BIOLOGY ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

Environmental Issues:
With increase in human population, demands for food, shelter, water, electricity, roads, and
automobiles are increasing rapidly and exerting pressure on environment and altering the
natural health of ecosystem. All across the world, people are facing a wealth of new and
challenging environmental problems every day. Some of them are- pollution, greenhouse
effect, ozone depletion, deforestation etc.

Pollution:
Pollution is undesirable change in physical, chemical or biological properties of air, land, water
or soil. The agents which cause undesirable change are called pollutants.

Air Pollution and its Control:

Air is essential for respiration in all living organisms. Pollutants reduce growth and production
of crops as well as premature death of plants. The harmful effect of pollution on all the living
organisms depends upon:

 Concentration of pollutants.
 Duration of exposure.
 Organisms involved.

Electrostatic precipitator:

 Thermal power plants, smelters and other industries release particulate and gaseous air
BIOLOGY ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

pollutants along with harmless gases such as nitrogen, oxygen etc. These pollutants
should be filtered out before releasing the harmless gases into the atmosphere. There
are many methods of removing particulate matter; the most widely used is the
electrostatic precipitator.
 It can remove over 99% of particulate matter present in the exhaust from thermal power
plant.
 It has electrode wires that are maintained at several thousand volts to produce a corona
that releases electrons. These electrons attach to dust particles giving them a net
negative charge. The collecting plates are grounded and attract the charged dust
particles to that clean air can pass through electrostatic precipitator.
 A scrubber can remove gases like sulphur dioxide. The exhaust is passed through spray of
water or lime.
 According to CPCB (Central Pollution Control Board) particulate size less 2.5 micrometers
or less in diameter (PM 2.5)cause greatest harm to human health.
 The fine particles can be inhaled deep into the lungs and can cause breathing and
respiratory symptoms, irritation, inflammations and damage to lungs and premature
death.
 Automobiles are main cause of atmospheric pollution in metro cities. Proper
maintenance of automobiles along with use of lead-free petrol or diesel can reduce the
pollutants they emit.
 Catalytic converters contain platinum- palladium and rhodium as the catalyst, are fitted
into automobiles for reducing emission of poisonous gases. As the exhaust passes
through the catalytic converter, unburnt hydrocarbons are converted into carbon dioxide
and water and carbon monoxide and nitric oxide are changed to carbon dioxide and
nitrogen gas . The vehicles fitted with catalytic converter should use unleaded petrol
because lead in the petrol inactivates the catalyst.

Controlling Vehicular Air Pollution: A Case Study of Delhi

 In Delhi, entire fleet of public transport was converted to compressed natural gas (CNG)
mode to reduce the increasing pollution level of metro. CNG is better than diesel because
it is cheaper than petrol and diesel, burn completely with leaving any residue and cannot
be adulterated like petrol and diesel. But the main problem with switching over to CNG is
the difficulty of laying down pipelines to deliver CNG through distribution points/ pumps
and ensuring uninterrupted supply.
 Auto Fuel Policy: The Government of India has laid out a road map to cut down the
vehicular air pollution in many cities of India. The goal of this policy is to reduce Sulphur
to 50 ppm in petrol and diesel and reduce levels of aromatic hydrocarbons to 35% of the
fuel. The Bharat Stage II will be applicable to all automobiles in all cities April, 1, 2005.
BIOLOGY ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

The cities (like Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata etc.) will have to meet Euro III emission
norms from April 1, 2005 and Euro IV Emission norms from April 1, 2010.
 In India, the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act came into force in 1981 and
was amended in 1987 to include noise as an air pollutant. Noise is undesired high level of
sound. High sound level greater than 150 dB or more generated by take-off or a jet plane
or rocket may damage ear drums thus permanently impairing hearing ability.
 Noise also causes sleeplessness, increased heart beating, altered breathing pattern, thus
considerably stressing humans.
 Reduction of noise in industries can be affected by use of sound absorbent materials or
by muffling noise.

Water Pollution and it Control:

Water bodies are lifeline of human beings as well as other animals. Due to disposal of all kinds
of waste and other anthropogenic actions the ponds, lakes, stream, river, estuaries and oceans
are becoming polluted in several parts of world. The Government of India has passed the Water
(Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 to protect the water resources.

