VELAMMAL ENGINEERING COLLEGE, CHENNAI – 66

(An Autonomous Institution, Affiliated to Anna University, Chennai)

UNIT II ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION 6-hrs

Definition — causes, effects and control measures of: (a) Air pollution (b) Water pollution (c)
Soil pollution (d) Marine pollution— Solid waste management: causes, effects and control
measures of municipal solid wastes — Role of an individual in prevention of pollution—
Disaster management: floods, earthquake.

ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
Pollution is defined as the unfavorable alternation of our surroundings which affects the
human beings, plants, animals etc.

CLASSIFICATION:

Pollution is classified into

➢ Air pollution
➢ Water pollution
➢ Soil pollution
➢ Marine pollution

Pollutants:
A substance which is hazardous to human beings, plants animals, environment etc is called as
pollutants.

Types:
➢ Bio-degradable - can be degraded or decomposed by natural processes.
➢ Non-bio degradable - cannot be degraded or decomposed by natural processes.

AIR POLLUTION

“The presence of one or more contaminants which is hazardous to human beings, plants,
animals etc.”

Sources or causes for air pollution:

Natural sources - Volcanic eruption, forest fires, biological decay, pollen grains, marshes etc,

Man made sources - Thermal power plants, vehicular emissions, fossil fuels agricultural
activities etc.

Classification of air pollutants:

Primary pollutants: Emitted directly to the atmosphere and harmful for the living
things.

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Ex: CO,NO,SO 2

Secondary air pollutants:

Some primary pollutant may react with one another to form new pollutant which are
harmful to living things.
Eg: Nitrogen oxide in the presence of moisture form nitric acid.
Eg: NO/NO3 → HNO/HNO3

Common air pollutants, their sources and effects

s. Name of the
n pollutant Sources/causes effects
o

1 Carbon Cigarette smoking, incomplete

monoxide combustion of fossil fuel motor Causes headache and
vehicle exhaust anemia
Increases global
temperature
2 Nitrogen Fossil fuel burning in motor Lung irritation and damage
dioxide vehicles, and power plants Acid rain which affects soil, aquatic
bodies , corrosion of
metals, damage to monuments,
fabrics etc.

3 sulphur Coal burning in power plant, Causing breathing problem, reduce

dioxide industrial processes. visibility, causes acid rain which
affect aquatic life, soil and damage
to structures.
4 Suspended Agriculture, burning of coal in Nose and throat irritation, lung
particulate power and industrial plants, damage, asthma, reproductive
matter (SPM) burning diesel and other fuels problems and cancer
etc

5 Ozone Chemical reactions by volatile Climatic change.

organic compound and
nitrogen
oxide

6 Lead Leaded petrol, lead storage Mental retardation in children,

batteries, paint etc cause cancer etc.

7 Hydrocarbons Decay of vegetable matter Carcinogenic

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 8 Chromium Paint, smelters, Cancer, chrome holes, gastro

chromium plating etc intestinal problems and affect

the cental nervos system

9 Photo Due chemical reactions Breathing problems, nose, eye

chemical among nitrogen oxide and irritation, heart diseases,

smog hydrocarbon causes

by sunlight pneumonia

Control of air pollution:

➢ Use of unleaded petrol

➢ Use of petroleum products and fuels with low sulphur and ash content.

➢ Reduce the number of private vehicles.

➢ Encouraging people to walk or use cycles.

➢ Plant more trees

➢ Industries and waste disposal sites should be situated outside the city.

➢ Use of catalytic converters to control the emissions of CO and hydrocarbons.

Control measures in industrial centers:

1. The emission rates should be restricted to permissible levels.
2. Incorporation of air pollution control equipments.
3. Continuous monitoring of the atmosphere for the pollutants.

Equipments used to control air pollution:

1) Wet Scrubbers
2) Cyclone separator
3) Bag house filter
4) Electrostatic Precipitators.

