K L UNIVERSITY FRESHMAN ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT Second Semester, 2010-11

Environmental Studies

Pollution
Pollution: Any undesirable change in the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of the environment (air, water, soil) which can cause harmful effects on various life forms or property. 1) AIR POLLUTION CLASSIFICATION:-Air pollutants may occur in gaseous or particular form and may be organic or inorganic in nature. PRIMARY POLLUTANTS: These are emitted directly from the point source eg:CO,NOX, SO x, Radioactive substances, Hydrocarbons. SECONDARY POLLUTANTS: These are formed by interaction of primary pollutants with other primary pollutants eg:-O 3, Peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN), Photochemical smog Causes / Sources of Air Pollution:1. NATURAL SOURCES of air pollution are volcanic eruptions, forest fires, sea and salt sprays etc 2. MAN MADE sources include thermal power plants, industrial units, vehicular emissions, fossil fuel burning, Agricultural activities etc 3. Automobile engines,incomplete combustion of fuels in furnaces. 4. Lead particles from automobile exhaust,soot,fly ash from power station,from asbestos,fluorides,aluminium metallic dusts, etc.,and other natural sources. Indoor Air Pollution: The most important indoor air pollutant is Radon gas. This is emitted from building materials like bricks, concrete, tiles etc which are derived from soil c ontaining radium. During cooking (in rural) coal, kerosene are using. The incomplete combustion produces CO and SO 2. Along with these some other toxic agents are HCHO and BAP (benzo-(a) pyrene). BAP is also found in Cigar smoke.