Domestic Sewage and Industrial Effluents:

The sewage that comes out from house and office makes the domestic sewage. A mere 0.1%
impurities make domestic sewage unfit for human use. Solid wastes are relatively easy to
remove but dissolved salts as nitrates, phosphates and other nutrients and toxic metal ions and
organic compounds present in domestic wastes are comparatively difficult to remove.
Domestic sewage mainly contains biodegradable organic matter, which can be easily
decomposed by microbes like bacteria and fungi. They use organic wastes as nutrients.

Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD):

BIOLOGY ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

The microbes that decompose organic wastes in water bodies consume a lot of oxygen that
result into sharp decline in dissolved oxygen downstream from the point of sewage discharge.
This causes mortality of fish and other aquatic creatures.
BOD refer to the amount of oxygen that would be consumed if all the organic matter is one litre
of water were oxidized by bacteria. The BOD test measures the rate of uptake of oxygen by
micro-organisms in a sample of water. Indirectly BOD is a measure of the organic matter
present in the water. The greater the BOD of waste water, more is its polluting potential.

Algal Bloom:
Presence of large amount of organic nutrients in water causes excessive growth of planktonic
or free-floating algae called algal bloom. Due to this color of water bodies get changed. This
may cause deterioration of the water quality and fish mortality.

‘Terror of Bengal’: Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) is the world’s most problematic
aquatic weed. They are introduced into India for their beautiful flowers that have caused havoc
by their excessive growth by causing blocks in our water bodies. This weed is commonly known
BIOLOGY ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

as ‘Terror of Bengal’.

Biomagnification or Biological Magnification:

Toxic wastes present in industrial wastes and water from farmhouse containing pesticides and
weedicides enters the food chain of aquatic organisms. The increase in concentration of
toxicant at each successive trophic levels is called biological magnification. The most common
toxicant that get accumulated at successive trophic levels includes DDT and Mercury. High
concentrations of DDT disturb calcium metabolism in birds, which causes thinning of eggshell
and their premature breaking, eventually causing decline in bird populations.

Eutrophication:
It is the natural aging of a lake by biological enrichment of its water. Due to addition of
nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus that encourage the growth of aquatic organism the
accumulation of organic remains in course of time leads to shall lowing of lake. Over the
centuries the silt and organic debris piles up at the bottom of lake and encourage the growth of
marsh plants in the shallow and begin to fill in the original lake basin. Eventually large masses
of floating plants grow and finally converting into land.

Cultural or Accelerated Eutrophication: The pollutants from man’s activities such as effluents
BIOLOGY ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

from the industries and homes radically accelerate the aging of lake. This phenomenon is called
Cultural or Accelerated Eutrophication. Main contaminants include nitrates, phosphates that
act as plant nutrients. They increase the growth of algae, causing unsightly scum and
unpleasant odours, and depleting the dissolved oxygen of water which is important for other
aquatic life.

Integrated Wastewater Treatment:

Wastewater including sewage can be treated in an integrated way, by combining artificial and
natural processes. An example of such an initiative is the town of Arcata, situated along the
northern coast of California. The native people in collaboration with Humboldt State University
created an integrated wastewater treatment process within a natural system.

The cleaning occurs in two stages:

 The conventional sedimentation, filtering and chlorine treatments are given.

 To combat with pollutants like dissolved heavy metals, the biologists developed a series
of six connected marshes over 60 hectares of marshland where plants, algae, fungi and
bacteria were seeded which neutralize, absorb and assimilate the pollutants.
 As the water flows through the marshes, it gets purified naturally. The marshes also
constitute a sanctuary, which is highly diverse in the form of fishes, animals and birds
that now reside there.
 A citizens group called Friends of the Arcata Marsh (FOAM) are responsible for the safety
of this project.
 Ecological sanitation is a sustainable system for managing human excreta, using dry
composting toilets. This is a practical, hygienic, efficient and cost-effective solution to
human waste disposal. The important part is that with this composting method, human
excreta can be recycled into natural fertilizer. There are working ‘EcoSan’ toilets in many
areas of Kerala and Sri Lanka.

Solid Wastes:
Municipal solid wastes are wastes from home, offices, stores, schools, hospitals etc. that are
collected and disposed by the municipality. It consists of paper, food wastes, plastics, glass,
metals, rubber, leather, textile etc. Burning reduces the volume of the wastes but the waste
generally not burnt to its completion and open dumps often serve as the breeding ground for
rodents and flies. Sanitary landfills were used as substitute for open burning dumps where
wastes are dumped in a depression or trench after compaction and covered with dirt every day.
There is a danger of seepage of chemicals from these landfills polluting the underground water
resources.

