Pollution

What is Pollution ?
• Pollution may be defined as an undesirable change in the physical,
Chemical or biological characteristics of our air, water and land, that
may harmfully affect living organisms.

What is Pollutant ?
• The substances responsible for pollution are called pollutants.
• Pollutant can also be defined as a constituent in the wrong amount, at a
wrong place or at a wrong time.

World Environment Day:

• 5th June is celebrated as World Environment Day. It was established in
1972. Its aim is “encouraging worldwide awareness and action for the
protection of our environment”.
Pollution-Causes Rapid Urbanization
Causes for Pollution
• The growing human population
• Rapid urbanization
• Deforestation
• Industrial Growth
• Lack of Knowledge on
Environment
• Increased Vehicular Traffic
• Misuse & mismanagement of natural Deforestation
resources by humans
Types of Pollutants
Biodegradable pollutants :
The pollutants which are rapidly degraded by natural means are called
Biodegradable pollutants
Ex: Sewage
Non-degradable Pollutants:
The pollutants which are slowly degraded or not degraded at all are called
non-degradable pollutants.
Ex: Plastic, Asbestos etc.
Primary Pollutants:
The pollutants which are directly emitted from a source are called primary
pollutants
Ex: Plastic.
Secondary Pollutants:
The pollutants formed from primary pollutants are called secondary
pollutants
Ex: Nitrogen Oxides and Hydrocarbons react in sunlight to form Ozone and
Peroxyacetyl Nitrate. These are more toxic than the Primary Pollutants.
Types of Pollution
Air Pollution
Occurrence or releasing of any foreign material in the air, which are
harmful to Man, Vegetation, Animals and Buildings.
Noise Pollution
Any unwanted or disturbing sound that affects the health and well-being
of humans and other organisms
Water Pollution
Alteration in Physical, Chemical and Biological Characteristics of Water
which may be cause harmful effects on Human and Aquatic Biota.
Soil Pollution
Presence of any substance which is foreign to the soil system and
adversely affects the productivity of the soil.
Thermal Pollution
Sudden increase or decrease in temperature of a natural body of water
which may be ocean, lake, river or pond by human influence.
AIR POLLUTION
 Air Pollution-Pollutants & Source
•Air Pollution
Occurrence or releasing of any foreign material in the air, which are
harmful to Man, Vegetation, Animals and Buildings.
Industrial Pollutants
Pollutant: Co2, Co, So2, H2S, Chlorines, Hydrogen Fluorides, Ammonia,
Hydrocarbons etc.
Source: Burning of Coal, Petroleum, Manufacturing Units of
Fungicides, Pesticides, Cosmetics and Metallurgical Industries etc
Burning of Fuels
Pollutant: Co, Co2, So2, Methane, Ash etc.
Source: The burning of fuels (Coal and oil) by human beings release
most of the gaseous and particulate air pollutants.
Mobile Combustion – moving sources
Pollutant: Carbon Monoxide, Oxides of Nitrogen and Hydrocarbons.
Source: Automobiles, Locomotives, Air Craft, Automobiles, Mobile
Combustion of Petroleum Products etc.
 Air Pollution-Pollutants & Sources
Thermal Power Stations:
Pollutant: Fly Ash, SO2 other Gases and Hydrocarbons.
Source: Usage of coal in Thermal Power Stations.
Ionizing radiations:
Pollutant: Ionizing Radiations
Source: Atomic Explosions and Testing of Atomic Weapons. Causes
injury to Protoplasm.
Agricultural activity:
Pollutant: Chlorinated Hydrocarbons
Source: Extensive used of Pesticides for eradication of Pests and Insects.
Suspended Particulate matter (SPM):
Pollutant: Harmful Trace Metals such as Arsenic, Antimony, Beryllium,
Cadmium, Lead, Mercury, Nickel, Selenium etc.
Source: Industrial operations such as Blasting, Drilling, Crushing,
Grinding, Mixing etc.
 Air Pollution-Pollutants & Sources
Photo-chemical smog (Smog = Smoke and Fog):
Pollutant: Hydrocarbons, Organic Substances And Oxides Of
Nitrogen
Source: Fumes and Exhaust of Motor Vehicles.
Effects: They causes serious health hazard diseases like asthma,
bronchitis and may also cause damage to Vegetation.

