Code No.

6042
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING
B.E. 2/4 (CE/ECE/AE/CSE) ll-Semester(Supplementary) Examination, December
2013
Subject: Environmental Studies Time : 3 Hours Max.
Marks: 75
Note: Answer all questions of Part - A and answer any five questions from
Part-B.
PART - A (10x2.5=25 Marks)
1. Differentiate between primary pollutants and secondary pollutants.

Outdoor air pollutants are two categories. Primary pollutants are harmful chemi-
cals emitted directly into the air from natural processes and human activities.

While in the atmosphere, some primary pollutants react with one another and with
other normal components of air to form new harmful chemicals, called secondary
pollutants

Primary air pollutants are emitted directly into the air from sources.

They can have effects both directly and as precursors of secondary air
pollutants (chemicals formed through reactions in the atmosphere)

(The inter relationship between primary and secondary pollutants is explained below is explained
below:

Sulphur dioxide (SO2 ) is a gas formed when sulphur is exposed to oxygen at high temperatures
during fossil fuel combustion, oil refining, or metal smelting. SO 2 is toxic at high concentrations, but
its principal air pollution effects are associated with the formation of acid rain and aerosols.
SO2 dissolves in cloud droplets and oxidizes to form sulphuric acid (H2 SO4 ), which can fall to Earth
as acid rain or snow or form sulphate aerosol particles in the atmosphere".

Nitrogen oxides (NO and NO2 , referred together as NOx) are highly reactive gases formed when
oxygen and nitrogen react at high temperatures during combustion or lightning strikes. Nitrogen
present in fuel can also be emitted as NOx during combustion. Emissions are dominated by fossil fuel
combustion at northern mid-latitudes and by biomass burning in the tropics.

In the atmosphere NOx reacts with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and carbon monoxide to
produce ground-level ozone through a complicated chain reaction mechanism. It is eventually
oxidized to nitric acid (HNO3 ). Like sulphuric acid, nitric acid contributes to acid deposition and to
aerosol formation.)
2. List the environmental effects because of major dams.
The environmental impacts of the dams are;
a) As a result of dam construction and holding of sediments in reservoirs,
sediment feeding of downstream channel or shore beaches is prevented. As
the transfer of sediments is avoided by this way, the egg laying zone of the
fishes living in the stream ecosystem is restricted.
b) Archaeological and historical places in company with geological and topog-
raphical places that are rare with their exceptional beauties, disappear after
lying under the reservoir.
 c) Reproduction of migrating fishes is hindered by the forced flow of water
when gates are released and harm the egg beds. Or the egg gravel beds
can also be destructed while the excavation and coating works in the stream
beds.
d) Temperature of water, salt and oxygen distribution may change vertically as
a consequence of reservoir formation. This may cause the generation of
new living species which may or may not be of advantage as local species
may be lost.
e) Normal passing ways of territorial animals are hindered since the dam
works as a barrier. Meantime the upstream fish movement aiming ovulation
and feeding is prevented and thus fish population decreases significantly
(Stott and Smith, 2001).
f) The fishes can be damaged while passing through the floodgates, turbines
and pumps of the high bodied dams.
g) There will be serious changes in the water quality as a result of drainage
water returning from irrigation that was done based on the irrigation pro-
jects. In other words, over transfer of food and the increase in salt density
can raise water lichens and may change water living species.
h) Discharge of toxic matters (pesticides, toxic metals etc.) and their
condensation in food chain may affect sensitive animals. Immediately all
living organisms may expire when the stream becomes unable to recover
itself.
i) Some increase in earthquakes may occur because of filling of big dam
reservoirs.
j) Microclimatic and even some regional climate changes may be observed
related to the changes in air moisture percentage ,air temperature, air move-
ments in big scale and the changes in the region topography caused by the
stagnant, big scaled mass of water.
k) Water-soil-nutrient relations, which come into existence downstream related
to the floods occurring from time to time in a long period of time, change.
Depending on this fact, compulsory changes come into existence in the
agricultural habits of the people living in this region and also in the flora and
fauna.
l) Dams may cause increases in water sourced illnesses like typhus, typhoid
fever, malaria and cholera.
m) Dams affect the social, cultural and economic structure of the region con-
siderably. Especially forcing people, whose settlement areas and lands re-
main under water to migrate, affect their psychology negatively.
3. With help of an example explain food chain and food web.

Food chain :All living things need food to give them the energy to grow and move.
A food chain shows how each living thing gets its food. It shows who is eating
who. The arrow means "is eaten by" .




Grass is eaten by Grasshopper is eaten by Toad is eaten by Snake is eaten by

Hawk

A food web consists of many food chains.

A food chain only follows just one path as animals find food.
eg: A hawk eats a snake, which has eaten a frog, which has eaten a grasshopper,
which has eaten grass.

A food web shows the many different paths plants and animals are connected.
eg: A hawk might also eat a mouse, a squirrel, a frog or some other animal. The
snake may eat a beetle, a caterpillar, or some other animal. And so on for all the
other animals in the food chain.

A food web is several food chains connected together.

4. Explain what do you mean by sustainable logging in forests.
Sustainable logging is a term used to describe a process of logging that always
ensures that there are young trees, medium age trees and mature trees left behind
after logging. This area will always have trees to be cut while others are also
growing.

5. Write a brief note on automobile pollution.

When a car’s engine is running, several different types of gasses and particles are
emitted that can have detrimental effects on the environment. Of particular concern
to the environment are carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas; hydrocarbons -- any of
more than a dozen volatile organic compounds, some of which are known
carcinogens; nitrogen oxides; sulphur oxides; and particulate matter, tiny particles of
solids, such as metal and soot. Other emissions that affect human health and create
smog include ozone and carbon monoxide. Automobiles also cause noise pollution
due to engine noise, wind resistance and tire noise.

(Effects on the Environment

Vehicle emissions can affect the environment in several ways. Cars emit greenhouse gasses, such
as carbon dioxide, which contribute to global warming. Some air pollutants and particulate matter
from cars can be deposited on soil and surface waters where they enter the food chain; these
substances can affect the reproductive, respiratory, immune and neurological systems of animals.
Nitrogen oxides and sulfur oxides are major contributors to acid rain, which changes the pH of
waterways and soils and can harm the organisms that rely on these resources.