Municipal wastes:
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 Bio-degradable wastes, Recyclable wastes, non-biodegradable waste

 The biodegradable materials can be put into deep pits in the ground and be left for
natural breakdown.
 Kabadiwallahs and rag-pickers do a great job of separation of materials for recycling of
different kinds of wastes.
 Polyblend: Polyblend is the best way to combat with ever-increasing problem of
accumulating plastic waste. It is a fine powder of recycled modified plastic which is mixed
with the bitumen. Polyblend and bitumen, when used to lay roads, enhanced the
bitumen’s water repellent properties, and helped to increase road life by a factor of
three.
 Hospitals generate hazardous wastes that contain disinfectants and other chemicals also
pathogenic micro-organisms. Such wastes need careful treatment and disposal.
Inclinators are used for disposal of hospital wastes.

Electronic wastes:
Unrepairable computers and other electronic goods are known as electronic wastes (e-wastes).
E-wastes are buried in landfills or incinerated. Over half of the e-wastes generated in the
developed world are exported to developing countries, mainly to China, India and Pakistan,
where metals like copper, iron, silicon, nickel and gold are recovered during recycling process.
Recycling is the only solution for the treatment of e-wastes provided it is carried out in an
environment-friendly manner.

Agro-chemicals and other effects:

Use of inorganic fertilizers and pesticides has been increased many fold due to green revolution
for enhancing crop production. The pesticides and insecticides are toxic to non-target
organisms that are important components of the soil ecosystem. They are biomagnified in the
terrestrial ecosystem and causes eutrophication in aquatic ecosystems.

Organic Farming:
Integrated organic farming is a cyclic, zero-waste procedure in which waste products from one
process are cycled in as nutrients for other processes to allow the maximum utilization of
resource and increase the efficiency of production. It includes bee-keeping, dairy management,
water harvesting, composting and agriculture in a chain of processes which support each other
and allow an extremely economical and sustainable venture. No chemical fertilizer is used in
this process.

Radioactive Wastes:
Nuclear energy has two very serious problems:
BIOLOGY ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

 Accidental leakage.
 Safe disposal of radioactive wastes.

The radiation released from nuclear wastes is extremely damaging to biological organisms as it
causes mutations to occur at very high rate. It has been recommended that storage of nuclear
wastes after sufficient pre-treatment should be done in suitably shielded containers and buried
within the rock about 500m deep below the earth surface.

Green House Effect and Global Warming:

The greenhouse effect is a naturally occurring phenomenon that is responsible for heating of
Earth’s surface and atmosphere due to increase in concentration of carbon dioxide and
methane gas. Clouds and gases reflect about one-fourth of the incoming solar radiation and
absorb some of it but almost half of incoming solar radiation falls on Earth’s surface heating it,
while a small proportion is reflected. The surface of earth re- emits heat in the form of infrared
radiation but part of this does not reflected back due to greenhouse gases that leads to heating
of earth atmosphere. Global warming is caused due to greenhouse effect.

Scientists believe that this rise in temperature is leading to harmful changes in the environment
and resulting in odd climatic changes (e.g. El Nino effect), thus leading to increased melting of
polar ice caps.

Global warming can be controlled by:

 Cutting down use of fossil fuel.

 Improving efficiency of energy usage.
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 Reducing deforestation.
 Planting tree.
 Slowing down the growth of human population.

Ozone Depletion in the Stratosphere:

 Ozone found in the upper part of the atmosphere called stratosphere acts as a shield
absorbing ultraviolet radiation form the sun. UV rays are highly injurious to living
organisms.
 The thickness of the ozone-layer in a column of air from the ground to the top of the
atmosphere is measured in terms of Dobson units (DU). Ozone layer absorbs the harmful
UV-rays. It causes aging of skin, damage to skin cells and various types of skin cancers. In
human eye, cornea absorbs UV-B radiation, and a high dose of UV-B causes inflammation
of cornea, called snow-blindness cataract, etc. Such exposure may permanently damage
the cornea.
 Chlorofluoro Carbons deplete the ozone layer. The part of atmosphere with lesser
concentration of ozone is called ozone hole.
Steps leading to ozone depletion:

 UV-rays split CFCs and release atomic chlorine (Cl).