Natural Sources:
Pollutant: Poisonous Gases like SO2, H2S, CO, Marsh Gases,
Cosmic Dust, Pollen Grains of Flowers, Soil Debris, Fungal
Spores etc.
Source: Volcanic Eruptions, Forest Fires, Vegetative Decay etc.
 Air Pollution-Its Effects
Carbon Monoxide:
It accounts for about 50% of total air pollution. It has high affinity for
hemoglobin and combines with it to form carboxy hemoglobin.
HbO2 + CO = HbCO + O2
It reduces oxygen carrying capacity of blood leading to hypoxia in body tissues.
It also causes headache, nausea, exhaustion, muscular weakness, psychomotor
disturbances decrease in visual perception, etc and can also lead to death due to
co poisoning.
Sulphur dioxide:
It causes serious respiratory problems, chest constriction, headache, asthma,
bronchitis, vomiting, suffocation, irritation of throat and eyes etc. It damages
the membranes of the plant cells and referred to as phytotoxic pollutant. It also
cause chlorophyll loss, plasmolysis, inhibition of growth and yield reduction.
Its concentration in the atmosphere accelerates the corrosion of metals and
alloys such as Iron, Steel, Aluminum and Zinc. It is also responsible for the
degradation of paper and building material.
 Air Pollution-Its Effects
Nitrogen Oxides:
Inhibits cilia action so that soot and dust penetrate into the lungs,
irritation, bronchitis, oedema of lungs.
Hydrogen Sulphide:
Causes nausea, irritation of eyes and throat, irritation of respiratory
passages and asphyxiation. Darkening of painted surfaces, corrosion.
Suspended Particles (Ash, Soot, Smoke etc):
Causes emphysema, eye irritation and possibly cancer, respiratory
diseases, diseases like silicosis, asbestosis, byssinosis etc.
Ammonia:
Inflames upper respiratory passages.
Photo Chemical Smog:
Lung irritation, asthma, bronchitis etc. Destruction of vegetation.
Heavy Metals:
Retardation of activities of brain, interference in enzyme activities in
liver and kidney. affects productivity of agricultural crops.
 Air Pollution-Its Effects
Carbon Dioxide: Increase in the atmospheric temperature (Global
warming and Green house effect), melting of ice at poles and raise of
oceanic water level, change in the rainfall pattern,
Radioactive substances: These substances cause genetic disorder and
cancer in human beings.
Hydrogen Fluoride: Irritation, diseases of bone, respiratory diseases.
Acid rains: Sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides in atmosphere change
into sulphuric acid and nitric acids. During rains, these acids along with
water result in Acid rains. The pH of acid rain is 3-4 which causes
damage to plants, animals and also change the soil to acidic, due to
which forests undergo destruction in that area.
Aerosols: An aerosol in the atmosphere is a dispersion of solid or liquid
matter in air, which contain fluoro carbons. These destroy the ozone
layer in the stratosphere so that ultraviolet rays enter the earth
atmosphere, which are harmful to life. The Jet aeroplanes emit aerosols
into the atmosphere.
Air Pollution-Control Measures
Air pollution at the source can be controlled in two ways
• By separating the pollutants from the harm less gases.
• By converting the pollutants to harmless products before their release in
the atmosphere.

• The technique employed for separating the pollutants from the harm less gases
depends upon the size of the pollutants. To separate particles larger than
50µm, gravity setting chambers or porous filters are being used. Particles
smaller than 50µm are removed by using cyclone collectors or electro static
precipitators. Wet and dry scrubbers are used to separate dust. Wet scrubbers
are used in industries for the removal of SO 2, NH3 and metal fumes.

