GE3451 - Environmental Sciences and Sustainability

Pollution
UNIT II ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into an
Causes, Effects and Preventive measures of Water, Soil, Air and Noise environment that causes instability, disorder, harm or
Pollutions. Solid, Hazardous and E-Waste management. Case studies on discomfort to the ecosystem .
Occupational Health and Safety Management system (OHASMS).
e.g. Industry
Environmental protection, Environmental protection acts .
Automobiles
Course Objectives: Nuclear Reactors etc,.
To impart knowledge on the causes, effects and control or prevention
measures of environmental pollution and natural disasters.
Types of pollutants
Course Outcome:
Biodegradable
CO2 To identify the causes, effects of environmental pollution and natural
disasters and contribute to the preventive measures in the society. Non-degradable

Types of pollution
Air pollution AIR POLLUTION
Marine (Water) pollution
Air pollution is the “presence of contaminants in
Land or soil pollution
atmosphere in quantities such that it is injurious
Noise pollution to human, plant animal life and property”.
Thermal pollution Sources of air pollution
Nuclear pollution Natural sources : Volcanic eruption, forest fires,
biological decay.
Manmade sources :thermal power plant ,fuel
burning, agriculture activities.

Classification of Air pollutants Sulphur dioxide:

1.Primary air pollutants.  The combustion of sulphur containing fuels such as coal and

Emitted directly in the atmosphere. E.g. CO, NO & SO2 oil.

INDOOR AIR POLLUTANTS  It can be converted into sulphuric acid.
 Radon gas emitted from building materials like bricks, concrete Human Sources :
etc.,  Coal burning in power plant (88%)
 It is present in natural gas and ground water.  Industrial processes (10%)

 burning of fuel in the kitchen, cigarette, smoke. Environmental effects :

2.Secondary air pollutants  In humans : it causes eye irritation, cough, lung diseases
including lung cancer and asthma
Primary pollutant may react with one another to form new
 In plants: it causes damage of leaves, bleaching of chlorophyll
pollutants. E.g. HNO3, H2SO4
which turns leaves brown, damage to crops and to growth of
plants.

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 Effects:
Carbon monoxide
In humans:
Sources:
 Cigarette smoking, incomplete burning of fuels.  When the atmosphere is polluted with carbon monoxide, on
 Automobile exhaust - carbon monoxide is formed during the inhalation, CO combines with the hemoglobin to form car

combustion of fuel such as petrol. (77%) boxy hemoglobin and hence oxygen carrying capacity of the

 Industries: Carbon monoxide is released by industries such as blood decreases.

iron and steel and petroleum .  This causes, headache, dizziness, unconsciousness.
CO2 + C ------- 2CO  When inhaled for a long duration it may cause even death.
2CO2 --------- 2CO + O2 In environment :
 It increase global temp.

Lead Control of air pollution

Source Control:
Sources
 Use only unleaded petrol.
 Paint, metal refineries, storage batteries…..
 Use petroleum products and other fuels that have low sulphur

Effects and ash content.

In humans  Reduce the no. of private vehicles

 Mental retardation, health problems even leads to  Ensure the houses, schools are not located on busy streets.
cancer.
 Plant trees along busy streets to reduce particulates, CO and
In environment
noise.
 Harms wild life
 Industries should be situated outside the city
 Use catalytic converters to control CO & hydrocarbons

Control measures in industries Equipment used to Control Air Pollution

 The emission rates should be restricted to permissible
Use sufficient supply of oxygen in
levels by industries. combustion chamber, so that the combustion is
 Air pollution control equipments must be made complete.
mandatory.
Use mechanical devices such as
 Continuous monitoring of the atmosphere for the Scrubbers, cyclones, bag houses and
pollutants, to know the pollution levels. electro-static precipitators to reduce
particulate pollutants

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 Electrostatic precipitator Bag house filter Cyclone separator

Wet scrubber WATER POLLUTION

“The alteration in physical,
chemical or biological properties
of water, as well as the addition
of any foreign substance makes it
unfit for health and which
decreases the utility of water” is
known as water pollution.

Main sources of water pollution are:

 Domestic and municipal sewage Point Sources
 Industrial waste
 Agricultural waste
 Radioactive materials, etc.,
Point and Non Point Sources
Two types of water pollutants exist;
Point source
Point sources of pollution occur when harmful substances are emitted
directly into water.
e.g., Oil spill
Nonpoint source.
A non-point source delivers pollutants indirectly through
environmental changes.
e.g., Fertilizer from a field is carried into a stream by rain

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 Types of water pollutant:

1.Infectious agents: Bacteria, viruses, protozoa

source : animal waste.

