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ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES
UNIT- V
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION

INTRODUCTION
Pollution may be defined as an undesirable change in the physical, chemical or biological
characteristics of air, water and land that may be harmful to human life and other animals,
living conditions, industrial processes and cultural assets. Pollution can be natural or manmade.

POLLUTANTS
The agents that pollute are called pollutants.
Classification of Pollutants

Pollutants are of two types:

1. Non-degradable pollutants: These are the pollutants, which degrade at a very slow
pace by the natural biological processes. These are inorganic compounds such as salts
(chlorides), metallic oxides waste producing materials and materials like, aluminum
cans, mercuric salts and even DDT.

2. Biodegradable pollutants: These include domestic sewage that easily decomposes

under natural processes and can be rapidly decomposed by natural/ artificial methods.
These cause serious problems when accumulated in large amounts as the pace of
deposition exceeds the pace of decomposition of disposal.

TYPES OF POLLUTION

AIR POLLUTION
Air pollution refers to any physical, chemical or biological change in the air. It is the
contamination of air by harmful gases, dust and smoke which affects plants, animals and
humans drastically.

Types of Air Pollutants

There are two types of air pollutants:
1. Primary Pollutants
The pollutants that directly cause air pollution are known as primary pollutants. Sulphur-
dioxide emitted from factories is a primary pollutant.

2. Secondary Pollutants
The pollutants formed by the intermingling and reaction of primary pollutants are known
as secondary pollutants. Smog, formed by the intermingling of smoke and fog, is a
secondary pollutant.

Causes of Air pollution:

Following are the important causes of air pollution:
1. Burning of Fossil Fuels
The combustion of fossil fuels emits a large amount of sulphur dioxide. Carbon
monoxide released byincomplete combustion of fossil fuels also results in air pollution.
2. Automobiles
The gases emitted from vehicles such as jeeps, trucks, cars, buses, etc. pollute the

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environment. These are the major sources of greenhouse gases and also result in diseases
among individuals.
3. Agricultural Activities
Ammonia is one of the most hazardous gases emitted during agricultural activities.
The insecticides, pesticides and fertilizers emit harmful chemicals in the atmosphere and
contaminate it.
4. Factories and Industries
Factories and industries are the main source of carbon monoxide, organic compounds,
hydrocarbons and chemicals. These are released into the air, degrading its quality.
5. Mining Activities
In the mining process, the minerals below the earth are extracted using large pieces of
equipment. The dust and chemicals released during the process not only pollute the air,
but also deteriorate the health of the workers and people living in the nearby areas.
6. Domestic Sources
The household cleaning products and paints contain toxic chemicals that are released in
the air. The smell from the newly painted walls is the smell of the chemicals present in the
paints. It not only pollutes the air but also affects breathing.

Effects of Air Pollution

The hazardous effects of air pollution on the environment include:
1. Diseases
Air pollution has resulted in several respiratory disorders and heart diseases among
humans. The cases of lung cancer have increased in the last few decades. Children
living near polluted areas are more prone to pneumonia and asthma. Many people die
every year due to the direct or indirect effects of air pollution.
2. Global Warming
Due to the emission of greenhouse gases, there is an imbalance in the gaseous
composition of the air. This has led to an increase in the temperature of the earth. This
increase in earth’s temperature is known as global warming. This has resulted in the
melting of glaciers and an increase in sea levels. Many areas are submerged underwater.
3. Acid Rain
The burning of fossil fuels releases harmful gases such as nitrogen oxides and sulphur
oxides in the air. The water droplets combine with these pollutants, become acidic and
fall as acid rain which damages human, animal and plant life.
4. Ozone Layer Depletion
The release of chlorofluorocarbons, halons, and hydro chlorofluorocarbons in the
atmosphere is the major cause of depletion of the ozone layer. The depleting ozone
layer does not prevent the harmful ultraviolet rays coming from the sun and causes skin
diseases and eye problems among individuals.
5. Effect on Animals
The air pollutants suspend on the water bodies and affect the aquatic life. Pollution also
compels the animals to leave their habitat and shift to a new place. This renders them
stray and has also led to the extinction of a large number of animal species.