• Oxidation of pollutants in the air is one of the most common methods of

conversion. Other methods of conversion of pollutants include chemical
neutralization of acids and bases.
Air Pollution-Control Measures
• To check pollutant emission from vehicular exhaust several methods can
be adopted.
• Using gas additives to improve combustion
• Using multipoint fuel injection engine to reduce unburnt hydrocarbon
emission.
• Catalytic converter filters in vehicles can convert nitrogen oxide to
nitrogen.
• Lead free petrol can be used to reduce emission of lead.
• Tall chimneys which can release pollutants at higher level in the
atmosphere are to be used. These reduce the pollutant concentration at
ground level
• Deforestation is to be avoided.
• Sulphur dioxide may be controlled by using the techniques such as
precombustion, desulphurication and removing sulphur after combustion.
Water Pollution
Water pollution may be defined as the “Alteration in Physical, Chemical,
and Biological Characteristics of Water which may cause harmful effects
on Human and Aquatic Biota”.
(or)
Water pollution can be defined as the addition of some substances
(Organic, Inorganic, Biological or Radiological) or Factor (Heat, pH)
which degrades the quality of Water so that it either becomes Health
Hazard or unfit for use.
• Water is one of the most essential things for survival of Living
Organisms.
• Water Pollution adversely changes the quality of Water and makes it
unsuitable for the Living Being.
• It disturbs or destroys the balance of Ecosystems and cause Hazards to
public health.
Sources of Water Pollution
Sewage (Wastewater) and Other Waste:
Source: Home (domestic waste) and Animal or food processing plants.
Pollutant: Human Excreta, Paper, Cloth, Soap, Detergents (Phosphates), Organic
Matter (Food Residues), Bacteria and Fungi etc.
Effects: Spreads number of Epidemic Diseases, such as Cholera, Typhoid, Dysentery,
Diarrhea, Paratyphoid Fever, Schistosomiasis, Infection Hepatitis, Jaundice etc.

Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD): The amount of oxygen required

for the degradation of organic matter in water.
Source: Decaying Organic Matter
Pollutant: Microbes on Decaying Organic Matter
Effects: Decaying of organic matter in water removes oxygen from water, which can
kill fish, shellfish, and aquatic insects.
• BOD is the amount of O2 required for Biological Oxidation by Microbes in any unit
volume of Water.
• BOD used as a measure of degree of water pollution and waste level.
Sources of Water Pollution
Industrial Effluents: Wastewater from Industry after treatment
Source: A wide variety of both inorganic and organic pollutants are present in
effluents from Chemical, Fertilizer and Pesticide Manufacturing Units, Breweries,
Tanneries , Dying Textiles, Paper And Pulp Mills , Steel Industries, Mining Operations
etc.

Pollutant: Include Oils, Greases, Plastics, Metallic Wastes, Suspended Solids, Phenols,
Toxins, Acids, Salts, Dyes, Cyanides, DDT (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane) etc.
Effects: These Substances are more toxic. Oxygen depletion in water which kills the
living fishes and other aquatic animals.

