MODULE - 5

ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
 INTRODUCTION
• There is so much pollution in the air now that if it weren’t for
our lungs there’d be no place to put it all.
- Robert Orben
1. This statement speaks volumes not only about air pollution,
but also about all forms of pollution.

2. As the environment we pollute is connected to our being; it

is entering and polluting us too.

3. We can only understand the pollution we are creating and do

what is possible to keep it to the minimum possible.
 Environmental pollution - Meaning
• Environmental pollution is any undesirable change in the physical,
chemical or biological characteristics of any component of the
environment (air, water, soil), which can cause harmful effects on
various forms of life or property.

• Pollutants means the materials or factors that cause adverse effect

on the natural quality of any component of the environment.
 Noise Pollution
1. Noise Pollution – Meaning
The word noise is derived from the Latin term nausea. It has been
defined as unwanted sound, a potential hazard to health and
communication dumped into the environment with regard to the
adverse effect it may have on unwilling ears.

2. Definition of Noise – Noise is defined as unwanted sound. Sound,

which pleases the listeners, is music for some can be noise for others.

3. Measurement – A decibel is the standard for the measurement of

noise. The zero on a decibel scale is at the threshold of hearing, the
lowest sound pressure that can be heard , at 20 db is whisper, 40 db
the noise in a quiet office, 60 db is normal conversation, 80 db is the
level at which sound becomes physically painful.
 Sources of Noise Pollution
I. Industrial Sources –
Noise from various industries and machines working at a very high
speed and high noise intensity.

II. Non-industrial sources –

Transport / vehicular traffic and the neighbourhood noise

Categories of Noise Pollution

1. Natural Noise Pollution – thunder, rain, wind, etc.

2. Man Made Noise Pollution – roads traffic, aircraft, railroads,

constructions, celebrations, industry, noise in buildings, and
consumer products.
 Sources of Noise Pollution
1. Road Traffic Noise - Motor cycle, trucks, buses

2. Aircraft Noise – Problem of low flying military aircraft,

especially in areas near to defense stations and airports
aircraft operations over national parks, wilderness areas.

3. Noise from rail roads – Locomotive engines, horns and

whistles and switching and shunting operation in rail yards.

4. Construction Noise – Highways construction, city streets and

buildings. Construction noise sources include Pneumatic
hammers, air compressors, bulldozers, loaders, dump trucks.
 Sources of Noise Pollution
5. Noise in Industry –
• Industrial noise is one of the less prevalent community noise
problems.

• Neighbours of noisy manufacturing plants can be disturbed by

sources such as fans, motors and compressors outside the
building’s interior noise can also be transmitted to the community
through open windows and doors, and even through building
walls.

6. Noise in Building –
1. Internal Building Noise – Plumbing, boilers, generators, air
conditioners and fans, improperly insulated walls and ceilings can
reveal the sound of amplified music, voices, footballs and noisy
activities from neighbouring units.
 Sources of Noise Pollution
2. External Building Noise – arises from emergency vehicles, traffic,
urban residents.

7. Noise from Consumer Products – Certain household equipment,

such as vacuum cleaners and some kitchen appliances have been and
continue to be noisemakers.

8. Festivities – Loudspeakers used during functions and celebrations

can be a major source of noise and disturbance.
 Harmful effects on humans, animals and property
1. Annoyance – Sound level fluctuations, irregular occurrences.

2. Physiological effects – Breathing amplitude, blood pressure, heart-beat

rate, pulse rate, blood cholesterol.

3. Loss of hearing – Long exposure to high sound level

- Mechanics, Locomotive drivers, telephone operators,

etc. can have impaired hearing as a result of noise at the place of work.

- Continued exposure to noise level above 80 to 100

decibels is unsafe. Loud noise causes temporary or permanent deafness.

4. Human Performance – The working performance of workers/human will

be affected as experiments reveal that noise does lead to reduction in
efficiency. In big cities, mostly all the offices are on main road. The noise
traffic or the loud speakers of different types of horns divert the attention of
the people working in offices.
 Harmful effects on humans, animals and property
5. Fatigue – Due to the Noise Pollution, people cannot concentrate on
their work. Thus they have to give more time for completing the work
and they feel fatigue or tiredness.