Effect : variety of diseases

2.Oxygen demanding waste:

Dissolved oxygen (DO) is the amount of oxygen dissolved in given

quantity of water at a particular P and T.

The saturation point 8-15mg/lit.

Sources: Sewage, paper waste, food processing waste.

Effects: Affect the water quality, affect fish survival and migration.

3.Inorganic chemicals : 5.Plant nutrients:

Acids, lead, arsenic, selenium, sodium chloride and fluorides. Nitrate, phosphate and ammonium ions
Sources : surface runoff, effluents Sources: Sewage, runoff water from agriculture, fertilizer.
Effects: Cause skin cancer, damage nervous system, harm to fish and
Effects: Excessive growth of algae, lower the oxygen carrying
aquatic life, lower crop yields.
capacity.
4.Organic chemicals:
Oil, gasoline, plastics, solvents, detergents.
6.Sediment: Soil
Sources: Industrial effluents, surface runoff forms.
Source: Land Erosion.
Effects: Causing effect nervous system ,cancer, harm fish and wild
life. Effects: Can reduce photosynthesis, affect aquatic food webs.

Testing of water Control measures of water pollution:

Dissolved oxygen (DO)  Avoid Pesticides and fertilizers on sloped land areas.
 Amount of oxygen dissolved in water at a particular pressure and  The nutrient rich water can be used as fertilizer in the fields.
temp.  Separate drainage of sewage and rain water should be provided to
Bio chemical oxygen demand (BOD) prevent overflow of sewage with rain water.
 Oxygen required for biological decomposition of organic matters.  Planting more trees.
Chemical oxygen demand (COD)  Use nitrogen fixing plants to supplement the use of fertilizers.
 Oxygen required for chemical oxidation of organic matters

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 Sewage treatment
Main objective is to convert harmful compounds into harmless
compounds.
In primary treatment, the suspended solids and floating objects
are removed using coarse screens and sieves.
In secondary treatment, the maximum proportions of the
suspended inorganic/ organic solids are removed from the liquid
sewage. The liquid material passes into the sedimentation tank and
finely suspended particles are allowed to settle by adding coagulants
like Alum.

Tertiary treatment
SOIL POLLUTION
Soil pollution is caused by the presence of human-
Remove detergents, metal ions, nitrates and made chemicals or other alteration in the natural soil
pesticides, as these are not removed in the environment.
earlier treatments.
The phosphates are removed as calcium
phosphates by adding calcium hydroxide at pH
10-11. At this pH, ammonium salts are also
converted into ammonia.
The effluent is chlorinated to remove
pathogenic bacteria's and finally passed
through activated charcoal to absorb gases.

Effects of soil pollution:

This type of contamination typically arises from,

 Chronic exposure to chromium, lead and other metals,

 Application of pesticides and fertilizers
petroleum, solvents, and many pesticide and herbicide
 Percolation of contaminated surface water to
formulations can be carcinogenic.
subsurface strata, oil and fuel dumping.
 Chronic exposure to benzene leads to leukemia. (blood cancer)
 Discharge of industrial wastes to the soil. The most
 Mercury and cyclodienes are known to induce higher
common chemicals involved are petroleum incidences of kidney damage.
hydrocarbons, solvents, pesticides, lead and other  Sewage sludge has many types of bacteria, viruses and worms
heavy metals. which cause types of diseases and also emits toxic vapours.

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 Radioactive fallout cause abnormalities. N & P from fertilizer in soil reach water bodies
with agricultural runoff cause Eutrophication.
eg., Strontium-90 instead of calcium gets deposited in the
bones.
Chemicals contaminates ground water
 Effects occur to agricultural lands which have certain resources.
types of soil contamination.
 Alteration of metabolism of endemic microorganisms. Acids, alkalis, heavy metals affect soil fertility.

Inhibit non target organism like flora, fauna

and soil productivity.