Air Pollution Control

Following are the measures one should adopt, to control air pollution:
 Avoid Using Vehicles
People should avoid using vehicles for shorter distances. Rather, they should prefer
public modes of transport to travel from one place to another. This not only prevents
pollution, but also conserves energy.

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 Energy Conservation
A large number of fossil fuels are burnt to generate electricity. Therefore, do not forget
to switch off the electrical appliances when not in use. Thus, you can save the
environment at the individual level. Use of energy-efficient devices such CFLs also
controls pollution to a greater level.
 Use of Clean Energy Resources
The use of solar, wind and geothermal energies reduce air pollution at a larger level.
Various countries, including India, have implemented the use of these resources as a
step towards a cleaner environment.

Other air pollution control measures include:

1. By minimizing and reducing the use of fire and fire products.
2. Since industrial emissions are one of the major causes of air pollution, the pollutants
can be controlled or treated at the source itself to reduce its effects
3. Fuel substitution is another way of controlling air pollution.
4. The last and the best way of reducing the ill effects of air pollution is tree plantation.

WATER POLLUTION
Water pollution is the contamination of water bodies (like oceans, seas, lakes, rivers,
aquifers, and groundwater) usually caused due to human activities. Water pollution is any
change in the physical, chemical or biological properties of water that will have a detrimental
consequence of any living organism.

Drinking water, also called Potable Water, is the water that is considered safe enough for
human and animal consumption. This is water that is generally used for drinking, cooking,
washing, crop irrigation, etc. These days chemicals, bacteria, and other pollutants are even
affecting our drinking water.

Sources of Water Pollution

Some of the most commonly occurring water pollutants are
 Domestic Waste
 Industrial effluents
 Insecticides and pesticides
 Detergents and Fertilizers

Some of the water pollution that is caused is by Direct Sources, such as factories, waste
management facilities. refineries etc, that directly release waste and harmful by-products into
the nearest water source without treating them. Indirect sources include pollutants that enter
the water bodies via groundwater or soil or via the atmosphere as acid rain.

Effects of Pollution of Water

1. Diseases: In humans, drinking or consuming polluted water in any way has many
disastrous effects on our health. It causes typhoid, cholera, hepatitis and various other
diseases.
2. Destruction of Ecosystems: Ecosystems are extremely dynamic and respond to even
small changes in the environment. Water pollution can cause an entire ecosystem to
collapse if left unchecked.
3. Eutrophication: Chemicals in a water body, encourage the growth of algae. These
algae form a layer on top of the pond or lake. Bacteria feed on this algae and this

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decreases the amount of oxygen in the water body, severely affecting the aquatic life
there.
4. Effects the food chain: Disruption in food chains happens when toxins and
pollutants in the water are consumed by aquatic animals (fish, shellfish etc) which are
then consumed by humans.

Prevention
The best way to prevent large-scale water pollution is to try and reduce its harmful effects.
There are various small changes we can make to protect ourselves from a scary future where
water is scarce.

1. Save Water: Conserving water is our first aim. Water wastage is a major problem
globally and we are only now waking up to the issue. Simply small changes you can
make domestically will make a huge difference.
2. Better treatment of sewage: So treating waste products before disposing of it in a
water body helps reduce water pollution on a large scale. Agriculture or other industries
can reuse this wastewater by reducing its toxic contents.
3. Use environmentally friendly products: By using soluble products that do not go on
to become pollutants, we can reduce the amount of water pollution caused by a
household.

SOIL POLLUTION
Soil pollution is defined as, “contamination of soil by human and natural activities which may
cause harmful effect on living organisms”.

