Basics of

Environmental Pollution

Amna Imamshah

Presentation outline

Introduction to Pollution, Pollutants

Types of Pollution

Types of Pollutants

Sources of Pollution

Sources of Air, Water, Land, Noise, Pollution

Effect of Pollution on Air, Water, Land, Noise

The Earth is like a living organism, which itself engaged in a self regulation to support its own "survival"

Environment is a combination of both Biotic components: all living organisms, plant,

fungi, bacteria, virus. Abiotic components: Hydrosphere (ocean, lake,

river, groundwater), Lithosphere (soil, solid earth), Atmosphere (gases)

This is what earth looks like

Pollution - Definition:

Pollution is defined as the presence of

impurities or pollutant substances in

sufficient concentration levels, causing

harmful effects on human beings,

animals, plant life or material resources

when exposed for a sufficient duration of

time, thus reducing the quality of life in

the environment.

Pollutant - Definition:

A Pollutant is a substance or energy

introduced into the environment that has

undesired effects, or adversely affects the

usefulness of a resource. Pollutants

include solid, liquid or gaseous

substances present in greater than natural

abundance, produce due to human

activity, which have a determined effect

on our environment.

Types of Pollution

1. Air Pollution

2. Water Pollution

3. Soil/Land Pollution

4. Noise Pollution

5. Environmental Pollution

Air Pollution

Air pollution may be defined as the

presence of one or more contaminants

in the air in large quantities and for

long durations which may be or tend to

be injurious to human, animal, plant

life, or property, or which unreasonably

interferes with the comfortable usage of

air.

Water Pollution

Water pollution is defined as “The

presence of some foreign substances or

impurities organic, inorganic,

biological or radioactive in water in

such quantity so as to constitute a

health hazard by lowering the water

quality and making it unfit for use.”

Soil/Land Pollution

Soil contamination occurs when

chemicals are released by spill or

underground leakage. It can also occur

by directly dumping and disposal of

wastes. Among the most

significant soil contaminants

are hydrocarbons, heavy metals,

herbicides, pesticides and chlorinated

hydrocarbons.

Noise Pollution

Noise pollution is the disturbing or

excessive noise that may harm the

activity or balance of human or animal

life. The source of most outdoor noise

worldwide is mainly caused

by machines and transportation

systems, motor vehicles, aircraft,

and trains. Outdoor noise is

summarized by the word environmental

noise.

Environmental Pollution

Environmental Pollution is thus

defined as “any undesirable change in

the physical, chemical or biological

characteristics of any component of the

environment (air, water, soil) which can

cause harmful effects in various forms

of life or property.”

Types of Pollutants

Depending upon their existence in nature

Quantitative Pollutants They normally occur in

environment but acquire the status of a pollutant

when their concentration increases due to

unmindful human activities. Ex CO2

Qualitative Pollutants Do not naturally occur in

the environment but are added by man. For ex.

Insecticides

Types of Pollutants..

Depending upon the form in which they

persist after being released into atmosphere

Primary Pollutants Those which are emitted

directly from the source and persists in the form

in which they were added to the environment for

ex. Ash, dust, hydrocarbon etc.

Secondary Pollutants Those which are formed

from primary pollutants for ex. SO3, PAN

(Peroxyl Acetyl Nitrate), Ketones, Aldehydes etc.

Types of Pollutants…

Depending upon the way in which they are

removed/accumulated in the environment

Biodegradable Those which can be

degraded/decomposed by living organism for ex.

Wood, sewage, paper, card board, garbage etc

Non biodegradable Those which cannot be

degraded/decomposed by living organism for ex.

DDT, plastic etc

Types of Pollutants….

Depending upon their source

Natural Those which are released from natural

resources for ex. volcanic eruptions, wind borne,

and dust release of H2S etc

Man-made Those which are released due to

human activities (commercial, industrial,

residential etc) for ex. Insecticides, Pesticides,

Radioactive substances etc.