Effects on the Ozone Layer

The ozone layer helps to protect life on earth from the sun’s ultraviolet rays, but human activities
have contributed to the accelerated depletion of this protective shield. Substances that contribute to
ozone depletion usually have high concentrations of chlorine or bromine atoms and include
chlorofluorocarbons, or CFCs, halons, methyl bromide, carbon tetrachloride and methyl chloroform.
Vehicle emissions contain few chlorine- or bromine-heavy substances, and therefore have little effect
on ozone depletion. Even though they are not good for human health, hydrocarbons are recognized
by the EPA as having no ozone depletion potential.

Vehicle Fluids
Vehicles contain many different fluids, including motor oil, antifreeze, gasoline, air-conditioning
refrigerants, and brake, transmission, hydraulic and windshield-wiper fluids. In most cases, these
fluids are toxic to humans and animals, and can pollute waterways if they leak from a vehicle or are
disposed of incorrectly. Many vehicle fluids are exposed to heat and oxygen while an engine is
running, and undergo chemical changes. These fluids also pick up heavy metals from engine wear
and tear, making them even more toxic to the environment. (See Reference 10) Most vehicles
manufactured before 1994 use CFC-12 as a coolant; CFC-12 is no longer produced in the U.S.
because of its detrimental effect on the ozone layer. Alternative refrigerants are available, but some
still have an impact on the ozone layer if they escape your car’s air-conditioning system.)

6. List the objectives of rain water harvesting.

It is a technique of increasing the recharge of groundwater by storing

rainwater locally, through roof water harvesting, refilling of dug wells,
recharging of hand pumps, construction of percolation pits, trenches around
fields and bunds or dams on small rivulets. The main objectives of rainwater
harvesting are:

1. To meet the increasing demand of water.

2. To reduce the run-off which chokes the drains?

3. To avoid the flooding of roads.

4. To raise the underground water table.

5. To reduce groundwater pollution.

6. To reduce soils erosion.

7. Supplement domestic water needs.

7. Define acid rain and list the consequences of acid rain.

"Acid rain" is a broad term referring to a mixture of wet and dry deposition
(deposited material) from the atmosphere containing higher than normal amounts of
nitric and sulfuric acids. The precursors, or chemical forerunners, of acid rain
formation result from both natural sources, such as volcanoes and decaying
vegetation, and man-made sources, primarily emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and
nitrogen oxides (NOx) resulting from fossil fuel combustion. Acid rain occurs when
these gases react in the atmosphere with water, oxygen, and other chemicals to
form various acidic compounds. The result is a mild solution of sulfuric acid and
nitric acid. When sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are released from power plants
and other sources, prevailing winds blow these compounds across state and
national borders, sometimes over hundreds of miles.
Wet Deposition

Wet deposition refers to acidic rain, fog, and snow. If the acid chemicals in the air
are blown into areas where the weather is wet, the acids can fall to the ground in the
form of rain, snow, fog, or mist. As this acidic water flows over and through the
ground, it affects a variety of plants and animals. The strength of the effects
depends on several factors, including how acidic the water is; the chemistry and
buffering capacity of the soils involved; and the types of fish, trees, and other living
things that rely on the water.

Dry Deposition

In areas where the weather is dry, the acid chemicals may become incorporated into
dust or smoke and fall to the ground through dry deposition, sticking to the ground,
buildings, homes, cars, and trees. Dry deposited gases and particles can be washed
from these surfaces by rainstorms, leading to increased runoff. This runoff water
makes the resulting mixture more acidic. About half of the acidity in the atmosphere
falls back to earth through dry deposition.
 8. Explain the concept of sustainable development.
Sustainable development has been defined as “Development that meets the needs of the
present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”
(The World Commission on Environment and Development, Brundtland Commission
1987).
In other words, when people make decisions about how to use the Earth’s resources such
as forests, water, minerals, wildlife, etc. they must take into account not only how much of
these resources they are using, what processes they used to get these resources, and
who has access to these resources. Also ask ourselves are enough resources going to be
left for our future generations to use and will the environment be left as we know it today?
Therefore, development plans have to ensure: sustainable and equitable use of resources
for meeting the needs of the present and future generations without causing damage to
environment.
The primary objective of sustainable development is to reduce the absolute poverty of the
world’s poor through providing lasting and secure livelihoods that minimize resource
depletion, environmental degradation, cultural disruption and social instability.
It also considers the equity between countries and continents races and closes, gender
and age bias. It includes social and economic development. It is a process which leads to
a better quality of life while reducing the impact on the environment.

9. What do you mean by water borne diseases? Give two examples.

Water-related illnesses fall into four major categories:

Waterborne diseases, including cholera, typhoid, and dysentery, are caused by

drinking water containing infectious viruses or bacteria, which often come from
human or animal waste.

Water-washed diseases, such as skin and eye infections, are caused by lack of
clean water for washing.

Water-based diseases, such as schistosomiasis, are spread by organisms that

develop in water and then become human parasites. They are spread by
contaminated water and by eating insufficiently cooked fish.

Water-related insect vectors, such as mosquitoes, breed in or near water and

spread diseases, including dengue and malaria. This category is not directly related
to water supply or quality.
What do you mean by ecological pyramids?
An ecological pyramid classifies the different biomass productivity in a given
ecosystem by each trophic level. They usually start with the largest group, the
producers, at the bottom and work their way up to the smallest group, the tertiary
consumers, at the top. Ecological pyramids can be on the basis of tropic level,
number level or biomass level.

P AR T - B (5x10=50 Marks)
10. (a)What do you mean by environmental pollution? Explain some of the
major problems of environmental pollution faced by the mankind
today.
Environmental pollution is the introduction of harmful pollutants into a certain
environment that make an environment unhealthy to live in. The widespread
pollutants are usually chemicals, garbage, and wastewater. Environmental
pollution is happening in multifold parts of Earth usually in the form of air and
water pollution.

