Environmental Pollution

 Pollution is such 

a) an undesirable change 

b) in the physical chemical or Biological characteristics

c) of air ,water or soil 

d) which is harmful 

e) to the biotic component Orr components of biosphere

Biosphere:

The earth planet along with the atmosphere (air , land , water) that sustains life is called biosphere

Pollutant: is such substance which causes pollution

The  various environmental pollutants are:

a) Deposited matter : soot , smoke ,tar ,dust 

b) Gases: No, NO2 , ,SO2, , Carbon monoxide , halogens (CI , Br, I)

c) Acide droplets : H2SO4

d) Metals: Mercury ( Hg) , lead(Pb), Iron (Fe) , Zinc(Zn) ,Ni , Cd, CR

e) Agrochemicals: Pesticides , fertilizers

f) Complex Organic Substances: Benzene, Ether, acetic acid 

g) Solid wastes

h) Radioactive waste 

I) Noise 

Types of Pollution:

Due  to variety of pollutants , there are two basic types of pollutants

Non degradable and biodegradable

Non Degradable Pollutants:

Such materials and poisonous substances like aluminium cans , mercuric salt , DDT do not degrade and if degrade but only very slowly slowly in the nature.

Biodegradable Pollutants:

Such polluntants are the domestic wastes which degrade easily in the nature

Air Pollution:

Air pollution is the resultant of the direct or indirect change in the physical, chemical or Biological characteristics of atmosphere which mainly results from gaseous emissions from industry, thermal power stations , automobiles , domestic combustions.

•Adverse effects of Air Pollution on human health 

Sources of air pollutants:

A). Natural Source:

  Such polluntants are created by the activities of the nature .

These natural sources are,

1) Volcano which emits gases , soots , smoke

2) Forest fires

3) Cyclones, typhoon , thunderstorms

4) Fog 

5) Decomposition of dead matters , vegetation, animals

B) Man -made Sources:

Include  industry , thermal power stations, automobiles , farming practices, domestic use equipments , nuclear weapons

SPM- means Suspended Particulate matters

Carbon Compound Polluntants:

C02 :

The main source of CO2 pollutant in the atmosphere is the burning of fossil fuel either for domestic use (cooking , heating) or for industrial use.

Greenhouse Effect: 

The increase in CO2 concentration in the atmosphere makes its thick layer which is transparent to incoming solar radiation but opaque to outgoing terrestrial radiation.This effect is known as greenhouse effect 

CO:

The automobiles are the main source of carbon monoxide but stoves, furnaces , open fires, forest , burning coal mines , factories, power plants are also the source .

The inhaled CO combines with haemoglobin and forms 

carboxyhaemoglobin decreases the overall O2 carrying capacity of blood to different cells resulting into oxygen deficiency known as hypoxia

Photochemical Smog: 

The term smog was coined by H.A. Des Voeux in 1905

Smoke + Fog= Smog 

The photochemical Smog is such mixture of smokes and fog which is produced as a result of photochemical reactions among nitrogen oxides , hydrocarbons and oxygen.

A disease emphysema is caused due to structural breakdown of alveoli of lungs by smog 

Ozone (O3)

It is known to us that the ozone layer in the stratosphere protects us from the harmful UV rays of the sun .

Thinning of the O3 layer or the holes in the O3 layer ( Ozone hole) causes cancer especially skin cancer   (Melanoma) 

Prevention and Control of Air Pollution:

 To.   Check the emission of pollutants from the automobiles, the following measures may be adopted:-

a) To use the new proportion of gasoline and air

b) To use gas additives to improve combustion

c) Afforestation:

To plant such plants which absorb carbon monoxide(CO)and nitrogen oxides from the air

Daucus carota, Phaseolus vulgaris, 

Whereas Pinus absorbs nitrogen oxides

Agricos Vaishnavi Nimkar 🌾🌱

Love of my life Agriculture ❤️