Agricultural Discharges:
Source: Fertilizers
Pollutant: Chlorinated Hydrocarbons, Thiocarbamates, Organo-Chlorine Compounds
in Biocides (Insecticides, Fungicides, Herbicides).
Effects: These Pollutants Highly Toxic to Aquatic Organisms. Pesticides upset the
aquatic ecosystem.
Sources of Water Pollution
Effects: Causes Biomagnification or Biological Accumulation. Accumulate in
Fat Tissues of Animals.
Marine Pollution:
Source: Garbage, Sewage, Industrial Effluents
Pollutants: Navigational discharge of Oil, Grease and Petroleum Products.
Effects: The Radioactive Isotopes of the Pollutants enter into the body of
Aquatic Life (Fish etc) and enter in Humans by consuming cause Gene
Mutation, Cancer etc.
Thermal Pollution:
Source: Electric Power Plants and nuclear Power Stations
Pollutants: Radiation, Hot Effluents
Effects: Raising Temperatures and Hot Effluents kill both Plants and Animals.
Silt Pollution:
Source & Pollutants: Soil Silt (Dust + Dirt = Silt)
Effects: Silt Soil particle size 0.002 mm diameter is carried with water and
Choke Irrigation Channels. It affects adversely the Aquatic Life.
Sources of Water Pollution
Oil Pollution:
Source: Oil Leakage Ship Accidents, Harbors, Oil Refineries and Off Shore
Pollutants: Oil
Effects: It is Extremely Toxic and immediately affects Living Organisms.
Radioactive Wastes:
Source: Nuclear Reactors
Pollutants: Radio Active Matter
Effects: Radioactive isotopes cause serious effects on Aquatin Floran and
Fauna causes Chromosomal Aberration and Gene Mutation. And also in
Humans by consuming them.
Heavy Metals:
Source: Industries and Mines.
Pollutants: Arsenic, Cadmium, Chromium, Copper, Nickel, Lead and Mercury
Effects: Almost all Metals are Toxic. They change the biological structures and
systems leading to deformity in the body or finally death. Mercury Causes
Minamata, Arsenic Causes Black Foot, Cadmium Causes Itai-Itai Diseases.
Effects of Water Pollution
• The waters polluted with domestic sewage spread a number of Epidemic
Diseases, such as Cholera, Typhoid, Dysentery, Diarrhea, Paratyphoid Fever,
Schistosomiasis, Infection Hepatitis, Jaundice etc.
• Due to Industrial Pollution there is Oxygen Depletion in water which kills the
living fishes and other aquatic animals.
• Heavy Metallic Ions such as Mercury can cause irreversible Brain Damage,
Mental Disorder, Blurring Vision and Numbness of Limbs and even Death
with Minamata Disease (which affects the nerves).
• Arsenic causes Lung and Skin Cancer and Diarrhea. Chronic exposure to
Arsenic causes Black Foot Disease.
• Water contaminated by Cadmium causes Itai-Itai Disease. Fluorides cause
skeletal Fluorosis or Knock Knee Disease.
• Nitrates cause Blue Babies Syndrome.
• The insecticides which accumulate in Aquatic organisms are a source of
potential danger to man. Their consumption may cause Cancer, Nerve
Disorders, Leukemia and other serious diseases in man.
Control of Water Pollution
Reutilization and Recycling of Waste
Various kinds of wastes which include Industrial Effluents (as Paper Pulp or
Chemicals), Sewage, Thermal Pollutants (Waste Water etc) may be Recycled to
beneficial use.
Removal of Pollutants
Various pollutants (Radioactive, Chemical & Biological) present in water body
can be removed by appropriate methods such as Adsorption, Electro Dialysis,
Ion Exchange, Reverse-osmosis etc.
Treatment of Waste Waters
• Both industrial and sewage water is treated in Effluent Treatment Plant
(ETP), before it is discharged in the water bodies.
• Bleaching powder in required quantities should be used to disinfect the
drinking water.
• Ammonia could be removed from waste waters by ion exchange technique.
Phenolics could be removed from waste water of paper mills, petroleum refineries,
tanneries by use of polymeric [Link] water from printing and sari dying
industries could be decolorized by an electrolyte decomposition technique.
 Soil Pollution
• The Soil pollution may be defined as “the presence of any substance
which is foreign to the soil system and adversely affects the
productivity of the soil.”

• The soil pollution can be distinguished into 2 types-

• Positive Soil Pollution
• Negative Soil Pollution

• The Positive Soil Pollution includes the introduction of Toxic

Substances such as Industrial Pollutants and Pesticides.