Some Other secondary air pollutants,

1. Smoke
 A suspension of fine solid particles (usually < 1 µm in diameter) in the air.
 Due to incomplete combustion of a fuel.
 The smoke from coal consists of carbon, oil → unburned hydrocarbons, silica, Al, Pb,
sulphuric acid and organic compounds.
 Smoke affects earth's energy budget by disrupting the flow of both incoming and
outgoing radiation.
Fog

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  A suspension of water droplets in the lower atmosphere which reduces visibility
 It is caused by condensation when moist air is cooled below the dew point.

2. Smog
 A combination of smoke and fog which creates air pollution.

3. Peroxy acetyl nitrate (PAN)

 Peroxy acetyl nitrate is a peroxy acyl nitrate. It is a secondary pollutant present
in photochemical smog. It is thermally unstable and decomposes into peroxyethanoyl
radicals and nitrogen dioxide gas. It is a lachrymatory substance.
 Peroxy acetyl nitrate, or PAN, is an oxidant more stable than ozone. Hence, it is better
capable of long-range transport than ozone. It serves as a carrier for oxides of nitrogen
(NOx) into rural regions and causes ozone formation in the global troposphere.
4. Ozone

VOC + NOx + Heat + Sunlight = Ozone

VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) and NOx (Nitrogen Oxides) come from
motor vehicles, power plants, industrial facilities, and other sources.

Ozone characteristics
➢ Allotropic form of oxygen
➢ Important components of the atmosphere
➢ Effect on the ozone layer
➢ Ozone is toxic
➢ Use for drinking water treatment

WATER POLLUTION

Definition:
Water pollution defined as the alteration in physical, chemical and biological
characteristics of water which may cause harmful effects on humans and aquatic life.

Sources
Point and non – point sources:

Point sources are discharged pollutants at specific locations through pipes ditches or sewers
Eg: source is from drain pipes, ditches, sewer outfalls, factories and power plants - easy to
monitor and regulate

Non-point sources:
They are usually large land areas or air sheds that pollute water by runoff subsurface flow or
deposition from the atmosphere.

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Eg: Runoff from farm fields and feedlots, lawns and gardens, golf courses, construction sites,
atmospheric deposits - no specific location so harder to monitor and regulate

SOURCES AND EFFECTS OF WATER POLLUTION:

1. Infectious agents: - Bacteria, viruses, protozoa and parasitic worms.
Sources: Human and animal wastes.
Effects: Variety of diseases.
2. Oxygen demanding wastes: Animal manure and plant debris that can be decomposed by
aerobic bacteria.
Sources: Sewage, paper mills, and food processing facilities
Effects: Wastes can degrade quality by depleting water of dissolved oxygen.
3. Inorganic chemicals: Water soluble inorganic chemicals.
 Acids
 Compounds of toxic metals such as lead , arsenic and selenium
 Salts such as Nacl in ocean water .
Effects: Genetic mutations, birth defects and certain cancers.
Excess of fluoride causes defects in teeth.

4. Organic chemicals

Thousands of natural and synthetic organic chemicals are used to make pesticides,
plastics, pharmaceuticals, pigments, etc

5. Plant nutrients

Eutrophication, toxic tides

Nitrogen and phosphorous compounds:

• Addition of these compounds containing N and P helps in the

growth of algae which causes foul smelling.

6. Sediment

Soil particles transported from their source

Effects: clogged estuaries, death of coral reefs

7. Radioactive materials - Carcinogenic

8. Heat - Thermal pollution - addition of excess of undesirable heat to water that makes it
harmful to man, animal or aquatic life or otherwise causes significant departures from the
normal activities of aquatic communities in water”
9. Toxic compounds:
Toxic compounds like cadmium, lead, arsenic etc causes bio

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 accumulation, blue baby syndrome etc.
10. Pathogens:
Sewage containing pathogenic and non- pathogenic microorganisms and many viruses.
Water borne diseases like cholera, dysentery, typhoid, jaundice etc. are spread by water
contaminated with sewage.

Dissolved oxygen
Dissolved oxygen is the amount of oxygen dissolved in a given quantity of water at a particular
temperature and atmospheric pressure.
Significance of DO

• Amount of dissolved oxygen depends on aeration , photosynthetic activity in water,

• Respiration of animals and plants
• Dissolved oxygen present in water is 7mg/l at 250C.
• Lower the DO may be harmful to animals especially fish population.