Causes of Soil Pollution

1. Industrial wastes:- – Disposal of Industrial wastes is the major problem for soil
pollution. This has probably been the biggest contributor in the last century, especially
from mining and manufacturing, as the by-products are often contaminated, and not
disposed of properly.
2. Urban wastes –– Urban wastes comprise of both commercial and domestic wastes
consisting of garbage and rubbish materials like plastics, glasses, metallic cans, fibres,
paper, rubbers etc. Urban wastes, can be dangerous. This happens because they are not
easily degraded.
3. Agricultural practices –Modern agricultural practices pollute the soil to a large extent.
With the advancing agro-technology, huge quantities of fertilizers, pesticides,
herbicides and weedicides are added to increase the crop yield. 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.
4. Radioactive pollutants/ - Radioactive substances resulting from explosions of nuclear
testing laboratories and industries giving rise to nuclear dust radioactive wastes,
penetrate the soil and accumulate giving rise to land/soil pollution.
5. Accidental Oil Spills-Oil leaks can happen during the 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.
6. Acid Rain- when there are pollutants in the air, and it starts to rain, they mix and fall
back to the ground, causing acid rain. This pollution can then dissolve important
nutrients, changing the structure of the soil.

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7. Biological agents – Soil gets a large amount of human, animal and bird excreta which
constitute a major source of land pollution by biological agents.

Effects of Soil Pollution on Human Beings

Crops and plants that are 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 chronic health
problems that cannot be cured easily. In fact, it can cause food poisoning over a long period of
time.

Effects on Plants and Animals

Since soil pollution is often accompanied by a decrease in the availability of nutrients,
plant life ceases to thrive in such soils. Soils contaminated with inorganic aluminum can prove
toxic to plants. Also, this type of pollution often increases the salinity of the soil, making it
inhospitable for the growth of plant life.

Effects on the Ecosystem

Since the volatile contaminants in the soil can be carried away into the atmosphere by
winds or can seep into underground water reserves, soil pollution can be a direct contributor to
air and water pollution.

It can also contribute towards acid rain (by releasing huge quantities of ammonia into the
atmosphere). Crop yield is greatly affected by this form of pollution. In China, over 12 million
tons of grain (worth approximately 2.6 billion USD) is found to be unfit for human
consumption due to contamination with heavy metals (as per studies conducted by the China
Dialogue).

Control measures of soil pollution:

1. Soil erosion can be controlled by a variety of forestry and farm practices. Ex: Planting
trees on barren slopes. Contour cultivation and strip cropping may be practiced instead
of shifting cultivation.
2. Proper dumping of unwanted materials: Excess wastes by man and animals pose a
disposal problem. Open dumping is the most commonly practiced technique.
Nowadays, controlled tipping is followed for solid waste disposal. The surface so
obtained is used for housing or sports field.
3. Production of natural fertilizers: Bio-pesticides should be used in place of toxic
chemical pesticides. Organic fertilizers should be used in place of synthesized chemical
fertilizers. Ex: Organic wastes in animal dung may be used to prepare compost manure
instead of throwing them wastefully and polluting the soil.
4. Proper hygienic condition: People should be trained regarding sanitary habits. Ex:
Lavatories should be equipped with quick and effective disposal methods.
5. Public awareness: Informal and formal public awareness programs should be imparted
to educate people on health hazards by environmental education.
6. Recycling and Reuse of wastes: To minimize soil pollution, the wastes such as paper,
plastics, metals, glasses, organics, petroleum products and industrial effluents etc should
be recycled and reused.
7. Ban on Toxic chemicals: Ban should be imposed on chemicals and pesticides like DDT,
BHC, etc which are fatal to plants and animals.

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MARINE POLLUTION
The discharge of waste substances in to the sea resulting in harm to the living resources, hazards
to the human health hindrances to the fishery and impairment of quality use of sea water.

Causes
1. Dumping the wastes: Dumping of untreated wastes and sewages in the oceans by
coastal towns, cities and industries. Rivers on the way to sea carry huge amount of
sewage garbage agricultural discharge pesticide heavy metals. Huge quantity of plastic
dumped in to the sea.
2. Oil: This is discharged in to the sea as crude oil and as separate fraction. Oil and it’s
fractions are used in houses automobiles and industries. This causes devastation of
marine environment
3. Radioactive materials enter the ocean from nuclear weapon testing.
4. Toxics: Toxic waste is the most harmful form of marine pollution. Once toxic wastes
affects an organism it quickly passes along the food chain and as sea food which cause
various problems.
5. Marine Debris: Garbage like plastic bags, ropes helium balloons

