Pollution

Pollution is the change in the natural quality of the environment brought about by chemical,
physical, and biological factors.

Pollutants are the products released into the biosphere in large quantities which affect the normal
functioning of the ecosystems and have adverse effects on man, plants, and animals.

There are five major kinds of pollution—air pollution, water pollution, soil pollution, noise pollution,
and radioactive pollution based on the part of the environment, they are anthropogenic/ man-made
and natural based on origin, and based on physical nature, exist dust, thermal, and noise pollution.

AIR POLLUTION: The excessive concentration of foreign matter in the air which has adverse effects
on the well-being of humans, plants, and animals.

Can be caused by primary (directly emitted) and secondary (combining of primary pollutants)
pollutants based on origin, gaseous and particulate air pollutants based on the state of matter, and
natural and man-made sources based on the sources.

Sources ~

Automobile Pollution:
i. Vehicular emissions form more than 80% of the total air pollution.
ii. Carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen monoxide, and unburnt hydrocarbons are some
major air pollutants.
iii. Metropolitan cities in India such as Delhi, Kolkata, and Mumbai constitute 75% of CO, 45% of
hydrocarbons,40% of oxides, and 30% of particulates.
iv. Air pollution is also caused by gaseous and volatile hydrocarbons such as methane, acetylene,
and ethylene. A hydrocarbon like ethylene forms petrochemical oxidants when it comes into contact
with sunlight and nitrogen oxide. Petrochemical oxidants such as bad ozone are harmful to the
environment.
CO: Motor vehicles fuel, burning of wood and coal, garbage disposal
Nitrogen oxides: Motor vehicles, combustion of organic matter, power generation stations,
incinerators
Sulphur oxides: Burning of coal, chemical plants, open burning of garbage, and municipal
incinerators.
Hydrocarbons: Motor vehicles, garbage, industrial processes
Particulates: Motor vehicles, waste disposal.

Industrial air pollution

i. Chemical and cement industries, cotton and paper mills, and oil refineries cause air pollution.
Smoke emitted by these industries can cause serious health hazards as it includes dust, carbon,
metals, and radioactive elements.
ii. Burning of coal in thermal power plants releases SO2, which on combining with oxygen and water,
produces sulphuric acid resulting in acid rain.
iii. Industrialized cities like Kanpur and Delhi experience high air pollution because of smoke and
dust emitted by factories. Smog is a mixture of fog, smoke, and dust particles. It is formed in areas
that have a large concentration of industries.

Burning of Garbage
i. When garbage and wastes are burnt, gases such as carbon dioxide, sulphur dioxide, and nitrogen
oxides are formed which pollute the environment.
ii. The open burning of waste also pollutes the environment.
iii. Burning of forests because of fires produces nitrogen dioxide in the atmosphere. It is soluble in
water and forms nitric acid resulting in acid rain.

Effects of Air Pollution

CO: Damages lungs, reduces the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood, and damages the heart
SO2: Obstructs breathing, and causes throat and eye irritation
NOX: Acute respiratory infections, bronchitis, lowers resistance to influenza
Hydrocarbons: Affect the respiratory system.
Ozone: Aggravates asthma and causes eye irritation
Lead: Causes brain damage, hinders growth, leads to HBP
Arsenic: Damages kidney, causes skin and lung cancer, and causes jaundice.

On the Environment:
i. The increase of gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, nitrogen dioxide, and chlorofluorocarbons
traps the Earth’s heat leading to global warming.
ii. Global warming may result in the melting of ice in temperate regions and can leave many species
in polar regions homeless.
iii. Global warming also increases the rate of evaporation of surface water. This may result in soil
erosion and the destruction of natural vegetation, finally leading to a drought.
iv. It may also lead to flooding, erosion, and salt formation in the deltas. Loss of coastal mangroves
will impact fisheries.

On Human Health:
Short-term effects-
i. Respiratory infections and irritation in the eyes, nose, and throat.
II. Bronchitis, and pneumonia.
iii. Headaches, dizziness, vomiting, nausea, and allergic reactions It causes headaches, nausea,
dizziness, and allergic reactions.
Long-term effects-
iv. Air pollution may also cause chronic respiratory diseases, lung cancer, cardiovascular diseases,
and even damage to the nerves, kidneys, and liver.
EX: In the Bhopal Gas Tragedy on Dec. 3, 1984, 40 tons of methyl isocyanate leaked from Union
Carbide’s pesticide factory in Bhopal killing about 3500 people and injuring 40,000 in the 100 sq. km
area.

WATER POLLUTION
Water pollution can be defined as the alteration in the physical, chemical, or biological
characteristics of water which make it unsuitable for designated use in its natural state.
According to the World Health Organization, any foreign matter either natural or other sources that
may contaminate the water, making it harmful to life.
It has adverse effects on freshwater and marine water/ocean water.

Sources
Domestic:
i. Household detergents and wastes pollute water bodies. Water that is drained out after its use in
various households is called wastewater. When this wastewater mixes with solid wastes such as
plastics, animal dung, and human faecal material, it is known as municipal waste.
ii. When detergents and fertilizers containing phosphates are discharged into water, it promotes the
growth of algae. This is known as eutrophication. Aquatic wastes interfere with fishing, navigation,
and irrigation.
Industrial:
i. Lead: Lead is released in large amounts into water bodies from ceramic glazing, lead plumbing,
mining, etc.
ii. Manganese: Manganese is widely used in manufacturing steel and in nature.
iii. Mercury: The amount of methyl mercury accumulation is as high as 5000 times the fish present.