6. Nervous system – Causes pain, ringing in the ears, feeling of

tiredness, thereby affecting the function of human system.

7. Sleeplessness – People feel restless and lose concentration and

presence of mind during their activities.

8. Abortion – Sudden noise causes abortion in females.

9. Poor quality of crops – Plants are similar to human beings

regarding sensitivity. Peaceful environment leads to better growth in
the same control environment.
 Harmful effects on humans, animals and property
10. Effect on Animals – Noise pollution can damage the nervous
system of animal. It also become more dangerous when subjected to
excess of noise.

11. Damage of material –

• Loud noise is very dangerous to buildings, bridges and
monuments.

• It creates waves which strike the walls and puts the building in
danger and monuments may crack.

• The buildings and materials may collapse.

 Noise control at Source:
I. Reducing the noise levels for the domestic sectors:
• The domestic noise coming from radio, tape recorders, television sets,
mixers, washing machines, cooking works can be minimized by their
selective operations.

• By using of carpet, the noise generated from falling of items in house can
be minimized.

II. Maintenance of automobiles, machines:

• Regular servicing and tuning of vehicles will reduce the noise levels.

• Fixing of silencers to automobiles, two wheelers, etc. will reduce noise

levels.

• Proper lubrication and maintenance of machines, vehicles, etc. will

reduce the noise levels.
 Noise control at Source:
III. Control over vibrations – The vibrations of materials may be
controlled using proper foundations, rubber padding, etc. to reduce
the noise levels caused by vibrations.

IV. Prohibition on usage of loud speakers – Loud speaker is not

allowed after 10.00 P.M.

V. Selection of machinery – Optimum selection of machinery tools or

equipment reduces excess noise levels. For example, selection of
chairs or selection of certain machinery/equipment which generate
less noise (Sound) due to its superior technology, etc… is also an
important factor in noise minimization strategy.
 Legal Control
(a) Constitution of India (Right to Life): Article 21 of the
Constitution guarantees life and personal liberty to all persons. It
is well settled by repeated pronouncements of the Supreme
Court that right to life enshrined in Article 21 is not of mere
survival or existence. It guarantees a right of persons to life with
human dignity. Anyone who wishes to live in peace, comfort and
quiet within house has a right to prevent the noise as pollutant
reaching him.
 Air Pollution - Meaning
• When there is a change effected in the composition of air, either
by physical or chemical methods which results in harmful effects
on health is called Air Pollution.

• Air pollutions are created by coal and oil combustion refineries,

blast furnaces, fertilizers plants, transportation, solid waste
disposal, etc.
 The Main pollutants, their sources and Harmful effect
on Human Health
Pollutants Main Sources Harmful effect on Human Health
• Carbon monoxide (CO) Burning of coal
Decreases oxygen carrying capacity of blood
Smoke and Dust

• Sulphur dioxides Burning of petrol Chest troubles, headache, vomiting

• Nitrogen oxides Auto exhausts,

coal industries Respiratory ailments, lung diseases

• Chlorofluorocarbons Refrigerators, Air conditioners

plants causes skin cancer
 Major types of pollution
1. Particulate Pollution – Release of particles into the air from
burning fuel for energy.

Ex. Diesel Smoke is a good example of this particulate matter.

In general, these particles impair plant growth by causing damage to
tissues and in human; it can basically affect lungs which could lead to
allergies or even cancer.

• The particles are very small pieces of matter measuring about 2.5
microns or about 0.0001 inches.

• The exhaust from burning fuels in automobiles can release lead

which is harmful to nervous system.
 Major types of pollution
2. Noxious Gases Pollution –
Release of noxious gases – sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide,
nitrogen oxides.

a. Carbon monoxide (CO) –

• Pollution from Carbon Monoxide occurs primarily from emissions
produced by fossil fuel powered engines.

• The main issue with Carbon Monoxide is its ill effect on health. It is
capable of binding chemicals in our blood, called haemoglobin.
 Major types of pollution
b. Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
• Is one of the major pollutants in the atmosphere and is released from
engines burning fossils fuels.

• Major sources of CO2 are therefore fossil fuels’ burning and

deforestation

c. Nitrous Oxide – N2O

• Is also a natural component of the Earth’s atmosphere as the other
nitrogen gases.