Effects of marine pollution

1. Heavy metals and organic pollutants damages birds by thinning of egg shells and tissue
damage of egg.
2. Oil pollution causes damage to marine animals and plants including algae bird, fish etc.
3. Oil spilling in the sea causes abnormal low body temperature in birds resulting in
hypothermia. During Exxon Valdez accident 150 rare species of bald eagles are affected
by ingested oil.
4. Oil films are able to retard the rate of oxygen uptake by water.
5. Hydrocarbon and benzpyrene accumulate in food chain and consumption of fish by man
may cause cancer.
6. Many marine birds ingest plastic that causes gastrointestinal disorders.
7. Oil spills inhibit photosynthesis and the growth of planktons. All aquatic animals
depend either directly of indirectly on planktons the basis of tropic chain.

Control of marine pollution

1. The industrial unit on the coastal lines should be equipped with pollution control
instrument.
2. Methods of removal of oil by skimming the oil off the surface with suction device or
Chemical methods like dispersion , emulsification etc.
3. Municipal and industrial waste should be treated before disposing in to sea
4. Coastal waste are periodically analyzed for detecting pollution level
5. Soil erosion in the coastal land should be arrested be suitable techniques
6. Recreation beaches should be maintained to meet hygienic and aesthetic standard.

NOISE POLLUTION
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. In fact,
when the sound exceeds its limit, it becomes fatal for human and other organisms.

Types of Noise Pollution

Following are the three types of pollution:

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 Transport Noise
 Neighbourhood Noise
 Industrial Noise

 Transport Noise
It mainly consists of traffic noise which has increased in recent years with the increase
in the number of vehicles. The increase in noise pollution leads to deafening of older
people, headache, hypertension, etc.
 Neighbourhood Noise
The noise from gadgets, household utensils etc. Some of the main sources are musical
instruments, transistors, loudspeakers etc.
 Industrial Noise
It is the high-intensity sound which is caused by heavy industrial machines. According
to many researches, industrial noise pollution damages the hearing ability to around
20%.

Causes and Sources of Noise Pollution

Following are the causes and sources of noise pollution:
 Industrialisation: Industrialisation has led to an increase in noise pollution as the use
of heavy machinery such as generators, mills, huge exhaust fans are used, resulting in
the production of unwanted noise.
 Vehicles: Increased number of vehicles on the roads are the second reason for noise
pollution.
 Events: Weddings, public gatherings involve loudspeakers to play music resulting in
the production of unwanted noise in the neighbourhood.
 Construction sites: Mining, construction of buildings, etc add to the noise pollution.

Effects of Noise Pollution on Human Health

Noise pollution can be hazardous to human health in the following ways:
 Hypertension: It is a direct result of noise pollution which is caused due to elevated
blood levels for a longer duration.
 Hearing loss: Constant exposure of human ears to loud noise that are beyond the range
of sound that human ears can withstand damages the eardrums resulting in loss of
hearing.
 Sleeping disorders: Lack of sleep might result in fatigue and low energy level
throughout day affecting everyday activities. Noise pollution hampers the sleep cycles
leading to irritation and uncomfortable state of mind.
 Cardiovascular issues: Heart-related problems such as blood pressure level, stress, and
cardiovascular diseases might come up in a normal person .

Control measures:
There are four fundamental ways in which noise can be controlled:
 Reduce noise at the source,
 block the path of noise,
 increase the path length and
 protect the recipient.

In general, the best control method is to reduce noise levels at the source.
Source reduction can be done by effectively muffling vehicles and machinery to reduce the
noise. One of the best methods of noise source reduction is regular and thorough maintenance

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of operating machinery. Noise levels at construction sites can be controlled using proper
construction planning and scheduling techniques.
The path of traffic noise can also be blocked by construction of vertical barriers alongside the
highway. Planting of trees around houses can also act as effective noise barriers.
Increasing the path length between the source and the recipient offers a passive means of
control. Use of earplugs and earmuffs can protect individuals effectively from excessive noise
levels.

