Environmental Issues

NOTES
For

NEET and AIIMS

Examinations
 www.gneet.com
This reading content version herein developed by www.gneet.com for
personal/academic use only. any use for commercial purpose will
lead to infringement of the of the rights of www.gneet.com

Disclaimer

The information contained in this pdf is for general information

purposes only. The information is provided by Gore Coaching Classes
and while we endeavour to keep the information up to date and
correct, we make no representations or warranties of any kind,
express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability,
suitability or availability with respect to the pdf or the information,
products, services, or related graphics contained on the pdf for any
purpose. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore
strictly at your own risk.

In no event will we be liable for any loss or damage including without

limitation, indirect or consequential loss or damage, or any loss or
damage whatsoever arising from loss of data or profits arise out of, or
in connection with, the use of this pdf

email about error to gcc@gneet.com for corrections

www.gneet.com
www. gneet.com

INDEX

1.0 Pollution
1.01 Causes of pollution
1.02 Classification of pollutants
1.03 effect of pollution
2.0 Air pollution
2.1 air pollutants and their effects
2.2 prevention and control of air pollution
2.2.01 Source Correction
2.2.02 Treatment
2.2.03 Control of vehicular air pollution
2.3 Acid rain

3.0 Water pollution

3.1 sources of water pollution
4. Biological magnification

5.0 Biological oxygen demands (BOD)

6.0 Eutrophication

7.0 Effects of water pollution on human begins

7.1 Different types of filters and coagulants used for purifying
potable water
8.0 Control of water pollution

9.0 Soil pollution

9.01 Sources of soil pollution
9.02 Control of solid wastes
10 Noise pollution
10.1 Sources of noise pollution
10.2 Effects of noise pollution
11.0 Radioactive pollution
11.1 Nuclear weapons

Page|1
www. gneet.com

11.2 Radioactive elements and its effects

11.3 Atomic reactors
11.4 Harmful effects of radioactive radiations
12.0 Thermal pollution
12.1 Effects of thermal pollution
12.2 Control of thermal pollution
12.3 Global environmental changes
12.3.01 Ozone layer depletion
12.3.02 Greenhouse effect
12.4 The effects of global warming
13.0 Environmental laws for controlling pollution

14.0 International initiative for mitigating global change

15.0 Degradation natural resources by improper resource utilization
and maintenance.

16.0 Deforestation
16.1 Causes of deforestation
16.2 Effects of deforestation
16.3 Conservation and management of forests
16.4 Other forms of forestry
16.5 Efforts for the conservation of forest
17.0 Forest and wildlife laws
1. Forest acts, 1927
2. Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, Amended 1988.
3. Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, Amended 1991
4. National Forest policy (1988)
18.0 Important dates

Page|2
www. gneet.com

1.0 Pollution

Pollution is any change in physical, chemical or biological

characteristics of the environment that has the potentiality to harm
human life, other species, natural resources
Contamination is the presence of harmful organisms or their toxins
that cause discomfort or disease

1.01 Causes of pollution

i) The major cause of pollution is
• Automobile exhaust
• Increasing use of pesticides, insecticides, and herbicides
• Waste chemical production from factories
• The rise in atmospheric CO2
• Radioactive substances
ii) Natural pollution is pollution caused by natural sources.
Example: Volcanic eruption, the release of methane by paddy
fields and cattle, the release of carbon monoxide of plants and
animals, emission of natural gas, ozone, nitrogen oxide, soil
erosion, dust storms, ultra-violet rays etc. 99.95% of pollution is
natural
iii) Man-made or anthropogenic pollution is pollution resulting
from human activities like the burning of fossil fuels,
deforestation, mining, sewage, industrial effluents, pesticides,
fertilizers etc. Amount of man-made pollution is hardly 0.05% of
total but more dangerous than natural pollution
iv) On the basis of emission, pollution may be :
• Point source pollution: It is from a single point. Example
municipal sewage and chimney

Page|3
www. gneet.com

• Line source pollution: It is passed along a narrow belt.

Example Road due to automobile exhaust.
• Area source pollution: It is over a large area. Example.
Sprayed fertilizers or pesticides through runoff

1.02 Classification of pollutants

On the basis of their existence in nature pollutants are of two
types:
• Quantitative pollutants: These normally occurs in nature but are
also added in large quantities by man. Examples: CO, CO2 and
nitrogen oxide
• Qualitative pollutants: They do not occur in an environment
normally but are added by man. Example: D.D.T, insecticides
On the basis of form, pollutants are of two types
i) Primary pollutants: These persist in the form in which they
are added to the environment. Example DDT, plastics, CO
ii) Secondary pollutants: These are formed by reacting amongst
the primary pollutants. Example nitrogen oxide and
hydrocarbons react in presence of sunlight to form two
secondary pollutants such as PAN ( peroxy acyl nitrate).
Secondary pollutants are more toxic than the primary
pollutants. The phenomenon of increase in toxicity by reaction
among the pollutants is called synergism
On the basis of their nature of disposal the pollutants are of two
types:
i) Non-degradablepollutants: Pollutants which cannot be broken
down by a micro-organism. Example: DDT, phenolic compounds,
ABS, hydrocarbons
ii) Biodegradable pollutants: Pollutants which can be broken down
by a micro-organism. Example Sewage

Page|4
www. gneet.com

1.03 effect of pollution

Pollution has an adverse effect like:
i) Crop production change
ii) Causes different diseases
iii) Soiling of building and textiles
iv) Loss of resources
v) Metal corrosion
vi) Money, funds, manpower involved in pollution control

2.0 Air pollution

According to WHO ( World Health Organization), air pollution may
be defined as “ the presence of materials in the air in such
concentration which is harmful to man and his environment”
• Major sources of atmospheric pollution are
i) Combustion of fissile fuels in homes, factories, thermal plants,
automobiles, railways, etc
ii) Mining and processing
iii) Chemical industries
iv) Cosmetic industries
v) Welding, stone crushing.
vi) Construction and demolition
• 52% of air pollution is caused by CO, 18% by SO2, 12% by
hydrocarbon, 10% by particulates, 6% by nitrogen oxides, 2% by
remaining.

