Environmental Pollution
- A substance that causes an undesirable change in the physical, chemical or biological characteristics of the natural environment is known as pollution.
- Although there are some natural pollutants such as volcanoes, pollution generally occurs because of human activity.
- Biodegradable pollutants, like sewage, cause no permanent damage if they are adequately dispersed.
- Non-biodegradable pollutants, such as lead (Pb), maybe concentrated as they move up the food chain.
- At present, Air Pollution- associated with basic industries such as oil refining, chemicals, iron and steel, and coal, as well as with internal combustion engine- is probably the principal offender, followed by water, and land pollution.
- Other forms of environmental pollution include noise and the emission of heat into waterways, which may damage aquatic life.
- Present-day problems of pollution include acid rain and the burning of fossil fuels to produce excessive carbon dioxide.
- Air Pollution
- Water Pollution
- Soil and Land Pollution
- Noise Pollution
Air Pollution:
- The presence in the Earth's atmosphere of man-caused or man-made contaminants may adversely affect the property, or lives of plants, animals, or humans.
- Commonly air pollution includes CO2, CO, Pb, NOx, O3 (Ozone), SOx, and smoke.
- The tremendous increase in vehicles during the last three decades in the country has increased air pollution, especially in large cities.
- Consequently, the urban population is suffering more by cough, nausea, irritation of the eyes, and various bronchial and visibility problems.
- Because of the emission of CO2, CO, NOx, and suspended particles of lead (Pb) and heavy metals, the urban environment is more polluted than the rural environment.
- The air pollution is the main cause of many of the disease and ailments.
- Cough, shortness of breath, bronchitis, cold and fatigue, bronchopneumonia, lung infection, infection & anemia, high blood pressure, nervous system, emphysema, angina pectoris, fatal arrhythmia or myocardial damage, coronary damage, coronary disease, cancer in the kidney, testis, brain, stomach, lung, respiratory tract bladder & uterus, leukemia & problems associated with gastro-intestinal & liver damage.
- Reduction in vehicular emission
- Improvement in the quality of diesel and petroleum
- Use of alternate sources of fuel e.g., CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) & LPG (Liquid Petroleum Gas)
- More use of public transport
- Improved vehicular technology
- Mass awareness
Water Pollution:
Urbanization:
- The unplanned growth of urban centers, especially inevitably lead to huge quantities of domestic and industrial waste.
- The high energy consumption in urban places gives rise to large quantities of waste-water, sewage, and domestic trash.
- The inadequate development of sewerage disposal has polluted most of the rivers, lakes, ponds, and wells.
- Municipal water treatment facilities in India are not up to the international standard.
- The quality of water is poor in the urban areas, especially in the unauthorized colonies & slums.
Industrialization:
- The industrial waste consists of chemicals, detergents, metal & synthetic compounds, besides the solid waste & garbage.
- These pollutants are generally discharged in rivers.
- Consequently, most of the rivers, lakes, ponds, and wells in India are polluted by industrial wastes.
Withdrawal of Water:
- The water of most of the rivers is utilized for irrigation, industries, & domestic purposes.
- In the plain areas, generally, the rivers contain little water during the winter & summer seasons.
- What flows into the rivers is the water merging from small streams & drains carrying untreated sewage & effluent.
- Each river must contain a minimum discharge throughout the year to maintain its ecology.
Application of Plants Protection Chemicals:
- After the introduction of High Yielding Varieties in the agricultural landscape, the use of chemical fertilizers, insecticides & pesticides has increased substantially.
- These inputs can be used with success only in the areas where controlled irrigation is available. In fact, these chemicals have changed the soil chemistry.
- The use of insecticides has killed the useful bacteria in the soil as well as the fertility-enhancing earthworms.
Ground-Water Quality:
- The underground water is largely consumed for irrigation, drinking, and industrial purposes.
- The underground water is being polluted by the heavy application of chemical fertilizers, plant protection chemicals, infiltration of contaminated water, & waste disposal.
- Once polluted, underground water may remain in hazardous conditions for decades or even for centuries.
- Consumption of polluted water is a major cause of poor health in India.
- The polluted water causes diseases like cholera, dysentery, diarrhea, jaundice & tuberculosis.
- Children, especially in the urban slums & rural areas are the worst affected.
Soil & Land Pollution:
- Soil is the life support system of mankind. Soil becomes polluter either due to the misdeed of man or at times by the environmental hazards.
- The main factors of soil & land pollution are soil erosion, excessive use of chemical fertilizers & plant protection chemicals.
- Soil is also polluted by liquid & solid wastes from urban & industrial areas, forest fires, water-logging, related capillary processes, & mining wastes.
- The soil pollution can be reduced by a judicious application of chemical fertilizers, insecticides, & pesticides.
- The urban & industrial effluents can be used for irrigation after proper treatment.
Noise Pollution:
- Noise is one of the important forms of atmospheric pollution.
- It may be defined as the state of discomfort & restlessness caused to humans by unwanted high-intensity sound.
- Noise pollution has increased in India considerably with the increase in urbanization & industrialization.
- The automobiles, factory machines, & loudspeakers at the religious places are the main noise pollutants.
- Noise pollution leads to impairment of hearing.
- It also results in mental tension, blood pressure, heart disease, irritation, fatigue, & stomach trouble.
- Locating the noise-producing industries away from the residential areas
- Replacement of old machinery
- Minimum use of horn
- Improvement in rail tracks, &
- To educate the younger generation about the adverse consequences of noise pollution.