Education Journalist | Study Abroad Lead
Environment refers to the surroundings of a physical system interacting with other systems by exchanging energy and mass. All living and non-living things fall under the category of the natural environment. The environment is the surrounding we live in. Environmental pollution, therefore, is one of the greatest problems of human society. The three basic components of environmental pollution include air, water, and soil.
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Key Terms: Environmental Pollution, Environment, Energy, mass, DDT, pollutant
What is Environmental Pollution?
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An undesirable change in the surrounding with harmful effects on plants and animals leads to environmental pollution. Environment refers to our surroundings while pollution refers to the occurrence of a substance that may pose a threat or can have toxic effects.
- Any substance that causes pollution is known as a pollutant.
- Pollutants can be in solid, liquid, or gaseous forms.
- A substance transforms into a pollutant when its concentration is greater either due to a natural phenomenon or due to human activities.
- The pollutants can be rapidly broken down through various natural processes.
- There are also different pollutants that take decades to decompose such as DDT and plastic materials.
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Types of Environmental Pollution
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There are five major types of environmental pollution in the world that include:
- Air pollution
- Water pollution
- Soil pollution
- Noise pollution
- Light pollution
Causes of Environmental Pollution
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The major causes of different types of environmental pollution are:
Air Pollution
Air pollution is caused by:
- Excess use of fossil fuels in vehicles.
- Mass use of pesticides, agricultural fertilizers, and insecticides.
- Gaseous fumes that are produced by car exhausts.
Water Pollution
The causes behind water pollution are:
- Improper disposal of industrial waste in the water.
- Runoff water.
- Improper drainage or sewage systems.
- Biomagnification of toxic substances.
Land and Soil Pollution
The major causes of soil pollution are:
Acid rain caused by air pollution.
Slash and burn agriculture
Overgrazing
Increased deforestation
Use of pesticides, insecticides, and herbicides on farms.
Noise Pollution
Noise pollution is caused by human activities such as:
Loud music at social events
Increased production of sound over loudspeakers.
Noise production from vehicles.
Light Pollution
Light pollution is mainly caused by industrialization and urbanization.
The major causes of pollution are -
Agriculture:
- There has been a rise in agricultural activities due to the increased demand.
- This leads to an increase in the use of fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides, and insecticides that cause land pollution.
Natural Sources:
Pollution can also be classified as natural or man-made. The natural sources of environmental pollution are organic compounds and ammonia.
Natural phenomena such as forest fires or volcanic eruptions and forest fires also pose as a natural source of air pollution.
Industries:
Large-scale industries produce huge wastes as a by-product of their functioning. When it is not disposed of correctly, this waste becomes a hazard to aquatic life.
Domestic Waste:
The proper disposal of domestic waste is important as it can cause land pollution as a major portion of this waste includes non-biodegradable products.
Other Man-Made Sources:
The other contributor to pollution includes the vehicles for transportation that emit harmful poisonous gases such as nitric oxide and lead which may cause air pollution.
Effects of Environmental Pollution
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Pollutants originate at a point and then get transported to other places through wind or water. Some pollutants are also dumped into the soil by humans.
If the soil gets polluted, the useful microorganisms in it will die. Therefore, the soil’s fertility will be lost. As a result, crop production will decrease and it will have a harmful impact on human society.
In a similar way, if the water is polluted, we need to purify it before drinking which further needs resources.
If the air is polluted, it will be difficult to breathe and the survival of humans and other living organisms will be under threat. Air pollution can cause many respiratory diseases that further harm the human body.
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Sources of Environmental Pollution
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According to this classification based on environmental pollution, pollutants can be classified as:
Non-Point Sources: For this type, it is difficult to recognize the reason for pollution in an area. This type of pollution is known as diffuse pollution.
Point Sources: For such pollution, the factor that results in damage to the environment is easier to identify.
It is easier to control pollution that is caused by point sources as the cause here can be simply removed. However, in the case of non-point sources, the actual cause of pollution is unknown.
Environmental pollution is caused by the cumulative effect of all these activities.
Things to Remember
- Environment refers to the surroundings of an organism.
- The environment is composed of various components such as water, air, land, etc.
- Pollution is an undesirable and unwanted change in the components of the environment.
- Environmental pollution is of five types namely - Air, Water, Soil, and Noise pollution.
- Some of the causes of pollution are improper disposal of waste, a rise in agricultural activities, etc.
