PollutionWATER, NOISE AND AIR
By Sunil Jose
What is pollution ?• Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into an
environment that causes instability, disorder, harm or
discomfort to the ecosystem i.e. physical systems or
living organisms. Pollution can take the form of
chemical substances, or energy, such as noise, heat,
or light energy.
• Pollutants, the elements of pollution, can be
foreign substances or energies, or naturally
occurring; when naturally occurring, they are
considered contaminants when they exceed
natural levels. Pollution is often classed as point
source or nonpoint source pollution.
AIR POLLUTION
1. Air Pollution
• Air pollution occurs when gases, dust particles,
fumes (or smoke) or odour are introduced into
the atmosphere in a way that makes it harmful
to humans, animals and plant. This is because
the air becomes dirty (contaminated or
unclean).
• Anything additional gas, particles or odours that are introduced into the air (either by nature or human activity) to destroy this natural balance can be called air pollution. • Things that pollute the air are called pollutants.• Examples• nitrogen oxides,• carbon monoxides,• hydrocarbons, • sulphur oxides (usually from factories),• sand or dust particles, and organic compounds that
can evaporate and enter the atmosphere.
1.1 Causes of air pollution • Industries and Manufacturing
• Manufacturing companies that have long tube called chimneys
erected high into the air, with lots of smoke and fumes coming
out of it. Waste incinerators, manufacturing industries and
power plants emit high levels of carbon monoxide, organic
compounds, and chemicals into the air. This happen almost
everywhere that people live. Petroleum refineries also release
lots of hydrocarbons into the air
Burning Fossil Fuels
• Cars and heavy duty trucks, train, shipping vessels
and airplanes all burn lots of fossil fuels to work.
This is a major cause of pollution, and one that is
very difficult to manage. This is because humans
rely heavily on vehicles and engines for
transporting people, good and services.
Household and Farming Chemicals
• Crop dusting, fumigating homes, household
cleaning products or painting supplies, over the
counter insect/pest killers, fertilizer dust emit
harmful chemicals into air and cause pollution. In
many case, when we use these chemicals at home
or offices with no or little ventilation, we may fall ill
if we breathe them.
• http://earthjournalism.net/resources/air-pollution-outdoor
• The World Health Organization has a large collection
of information that can help journalists who are
reporting on outdoor air pollution.
• This includes a detailed fact-sheet and air quality
guidelines for various pollutants in all world regions,
which are available in Arabic, Chinese, English,
French, Russian and Spanish.
• Other useful sources include the Air Pollution and
Climate Secretariat, an alliance of four Swedish
environmental organizations, and Earthwire, which
is tracks news stories about air pollution.
WATER POLLUTION
2. Water pollution• Water pollution occurs when pollutants (particles,
chemicals or substances that make water contaminated) are
discharged directly or indirectly into water bodies without
enough treatment to get rid of harmful compounds.
Pollutants get into water mainly by human causes or
factors. Any change or modification in the physical,
chemical and biological properties of water that will have a
detrimental consequence on living things is water pollution
2.2 Types of water pollution
• Water comes from many sources. This means they
can be polluted in many scenarios. Let's see a few
types of water pollution:
• Nutrients Pollution
• Some wastewater, fertilizers and sewage contain
high levels of nutrients. If they end up in water
bodies, they encourage algae and weed growth in
the water. This will make the water undrinkable, and
even clog filters. Too much algae will also use up all
the oxygen in the water, and other water organisms
in the water will die out of oxygen from starvation.
Surface water pollution
• Surface water includes natural water found on the
earth's surface, like rivers, lakes, lagoons and
oceans. Any kind of activity that pollutes these
surface waters can be called surface water
pollution.
• Oxygen Depleting
• Water bodies have micro-organisms. These include
aerobic and anaerobic organisms. When to much
biodegradable matter (things that easily decay) end up
in water, it encourages more microorganism growth,
and they use up more oxygen in the water. If oxygen is
depleted, aerobic organisms die, and anaerobic
organism grow more to produce harmful toxins such as
ammonia and sulfides
• Ground water pollution
• When humans apply pesticides and chemicals to
soils, they are washed deep into the ground by rain
water. This gets to underground water.
• This means when we dig wells and bore holes to
get water from underground, it needs to be
checked for ground water pollution
• Microbiological
• In many communities in the world, people drink
untreated water (straight from a river or stream).
Sometimes there is natural pollution caused by
microorganisms like viruses, bacteria and protozoa. This
natural pollution can cause fishes and other water life to
die. They can also cause serious illness to humans who
drink from such waters. This is called microbiological
pollution.