• The Negative Soil Pollution indicates over use of soil & soil erosion.
 Sources of Soil Pollution
Industries:
Sources:
Paper Mills, Textiles, Oil Refineries, Power Plants, Chemical and Fertilizer
Manufactures, Iron And Steel Plants, Plastic and Rubber Producing Companies
etc.
Effects:
Alter the Chemical and Biological Properties of Soil and lead to serious effects
on Living Organisms.
Agriculture:
• Modern agricultural practices pollute the soil to a large extent through the non
judicious use of chemical fertilizers and biocides (antimicrobials).
• Most of these are stable chemicals and remains in the soil for long periods.
• Due to the continuous use chemical fertilizers the soil micro organisms lose
their ability of nitrogen fixation and also kill earthworms which are living
fertilizer factories.
• This adversely affects the fertility of soil.
 Sources of Soil Pollution Pollution
Excretory Products:
• Excretory Matter and Faecal Products of Man and Live Stock Pollute the Soil by
adding Pathogens to Soil which causes serious Health Problems to Man and their
Domestic Animals.
Domestic Waste:
• Disposal of domestic refuge, garbage of building materials, empty bottles, wastes of
automobiles, plastics etc are causing serious soil pollutions.
Acid Rain: Changes the soil pH and makes the soil infertile.
Radioactive Substances:
• Resulting from explosions of nuclear devices, atmospheric fallout from nuclear dust
and radioactive wastes penetrate the soil and accumulate there creating land pollution.
Animal Waste:
• Increasing population of cows, cattle, pigs and poultries have resulted in considerable
soil pollution. Animal wastes contain several pathogenic bacteria and viruses which
enter into plant metabolism and ultimately to man.
 Soil Pollution - Treatment
• The solid wastes have to be collected from various streets and cities to the
disposal area.
• Dumping of solid waste is a popular and inexpensive way of getting rid of
wastes. Land fill operation, which is a biological method of treatment,
involves the depositing of refuse, compacting and covering it with a soil.
• Recycling and recovery of materials (paper, glass, plastic, rubber, metals etc)
is the best solution for reducing soil pollution.
• Converting waste into biogas.
• Biological methods of pest control help in minimizing the soil pollution.
• Restoring forests and grass land (Afforestation) to check soil erosion and
floods.
• Shifting cultivation can be replaced by crop rotation, which will improve the
fertility of land.
• Proper law should be made and enforced. Public awareness should be
generated.
 Soil Pollution
• Use of Fuels with lower Sulphur Content (e.g., washed coal)
• Growing more trees.
• Control measures in vehicle emissions.
• Efforts to control environmental pollution have resulted in development
of science for synthesis of chemical favorable to environment and it is
called green chemistry.
 Noise Pollution
• Noise pollution is defined as the production of unwanted high pitch
sound.
• Sound is a normal feature of our life.
• Noise is the sound which produces unpleasant effects on the Ears.
• Sound is measured in decibel (dB).
• During ordinary conversation it is between 30 to 60dB.
• Critical level for ear damage is 85dB.
• Jet airplane creates a sound of more than 120dB at take off and this is
the threshold of pain and this is hazardous and can damage the ear.
• A decibel value above 80dB causes noise pollution.
 Sources of Noise pollution
Transport Vehicles:
It includes noise of road traffic, rail traffic and air craft.
Industries:
It includes noise caused by industrial machines, such as textile mills,
printing presses, engineering establishments, defence equipments etc.
Modern Domestic Gadgets:
It includes noise produced by Domestic Appliances such as T.V. Sets,
Tape Recorder, Radio Set, Food Blender, Exhaust Fan etc.
Loud Speakers:
•In India use of loud speakers is very frequent.
•It is played day and night during festival, religious gathering, elections
etc.
•Crackers, Dynamiting of mountains etc.
 Effects of Noise Pollution
•Fatigue
•Nervousness
•Hearing Loss
•Hypertension
•Headache
•Unwanted noise increase heart beat
•Dilation of the pupil of the eye
•Memory is affected and concentration power is lowered
•Develops sleeplessness.
•Too much of noise affects the nervous system.
•Physiological and psychological disorders
 Control of Noise Pollution
• Designing, fabricating and using quieter machines to replace the noisy ones.
• Minimizing the noise at source by proper lubrication and better maintenance
of machines.

Preventive measures

• Using ear covers or cotton plugs to reduce occupation exposure.

