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AIR

Pollution is now a common place term that our ears are attuned to. We hear about the various forms of pollution and read about it through the mass media. Air pollution is one such form that refers to the of the air, irrespective of indoors or outside. A physical, biological or chemical alteration to the air in the can be termed as pollution. It occurs when any harmful gases, , enters into the atmosphere and makes it difficult for , and to survive as the air becomes dirty.

Air pollution can further be classified into two sections- Visible air pollution and invisible air pollution. Another way of looking at Air pollution could be any substance that holds the potential to hinder the atmosphere or the well being of the living beings surviving in it. The sustainment of all things living is due to a combination of gases that collectively form the atmosphere; the imbalance caused by the increase or decrease of the percentage of these gases can be harmful for survival.

The layer considered crucial for the existence of the on the planet is depleting due to increased pollution. Global warming, a direct result of the increased imbalance of gases in the atmosphere has come to be known as the biggest threat and challenge that the contemporary world has to overcome in a bid for survival. Types of

In order to understand the causes of Air pollution, several divisions can be made. Primarily air pollutants can be caused by primary sources or secondary sources. The pollutants that are a direct result of the process can be called primary pollutants. A classic example of a primary would be the -dioxide emitted from factories

Secondary pollutants are the ones that are caused by the inter mingling and reactions of primary pollutants. created by the interactions of several primary pollutants is known to be as secondary pollutant.

Causes of Air pollution

1. Burning of Fossil Fuels: emitted from the of fossil fuelslike , petroleum and other factory combustibles is one the major cause of air pollution. Pollution emitting from vehicles including , jeeps, , trains, airplanes cause immense amount of pollution. We rely on them to fulfill our daily basic needs of transportation. But, there overuse is killing our environment as dangerous gases are polluting the environment. Carbon Monooxide caused by improper or incomplete combustion and generally emitted from vehicles is another major pollutant along with Nitrogen , that is produced from both natural and man made processes.

2. Agricultural Activities: is a very common by product from agriculture related activities and is one of the most hazardous gases in the atmosphere. Use of insecticides, and fertilizers in agricultural activities has grown quite a lot. They emit harmful chemicals into the air and can also cause pollution.

3. Exhaust from Factories and Industries: Manufacturing industries release large amount of , hydrocarbons, organic compounds, and chemicals into the air thereby depleting the quality of air. Manufacturing industries can be found at every corner of the earth and there is no area that has not been affected by it. Petroleum refineries also release hydrocarbons and various other chemicals that pollute the air and also cause pollution.

4. Operations: Mining is a process wherein below the earth are extracted using large equipments. During the process dust and chemicals are released in the air causing massive air pollution. This is one of the reason which is responsible for the deteriorating conditions of workers and nearby residents.

5. Indoor air Pollution: cleaning products, painting supplies emit toxic chemicals in the air and cause air pollution. Have you ever noticed that once you walls of your house, it creates some sort of smell which makes it literally impossible for you to breathe.

Suspended particulate matter popular by its acronym SPM, is another cause of pollution. Referring to the afloat in the air, SPM is usually caused by dust, combustion etc.

Effects of Air pollution

1. Respiratory and Heart Problems: The effects of Air pollution are alarming. They are known to create several respiratory and heart conditions along with , among other threats to the body. Several millions are known to have died due to direct or indirect effects of Air pollution. Children in areas exposed to air pollutants are said to commonly suffer from and .

2. Global Warming: Another direct effect is the immediate alterations that the world is witnessing due to Global warming. With increased temperatures world wide, increase in sea levels and melting of from colder and , displacement and loss of habitat have already signaled an impending disaster if actions for preservation and normalization aren’t undertaken soon.

3. Acid : Harmful gases like nitrogen oxides and sulfur oxides are released into the atmosphere during the burning of fossil fuels. When it , the water droplets combines with these air pollutants, becomes acidic and then falls on the ground in the form of . Acid rain can cause great damage to , animals and crops.

4. : Eutrophication is a condition where high amount of nitrogen present in some pollutants gets developed on sea’s surface and turns itself into algae and and adversely affect fish, plants and species. The green colored algae that is present on lakes and ponds is due to presence of this chemical only.

5. Effect on : Just like humans, animals also face some devastating affects of air pollution. Toxic chemicals present in the air can force wildlife species to move to new place and change their habitat. The toxic pollutants deposit over the surface of the water and can also affect sea animals.

6. Depletion of : Ozone exists in earth’s and is responsible for protecting humans from harmful (UV) rays. Earth’s ozone layer is depleting due to the presence of , hydro chlorofluorocarbons in the atmosphere. As ozone layer will go thin, it will emit harmful rays back on earth and can cause skin and eye related problems. UV rays also have the capability to affect crops.

When you try to study the sources of Air pollution, you enlist a series of activities and interactions that create these pollutants. There are two types of sources that we will take a look at: Natural sources and Man-made sources.

Natural sources of pollution include dust carried by the from locations with very little or no green cover, gases released from the body processes of living beings ( from humans during respiration, from during , from plants during Photosynthesis). Smoke from the combustion of various inflammable objects, volcanic eruptions etc along with the emission of polluted gases also make it to the list of Natural sources of Pollution. While looking at the man-made contributions towards air pollution, smoke again features as a prominent component. The smoke emitted from various forms of combustion like in bio mass, factories, vehicles, furnaces etc. Waste used to create generate methane, that is harmful in several ways. The reactions of certain gases and chemicals also form harmful fumes that can be dangerous to the well being of living creatures.