2.1 air pollutants and their effects

• Carbon dioxide (CO2) – A major pollutant in the atmosphere
comes from burning of fossil fuels.
• Carbon monoxide (CO) – It is produced due to incomplete
combustion, metallurgical operations and naturally by plants and

Page|5
www. gneet.com

animal. Normally CO has a brief residence in the atmosphere and

gets oxidized to CO2. CO combines with haemoglobin, produces
carboxyhaemoglobin which impairs oxygen transport resulting in
headaches, decreased vision, cardiovascular disease, asphyxia.
• Particulate matter (PM) – It consists of soot, flyash, the dust of
various types, fur, hair, spores, pollen grain etc. Particulate matter
is differentiated into settleable ( larger than 10 μm,) remaining in
the air for less than one day, and suspended ( lesser than 10 μm)
remains in the air for more than one day to several weeks. SPM (
suspended particulate matter) is maximum in Kolkata. SPM is
differentiated in aerosol ( less than1 μm), dust ( more than 1 μm)
and mist ( liquid, more than 1 μm)
According to Central Pollution Control Board, particles most harmful
to human health are of 2.5 μm diameter. Dust and smoke produce
smog. Smoke is similar to dust but consists of a visible suspension
of carbon and another particle suspension of carbon and other
particles given off by burning or smouldering organic matter. PM
causes respiratory disease, tuberculosis, byssinois ( due to cotton
dust), allergy.
• Nitrogen oxide (NOX) – They are produced naturally through
biological and non-biological activities from nitrates, nitrites etc.
They cause fading and deterioration of textiles, produce lesions,
necrosis, defoliation. They also cause eye irritation, respiratory
troubles, lung edema, blood congestion, dilation of arteries and
cancer.
• Sulfur dioxide ( SO2) – It is produced during combustion of fossil
fuels, refining of petroleum and melting of sulfur-containing ores.
Sulfur dioxide produces smog. Maximum SO2 pollution is formed in
Kolkata. It causes membrane damage, destruction of chlorophylls.

Page|6
www. gneet.com

Lichens are most sensitive to SO2 pollution. SO2 corrodes metal,

impairs sensitive equipment, damages building, marble, paper, and
textiles. It produces eye irritation, damages respiratory tract,
produces asthma, bronchitis. SO2 produces acid rain which destroys
vegetation and degrades articles.
• Fluorides – They are produced during the refining of minerals.
Fluorides cause fluorosis. It causes chlorosis, necrosis of leaf tips
and margins. It causes abnormal calcification of bones and teeth,
frequent diarrhea, neuromuscular disorders.
• Hydrocarbons – These are produced naturally as well as due to
incomplete combustion. Hydrocarbons are carcinogenic, cause
irritation of eyes and mucous membrane. There is increased mucus
secretion and tearing of alveoli. Methane is naturally occurring
hydrocarbon produced due to decomposition of organic matter,
paddy fields and incomplete combustion in automobiles, industries.
• Chlorofluorocarbon / Freons ( CFC) – This chemicalare used in the
refrigerator, propellants CFC reacts with ozone and depleted it.
• Other atmospheric pollutants – Mercury ( burning of coal,
smelting), methyl isocyanate ( pesticide manufacturer), phosgene (
pesticide manufacture, dye industries) and lead ( automobile
exhausts ) are pollutants added to the atmosphere. Bhopal gas
tragedy was due to the releaseof phosgene and methyl isocyanate.
• Smog ( Des Voeux, 1905) – Smog is opaque dark fog having
condensed water vapors, dust, smoke and gases.
Smog is of two types
i) contains sulfur gases, smoke and dust particles. Classical smog
has the reducing environment. It is dark brown and opaque. The
smog is formed by condensation of water vapour with H2S and
SO2 over dust and smoke particles. Classical smog occurred in

Page|7
www. gneet.com

London during December 1952 when it affected 50% population

and killed over 4000 persons.
ii) Photochemical ( Los Angeles ) smog – It was first reported over
Los Angeles in 1940’s. Photochemical smog is produced at high
temperature over cities and town due to still air, emission of
nitrogen oxides. Nitrogen dioxide splits into nitric oxide and nascent
oxygen. Nascent oxygen combines with oxygen to form ozone.
Ozone reacts with a hydrocarbon to form aldehydes and ketone.
Nitrogen oxides, oxygen, ketones combine to form peroxyacyl
nitrates (PAN)
• Peroxyacyl nitrate(PAN) – It is produced due to the reaction
between NOX and hydrocarbons under the effect of UV – radiation
of sunlight. It causes eye irritation, respiratory tract disease in
human. Several enzymes are deactivated by PAN

2.2 Prevention and control of air pollution

2.2.01 Source Correction
This is the easiest solution to air pollution, where we control the
emissions by changing the quality process. Example : Elimination of
lead in gasoline to minimize the level of lead in the air

2.2.02 Treatment
According to size, range, and types of air pollutant, suitable devices
are effective. These are
• Settling chamber: To remove large particulates
• Cyclone separators: The dirt air is blasted into a conical cylinder.
This creates a violent swirl within the cone, the heavy materials
migrate to wall and exits from the bottom of the cone. The clean
air exits out from the top.
• Bag filters: Fabric bags are used to collect dust like a
commonvacuum cleaner
Page|8
www. gneet.com

• Wet collector: It promotes contact between air and water. Water

is introduced through a narrow throat section.
• Electrostatic precipitators: In power plants charged particulate
matters are separated and collected through the pipe.
• Gas scrubbers: It is used for dissolving gases
• Absorption: Activated carbon is used to capture pollutants
• Incineration: For removing gaseous pollutants CO2, H2O and inerts
are used.
• Catalytic combustion: Use of catalyst to remove pollutants.
• Dispersion: It is a process of spreading out emission over a large
area and thus reducing the concentration of the specific pollutants
• Vegetation – A broad strip of vegetation along the road and
around industrial area reduces particulate pollution