Control of soil pollution : NOISE POLLUTION

 Effluents should be properly treated before discharging on the Definition: Noise Pollution can be defined as unwanted
soil. or unpleasant sounds that causes discomfort for all living
things.
 Solid waste should be properly collected and disposed off by
 The various sources of noises are associated with urban
appropriate method. development, road-air and rail transport, industrial noise.
 From the waste, recovery of useful products should be done.
 In our country, indiscriminate use of loud speakers,
generator sets and fire crackers has given new
 Cattle dung should be used for methane generation. dimensions to the noise pollution problem.
 Microbial degradation of biodegradable substance for reducing  The commonly used parameter for noise is the sound
level in decibel (dB).
soil pollution.
 Human ears are sensitive in the frequency range of 20Hz
to 20000Hz

Major Noise Sources: 2. Air Traffic:

1. Road Traffic: The extend of aircraft noise impact depends
on the type of aircraft flown, the number of flights
Road traffic noise is one of the most and flight paths. The increase in number of flights, an
widespread and growing environmental problems in important factor is overall noise levels, the led to an
urban area. The impact of road traffic noise on the increase in general noise levels associated with air
traffic.
community depends an various factors such as road
location and design, land use planning measures, 3. Rail Traffic:
building design, Vehicle standards and driver The two main sources of noise and vibration
behavior. Motor vehicle ownership in India has relating to the operation of the rail network is
increased substantially over the last 30 years and 1. The operation of trains and the maintenance
general levels of road traffic noise throughout India 2. Construction of rail infrastructure.
have increased through out the period.

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4.Neighborhood & Domestic Noise:
Effects:
Other significant source of noise
1. Noise can disturb out work, rest, sleep and
annoyance is car alarms, building construction
communication.
and household noise,Celebrations- religious
function,social and election 2. It can damage our hearing and evoke other
psychological, physiological and possibly
pathological reactions.
5.Noise generated by noise levels of 125dB as
3.It effects health efficiency and behaviour. It
per Environmental rules 1999.
may cause damage to heart, brain, kidneys and
liver.
4.It causes muscles to contract leading to
nervous breakdown, tension.

The CPCB-The central pollution control board recommended noise

5.Change in hormone content of blood, which turn levels.
increase the rate of heart beat. Sound Source Sound Level Subjective Feeling
dB of Human Beings
Rockets and missiles, 160 Unbearable
6.Recently it has been reported that blood is also heavy explosives
thickened by excessive noise. Jet Planes and cannons, 140 Unbearable
explosives

7. Hearing damage : It can cause permanent hearing Aircraft Propeller and 130 Unbearable
Machine Guns
loss.
Diesel, steam engine and 120 Unbearable
ball mills, crackers
8. Interferences with man’s communication : In noise Electric saws and looms, 110 Unbearable
area communication is affected. heavy trucks

CONTROL MEASURES OF NOISE POLLUTION:

1.REDUCTION IN SOURCE OF NOISE : THERMAL POLLUTION
Heavy vehicles and old vehicles may not be allowed in populated areas.
2. Noise making machines should be kept in containers with sound absorbing  Thermal pollution is the degradation of water quality by
media. any process that changes ambient water temperature.
3. Proper oiling will reduce the noise from the machinery.  A common cause of thermal pollution is the use of water
4. Use sound absorbing silencers: Silencers can reduce noise by absorbing
as a coolant by power plants and industrial manufacturers.
sound.
 Energy is the basic necessity for the economic
development of a country.
5. Planting more trees having broad leaves.
 The electrical energy is produced in power plants or
6. Through law: Sound production is minimized at various social function.
generating stations. The conventional power plants are:
7. The use of fireworks or fire crackers shall not be permitted except between
- Steam or Thermal Power station,
6.00a.m and 10.00p.m.No fireworks or fire crackers shall be used between
- Hydro-electric Power station,
10.00p.m and 6.00a.m.
- Nuclear Power station
8. Silence zone in area comprising not less than 100meters around hospitals,
educational institutions ,courts and religious places.

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 Steam or Thermal Power station
In the thermal power station, the steam is
produced in the boiler, using the heat released
by the combustion of coal, oil or natural gas.
The steam is used to rotate the steam turbine
(impulse/ reaction).
The steam turbine drives the alternator, which
converts mechanical energy into electrical
energy.10-16oC higher than initial temp.

Hydro-electric Power station Once a hydroelectric complex is constructed, the

project produces no direct waste, and has a considerably
lower output level of the greenhouse gas & carbon
Hydroelectricity is the term referring to dioxide (CO2).
electricity generated by hydropower.
The production of electrical power through the
use of the gravitational force of falling or
flowing water.
It is the most widely used form of renewable
energy.