EFFECTS: 1. Effects on human health: Exposure to air pollutants causes lung cancer, asthma chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Particulate matter causes decreasing of visibility and lung diseases. CO when reacts with blood forms carboxyheamoglobin and causes suffocation, dizziness, unconsciousness and even death. Many other pollutants like benzene (from unleaded petrol), HCHO and particulates like Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), toxic metals and dioxins (from burning of polythene) can cause mutations, reproductive problems, cancer. The hazardous materials like Asbestos, Beryllium, Mercury, Arsenic and radioactive substances cause cancer, lung diseases, kidney, liver, spleen, brain problems.
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2. Effects on plants: damage to leaf structure causes necrosis (dead area of leaf), chlorosis (loss of chlorophyll causing yellowing of leaf), epinasty (downward curling of leaf) and abscission (dropping of leaves). 3. Effect on aquatic life: Air pollutants mixing up with rain can cause high acidity in fresh water lakes leads to death of fishes and other aquatic life forms. 4. Effect on Materials: Corrosion of metallic surfaces, disfigurement of statues made up of marble and limestone. SO 2 causes damage to book bindings, paper, leather, fabric and paint. O3 can cause cracking of rubber, nylon, damage to the tyres and fading of cotton and rayon fibres. CONTROL MEASURES: 1. Reduction of pollutant discharge at the source by the application of control equipment 2. Reduction at the source through raw material changes, operational changes or modifications, or replacement of process equipment and controlling devices like cyclones, bag house filters, Wet scrubbers and electrostatic precipitators. 3. Dilution of the source discharge by the use of tall stacks 4. Dispersion of source locations through allocation of land usage i.e., proper planning and zoning of industrial areas 5. The hazardous chemicals should be converted into less-harmful substances. 6. Instead of using low grade and conventional fuels, environment-friendly fuels such as GOBAR GAS, LPG,and natural gas should be generated and used. 7. The vehicular pollution can be controlled by using good-quality fuel, by keeping engine fully effective and minimizing the use of motored vechicles. Stricter fuel standards should be set. 8. .For effective control of air pollution, raising of green belts must be promoted. Reduce vehicle emissions: Drive less Keep cars well maintained and tires properly inflated Turn off the engine when your vehicle is not in motion Purchase low-emitting and fuel efficient vehicles Share a ride, take public transportation bike, or walk Go by e-bykes NOISE POLLUTION The unpleasant and unwanted sound is called noise. CAUSES: 1.The main sources of noise are various modes of transportation, industrial operation, construction activities 2.Rocket engine, jet palne take off, thunder cap etc are some sources of sound 3.Electronic devices such as radio, television,etc., also produce considerable amount of noise leading to noise pollution inside homes. 4.Bursting of crackers and playing loud music during social gathering and festivals lead to lot of noise pollution and cause great discomfort to old and sick people around the area. 5.Exessive use of domestic appliances, such as mixers, washing machines, telephones,etc.,
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EFFECTS: 1.Interferes with mans communication: in a noisy area communication is severely effected 2.HEARING DAMAGE: noise can cause temporary or permanent hearing loss 3. Physiological disorders like anxiety, insomnia, high blood pressure, fatigue etc., occur as a consequence of over exposure to noise. 4. Exessive noise leads to poor concentration and reduces the ability to think. 5.Regular exposure to loud noise may cause speech and reading disabilities in young children. 6.Many animals become dull and inactive and their health deteriorates due to continued exposure to high intensity noise. CONTROL MEASURES:1. Reduction in sources of noise 2. Noise making sound machines should be kept in containers with sound absorbing media 3. Proper oiling will reduce the sound from the machinery 4.Public awareness regarding different modes of noise pollution should be generated in people. 5.More and more trees should be planted since trees act as sound absorbers and hence contribute to minimizing noise pollution. 6.Aircraft noise may be reduced by designing engines that makes less noise. 7.Industrial noise may be reduced by redesigning the machine 8.Playing music above certain permissible level during marriages and other social and religious functions should be prohibited,etc., WATER POLLUTION Water pollution can be defined as alteration in physical and chemical, biological characteristics of water making it unsuitable for designated use in natural state CAUSES: 1. Major point sources of water pollution are industries, power plants, underground coal mines, offshare oil wells etc.. 2. Septic tanks, industries, deep well, injection, mining etc.. are mainly responsible for underground water pollution 3. Sewage, industrial wastes, synthetic detergents, agro chemical oil, waste heat are major source of natural pollution 4. Disposal of dead bodies and immersion of idles of gods and goddesses degrade the quality of water. 5. Modern agriculture practices require the use of large amounts of fertilizers, pesticides and other soil additives. These slowly move to water bodies through irrigation rainfall etc and cause water pollution. EFFECTS: 1. TOXIC COMPOUNDS: pollutants such as heavy metals, pesticides, cyanides and many other organic and inorganic compounds are harmful to aquatic organisms. Toxic substances tend to accumulate in the organisms body this process is called bioaccumulation. 2. PATHOGENS: water born diseases like cholera, dysentery, typhoid, jaundice.
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3. EUTROPHICATION: The presence of excess amounts of nitrates and phosphates in water increases the growth of certain plants on the surface of water body. This phenomena is called eutrophication. This reduces the oxygen supply to aquatic plants and other living organisms. CONTROL MEASURES: 1. Use of nitrogen fixing plants to supplement use of fertilizers 2. Planting trees would reduce pollution by sediments and will also prevent soil erosion. 3. Non biodegradable waste materials such as plastics should not be dumped into water bodies. 4. Industrial wastes and affluent should be treated in order to reduce their toxicity. 5. Human activities such as bathing and washing in rivers, ponds and lakes, washing animals, throwing half burnt dead bodies and idols made of plaster of paris must be completely stopped. 6. Rural people should be aware of the effects caused due to water pollution. SOIL POLLUTION SOURCES:1.Thermal power plants generate a large quantity of fly ash, huge quantities of these wastes are dumped on the soils and pollute the environment 2.Agrochemicals released with the wastes of pesticide and fertilizers factories or during agricultural practices also reach the soil and pollute it 3.Soil also receive excreta from animals and humans. the sewage sludge contains many pathogenic organisms, bacteria causes pollution. 4. Mining leads to change in structure and composition of soil and hence causes soil pollution. 5. Construction of dams, houses, factories etc leaves the land in the adjacent areas unfit for agriculture hence contribute into water pollution. EFFECTS: 1. Sewage and industrial effluents which pollute the soil ultimately effect human health 2. Some of the persistent toxic chemicals inhibit the non-target organisms,flaura and fauna and reduce soil productivity 3. Nitrogen and phosphorous from the fertilizers in soil reach hear by water bodies with agricultural run-off and cause eutrophication. 4. The disposal of industrial wastes on fertile lands degrade the quality of soil and renders the land unfit for use in the long-run. 5. Radio-active elements that are present in the pollutant soil enter the food chain through plants. They cause a number of adverse health effects such as cancer, deformities in bones, etc in humans and animals. CONTROL MEASURES: 1. Solid wastes should be properly collected and disposed off by appropriate method 2. Effluents should be properly treated before discharging them on the soil 3. The disposal of hazardous radio-active wastes into the soil should be prohibited as it is almost impossible to completely cleans the soil of radio-active elements. 4. The use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides should be minimized as far as possible.
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5.Planting of trees must be encouraged. Trees bind the soil and prevent the loss of fertile top soil during heavy rains and floods.