Previous Year Questions
- Steps taken by the Government of India to control air pollution include….[NEET 2009]
- Snow blindness is caused due to...[KCET 2018]
- Which of the following is NOT a green house gas?….[KCET 2020]
- The photochemical smog can be suppressed by
- Which of the following is secondary pollutant?...[NEET 2018]
- Smoke is an example of:...[JIPMER 1997]
- Ozone depletion over Antarctica is due to the….[BITSAT 2011]
- Formation of ozone in the upper atmosphere from oxygen takes place by the action of….[BITSAT 2012]
- Term used for accumulation of non-degradable pollutants in higher trophic level is
- The chemical entities present in thermosphere of the atmosphere are….[VITEEE 2009]
- Smoke is an example of…..[COMEDK UGET 2005]
- Identify the incorrect statement with respect to ozone
- Photochemical smog always contains….[UP CPMT 2015]
- Photochemical smog is related to pollution of
- Photochemical smog occurs in warm, dry and sunny climate. One of the following is not amongst the components of photochemical smog, identify it.
- SO2 and NO2 cause polluted by increasing
- SO2 is one of the air pollutants. SO2
- Taj Mahal is threatened by pollution from
- The basic component of the smog is
- The main element of smog is
Sample Questions
Ques 1: List the different sources of air pollution with their examples. (5 marks)
Ans: The various sources of air pollution include:
- Natural Sources
- Man-Made Sources
The air pollution caused by natural sources is due to:
- Volcanic Eruptions: Due to the volcanic eruptions, various harmful or poisonous gases like Sulphur dioxide, Hydrogen sulphide, hydrogen chloride, etc.
- Presence of dust particles in the air.
- During the spring season, production of pollen grains by flowers can also cause pollution in the air.
- The decaying of organic or inorganic matter releases toxic gases like carbon dioxide and methane in the air.
- Huge amounts of toxic gases are released in the air on the breakout of forest fires. It consists of particulate matter and smoke in a large quantity.
- Presence of radio-active materials are the main cause of the radioactivity in the air or the atmosphere.
Man-Made sources are also responsible for the cause of air pollution, and this includes:
- Cutting down trees.
- Change in the agricultural practices.
- Increasing industrialization
- Burning of fuels
- Emissions from automobiles
Ques 2: Name the various harmful gases present in the air. What are the sources of these gases and how do these gases affect human health? (5 marks)
Ans: There are various harmful or toxic gases present in the air which pollutes the air. These gases have a very harmful effect on human health. The gases are as follows:
- Nitrogen Oxides: It is produced in the combustion processes. It is emitted by vehicles, power plants, boilers in industries, etc. It causes drowsiness, headache, and irritation in the lungs to humans.
- Sulphur Dioxide: It is caused due to the combustion of oil and coal. It causes many respiratory problems, vomiting, headache, and chest pain.
- Carbon Monoxide: Burning of gasoline, wood, and coal, using faulty furnaces can cause the production of carbon monoxide in the air. It causes irregular heartbeat, drowsiness, headache, nausea and also adversely affects blood oxygen levels.
- Hydrogen Sulphide: Bituminous fuels, chemical industries, and refineries are a few sources of the production of Hydrogen Sulphide. It causes irritation to the throat and eyes of an individual and can also cause nausea.
- Suspended Particles: In almost every manufacturing process, suspended particles are released in the air. It can cause emphysema, cancer or irritation in the eyes of a human being.
Ques 3: List the various steps that can be used to control soil pollution. (4 marks)
Ans: Due to the presence of pollutants, the fertility of the soil gets affected. The various steps can be used to control the soil pollution which includes:
- Proper segregation of biodegradable and non-biodegradable wastes and then disposing of these wastes by using effective methods.
- Avoiding the use of chemical fertilizers and adopting bio-fertilizers.
- Controlling the usage of pesticides.
- Treating the industry effluents before their discharge in the soil.
Ques 4: How polluted water can affect human health? (3 marks)
Ans: The presence of unwanted substances like germs or harmful elements in the water can cause water pollution. This water when consumed by human beings can lead to the following diseases:
- Cholera
- Typhoid
- Diarrhea
- Dysentery, etc
Ques 5: Name the viruses or bacteria that can cause the following diseases: (4 marks)
(1) Typhoid
(2) Dysentery
(3) Diarrhea
(4) Polia
(5) Cholera
Ans: The above mentioned diseases are caused by:
- Typhoid: It is caused due to Salmonella Typhi bacteria
- Dysentery: Caused due to Shigella bacteria
- Diarrhea: It is due to the presence of e coli bacteria in the intestines of human body.
- Polia: Causes by Polioviruses
- Cholera: caused due to the presence of Vibrio Cholerae bacteria in the body.
Ques 6: What are greenhouse gases? Name a few. (2 marks)
Ans: A greenhouse gas is the one which can absorb and then emit the radiant energy within the range of thermal infrared. It is responsible for causing the greenhouse effect.
Water vapor, methane, carbon dioxide, ozone and nitrous oxide are the primary greenhouse gases.
Ques 7: What are the few results of Global Warming? (2 marks)
Ans: a. Change in the climate
- Depletion of the ozone layer
- Precipitation with the presence of acidic components can lead to acid rain
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