2.2.03 Control of vehicular air pollution

The Supreme court directed the government to take appropriate
measures for reducing pollution caused by automobiles through:
i) Switch over of public transport from petrol/diesel to CNG
ii) Phasing out of old vehicles
iii) Compulsory use of unleaded petrol and reduced sulfur content
of diesel
iv) Compulsory regular check-up of pollution emission of vehicles
v) Fitting the vehicle with catalytic converters

2.3 Acid rain

• The term was coined by Robert August
• Acid rain is rainfall and other forms of precipitation with pH less
than5. pH of normal rain is 5.6 – 6.5.
• Acid form atmosphere is deposited over the earth in two forms
i) Wet deposition occurs through rain, snow, and fog

Page|9
www. gneet.com

ii) Dry deposition is settling down of windblown acidic

gasesand particles over trees, articles, and soil. About
50% of acidity is passed to earth as dry deposition
• Acid rain is caused by the large-scale emission of acidic gases into
the atmosphere from thermal power plants, industries, and
automobiles. The common ones are sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide
(NOX), volatile organic carbon. NOX is also produced in the
atmosphereby lightning. Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are
changed in the atmosphere into sulphuric acid and nitric acid by
combining with oxygen and water.
2SO2 + O2→ 2SO3 ; SO3 + H2O → H2SO4
2NO + [ O ] → N2O5 ; N2O5 + H2O → 2HNO3
• Acid rain damages plants by a direct effect on foliage and growing
plants – chlorosis, necrosis, defoliation. It causes leaching of
essential mineral soil. Due to acid rain, many lakes in Germany and
other European countries have a pH of less than 5, an acidity level
considered lethal for many aquatic species. Acidity dissolves toxic
metals like Hg, Pb, Zn, Al. Both acidity and toxic metals kill all type
of aquatic life except some algae and fungi. Acid rain corrodes
metals, marble, painted surface, slates, stone etc. The phenomenon
is called stone leprosy.

3. Water pollution
• The water pollution may be defined as the presence of foreign
organic, biological, radiological or physical substance in water that
tends to lower its quality and either constitutes a health hazard or
decrease the utility of water.
• The various categories of water pollution are:
i) Biological pollutants: Pathogens such as viruses, bacteria,
protozoans, algae.

Page|10
www. gneet.com

ii) Chemical pollutants: Organic chemicals like biocides,

polychlorinated biphenyls, inorganic chemicals like cadmium,
mercury, lead.
iii) Physical pollutants: Hot water from industries, oil spills from
oil carriers etc. These pollutants are generated by different
sources and activities:

3.1 sources of water pollution

Domestic sewage
• Liquid waste from domestic activities such as kitchen, toilet and
households, wastewater.
• Domestic effluents carry organic wastes which are biodegradable.

Industrial wastewater
• The major sources of water pollution come from wastes from
industries such as paper mills, leather tanneries, textile and jute
mills, chemical and petroleum industries.
• Most of the coastal water is threatened by pollution from the
effluents of coastal prawn cultures farm and fish processing
industries
• Power plants and nuclear power stations are the mainsources of
thermal pollution of water. In these plants, water is used for cooling
and it becomes hot. The release of hot wastewater, having 8 to
10oC higher temperature than intake water, causes thermal
pollution in the water body.

Agricultural sources
• Modern agricultural techniques require the use of millions of tones
of artificial fertilizers, pesticides, insecticide for obtaining better
yield. These get mixed with groundwater, lakes etc and produce
several health hazards.

Page|11
www. gneet.com

Oil Spills
• Oil spills are the accidental discharge of petroleum in oceans or
estuaries.
• Offshore oil mining, capsized oil tankers add to oil pollution of the
marine ecosystem.
• It forms a thick layer called slick, which floats on the surface of
the sea and affect oceanic ecosystem as they are extremely
harmful to coral reefs.

4.0 biological magnification

• The phenomenon, through which certain pollutants gets

accumulated in tissues in increasing concentrations along the food
chains and produce a fatal effect is called biomagnifications. The
example of biological magnification is that of DDT, which is an
insecticide that is sprayed on water bodies to check the growth of
mosquitoes.
• The concentration of DDT increases as it passes from water to
plant body. Its concentration increases 800 times in the

Page|12
www. gneet.com

phytoplankton relative to the concentration in water. Zooplankton

contained about 5 times greater DDT than phytoplankton.

5.0 biological oxygen demands (BOD)

• Biological oxygen demand is the oxygen in milligrams required for
five days in one liter of water at 20O C for micro-organisms to
metabolize organic wastes.
• BOD is a measure of oxygen required by the aerobic material.
Higher the BOD lower would be dissolved oxygen (DO). Usually, a
high BOD in water means a high level of nutrients is present, along
with a high number of microorganism feeding the nutrients.
• Some major industries effluent BOD levels
BOD of Distillery is above 90,000mg/L
BOD of sugar mill is above 2200mL/lt
BOD of sewage is above 600mL/lit
BOD of Papermill is above 170mL/lit

6.0 Eutrophication
• It is the excessive growth of algae, plants, and animals in water
bodies due to nutrient enrichment, particularly with nitrogen and
phosphorus. Eutrophication is both natural and accelerated.
• Natural eutrophication occurs slowly at a rate which may not be
detectable in a humanlifetime. Accelerated or cultural
eutrophication occurs due to the passage of sewage and runoff
from fertilized fields into ponds, lakes and other water bodies.
• Nutrients present in sewage and fertilizers cause the dense
growth of plants and planktonic algae. The algae use oxygen at
night and may deoxygenate the water enough to kill fish and other
animals. However, soon planktonic coloration to water depending
upon the pigments present in them. The excess growth of

Page|13
www. gneet.com

planktonic algae that causes coloration of water is called algal

bloom.
• In many cases, the bloomis formed by blue-green algae. They are
toxic to animals and humans. In some cases, eutrophic water
bodies support the excessive growth of water hyacinth that chocks
pond, lakes, and rivers. Algal bloom and floating plants cut off light
from submerged pants. They die and a drastic decrease in oxygen
causes organic loading of water and thus lakes turn into the land.