Solutions/Measures/Prevention for Air Pollution

1. Use Public Mode of Transportation: Encourage people to use more and more public modes of transportation to reduce pollution. Also, try to make use of pooling. If you and your colleagues come from the same locality and have same timings you can explore this option to save and money.

2. Conserve Energy: Switch off fans and lights when you are going out. Large amount of fossil fuels are burnt to produce electricity. You can save the environment from degradation by reducing the amount of fossil fuels to be burned.

3. Understand the Concept of Reduce, Reuse and Recycle: Do not throw away items that are of no use to you. In-fact reuse them for some other purpose. For e.g. you can use old jars to store cereals or pulses.

4. Emphasis on Clean Energy : Clean energy technologies like solar, wind and geothermal are on high these days. Governments of various countries have been providing grants to consumers who are interested in installing solar panels for their home. This will go a long way to curb air pollution.

5. Use energy efficient devices: CFL lights consume less electricity as against their counterparts. They live longer, consume less electricity, lower electricity bills and also help you to reduce pollution by consuming less energy.

Several attempts are being made worldwide on a personal, industrial and governmental levels to curb the intensity at which Air Pollution is rising and regain a balance as far as the proportions of the foundation gases are concerned. This is a direct attempt at slacking Global warming. We are seeing a series of innovations and experiments aimed at alternate and unconventional options to reduce pollutants. Air Pollution is one of the larger mirrors of man’s follies, and a challenge we need to overcome to see a tomorrow.

Water covers 70% of the Earth’s surface and makes up over 60% of the human body. Water pollution affects marine ecosystems, wildlife health, and human well-being. Water pollution is the contamination of water bodies (e.g. lakes, rivers, , and ). This form of environmental degradation occurs when pollutants are directly or indirectly discharged into water bodies without adequate treatment to remove harmful compounds. The answer to solving pollution is to make changes in our daily habits and pay more attention to the types of products we consume. The following lists display causes of water pollution and the effects it has on human health and the environment.

What are the causes of water pollution?

Most water pollution doesn't begin in the water itself. Take the oceans: around 80 percent of pollution enters our seas from the land. Virtually any human activity can have an effect on the quality of our water environment. When farmers fertilize the fields, the chemicals they use are gradually washed by rain into the groundwater or surface nearby. Sometimes the causes of water pollution are quite surprising. Chemicals released by smokestacks (chimneys) can enter the atmosphere and then fall back to earth as rain, entering seas, rivers, and lakes and causing water pollution. That's called atmospheric deposition. Water pollution has many different causes and this is one of the reasons why it is such a difficult problem to solve.

1. and Wastewater:-

Untreated sewage water is problematic in developing countries with insufficient . In developed countries, pharmaceuticals and other chemicals are flushed down the toilet and sink. Raw sewage in water causes environmental contamination and human illnesses like diarrhea. Chemicals and pharmaceuticals are harmful to the environment, wildlife, and humans. Sewage from domestic , factories and commercial buildings Sewage that is treated in plants is often disposed into the sea. Sewage can be more problematic when people flush chemicals and pharmaceutical substances down the toilet.

2. :- Many industrial plants worldwide use to dispose of their waste, polluting rivers, lakes, and oceans. Industrial waste from factories, which use freshwater to carry waste from the into rivers, contaminates waters with pollutants such as , , and petrochemicals.

3. Marine Dumping:-

Litter is disposed of in the ocean and on beaches. Dumping solid wastes and littering by humans in rivers, lakes and oceans. Littering items include cardboard, Styrofoam, aluminum, plastic and glass.

4. :-

Produced during industrial, medical, and scientific processes, and through the mining and refining of nuclear fuels like uranium and thorium. Nuclear processing plants give off wastes that can pollute the marine environment.

5. Pollution:-

Large events account for only 12% of total ocean oil pollution. The remaining oil pollution is through routine shipping, land run-off, and intentional oil dumping. Oil Pollution caused by oil spills from tankers and oil from travel. Oil does not dissolve in water and forms a thick sludge.

6. Atmospheric Deposition:-

Acid Rain is created when water molecules in the atmosphere combine with particles of carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and sulfur dioxide from the burning of fossil fuels to form a mildly acidic pollutant that can be present in rain. Burning fossil fuels into the air causes the formation of acidic particles in the atmosphere. When these particles mix with water vapor, the result is acid rain.

7. Eutrophication: - Occurs when ocean waters and other aquatic habitats are enriched with excess nutrients, such as phosphates and nitrogenous compounds caused by agricultural runoff. Excess nutrients feed algae and can cause algal blooms in the ocean and in lakes and other freshwater bodies. Rainfall and snowmelt can natural and human-made pollutants from human development into rivers, lakes, wetlands, and coastal waters.

8. Agricultural Runoff:-

Agricultural pollutants include: excessive nutrients, ammonia and nitrates, pathogens, antibiotics and hormones, and heavy and salts. Manure, animal bedding, wasted feed, , dust, hair and feathers can be mixed together and can end up in waterways.

9. (“Fracking”) Fluid:-

Fluid is used for obtaining natural gas from shale in the earth. Found to contain many toxic chemicals such as , acetic acids, citric acids, and boric acid, among many others.