Chemical oxygen demand:

The amount of oxygen required to oxidize all the organic and inorganic impurities present in the
sample

Significance of COD

• Determine the pollution strength of the river.

• It is rapid process only takes 3 hours.

Biological oxygen demand:

The amount of oxygen required to oxidize all the organic compounds present in the water
sample.

Significance of BOD

• Important indication of amount of organic matter present in river.

• The BOD value is most commonly expressed in milligrams of oxygen consumed per
lit of sample during 5 days of incubation at 20 °C. It is written as BOD5
• The rate of oxidation and demand depends on the amount and types of organic
matter present in river

CONTROL OF WATER POLLUTION:

• The administration of water pollution control should be in the hands of state or central
government.
• Scientific techniques are necessary to be adopted for the environmental control of
catchment areas of rivers ponds or streams.
• Plants, trees and forests control pollution and they acts as natural air conditioners.

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 • The possible reuse or recycle of treated sewage effluents and industrial wastes should
be emphasized and encouraged.
• Suitable laws and practices should be framed to regulate the discharge of undesirable
flow of water in water bodies and such regulations should be modified from time to time
in order to accommodate the changing requirements and technological advancements
• It is not advisable to discharge any type of waste, either treated or untreated.
• Basic and applied research in public health engineering should be encouraged.
• Highly qualified and effective persons should be consulted for effective control or water
pollution from time to time.
• Industrial plants should be based on recycling operations. • The national goal should be
“conservation of forests” and campaign should be “plant more trees”.
• Awareness to public through radio, TV, etc
• Companies should not discharge any type of effluents either treated or untreated into
rivers, lakes, ponds etc.

SOIL POLLUTION

Definition:

The contamination of soil by human and natural activities which may cause harmful effects on
living things.

1. Industrial wastes
Sources and effects: Pulp and paper mills, chemical industries, oil refineries, and sugar
factories. These pollutants affect and alter the chemical and biological properties of soil. As a
result, hazardous chemicals can enter into human food chain from the soil; disturb the bio
chemical process and finally lead to serious effects.

2. Urban wastes
Sources and effects: Plastics, Glasses, metallic cans, fibers, papers, rubbers, street sweepings,
and other discarded manufactured products. These are also dangerous.

3. Agricultural practices
Sources and effects: Huge quantities of fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, and weedicides are
added to increase the crop yield. Apart from these farm wastes, manure, slurry, are reported to
cause soil pollution.

4. Radioactive pollutants
Sources and effects: These are resulting from explosions of nuclear dust and radioactive wastes
penetrate the soil and accumulate there by creating land pollution.

5. Biological agents
Sources and effects:
Soil gets large quantities of human, animal and birds excreta which constitute the major source of
land pollution by biological agents.

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Effects:
Sewage and industrial effluents which pollute the soil ultimately affect human health. Various
types of chemicals like acids alkalis, pesticides, insecticide, weedicides, fungicides heavy metals
etc. in the industrial discharges affect soil fertility by causing changes in physical, chemical and
biological properties.

 Some of the toxic chemicals inhibit the non-target organisms, soil flora and fauna and
reduce soil productivity. These chemicals accumulate in food chain and ultimately affect
human health. Indiscriminate use of pesticides specially is a matter of concern.

 Sewage sludge has many types of pathogenic bacteria, viruses and intestinal worms
which may cause various types of diseases. Decomposing organic matter in soil also
produces toxic vapours.

 Radioactive fallout on vegetation is the source of radio-isotopes which enter the food
chain in the grazing animals. Some of these radio isotopes replace essential elements in
the body and cause abnormalities eg. Strontium -90 instead of calcium gets deposited in
the bones and tissues. The bones become brittle and prone to fracture.

 Radioisotopes which attach with the clay become a source of radiations in the
environment.

 Nitrogen and phosphorous from the fertilizers in soil reach nearby water bodies with
agricultural run-off and cause Eutrophication. ( over nourishment of water bodies with
N& P).