 UV-rays also split ozone into oxygen.
 Chlorine atoms trap oxygen atoms and ozone is not formed again from oxygen. This leads
to depletion of ozone in the stratosphere.

Deforestation:
It is the conversion of forested areas to non-forested ones due to human activities like slash
and burn agriculture also called Jhum cultivation where farmers cut down trees and burn the
plant remains. Ash is used as a fertilizer and the land is then used for farming or cattle grazing
use of fertilizers and cutting of trees for industries and residential use.

Main consequence of deforestation includes:

 Enhanced carbon dioxide concentration.

 Loss of biodiversity.
 Disturbed hydrologic cycles.
 Soil erosion.
 Desertification etc.

Reforestation:
Process of restoring a forest that was removed at some point of time in the past.
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Amrita Devi Bishnoi Wildlife Protection Award:

The Government of India has recently started the Amrita Devi Bishnoi Wildlife Protection
Award for individuals or communities from rural areas that have shown extraordinary courage
and dedication in protecting wildlife.

Chipko Movement:
In 1974, local women of Garhwal Himalayas showed tremendous courage in protecting trees
from the axe of contractors by hugging them. People all over the world have appreciated the
Chipko movement.

Joint Forest Management (JFM):

Realising the importance of participation by local communities, the Government of India in
1980s has introduced the concept of Joint Forest Management (JFM) as to work closely with
the local communities for protecting and managing forests.
 Mind map : learning made simple Chapter - 16
 Domestic sewage
 Industrial effluents
 Smoke stacks from thermal plants, garbage  Pesticides and fertilizers Biomagnification
decomposition, burning of fossil fuels are  Oil from refineries
common sources.
 Can be controlled by electrostatic precipitator, Eutrophication
Noise is undesirable
scrubber and catalytic converters.
high level of sound.
Increased BOD

Conversion of forested areas to non-forested areas

 Types: Biodegradable and  Reducing the use of fossil fuels

non-biodegradable.  Use of bio-fuels
 Treat Wastewater in integrated
 Disposal methods are sanitary  Improving energy efficiency
 Use of renewable source of energy manner. E.g., in town of Areata
landfills, rag pickers, Environmental situated along Northern coast of
such as CNG etc.
Incineration, recycling. Issues California.
 Use of Ecosan toilets for
ecological sanitation.

N2O 6%
CFCs 14%
Ahmed Khan developed Polyblend. It is a
fine powder of recycled modified plastic
20%  Odd climatic changes
used to lay roads. Methane
60% (El nino effect).
Carbon dioxide

increased concentration  Melting of Polar ice caps.

CFCs (used as refrigerants) causes Gr
een of greenhouse gases.  Rise in sea level.
ozone depletion. It has formed ozone house gases
hole over the Antarctic region.

 Wastes generated from radioactive materials.