10. CO2 Greenhouse Gases:-

Carbon dioxide gas is produced through the burning of fossil fuels. These gases are absorbed by the ocean. An increase in water temperature is caused by global warming and thermal plants that use lakes and rivers to cool down mechanical equipment.

Effects of Water Pollution

 Groundwater contamination from pesticides causes reproductive damage within wildlife in ecosystems.

 Sewage, fertilizer, and agricultural run-off contain organic materials that when discharged into waters, increase the growth of algae, which causes the depletion of oxygen. The low oxygen levels are not able to support most indigenous organisms in the area and therefore upset the natural ecological balance in rivers and lakes.

 Old Roofs can cause pollution if they are not properly maintained. If water is being held on roofs the water can become polluted and then run down the home and cause more pollution to the water table. If you invest in a green roof from Allstate Roofing you can help reduce the water pollution from your home.

 Swimming in and drinking contaminated water causes skin rashes and health problems like cancer, reproductive problems, typhoid fever and stomach sickness in humans. Which is why it’s very important to make sure that your water is clean and safe to drink.  Industrial chemicals and agricultural pesticides that end up in aquatic environments can accumulate in fish that are later eaten by humans. Fish are easily poisoned with metals that are also later consumed by humans. Mercury is particularly poisonous to small children and women. Mercury has been found to interfere with the development of the nervous system in fetuses and young children.

 Ecosystems are destroyed by the rising temperature in the water, as coral reefs are affected by the bleaching effect due to warmer temperatures. Additionally, the warm water forces indigenous water species to seek cooler water in other areas, causing an ecological damaging shift of the affected area.

 Human-produced of items such as plastic bags and 6-pack rings can get aquatic animals caught and killed from suffocation.

 Water pollution causes flooding due to the accumulation of solid waste and in streams and rivers.

 Oil spills in the water causes animal to die when they ingest it or encounter it. Oil does not dissolve in water so it causes suffocation in fish and birds.

Following are some facts on water pollution:-

 Fourteen billion pounds of , which is mostly plastic, is dumped into the ocean every year.

 The Ganges River in is one the most polluted rivers in the world with sewage, trash, , and animal remains.

 According to United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) estimates, 1.2 trillion gallons of untreated sewage, , and industrial waste is dumped into U.S. waters annually.

 About 700 million people globally drink contaminated water.

 Aquatic animals face an extinction rate of five times more than that of terrestrial animals.  Over 30 billion tons of urban sewage is discharged into lakes, rivers and oceans every year.

 The massive oil spill that was caused by British Petroleum (BP) in the year 2010 caused over 1,000 animals to die. Many of them were on the endangered species list.

 According to UNICEF, more than 3,000 children die every day all over the world due to consumption of contaminated .

 Pollution is one of the biggest killers in the world, affecting over 100 million people.

 Lack of proper sanitation in water to diseases like cholera, malaria and diarrhea.

 At least 320 million people in China do not have access to clean drinking water.

How can we stop/ preventive/measures/steps water pollution?

There is no easy way to solve water pollution; if there were, it wouldn't be so much of a problem. Broadly speaking, there are three different things that can help to tackle the problem education, laws, and economics and they work together as a team.

Education

Making people aware of the problem is the first step to solving it. In the early 1990s, when surfers in Britain grew tired of catching illnesses from water polluted with sewage, they formed a group called Surfers Against Sewage to force governments and water companies to clean up their act. People who've grown tired of walking the world's polluted beaches often band together to organize community beach-cleaning sessions. Anglers who no longer catch so many fish have campaigned for tougher penalties against factories that pour pollution into our rivers. Greater public awareness can make a positive difference.

Laws

One of the biggest problems with water pollution is its transboundary nature. Many rivers cross countries, while seas span whole continents. Pollution discharged by factories in one country with poor environmental standards can cause problems in neighboring nations, even when they have tougher laws and higher standards. Environmental laws can make it tougher for people to pollute, but to be really effective they have to operate across national and international borders. This is why we have international laws governing the oceans, such as the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (signed by over 120 nations), the 1972 (Dumping) Convention, the 1978 MARPOL International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from , and the 1998 OSPAR Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North East Atlantic. The has water- protection laws (known as directives) that apply to all of its member states. They include the 1976 Bathing Water Directive (updated 2006), which seeks to ensure the quality of the waters that people use for recreation. Most countries also have their own water pollution laws. In the United States, for example, there is the 1972 Clean Water Act and the 1974 Safe Drinking Water Act.

Economics

Most environmental experts agree that the best way to tackle pollution is through something called the . This means that whoever causes pollution should have to pay to clean it up, one way or another. Polluter pays can operate in all kinds of ways. It could mean that tanker owners should have to take out insurance that covers the cost of oil spill cleanups, for example. It could also mean that shoppers should have to pay for their plastic grocery bags, as is now common in Ireland, to encourage and minimize waste. Or it could mean that factories that use rivers must have their water inlet pipes downstream of their effluent outflow pipes, so if they cause pollution they themselves are the first people to suffer. Ultimately, the polluter pays principle is designed to deter people from polluting by making it less expensive for them to behave in an environmentally responsible way.