• It is produced by both natural and human-related sources.

• Primary human-related sources of N2O are nitrogen based fertilizers,

deforestation, biomass burning, animal manure management, sewage
treatment
 Major types of pollution
• Nitrous oxide is produced naturally from a wide variety of
biological sources in soil and water.

3. Indoor Pollution –
• Inside our homes, offices, schools and colleges as many people
spend large portion of time indoors. – 80-90% of their lives.

• Sources of indoor air pollution – Tobacco smoke, cooking and

heating appliances and vapours from building materials, paints,
furniture, etc. cause pollution inside building.

• Radon is a natural radioactive gas released from the earth, and it

can be found concentrated in basements. Radon can be emitted
from building materials like bricks, concrete, tiles, etc. which are
derived from soil containing radium.
 Major types of pollution
4. Outdoor Pollution –
Consequences of outdoor pollution –
• Smog
• Acid rain
• The greenhouse effect
• Ozone layer hole

• Smog – a type of large-scale outdoor pollution.

• It is caused by chemical reactions between pollutants derived from

different sources, primarily automobile exhaust and industrial
emissions.
 Major types of pollution
• Acid rain –
• Major consequence of outdoor air pollution.

• When a pollutant, such as sulphuric acid combines with droplets of

water in the air, the water (or snow) can become acidified.

• Green House Effect –

• Is referred to as global warming, is generally believed to come up from
the buildup of carbon dioxide gas in the atmosphere.

• Carbon dioxide is produced when fuels are burned.

• Plants convert carbon dioxide back to oxygen, but the release of carbon
dioxide from human activities is higher than that of the world’s
vegetation can process.
 Major types of pollution
• Ozone depletion –
• Chemicals released by our activities affect the stratosphere, one of
the atmospheric layers surrounding earth.

• The ozone layer in the stratosphere protects the earth from

harmful ultraviolet radiation from the sun.

• Release of chloroflurocarbons (CFC’s) from cooling systems and

refrigerator equipment removes some of the ozone , causing
“holes”.; to open up in this layer and allowing the radiation to
reach the earth.

• Ultraviolet Radiation is known to cause skin cancer and has

damaging effects on plants and wildlife.
 Harmful effects of the pollutants in Air
• Suspended particulate – causes damage to lung tissues and
diseases like asthma, cancer.

• Sulphur dioxide – causes constriction of respiratory passage and

cause bronchitis .

• Nitrogen oxides – can irritate respiratory ailments and lungs

diseases.

• PAN – Peroxylacetyl – nitrate – causes irritation of eye, throat and

respiratory tract,

• Acid rains affect aquatic life

 Control of Air Pollution
1. Environment impact assessment studies before citing industries thereby
assuring proper pollution control measures and so remove or minimize
possible damages.

2. Using low sulphur coal in industries

3. Chimneys should be high so that pollutants are carried by winds for

dispersal and not trapped at lower levels.

4. Usage of solar power where ever possible is essential.

5. By planting more trees, we provide a natural sink for pollutants like CO2
and make available more of the life giving oxygen in our surrounding.

6. In order to reduce carbon monoxide, regular servicing of vehicles to be

done, ensuring they are running as efficiently as possible, to reduce in
using the cars
 Water Pollution - Introduction
• Comprising over 70% of the Earth’s surface, water is undoubtedly
the most precious natural resource that exists on our planet
without which life on Earth would be non-existent.

• Although we recognize this fact, we still disregard it by polluting our

rivers, lakes and oceans.

• Subsequently, we are slowly but surely harming our planet to the

point where organisms are dying at a very alarming rate and our
drinking water has become greatly affected.

• Water pollution occurs when a body of water is adversely affected

due to the addition of large amounts of materials to the water.
 Water Pollution - Introduction
• When it is unfit for its intended use, water is considered to be
polluted. In other words, any change in the physical, chemical and
biological properties of water that has a harmful effect on living
things is water pollution.

• It is the second most important environmental issue next to air

pollution.
 Water Pollution - Meaning

• The presence of any toxic substance in water which affects

temporarily or permanently its quality to its usefulness, is
known as water pollution.