• Suspended Matter
• Some pollutants (substances, particles and
chemicals) do not easily dissolve in water. This kind
of material is called particulate matter. Some
suspended pollutants later settle under the water
body. This can harm and even kill aquatic life that
live at the floor of water bodies
• Chemical Water Pollution
• Many industries and farmers work with chemicals
that end up in water. These include chemicals that
are used to control weeds, insects and pests.
Metals and solvents from industries can pollute
water bodies. These are poisonous to many forms
of aquatic life and may slow their development,
make them infertile and kill them.
• Oil Spillage
• Oil spills usually have only a localized affect on
wildlife but can spread for miles. The oil can cause
the death of many fish and stick to the feathers of
seabirds causing them to lose the ability to fly.
2.3.Causes of water pollution• Industrial waste• Sulphur• Asbestos• Lead and Mercury• Nitrates & Phosphates• Oils
• Septic Tanks• Ocean and marine dumping• Oil Pollution• Underground storage and tube leakages.• Atmospheric
2.4. Effect of water pollution• Death of aquatic (water) animals
• Disruption of food-chains
• Diseases
• Destruction of ecosystems
• http://earthjournalism.net/resources/water-pollution
Sources of news, contacts and story ideas include
Circle of Blue, an international network of journalists,
scientists and communicators who share information
publish Water News, which is updated daily online.
• Other good sources of information for journalists
include the many different UN agencies whose
work relates in some way to water. UN Water exists
to improve links between these agencies. Its
website includes factsheets and other information
for journalists.
NOISE POLLUTIONS
3.Noise Pollution• Sound is essential to our daily lives, but noise is not.
Noise is generally used as an unwanted sound, or sound
which produces unpleasant effects and discomfort on
the ears. Sound becomes unwanted when it either
interferes with normal activities such as sleeping,
conversation, or disrupts or diminishes one’s quality of
life. Not all noise can be called noise pollution. If it does
not happen regularly, it may be termed as 'Nuisance'
Noise (or sound) is measured in the units of decibels
and is denoted by the dB. Noise which is more than
115 dB is intolerant. The industrial limit of sound in
the industries must be 75 dB according to the World
Health Organization.
Foundations and Agencies• EPA- Environmental Protection Agency• TCN- Technical Committee on Noise• HORN- Halt Outrageous Railroad Noise
3.1.Causes of Noise Pollution
• Rail noise.• Aircraft noise.• Construction site.• Factory machinery.• Power tools / lighting.• Transportation systems.• Construction equipment.• Audio entertainment system
3.2 Effects of Noise Pollution• Deafness.• Decrease in the efficiency in working.• Fatigue caused is another effect of noise.• Too much of noise disturbs the rhythms of working,
thereby affecting the concentration required for doing a work.• Noise of traffic or the loud speakers or different
types of horns divert the attention, thus causing harm in the working standard.• Noise pollution acts as a stress invigorator,
increasing the stress levels among people.
• People can be victims of certain diseases like blood
pressure, mental illness.
• Noise pollution indirectly affects the vegetation. Plants
require cool & peaceful environment to grow. Noise
pollution causes poor quality of crops.
• Animals are susceptible to noise pollution as well. It
damages the nervous system of the animals.
• Noise indirectly weakens the edifice of buildings, bridges
and monuments. It creates waves, which can be very
dangerous and harmful and put the building in danger
condition
The Air (Prevention and control of Pollution) Act, 1981 and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Rules,
1995.• These regulations are enacted for prevention and
control of pollution in air. These are applicable to all
places of work including factories covered under
the Factories Act 1948. The Central and State
Pollution Control Boards are the enforcing agencies.
Some of the duties of these authorities include:
• grant No Objection Certificate to industries
• setting standards for industrial pollution in the
ambient air
• monitoring, analysis and conducting investigations
regarding air pollution.
The enforcement is carried out by the State Pollution
Control Boards through qualified engineers and
scientists.
• The occupiers of factories are required to ensure
that amount of pollutants released in the ambient
air do not exceed the permissible limits prescribed
under the statutes. However, there are no
provisions relating to monitoring and control of
airborne concentration of pollutants at the source
as well as in the work room. The statutes also do
not prescribe the precautions to be taken to protect
workers against harmful airborne substance.
The Water(Protection and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and the Water
(Prevention and Control of Pollution) Rules 1995.
• These Rules are enacted for prevention and control
of pollution in water courses. These are applicable
to all places of work including factories covered
under the Factories Act. The Central and State
Pollution Control Boards are the enforcing agencies.
