2) Factories (where coal and Irritation of eyes, respiratory tract,
mineral oil used as fuel) excess mucus, cough, breath.
2. Carbon monoxide (CO) Vehicular and industrial smoke Lowered O2 carrying capacity of
blood.
3. Oxides of nitrogen Vehicular smoke Irritation of respiratory tract and
lungs
4. Particulate matter Vehicular and industrial smoke Respiratory diseases
5. Dust Vehicular and industrial smoke Silicosis
6. Pesticides Production and use of pesticides Mental weakness, death due to
prolonged exposure
7. Methane (CH4) Industrial leakage Poisoning, skin cancer, asthma,
respiratory diseases.
8.4 Air pollutants: Sources and effects

Do you know?

Worst ever industrial accident had been occurred in Bhopal on the night of
2 Dec.1984. Eight thousand people had been died due to accidental gas leakage.
nd

Collect more information about Bhopal gas accident discuss the nature of accident,
reasons, aftereffects, preventive measures.

Effect of air pollution on plants and animals

Plants Animals
1. Stomata get closed. 1. Respiration is adversely affected.
2. Slowing down of rate of photosynthesis. 2. Irritation of eyes.
3. Growth is retarded. Leaves fall off or become
yellow.

1. What is importance of ozone layer?

Can you recall?
2. What are reasons for depletion in ozone layer?

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Effect of air pollution on plants and animals
Depletion in Ozone layer : Earlier, we have studied that ozone layer is present below the
stratosphere, at the height of 48 kilometres from earth’s surface. It protects the living world
of the earth from ultraviolet rays (UV-B) radiating from the Sun. However, nowadays, ozone
layer is getting depleted due to following reasons.
Green house effect and Global
warming : Though CO2 is present in Energy emitted by
very less quantity in atmosphere, it Sun is absorbed in
atmosphere
plays very important role of absorption
of solar heat. Over the last 100 years,
proportion of CO2 has been increased
due to industrialization. Effect of this
CO2 on the earth’s temperature is
Energy emitted by Atmosphere
nothing but green house effect. Similar Sun is absorbed by Infrared
to CO2 , nitrous oxide, methane and earth surface Earth radiation
CFC also trap the heat. Collectively,
these are called as green house gases.

8.5 Green House effect

Global temperature is gradually increasing due to green house effect. Due to this,
atmosphere is changing, causing disturbances in agricultural yield, distribution of wild
animals. Icebergs and glaciers are melting causing increase in sea level.
Acid Rain : Oxides of sulphur and
Acid
nitrogen are released into atmosphere
Oxides
through burning of coal, timber and fuel
oils. Those oxides mix with rain water
Acid rain and form acids like sulphuric acid, nitric
acid, nitrous acid, etc. These acids mix
Burning fuels
with rain drops and snowflakes and come
down as rain, called as acid rain.
Effects of acid rain:
1. Acidity of soil and water bodies
Damage of animals increases due to acid rain. It harms
and plants the aquatic organisms, plants and
entire forest life. Total ecosystems are
8.6 Acid rain adversely affected.
2. Erosion of buildings, busts, historical monuments, bridges, metal idols, wire fences, etc.
occurs due to acid rain.
3. Heavy metals like mercury and cadmium are absorbed up by plants and thereby enter the
food chain indirectly due to acid rain.
4. Due to acidification of water in water bodies and pipes, leaching of metal and plastic
material occurs in water and thereby serious health problems arise.
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Preventive measures of air pollution
1. Smoke emerging from factories
Do you know?
contains harmful particles. Hence,
pollution controlling machinery Air Quality Index
should be used. Ex. Arresters, filters. It is important for citizens to know the
2. Proper disposal of stinking waste extent of air pollution in their city. So as to
generated in cities. define the air quality index, proportion of SO2,
3. Control on atomic tests, chemical CO, NO2, ozone, particulate matter, etc. is
weapons, etc. measured every day.
4. Control / ban over CFC production. Boards indicating the air quality index are
displayed in busy squares in metro cities.