• Toxic Substance – Poisonous – Chemicals like Polychlorinated

biphenyls (PCBs) and dioxin which can be found at some
hazardous waste sites.
 Source of Water pollution
I. Point Sources of pollution: When harmful substances are emitted
directly into a body of water. In essence, if the pollution comes
from a single source, it is called point-source pollution.
Ex. Oil Spill

Meaning of Oil Spill: An oil spill is the release of a liquid

petroleum hydrocarbon into the environment, especially the marine
ecosystem, due to human activity, and is a form of pollution. The term
is usually given to marine oil spills, where oil is released into the ocean
or coastal waters, but spills may also occur on land.
Diagrammatic Presentation on Oil Spill
 Source of Water pollution
II. Non Point Source of Pollution:
A non point source delivers pollutants indirectly through
environmental changes. For ex. When fertilizer from a field is carried
into a stream by rain, in the form of run-off which in turn effects
aquatic life.

Pollution arising from nonpoint sources accounts for a majority of the

contaminants in streams and lakes.

Meaning of run-off:
Surface runoff is the flow of water that occurs when excess
stormwater, meltwater, or other sources flows over the Earth's
surface.
Diagrammatic Presentation of Run-Off
 Leaching
• Leaching can be of pesticides, fertilizers, etc. or from leaking
septic tanks, etc.
 Causes of Water Pollution
I. Domestic Sewage:
• Domestic sewage is waste water generated from the household
activities.

• It contains organic and inorganic materials such as phosphates and

nitrates.

• Organic materials are food and vegetable waste, whereas

inorganic materials come from soaps and detergents.
Domestic Sewage
 Causes of Water Pollution
II. Organic Materials:
• Usually people dump the household wastes in the nearby water source.

• Pollution in the form of organic material enters waterways in many

different forms as sewage, as leaves, runoff from livestock feedlots.

• Sewage contain nutrients such as nitrates and phosphates.

• The amount of organic wastes that can be degraded by the water bodies
is measured in terms of Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD).

• BOD is the amount of oxygen needed by microorganisms to decompose

the organic waste present in the sewage. The higher the amount of BOD,
the more water is polluted with organic waste.
Organic Materials
 Causes of Water Pollution
III. Inorganic materials:
• Soaps and detergents enrich the water bodies with phosphates.

• These phosphates often leads to algal bloom and eutrophication,

which is most common in stagnant water bodies such as ponds
and lakes.

• Algal bloom and eutrophication lead to the suffocation of fish and

other organism in a water body.
 Causes of Water Pollution
IV. Industrial Effluents:
• Wastewater from the manufacturing and processing industries causes
water pollution.

• The industrial effluents contain organic pollutants and other toxic

chemicals.

• Some of the pollutants from industrial source include lead, mercury,

asbestos, nitrates, phosphates, oils, etc.

• Wastewater from food and chemical processing industries contribute

more to water pollution than the other industries such as distilleries,
leather processing industries and thermal power plants.

• Dye industries generate wastewater which changes the water quality and
its colour.
 Minamata Disease
• More than 1,784 people died and many more suffered due to
consumption of fish, bio accumulated with methyl mercury.

• It was caused by release of methyl mercury from Chissco

Corporation’s chemical factory.

• The disease continued to affect animals and humans for over 30

years, from 1932 to 1968.

• It is really very difficult to clear up the mess that industries create

in water.
 V. Agricultural Waste
• Agricultural waste includes manure, runoff.

• Most of the agricultural farms use chemical fertilizers and pesticides.

• The runoffs from these agricultural fields cause water pollution to the
nearby water sources such as rivers, streams and lakes.

• The seepage of fertilizers and pesticides causes groundwater pollution,

which is commonly known as leaching.

• Although the quantity of agricultural waste is low, the effects are highly
significant.

• It causes nutrient and organic pollution to both water and soil.

 VI. Oil Pollution
• Oil leaked floats over the sea water polluting the water and thereby
causing damage to marine ecosystem.

VII. Silting
• Pollution is also caused when silt and other suspended solids, such
as soil, wash off plowed fields, construction sites, urban areas and
eroded river banks when it rains.