Environmental pollution is causing massive damage to the ecosystem that

organisms depend upon the health of this environment to live in. Air and water
pollution can cause death of myriad organisms in given ecosystem, including
humans.

The present generation and the coming generations have to solve three grave
problems, namely, population, poverty and pollution if they have to survive. We
will focus ourselves on pollution for now. The environmental problems in India
are growing rapidly . The increasing economic development and a
rapidlygrowing population that has taken the country from 300 million people in
1947 to more than one billionpeople today is putting a strain on the environment,
infrastructure, and the country’s natural resources. Industrial pollution, soil
erosion, deforestation, rapid industrialization, urbanization, and land degradation
are all worsening problems for our country. Overexploitation of the country's
resources, be it land or water and the industrialization process has resulted
environmental degradation of resources. Environmental pollution is one of the
most serious problems that is facing humanity and other life forms on our planet
today. It is no longer a new or surprising fact that mankind has actually brought
the Earth to the brink of disaster. Man’s suicidal actions will soon turn this
wonderful planet into a lifeless and hostile planet. The ill-effects of ever-growing
population and urbanization have already been seen, felt and realized to some
extent in different circles. Today, the air we breathe, the water we drink and the
land on which we grow our food, have been poisoned. Numerous problems like
ozone layer depletion, greenhouse effect, global climatic changes, depletion of
ground water levels,drinking water crises, etc. are all plaguing the Earth today in
the twenty-first century and posing serious threats to the survival as well as the
very existence of the human race on this Earth. Industrialization and
urbanisation have resulted in a profound deterioration of India’s living quality.
Out of the 3 million premature deaths that occur in the world each year due to
pollution, the highest number are assessed to occurin India. According to the
World Health Organization, the country of India is one of the top ten polluted
countries in the world. According to another study, while India’s Gross Domestic
Product has increased 2.5 times over the past two decades, while the pollution
has quadrupled in the same period. Through the paper wewill be throwing light
on arious forms of pollution prevalent in India and their effect on the common
man of the country. And the measures that can be used to curb the pollution and
minimize the effect of pollution on the people. Mahatma Gandhi had said that
nature has enough to satisfy everyone’s need but has not enough to satisfy
man’s greed. Sadly our ever-expanding greed has putus in such precarious
situation that we face today.
 (b) Differentiate between renewable and non-renewable resources. With
help of one example each explain the environmental issues related
with those energy resources. (5)
Differences: The difference between renewable and non-renewable energy is
that non-renewable energy can be used up. Renewable energy sources are
unlimited and cannot be used up. The difference between renewable
resources and non-renewable resources is that; renewable are re-
producible things such as farm crops or trees, which can be harvested and
then grow back and renew themselves cycle after cycle. Non-renewable
ones produce or grow once, after which they are harvested and die
completely. Renewable sources of energy are those which can be reused;
eg: solar energy, wind energy and tidal energy; they do not get
extinguished;
eg: tides can be used again and again to generate hydroelectricity;
they are infinite; eg: the sun is said to be an infinite source of energy;
they are environmentally friendly -they do not cause pollution;
eg: solar energy can be generated without depleting the world's resources;
the machines developing these energies are costly ; eg: the solar water
heater and solar cooker r quite expensive;

non renewable resources are just the opposite; they cannot be reused;
eg; some types of plastic, wood; they do get extinguished; eg: wood ,
petroleum, oil, etc. they are finite energy resources(CANNOT BE USED
AGAIN ONCE USED); eg :wood ,petroleum, oil ,etc. they cause pollution
and r environmentally harmful; eg: wood, petroleum, oil ,plastic when burnt
causes a lot of pollution

They are both energy. Non-Renewable energy is the energy which is taken
from the sources that are available on the earth in limited quantity and will
vanish fifty-sixty years from now. Non-renewable sources are not
environmental friendly and can have serious effect on our health. They are
called non-renewable because they cannot be re-generated within a short
span of time. Non-renewable sources exist in the form of fossil fuels, natural
gas, oil and coal. Renewable energy is the energy which is generated from
natural sources i.e. sun, wind, rain, tides and can be generated again and
again as and when required. They are available in plenty and by far most
the cleanest sources of energy available on this planet. For eg: energy that
we receive from the sun can be used to generate electricity. Similarly,
energy from wind, geothermal, biomass from plants, tides can be used to
fulfil our daily energy demands

11. (a)Define an ecosystem. With help of pond ecosystem, explain the

different components of the ecosystem and their function in the
ecosystem. (5)

Introduction to Pond Ecosystem:

An ecosystem is a community of living organisms (plants, animals and microbes) in

conjunction with the nonliving components of their environment (things like air, water
and mineral soil), interacting as a system.
These biotic and abiotic components are regarded as linked together through
nutrient cycles and energy flows as ecosystems are defined by the network of
interactions among organisms, and between organisms and their environment, they
can be of any size but usually encompass specific, limited spaces (although some
scientists say that the entire planet is an ecosystem).

A pond ecosystem refers to fresh water ecosystem where there are communities of
organism dependent on each other with the prevailing water environment for their
nutrients and survival. Usually ponds are shallow water bodies with a depth of 12-
15 feet in which the sun rays can penetrate to the bottom permitting the growth of
plants there. The functional components of a Pond ecosystem are-

Pond Ecosystem :abiotic Components

The abiotic substances of Pond ecosystem are formed as a result of the mixture of
some organic and inorganic materials. The basic components are water, oxygen,
carbon dioxide, salts of calcium and nitrogen etc. Only a small amount of these
elements are present in soluble state in pond water, but a large amount is held in
reserve solid form in the bottom sediments as well as within the organisms. Various
organisms get their nourishment from these abiotic substances. The rate of release
of reserve nutrients, the solar input and the cycle of temperature, day length and
other climatic conditions regulate the function of the Pond ecosystem.