 Chemicals or their degradation products from soil may percolate and contaminate ground
water resources.

CONTROL MEASURES OF SOIL POLLUTION

The pressure on intensification of farm activities increases for two reasons
➢ Population growth.
➢ Decrease of the available farm land due to urbanization.

Control measures
➢ Forestry and farm practices
➢ Proper dumping of unwanted materials
➢ Production of natural fertilizers
➢ Proper Hygienic condition
➢ Control of soil erosion
➢ Public awareness
➢ Recycling and reuse of wastes
➢ Ban on toxic chemicals.

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 SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT

Management of solid wastes has therefore become very important in order to minimize the
adverse effects of solid wastes. Solid waste can be classified as municipal, industrial,
agricultural, medical, mining waste and sewage sludge.

Sources of urban and industrial wastes:

Solid waste can be classified into different types depending on their source:
• Household waste or municipal waste: includes food, paper, cardboard, plastic, textiles,
leather, glass, metal, ashes, electronics waste etc.
• Industrial waste: includes toxic chemicals, oil, debris from construction site, packaging
waste, ashes etc.
• Biomedical waste or hospital waste: medicine bottles, expired medicines, syringes,
medical instruments such as scissors, blades etc.
• Agriculture waste: includes pesticides, crops, water coming from the fields also consists
of small amount of toxic chemicals.
• Nuclear waste: includes radioactive substances coming from reactors, fuel (uranium,
thorium, plutonium etc). It’s highly dangerous and requires proper disposal.
• Hazardous waste: includes toxic chemical, acids, corrosive, ignitable and reactive
materials, gases etc.

CLASSIFICATION OF WASTES
• Bio-degradable – Can be degraded (paper, wood, fruits and others)
• Non-biodegradable – Cannot be degraded (plastics, bottles, old machines, cans,
containers and others)

Waste from homes: contains a variety of discarded materials like polyethylene bags, empty
metal and aluminium cans metals, glass bottles, waste paper, diapers, cloth/rags, food wastes etc.

Waste from shops :mainly consists of waste paper, packaging material, cans, bottles,
polyethylene bags, peanut shells, eggshells, tea leaves etc.,

Biomedical waste: includes anatomical wastes, pathological wastes, infectious wastes etc.
Construction/demolition wastes: includes debris and rubbles wood, concrete etc.
Horticulture waste and waste from slaughter houses include vegetable parts, residues and
remains of slaughtered animals respectively.
Industrial wastes: it includes large amount of rubbish, packaging materials, organic wastes acids,
alkalis and metals etc.

Effects of solid wastes:

Every year, major health problems result from hazardous waste like cancer, respiratory
condition, heart diseases etc, so it required proper disposal.

 When hazardous wastes are released in the air, water, or on the land, they can spread or
contaminate our environment.

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  When rain falls on soil at a waste site, it can carry hazardous waste deeper into the
ground and the can pollute ground-water.
 Bio degradable materials decomposed under uncontrolled and unhygienic conditions
produces foul smell and breeds various types of insects and infectious organisms besides
spoiling the aesthetic of the site.
 Industrial solid waste changes in physicochemical and biological characteristics thereby
affecting productivity of soils.
 Burning of some of these materials produce dioxins, furans and polychlorinated biphenyl,
which have the potential to cause various types of ailments including cancer.

Management of Solid Wastes:

For waste management we stress on 3R approach “Reduce, reuse and recycle”

 Reduction in use of raw materials: Reduction in the use of raw materials will
correspondingly decrease the production of waste. Reduced demand for any metallic
product will decrease the mining of their metal and cause less production of waste.
 Reuse of waste materials: The refillable containers which are discarded after use can be
reused. Villagers make casseroles and silos from waste paper and other waste materials.
Making rubber rings from the discarded cycle tubes which are used by the newspaper
vendors, manufacturing of rubber bands , reduces the waste generation during
manufacturing of rubber bands.\
 Recycling of materials:
a) Formation of some old type products.
b) Formation of new products.