Do you know?

Air pollutants with sulphur cause colour change in paints, oil paintings, nylon, cotton
fabrics, leather articles and papers etc.

B. Water Pollution :

Can you tell?

1. From which water sources do we get the

water suitable to use?
2. For which different purposes do we use the
water?
3. How much percent of the earth’s area is
occupied by water?
4. What are the reasons of water pollution? 8.7 Water pollution
5. Why does water is referred as ‘molecule Water Pollutants
of life’? A. Biological pollutants : Water does not
Water is said to be polluted when it remain potable due to algae, bacteria,
becomes unclean and poisonous due to viruses, parasites, etc. Diseases are
mixing of natural or artificial unwanted spread due to biological pollution.
material, when it becomes harmful to living B. Inorganic pollutants : Suspended particles
organisms due to decreased oxygen content, like fine sand, dust, soil, precipitates of
when epidemic diseases are spread through salt, compounds of arsenic, cadmium,
the water. lead, mercury, and traces of radioactive
Fresh water or marine water pollution material.
includes physical, chemical and biological C. Organic pollutants : Weedicides,
changes. insecticides, fertilizers, sewage, industrial
effluents, etc.
Do you know?

Large number of tanning centers are present in Tamilnadu. Waste water from those centers
is released into Palar river. Hence that river is referred as Puzzar (Gutter river).

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 Reasons of water pollution

A. Natural reasons B. Manmade reasons

1. Aquatic weeds 1. Domestic sewage
• Depletion in O2 level • Domestic sewage from villages and
• Changes in natural qualities of water cities is disposed off in river water
2. Decomposing matter 2. Industrial effluent
• Decomposing bodies of plant, animals • Various pigments, bleaching chemicals,
3. Mud/sludge leather pieces, fibres, mercury, lead,
• River current and its diversion etc. are released in to water.
4. Soil erosion 3. Oil spillage
• Many biotic and abiotic factors are • While transportation, cleaning of
added to water due to soil erosion. tankers oil spills in to water
5. Microbes like fungi and bacteria 4. Use of fertilizers and pesticides
• grow on organic matter decaying in • N, P, K containing chemical fertilizers
water. • Pesticides like endrin, chlorine,
6. Algae carbonate containing pesticides, flow
• Excessive algal growth pollutes water and mix with water.
7. Nematodes : 5. Other reasons :
• Soil nematodes flow in with rain water • Disposal of human wastes, washing of
clothes, decomposing hemp and flax in
water, disposal of ashes, floral offerings
to god, water from thermal power plant,
etc.

Effects of water pollution

1. Effects on human being 3. Other effects

• Diseases like hepatitis, typhoid, diseases • Changes in physical and chemical
of skin and alimentary canal. properties of water
• Ailments of liver, kidneys, brain, • Changes in natural color and taste
deformities in bones, hypertension. • Useful aquatic fauna is destroyed
2. Effects on ecosystem • Soil fertility is affected
• Retarded plant growth • Toxic materials are added to crops
• Loss of plant species
• Increase in salt content of water
• Decreased dissolved oxygen level
• Disturbance in aquatic ecosystem
• Death of aquatic animals
• Adverse effects on sea birds

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C. Soil Pollution :
1. What is meant by soil erosion?
Can you recall?
2. What are reasons for depletion in soil fertility?
Out of the total land area of the soil, some is covered by ice; some is desert, whereas some
is occupied by mountains and hills. Very less area of land is available for human use.
Soil is said to be polluted when there are changes in its physical biological and chemical
properties and its fertility decreases due to either natural or manmade reasons.