Our clean future

Life is ultimately about choices and so is pollution. We can live with sewage-strewn beaches, dead rivers, and fish that are too poisonous to eat. Or we can work together to keep the environment clean so the plants, animals, and people who depend on it remain healthy. We can take individual action to help reduce water pollution, for example, by using environmentally friendly detergents, not pouring oil down drains, reducing pesticides, and so on. We can take community action too, by helping out on beach cleans or litter picks to keep our rivers and seas that little bit cleaner. And we can take action as countries and continents to pass laws that will make pollution harder and the world less polluted. Working together, we can make pollution less of a problem and the world a better place. Water pollution has been extensively documented as a contributor to health problems in humans and marine animal ecosystems. It has a huge impact on our , and if we do our part by not throwing trash or chemicals into our water supplies and drains, we can contribute to the improvement of aquatic and of our health in general.

Other forms of Pollution

These are the most common forms of pollution—but by no means the only ones. Heat or from factories and power plants also causes problems in rivers. By raising the temperature, it reduces the amount of oxygen dissolved in the water, thus also reducing the level of aquatic life that the river can support.

Another type of pollution involves the disruption of sediments (fine-grained powders) that flow from rivers into the sea. Dams built for hydroelectric power or water reservoirs can reduce the sediment flow. This reduces the formation of beaches, increases coastal erosion (the natural destruction of cliffs by the sea), and reduces the flow of nutrients from rivers into seas (potentially reducing coastal fish stocks). Increased sediments can also present a problem. During construction work, soil, rock, and other fine powders sometimes enters nearby rivers in large quantities, causing it to become turbid (muddy or silted). The extra sediment can block the gills of fish, effectively suffocating them. Construction firms often now take precautions to prevent this kind of pollution from happening.

NOISE POLLUTION

Meaning:-

Noise pollution means an unwanted or undesirable sound that leads to physical and mental problems. Noise pollution is dependent on the loudness and frequency of the sound. Noise pollution affects both health and behaviour. Unwanted sound (noise) can damage psychological health. Noise pollution can cause hypertension, high stress levels, tinnitus, hearing loss, sleep disturbances, and other harmful effects. In fact, when the sound exceeds its limit, it becomes fatal for human and other organisms. The noise intensity is measured in decibels or DB. A person can bear the noise up to 85 decibels, after which his hearing power can be damaged.

Normally, sounds more intense than 30 decibel are called noise. Anyway, all the sounds come under noise pollution which makes the mind turbulent or restless. In fact, any unwanted noise arising in the environment, which has adverse effects on the health of the organism, is noise pollution.

In daily life, we hear different intensity of sounds, whose level ranges from 10 to 100 decibels. Considering the on human health, scientists have set the maximum sound limit, ranging from 75 to 85 dB in different countries. The World Health Organization considers the sound of 45 decibels ideal for . But measurement of sound in most big cities exceeds 90 decibels.

Sources of Noise Pollution:-

The sources of noise pollution are divided into two categories:

Natural sources

The is filled with various sounds – , , , , volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, landslides, sounds produced by animals, and rapidly falling water.

Human sources

Rapid industrialization, , use of modern means of , population growth, and increasing scale of human activities are some of the human factors responsible for noise pollution. Both types of noise pollution, affect sleep, listening ability, physical and .

Causes of Noise Pollution

Noise pollution can be caused by several phenomenon including industrial activity, and social activity (such as explosion of crackers, loud parties), and surface travel. The many causes of noise pollution are discussed below:

1. Fire crackers: Fire crackers are exploded to make huge sound during celebrations and festive occasions. It is common sight to witness the firing of crackers at live concerts.

2. Transportation vehicles: Noise pollution is severest in the cities. The different modes of transportation (land, air and water), such as motor-cars, buses, trains, trams, airplanes, etc. produces sound that disturbs the human mind.

3. Microphones: The unrestricted use of microphones during social and political events.

4. Loud speakers: During social events and other festive occasions, people use loud speakers in unjustified manner.

5. Factories and industries: In large cities, there are large number of factories, mills and industries. These industrial sites produce immense environmental noise to disturb the habitats of nearby residential areas.

6. Domestic appliances: Even at homes, people use large number of domestic appliances such as grinder, mixer, juicer, etc.

7. Loud music: Playing music in high volume,

8. Television: Television also causes sound and watching television for long hours in just as harmful for ears as they are for eyes.

9. Building and construction sites near residential areas: The building and construction activity involves use of sound producing equipment such as cement-mixer, -roller, crane, etc.

Effects of Noise Pollution

Noise pollution affects the human mind and body negatively. The ill-effects of noise pollution are many. It is the major cause for several ailments. The quality of human life gets disrupted. The lives of the children, the aged or the ailing people become miserable.

1. Loss of hearing and deafness: Noise above the tolerable threshold is the leading cause for loss of hearing and deafness.

2. Cardiac disturbance: Noise increase the risk of cardiac disturbance including coronary disease or ischemic heart disease (IHD).

3. Sleeplessness: Noise may make people restless and tired. It may cause disrupted sleeping pattern or may keep people away from sound sleep. In the long-term, due to tiredness and lack of sleep, the immune system may get compromised.

4. Headache: Human mind can tolerate sound only to a limited extent. Excess noise causes headache.

5. Stress, tension and aggressiveness: Loud noises can be very stressful. Constant exposure to irritating sound may cause stress and tension. The behavior of people often becomes aggressive. Other than psychological imbalance, is causes physical illness such as increased , cardiac disturbance and insomnia.

6. Irregular blood pressure: For good health, it is very important to maintain normal pressure in the both during the heartbeat and between the heartbeat. Noise may contribute to fluctuations in the levels of blood pressure.