Montreal Protocol was  Nuclear wastes should be buried in rocks.
Naturally occurring phenomenon,
signed to control the
responsible for heating of earth's
emission of ozone
surface and atmosphere.
depleting substances.
SCIENCE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
Important Questions
 Multiple Choice Questions:
1. Non-biodegradable pollutants are created by:
(a) nature
(b) excessive use of resources
(c) humans
(d) natural disasters.
2. According to the Central Pollution Control Board, particles that are responsible for causing
great harm to human health are of diameter:
(a) 2.50 micrometres
(b) 5.00 micrometres
(c) 10.00 micrometres
(d) 7.5 micrometres.
3. The material generally used for sound proofing of rooms like a recording studio and
auditorium, etc. is:
(a) cotton
(b) coir
(c) wood
(d) styro foam.
4. Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) is:
(a) propane
(b) methane
(c) ethane
(d) butane.
5. World’s most problematic aquatic weed is:
(a) Azolla
(b) Woiffia
(c) Eichhomia
(d) Trapa.
6. Which of the following causes biomagnification?
(a) SO2
(b) Mercury
(c) DDT
(d) Both B and C.
7. The expanded form of DDT is:
(a) dichloro diphenyl trichloroethane
SCIENCE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
(b) dichloro diethyl trichloroethane
(c) dichloro dipyrydyl trichloroethane
(d) dichloro diphenyl tetrachloroacetate.
8. Which of the following material takes the longest time for biodegradations?
(a) Cotton
(b) Paper
(c) Bone
(d) Jute.
9. Choose the incorrect statement.
(a) The Montreal protocol is associated with the control of emission of ozone depleting
substances.
(b) Methane and carbon dioxide are greenhouse gases.
(c) Dobson units are used to measure oxygen content.
(d) Use of incinerators is crucial to disposal of hospital wastes.
10.Among the following which one causes more indoor chemical pollution?
(a) Burning coal
(b) Burning cooking gas
(c) Burning mosquito coil
(d) Room spray.
11.The green scum seen in the fresh water bodies is:
(a) blue green algae
(b) red algae
(c) green algae
(d) Both (a) and (c).
12.The loudness of a sound that a person can withstand without discomfort is about
(a) 150 dB.
(b) 215 dB.
(c) 30 dB.
(d) 80 dB.
13.The major source of noise pollution world wide is due to:
(a) office equipment
(b) transport system
(c) sugar, textile and paper industries
(d) oil refineries and thermal power plants.
14.Catalytic converters are fitted into automobiles to reduce emission of harmful gases.
Catalytic converters change unburnt hydrocarbons into:
SCIENCE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
(a) carbon dioxide and water
(b) carbon monoxide
(c) methane
(d) carbon dioxide and methane.
15.Why is it necessary to remove sulphur from petroleum products?
(a) To reduce the emission of sulphur dioxide in exhaust fumes
(b) To increase efficiency of automobiles engines
(c) To use sulphur removed from petroleum for commercial purposes
(d) To increase the life span of engine silencers.
 Very Short Question:
1. Why should the velocity of air between the plates of an electrostatic precipitator be low?
2. PM2.5 is responsible for causing greatest harm to human health. What is it? How is it
harmful?
3. What is the noise level that can cause permanent impairment of hearing ability of human
beings?
4. Why was the Montreal Protocol signed?
5. Jhum cultivation has been in practice from earlier days, but its considered more
problematic these days. Why?
6. Aradiation causes ageing of skin, skin cancer, and inflamation of cornea called snow
blindness. It also damages DNA. Name the radiation.
7. Name any three gases contributing to green-house effect.
8. Name any two metals found in the catalytic converts?
9. What is meant by ozone hole?
10. Define polar Vortex?
 Short Questions:
1. Landfills are not much a solution for getting rid of solid wastes. Why?
2. Electrostatic precipitator can remove over 99% particulate matter present in exhaust from a
thermal power plant. How?