• When these sediments enter various bodies of water, fish

respiration becomes impaired, plant productivity and water depth if
become reduced, and aquatic organisms and their environments
become suffocated.
 Steps to be taken to prevent the Water Pollution
1. Reducing the amount of water use by improving housekeeping turning
off the water tap when not needed, etc. can help to conserve water as
well as save money. This is not only helps prevent water shortages but
also reduces the amount of contaminated water that needs treatment.

2. Prevention of water pollution includes using eco-friendly household

products such as non-phosphate or low-phosphate detergents and
other toiletries, disposing the household wastes in proper sites far off
from the water sources.

3. Taking care not to overuse pesticides and fertilizers. This will prevent
runoffs of the material into nearby water sources.

4. Planting more trees can also prevent water pollution by reducing soil
erosion and water runoff.
 Steps to be taken to prevent the Water Pollution
5. Not throwing litter into rivers, lakes or oceans and helping clean up
any litter that is seen on beaches or in rivers and lakes (like plastic
bottles) and putting it in a nearby dustbin.

6. Educating people about water pollution is an important way of

preventing water pollution.
 Soil Pollution
• Soil pollution can be described as the contamination of soil of a
particular region and results from the addition and build up of
toxic and harmful chemicals, salts, microorganisms and radioactive
elements to the soil layer.

Causes of soil pollution

• Soil pollution is a result of penetration of harmful pesticides and
insecticides, which on one hand serve whatever their main
purpose is, but on the other and, bring about deterioration in the
soil quality, thus making it contaminated and unfit for use.

• Pesticides applied to plants can also seep into the ground.

• Heavy metals can arrive in the soil by using polluted water to

irrigate crops and by using mineral fertilizers.
 Causes of soil pollution
• Industry is to blame for some of the biggest soil-pollution disasters.

• Industrial wastes, such as harmful gases and chemicals, agricultural

pesticides, fertilizers and insecticides are the most important
causes of soil pollution.

• Heavy metals come from iron, steel, power and chemical

manufacturing plants that use the Earth as a dumping ground.

• Mining leaves a tremendous impact on the surrounding

communities.

• The 2001 West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey found that
people living near mines have 70 percent higher risk of kidney
disease, 64 percent higher risk for chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease and a 30 percent higher risk of high blood pressure.
 Causes of soil pollution
• Soil pollution can also result from many seemingly minor activities
and experiments done by mankind.

• The intensity of all these causes on a local or regional level might

appear very small.

• However these practices are evident almost everywhere in the

world, thinking globally, these are significant polluters:
1. Improper septic system and management and maintenance of the
same.

2. Leakages from sanitary sewage, seepage from landfill, breakage of

underground storage tanks.
 Causes of soil pollution
3. Acid rains, when fumes released from industries get mixed with
rains. Contaminated water reaches and percolates into the soil
affecting it adversely.

4. Fuel leakages from automobiles, that gets washed away due to rain
and seep into the nearby soil.

5. Unhealthy waste management techniques, which are characterized

by release of sewage into the large dumping grounds and nearby
streams or rivers.

6. Improper land use allocations and ignorance towards soil

management and related systems.
 Effects of Soil Pollution
• Various chemicals like acids, pesticides, insecticides, heavy metals, etc. in
the industrial discharge affect soil fertility by causing change in the
physical, chemical and biological properties of the soil and therefore
cause decrease in the soil productivity.

• The entire ecosystem changes when new materials are added to the soil,
as microorganisms die off or move away from contaminants.

• Increase in salinity of the soil, which therefore makes it unfit for

vegetation.

• Generally crops cannot grow and flourish in a polluted soil and if some
crops manage to grow, then those would be poisonous enough to cause
serious health problems in people consuming them.
 Effects of Soil Pollution
• Creation of toxic dust like of lead is another potential effect of soil
pollution.

• Foul smell due to industrial chemicals and gases might result in

headaches, fatigue, nausea, etc. in many people.

• People living near polluted land have higher incidences of

migraines, nausea, fatigue and miscarriage along with skin
disorders.

• Long-term health effects of pollution include cancer, leukemia,

reproductive disorders, kidney and liver damage, as well as central
nervous system failure. Children often suffer from developmental
problems and weakened immune systems.
 Effects of Soil Pollution
• Sewage Sludge has pathogenic bacteria, viruses and intestinal
worms which may cause various types of diseases. Decomposing
organic matter in soil also produces toxic vapours.