For discarding solid wastes the following methods can be adopted:

1. Land fills
2. Composting
3. Incineration

PROCESS OF SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT

FLOW CHART

• Solid waste generation

• Collection of wastes

▪ Transportation Storage

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 • Storage

• Segregation of waste

DISPOSAL METHODS

LANDFILL COMPOSTING INCINERATION

Disposal Methods:

SANITARY LANDFILL:
It is the most traditional method of waste disposal.

 Solid wastes are placed in sanitary landfill system in alternate layers of 80 cm thickness
of refuse  Covered with selected earth fill of 20 cm thickness
 After 2 or 3 days solid wastes volume shrinks by 25-30%
 Then the land is used for parks, roads, small buildings etc.
 Waste is directly dumped into disused quarries, mining voids or borrow pits.
 Disposed waste is compacted and covered with soil to prevent vermin and wind-blown
litter.
 Gases generated by the decomposing waste materials are often burnt to generate power.
 It is generally used for domestic waste.

Advantages
 Landfill site is a cheap waste disposal option for the local council.
 Jobs will be created for local people.
 Lots of different types of waste can be disposed of by landfill in comparison to other
waste disposal methods.
 The gases given off by the landfill site could be collected and used for generating power.
 Simple and economical
 Segregation is not required Landfill areas can be used for other purposes
 Natural resources are retained to the soil.

Disadvantages
 The site will look ugly while it is being used for landfill.
 Dangerous gases are given off from landfill sites that cause local air pollution and
contribute to global warming.
 Local streams could become polluted with toxins seeping through the ground from the
landfill site.

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  Once the site has been filled it might not be able to be used for redevelopment as it might
be too polluted.
 Large area is required Transportations cost is heavy.
 Bad odors, if landfill is not properly managed Insecticides, pesticides should be applied at
regular intervals Causes of fire hazards due to formation of methane.

COMPOSTING:
Conversion of bulk organic waste matter into fertilizing manure by biological action.

In this method the separated compostable waste is dumped in underground trenches (1.5m),
covered with earth of 20 cm and left over for decomposition. Microorganism (Actinomycetes) is
introduced to start decomposition. After 2 or 3 days the organic wastes are destroyed by
microorganism and produce heat. Composting will happen at 75ºC. Finally the refuse can be
converted into powdery brown colored odorless mass called Humus (fertilizer). It contains lots of
nitrogen for plants growth, phosphates and other minerals.
 Trench-1.5 m of refuse covered by 20cm soil
 Actinomycetes(active decomposition)
 2-3 days, 75 degree celsius.
 Brown colored mass- Humus

 Rich in N& P
Advantages
 Increases the water retention & ion exchange capacity
 Industrial wastes can be treated
 Reducing the disposal cost
 Recycling occurs.
Disadvantages
 Non consumables should be separated
 Marketing and awareness are required for farmers

INCINERATION:

In this method combustible substances (rubbish, garbage, dead organisms) & non-combustible
substances (glass, porcelain, metals) are separated first.

 The combustible waste substances are first dried in a pre-heater

 Then it is taken in a large incinerating furnace which incinerate about 100 to 150 ton per
hour

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  The temperature is maintained between 700ºC to 1000ºC
 The left out ashes & clinkers from the furnace is further disposed by landfill method
 The heat produced in the incinerator is used for generating electricity though turbines
 The non combustible substances are left out for recycling.
 The ash is mostly formed by the inorganic constituents of the waste and gases due to
organic waste.
 The heat generated by incineration is used to generate electric power.

Advantages
 Require little space
 Cost of transportation is not high
 Safest and hygienic
 Capacity 300 tonnes per day and can generate 3MV of power
 Minimum of land is needed compared to other disposal methods.
 The weight of the waste is reduced to 25% of the initial value.
 No risk of polluting local streams and ground waters as in landfills.
 Incineration plants can be located close to residential areas.

Disadvantages
 Expensive
 Required skilled labour.
 The chemicals that would be released into the air could be strong pollutants and may
destroy ozone layer (major disadvantage).
 High energy requirement
 Capital and operating cost is high
 Need skilled persons
 Formation of smokes, dusts,

MARINE POLLUTION

DEFINITION- It may be defined as “the discharge of waste substances into the sea resulting
in harm to living resources hazards to human health, hindrance to fishery and impairment
of quality for use of sea water”.