7.0 Effects of water pollution on human

begins
• Domestic sewage contains pathogens like viruses, bacteria,
protozoans, and worms. Contaminated water causes diseases like
cholera, typhoid, amoebiasis, jaundice etc. Such contamination
makes the water unsuitable for drinking, bathing etc.
• Heavy metal contamination causes serious health problems.
Mercury poisoning ( Minamata disease) happens when mercury is
converted into extremely toxic methylmercury, which can cause
numbness of limbs, lips and tongue, deafness, blurring of vision
and mental retardation.
• Excess of nitrate in drinking water is unsafe for human health and
fatal for infants. It reacts with hemoglobin and forms non-functional
methaemoglobin that impairs oxygen transport. This is called
methaemoglobin or blue baby syndrome
• Overexploitation of groundwater perhaps initiates leaching of
arsenic from soil and rock sources and contaminates groundwater
chronic exposure of arsenic causes black foot disease. Arsenic
causes diarrhea, neuritis, lungs and skin cancer.

Page|14
www. gneet.com

• Excess fluoride in drinking water causes teeth deformity,

hardened bones, and stiff painful joints or knock-knee disease.
• Copper causes hypertension, uremia, fever.
• Lead interferes with oxygen and glucose metabolism. Harmful
effects include anemia, vomiting, loss of appetite, damage to liver,
kidneys, and brain.
• Zinc causes vomiting, cramps, renal damage.
• The harmful effect of cobalt includes diarrhea, hypertension,
damage to liver and kidney, diarrhea and skeletal deformities call
itai-itai.

7.1 Different types of filters and coagulants used

for purifying potable water
(i) Enzymatic filters are used to remove hydrocarbon impurity
(ii) Activated carbon filters and Aluminium-based coagulants are
used to remove Heavy metals
(iii) UV Filters is used to remove the pathogen
(iv) Activated Carbon Filters used to remove chlorine, volatile
organic compounds (VOCs), taste and odor from water. They
are not effective at removing minerals, salts, and dissolved
inorganic compounds (DOCs)

8.0 Control of water pollution

• Improved methods for handling and disposal of sewage garbage
should be introduced.
• To control the epidemic and other diseases proper methods of
sterilization of water drawn from shallow wells should be developed.
• The effluents from industries should be neutralized and treated
before discharges into streams. Suspended mater should be

Page|15
www. gneet.com

removed by settling filtration and specific poisons should be

removed by chemical methods
• The industrial and municipal wastewaters are treated in effluent
treatment plant (ETP) prior to disposal in water bodies. Sewage
treatment system often involves three stages:
i) Primary treatment: This is a physical process that involves
the separation of large debris followed by sedimentation in
tanks.
ii) Secondary treatment: This is a biological process and is
carried out by the microorganism. In this treatment,
wastewater is pumped in shallow stabilization, where the
microbes oxidize the organic matter. The process results in the
release of CO2 and formation of sludge. The sludge is
continually aerated for further oxidation. Algae are grown in
the upper lighted zone of the wastewater supply aeration by
generating O2.
iii) Tertiary treatment: This is physic- chemical process that
removes turbidity in wastewater caused by the presence of
nutrients ( nitrogen phosphorus, etc) dissolved organic matter,
metals, and pathogens. This stage involves chemical oxidation
of wastewater by strong oxidizing agents, such as chlorine gas,
perchlorate salts, UV-radiation and ozone gas.
iv) It contains a lot of salts and other solids. Alum, ferric
chloride and lime are used for their precipitation. They
precipitate 90% of suspended solids and 90% of phosphates.
It should be normalized and treated further with activated
carbon for removal of dissolved organics and coloring agents.
Water is now treated for removal of salts and nitrate. Ideally,
such a water should be recycled to irrigation.

Page|16
www. gneet.com

9.0 Soil pollution

• It is an alternation in soil caused by removal or addition of
substance and factors which decreases its productivity, quality of
plants and groundwater. Negative soil pollution is a reduction in
soil productivity due to erosion and over-use. Positive soil
pollution is a reduction in soil productivity due to the addition of
undesirable products ( industrial wastes, air pollution wash down
by rain). Landscape pollution is converting the fertile land into
barren one by dumping wastes ( ash, sludge, garbage, industrial
wastes).

9.01 Sources of soil pollution

1. Pesticides: They include insecticides, fungicides, algaecides,
weedicides, and rodenticides.
(i) Organochlorine – These include DDT, BHC etc. They are
persistent, fat-soluble and show biomagnifications.
(ii) Organo-pesticides- Deradeble but toxic to workers eg,
malathion, parathion, carbamates.
(iii) Inorganic pesticides – They contain arsenic and sulfur and is
persistent.
(iv) Weedicides – Often persistent and harmful.
2. Fertilizers: Excessive use causes natural microflora. Leaching
down causes pollution of underground water salts entering crop
plants in excess may prove harmful. For example, nitrate-rich
leaves, fruits, and water produce nitrate in the alimentary canal
that enters the blood combines with haemoglobin which forms
methaemoglobin and reducing oxygen transport. It may prove fatal
for infants.
3. Industrial effluents/ wastes: They include scrap, effluents,
sludge, flyash and radioactive wastes. Industrial solid wastes and
Page|17
www. gneet.com

sludge add a lot of toxic chemicals into the soil. Fly-ash is fall-out
from industrial emissions especially thermal plants. Radioactive
wastes from testing laboratories and other sources also pollute the
soil.
4. Municipal wastes: they include domestic wastes market wastes,
sweepings, wastes from commercial complex, plastic can etc.
5. E-wastes: Electronic wastes are irreparable computers, mobile,
and other electronic goods