• Removing the noisy industries away from residential areas.
• Restricting the use of public address system in urban areas.
• Green Plants must be planted around the road side to check the noise
pollution.
• Airports should be away from residential areas.
• Appropriate Laws should be made and strictly enforced.
 Thermal Pollution
• Increase or decrease in the temperature of water, air and land by human
activity is called Thermal pollution.

• Temperature is one of the most vital environmental factors for organisms.

• Temperature fluctuation influences all metabolic process for organisms.

• Heated effluents, either from natural or manmade sources, contaminated with

water supplies may be harmful to life because of their toxicity, reduction in
normal oxygen level of water, aesthetically unsuitable and spread diseases.

• Thermal pollution reduces the number of aquatic species and destroys the
balance of life in streams.
 Sources of Thermal Pollution
• Electric power plants and nuclear power stations release hot water to the
original source of water such as River, Lake, Sea etc., raising its temperature.
• Such hot effluents kill both plants and Animals resulting in decreased primary
production.
• Some thermal power plants utilize coal as fuel. Coal-fired power plants
constitute the major source of thermal pollutants.
• Their condenser coils are cooled with water from nearby lake or river and
discharge the hot water back to the stream increasing the temperature of
nearby water.
• The municipal sewage normally has a higher temperature than the receiving
water. This discharged sewage not only raises the stream temperature but also
creates numerous deleterious effects on aquatic biota.
 Effects of Thermal Pollution
• A rise in temperature changes the physical and chemical properties of water.
Concentration of dissolved oxygen decreases with increase in temperature,
which seriously affect the aquatic organisms.
• The rising temperature increases the toxicity of the poison present in water.
• Increase of temperature interferes with the biological activity of the aquatic
organisms.
• Temperature is considered to be vital significance to physiology, metabolism
and bio chemical process in controlling respiratory rates, digestion, excretion
and overall development of aquatic organisms. The temperature changes
totally disrupt the entire ecosystem.
• Activities of several pathogenic micro organisms are accelerated by higher
temperature.
• High water temperatures promote blue-green algal blooms which disrupt the
aquatic food chain.
• High temperature of water may induce increase in activity, which exhausts the
organism and shorten its life.
 Control of Thermal Pollution
Control of Thermal Pollution:
• Factories and power stations should have provisions for storing and
cooling hot water.
• The hot water should not be released into rivers directly. They should
be stored in cooling towers and spray ponds for reuse.
 Nuclear Hazards
• Nuclear hazard occurs due to Radioactive Pollution.
• Radioactive Pollution is caused by Radioactive Substance, which is the result
of Human Activities.
• Radiation can be defined as

"Energy given off by nucleus of an atom in the form of particles or rays".

or
"Radiation is a physical phenomenon in which energy travels through
space".
• It occurs naturally in radioactive elements present in rocks, water, air and in
all living organisms. Recently the man-made radiation has increased and can
be expected to increase further.
• Man-made radiation includes Radiation from X-ray Machines, Radioactive
Fall Out, Nuclear Reactors, Research Laboratories, Industrial and Medical
Uses etc.,
 Sources of Radiation
Sources of radiation in the environment are Natural and Man Made.
Natural Sources:
Cosmic Radiation:
Solar Radiation from the outer Space reaching the Earth's Surface.
Ex: Infra Red Rays, X-rays, Ultra Violet Rays etc.
Terrestrial Radiation:
From Natural Radio Isotopes present in the Earth Crusts
Ex: Uranium and Thorium.
The Man Made Sources:
•Radiation from medical and dental exposure Ex: X-ray.
•Radiation from television sets, radium dial wrist watches etc.
•Radiation from nuclear power plants.
•Radioactive fall out from nuclear weapons.
•Dumping of nuclear waste into disposal site.
The above sources are contaminating Air, Water, and Land by Radioactive Liquid
Nuclear Wastes.
• They can Pollute the Atmosphere, Soil and Ground Water.
• Also it can get into the Food Chain and through it reach Animals and Human Beings
 Effects of Nuclear Hazards
• The effects of radioactive pollutants depend upon half-life, energy releasing
capacity, rate of diffusion and rate of deposition of the contaminant.
• Various atmospheric conditions and climatic conditions such as wind,
temperature and rainfall also determine their effects.
• All organisms are affected from radiation pollution, and the effects are
extremely dangerous.
The effects may be
Somatic (Individual Exposed is Affected) or
Genetic (Future Generations) Damage