Types of Sources:

1. Point source - single,

identifiable source

e.g. smokestack,

drainpipe etc

2. Non-point source -

dispersed source,

e.g. runoff from

pesticides, fertilizers

Point source

Non-point sources

What Are The Major Sources of Air, Water, Land/Soil, Noise,

Pollution?

Air Pollution

Air pollution results from human

activities such as burning fossil fuels (oil,

coal, and gasoline) to create electricity

and power, automobiles, and

manufacture industrial products such as

chemicals and plastic.

The air Pollutants are particulates, HC,

CO2, CO, NO, NO2, SO3 -- source may

be industrial, autos, etc.

Air Pollution

Normal composition of clean air :

Nitrogen 78.084%

Oxygen 21%

Argon 0.934%

Carbon Dioxide 0.0314%

Methane 0.0002%

Hydrogen 0.00005%

Other gases Minute

Sources of Air Pollution

Sources of Air Pollution

Stationary Sources

Single or Point Sources

Industrial process chimneys i.e stack emissions from steel

mill, power plant, oil refineries etc.

Municipal Incinerators.

Multiple or Mobile Sources

Domestic combustion of fuel in residential areas, offices,

apartments, hotels etc.

On site incinerators, Open burning

Sources of Air Pollution

Mobile Sources:

Line Sources

Highway vehicles, trains, channel vessels.

Area Sources

Aircrafts, light, medium and heavy duty vehicles, rail yard

locomotives etc.

Sources of Air Pollution

Natural: Volcanoes, forest fires and hot springs.

Decay from marshes, swamp.

Increase ozone due to thunderstorms, fires.

Air Pollutants Sources & Effects Pollutant Source Pathological effects on

man Sulphur Dioxide Major source is burning of fossil

fuel in thermal plants. Colourless gas produced by Coal and Oil Combustion and certain industrial process like smelting sulphur containing ore.

Respiratory irritant, aggravates asthma and other lung and heart diseases, reduces lung function. Sulphur dioxide plants and is a precursor to acid rain.

Nitrogen Oxides Brownish orange gas produced by motor vehicles and combustion at major industrial sources, industries producing HNO3.

Inhibits cilia (Cilia are slender, microscopic, hair-like structures ) action so that soot and dust penetrate far into the lungs.

Hydrogen Sulphides H2S

Chief source is decaying vegetation and animal matter. Also produced from refineries, chemical industries and bituminous fuels combustion.

Causes nausea, irritates eyes and throat.

Pollutant Source Pathological effects on man

Carbon Monoxide (CO) Chief source is automobile exhausts, Burning of coal, gasoline, open fires, forest fires, power plants etc.

Reduces oxygen carrying capacity of blood.

Ammonia Explosives, dye making, fertilizer plants and lacquers.

Inflames upper respiratory passages.

Phosgene (CCl2O) or Carbonyl Chloride

Chemical and dye making, Induces coughing, irritation and fatal pulmonary edema ( condition caused by excess fluid in the lungs. This fluid collects in the numerous air sacs in the lungs, making it difficult to breathe.)

Hydrogen Cyanides (HCN) Blast furnace, fumigation, chemical manufacturing, metal plating etc.

Interferes with nerve cells, produces dry throat, indistinct vision, headache etc.

Aldehydes fats (R-CHO) or glycerol

Thermal decomposition of oils, tracks.

Irritate nasal and respiratory passage.

Pollutant Source Pathological effects on

man Arsenic Occurs in many minerals,

usually in conjunction with sulfur and metals. Process involving metal or acids containing soldering.

Damage red cells in blood, kidneys and cause jaundice.

Suspended particles ( ash,

soot, smoke etc)

Solid or liquid particles

produced by combustion

and other processes at

major industrial sources

(e.g. steel mills, power

plants, chemical plants,

incinerators etc)

Respiratory irritant

aggravates asthma and

other lung and heart

diseases (especially in

combination with sulphur

dioxide) many are known as

Carcinogens.

Lead Very small particles emitted

from motor vehicle exhaust.