Preventive measures
1. Prescribing noise limits for vehicular traffic
2. Ban on honking (usage of horns) in certain areas
3. Creation of silence zones near schools and hospitals
4. Redesigning buildings to make them noise proof
5. Reduction of traffic density in residential areas
6. Giving preference to mass public transport system.

THERMAL POLLUTION
Thermal pollution is defined as the addition of excess of undesirable heat to water thereby
making it harmful to man, animal or aquatic life.
Sources of Thermal Pollution
1. Nuclear power plants: Nuclear power plants including drainage from hospitals,
research institutions, nuclear experiments and explosions discharge a lot of heat that is
not utilized.
2. Coal-fired power plants: Coal fired power plants constitute a major source of thermal
pollution. The condenser coils in such plants are cooled with water from nearby lakes
or rivers. The resulting heated water is discharged into streams thereby raising the water
temperature by 15C.
3. Industrial effluents: Industries like textile, paper, pulp and sugar manufacturing
release huge amounts of cooling water along with effluents into nearby natural water
bodies.
4. Domestic Sewage: Domestic sewage is discharged into rivers, lakes, canals or streams
with minimal treatment or without any treatment. These wastes have a higher organic
temperature and organic load.
5. Hydro-electric power: Generation of hydroelectric power sometimes leads to negative
thermal loading in water systems.

Effects of Thermal pollution

1. Reduction in dissolved oxygen: Concentration of Dissolved Oxygen (DO) decreases
with increase in temperature.
2. Increase in toxicity
The concentrated pollutant causes the rise in the temperature of water which increases
the toxicity of the poison present in water. The toxicity in water will increase the death
rate in marine life.
3. Disruption of Biological activities
Temperature changes disrupt the entire marine ecosystem because changes in
temperature causes change in physiology, metabolism and biological process like
respiration rate, digestion, excretion and development of an aquatic organism.
4. Interference in reproduction: In fishes, several activities like nest building, spawning,
hatching, migration and reproduction depend on optimum temperature.

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Control measures for thermal pollution

The following measures can be taken to prevent or control high temperature caused by thermal
pollution:

1. Heated water from the industries can treated before discharging directly to the water
bodies.
2. Heated water from the industries can be treated by the installation of cooling ponds and
cooling towers.
3. Industrial treated water can be recycled for domestic use or industrial heating.
4. Through artificial lakes: In this lake Industries can discharge their used or heated water
at one end and water for cooling purposes may be withdrawn from the other end. The
heat is eventually dissipated through evaporation.

NUCLEAR HAZARDS
Nuclear pollution is the physical pollution of air, water and soil by radioactive
materials. Nuclear energy can be both beneficial and harmful depending on the way in which it
is used. Approximately 17 % of the electrical energy generated in the world comes from nuclear
power plants. However on the other hand it is impossible to forget the destruction that nuclear
bombs caused the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The radioactive wastes from nuclear
energy have caused serious environmental damage.

Causes
 Nuclear accidents from nuclear energy generation plants: In the postmodern world,
various forms of energy are being discovered. Among them is nuclear energy, which is
touted to be the most potent source of energy due to its high latent power. Reports
indicate that the high latent power is due to its high level of radiation.

 The use of nuclear weapons: The use of nuclear missiles and atomic bombs, a form
of nuclear energy, in the Second World War not only explains cause but also the
damaging nature of radioactive pollution or contamination.

 Use of radio isotopes: Radio isotopes are used to make detectors and in other industrial
activities. Isotopes such as uranium have high concentrations of radiation in them. On
the other hand, common Isotopes such as carbon containing radioactive material are
easily found in water ways through sewage lines.

 Cosmic rays: These come from outer space to our planet with intense radiation as their
nature, therefore, causing radioactive pollution. Gamma rays, for example, are said to
have the highest level of radiation and yet, depending on their intensity.