9.02 Control of solid wastes

1. Recovering and recycling
It is carried out with the help of rag pickers. The articles which can
recover and recycled are tins, cans, other metal wastes, glass,
plastic, polyethylene, rags, paper, and cardboard. Metal waste can
be melted and purified.
2. Source reduction
Garbage and other organic wastes are taken out of the urban area
and used for formation of compost, biogas, and manure.
Three R's-Reduce, Reuse and Recycle of wastes
3. Burning
Burning is combustion of solid wastes having organic materials in
open space. It produces offensive odour and air pollution. Better
methods are incineration and pyrolysis.
• Incineration: It is controlled aerobic combustion of wastes inside
chambers of temperature 900 -1300oC. Incinerators are fitted
with scrubbers and electrostatic precipitators to prevent the
release of smoke and toxic chemicals.
• Pyrolysis: It is combustion inside chambers in the absence of
oxygen at a temperature of 1650OC. It does not yield pollutants
but industrial gas and other substances are produced.

Page|18
www. gneet.com

4. Construction material
Flyash is being converted into bricks for construction work. Flyash,
industrial effluents containing toxic chemicals and hazardous metals
can be used as bedding material or road construction
5. Dumping
Dumping is piling of waste on selected low lying land. It is of two
types, open and sanitary.
• Open dumping: It is accumulating waste on uncovered low lying
area. The waste is piled up as high as the equipment can easily
do. The waste is periodically burnt or compressed at intervals to
reduce its bulk.
• Sanitary dumping: The waste is compacted and covered over by
a layer of earth.

10 Noise pollution
• Noise can be defined as unwanted sound.
• Noise is measured in decibel (dB). The decibel measures the
loudness of noise to the ear. The range of hearing in human
beings is upto 120dB. We can hear ordinary 50dB but any
sound above 120dB is harmful. Prolonged noise at 95dB will
produce deafness, nervous tension, and rise in blood
pressure.
Sound becomes hazardous noise pollution at the level of 80dB

10.1 Sources of noise pollution

• Main sources of noise pollution are:
• Various industries such as textile mills, printing press,
engineering establishment.
• Agricultural machines like tractors, harvesters
• Defense equipment such as tanks, artillery, rocket launching,
explosions
Page|19
www. gneet.com

• Entertaining equipment like radio, record players, and

television sets.
• Domestic gadgets such as fans, vacuum cleaners, pressure
cookers.
• Public address system like loudspeakers.
• Transport vehicles like buses, trains, cars, scooters, jet
planes.
• Dynamite blasting.
• Crackers used at occasions like marriage and festivals.
• Bulldozing, stone crushing, construction work.

10.2 Effects of noise pollution

• Noise brings about
• Damage to eardrum and impairment of hearing.
• Interference in conversation and hearing.
• Emotional disturbance, development of anxiety and stress.
• Damage to eyesight, color perception, night vision etc.
• Hypertension, changes in peripheral circulation and breathing
problems, decreased heart output and gastric problems.
• Startle reaction.
• A headache, sleeplessness, annoyance, and irritability.
• Reduced productive performance.

10.03 Control of noise pollution

• Delimiting of acoustic zoning. A silent zone for 100m around
hospitals and educational institutes will provide comfort for
ailing patients and help students to concentrate on their
studies.
• Use of cotton plugs or ear muffs in occupational exposure.
• Development of quieter machines.

Page|20
www. gneet.com

• Soundproof insulating jackets or filters for reducing noises

from machines
• Restricted use of loudspeakers.
• Acoustic furnishing and low voice radio / TV.
• Regulation of noise on road.
• Green muffler.

11.0 Radioactive pollution

It is degradation of environment due to the release of radioactivity.
Radioactivity is measured in units called roentgens or ‘r’.
1. Background radiation
It is radiation level found naturally in biosphere due to
cosmic rays reaching earth and radio-nuclides found in
earth’s crust. The naturally occurring radioactive elements
are Uranium-232, Uranium-235, Thorium-232, Radium-224,
Radon-222, Potassium-40 and Carbon-14.
2. Man-made radiation
They are due to mining and refining of radioactive elements
like plutonium, uranium, and Thorium, nuclear power plants
and fuels, preparation of radioactive isotopes, production
and explosion of nuclear weapons

11.1 Nuclear weapons

They use Uranium-235, Plutonium-239 for fission and hydrogen or
lithium as fusion material.
A nuclear explosion produces:
i) Uncontrolled chain reaction
ii) Tremendous heat.
iii) Neutron flux that changes another element to radioactive
state.
iv) Unused explosive and activation products.
Page|21
www. gneet.com

v) A lot of radioactive and other gases forming mushroom

type cloud.

11.2 Radioactive elements and its effects

• Iodine-131 forms thyroxine and damages spleen, lymph
nodes, leucocytes, bone marrow, produces a lungtumour,
skin cancer as well as sterility.
• Strontium-90 causes bone cancer, blood cancer, and tissue
regeneration.
• Cesium-137 brings about nervous, muscular and genetic
changes.

11.3 Atomic reactors

They employ controlled radioactive fission, fusion for the liberation
of energy.
i) The coolant water causes thermal pollutions.
ii) A small amount of radioactivity enters coolant water which
undergoes magnification to some 75,000 times in birds.
iii) They release halogen and inert gases.
iv) A mishap can be dangerous as an atomic explosion.
v) Radioactive waste is highly pollutant and its dumping
requires several precautions – first cooling in small ponds for
50 -100 years and then packing in special containers, which
are buried some 500 meters deep in rocks or at the bottom of
the ocean.

11.4 Harmful effects of radioactive radiations

They were first recorded in 1909 in uranium miners as skin burns
and cancer. Young and recently divided cells become easily
damaged. Short range effects are a loss of nails and hair, bleeding,

Page|22
www. gneet.com

the changed proportion of blood cells changed metabolism. Long

range effects are tumours, cancer, mutations, genetic deformities.