Toxic to nervous and blood

forming systems, can cause

brain and organ damage in

high concentration.

Pollutant Source Pathological effects on

man Ozone Colourless gas formed by

chemical reaction between

motor vehicle exhaust and

sunlight. It is the major

component of smog.

Respiratory irritant,

aggravates asthma and

other lung and heart

diseases, impairs lung

function.

Acid Rain

Ozone Layer Depletion

Green House Effect

Sources of Water Pollution

Point Source

Discharge from domestic, commercial and small industrial

waste water into sewer. Wastewater generated from

industries e.g. dye, textile, pulp and paper, oil, refineries,

food processing etc. are major sources of water pollution.

It has both organic and inorganic matter.

Organic Pollutants: Carbohydrates, proteins, oils, fats,

cellulose, phenols etc

Inorganic Pollutants: Chlorides, sulphates, metals,

oxides of metals, acids and alkalis etc

Sources of Water Pollution

Non-Point Source

The pollutants scattered on the ground ultimately reach

the water source and cause water pollution. E.g. Runoff

from agricultural fields eventually enters streams, rivers,

lakes and the ocean.

Air pollution gets dissolved in rain water and contaminates

the ground water as well as surface water sources.

.

Sources of Water Pollution

Ground Water Pollution

The total water requirement will be served from ground

water which is about 30 times more than surface water.

Ground water seems to be less affected to pollution as the

soil mantle through which water passes helps to retain various contaminants (વિવિધ અશદુ્ધિઓ જાળિી રાખિા માટે મદદ કરે છે) due to its cation exchange property.

Sources of Water Pollution

Surface Water Pollution

Industrial/Municipal Discharge

Agrochemical

Oil spillage into sea water during drilling and shipment

pollute it.

Synthetic Detergents

Sources of Land/Soil Pollution

Sources of Soil/Land Pollution

Industrial Waste: It includes any discarded solid

materials resulting from an industrial operation, or solids

in domestic or industrial waste water. Chemicals, paints,

sand, metal ore processing, fly ash, sewage treatment

sludge etc.

Garbage: It refers to putrescible (liable to get decayed)

solid waste constituents produced during the preparation

or storage of meat, fruit, vegetable etc. These wastes have

moisture content of about 70%.

Sources of Soil/Land Pollution

Rubbish: It refers to non-putrescible solid waste

constituents, either combustible or non combustible.

Combustible would include paper, wood, scrap, rubber etc

and Non combustible would include metal, glass, ceramic

etc. These wastes have moisture content of about 25%.

Pathological Waste: It refers to dead animals, humans

etc. These wastes have moisture content of about 85%..

Sources of Soil/Land Pollution

Agricultural Waste: These are generally organic including

pesticides, herbicides, excessive fertilizers etc. The table

below represents various agricultural wastes:

Waste Composition Crop residue Corn stalks, grain stubble, cull, fruit and vegetables, rice

hulls, bagasse etc.

Animal Manure

Organic matter, protein, fat, carbohydrates etc. nitrogen,

phosphorous. Poultry Manure

Pesticides, Insecticides,

etc. residue and

containers

Chlorinated hydrocarbons, organo phosphorous

compounds, other organic and inorganic compounds like

sulphur, lead, arsenic etc.

Sources of Land Pollution Sources Methods

Agriculture Accumulation of animal manures. Excessive Inputs of Chemical Fertilizers. Illicit dumping of tainted crops land

Mining and Quarrying

Using of explosives to blow up mines. Using of machineries which emit toxic by products and leaks to the ground.

Sewage Sludge Improper sanitation system causes sludge to leak at surrounding soil.

Dredged Spoils (Dredging is an excavation activity carried underwater)

Improper method of dredging at fertile land causes soil infertility, leaving the soil more prone to external pollution.