Effects
Effects of nuclear hazards: All organisms are affected from radiation pollution, and the effects
are extremely dangerous. The effects may be somatic (individual exposed is affected) or
genetic (future generations) damage. the effects are cancer, shortening of life span and genetic
effects or mutations. Some of the possible effects are listed as under:
 Break DNA in cells
 Man do not die, but suffer from fatigue, nausea, vommiting and loss of hair
 Bone marrow is affected & blood cells are reduced.
 Kill organism by damaging the tissue of heart and brain .
 Kill organism by damaging the tissue of heart and brain
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 Develops different types of cancer

 Through foodchain also, radioactivity effects are experienced by man. But the most
significant effect of radioactivity is that it causes long range effects, affecting the future
of man and hence the future of our civilizations.

Control Measures
1. Laboratory generated nuclear wastes should be disposed off safely and scientifically.
2. Leakage of radioactive elements from nuclear reactors, careless use of radioactive
elements as fuel and careless handling of radioactive isotopes must be prevented.
3. Safety measure against accidental release of radioactive elements must be ensured in
nuclear plants.
4. Unless absolutely necessary, one should not frequently go for diagnosis by xrays.
5. Regular monitoring of the presence of radioactive substance in high risk area should be
ensured
6. 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 MANAGEMENT

Rapid population growth and urbanization in developing countries has led to people generating
enormous quantities of solid waste and consequent environmental degradation. The waste is
normally disposed in open dumps creating nuisance and environmental degradation. Solid
wastes cause a major risk to public health and the environment. Management of solid wastes is
important in order to minimize the adverse effects posed by their indiscriminate disposal.

Types of solid wastes:

Depending on the nature of origin, solid wastes are classified into
1. Urban or municipal wastes 2. Industrial wastes

Sources of urban wastes:

Domestic wastes containing a variety of materials thrown out from homes. Ex: Food waste,
Cloth, Waste paper, Glass bottles, Polythene bags, Waste metals, etc.
Commercial wastes: coming out from shops, markets, hotels, offices, institutions, etc. Ex:
Waste paper, packaging material, cans, bottle, polythene bags, etc.
Construction wastes: includes wastes of construction materials. Ex: Wood, Concrete, Debris,
etc.
Biomedical wastes: It includes mostly waste organic materials Ex: Anatomical wastes,
Infectious wastes, etc.

CLASSIFICATION OF URBAN WASTES

Bio-degradable wastes - Those wastes that can be degraded by micro organisms are called
bio- degradable wastes Ex: Food, vegetables, tea leaves, dry leaves, etc.
Non-biodegradable wastes: Urban solid waste materials that cannot be degraded by micro
organisms are called non-biodegradable wastes. Ex: Polythene bags, scrap materials, glass
bottles, etc.

SOURCES OF INDUSTRIAL WASTES

The main source of industrial wastes is chemical industries, metal and mineral processing
industries. Ex: Nuclear plants: It generated radioactive wastes.

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Thermal power plants: It produces fly ash in large quantities.

Chemical Industries: It produces large quantities of hazardous and toxic materials.
Other industries: Other industries produce packing materials, rubbish, organic wastes, acid,
alkali, scrap metals, rubber, plastic, paper, glass, wood, oils, paints, dyes, etc.

EFFECT OF IMPROPER SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT

1. Due to improper disposal of municipal solid waste on the roads and immediate
surroundings, biodegradable materials undergo decomposition producing foul smell
and become a breeding ground for disease vectors.
2. Industrial solid wastes are the source for toxic metals and hazardous wastes that affect
soil characteristics and productivity of soils when they are dumped on the soil
3. Toxic substances may percolate into the ground and contaminate the groundwater.
4. Burning of industrial or domestic wastes (cans, pesticides, plastics, radioactive
materials and batteries) produce furans, dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls that are
harmful to human beings.

Control measures of urban and industrial waste

Two important steps involved in solid waste management are-
1. Reduce, Reuse and Recycle of Raw Materials.
2. Discarding wastes

Reduce, Reuse and Recycle of Raw Materials.

1. Reduce - If usage of raw materials is reduced, the generation of waste also gets reduced.
2. Reuse - Refillable containers that are discarded after use can be reused. Rubber rings
can be made from discarded cycle tubes and this reduces waste generation during
manufacture of rubber bands.
3. Recycle- Recycling is the reprocessing of discarded materials into new useful products
Ex: Old aluminum cans and glass bottles are melted and recast into new cans and
bottles, preparation of cellulose insulation from paper, Preparation of automobile body
and construction material from steel cans This method (Reduce, Reuse & Recycle), i.e,
3R's help save money, energy, raw materials and reduces pollution.