12.0 Thermal pollution

The rise in temperature of air and water due to waste heat from
various sources such as thermal power plants, nuclear power
plants, industries, and automobiles causing undesirable changes in
the natural environment is called thermal pollution.

12.1 Effects of thermal pollution

• Heat causes deoxygenation in water.
• The rise in temperature of water speeds up metabolic activities
of aquatic organisms. As a result, they require more oxygen.
• Increase in microbial activity in hot water also contributes to the
death of fishes.
• Migration of aquatic animals is affected due to the formation of
different thermal zones in water.

12.2 Control of thermal pollution

• Cooling ponds: In this method, water from the condensers is
stored in ponds where natural evaporation causes its cooling.
This water is discharged is nearby water body.
• Spray towers: In this method, water from the condensers is
received in spray ponds. Thereafter it is sprayed through
nozzles in the form of fine jets. Water drops dissipate the
heat to the atmosphere.
• Cooling towers: In this method, hot water is sprayed over
baffles. The cool air entering from sides takes away the heat
and results in cooling of water.

www.gneet.com
Page|23
www. gneet.com

12.3 Global environmental changes

12.3.01 Ozone layer depletion
• Ozone layer or shield is present in the stratosphere. It is also
called ozonosphere. The thickness of ozone is measured in
Dobson unit (DU).
• Ozonosphere functions as a shield against strong UV radiations.
• Depletion in the concentration of ozone over a restricted area
as over Antartica is called ozone hole.
• Ozone-depleting substances (ODS) are substances which react
with ozone present in the stratosphere and destroy the
same. The major ODS are chlorofluorocarbons (14% of total
depletion), sulfur dioxide, halogen, carbon tetrachloride,
methyl chloroform etc. A single chlorine atom converts 1 lakh
molecules of ozone into oxygen

CFCl3→ CFCl2 + Cl
CFCl2→ CFCl + Cl
Cl + O3→ ClO + O2
ClO +O3→ Cl + 2O2

• UV-B is harmful as well as capable of deep penetration.

Thinning of ozone layer increases the amount of UV-B
radiations reaching the earth.
• The various effects of ozone depletion are:
• Cornea absorbs UV-B radiations and becomes inflamed. The
disorder is called “snow blindness” cataract. It leads to a
diminishing of eyesight, photoburning and later permanent
damage to the cornea that results in actual cataract.

Page|24
www. gneet.com

• UV-B radiation damage to skin cells causesaging of skin and

skin cancer.
• Damage of nuclei acids increases resulting in higher number of
mutations.
• UV radiations inhibit photosynthesis by affecting photosynthetic
machinery.
• Decreased photosynthetic activity will increase the CO2
concentration of the atmosphere resulting in global warming.

12.3.02 Greenhouse effect

• It is warming effect found in the greenhouse by allowing solar
radiations to pass in but preventing loss wave heat radiations
to pass out due to glass panels, water vapours, and carbon
dioxide. Because of its greenhouses are used for growing
tropical plants in temperate areas.
• The whole sunlight does not reach the earth. About one-fourth
of incoming solar radiations are reflected back by clouds and
gases another one-fourth of radiation is absorbed by
atmospheric gases. The gases which are transparent to solar
radiation but retain and partially reflect back long-wave heat
radiation are called greenhouse gases.
• Greenhouse gases are essential for keeping the earth warm
and hospitable. They prevent a substantial part of the
longwave radiation emitted by earth to escape into space.
Rather greenhouse gases radiate a part of it back to earth.
This phenomenon is called greenhouse flux. Because of
greenhouse flux, the mean annual temperature is 15OC.
• The various greenhouse gases are CO2 (60%). CH4(20%),
chlorofluorocarbon (14%)and nitrous oxide (6%), other of
minor significance are water vapor and ozone.

Page|25
www. gneet.com

• Global warming – It is believed that increase in the

concentration of greenhouse gas has resulted in the rise of
atmospheric temperature. The rise in temperature will be
slight in tropics, moderate in middle latitudes and maximum
in polar regions.

12.4 The effects of global warming

• Warming of the atmosphere will significantly increase its
moisture carrying capacity while the troposphere warms
up, the stratosphere will cool down hence increasing the
size of the ozone hole. This would also cause extensive
changes in precipitations due to changed pattern of air
mass movements.
• The global warming may contribute a sea level rise due to
the thermal expansion of the ocean as it warms and
melts the glaciers and Greenland ice sheets. A rise of
even half a meter in sea level would profoundly affect
human population, one-third of which lives within 60km
of coastline. Numerous low lying islands may be
submerged.
• Each plant or animals species occur within a specific range of
temperature. The global warming is likely to shift the
temperature ranges and as a result, would affect
altitudinal and latitudinal distribution pattern of an
organism with increasing global warming. Many species
are expected to shift polewards or towards high elevation
in mountain areas. Since trees are sensitive to
temperature stress, a rapid rise in temperature may cause
the extensive death of trees and their vegetation by scrub

Page|26
www. gneet.com

vegetation. Many species may not able to migrate fast

enough to track temperature changes and may disappear.
• Small temperature increase may slightly improve crop
productivity in the temperate region, but larger
temperature changes will reduce crop productivity. This
will have disturbing consequences on world food supply.

13.0 Environmental laws for controlling

pollution
1. Environment ( Protection) Act, 1986
• It is the most comprehensive law meant for prevention,
control of environmental pollution by laying down emission
norms and setting up of central and state pollution control
boards
• The boards check the emissions and effluents by various
institutes and industries, their treatment and disposal. The
act encompasses air, water, soil, and noise. Rules have
been framed under this law from time to time such as
i) Hazardous wastes (management and handling) Rule 1989.
ii) Noise Pollution (Regulation of control) Rules 2000.
iii) Biomedical waste (management and handling) Rules,
1998.
iv) Recycled plastic manufacture and usage Rule 1999.
v) Ozone-depleting substances (Regulation and control) Rule
2000.
vi) Municipal Solid Wastes (Management and handling) Rule
2000.