The discharge of waste substances into the sea resulting in harm to living resources hazards to
human health, hindrance to fishery and impairment of quality for use of sea water.

Coral reef
 Under water structure –hard stone
 Made from calcium carbonate secreted by corals- colonies of tiny marine animal
 Habitat for million species
 Feeding ,breeding & nursery area to fish
 Offer medicine
 act as buffer to ocean waves - protect from storm

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Sources of Marine Pollution:

1. Dumping the wastes:

 Sewage into oceans by the coastal towns and cities.
 Agricultural discharge, pesticides including heavy metals.
 Plastic is being dumped in sea.
 Untreated industrial effluents.

2. Oil pollution of marine water:

 The great damage to water is caused by discharge of petroleum and its products.
Eg: Crack of oil tanker, accidental spillage, cleaning of fuel tank

Effects of Marine Pollution:

➢ The presence of heavy metals and organic pollutants cause more damage in birds as
thinning of eggshell and tissue damage of egg.
➢ Oil spilling causes low body temperature in birds resulting in hypothermia.
➢ Oil pollution cause damage to marine fauna and flora including algae and fungi.
➢ Oil spilling in the sea water causes low body temperature in birds resulting in
hypothermia.
➢ Oil films are able to retard significantly the rate of oxygen uptake by water.
➢ Detergents used to clean up the spill are also harmful to marine life.
➢ Hydrocarbon & benzpyrene accumulate in fish & consumption of fish by man cause
cancer.

Control Measures of Marine Pollution:

➢ Plans for conserving marine biodiversity must be taken into account of human needs.
➢ People should be educated about marine ecosystems and the benefits offered by them.
➢ Local communities must be involved in protecting and managing their coastal resources.
➢ Social and economic incentives must be offered for conserving and sustainable use of
marine resources.
➢ The fact that all the oceans in the world are connected must be reflected in the policies.
➢ Government must manage their own waters while extending cooperation to the
neighboring states.

ROLE OF AN INDIVIDUAL IN PREVENTION OF POLLUTION

1. Help more in pollution prevention than pollution control.

2. Use eco-friendly products.
3. Plant more trees &Use CFC free refrigerators.
4. Reduce your dependency on fossil fuel.
5. Save electricity.
6. Increase use of renewable resources.
7. Do not let pesticides, paints, solvents, oils or other harmful chemicals into the drain or

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 ground water source.
8. Use only minimum required amount of water for various activities.
9. Check population growth.
10. Save as many trees as possible.
11. Use mass transport system.
12. Use water, energy and other resources efficiently.
13. Purchase recyclable, recycled and environmentally safe products.
14. Reduce deforestation.
15. Remove NO from motor vehicular exhaust.
16. Use natural gas than coal.
17. Use machines in well ventilated areas.
18. Use less polluting substances for cleaning agents, paints & other products.
19. Don’t use Polystyrene cups that have Chloro fluoro carbon (CFC) which destroy ozone.
20. Use rechargeable batteries which will reduce metal pollution.
21. Use organic manure instead of inorganic fertilizers.
22. Reduce garbage by recycling & reuse, slow population growth.

DISASTER MANAGEMENT

Hazard - It is a perceived natural event which threatens both life and property.

Disaster - A disaster is the realization of this hazard.

Definition: It is defined as the geological process and it is an event concentrated in time and
space in which a society or subdivision of a society undergoes severe danger and causes loss of
its members and physical property.

Types:
Natural disasters – refers to those disasters that are generated by natural phenomena.
Manmade disasters – refers to the disasters resulting from manmade hazards.

FLOODS:
Definition: Whenever the magnitude of water flow exceeds the carrying capacity of the channel
within its banks the excess of water overflows on the surroundings causes floods.

Causes of floods:
➢ Heavy rain, rainfall during cyclone causes floods
➢ Sudden snow melt also raises the quantity of water in streams and causes flood
➢ Sudden and excess release of impounded water behind dams
➢ Deforestation, overgrazing, mining, rapid industrialization, global warming etc
➢ Clearing of forests for agriculture has also increased severity of floods.