THERMAL POLLUTION: Thermal pollution can be defined as the presence of waste heat in the water. CAUSES : 1.Heat producing industries .i.e..thermal power plants, nuclear power plants, refineries, steel mills, etc are major sources. 2. Power plants utilize only 1/3 of the energy provided by fossil fuel for their operations. Remaining 2/3 is generally lost in the form of heat to the water used for cooling .They reach water bodies which causes thermal pollution of water. 3. Soil erosion and contamination of water also cause retention of heat hence contributing to thermal pollution. EFFECTS: 1.Toxicity of pesticides ,detergents and chemicals in the effluents increase with increase in pollution. 2.Fish migration is affected due to formation of various thermal zones. 3.The increase in water temperature may cause the activities of certain pathogenic micro-organisms to accelerate. 4.The heated industrial effluents may contain toxic pollutants such as cadmium, copper and arsenic that may make the water unsuitable for any purpose. CONTROL MEASURES: Following methods like:COOLING PONDS: Water from condencers is stored in ponds where natural evaporation cools the water. SPRAY PONDS: Here water from condensers is received in spray ponds and water is sprayed through nozzles where fine droplets are formed and dissipated to atmosphere. COOLING TOWERS: a).Wet cooling towers,dry cooling towers are used. b).The excess heat energy that is produced in the generation of electricity may be utilized in another industry where this energy may be required.This process is called co-generation. MARINE POLLUTION: CAUSES: 1.Rivers,which bring pollutants from their drainage basins 2.Catchment area i.e..coastline where human settlements in the form of hotels, industry, agricultural practices..etc. 3.Oil drilling and shipment. 4.Discarded nuclear sub-marine and military waste also causes marine pollution. 5.Water that is used as coolant in power plants and industrial sites is also responsible for marine pollution.
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EFFECTS: 1.Oil in seawater effects sensitive flora and fauna. 2.Death occurs due to loss of buoyancy and subsequent drawing of birds. 3.Phytoplankton, zooplankton, algal species ,various species of invertebrates, coal reefs, birds, fish are affected by oil pollution. 4.Consumption of marine food obtained from such polluted water cause a number of fatal diseases such as viral hepatitis, cholera, typhoid and digestive problems. 5.Toxicity of the water is increased due to the addition of heavy metals which adversely effects the marine life. CONTROL MEASURES: 1.Development activities on coastal areas should be minimized. 2.Oil ballast should not be dumped into sea. 3.Dumping of toxic, hazardous wastes and sewage sludge should be banned. 4.Oil and grease from service stations should be proceed for reuse. 5.Sewage and industrial waste should be treated before releasing into sea water. 6.Solid wastes such as plastic, glass, metal, papers etc. should be recycled for different purposes instead of being discarded as wastes. NUCLEAR POLLUTION: CAUSES: NATURAL SOURCES: Like cosmic rays from outer space, radioactive radon222,soil, rocks, air, water and food..etc. 1.Anthropogenic Sources:- like nuclear power plant, nuclear accidents, X-rays, test laboratories etc. EFFECTS: 1.Genetic damages: This damages is caused by radiations which effects genes chromosomes and often seen in the off springs and may be transmitted upto several generations. 2.Somatic damage:-Includes burns, miscarriages, eye cataract and cancer of bone, thyroid, breast cancer etc 3.Radio nuclides enter the water bodies coming in contact with the contaminated soil or rock. CONTROL: 1. Setting of nuclear power plant should be carefully done after studying long term and shot term effects 2. Proper disposal of water from laboratory involving the use of radio isotopes should be done

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