Page|27
www. gneet.com

2. Insecticide Act 1968

• It regulates the manufacture, import, sale, transport,
distribution, and use of insecticides laying down various
rules to reduce risk to human health and health of other
organisms.
3. Water ( prevention and control of pollution) Act 1974.
• It specifies the quality of water for various purposes,
way,and means to control water pollution and prevention
of detrimental pollution and prevention of detrimental
effects on human health and health of other biological
entities.
4. Air ( Prevention and control of pollution) Act 1981
• This act is meant for preserving the quality of air, controlling
air pollution and preventing detrimental effects of air
pollutants and human health and health of other biological
entities. By an amendment in 1987, the noise was also
recognized as air pollutants.

14.0 International initiative for mitigating

global change
1. Montreal Protocol ( 16 September 1987): 27 industrialized
countries agreed to limit production of chlorofluorocarbons to half
the level of 1986.
2. Helsinki Declaration ( May 1989): Montreal Protection was
ratified by 82 nations at Helsinki. They pledge to phase out CFC by
the year 2000.
3. In June 1990, 93 nations amended Montreal Protocol and
Helsinki Declaration. They agreed to phase out CFC’s till date 175
nations have signed it.

Page|28
www. gneet.com

4. Intergovernmental Panel on climatic change ( IPCC, 1988 )

Prepared world climatic programme (wcp)
5. Convention on climate change (CCC) : Under UN framework in
1991.
6. Earth Summit (United Nation Conference on Environment and
Development, 1992).
It was held in Rio-de-Janeiro ( Brazil) and adopted the
recommendations of CC for reducing greenhouse gases. The
recommendations were signed by 154 nations. They pledged to
maintain emission of greenhouse gases at 1990 level.
7. Kyoto Protocol ( Dec 1997)
An international conference held in Kyoto, Japan obtained
commitments from different countries for reducing overall
greenhouse gas emissions at a level of 5% below 1990 level by
2008 – 2012.
8. World Summit for sustainable development (2002)
The Summit was held in Johannesburg, South Africa, for discussing
ways and means to sustain development without depletion of
biodiversity.
9. U.N. Convention on climatic change (CCC, 2004)
The meeting was held in Buenos Aires, Argentina, for preparing a
strategy to reduce global warming.
10. Bali conference (2007) : It has concentrated on ways and
means to check global warming.
11. Copenhagen conference (2009): Participating countries have
agreed to voluntarily reduce CO2 emissions.
12. UN climate change conference (CCC, 2011): It was held in
Durban, South Africa.

Page|29
www. gneet.com

15.0 Degradation natural resources by

improper resource utilization and
maintenance.
Degradation of natural resources not only occurs due to over-
exploitation and action of pollutants but also due to too improper
utilization practices.
(i) Soil erosion
It is the removal of topsoil occurs when the plant cover is removed.
The agencies that cause soil erosion are water and wind. Plants
cover is removed due to deforestation, overgrazing, leaving tilled
loose soil for a few days un-irrigated and unseeded. Since the
onlytopsoil is fertile soil erosion reduces the productivity of the
land. The water eroded soil passes into rivers and reservoirs.
It raises river bed causing flood and storage capacity of reservoirs
also reduces. Water becomes muddy killing all types of aquatic life.
(ii) Desertification
It occurs in the plain where excessive grazing and trees fallingleave
the land barren. In the dry season, such exposed is eroded by
wind. As fine soil particles are taken away by wind, heavy sand
particles are left. They also show creepy. The area becomes arid
and sandy.
(iii) Waterlogging
It is the presence of water more than field capacity of the soil.
waterlogging occurs due to
(a) Seepage from irrigation channels.
(b) Excessive irrigation.

Page|30
www. gneet.com

(c) The absence of underground drainage. Waterlogging drives

out soil air. Anaerobic conditions produce toxins, prevent root
growth and kill the plants.
(iv) Soil salinity
Poorly drained soil in semi-arid areas and soil irrigated by brackish
water turn saline. Evaporation of water from the surface draws
more and more water from below. As soil water contains salts.
Salts are left over the surface while the water evaporates.

16.0 Deforestation
It is removal, decreases or deterioration of forest cover of an area.

16.1 Causes of deforestation

1. Jhuming
In India about 5 lakh hectares of land is cleared every year through
lopping, burning the remainder, mixing the ash with soil and sowing
the cleared land with crop seeds. The land is used for 2-3 years
without manuring. This results in nutrient depletion reduced
moisture retention and increased soil erosion
2. Hydroelectric projects
Dams, reservoirs and hydroelectric projects submerge forest killing
all plants and animals.
3. Forest fires
Huge forest fires engulfing areas of 40,000 km2 have occurred in
Indonesia in 1983 and 1997.
4. Human establishment
5. Mountain and Forest Road
Construction of roads and railways in hilly forested areas bring
about a lot of deforestation, landslides and soil erosion large
sections are dynamited. This weakens the already fragile mountain
system. The fragments pass into valleys. They increase soil erosion.
Page|31
www. gneet.com

6. Overgrazing
India with 2.4% geographical area has some 500 million livestock
population. Grazing area is only 13 million hectors where one
hectare of land supports only 6 livestock heads. The remaining
livestock naturally grazes in forests trampling seedlings and
compaction of soil. Compaction of soil reduces water storing
capacity.
7. Requirement of wood
It is rising, some 300 million m3 for fuel and 40 million m3 for the
industry, mostly timber and paper industry.
8. Quarrying and mining.