Sources of Noise Pollution

Sources of Noise Pollution

Sources Methods

Traffic Noise Automobile revolution (ઓટોમોબાઇલ ક્ાાંવિ) in urban

areas is proved to be a big source of noise pollution. Increasing traffic has given rise to traffic jams where the repeated hooting of horns by drivers creates noise pollution. Aircraft create serious noise problems in big cities.

Factory & Construction

Machinery

Factory equipment, generators, pile drivers, pneumatic

drills, road rollers, and similar machinery also make a lot

of noise.

Public Address System Public address system contributes in its own way towards noise pollution by using loud speakers for religious function, birth, death, marriage, elections, and demonstrations or for commercial advertising.

Sources of Noise Pollution

Sources Methods

Traffic Noise Household activities contribute to indoor noise pollution. Domestic gadgets like TV, Music System, Exhaust Fans, Vacuum Cleaners, and Mixer Grinders etc are major sources of household noise pollution.

Factory & Construction

Machinery

Tank launching of rockets, explosions, exercising of

military aeroplanes and shooting practises are added in

the sources of noise pollution.

What Are The Effects of Air & Water Pollution?

Human Health Effects Human health, including

pulmonary, cardiac, vascular, and neurological impairments.

The health effects vary greatly from person to person. High-risk groups such as the elderly, infants, pregnant women, and sufferers from chronic heart and lung diseases are more susceptible to air pollution.

Children are at greater risk because they are generally more active outdoors and their lungs are still developing.

Human Health Effects Exposure to air pollution can cause both Acute (Short-term)

and Chronic (Long-term) health effects.

Acute effects are usually immediate and often reversible when exposure to the pollutant ends. Some acute health effects include eye irritation, headaches, and nausea.

Chronic effects are usually not immediate and tend not to be reversible when exposure to the pollutant ends.

ex. Decreased lung capacity,

Lung cancer resulting from long-term exposure to toxic air pollutants.

Effect on Plants

Air pollutants affect plants by entering through stomata

destroy chlorophyll and affect photosynthesis. During

the day time the stomata are wide open to facilitate

photosynthesis. Air pollutants during day time affect

plants by entering the leaf through stomata more than

night. Pollutants also erode waxy coating of the leaves

called cuticle. Cuticle prevents excessive loss of water

and damage from the diseases, pests, drought and frost.

Effect on Climate

Due to manmade activities like industrialization,

automobiles, deforestation etc. concentration of CO2

and other green house gases in atmosphere has

increases due to which the temperature of the earth’s

atmosphere has increases globally.

This increase in temperature has resulted in melting of

ice craps and glaciers

Effect on Aesthetic Beauty

The most noticeable effect of air pollution on the

properties of atmosphere is the Reduction In

Visibility which may lead to safety hazards.

The aesthetic beauty of nature is not visible due to

scattering of light by air bone particles.

Industrial and automobile emissions, sewage and

garbage emit foul odour causing loss of aesthetic beauty.

Effect on Animals Lead poisoning occurs in animals grazing near smelters

and lead mines. It causes Paralysis and difficulty in

breathing. It also causes Loss Of Appetite.

Arsenic poisoning in animals causes severe salivation,

thirst, and Vomiting, Irregular Pulse & Respiration,

abnormal body temperature and Death.

Farm animals like cattle and sheep are quite susceptible

to Fluorine Toxicity. It affects to Lack Of Appetite,

Periodic Diarrhoea, Muscular Weakness, Loss Of

Weight etc.

Effect of Water Pollution Parameter Source General and Health effect

Oxygen Demanding

Wastes

Sewage effluent,

agricultural run-off

including animal

wastes, some

industrial effluents.

Increase in demand of oxygen in water,

flora and fauna; decomposition by

anaerobic bacteria produces foul-smelling,

toxic substances such as hydrogen

sulphide.

Plant Nutrients Sewage effluents

including phosphates

from detergents,

agricultural runoffs,

nitrates from

fertilizers.

Death of submerged vegetations,

production of large amounts of dead

organic matter with problems of oxygen

depletion.

Acid Acid rain, mine

drainage, planting of

extensive areas of

coniferous forests

which acidify the soil.