The effects are cancer, shortening of life span and genetic effects or mutations.
Some of the possible effects are listed as under:
• Radiations may break chemical bonds, such as DNA in cells.
• This affects the genetic make-up and control mechanisms.
• The effects can be instantaneous, prolonged or delayed types.
• Even it could be carried to future generations.
 Effects of Nuclear Hazards
• Exposure at low doses of radiations (100-250 rads), men do not die but
begin to suffer from Fatigue, Nausea, Vomiting and Loss of Hair. But
recovery is possible.
• Exposure at higher doses (400-500 rads), the bone marrow is affected,
blood cells are reduced, natural resistance and fighting capacity against
germs is reduced, blood fails to clot, and the irradiated person soon dies
of infection and bleeding.
• Higher irradiation doses (10,000 rads) kill the organisms by damaging
the Tissues of Heart, Brain, etc.
• Workers handling radioactive wastes get slow but continuous
irradiation and in course of time develop cancer of different types.
• Through Food Chain also, Radioactivity Effects are experienced by
Man.
• But the most significant effect of Radioactivity is that it causes long
range effects, affecting the future of man and hence the future of our
civilization.
 Solid Waste Management
Introduction
• Addition of numerous kinds of solid wastes in the soil is called land
pollution. Solid waste management is a Planned System of Effective
Control of the Production, Storage, Collection, Transportation,
Processing and Disposal or Utilization of Solid Wastes in a Aesthetically
Acceptable and Economical manner.
Causes
• The solid waste includes Glass Containers as Bottles, Crookeries, Plastic
Containers, Polythene and other packing materials that are used and then
thrown away.
• Besides these there are also other used things like Automobile Spares,
Machines, And Cycle Parts etc. that are thrown as Junk.
• The waste from Building Material (during construction and demolition),
Sludge, Dead Animals Skeletons, Crop Residues also contribute to Solid
Waste.
• All the urban solid wastes are commonly referred to as Refuse. Solid waste
and refuse, particularly in urban areas contribute to soil pollution.
Types of Refuse
1. Garbage: mostly decomposable food waste and not a dry material
2. Rubbish: mostly dry material such as glass, paper, cloth, or wood.
It consists of both Combustible and Noncombustible substances such as
Metallic Cans, Paper, Brushes, Glasses, Cardboard, Wood Scrap Metals,
abandoned vehicles and Crockery.
Garbage is highly putrescible or decomposable, whereas rubbish is not.
3. Ashes: Ashes result from the combustion of fuels like Coal, Wood or Dung,
used in Houses or Industries.
4. Dead animals: Dead animals such as Cows, Horses, Donkeys, Pigs and
Dogs must be removed as easily as possible and finally disposed of by
incineration or burying.
5. Hospital Waste (biomedical waste) :Hospitals generate Hazardous Waste
that contains Disinfectants and other Harmful Chemicals, and also
Pathogenic Micro-organisms.
6. E-Wastes: Discarded computer parts like Monitor, Keyboard, Mouse,
Central Processing Units and other Electronic Goods are known as
Electronic Waste (E-waste).
Effects of Solid Waste
• In India several million tonnes of solid waste is dumped along roads and other
places, which spread several chronic diseases posing a serious threat to
human health.
• Urban domestic wastes can be degraded in less time compared to industrial
wastes. But both of them are dangerous. Industrial wastes are more toxic
• Over population and increasing consumption have resulted urban wastes such
as large food remains, paper, plastic and many notorious chemicals, other
items like paints and varnishes posing soil pollution problems.
• Sewage is an excellent medium for the growth of pathogenic bacteria,
viruses, and protozoa.
• Solid wastes causes Air and water pollution
• Solid wastes result in offensive odor and cause clogging of ground water filters
• E-waste can be considered as Hazardous waste effecting the soil, water and air
Management of Solid Wastes
• Collection of wastes: Door-to-door, Community bins etc.
• Sorting (Segregation) of waste materials
• Disposal Methods
• Dumping of non-combustible and harmless substances into dump
sites, water bodies (seas/rivers/lakes)
Composting: organic substances which are biologically
degradable
• Burning of combustible substances: Incineration (in the presence of
Oxygen) , Pyrolysis (without Oxygen)
• Pyrolysis is the best way to treat solid wastes
Management of Solid Wastes
1. Segregation: It can be done in two ways:
On-site segregation at the point of generation of wastes with the cooperation of the
waste producer (e.g., houses, industries, commercial establishments, hospitals, etc).
Central processing facility: It involves separation of different kinds of wastes by
screening, air classifying and magnetic separators.
2. Disposal
Biodegradable solid wastes are disposed by composting while non-biodegradable solid
wastes are disposed by incineration, land filling, pyrolysis etc.
Landfilling:
• In this, solid wastes are dumped into low lying areas and is also called land filling.
The waste is dumped in layers of about 1.5 metre and each layer is covered by good
earth of about 20 cm thickness. Each layer is compacted by trucks to allow its
settlement and then insecticides like DDT are sprayed on the top of each layer to
prevent breeding of mosquitoes and flies. It takes a period of 2 to 12 months during to
undergo decomposition under anaerobic conditions into stable compounds. Such
landfills can be used for developing parks or other recreational sites.
Composting (preparation of plant fertilizer)
• In this, the putrescible (degradable) organic matter of solid wastes is digested
anaerobically or aerobically by microbial action and converted into humus
and stable mineral compounds. Wastes also become free from most of the
pathogenic organisms.
• Although aerobic composting is more attractive but it has drawback that it
may have unacceptable odor. But its used as manures in soil then crop yield is
improved and there is reduced need of fertilizers and pesticides.
• Anaerobic Composting is more advantageous due to:
• No need of aeration
• Produces biogas (55% methane + 45% CO2) which can be used for
heating or electric power generation.