Effects: Loss of human life, animal life and plants Loss of property

Flood Management:

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 ➢ Encroachment of flood ways should be banned.
➢ Building walls prevent spilling out the flood water over flood plains.
➢ Diverting excess water through channels or canals to areas like lake, rivers where water is
not sufficient.
➢ Optical and microwave data from IRS is also used for flood management.
➢ Flood forecasts and flood warning are also given by the central water commission.
➢ Afforestation, proper weather report and prior intimation to the people.

EARTHQUAKES:
Definition: An earthquake is a sudden vibration caused on earth surface with the sudden release
of tremendous energy stored in rocks under the earth’s crust.

It is due to sudden movements of earth’s crust that is tectonic plates. The point on a fault at
which the first movement occurs during an earthquake is called the epicenter.

Earth quake generated water waves called tsunamis can severely affect coastal areas.

Causes:
➢ Impoundment of huge quantities of water in the lake.
➢ Underground nuclear testing.
➢ Deep well disposal of liquid waste.
➢ Disequilibrium in any part of the earth crust
➢ Decrease of underground water level.

RICHTER SCALE SEVERITY OF EARTHQUAKE

Less than 4 Insignificant

4- 4.9 Minor

5- 5.9 Damaging
6- 6.9 Destructive

7- 7.9 Major

More than 8 Great

Effects:
➢ Damage to property and living organisms the settlements and transport systems
➢ Collapses houses and their structures
➢ Deformation of ground surface

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 ➢ Tsunami

Control Measures:
➢ Constructing the earth quake resistant buildings in the earth quake prone zones.
➢ Wooden houses are preferred in earthquake prone areas.

Earthquake Management:
➢ Constructing earthquake resistant building
➢ Wooden houses are preferred
➢ Seismic hazard map should give the information about the magnitude of intensity of
anticipated earthquakes.

CASE STUDIES
THE BHOPAL GAS TRAGEDY

The world’s worst industrial accident occurred in Bhopal, M.P., India on the night of 2nd and
morning of 3rd December, 1984. It happened at Union Carbide company which used to
manufacture carbaryl pesticide using Methyl isocyanate.

Due to accidental entry of water in the tank, the reaction mixture got overheated and exploded
because its cooling system had failed. Other safety devices also did not work or were not in the
working condition. Forty tons of MIC leaked into the atmosphere which might have
concentrations affects lungs and eyes and causes irritation in the skin.

Higher amount of gases remove oxygen from lungs. The gas spread over 40 km2 area. About
5100 persons were killed according to Indian officials.

About 2,50,000 persons got exposed to MIC. An estimated 65,000 people suffered from severe
eye, respiratory, neuromuscular, gastrointestinal and gynecological disorders.

About 1000 persons became blind. Without counting the damage of human lives, it cost about
570 million dollar in clean up and damage settlement. This tragedy could have been averted had
the company spend about one million dollar on safety improvement.

On night of 3rd December 1984 in Bhopal city of Madhya Pradesh At Union carbide India Ltd,
which manufactures carbonate pesticides using Methyl Isocyanate (MIC) Due to failure of
coolant, the reactor got exploded & 40 tons of MIC leaked over 40 sq.km area. Nature of MIC: It
is a toxic gas, affects lungs, eyes & causes irritation in skin. Remove oxygen from lungs & cause
death. Effects in Bhopal: About 5000 persons died, 1000 became blind, 65,000 people suffered
from eye, respiratory, neuromuscular problems.

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CHERNOBYL NUCLEAR DISASTER:

Chernobyl is a small area in the Ukraine of Soviet Union. The explosion took place on April
26.1986. The human error caused the unmanageable fire and explosion in the reactor due to
failure of cooling system in the light water graphite reactor.

In this accident more than 80,000 people died, 3.5 million people were affected by abnormalities,
thyroid disorders, bone necrosis, skin cancer, pigment discoloration eye disease and others.
Nearly 1,50,000 people were evacuated to a safe place at a distance 30 km from the Chernobyl.