Some of the duties of the enforcement authorities
include:
• providing technical guidance
• monitoring, analysis and conducting investigations
regarding water pollution
• setting standards for industrial effluents in water.
• The enforcement is carried out by state boards
through the qualified engineers and scientists
appointed for that purpose.
•
• As per the requirement of this statutes the
occupier of the factories are required to ensure
that amount of effluents in the water let out do
not exceed the permissible limits. However, there
are no provisions relating to control of harmful
substances during use, handling and
transportation as well as safety precautions to be
taken in order to protect workers against exposure
to these substances.
POWER OF POLLUTIONBHOPAL GAS TRAGEDY
A CASE STUDY
BACKGROUND• In 1969, Union Carbide India Ltd. (Parent Co. UCC -
50.9% stake) set up a small plant in Bhopal, capital city of
M.P. to formulate pesticides.
• Bhopal facility was part of India’s Green Revolution
aimed to increase productivity of crops.
• Until 1979,the UCIL used to import MIC (Methyl
Isocynate) from the parent co. in U.S.
• After 1979,it decided to manufacture its own MIC.
• Organic ,volatile, flammable & poisonous chemical used in
pesticide production.
• Little lighter than water but twice as heavy as air
• Ability to react with many substances: water, acids, metals, small
deposits of corrosive materials that accumulate in pipes, tanks &
valves.
• Highly toxic to humans & short term exposure can cause death,
respiratory diseases, ophthalmic problems, neurological
disorders etc.
GREATEST INDUSTRIAL DISASTER IN HISTORY
• On the night of Dec 3,1984, a dangerous chemical reaction occurred into
UCIL factory when a large amount of water seeped into the MIC storage
tank.
• The leak was identified but staff inadequacies prevented any containment.
• Result: About 40 tons of MIC poured out of the tank for nearly 2 hours &
escaped into the air, spreading within 8 hours downwind over the city of
nearly 9 lakh.
• Thousands of people were killed in their sleep & lakhs remain injured or
affected. Most seriously affected were the densely populated nearby slum
colonies around the plant near the Bhopal Rly. Station.
SAFETY & MAINTENANCE STANDARDS• Different for Bhopal plant & West Virginia (U.S.) plant. No
computerized data loggers.
• Unreliable temp.& pressure gauges.
• No effective warning system.
• Gas leaks detected by workers reporting tearing & burning
sensation in their eyes.
• Inadequate safety & maintenance procedures.
• Several minor accidents reported earlier.
• Most technicians poorly trained & inexperienced.
LAXITY OF INDIAN RULES & REGULATIONS
• UCIL was able to operate its deteriorating plant because
industrial safety & environmental laws & regulations were
lacking making state of M.P. or the Indian Govt. indirectly
responsible for the tragedy.
NEGLIGENCE OF UNION CARBIDE
• Co. made no effort to communicate the risk to the public.
• No emergency response plans practiced.
• When MIC was released , the co. insisted there was no leak.
Public alarm was not sounded until hours later.
• UCIL provided misleading information on treatment for the
toxic effects of MIC, resulting in inadequate treatment by
local doctors.
• UCC never publicly accepted liability for the Bhopal
catastrophe.
STRATEGY OF UNION CARBIDE
• Strategy for negotiation focused on a fixed settlement
(supreme court-Oct 1991,$470 million) that would allow
them to walk away from Bhopal & its victims.
• UCC fought hard to ensure the legal battle took place in
India & lawsuits filed in U.S. courts were rejected on the
basis that the disaster occurred in the plant in India, the
victims were Indian & UCIL-which ran the plant was a
subsidiary of UCC.
• UCC was able to delay the legal process in India.
LEGAL STANDING • Following the disaster, Govt. of India passed the Bhopal Gas Leak
Disaster (Processing of claims) Act,1985.
• The act gave power to the central govt. to represent all claimants in
appropriate forums, appoint a welfare commissioner & other staff & to
discharge duties connected with hearing of the claims & distribution of
compensation.
• Indian Supreme Court ordered the dismissal of all civil & criminal
charges against Carbide & its officers & gave them immunity from future
prosecution.
• The Supreme Court felt ,the victims needed immediate relief, not
further legal delay.
LEGAL STANDING (contd.)
• International law at present plays no role in a Bhopal scenario.
• A change in Govt. prompted the court case to be reopened.
• Criminal proceedings against UCC & Warren Andersen (chairman
of UCC at the time of catastrophe) have been pending since 1992
in India.
• UCC continues to maintain that all personal injury & related
claims were settled in 1989 & have refused to respond to any
summons from the Indian Court.
• UCC has been deemed fugitive/absconder.