7. Mental imbalance and nervous debility: Mental illness is among the worst negative effects of noise pollution. People may find it difficult to cope with their normal routine life. Human mind cannot accept sound beyond a certain level. Excess sound may lead to mental imbalance and nervous disability.

8. Psychological imbalance: It may also cause psychological imbalance.

9. Difficulty in talking: Due to excessive noise, it becomes very difficult to talk on or inside malls. Prevention/Measures/Steps of Noise Pollution:-

Some effective measures should be taken too solve the problem. The following measures can be taken to prevent noise pollution:

 To prevent and control noise pollution it is necessary to create public awareness. Only law is not sufficient. People must be made aware of the harmful consequences of noise pollution.

 People should be made aware that excessive noise beyond certain limits may cause deafness.

 They should know that injuries caused by sound pollution are often irreversible.

 There should be minimum use of sound producing instruments. There should be proper regulations for the use of loudspeakers and other devices that produce noise beyond that are beyond the toleration limits of human-beings.

 The Pollution Control Board and the High Court have already taken effective measures to bring sound pollution under control. Adequate measures should be taken to ensure that noise related restrictions are not violated.

 Anti-pollution laws should be enacted and enforced.

 Ban of fire crackers should be imposed and electric horns should be replaced by bulb horns.

 The use of microphones should be controlled and regulated.

SOIL POLLUTION

Meaning:-

Soil contamination or soil pollution as part of is caused by the presence of xenobiotic (human-made) chemicals or other alteration in the natural soil environment. It is typically caused by industrial activity, agricultural chemicals, or improper disposal of waste. With the rise of concrete buildings and roads, one part of the Earth that we rarely see is the soil. It has many different names, such as dirt, mud and ground. However, it is definitely very important to us. The plants that feed us grow in soil and keeping it healthy is essential to maintaining a beautiful planet. However, like all other forms of nature, soil also suffers from pollution. The pollution of soil is a common thing these days, and it happens due to the presence of man made elements.

The main reason why the soil becomes contaminated is due to the presence of man made waste. The waste produced from nature itself such as dead plants, carcasses of animals and rotten fruits and vegetables only adds to the fertility of the soil. However, our waste products are full of chemicals that are not originally found in nature and lead to soil pollution.

Causes of Soil Pollution

As is evident from the list below, soil pollution is almost always down to human activity such as agriculture and heavy industry.

1. Industrial Activity: Industrial activity has been the biggest contributor to the problem in the last century, especially since the amount of mining and manufacturing has increased. Most industries are dependent on extracting minerals from the Earth. Whether it is iron ore or coal, the by products are contaminated and they are not disposed off in a manner that can be considered safe. As a result, the industrial wastelingers in the soil surface for a long time and makes it unsuitable for use.

2. Agricultural Activities: Chemical utilization has gone up tremendously since technology provided us with modern pesticides and fertilizers. They are full of chemicals that are not produced in nature and cannot be broken down by it. As a result, they seep into the ground after they mix with water and slowly reduce the fertility of the soil. Other chemicals damage the composition of the soil and make it easier to erode by water and air. Plants absorb many of these pesticides and when they decompose, they cause soil pollution since they become a part of the land.

3. Waste Disposal: Finally, a growing cause for concern is how we dispose of our waste. While industrial waste is sure to cause contamination, there is another way in which we are adding to the pollution. Every human produces a certain amount of personal waste products by way or urine and feces.

While much of it moves into the sewer the system, there is also a large amount that is dumped directly into landfills in the form of diapers. Even the sewer system ends at the , where the biological waste pollutes the soil and water. This is because our bodies are full of toxins and chemicals which are now seeping into the land and causing pollution of soil.

4. Accidental Oil Spills: Oil leaks can happen during storage and transport of chemicals. This can be seen at most of the fuel stations. The chemicals present in the fuel deteriorates the quality of soil and make them unsuitable for cultivation. These chemicals can enter into the groundwater through soil and make the water undrinkable.

5. Acid Rain: Acid rain is caused when pollutants present in the air mixes up with the rain and fall back on the ground. The polluted water could dissolve away some of the important nutrients found in soil and change the structure of the soil.

Effects of Soil Pollution

1. Effect on Health of Humans: Considering how soil is the reason we are able to sustain ourselves, the contamination of it has major consequences on our health. Crops and plants grown on polluted soil absorb much of the pollution and then pass these on to us. This could explain the sudden surge in small and terminal illnesses.

Long term exposure to such soil can affect the genetic make-up of the body, causing congenital illnesses and chronic health problems that cannot be cured easily. In fact, it can sicken the livestock to a considerable extent and cause food poisoning over a long period of time. The soil pollution can even lead to widespread famines if the plants are unable to grow in it. 2. Effect on Growth of Plants: The ecological balance of any system gets affected due to the widespread contamination of the soil. Most plants are unable to adapt when the of the soil changes so radically in a short period of time. Fungi and bacteria found in the soil that bind it together begin to decline, which creates an additional problem of soil erosion.

The fertility slowly diminishes, making land unsuitable for agriculture and any local vegetation to survive. The soil pollution causes large tracts of land to become hazardous to health. Unlike deserts, which are suitable for its native vegetation, such land cannot support most forms of life.

3. Decreased : The toxic chemicals present in the soil can decrease soil fertility and therefore decrease in the soil yield. The contaminated soil is then used to produce fruits and vegetables which lacks quality nutrients and may contain some poisonous substance to cause serious health problems in people consuming them.