16.2 Effects of deforestation

1. Shrinking fuelwood
In India, availability of fuelwood in 58 million m3 / year against the
requirement of 300 million m3/year.
2. Reduced timber
3. Change in climate
Deforestation results in reduced rainfall, increased drought, hotter
summers and cold winters.
4. Soil erosion
The soil is exposed in insolation, dries up and get eroded by wind
and water
5. Flash floods
They occur during rainy season due to non-retention of water in the
soil, increased runoff water flowing into streams and rivers during
rains.
6. Siltation
Rainy season rivulets bring eroded soil and bring the deposits on a
bed of reservoirs reducing storage capacity.

Page|32
www. gneet.com

7. Drought loss of biodiversity, rainfall

8. Global warming
Deforestation increases atmospheric CO2 content by releasing
carbon stored in organic matter and reduced primary productivity.

16.3 Conservation and management of forests.

1. Sustained yield block cutting : Cutting is allowed only in the non-
vulnerable forest at a rate which is equal to their regeneration
capacity.
2. Control of weeds, pesticides, and controlled grazing.
3. Chipko movement: It is movement initially meant for protecting
trees but now meant for preservation of environment including
habitat and wildlife. Chipko movement was born in March 1973 in
Gopeshwar in Chamoli district, when trees were not allowed to be
cut by village folk by hugging them first near village Mandal, then
Rampur Phata in 1974 near village Reni ( led by Gaura Devi). The
movement has two leaders, Chandi Prasad Bhatt of Gopeshwar and
Sunder Lal Bahuguna of silyara in Jehri region. A similar moment
was undertaken by Paudurang Hegde in the south. It is known as
an appiko movement.

16.4 Other forms of forestry

(i) Social forestry – Raising quick growing multipurpose plants in
common village lands for meeting requirement of fodder,
firewood, and small timber.
(ii) Urban forestry – It is a plantation of fruit, flower, and shade-
bearing plants in urban areas to reduce pollution and ultimate
yield of wood
(iii) Agroforestry – It is a plantation of multipurpose trees, shrubs
along with crops for stabilizing soil, meeting the needs of fodder,
fruit, and timber.
Page|33
www. gneet.com

(iv) Production plantation – It is growing of industry required

trees on specific, free grazing lands. Production plantation
decrease pressure from real forests.
Reserve forest – These forests are grown over the ecologically
fragile area where our water regimes are also located.

16.5 Efforts for the conservation of forest

16.5 01 Joint Forest Management (JFM)
Despite best efforts by the forest department, the degraded sal
forest of Arabari in Midnapore district could not be regenerated. The
forest officer A.K.Banerjee was allowed to seek the participation of
villagers in regeneration on employment cum share basis. Within
few years, by 1983, Arabari forest has been revived. Buoyed by this
success, the government of India introduced the concept of Joint
Forest Management of forest for which the communities get
benefits from forests like fruits, gum, rubber, medicine etc.

16.5.02 Bishnoi
Forest conservation is an old practice in India. In 15century, Guru
Jambheshwar Maharaja enunciated 29 principles for protecting the
environment, on account of this principles, his followers are known
as Bishnoi. Bishnoi does not allow falling of trees and killing of
animals. In 1731, a king of Jodhpur asked one of his ministers to
arrange wood for his new palace. The minister alongwith personnel
of royal force came to a forest near village Khejrali. A Bishnoi
woman Amrita Devi hugged the tree and challenged King’s men to
cut her down before cutting the trees. She sacrificed her life. Her
three daughters and 360 other Bishnois lost their lives saving trees.
This perhaps a singular example where humans laid down their
lives in order to save trees. The government of India has instituted

Page|34
www. gneet.com

Amrita Devi Bishnoi wildlife protection Award for rural individuals

and communities who show exemplary courage and dedication for
protecting wildlife.

17.0 Forest and wildlife laws

1. Forest acts, 1927
(i) Establishment and management of three types of forests –
village forest, reserved forest, and protected forests
(ii) Protection of non-governmental forests and forest land
against over-exploitation
(iii) Control of movement of forest products
(iv) Control of grazing.

2. Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, Amended

1988.
No forest land can be de-reserved and diverted to non-forest
purposes without the approval of central government. A diversion
when permitted would be accompanied by compensatory
afforestation, in some cases, twice the forest area lost. Six regional
offices have been set up to monitor enforcement of Act –
Bangalore, Bhopal, Bhubhaneshwar, Lucknow, Shillong and
Chandigarh.

3. Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, Amended 1991

i) The act restricts and prohibits hunting of the animal
ii) Protection of certain plants from excessive exploitation
iii) Setting up and managing national parks and sanctuaries
iv) Creation of zoo authority for controlling of zoos and captive
breeding.
v) Control trade in wildlife, wildlife products

Page|35
www. gneet.com

vi) Encouraging and assisting the formation of wildlife societies.

4. National Forest policy (1988)

It aims at increasing cover of forest in plains and hills so that
optimum of 33% forest cover is achieved in plains and 67% in hills.
Other aims are:
i) Maintenance of environmental stability through preservation
and restoration of ecological balance.
ii) Check on soil erosion and denudation of catchment areas
iii) Checking on the spread of sand dunes.
iv) Increase in forest tree cover through massive afforestation
and social forestry programmes.
v) Steps to create massive people’s movement of afforestation,
management, and protection of forests. Already about 17.33
million hectares of degraded and protected by 84632 Joint Forest
Management Committees

18.0 Important dates

1. Wetland Day : 2nd Feb
2. World Forest Day:21st March
3. World Water Day : 22nd March
4. Earth Day: 22nd April
5. World Environment Day : 5th June
6. Hiroshima Day : 6th August
7. Nagasaki Day: 9th August
8. World Ozone Day : 16th September
9. World Animal Welfare day : 4thOctober
10. National Pollution Prevention Day : 2nd December

That’s all folks!

Page|36
www. gneet.com

सर्वेभर्वन्तुसुखिनःसर्वेसन्तुननरामयाः।सर्वेभद्रानिपश्यन्तुमाकनिद् दु ःिभाग्भर्वेत्॥

All should/must be happy, be healthy, see good; may no one have

a share of sorrow.

Page|37