Chernobyl nuclear accident is the worst nuclear disaster in the history of human civilization
which occurred at Chernobyl Ukraine in the erstwhile USSR. On 26th April, 1986 the accident
occurred at the reactor of the Chernobyl power plant designed to produce 1000MW electrical
energy. The reactor had been working continuously for 2 years. It was shut down on April 25,
1986 for intermediate repairs. This period coincided with the period when people including the
top executives were busy in the preparations for national holiday, the May day. Due to faculty
operations of shutting down the plant, an explosion occurred in the reactor at 1.23hrs on April 26
1986. Three seconds later another explosion occurred.

The explosion was to severe that the 1000 tonne steel concrete lid of the reactor 4 blew off. Fire
started at the reactor due to combustion of graphite rods. The reactor temperature soared to more
than 20000 C. Fuel and radioactive debris spewed out in a volcanic cloud of molten mass of the
core and gases. The debris and gases drifted over most of the northern hemisphere. Poland,
Denmark, Sweden and Norway were affected.

On first day of the accident 31 persons died and 239 people were hospitalized. Since the plume
was rich in Iodine-131 , cesium – 134 and cesium -137 , it was feared that some of the 5,76,000
people exposed to the radiations would suffer from cancer specially thyroid cancer and leukemia.
Children were more susceptible as Iodine -131 is ingested mainly through milk and milk
products. Children consume more milk suffered from ulcerating skin, loss of hair, nausea and
anemia.

Agricultural product was damaged for years. Blood abnormalities, hemorrhagic diseases ,
changes in lungs, eye diseases, cataract, reproductive failure and cancer cases increased.

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TAJ TRAPEZIUM

ACID RAIN
Normal rain which dissolute the pollutants in the atmosphere such as oxides of C,N,S
gives as acid rain.

 Taj Mahal is a white marble stone mausoleum.

 Walls of Taj Mahal has become darkened and disfigured due to air pollution from nearby
Mathura Oil refinery.
 H2O + SO2 → H2SO3
 SO2 + O2 → SO3; SO3 + H2O → H2SO4.
 The acid rain reacts with marble stone (CaCO3) to produce calcium sulphate, causing
darkening and disfigurement.

EFFECTS OF ACID RAIN

Declining Aquatic Animal Populations, Thin-shelled eggs, prevent bird reproduction Forest
decline
Eg: Black forest in Germany (50% is destroyed)

 Aquatic ecosystem drastically affected

 Soil acidification
 Toxic metals are made available
 Damage the foliage of plants and weaken trees
 Enhances UV radiation penetration
 Lower reproductive potential of animals and birds
 Causes respiratory ailments in humans
 Damages monuments, metals

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Control Measures
 Emission of SO2 and NO2 from industries and power plants should be reduced by using
pollution control equipments like scrubbers.
 Industries and power plants do not burn fossil fuels.
 Coal containing less sulphur should be used in industries and power plants.
 Alternative energy of coal, natural gases, powered vehicles, battery powered cars, fuel
cells etc; are used.

ARSENIC POLLUTION IN GROUND WATER:

West Bengal and Bangladesh are severely contaminated by the toxic heavy metal
Arsenic. The first report of arsenic pollution in west Bengal came in 1978 and that in Bangladesh
in 1993, where it was found to be even more widespread.
Arsenic poisoning has far reaching consequences. The local people were found to be ingesting
low doses of arsenic for 10-14 years after which suddenly white or black spots called melanosis
started mottling the skin. The spots were found to get converted into leprosy like skin lesions
encrusting the palms and soles, eventually rotting into gangrenous ulcers. Long exposures often
led to bladder and lung cancer.

Children are affected by Arsenicosis (Arsenicosis is a chronic illness resulting from drinking
water with high levels of arsenic over a long period of time (such as from 5 to 20 years). It is also
known as arsenic poisoning.

Arsenicosis affected people are socially isolated, children barred from attending schools and
young women remain single. Excessive use of lead arsenate and copper arsenite as pesticides
causes of arsenic pollution.

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