4. Toxic Dust: The emission of toxic and foul gases from landfills pollutes the environment and causes serious effects on health of some people. The unpleasant smell causes inconvenience to other people.

5. Changes in Soil Structure: The death of many soil organisms (e.g. earthworms) in the soil can lead to alteration in soil structure. Apart from that, it could also force other predators to move to other places in search of food.

Preventative Measures:-

If we act now, we can prevent soil pollution from taking hold. Some useful preventative measures that we can take to this end are listed below.

1. Go organic: Organic agriculture uses much fewer chemical fertilizers and pesticides, preventing chemicals from seeping into the soil.

2. Proper farming methods: Finding alternatives to chemical fertilizers and pesticides is an ideal way to avoid soil erosion. Rotational and mixed farming are also encouraged.

3. Dispose of household waste responsibly: Recycling waste and not dumping it in landfill will keep the soil free of pollution. Not throwin batteries and electrical items into household waste bins will help to keep the soil free of dangerous chemicals. 4. Prevent or Manage industrial waste: Properly managing industrial and domestic waste can help prevent soil erosion. Solid waste treatment is also a good preventive measure. Regular health and safety checks and adequate waste disposal methods will ensure that industrial chemicals and other waste are not allowed to contaminate our precious soil.

5. Community Awareness: Creating awareness about the effects of soil pollution can help prevent its occurrence.

6. Burn fewer fossil fuels: Cleaner air makes it easier for us to have cleaner soil. Fresh, pure rain will keep the soil free of pollutants.

A number of ways have been suggested to curb the current rate of pollution. Such attempts at cleaning up the environment require plenty of time and resources to be pitched in. Industries have been given regulations for the disposal of , which aims at minimizing the area that becomes polluted. Organic methods of farming are being supported, which do not use chemical laden pesticides and fertilizers. Use of plants that can remove the pollutants from the soil is being encouraged. However, the road ahead is quite long and the prevention of soil pollution will take many more years.

RADIOACTIVE POLLUTION

Meaning:-

Radioactive pollution (also radioactive contamination) is the presence of radioactive substances in the environment. These substances are known as pollutants because they can cause damage to the environment. Animals, plants and humans can all fall ill due to radioactive pollution. Radioactive pollution can be defined as the release of radioactive substances or high-energy particles into the air, water, or earth as a result of human activity, either by accident or by design.

Alternative names for radioactive pollution include ‘radioactive contamination’ and ‘radiological contamination’. These terms all mean the same thing: radioactive matter polluting the environment.

It is also good to know precisely what radioactive substances are. A substance is radioactive when the nuclei of its atoms start to decay. When this happens, the atom becomes unstable and releases particles which form radiation.

Radiation can be made up of several different particles, including gamma rays, alpha particles, beta particles and a type of electron known as ‘conversion electrons’.

Radiation can be undetectable when it touches a person’s skin. However, it is very hazardous. With alpha radiation, a living thing will need to be within centimetres of the radiation source to be affected by the radiation. However, other forms of radiation can travel long distances and affect plants, animals and people for miles around.

Causes of Radioactive Pollution:-

Radioactive pollution is caused when radioactive matter is allowed to contaminate the environment. There are several main ways in which this can happen.

1. A key cause of radioactive pollution is breaches at plants, which can result in leakages of radioactive matter into the environment. As nuclear energy becomes a big alternative to fossil fuels, this risk increases.

2. Another cause is chemical spills. Radioactive chemicals can, whether due to improper transport or to containers breaking, spill out into the atmosphere and onto the ground.

3.Nuclear explosions and detonations of nuclear weapons – probably the highest amounts of human-induced radiation pollution have been generated in the mid-twentieth century through various experimental or combat nuclear detonations. Defensive weapon production may also release radioactivity from the radioactive materials handled (usually with elevated health risks). However, unless an accident occurs, the current standards will not allow the release of any significant amount of radiation.

4. Nuclear waste handling and disposal may generate low to medium radiation over a long period of time. The radioactivity may contaminate and propagate through air, water, and soil as well. Thus, their effects may not be easily distinguishable and are hard to predict. Additionally, some nuclear waste locations may not be identified. The main issue with the radiation waste is the fact that it cannot be degraded or treated chemically or biologically. Thus, the only options are to contain the waste by storing it in tightly closed containers shielded with radiation-protective materials (such as Pb) or, if containing is not possible, to dilute it. The waste may also be contained by storage in remote areas with little or no life (such as remote caves or abandoned salt mines). However, in time, the shields (natural or artificial) may be damaged. Additionally, the past waste disposal practices may not have used appropriate measures to isolate the radiation. Therefore, such areas need to be carefully identified and access restrictions promptly imposed.

5. Mining of radioactive ores (such as uranium ores) involves the crushing and processing of radioactive ores and generates radioactive by-products. Mining of other ores may also generate radioactive waste (such as mining of phosphate ores).

6. Nuclear accidents – an already classic example of such accident is the at a former Soviet in Chernobyl, that occurred in 1986. Its effects are still seen today. Another example is the 1979 explosion at the Three Mile Island nuclear-power generating plant near Harrisburg, PA, and the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster of 2011. The general problems at nuclear weapons reactors are other examples of this type of sources of radiation pollution. Even accidents from handling medical nuclear materials/waste could have notable health effects on workers.