Discarding wastes
The following methods are adopted for discarding wastes:
1. Landfill: Solid wastes are placed in a sanitary landfill in which alternate layers of 80
cm thick refuse is covered with selected earth-fill of 20 cm thickness. After 2-3 years
solid waste volume shrinks by 25-30% and land is used for parks, roads and small
buildings. This is the most common and cheapest method of waste disposal and is
mostly employed in Indian cities.
2. Incineration: It is a hygienic way of disposing solid waste. It is suitable if waste
contains more hazardous material and organic content. It is a thermal process and very
effective for detoxification of all combustible pathogens. It is expensive when
compared to composting or land-filling. In this method municipal solid wastes are
burnt in a furnace called incinerator. Combustible substances such as rubbish, garbage,
dead organisms and noncombustible matter such as glass, porcelain and metals are
separated before feeding to incinerators.
3. Composting: It is another popular method practiced in many cities in our country. In
this method, bulk organic waste is converted into fertilizer by biological action.

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Role of an individual in prevention of pollution

There are a host of environmental problems caused by human actions on the environment. If
we are to respond to these problems we have to recognize that each of us is individually
responsible for the quality of the environment we live in. Individuals contribute towards a better
quality of our environment and human life is:

 Try to plant trees wherever you can and more importantly take care of them. They
reduce air pollution.
 Reduce the use of wood and paper products wherever possible. Manufacturing paper
leads to pollution and loss of forests which releases oxygen and takes up carbon dioxide.
Try to recycle paper products and use recycled paper wherever possible.
 From the mail you receive reuse as many envelopes that you can.
 Do not buy furniture, doors, window frames made from tropical hardwoods such as
teak and mahogany. These are forest based.
 Help in restoring a degraded area near your home or join in an afforestation program.
 Use pesticides in your home only when absolutely necessary and use them in as small
amounts as necessary. Some insect species help to keep a check on the populations of
pest species.
 Reduce the use of fossil fuels by either walking up a short distance using a car pool,
sharing a bike or using public transport. This reduces air pollution.
 Shut off the lights and fans when not needed.
 Doesn’t use aerosol spray products and commercial room air fresheners. They damage
the ozone layer.
 Do not pour pesticides, paints, solvents, oil or other products containing harmful
chemicals down the drain or on the ground.
 Buy consumer goods that last, keep them as long as possible and have them repaired
as far as possible instead of disposing them off. Such products end up in landfills that
could pollute ground water.
 Buy consumer goods ages in refillable glass containers instead of cans or throwaway
bottles.
 Try to avoid asking for plastic carry bags when you buy groceries or vegetables or any
other items. Use your own cloth bag instead.
 Use sponges and washable cloth napkins, dish towels and handkerchiefs instead of
paper ones.
 Recycle all newspaper, glass, aluminum and other items accepted for recycling in your
area. You might have to take a little trouble to locate such dealers.
 Set up a compost bin in your garden or terrace and use it to produce manure for your
plants to reduce use of fertilizers.
 Try to lobby and push for setting up garbage separation and recycling programs in your
localities.
 You could join any of the several NGOs that exist in our country or become volunteers.
Organize small local community meetings to discuss positive approaches of pollution
prevention.
 You cannot improve your world by not voting. You have the option to make a choice
rather than complain later on.
 It is important that you do not get discouraged at the first sign of trouble. Do not dwell
on the negative aspects. But take positive actions wherever you can to make the world
a better place to live in.

G.Shanmugaraja, Assistant Professor, Don Bosco College (Arts and Science), Karaikal.
Enironmental Studies_Unit-5
 13

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
The Indian subcontinent is very vulnerable to droughts, floods, cyclones, earthquakes,
landslides, avalanches and forest fires. Among the 36 states and Union territories in the country,
22 are prone to disasters.