Pond Ecosystem: Biotic Components

The biotic components of Pond ecosystem consists of -

 Producers:-The producers are of two types-larger rooted and floating

vegetations together termed macrophytes and phytoplanktons-which are
microscopic floating algae.Phytoplanktons are available upto the depth of
water where light penetrates..
 Consumers:-Consumers of Pond ecosystem are heterotrophs which
depend for their nutrition on other organisms.Zooplanktons form primary
consumers who feed on phytoplankton. Small animals like
insects,beetles,fishes form secondary consumers as they feed on
zooplanktons.Benthic animals like snakes ,big fishes live on nectic animals
and are termed tertiary consumers.
 Decomposers:- Most of the decomposers of Pond ecosystem are
saprophytes (fungus) but some parasites are also found ..Generally the
decomposers either live in the soil layer beneath water or in the mud.They
act on dead and decayed organic matter of plants and animals and supply
raw materials to the producers.

Energy Flow in Pond Ecosystem

Phytoplanktons are the producers of pond ecosystem along with other floating
plants.The energy produced by the autotrophs are passed through "eat and being
eaten chain".In pond the larvae of insects consume autotrophs as food. So
according to law of energy flow the larvae assimilate energy from autotrophs .So
larvae are primary consumers. These primary consumers are taken as food by
prawns, small carnivorous fishes etc and so they collect energy from larvae. They
are, therefore secondary consumers. Large fishes consume secondary consumers,
and are tertiary consumers.
 (b) Explain some of the important causes for ecological imbalances.
Discuss the role of the human being in controlling ecological
imbalances. (5)

Ecological balance is in balance within a community where the organisms remain

stable and the changes are slow and gradual. An ecological balance must be
retained in order for species to thrive comfortably in their habitat. Removal of things
like plants, animals, trees and other natural items can shift the balance. This shifting
can lead to a loss of something. The loss may be something like lost vegetation or
animals or an increase in pollution.

Any thing or factor that upsets the balance of nature leads to ecological imbalance.
There are several factors contributing to this. These are interacting factors. On the
top is the interaction between inorganic and organic factors, also called abiotic and
biotic factors: Interaction between living and non-living.
Among the living beings are producers (plants), decomposers(bacteria etc) and
consumers(humans etc).Then there are food chains and food webs that constitute a
relationship among the living beings. When they die, they are decomposed into non-
living matter. In the entire gamut of things man alone is capable of manipulating the
environment by certain activities of which he is capable. Man's greed and propensity
for over population growth lead to depletion of natural resources and these two are
the most potent factors for ecological imbalance.
The hydrologic cycle continually circulates evaporated water into the atmosphere
and returns it as precipitation. The water you drink today is the same water the
Earth's original inhabitants drank. Toxins, heavy metals and oils from construction
sites, and agricultural chemicals such as pesticides and fertilizers, all get absorbed
into soil and groundwater. Runoff carries these pollutants into lakes, rivers and other
bodies of water. Pollutants that end up in lakes and rivers, such as nitrous oxide and
sulfuric dioxide, are evaporated as part of the hydrologic cycle and return to the
earth as acid rain. Acid rain causes worldwide environmental imbalances by
killing vegetation in ecosystems, such as croplands and forests.

Transpiration is the evaporation of water from plants. Reduction in transpiration also

reduces cloud formation and precipitation, and causes drying of the soil.
Deforestation, or the removal of large areas of trees, results in less transpiration of
water into the atmosphere. Vegetation, needed to absorb water and prevent
flooding, cannot grow on dry land.

Clearing land to make way for urbanization creates environmental imbalances by

changing the pattern of water flow. Covering the ground with pavement increases
water runoff, causes flooding, and decreases the replenishment of ground water
reservoirs. Some agricultural practices poison the soil with chemicals and strip it of
essential nutrients needed for future use.

Wind and soil erosion contribute to environmental imbalances and human health
problems. Each year they destroy cropland 10 to 40 times faster than it can be
replenished. As the wind dries and removes topsoil, it not only causes poorer crop
yields and increases water runoff, it blows dust into the air. According to the "Cornell
University Chronicle Online," dust from wind erosion can carry about 20 human
infectious diseases, including anthrax and tuberculosis. The U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency estimates that, in a agricultural areas, several tons of soil per
acre erode each year. The impact of soil erosion on food production causes
starvation and forces huge populations of people off their land.
Greenhouse gases, which include carbon dioxide, methane and water vapor, keep
the Earth warm enough for life to survive by absorbing some of the sun's energy as
it escapes back into space. An environmental imbalance occurs when large
quantities of greenhouse gases accumulate in the atmosphere and trap excessive
amounts of heat. The additional heat, referred to as global warming, is purportedly
responsible for environmental disasters such as, rising sea levels, floods and the
melting of polar ice caps. The overabundance of greenhouse gases in the
atmosphere is generally considered at least partly the result of human activities
such as the burning of fossil fuels -- oil, natural gas and coal -- industrial and
agricultural chemicals and processes, and production of organic wastes.

12. (a)Discuss the importance of biodiversity for the existence of humans.

Biodiversity is the basis of human existence, our life support system. Ecosystems
regulate climatic processes, breakdown wastes and recycle nutrients, filter and
purify water, buffer against flooding, maintain soil fertility, purify air, and provide
natural resources such as wood, textiles, and of course food. All agriculture
depends fundamentally on Biodiversity, as do marine and freshwater food
resources.

To allow continued biodiversity loss means loosing the essential services that
biodiversity provides, and prevents handing down an invaluable gift to future
generations.
Biodiversity & Health

The diversity of life forms that exist is nature’s way of keeping important checks and
balances in place, keeping populations of disease-causing pests and viruses in
check. Clean air and water is essential to human health. Plant extracts and
derivatives form the basis of most traditional and many modern medicines. To date
plant-based medicines provide more than 3 billion people with their primary health
care. With the loss of global biodiversity, we could be losing vitally important
undiscovered plant species that can be used to fight illnesses, such as cancer.

Biodiversity & Agriculture

Biodiversity provides us with a varied food supply, which is needed for balanced
human nutrition. Conservation of genetic biodiversity is essential to ensure that
domestic plants and animals can be adapted to thrive in local conditions.

Biodiversity & Business

Businesses depend on the earth's biological resources such as clean water and raw
materials, as essential components and services for the operation of their day-to-
day activities. It is therefore important that there is a sustainable supply of these
resources to ensure economic growth.