• Composting is best suited to Indian conditions since it enables disposal of

solid wastes and production of valuable manure for crops.
Incineration
• It involves the aerobic burning of the combustible constituents of solid wastes
like garbage, rubbish and dead animals in the properly-constructed hearth of
furnaces at high temperature (> 6700C).
• It reduces the volume of waste by 20 to 30% of original volume and makes
the product stable. The final products are ashes and clinkers (coal like
substances). Clinkers can be used as aggregate for low grade concrete.
• It can also be used to generate steam power.
• Thermal incinerator or after burner is the instrument used for thermal
combustion of low amount of combustible gaseous pollutants. This is also the
ideal method for medical waste management as eliminates the infectious
organisms.
• Incineration technique also has certain drawbacks:
• Incinerator ash is toxic and contains toxic chemicals like Dioxin (a
chlorinated compound and adversely affecting humans and animals even in
low doses) and mercury (damages the Kidneys and Brain).
• Its leachate (liquid) can pollute ground water
Pyrolysis:
• It involves anaerobic destructive distillation of the combustible constituents of
the solid wastes at high temperature (6500 to 10000C) in a pyrolysis chamber so as
to recover the chemical constituents and chemical energy of organic wastes.
E-waste:
• E-waste are buried in landfills or incinerated.
• Over half of the e-waste generated in the developed world is exported to developing
countries, mainly to China, India and Pakistan.
• Where metals like copper, iron, silicon, nickel and gold are recovered specifically
built facilities for recycling of e-waste, recycling in developing countries often
involves manual participation thus exposing workers to toxic substances present in e-
wastes.
Recycling
• Recycling of paper waste can be converted into useful products.
• Glass is a perfect recyclable product that can be used in variety of ways
• Recycling of metals from metallic wastes, disposed metallic cans, metallic scraps and
wrecked automobiles is quite profitable and can be utilized in many other ways.

Solid Waste Management : Reduce, Reuse and Recycle (3R)

THANK YOU