FLOODS
Increased rainfall or rapid snow melting causes more flow of water in the streams. This excess
water flow in a stream covering the adjacent land is called a flood. Floodplain is defined in
terms of a flood frequency. Floodplains are generally fertile, flat and easily formed.

CAUSES OF FLOOD
Construction of buildings in a flood plain ,Removing vegetation ,Paving roads and parking
areas, Deforestation, Heavy rainfall ,Urbanization.

Effects of flood
 Erosion of top soil and vegetation
 Damage and loss to land, house and property
 Spread of endemic waterborne diseases
 Interruption of basic facilities of community such as highways, railways, telephone,
electricity and day-to-day essentials
 Silting of reservoirs and dams

FLOOD CONTROL
 Construction of flood control dam
 Deepening, widening and straightening of streams
 Lining of streams
 Banning of construction of buildings in floodplains
 Converting flood-plains into wildlife habitat, parks, and recreation areas.

EARTHQUAKES
An earthquake occurs when rocks break and slip along a fault in the earth. Earthquakes
occur due to deformation of crust and upper mantle of the earth.
Due to heating and cooling of the rock below these plates, movement of adjacently overlying
plates and great stresses, deformation occurs.
Tremendous energy cans build-up between neighboring plates.
If accumulated stress exceeds the strength of the rocks, the rocks break suddenly releasing
the stored energy as an earthquake.
The magnitude of an earthquake is measured in Richter scale.

Effects of earthquake
Ground shaking
Liquefaction of ground
Ground displacement
Landslides
Flood

Control of earthquake
There is virtually no technique to control the occurrence of earthquake. However, certain
preventive measures can be taken to minimize the damage.

G.Shanmugaraja, Assistant Professor, Don Bosco College (Arts and Science), Karaikal.
Enironmental Studies_Unit-5
 14

 Minimizing development activity (especially construction, mining, construction of

dams and reservoirs) in areas known to be active seismic zones.
 Continuously monitoring seismic activity using 'seismographs' and alerting people
regarding any recorded disturbance in advance.

CYCLONE

A large revolving vortices of wind, which move like spinning tops formed over sea extending
horizontally up to 1000 km and vertically up to 12 to 14 km from surface. They occur in tropical
coastal regions. Cyclone are also known as hurricanes, typhoons and willy-willy in the other
parts of the world. Cyclones can be normal, severe or very severe depending upon the speed.
Cyclone are very powerful winds causing devastation in large areas as they bring heavy rainfall
and storms which floods the coastal areas. The most devastating cyclone in Indian sub-
continent was recorded in Orissa 1999, with wind speed of 200 to 300 km/hr (Case study).

Cyclone leads to death of people and animals, destroy crops, homes, buildings and cause huge
loss to properties leading to great economic and financial losses.

Mitigation strategies:
 Cyclone monitoring and early warning systems help in evacuation of people in
vulnerable areas. Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasts location, timing,
expected wind speed and magnitude of wind tides.
 The Indian coastal belt is declared as cyclone hazard zone because of which no major
residential and industrial units are constructed. It stretches from Tamil Nadu to Orissa
to West Bengal.
 Maintenance of communication lines important for rescue operations. Devices such as
pocket radio, satellite links and Morse Code are helpful.
 Planting of mangrove trees in coastal belts act as wind and tide breakers.
 Increasing public awareness, training, preparedness towards cyclone warning can
reduce casualties.

Case study:
 Hurricane Katrina 2005.

LANDSLIDES
Landslides occur when mass of earth material move downward. It is also called mass wasting
or mass movement.
Sudden landslide occurs when unconsolidated sediments of a hillside are saturated by rainfall
or water logging.
Many landslides take place in coincidence with earthquakes. The most common form of
landslides is earthquake induced landslides or more specifically rock falls.

Control measures for landslides

 Avoid construction activity in landslide occurring areas.
 Reducing slope of hilly side
 Stabilizing the slope portion
 Increasing plantation of deep rooted vegetation on the slope.

G.Shanmugaraja, Assistant Professor, Don Bosco College (Arts and Science), Karaikal.
Enironmental Studies_Unit-5