• If nothing is done to clean up soil pollution, water supplies could

become contaminated, threatening the human species.
 Control of Soil Pollution
• It is suggested to use Bio-Fertilization which is a process in which
certain micro organisms are used to increase the fertility and
growth capacity of soil.

• Cropping techniques (mixed cropping, crop rotation) should be

improved to prevent growth of weeds to avoid weedicides. Crop
rotation or mixed cropping can also improve the fertility of the
land.

• Materials such as glass containers, plastic bags, paper, cloth, etc.

can be reused at domestic levels rather than being disposed,
reducing soil waste pollution.
 Control of Soil Pollution
• Recycling and recovery is another way to reduce and control soil
pollution.

• Recycling paper, plastics, glass and other materials reduces the

volume of refuse in landfills.

• Recovery of one ton of paper can save 17 trees.

• Soil Wastes should be properly collected and disposed off by

appropriate method.

• Designated pits should be used for the dumping of soil wastes.

These wastes should be treated chemically and biologically to
make them less toxic and hazardous.
 Control of land loss and soil erosion
• Can be attempted through restoring forest and grass cover thus
avoiding wastelands, soil erosion and floods.

• Enacting tougher legislation to stop illegal dumping, like a larger

fine or even imprisonment as is prevalent already in some states in
the United States of America like Texas (five years in jail and a fine
of $1,00,000 for soil pollution)

• Minimizing the use of plastic cover.

• Gardens should be situated away from old painted buildings and

roadways to avoid poisoning by lead. All vegetables should be
washed before eating.
 Case study of Soil Pollution in New York
Love Canal is the most famous case study of soil pollution. In the
snowy winter of 1976, chemical waste began to seep above ground in
school playgrounds and communities in Niagara falls, New York. The
area suffered high incidences of stillborn births, miscarriages and
birth defects. Officials soon realized that there were over 400 toxic
substances in the air, water and soil – many of them were found
cancerous. As it turned out, the area had been used as a chemical
dumping ground for more than 22,000 tons of toxic waste at the turn-
of-the-century, when no one was aware of the hazardous impact it
could have decades later. The chemical wastes were of Hooker
Chemicals and Plastic Corporation sealed in steel drums and dumped
underground of the Love Canal from 1942 to 1953 following which
the site was covered with clay and top soil and sold to the city board
of education which built the school. This tragedy highlights the
dangers of underground dumping .
 Case study of Soil Pollution in Ethiopia
The worst area is in Somalia’s Ayaha valley near Hargeysa. To boost
their economy, many farmers began using chemical fertilizers and
pesticides to increase productivity without understanding the full
ramifications. Over their war-torn years, metal drums holding 14,200
litres of chemicals like fenitrothian, malathion and diazionon were
punctured. As a result, land pollution has caused widespread famine
and sickness.

In the year 2006, it was estimated that in China, 12 million tons of

grain is polluted each year by heavy metals that had found their way
into soil. About 10 million hectares of arable land in China was
roughly estimated as having been polluted.
 Nuclear Hazards
• The life of plant and animal kingdom and the ecological
equilibrium is seriously affected by the radiation pollution.

• The radiation, it is learnt that, generally comes from

ultraviolet, visible light, cosmic rays, gamma rays and micro
wave radiation, which produce genetic mutations in man.

• The artificial radioactivity, atom bomb, hydrogen bomb and

nuclear energy are all responsible for radioactive pollution.

• The radio activity will not only affect the individual but also
his future generations. An atom releasing the energy which is
known as radiation.
 Nuclear Hazards
For Example, the radiation releases X-rays, gamma rays, alpha rays,
beta rays are examples for ionizing radiation.

• The emission and the disintegration of radioactive rays (alpha,

beta and gamma) is called radioactivity.

• The cosmic radiations strike the earth continually and penetrate

deeply into the surface. It mainly causes environmental pollution.

• For example, when heat energy is produced, the enriched uranium

and polonium are disintegrated. This is used to produce electricity.

