Foundation Course

Foundation course - 3
Name: HEMANSHU.T.JOSHI
Roll no: SYMS25
Division: SYBMS_FINANCE
Types of pollution
There are five types of pollution wiz;

❖ Air Pollution
❖ Water Pollution
❖ Soil Pollution
❖ Radioactive Pollution
❖ Noise Pollution
What is Pollution?
“Pollution is the introduction of substances (or
a energy) that cause adverse changes in the environment
and living entities .”
Pollution need not always be caused by chemical substances
such as particulates (like smoke and dust). Forms of energy
such as sound, heat or light can also cause pollution. These
substances that cause pollution are called pollutants.
Types of Pollution
As stated before, there are different types of pollution,
which are either caused by natural events (like forest fires)
or by man-made activities (like cars, factories, nuclear
wastes, etc.) These are further classified into the following
types of pollution:
• Air Pollution
• Water Pollution
• Soil Pollution
• Noise Pollution
• Radio active
Besides these 4 types of pollution, other types exist such as
light pollution, thermal pollution and radioactive pollution. The
latter is much rarer than other types, but it is the deadliest.
Radioactive Pollution
The radioactive pollution is defined as the

physical pollution of living organisms and their environment as
a result of release of radioactive substances into the
environment during nuclear explosions and testing of nuclear
weapons, nuclear weapon production and decommissioning,
mining of radioactive ores, handling and disposal of radioactive
waste, and accidents at nuclear power plants.
Nuclear tests are carried out to determine

the effectiveness, yield, and explosive capability of nuclear
weapons. The proportion of radioactive pollution is 15% of the
total energy of the explosion. Radioactive pollution of water,
water sources, and air space is the result of radioactive
fallout from the cloud of a nuclear explosion. Radionuclides
are the main sources of pollution; they emit beta particles and
gamma rays, radioactive substances.
Air Pollution
Air pollution refers to the release of harmful

contaminants (chemicals, toxic gases, particulates, biological
molecules, etc.) into the earth’s atmosphere. These serious
health issues. Some causes that contribute to air pollution
are:
• Burning fossil fuels

• Mining operations
• Exhaust gases from industries and factories
The effects of air pollution vary based on the kind of
pollutant. But generally, the impact of air pollution ranges
from:
• Increased risk of respiratory illness and cardiovascular
problems
• Increased risk of skin diseases
• May increase the risk of cancer
• Global warming
• Acid rain
• Ozone depletion
• Hazards to wildlife
Among the other types of pollution, air pollution is theorized
to have a planet-wide implication. Scientists have even
speculated an apocalypse-like scenario where air pollution if
left unchecked, can bring about an extreme form of global
warming called the runaway greenhouse effect. Though this is
purely speculative, it is a phenomenon that has already
occurred on Venus.
Water Pollution
Water pollution is said to occur when toxic

pollutants and particulate matter are introduced into water
bodies such as lakes, rivers and seas. These contaminants are
generally introduced by human activities like improper sewage
treatment and oil spills. However, even natural processes such
as eutrophication can cause water pollution.
Other significant causes of water pollution include:
• Dumping solid wastes in water bodies

• Disposing untreated industrial sewage into water bodies
• Human and animal wastes
• Agricultural runoff containing pesticides and fertilisers
The effects of water pollution are very pronounced in our
environment. Furthermore, toxic chemicals can bioaccumulate
in living beings, and these chemicals can travel their way up
the food chain, ultimately reaching humans.
Among the other types of pollution, water pollution has a more
disastrous consequences on humans. For instance, in 1932, a
grave case of water pollution incapacitated the inhabitants of
an entire city in Japan with neurological diseases and mental
illness for many decades. However, the immediate cause was
not apparent but was eventually attributed to acute mercury
poisoning. Methylmercury was dumped into the surrounding
bay and had ultimately bioaccumulated inside the fish. The
local population then consumed these fish, and this resulted in
the manifestation of ill-effects and neurological diseases.
Other consequences of water pollution include:
• Disruption of the ecosystem

• Threats to marine life
• Increased risk of water-borne diseases
• Increases toxic chemicals (such as mercury) in water
bodies
• Eutrophication
Noise Pollution
Noise pollution refers to the excessive amount
of noise in the surrounding that disrupts the natural balance.
Usually, it is man-made, though certain natural calamities like
volcanoes can contribute to noise pollution.
In general, any sound which is over 85 decibels is considered
to be detrimental. Also, the duration an individual is exposed
plays an impact on their health. For perspective, a normal
conversation is around 60 decibels, and a jet taking off is
around 15o decibels. Consequently, noise pollution is more
obvious than the other types of pollution.
Noise pollution has several contributors, which include:
• Industry-oriented noises such as heavy machines, mills,

factories, etc.
• Transportation noises from vehicles, traffic horns, etc.
• Construction noises
• Noise from social events (loudspeakers, firecrackers,
etc.)
• Household noises (such as mixers, TV, washing machines,
etc.)
Noise pollution has now become very common due to dense
urbanisation and industrialisation. Noise pollution can bring
about adverse effects such as :
• Hearing loss
• Tinnitus
• Sleeping disorders
• Hypertension (high BP)
• Communication problems
Soil Pollution
Soil pollution, also called soil contamination, refers to the

degradation of land due to the presence of chemicals or other
man-made substances in the soil. The xenobiotic substances
alter the natural composition of soil and affect it negatively.
These can drastically impact life directly or indirectly. For
instance, any toxic chemicals present in the soil will get
absorbed by the plants. Since plants are producers in an
environment, it gets passed up through the food chain.
Compared to the other types of pollution, the effects of soil
pollution are a little more obscured, but their implications are
very noticeable.
Some of the common causes of soil pollution are:
• Improper industrial waste disposal
• Oil Spills
• Acid rain which is caused by air pollution
• Mining activities
• Intensive farming and agrochemicals (like fertilisers and
pesticides)
• Industrial accidents
The effects of soil pollution are numerous. Specific wastes,
such as radioactive waste become particularly hazardous when
they are not well-contained. A well-documented example is a
nuclear accident in Chernobyl, which has left an area of 2,600
km2 uninhabitable for several thousand years.
Other effects of soil pollution include:

• Loss of soil nutrients, which renders the soil unfit for
agriculture
• Impacts the natural flora and fauna residing in the soil
• Degrades vegetation due to the increase of salinity of
the soil
• Toxic dust (such as silica dust) can cause respiratory
problems or even lung cancer.

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Foundation course - 3

Roll no: SYMS25

There are five types of pollution wiz;

The radioactive pollution is defined as the

Nuclear tests are carried out to determine

Air pollution refers to the release of harmful

• Burning fossil fuels

Water pollution is said to occur when toxic

Other significant causes of water pollution include:

• Dumping solid wastes in water bodies

• Disruption of the ecosystem

• Industry-oriented noises such as heavy machines, mills,

Soil pollution, also called soil contamination, refers to the

Other effects of soil pollution include:

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