Effects
On environment:
i. Eutrophication: Process of depletion of oxygen from waterbodies occurring naturally or by man.
Nutrient accumulation due to the introduction of foreign substances in waterbodies facilitates the
growth of phytoplankton and algae, and thereby reduces oxygen, heat, and light. \
ii. Biomagnification: The increased concentration of various toxic substances along the food chain
while bioaccumulation is the phenomenon of higher concentrated toxic deposition along the trophic
levels. It was first observed when robins were dying when elm trees were sprayed with DDT. They
ate earthworms which fed on the infected elm leaves.
iii. When phosphorus and nitrates from fertilizers are disposed of in water bodies, they promote the
growth of oxygen-consuming algae. The presence of algae in water bodies in a large number reduces
the amount of dissolved oxygen in water resulting in the death of fish and other water organisms.
iv. Industrial effluents include chemicals such as arsenic, mercury, lead, and cadmium. When these
chemicals reach the human body through the consumption of fish.
v. Thermal pollution increases the temperature of the water which in turn reduces the level of
oxygen in the water. This results in the death of many species of fish.
vi. Oil drilling and oil spills contaminate seawater which may also lead to the death of marine
organisms.
On health
i. Pathogens are disease-causing bacteria present in wastewater. When contaminated water is
consumed, the pathogens enter the human body. It may cause various water-borne diseases such as
typhoid, cholera, diarrhoea, dysentery, and jaundice.
ii. Metals such as lead, mercury, and cadmium dissolved in water may cause several diseases if they
enter the human body. When water contaminated with cadmium was consumed by the Japanese,
they were affected by a disease called itai-itai. Similarly, a disease known as Minamata affected the
Japanese after they consumed fish that had a large concentration of mercury.
iii. Fluoride-containing pollutants cause fluorosis, which discolours the dental enamel, and causes
black or brown spots to appear. Gastrointestinal and respiratory problems are linked to it.

SOIL POLLUTION
A change or alteration in the natural physical, chemical, and biological properties and conditions of
soil because of human activities which result in the degradation of the quality and productivity of the
soil is known as soil pollution.

Sources
i. Use of chemical fertilizers that contain nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus results in soil
pollution as it contaminates soil with impurities.
ii. Disposal of biomedical wastes such as hospital wastes and domestic wastes contaminates the soil
with pathogens (disease-causing bacteria) which may affect human health. Faeces also pollute the
soil. Intestinal parasites cause the most serious soil pollution problems in third-world countries.
iii. Pesticides and weedicides which are used for controlling pests and weeds on agricultural fields
may settle on soil permanently, passing these toxic materials to plants.

Effects
On environment-
i. Nitrogenous fertilizers produce a toxic concentration of nitrate and nitrite in the leaves.
ii. Soil pollution results in the loss of soil fertility and hence affects its productivity.
iii. Industries and chemical waste cause pollution of underground water.

On human health-
i. The pathogens in the soil, including pathogenic bacteria, viruses, and worms, get transmitted to
man by the consumption of fruits and vegetables.
ii. Radioactive fallout on vegetation is the source of radioisotopes that enter the food chain through
the grazing of animals. This causes abnormalities in humans.

RADIOACTIVE POLLUTION
It can be defined as the increase in the natural background radiation, emerging from the activities of
man, using naturally occurring or artificially produced radioactive material.

Sources-
I. In atomic and nuclear power plants, fuels and coolants are sources of radioactive pollution. The
radioactive wastes emitted by these power plants are extremely dangerous for living organisms even
when buried, they escape.
ii. X-rays are used for detecting skeletal disorders. X-rays are harmful to human health because these
rays can pass through genetic cells which affect chromosomes. This can hamper the development of
the brain and can even cause mutations.
iii. Use of Uranium 235 and Plutonium 239 while testing nuclear weapons leads to the emission of
radioactive wastes.
iv. Radioactive isotopes are used in research laboratories. Used water from these laboratories
pollutes various water bodies.

Effects-
On environment:
Radioactive pollution affects our environment. The radioactive wastes cannot be destroyed, and
hence, they remain in our environment for a longer period of time.
On human:
i. Genetic variation: When people are exposed to radiation, their offspring may also be affected, and
thus, mutations may be transmitted to future generations. This is known as genetic variation.
ii. Somatic variation: Exposure to radioactive pollution may cause damage to body organs. It may
result in lung cancer, brain cancer, thyroid cancer, sterility, and reduced or defective eyesight.

NOISE POLLUTION
Any unwanted loud sound which causes stress and irritation can be termed noise pollution.

Sources-
i. Traffic
ii. Factories
iii. Noise from the construction site
iii. Loudspeakers
v. Airports
Other sources include- household, agricultural equipment, defense, and miscellaneous.

Effects-
On human
It may cause impairment of hearing and can cause sleep disruption.
People who are frequently subjected to a high level of noise pollution may suffer from
hypertension, depression, and panic attacks.
It may lead to an abnormal increase in heartbeat and heart palpitation.
It can also cause migraine headaches, nausea, and dizziness.