(b) Explain the possible threats to the biodiversity and how you would plan
to control loss of biodiversity.
 The unsustainable harvesting of natural resources, including plants, animals and
marine species.
 The loss, degradation or fragmentation of ecosystems through land conversion for
agriculture, forest clearing etc.
 Invasive non-native or 'alien' species being introduced to ecosystems to which they
are not adapted i.e. where they have no, or not enough, predators, to maintain an
ecological balance.
 Pollution
 Climate change

The first two have taken place throughout human history, although not on the
current scale. The introduction of invasive species is certainly facilitated, if not
caused, by the level of international transport and traffic of goods of our trade
system. The latter two are definitely products of an industrial age.

(5)
13. (a)Present the sequence of units as they appear in waste water
treatment plant. List the objectives of each unit. (5)
See the diagram in the end of this document.

(i) Primary Treatment: It helps in the removal of suspended particles

(ii) Secondary treatment: It helps in aerobic decomposition of organic
matter.
(iii) Tertiary Treatment: It helps in the production of safe water, free from
harmful chemical and pathogenic bacteria. Tertiary treatment consists of
flocculation, activated carbon, reverse osmosis, and/or chlorination
methods to get pure water.

(b) Give the classification of sources of air pollution giving two examples
of pollutants from each source and their effects on humans. (5)

Classification of air pollution by source:

Human sources:
Transportation -57%
Fuel combustion -21%
Industrial process-12%
Miscellaneous-10%
Natural sources:
Forest fires
Volcanic activity
Wooded forests, plants

outdoor air pollutants can also be divided into two categories.

Effect on humans:
 • CO reacts with hemoglobin in red blood cells and reduces the ability
of blood to transport oxygen to body cells and tissues. Chronic
exposure can trigger heart attacks and aggravate lung diseases such as
asthma and emphysema. At high levels, CO can cause headache,
nausea, drowsiness, mental impairment, collapse, coma, and death
• Sulfur dioxide, sulfuric acid droplets, and sulfate particles reduce visibility
and aggravate breathing problems.
• Particulates:These particles can irritate the nose and throat, damage the
lungs, aggravate asthma and bronchitis, and shorten life. Toxic
particulates of chemicals such as lead, cadmium, and PCBs, can
cause mutations, reproductive problems, and cancer. Particulates
also reduce visibility, corrode metals, and discolor clothes and paints
• Nitrogen oxides and nitric acid. Nitric oxide (NO) is a colorless gas that forms when nitrogen
and oxygen gas in air react at the high-combustion temperatures in automobile engines and
coal-burning power and industrial plants. Lightning and certain bacteria in soil and water also
produce NO as part of the nitrogen cycle
• In the air, NO reacts with oxygen to form nitrogen dioxide (NO2), a reddish brown gas.
Collectively, NO and NO2 are called nitrogen oxides (NOX).
• Some of the NO2 reacts with water vapor in the air to form nitric acid (HNO3) and nitrate salts
(NO3-)—components of harmful acid deposition.
• Both NO and NO2 play a role in the formation of photochemical smog—a mixture of
chemicals formed under the influence of sunlight in cities with heavy traffic.
• Nitrous oxide (N2O), a greenhouse gas, is emitted from fertilizers and animal wastes and is
also produced by burning fossil fuel.
• Ozone (O3), a colorless and highly reactive gas, is a major ingredient of
photochemical smog. It can cause coughing and breathing problems,
aggravate lung and heart diseases, reduce resistance to colds and pneu-
monia, and irritate the eyes, nose, and throat

14. (a)Explaining the effects of noise pollution, discuss the measures to

control noise pollution. (5)

• The most direct harmful effect of excessive noise is physical damage to the
ear and the temporary or permanent hearing loss often called a temporary
threshold shift (TTS).
• People suffering from this condition are unable to detect weak sounds.
However hearing ability is usually recovered within a month of exposure. In
Maharashtra people living in close vicinity of Ganesh mandals that play
blaring music for ten days of the Ganesh festival are usually known to
suffer from this phenomenon.
• Permanent loss, usually called noise induced permanent threshold shift
(NIPTS) represents a loss of hearing ability from which there is no
recovery.
• Below a sound level of 80 dBA hearing loss does not occur at all.
However temporary effects are noticed at sound levels between 80
and 130 dBA.
• Noise can also cause emotional or psychological effects such as irritability,
anxiety and stress.
There are several 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.
• In industries noise reduction can be done by using rigid sealed enclosures
around machinery lined with acoustic absorbing material.
• Isolating machines and their enclosures from the floor using special spring
mounts or absorbent mounts and pads and using flexible couplings for
interior pipelines also contribute to reducing noise pollution at the source.
• one of the best methods of noise source reduction is regular and thorough
maintenance of operating machinery.
• Noise levels at construction sites can be controlled using proper
construction planning and scheduling techniques.
• Locating noisy air compressors and other equipment away from the site
boundary along with creation of temporary barriers to physically block the
noise can help contribute to reducing noise pollution.
• poorly maintained vehicles can add to the noise levels.
• Traffic volume and speed also have significant effects on the overall sound.
• For example doubling the speed increases the sound levels by about 9 dBA
and doubling the traffic volume (number of vehicles per hour) increases
sound levels by about 3 dBA.
• A smooth flow of traffic also causes less noise than does a stop-and-go
traffic pattern.
• Proper highway planning and design are essential for controlling traffic
noise. Establishing lower speed limits for highways that pass through
residential areas, limiting traffic volume and providing alternative routes for
truck traffic are effective noise control measures.

• Lack of concentration and mental fatigue are significant health effects of

noise. It has been observed that the performance of school children is poor
in comprehension tasks when schools are situated in busy areas of a city
and suffer from noise pollution.
• As noise interferes with normal auditory communication, it may mask
auditory warning signals and hence increases the rate of accidents
especially in industries. It can also lead to lowered worker efficiency and
productivity and higher accident rates on the job.
(b) List the gases responsible for global warming. Explain the possible
consequences of green house effect. (5)

The two main gases responsible for the greenhouse effect (and not only its recent
increase) are:

 water vapour (H2O),

 carbon dioxide (CO2).