3. Why is a scrubber used? Which spray is used on exhaust gases passing through a scrubber?
4. There is a sharp decline in dissolved oxygen downstream from the point of sewage
discharge. Why? What are its adverse effects?
5. Catalytic converters use expensive metals as catalysts.
(a) Name the metals generally used.
(b) What precaution should be observed while using catalytic converter.
SCIENCE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
6. What are e-wastes? Why are they creating more problem in developing countries in
comparision to developed countries?
7. Water logging and salinity are some of the problems that have come in the wake of Green
revolution. How does water logging create problems of salinity?
8. What is the relationship between BOD, mcro-organisms and amount of bio degradable
matter?
 Long Questions:
1. What measures do you suggest to control pollution from automobile exhaust?
2. Blends of polyblend and bitumen, when used, help to increase road life by a factor of three.
What is the reason?
3. Why is the ozone layer in the stratosphere called a protective layer?
 Assertion & Reason Questions:
1. For two statements are given-one labelled Assertion and the other labelled Reason. Select
the correct answer to these questions from the codes (a), (b), (c) and (d) as given below.
a. Both assertion and reason are true, and reason is the correct explanation of assertion.
b. Both assertion and reason are true, but reason is not the correct explanation of
assertion.
c. Assertion is true, but reason is false.
d. Both assertion and reason are false.
Assertion: Bharat stage IV emission norms have been in place since April 2010, for 4
wheelers in 13 mega cities of India.
Reason: Green muffler scheme refers to the plantation of trees and shrubs along road sides
and is effective to control noise pollution only.
2. For two statements are given-one labelled Assertion and the other labelled Reason. Select
the correct answer to these questions from the codes (a), (b), (c) and (d) as given below.
a. Both assertion and reason are true, and reason is the correct explanation of assertion.
b. Both assertion and reason are true, but reason is not the correct explanation of
assertion.
c. Assertion is true, but reason is false.
d. Both assertion and reason are false.
Assertion: Methylmercury is a highly persistent kind of pollutant that accumulates in food
chains.
Reason: Mercury pollution is responsible for Minamata disease.
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 Case Study Questions:
1. Read the following and answer any four questions from (i) to (v) given below:
Presence of large amounts of nutrients in waters also causes excessive growth of
planktonic (free-floating) algae, called an algal bloom. Which imparts a distinct colour to
the water bodies. Algal blooms cause deterioration of the water quality and fish mortality.
Some bloom-forming algae are extremely toxic to human beings and animals. You may
have seen the beautiful mauve-colored flowers found on very appealingly-shaped floating
plants in water bodies. These plants which were introduced into India for their lovely
flowers have caused havoc by their excessive growth by causing blocks in our waterways.
They grow faster than our ability to remove them.
These are plants of water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes), the world’s most problematic
aquatic weed, alsocalled ‘Terror of Bengal’. They grow abundantly in eutrophic water
bodies, and lead to an imbalance in the ecosystem dynamics of the water body.
1) An aquatic weed hyacinth is also called as ………………..
(a) Terror of Bengal
(b) Terror of Nepal
(c) Terror of Gujrat
(d) Terror of Assam
2) Planktonic algae is also known as algal…………….
(a) Hyacinth
(b) Mauva
(c) Bloom
(d) Weed
3) ……………. Type of algae is toxic to the animals.
(a) Root forming
(b) Bloom forming
(c) Flower forming
(d) Fungi forming
4) Write causes of mauve-coloured flowers.
5) What does algal bloom causes?