Effects of Radioactive Pollution

1. Radiation alters and destroys cells in living organisms. Whether an organism is a plant or an animal (including a human), radiation can result in illness or death.

2. Radioactive pollution can cause genetic mutations in living organisms, and in their descendants. If an animal is exposed to radioactive pollution, for example, it may give birth to babies that have severe congenital defects. These mutations can also cause cancer, sometimes several years in the future, as well as conditions such as infertility and

3. Radiation can also have a burning effect: chemical burns are slightly different from the burns that come from excessive heat as chemicals need not be at a high temperature for an organism to feel a burning sensation when they come into contact with them. However, radioactive burns can cause blistering, reddening, pain and damage to skin tissue.

4. Damage to the soil and plants is another key effect of radioactive pollution. Radioactive pollution can leave soil infertile and unfit for crops for several decades. It can leave the air unsafe to breathe, too.

Control Measures:-  Laboratory generated nuclear wastes should be disposed off safely and scientifically.  Nuclear power plants should be located in areas after careful study of the geology of the area, tectonic activity and meeting other established conditions.  Appropriate protection against occupational exposure.  Leakage of radioactive elements from nuclear reactors, careless use of radioactive elements as fuel and careless handling of radioactive isotopes must be prevented.  Safety measure against accidental release of radioactive elements must be ensured in nuclear plants.  Unless absolutely necessary, one should not frequently go for diagnosis by x-rays.  Regular monitoring of the presence of radioactive substance in high risk area should be ensured. Among the many options for waste disposal, the scientists prefer to bury the waste in hundreds of meters deep in the earth’s crust is considered to be the best safety long term option.

SOLID WASTE MANGEMENT

Solid wastes are the material that arises from various human and economic activities. It is being produced since the beginning of civilization. Ever increasing population growth, urbanization and industrialization are contributing to the generation of solid waste in huge quantities.

Waste is enviable; waste is by product of human activity which has lack of use. The term waste refers to the useless material generated from different sources such as household, public places, hospital, commercial centre construction sites and production of waste from industries.

Waste can be classified through various methods on the basis of physical state (solid, liquid and gaseous) and then within solid waste (according to its original use , food waste etc.) material (glass, paper etc.) physical properties, domestic, commercial, biodegradable, non-biodegradable etc. Solid wastes have prevailing characteristics which sets them apart from the liquid and gaseous wastes.

The characteristics are that the waste remains highly visible in the environment. Liquid wastes are quickly relegated to sewer and are out of sight and gaseous wastes disperse in to the atmosphere. Accumulation of large quantities of solid wastes is having an adverse impact on the environment.

Different sources of wastes are mentioned as follows:

(i) Industrial Waste

(ii) Municipal Solid Wastes

(iii) Agricultural Waste

(iv) Mining Waste

(v) Energy Production Waste

(vi) Dredging Waste

Industrial Wastes: Control Measures of Urban and Industrial Wastes

Indiscriminate disposal of solid wastes, especially of hazardous wastes causes adverse environmental effects.

The main objective of solid is to minimise these adverse effects before it becomes too difficult to rectify in the future.

Solid waste management is a manifold task involving many activities like:

(i) Collection of solid wastes.

(ii) Disposal of solid wastes.

(iii) Waste utilisation.

(i) Collection of Solid Wastes:

Collection includes all the activities associated with the gathering of solid wastes and the hauling of the wastes collected to the location from where the collection vehicle will ultimately transport it to the site of disposal. There are three basic methods of collection.

(a) Community storage point:

The municipal refuse is taken to fixed stor•age bins and stored till the waste collection agency collects it daily for dis•posal in a vehicle.

(b) Kerbside Collection:

In advance of the collection time, the refuse is brought in containers and placed on the footway from where it is collected by the waste collection agency.

(c) Block Collection:

Individuals bring the waste in containers and hand it over to the collection staff who empties it into the waiting vehicle and re•turns the container to the individuals.

(ii) Disposal of Solid Wastes:

Before the solid waste is ultimately disposed of it is processed in order to im•prove the efficiency of solid waste disposal system and to recover usable re•sources out of the solid wastes. The processing techniques such as compaction i.e. mechanical volume reduc•tion or i.e. thermal volume reduction and manual component sepa•ration i.e. manual sorting of the waste are employed to increase the efficiency of solid waste management.

Due to heterogeneity of the refuse it is important to select the most appro•priate solid waste disposal method keeping in view the following objectives:

(a) It should be economically viable i.e. the operation and maintenance costs must be carefully assessed.

(b) It should not create a health hazard.

(c) It should not cause adverse environmental effects.

(d) It should not be aesthetically unpleasant i.e. it should not result in offend•ing sights, odours, and noises.

(e) It should preferably provide opportunities for recycling of materials.

The commonly used methods of disposal are:-

(1) Salvage or Manual Component Separation:

Before ultimate disposal, the manual separation of solid waste components is accomplished to achieve the recovery and reuse of materials. Cardboard, news•print, high quality paper, glass, metals, and aluminum cans etc. are manu•ally sorted out or salvaged either for recycling or for resale.

(2) Compaction or Mechanical Volume Reduction:

After separation of reusable or disposable articles, compacters are used to com•press the waste materials directly into large containers or to form bales that can be then placed in large containers. Compaction increases the useful life of landfills. (3) Incineration or Thermal Volume Reduction:

Highly combustible wastes like plastics, cardboard, paper, rubber and combus•tible wastes like cartons, wood , floor sweepings, food wastes etc. are sub•jected to incineration i.e. burning at very high temperatures. Incineration results in air pollution and so proper control equipment needs to be installed to avoid contamination of environment.