There are others such gases, and even many others. Some of them are "natural",
which means that they were present in the atmosphere before the apparition of
men, and other can be called "artificial", in the sense that they are present in the
atmosphere only because of us.

Natural green house gases:

Beyond water and CO2, the other important "natural" greenhouse gases are :
  methane (CH4), (cooking gas is an example)
 Nitous oxyde (N2O), (laughing gas)
 ozone (O3)

Industrial green house gases:

 Halocarbons-(CFC is popular one due it’s additional contribution in ozone

depletion.
 sulphur hexafluoride( used for transformer filling)

Greenhouse effect of human origin, sometimes called "additional"

greenhouse effect:

 CO2 generates a little over 55% of the human induced greenhouse

effect(mostly from fossil fuel burning)
 Methane generates a little over 15% of the human induced greenhouse
effect.(wood burning, cattle, garbage dumps, rice paddles)
 Halocarbons (10%)
 Nitrous oxide (5% from fertilisers, industrial process)
 Ozone (10%-only from human induced source)

Consequences due to green house effect:

Continued warming from the release of greenhouse gases (GHGs) into the
atmosphere is expected to have substantial impacts on the environment, human
health and the economy.
Environmental impacts

 Overall average annual temperatures are expected to increase.

 Global warming will decrease snow, sea ice and glacier coverage, resulting
in rising sea levels and increased coastal flooding. Rising temperatures will
also thaw permafrost in the Arctic.
 Storms and heat waves are likely to increase in frequency and severity.
 Many wild species will have difficulty adapting to a warmer climate and will
likely experience greater stress from diseases and invasive species.

Human health impacts

 People living in Canada’s northern communities, and vulnerable populations

such as children and the elderly, are expected to be the most affected by the
changes.
 Increased temperatures and more frequent and severe extreme weather
events could lead to increased risks of death from dehydration and heat
stroke, and injuries from intense local weather changes.
 There may be an increased risk of respiratory and cardiovascular problems
and certain types of cancers, as temperatures rise and exacerbate air
pollution.
 The risk of water-, food-, vector- and rodent-borne diseases may increase.

Economic impacts
• Agriculture, forestry, tourism and recreation could be affected by changing
weather patterns.
• Human health impacts are expected to place additional economic stress on
health and social support systems.
• Damage to infrastructure (e.g., roads and bridges) from extreme weather
events is expected to increase.
15. (a)List the possible methods used for disposal of municipal solid
wastes. In detail explain the merits and demerits of any two methods.
(5)
Methods for Disposal of refuse:
(a) Land filling
(b) Incineration
(c) Disposal into sea
(d) Composting
(e) Disposal by land filling
(f) In this method refuse is carried out and dumped into low lying area
Merits of Incineration:

• Ensures complete destruction of pathogenic bacteria

• No odor trouble
• Requires less space for refuse disposal
• Some cost can be recovered by selling power
Demerits of incineration
• Costly method and require a technical know how
• Solid waste to be burnt should have high calorific value

Merits of sanitary land fil:

• This method is simple and economical. No costly equipment is required
• Separation of different kinds of refuse as required in incineration method is
also not required
• There are no residues or byproducts left and hence no further disposal
required
• Low lying water logged areas and quarry pits can be easily reclaimed and
put to better use.
Demerits of sanitary land fil
• Unavailability of land in future
• The dumped garbage may contain harmful and carcinogenic non
biodegradable substances such as plastics, medicines, paints, insecticides
etc.During winter season the excess water may seep out through the area
as a colored liquid called Leachate. This may contain organic compounds
like chlorinated hydrocarbons, benzene, toluene, xylene etc.is likely to
seep to contaminate the ground water leading to diseases like cholera,
typhoid,etc.

(b) What do you mean by watershed management? Explain how you control
soil erosion in watersheds. (5)
• Watershed management is an adaptive, comprehensive, integrated multi-
resource management planning process that seeks to balance healthy
ecological, economic, and cultural/social conditions within a watershed.
 • Watershed management serves to integrate planning for land and water; it
takes into account both ground and surface water flow, recognizing and
planning for the interaction of water, plants, animals and human land use
found within the physical boundaries of a watershed.
• Control of soil erosion
• it is essential that proper soil conservation measures are used to minimize
the loss of top soil. There are several techniques that can protect soil from
erosion.
• Today both water and soil are conserved through integrated treatment
methods. Some of the most commonly employed methods include the two
types of treatment that are generally used.
• Area treatment which involves treating the land
• Drainage line treatment which involves treating the natural water courses
(nalas)
Continuous contour trenches
• can be used to enhance infiltration of water, reduce the runoff and check soil
erosion.
• These are actually shallow trenches dug across the slope of the land and
along the contour lines basically for the purpose of soil and water
conservation.
• They are most effective on gentle slopes and in areas of low to medium
rainfall. These bunds are stabilized by fast growing tree species and grasses.
Gradonies
• In areas of steep slopes where the bunds are not possible, continuous
contour benches (CCBs) made of Gradonies can also be used to convert
wastelands into agricultural lands.
• In this narrow trenches with bunds on the downstream side are built along
contours in the upper reaches of the catchment to collect run-off and to
conserve moisture from the trees or tree crops. The area between the two
bunds is used for cultivation of crops after development of fertile soil cover

16. Write short notes on any three of the following: (10)

(a) Importance of forests
Importance of Forests

Forests and biodiversity is key to all life forms. The richer the diversity of life, the
greater the opportunity for medical discoveries, economic development and
adaptive responses to such new challenges as climate change.

Below are some more importances of forests:

Watershed
Forests serve as a watershed. This is because almost all water ultimately comes
from rivers and lakes and from forest-derived water tables. Some rivers running
through forests are also kept cool and from drying out. "The Amazon is by far the
largest watershed and largest river system in the world occupying over 6 million
square kilometers. Over two-thirds of all the fresh water found on Earth is in the
Amazon Basin's rivers, streams, and tributaries."

Habitat and Ecosystems

Forests serve as a home (habitat) to millions of animals - many types of reptiles
(snakes and lizards) wild animals, butterflies and insects, birds and tree-top
animals as well as all those that live in the forest streams and rivers.