2. Read the following and answer any four questions from (i) to (v) given below:
Integrated organic farming is a cyclical, zero-waste procedure, where waste products from
one process are cycled in as nutrients for other processes. This allows the maximum
utilisation of resource and increases the efficiency of production. Ramesh Chandra Dagar, a
farmer in Sonipat, Haryana, is doing just this. He includes bee-keeping, dairy management,
SCIENCE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
water harvesting, composting and agriculture in a chain of processes, which support each
other and allow an extremely economical and sustainable venture. There is no need to use
chemical fertilisers for crops, as cattle excreta (dung) are used as manure. Crop waste is
used to create compost, which can be used as a natural fertiliser or can be used to generate
natural gas for satisfying the energy needs of the farm. Enthusiastic about spreading
information and help on the practice of integrated organic farming, Dagar has created the
Haryana Kisan Welfare Club, with a current membership of 5000 farmers.
1) In the organic farming, cattle excreta were used as ……………………………………….
(a) Waste
(b) Gas
(c) Fuel
(d) Manure
2) In the farming, integrated organic farming is a …………………………. Waste procedure.
(a) Zero
(b) One
(c) Two
(d) Three
3) In the natural farming, …………………………………….. is used as a natural fertiliser and can
generate natural gas.
(a) e-waste
(b) Crop waste
(c) Pond waste
(d) None of these
4) Who created Haryana Kisan Welfare Club?
5) Which processes are included in the integrated organic farming by Dagar?
 Answer Key-
 Multiple Choice Answers:
1. (c) humans
2. (a) 2.50 micrometres
3. (d) styro foam.
4. (b) methane
5. (c) Eichhomia
6. (d) Both B and C.
7. (a) dichloro diphenyl trichloroethane
8. (c) Bone
SCIENCE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
9. (c) Dobson units are used to measure oxygen content.
10. (a) Burning coal
11. (d) Both (a) and (c).
12. (d) 80 dB.
13. (b) transport system
14. (a) carbon dioxide and water
15. (a) To reduce the emission of sulphur dioxide in exhaust fumes
 Very Short Answers:
1. To allow the dust to fall.
2. PM2.5 stands for particulate matter of size 2.5 micrometers or less in diameter. Its
responsible for causing greatest harm to human health as it can be inhaled deep into lungs
and cause breathing problems.
3. Ans.150 dB or more
4. To control emission of ozone depleting substances.
5. Enough time gap is not being given for the natural process of recovery of land from the
effect of cultivation.
6. Ultraviolet B rays (UV-B rays)
7. Carbon dioxide, methane & chlorofluorocarbons.
8. Platinum, rhodium.
9. The decline in this thickness of spring time ozone layer is called ozone hole.
10. Polar vortex refers to the natural circulation of wind that completely isolates the Antarctic
airfrom rest of world.
 Short Answer:
1. Landfill sites are getting filled very fast due to large amount of garbage generation. Also
underground water resources may get polluted due to seepage of chemicals.
2. Electrode wire at thousand volts, produce corona to release electrons, electrons attach to
dust particules giving them net negative charge, charged dust particules attracted/collected
by collecting plates which are grounded.
3. To remove gases like sulphur dioxide. Spray of water or lime is used.
4. Following discharge of sewage into river, micro organisms involved in biodegradation of
organic matter present in sewage consume more oxygen. This cause mortality of fish and
other aquatic creatures.
5. (a) Catalysts : platinum – palladium and Rhodium
SCIENCE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
(b) Motor vehicles equipped with catalytic converters should use unleaded petrol as lead
inactivates the catalysts.
6. (a) Irrepairable computers and other electronic wastes.
(b) Recycling in developing countries involves manual participation thus exposing workers
to toxic substances. In developed countries its mechanised so less dangerous.
7. Water logging draws salt to surface of soil. Salt deposited on land surface as a thin crust or
at the roots of the plants
8. Increase in amount of biodegradable matter leads to rapid multiplication of micro
organisms to degrade it, thereby increasing BOD level of the water body.
 Long Answer:
1. Control of pollution from automobile exhaust:
i. Efficient engines can reduce the number of unburnt hydrocarbons from vehicuLar
emissions.
ii. Use of cataLytic converters to convert harmful gases to harmless.
iii. Use of good quality fuel.
iv. Unleaded petroL can reduce the amount of lead in the exhaust.
v. The use of CNG (compressed natural gas) Lowers the toxic contaminants in the
exhaust.
2. Polyblend is a fine powder of recycled modified plastic. The binding property due to
increased cohesion and enhanced water-repelling property of plastic makes the road last
longer besides giving added strength to withstand more loads.
This is because:
 Plastic increases the melting point of the bitumen which would prevent it from melting
in India’s hot and extremely humid climate, where temperature frequently crosses 45°C.
 Rainwater will not seep through because of the plastic in the tar.
3. Ozone layer as a protective layer: The ozone layer in the stratosphere is very useful to
human beings because it absorbs the major part of harmful ultraviolet radiation coming
from the sun. Therefore, it is called a protective layer. However, it has been observed that
the ozone layer is getting depleted. One of the reasons for the depletion of the ozone layer
is the action of aerosols spray propellants.
Chemicals such as fluorocarbons and chlorofluorocarbons are used as aerosol propellants.
These compounds react with ozone gas in the atmosphere thereby depleting it. Scientists all
over the world are worried about the destruction of the ozone layer. If the ozone layer in
the atmosphere is significantly decreased, these harmful radiations would reach the earth
and would cause many damages such as skin cancer, genetic disorders in man and other
SCIENCE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
living forms. Efforts are being made to find substitutes for these chemicals that do not react
with ozone.
 Assertion and Reason Answers:
1) c) Assertion is true, but reason is false.
Explanation:
Bharat stage emission standards are emission standards issued by the Government of India
to regulate the emission of air pollutants from internal combustion of engine equipments of
motor vehicles. Bharat Stage IV norms have been in place for 4-wheelers in 13 mega cities
of India since April 2010. Green muffler or green belt vegetation is rows of trees and shrubs
grown and maintained to serve as noise absorbers. It also reduces air pollution because the
trees and shrubs absorb pollution gases and cause settling of suspended particulate matter.
2) b) Both assertion and reason are true, but reason is not the correct explanation of
assertion.
Explanation:
Mercury pollution has been responsible for several deaths in Sweden and Japan and has
caused the Minamata disease in Japan, chlor alkali plants seem to be chief sources of
mercury containing effluents. Mercury is persistent in water it gets changed into water
soluble dimethyl form [(CH3)2Hg] and enters the food chain accompanied by biological or
ecological amplification.
 Case Study:
1.
1) (a) Terror of Bengal
2) (c) Bloom.
3) (b) Bloom forming.
4) Mauva-coloured flower causes blocks in the waterways.
5) Algal bloom can cause fish mortality and water deterioration.
2.
1) (d) Manure.
2) (a) Zero.
3) (b) Crop waste.
4) The Haryana Kisan Welfare Club was created by Ramesh Chandra Dagar.
5) Processes like dairy management, composting, water harvesting and bee-keeping are
included in the integrated organic farming by Dagar.