In order to make this method economical, the heat generated during incinera•tion is usefully utilised by generating steam or by putting a waste heat boiler on the incinerator thereby partly recovering the cost of waste collection and disposal.

(4) Open Dumping:

Open dumping of solid wastes is done in low lying areas and outskirts of the towns and cities. Being comparatively cheaper, this method of disposal is used extensively in India.

However, major disadvantages are:

(a) hazards are caused by the breeding of flies, mosquitoes rats and other pests.

(b) Obnoxious gaseous and particulate matter is produced by burning of the combustible solid wastes, resulting in air pollution.

(c) Open dumping requires large land areas which further aggravates the prob•lem of land shortage for human habitation.

(5) Sanitary Landfilling or Controlled Tipping:

Sanitary landfilling involves the disposal of municipal wastes on or in the upper layers of the earth’s mantle especially in degraded areas in need of restoration. In landfilling, the solid wastes are compacted and spread in thin layers each layer being uniformly covered by a layer of soil.

The final layer is covered by a final cover of about one meter of earth to prevent rodents from burrowing into the refuse and scattering. This is a biological method of waste treatment and bacterial refuse digestion results in decomposition products like CO2, CH4, NH3, H2S and H2O which can be harnessed as renewable sources of energy. This method does not cause environmental damages by creating nuisances or health hazards as the refuse is covered and prevents breeding of pests and disease vectors. Besides there is no danger of air pollution resulting from burn•ing and no water pollution provided precaution is taken to avoid of refuse from contaminating the surface or underground water sources. This pre•vention can be taken by using a plastic membrane or watertight membrane on the base.

(6) or Destructive Distillation:

In this disposal method, the solid wastes are heated under anaerobic conditions (i.e. burning without oxygen). The organic components of the solid wastes split up into gaseous liquid and gaseous fractions (CO, CO2, CH4, tar, charred carbon). Unlike the highly exothermic process of combustion, pyrolysis is a highly endothermic process and that is why it is also called destructive distillation.

(7) Land farming:

In this waste disposal method, the biodegradable industrial wastes are treated by the biological, physical and chemical processes occurring in the surface of the soil. The organic wastes are either applied on top of the land or injected below the soil surface with suitable equipment, where they undergo bacterial and chemi•cal decomposition. At frequent intervals, the land farming sites can be reused without any adverse effects provided the land farming site is properly managed.

(8) Composting or Biodegradation:

Bacterial decomposition of the organic components of the municipal solid wastes result in formation of humus or compost and the process is known as composting. In this process a compost pile is constructed by making alternate layers of or•ganic matter and soil (source of micro-organisms).

Some fertilizer and water is periodically added to the compost pile to stimulate microbial (bacteria and fungi) action and to maintain the necessary moisture content (55%). Periodically, the refuse is turned over to allow aeration i.e. penetration of oxy•gen to all parts of the organic refuse to facilitate aerobic bacterial decomposi•tion. It takes nearly a month for composting to be complete. Large waste prod•ucts such as machinery, old furniture, abandoned vehicles etc. are required to be reduced in size in order to become capable of being handled by pulverizes. This reduction in size is usually achieved by using impact crushers or hydraulic shears.

(iii) Waste Utilisation:

A cannot afford wastage. By proper utilisation of solid waste a developing country like India can avail of many advantages, for instance:

(a) Waste utilisation directly or indirectly contributes to economic development.

(b) Waste utilisation generates employment* opportunities.

(c) Unused solid wastes create environmental hazards by spreading diseases and causing air and water pollution.

(d) Waste utilisation helps in conservation of natural resources.

(e) Waste utilisation helps to generate many useful products which are the basic necessities of life.

Resource recovery or waste utilisation is achieved by three techniques:

(1) Reuse i.e. a given material has multiple uses.

(2) Reclamation i.e. a component of the waste is recovered for use in a man•ner different from its original use.

(3) Recycling i.e. isolating the material from which a given product was made and reintroducing it into the production cycle for production of the same product.

Examples of Waste Utilisation:

(a) Clean water resulting from treatment of industrial effluents and sewage can be reused.

(b) Refilling of used cold drink bottles.

(c) Jute wastes are utilised for making good quality paper, box-boards and hard boards.

(d) Sugarcane wastes are utilised for production of electricity, paper, boards etc.

(e) Waste products of slaughter houses can also be utilised. Blood is used in and hides and skins are used for leather produc•tion.

(f) Cattle dung is used in gobar gas plants for making cooking gas.

(g) Cattle dung is used as a manure.

(h) Garbage is used for making compost.

(i) Waste paper is recycled to form paper, cardboard, good quality paper and paper bags etc.

(j) Scrap glass is used in production of new glass.

(k) Aquatic weeds like water Hyacinth (Eichhornia) is utilised by conversion into fertilisers, , animal feed, paper etc.

(l) Plastic is recycled to make new packs, soft waxes, greases and adhesives etc.

(m) Used tyres casings are reused in the manufacture of synthetic rubber,

(n) is used as a cement substitute to make bricks etc. Efforts are required to be made to minimise the generation of these wastes and to treat them to recover useful materials i.e. waste utilisation, and to make the residual innocuous and harmless.