• Similarly, more radioactive elements are released during nuclear

fission reaction. They are called alpha, beta, gamma radioactive
radiations.
 Precautionary and Safety Devices
• To prevent any health hazards, the workers employed in the
nuclear power plants have to follow the precautionary and
safety devices:

• They should wear the suits specially made for this purpose.

• These radiations are kept safely in the power plants, but due
to some leakages or some unexpected accidents, these
radiations are introduced into the environment and cause
pollution.
 Nuclear Hazards
• The nuclear fission or atom bombs can be exploded within one micro
second (1us) – one millionth of a second = 1000 nano seconds.

• The fission releases large amount of energy, which 50% is converted as

blast, 33% as heat and 17% as radiation.

• After the explosion, the debris which settles down non the earth’s
surface is known as radioactive fall out.

• It is learnt that these radioactive materials are vaporized on earth surface

and converted into gases.

• The minute particles released during the fission, will spread in the
atmosphere and mixed with rain water to pollute water, plants, food
materials, etc.
 Nuclear Hazards
• They spoil water resources, plants, animals and human.

• The heat produced during nuclear tests completely burns that area and
hence no possibility for the growth and survival of plants.

• It is learnt that the atom bombs were exploded over Hiroshima and
Nagasaki (Japan) during second world war.

• It has affected nearly 1,00,000 people.

• The bomb demolished all structures and buildings in about 15 square Km.
area.

• In Nagasaki, 49,000 civilians were killed, injured and disappeared, while an

area of 6 to 7 square km. was devastated.
 Nuclear Hazards
• Considering the gravity of hazards, the Government must ban
on atom bomb and hydrogen bombs and atomic power plants
must be properly maintained.
 Solid Waste Management - Introduction
• Human and animal activities generate different kinds of wastes.

• These wastes are generally in solid form, and may cause pollution
of land, water and air unless treated and disposed off.

• The process of collection, transportation, treatment and disposal

can be grouped under solid waste management.

• The increase in the quantity of solid waste is due to

overpopulation, affluence and technological advancement is the
major issue regarding solid wastes.

• If the waste generation is not controlled it would be difficult to

manage the filth.
 Solid Waste Management - Introduction
• In European and American cities, several graveyards of abandoned
automobiles can be seen.

• In New York City where 12,000 thousand tons of garbage is generated

everyday.

• India produces 42.0 million tons of municipal solid waste annually at

present.

• Indian Cities are under a serious threat of being overwhelmed by the

garbage generated everyday by their citizens.

• Landfill is the only way of waste disposal by Indian municipalities and all
the waste is dumped on abandoned land without any treatment or
planning. So if cities exhaust a land, they just find another one to dump
garbage on.
 Solid Waste Management - Introduction
• The Energy Research Institute estimates that 1400sq.km. of land
would be required by 2047 for municipal waste.

• The cities which had the luxury of a river flowing through them,
strangled them by dumping their wastes into them.

• Yamuna, flowing through Delhi, has practically no living creatures

in it.

• The World Bank estimates that India’s per capita waste generated
in urban areas will grow from 0.2 – 0.6 kg to 1 kg per head per day
by 2030, when the population would be 600 million.
 Causes of Solid Wastes
1. Domestic Wastes:
• Created by the households, shops, establishments, etc.
1. Bottles,
2. Pots,
3. Plastic bags,
4. Polythene,
5. Papers,
6. Clothes,
7. Containers, etc. – mosquitoes, flies, bacteria causing diseases.
8. Throwing leaf plates, wrappers, fruit peels or non biodegradable
cups on the road or in a corner.
 Causes of Solid Wastes
2. Building Wastes:
• Most of the construction materials are left in the street itself.
• Disposal of construction waste is not done properly.

3. The Hospital Wastes:

• Hospital wastes are very dangerous. As it will affect the human
health.

• Most of the hospitals, nursing homes, laboratories and healthcare

centres are situated in the urban areas and to dump these wastes
in the streets.

• No safe method is being adopted. As a result of it, hospital wastes

are infectitious in nature and they will affect the health.
 Causes of Solid Wastes
4. Industrial Wastes:
• Most of the solid wastes are created by the factories.

• Example, chemical wastes, paint industry, steel plant waste (slags),

sand explosives, etc.