Nuclear Power station Effects of thermal pollution

Nuclear power is produced by controlled Elevated temperature typically decreases the level
(i.e., non-explosive) nuclear reactions. of dissolved oxygen (DO) in water.
Commercial and utility plants currently use Thermal pollution may also increase the
nuclear fission reactions to heat water to produce metabolic rate of aquatic animals.
steam, which is then used to generate electricity. Fish migration is affected due to formation of
various thermal zones.
Discharge of hot water near the shores could
disturb and even kill young fishes.
Toxicity of pesticides ,detergents and chemicals
into the effluent increases with increase in temp.
The composition of flora and fauna changes.

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Control of thermal pollution RADIO ACTIVE OR NUCLEAR POLLUTION
 Thermal pollution from industrial sources is generated The uncontrolled distribution of radioactive
mostly by power plants, petroleum refineries, pulp and material in a given environment.
paper mills, chemical plants, steel mills and smelters. Radioactive contamination is typically the
 Cooling ponds, man-made bodies of water designed for result of a spill or accident during the
cooling by evaporation, convection, and radiation. production or use of radionuclide
 Cooling towers, which transfer waste heat to the (radioisotopes), an unstable nucleus which has
atmosphere through evaporation and/or heat transfer. excessive energy.
 Cogeneration, a process where waste heat is recycled Contamination may occur from radioactive
for domestic and/or industrial heating purposes. gases, liquids or particles

Effects Control methods:

Radioactive contamination can enter the body It includes the stoppage of leakage from the
through ingestion, inhalation, absorption, or radioactive materials including the nuclear
injection that causes discomfort, diarrhea, reactors, industries and laboratories.
nausea or vomiting, burns skin and hair loss.
 The cumulative damage can cause serious The disposal of radioactive material must be
health problems long term, such as cancer, safe and secure.
especially leukemia and Thyroid Cancer. The protective garments must be worn by the
 For this reason, it is important to use personal workers who work in the nuclear plants.
protective equipment when working with The natural radiation must be at the permissible
radioactive materials. limits and they must not cross it.

SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT:

SOURCES OF URBAN AND INDUSTRIAL
Each household generates garbage or waste WASTE:
day in and day out. There are different types of
Waste from homes: Polyethylene bags, cans,
solid waste depending on their source
glass bottles, waste paper, cloth, food waste,
Types of solid waste: Solid waste can be empty metal.
classified into different types depending on their
Waste from shops: Cans, bottles, waste paper, tea
source:
leaves, packaging material.
 Municipal waste
Biomedical waste: discarded medicines,
 Industrial waste as hazardous waste chemical wastes, disposable syringes, swabs,
 Biomedical waste or hospital waste bandages and body fluids.
 E waste-Electronic waste Construction waste :wood, concrete, cement .,

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 Industrial waste :Packaging material, organic waste, acid, TYPES INVOLVED SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT:
alkali and metals.
1.REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE:
 Solid waste: Rubber, plastic, paper, glass, wood, oils,
a. Reduce the usage of raw materials:
paints, dyes, heavy metals, asbestos.
If usage is reduced, generation of waste also
Effects of solid waste : reduced.
 Physicochemical and chemical characteristics affecting b. Reuse of waste materials:
productivity of soils. Refillable containers can be reused
 Toxic substance contaminate the ground water.
Discarded cycle tubes can be made into rubber
 Burning of materials produce dioxins, furans causes
rings.
cancer.

c. Recycling of materials:  Landfill is covered with clay, sand & gravel.

 Old Aluminum cans and bottles are melted and recast into  Methane gas is collected and used to produce electricity.
new cans and bottles. b. Composting:
 Preparation of cellulose insulation from paper  The biodegradable waste is allowed to decomposed into
 Preparation fuel pellets from kitchen waste. oxygen rich medium and quality rich environment is formed

Methods of disposal of solid waste: which improves soil fertility rate.

a. Landfill : c. Incineration :

 The bottom is covered with several layers of clay, plastic &  Burning of waste at high temp (2800-3200 F) in combustion
chamber and used to produce electricity and incinerate100-
sand –protects ground water contamination.
150tonnes per hour.

Occupational Health and Safety Management system

ENVIRONMENTAL ACTS & RULES
 THE ENVIRONMENT (PROTECTION) ACT, 1986.
 THE WATER (PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF
POLLUTION) ACT, 1974.
 THE AIR (PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF POLLUTION)
ACT, 1981.
 THE PUBLIC LIABILITY INSURANCE ACT, 1991.
 THE NATIONAL GREEN TRIBUNAL ACT, 2010.
 SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT RULES, 2016.

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