Animals form part of the food chain in the forests. All these different animals and
plants are called biodiversity, and the interaction with one another and with their
physical environment is what we call ecosystem. Healthy ecosystems can better
withstand and recover from a variety of disasters such as floods and wildfires.

Economic benefits
Forests are of immense economic importance to us. For example, plantation
forests provide humans with timber and wood, which is exported and used in all
parts of the world. They also provide tourism income to inhabitants (people living
in or close to forests) when people visit to see the best of nature.

Climate Control
Climate control and atmosphere purification is key for human existence. Trees
and soils help regulate atmospheric temperatures through a process called
evapotranspiration. This helps to stabilize the climate. Additionally, they enrich
the atmosphere by absorbing bad gases (example CO2 and other greenhouse
gases) and producing oxygen. Trees also helps to remove air pollutants.

(b) Floods
Floods are part of the natural cycle. The benefits of natural floods almost
certainly outweigh the negative aspects. The problems start when flooding
occurs in areas of large-scale human development of the landscape.
In areas largely inhabited by people, there are both positive and negative
environmental effects of flooding. Floods can distribute large amounts of water
and suspended river sediment over vast areas. In many areas, this sediment
helps replenish valuable topsoil components to agricultural lands and can keep
the elevation of a land mass above sea level. An example of the latter case is the
Mississippi delta. Before the Mississippi and associated rivers were controlled in
levees in southern Louisiana, the rivers would frequently spill their banks. This
processes made the lands of the Mississippi delta. This area is slowly subsiding
with time and without the continued replenishment of sediment from river floods,
much of it has dropped to elevations below natural sea level. Thus, one could say
that not allowing floods is negative for this area. Our society has chosen instead
to create a vast and complex system to keep Mississippi waters from reaching
these lands. The lands remain dry but each year they subside more, making it
ultimately more and more difficult to keep that way.

On the negative side, floods disrupt normal drainage systems in cities and
typically overwhelm sewer systems. Thus, raw or partially raw sewage spills are
common in flooded area. Additionally, if the flood is severe enough, destruction of
buildings that can contain a large array of toxic materials (paints, pesticides,
gasoline, etc..) can cause the release of these materials into the local
environment, which is not good. I'm sure you could imagine other "negatives"
similar to those I've just described.

Floods disrupt many people's lives each year and personal tragedies due to
flooding occur frequently. A wise society, would reap the benefits of flooding and
avoid many of the negatives if they would choose to build cities in ways that can
accomodate flooding without trying to avoid it. Attempting to go against nature is
almost certainly a loosing prospect in the end.

Flood prevention is really something left up to cities and towns. As individuals, if

we all keep the minimum amount of toxic substances (paints, solvents,
automotive fluids, etc..) around our homes, there will be less of these substances
to "spill" when any sort of unfortunate natural dissaster befalls the communities in
which we live.
(c) Impacts of mining
17. Mining refers to the process of extracting metals and minerals from
the earth. Gold, silver, diamond, iron, coal, and uranium are just a few of the
vast array of metals and minerals that are obtained by this process. In fact,
mining is the source of all the substances that cannot be obtained by
industrial processes or through agriculture. Mining reaps huge profits for the
companies that own them and provides employment to a large number of
people. It is also a huge source of revenue for the government. Despite its
economic importance, the effects of mining on the environment is a pressing
issue.

Effects of Mining on Environment

Rainforests are the biggest source of oxygen, wood and medicines on this
earth. Amazon rainforest is known for its alluvial gold deposits. Gold is found
both in river channels and at the banks of the river after floods (floodplains).
Hydraulic mining techniques are used for mining gold. The method involves
blasting at the banks of the river. This has caused irreversible damage to
trees, birds and animals. While separating the sediment and mercury from
the gold-yielding gravel deposits, small-scale miners who are less equipped
than industrial miners, may ignore release of some mercury into the river.
This mercury enters the food chain through aquatic animals and their
predators. Highly poisonous compound 'cyanide' is also used to separate gold
from sediment and rock. In spite of all precautionary measures, it sometimes
escapes into the surrounding environment. Those who eat fish are at greater
risk of ingesting such toxins.

Effect on Land
Deforestation: Mining requires large areas of forest area to be cleared so that
the land could be dug into by the miners. For this reason, large-scale
deforestation is required to be carried out in the areas where mining has to
be done. Besides clearing the mining area, vegetation in the adjoining areas
also needs to be cut in order to construct roads and residential facilities for
the mine workers. The human population brings along with it other activities
that harm the environment. For example, various activities at coal mines
release dust and gas into the air. Thus, mining is one of the major causes of
deforestation and pollution.

Loss of Biodiversity: The forests that are cleared for mining purposes are
home to a large number of organisms. Indiscriminate clearing of the forests
leads to loss of habitat of a large number of animals. This puts the survival of
a large number of animal species at stake. The cutting down of trees in itself
is a big threat to a number of plants, trees, birds and animals that dwell in
the forests.

Pollution: Despite measures being taken to release the chemical waste into
the nearby rivers through pipes, a large amount of chemicals still leak out
onto the land. This changes the chemical composition of the land. Besides
this, since the chemicals are poisonous, they make the soil unsuitable for
plants to grow. Also, the organisms that live in the soil find the polluted
environment hostile for their survival.

Effect on Water
Pollution: Chemicals like mercury, cyanide, sulfuric acid, arsenic and methyl
mercury are used in various stages of mining. Most of the chemicals are
released into nearby water bodies, and are responsible for water pollution. In
spite of tailings (pipes) being used to dispose these chemicals into the water
bodies, possibilities of leakage are always there. When the leaked chemicals
slowly percolate through the layers of the earth, they reach the groundwater
and pollute it. Surface run-off of just soil and rock debris, although non-toxic,
can be harmful for vegetation of the surrounding areas.

Loss of Aquatic Life: Release of toxic chemicals into the water is obviously
harmful for the flora and fauna of the water bodies. Besides the pollution,
mining processes require water from nearby water sources. For example,
water is used to wash impurities from the coal. The result is that the water
content of the river or lake from which water is being used gets reduced.
Organisms in these water bodies do not have enough water for their survival.