5. Animal Wastes:
• Cattle shed waste, fisheries wastes, frog wastes, etc.
• Dead animal and bird waste
 Composition of a City Waste
• Paper, wood, cardboard – 53%

• Garbage (domestic waste) – 22%

• Ceramics, glass, crockery – 10%

• Metals – 8%

• Rubber, plastics, discarded textiles – 7%

 Effects of Waste Pollution
• If solid wastes are not collected and allowed to accumulate, they
may create unsanitary conditions.

• Many diseases like cholera, diarrhea, dysentry, plague, jaundice, or

gastro-intestinal diseases may spread and cause loss of human
lives.

• In addition, improper handling of the solid wastes is a health

hazard for the workers who come in direct contact with the waste.

• If the solid wastes are not treated properly, decomposition and

putrefaction may take place, causing land and water pollution
when the waste products percolate down into the underground
water resources.
 Effects of Waste Pollution
• The organic solid waste during decomposition may generate
obnoxious odours and waste across slums, etc. cause unaesthetic,
unhygienic and unhealthy surroundings.

• Industrial solid wastes are sources of toxic metals and hazardous

wastes, which when spread on land as waste cause changes in
chemicals and biological nature thereby affecting productivity of
soils.
 Control Measures
• The main purpose of solid waste management is to minimize the
adverse effects on the environment. The steps involved in general
are:
1. Collection of solid wastes.
2. Disposal of solid wastes.
3. Management and utilization of wastes.

1. Collection of solid wastes

• Collection of waste includes gathering the waste, transporting it to
a centralized location, and then moving it to the site of disposal.

• The collected waste is then separated into hazardous and non-

hazardous materials.
 Control Measures
• There are a number of waste separation technologies available
such as:

• Air Stripping – is the transferring of volatile components of a liquid

into an air stream. It is an environmental engineering technology
used for the purification of ground waters and waste waters
containing volatile compounds.

• Steam Stripping – is a distillation process where volatile organic

matter is removed from water. The volatilization of organic matter
is greatly determined by the temperature. Due to the higher
temperature used in steam stripping, as compared to air stripping,
more soluble organic matter will be removed.
 Control Measures
• Carbon absorption: Process involved in carbon capture and the
long-term storage of atmospheric carbon dioxide – accumulation of
greenhouse gases, which are released by burning fuels.

• Precipitation – Rainfall, Snowfall, etc.

• Transfer of wastes is very crucial for proper waste collection as it

requires a fleet of vehicles. Only rich countries due to lack of
vehicles wastes in many areas go uncollected.
 Control Measures
2. Disposal of solid wastes
• Before the final disposal of the solid wastes, it is processed to
recover the usable resources and to improve the efficiency of the
solid waste disposal system.

• The main processing technologies are Compositing, Incineration,

Landfill gas power

• Compositing – In compositing earthworms, insects, bacteria, etc.

breakdown the garbage (Organic Substances like vegetables, plant
leaves, human waste, etc.) and turn it into a healthy soil called
compost which is good for restoring organic content of agricultural
soils and also enhances pest resistance of the crops.
 Control Measures
• Incineration – is the combustion of organic material such as waste,
and it can be done with energy recovery. It reduces the original
waste by 95-96%.

• Landfill gas power – Large municipal or industrial landfills produce

gas that can be tapped to generate electricity. Microorganisms that
live in organic materials such as food wastes or paper cause these
materials to decompose. This produces landfill gas, typically
comprised of roughly 60% methane and 40% carbon dioxide.

• Landfill gas is collected from landfills by drilling “wells” into the

landfills, and collecting the gases through pipes. Once the landfill
gas is processed, it can be combined with natural gas and used as
fuel.
 Control Measures
3. Management and Utilization of wastes
• Solid wastes can be managed to make waste disposal more
effective, for which the three R’s are stressed – Reduce, Reuse and
Recycle.

• Reduction of waste generation can be done by reducing the need

to hoard for useless things which finally end up unused in waste
bin.

• Avoid using disposable plastic cups and plates. Reuse can be in

short stated as ‘Best out of Wastes’.
 Control Measures
• Making flower vase from old bottles, pen stands from Bislery
Bottles.

• The villagers and poor are best at reusing and are known to make
rubber rings from discarded cycle tubes, etc.