Compare this

Compare two
neighbouring
photographs.
Effects of soil pollution
Give 5 examples of each of 1. Soil fertility decreases due to mixing of salty,
domestic waste, biological waste, and acidic water from industry.
agricultural waste and write in your 2. Radioactive and other pollutants enter and
own words about soil pollution due to pass through food chain like the soil, crop,
those wastes. water and human body.
Discuss the issues like ‘dry waste- 3. Problem of water pollution increases due to
wet waste’ and ‘toilet in each home’ soil pollution. Toxic substances leach into
and write information in your own water. Similarly, diseases spread through
words. various pathogens.
Relationship of soil pollution with air and water pollution
If wet waste is dumped at wrong places instead of composting, pathogens grow upon it,
which are then mixed with water causing water pollution.
Insecticides, chemical fertilizers, weedicides are used in agriculture, which causes soil
pollution. Excessively sprayed insecticides and weedicides are mixed with air causing air
pollution. Similarly, excessive use of chemical fertilizers causes water pollution.
Soil pollution occurs due to mixing of human wastes, birds and animals waste. This
releases various stinking gases causing air pollution. Same waste may cause water pollution
if mixed with water.
Pollution - Prevention and control : Government of India has enacted some laws for control,
regulation and prevention of pollution. Following are laws regarding pollution control.
1. Water pollution and prevention act, 1974. 2. Air pollution and prevention act, 1981.
3. Environmental Protection Act, 1986.
Various laws and rules are in force in relation to biomedical waste, harmful effluents,
solid waste and sound pollution. Government statutory bodies like Maharashtra Pollution
Control Board and Central Pollution Control Board supervise about whether the industries,
industrial areas, local governing bodies like municipalities, district councils, panchayat
samiti, gram panchayat, etc. follow the laws about pollution control.

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 Exercises
1. Following are some statements about 5. Answer the following.
pollution. Which type of pollution do a. What is pollution?
those express? b. What are pollutants?
a. Fog seems to be appearing in Delhi c. What is acid rain?
during day hours. d. What is green house effect?
b. Many times, vomiting and dysentery e. Which are visible pollutants known to
occurs after eating ‘pani puri’. you?
c. Problem of sneezing occurs sometimes f. Which are invisible pollutants?
during visit to garden. 6. Answer the following
d. Crop does not grow up in some areas. a. Give two examples of each of water, soil
e. People living in the busy squares face and air pollution from your residential
the problems like short breathing and area.
other respiratory problems. b. How does the pollution occur due to
2. Read the passage and identify the sen- vehicles? Give the names of vehicles
tences expressing types of pollution. causing least pollution.
Nilesh is a student of std. VIII and lives c. What are natural reasons for water
in urban area. It takes about an hour to go pollution?
to the school by bus. He faces the heavy d. Suggest four preventive measures for air
traffic of two wheelers, four wheelers, pollution.
rickshaws, buses while going to school. e. Explain relation between green house
He is facing the problem of asthma since effect and global warming.
last few days. Doctors recommended him f. Construct two slogans each on air, water
to stay away from urban area. Since then, and soil pollution.
his mother sent him to the village of his 7. Classify the following pollutants into
maternal uncle. Nilesh saw the heaps of natural and manmade categories.
garbage at many places in village. Foul Sewage, dust, pollen grains, chemical
smell of human and animal wastes was fertilizers, vehicular smoke, algae,
present at many places. Blackish water
pesticides, waste of animals and birds.
with foul smell was flowing in a stream.
He developed some abdominal disease Project :
within few days. 1. Visit the water testing laboratory in your
3. Match the pairs from ‘A’ and ‘B’ col- area and collect the information about
umns and explain the effect of pollution tests for checking the purity of water.
on human health. 2. Visit the square having heavy traffic
Column ‘A’ Column ‘B’ in your area and report the pollution at
1. Water a. Mental different times of day and find out the
containing cobalt retardedness duration of maximum pollution.
2. Methane gas b. Paralysis.
3. Water containing c. Inflammation
lead of lungs.
4. Sulphur dioxide d. Skin cancer
5. Nitrogen dioxide e. Irritation of
eyes
4. True or false
a. Water does not get polluted by washing
the cloths in running water of river.
b. More the use of electric appliances,
more will be the pollution.
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