River dredging is a method adopted in case of gold mining. In this method,

gravel and mud is suctioned from a particular area of the river. After the gold
fragments are filtered out, the remaining mud and gravel is released back
into the river, although, at a location different from where they had been
taken. This disrupts the natural flow of the river that may cause fish and
 other organisms to die.

Previously buried metal sulfides are exposed during mining activities. When
they come in contact with the atmospheric oxygen, they get converted into
strong sulfuric acid and metal oxides. Such compounds get mixed up in the
local waterways and contaminate local rivers with heavy metals.

Spread of Diseases
Sometimes the liquid waste that is generated after the metals or minerals
have been extracted is disposed in a mining pit. As the pit gets filled up by
the mine tailings, they become a stagnant pool of water. This becomes the
breeding ground for water-borne diseases causing insects and organisms like
mosquitoes to flourish.

(a) Ozone layer depletion

ozone layer is a belt of naturally occurring ozone gas that sits 15 to 30

kilometers above Earth and serves as a shield from the harmful ultraviolet B
radiation emitted by the sun.

Ozone is a highly reactive molecule that contains three oxygen atoms. It is

constantly being formed and broken down in the high atmosphere, 6.2 to 31
miles (10 to 50 kilometers) above Earth, in the region called the stratosphere.

Today, there is widespread concern that the ozone layer is deteriorating due
to the release of pollution containing the chemicals chlorine and bromine.
Such deterioration allows large amounts of ultraviolet B rays to reach Earth,
which can cause skin cancer and cataracts in humans and harm animals as
well.

Extra ultraviolet B radiation reaching Earth also inhibits the reproductive cycle
of phytoplankton, single-celled organisms such as algae that make up the
bottom rung of the food chain. Biologists fear that reductions in phytoplankton
populations will in turn lower the populations of other animals. Researchers
also have documented changes in the reproductive rates of young fish,
shrimp, and crabs as well as frogs and salamanders exposed to excess
ultraviolet B.

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), chemicals found mainly in spray aerosols

heavily used by industrialized nations for much of the past 50 years, are the
primary culprits in ozone layer breakdown. When CFCs reach the upper
atmosphere, they are exposed to ultraviolet rays, which causes them to break
down into substances that include chlorine. The chlorine reacts with the
oxygen atoms in ozone and rips apart the ozone molecule.

One atom of chlorine can destroy more than a hundred thousand ozone
molecules, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

The ozone layer above the Antarctic has been particularly impacted by
pollution since the mid-1980s. This region’s low temperatures speed up the
conversion of CFCs to chlorine. In the southern spring and summer, when
the sun shines for long periods of the day, chlorine reacts with ultraviolet
rays, destroying ozone on a massive scale, up to 65 percent. This is what
 some people erroneously refer to as the "ozone hole." In other regions, the
ozone layer has deteriorated by about 20 percent.

About 90 percent of CFCs currently in the atmosphere were emitted by

industrialized countries in the Northern Hemisphere, including the United
States and Europe. These countries banned CFCs by 1996, and the amount
of chlorine in the atmosphere is falling now. But scientists estimate it will take
another 50 years for chlorine levels to return to their natural levels.

(b) Disaster management

India has been traditionally vulnerable to natural disasters on account of its

unique geo-climatic conditions. Floods, droughts, cyclones, earthquakes and
landslides have been recurrent phenomena.

About 60% of the landmass is prone to earthquakes of various intensities;

over 40 million hectares is prone to floods; about 8% of the total area is prone
to cyclones and 68% of the area is susceptible to drought.

In the decade 1990-2000, an average of about 4344 people lost their lives
and about 30 million people were affected by disasters every year. The loss
in terms of private, community and public assets has been astronomical.

At the global level, there has been considerable concern over natural
disasters. Even as s scientific and material progress is made, the loss of lives
and property due to disasters has not decision. In fact, the human toll and
economic losses have mounted.

It was in this background that the Nations General Assembly, in 1989,

declared the decade 1990-2000 as the International Natural Disaster
Reduction with the objective to reduce loss of lives and property and restrict
economic damage through concerted international action, especially in
developing countries.

Over the past couple of years, the Government of India has brought about a
paradigm shift in approach to disaster management. The new approach
proceeds from the conviction that develop cannot be sustainable unless
disaster mitigation is built into the development process.

Another stone of the approach is that mitigation has to be multi-disciplinary

spanning across all sectors. The new policy also emanates from the belief
that investments in mitigation are much cost effective than expenditure on
relief and rehabilitation.

Disaster management occupies an important place in this country's policy

framework as it is poor and the under-privileged who are worst affected on
account of calamities/disasters.

The steps being taken by the Government emanate from the approach
outlined above. The app: has been translated into a National Disaster
Framework [a roadmap] covering institutional mechanic; disaster prevention
strategy, early warning system, disaster mitigation, preparedness and
response human resource development.
The expected inputs, areas of intervention and agencies to be in at the
National, State and district levels have been identified and listed in the
roadmap. This road has been shared with all the State Governments and
Union Territory Administrations.

Ministries Departments of Government of India, and the State

Governments/UT Administrations have been ad* to develop their respective
roadmaps taking the national roadmap as a broad guideline. There is,
therefore: now a common strategy underpinning the action being taken by the
entire participating organisation' stakeholders.

The approach is being put into effect through:

(a) Institutional changes

(b) Enunciation of policy

(c) Legal and techno-legal framework

(d) Mainstreaming Mitigation into Development process

(e) Funding mechanism

(f) Specific schemes addressing mitigation

(g) Preparedness measures

(h) Capacity building

(i) Human Resource Development and, above all, community participation.

In India, the role of emergency management falls to National Disaster

Management of India, a government agency subordinate to the Ministry of
Home Affairs. In recent years, there has been a shift in emphasis, from
response and recovery to strategic risk management and reduction, and from
a government-centered approach to decentralized community participation.

Survey of India, an agency within the Ministry of Science and Technology, is

also playing a role in this field, through bringing the academic knowledge and
research expertise of earth scientists to the emergency management process
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