Acidification of natural wastes, sharp

decline of species, fish loss etc.

Parameter Source General and Health effect

Toxic metals like Hg,

Pb, Cd, Zn

Ore mining, associated

industries, lead from

vehicle exhaust

emissions.

Biomagnifications of toxic metals with each

successive stage of food chain, threat to

consumers including humans.

Oil Drilling operations, oils

tankers spillage,

natural seepage, waste

disposal.

Contamination of aquatic environment,

death of birds and mammals.

DDT Direct application,

agricultural runoff and

via aerial crop

spraying.

Biomagnifications, Carnivores at risk.

PCBs Sewage effluent, land

fill sites.

Biomagnifications, Carnivores at risk, effect

on human health include joint pain,

chlorance and fatigue.

Radiation From nuclear weapon

testing, medical X-rays,

nuclear energy

industries etc.

Degree of tissue damage and risk of death

depended on exposure.

Biomagnifications refers to the ability of micro-

organisms to accumulate certain chemicals to a

larger concentration than that occurring in

environment, in case of animals the food they eat.

However magnifications deals with accumulation

of non-essential chemicals ex. HC (DDT, PCBs

poly chlorinated biphenyls) which are insoluble in

water.

Effect of Water Pollution Parameter BIS Guideline Value

(maximum allowable) General and Health effect

Total Dissolved Solids 2000 mg/lt Undesirable taste; gastro intestinal irritations, corrosion.

pH 6.5 – 8.5 Affects mucous membrane; bitter taste; corrosion; affects aquatic life.

Alkalinity 600 mg/lt Boiled rice turns yellowish.

Hardness 600 mg/lt Poor lathering with soap, deterioration of the quality of clothes, scale forming, skin irritation (ત્િચા પર ખાંજિાળ), boiled meat and food becomes poor in quality.

Calcium 200 Poor lathering and deterioration of clothes, incrustation in pipes, scale formation.

Parameter BIS Guideline Value (maximum allowable)

General and Health effect

Magnesium 100 Poor lathering and deterioration of clothes with sulphate laxative.

Iron 1 Poor or sometimes bitter taste (કડિો સ્િાદ), colour and turbidity, staining of clothes materials, iron, bacteria causing slime.

Manganese 0.3 Poor taste, colour and turbidity, staining, black slime.

Aluminium 0.2 Neurological disorders.

Copper 1.5 Liver damage, mucosal irritation, renal damage and depression, restricts growth of aquatic plants.

Zinc 15 Astringent taste, opalescence in water, gastro intestinal irritation, vomiting, dehydration, abdominal pain, nausea and dizziness.

Parameter BIS Guideline Value (maximum allowable)

General and Health effect

Ammonia -- Indicates pollution, growth of algae.

Nitrite -- Forms nitrosoamines which are carcinogenic.

Nitrate 100 Blue baby disease, algal growth.

Sulfate 400 Taste affects, laxative effect, gastro intestinal irritation.

Chloride 1000 Taste affected corrosive.

Fluoride 1.5 Dental and Skeletal fluorosis.

Phosphate -- Algal growth.

Arsenic 0.05 Toxic, bio-accumulation, central nervous system affected, carcinogenic.

Parameter BIS Guideline Value (maximum allowable)

General and Health effect

Mercury 0.001 Highly toxic, causes minamata disease, neurological impairment and renal disturbances, mutagenic.

Cadmium 0.01 Highly toxic causes itai-itai diseases, painful rheumatic condition, cardio vascular system affected, gastro intestinal upsets and hyper tension.

Lead 0.05 Causes plumbish-tiredness, lassitudes, abdominal discomfort, irritability, anaemia, bio-accumulation, impaired neurological and motor development, damage to kidneys.

Chromium 0.05 Carcinogenic, ulcerations, respiratory problems and skin complaints.

Pesticide 0.001 Affects central nervous systems.

Detergent --- Undesirable foaming.

Thank you