Basic of Environmental Pollution

Basics of Environmenta

l Pollution

Presented byDhaval. N. YadavLecturer in Chemical

Engineering

Presentation outline Introduction to Pollution,

PollutantsTypes of PollutionTypes of PollutantsSources of PollutionSources of Air, Water, Land, Noise,

Radioactive PollutionEffect of Pollution on Air, Water,

Land, Noise, Radioactive Pollution

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

Environment is a combination of both Biotic components: all living organisms, plant, fungi, bacteria, virus.Abiotic components: Hydrosphere (ocean, lake, river, groundwater), Lithosphere (soil, solid earth), Atmosphere (gases)

This is what earth looks like

Pollution - Definition: Pollution is defined as the presence

of impurities or pollutant substances in sufficient concentration levels, causing harmful effects on human beings, animals, plant life or material resources when exposed for a sufficient duration of time, thus reducing the quality of life in the environment.

Pollutant - Definition: A Pollutant is a substance or energy introduced into the environment that has undesired effects, or adversely affects the usefulness of a resource. Pollutants include solid, liquid or gaseous substances present in greater than natural abundance, produce due to human activity, which have a determined effect on our environment.

Types of Pollution1. Air Pollution2. Water Pollution3. Soil/Land Pollution4. Noise Pollution5. Radioactive Pollution6. Environmental Pollution

Air PollutionAir pollution may be defined as

the presence of one or more contaminants in the air in large quantities and for long durations which may be or tend to be injurious to human, animal, plant life, or property, or which unreasonably interferes with the comfortable usage of air.

Water PollutionWater pollution is defined as

“The presence of some foreign substances or impurities organic, inorganic, biological or radioactive in water in such quantity so as to constitute a health hazard by lowering the water quality and making it unfit for use.”

Soil/Land PollutionSoil contamination occurs when

chemicals are released by spill or underground leakage. It can also occur by directly dumping and disposal of wastes. Among the most significant soil contaminants are hydrocarbons, heavy metals, herbicides, pesticides and chlorinated hydrocarbons.

Noise PollutionNoise pollution is the disturbing

or excessive noise that may harm the activity or balance of human or animal life. The source of most outdoor noise worldwide is mainly caused by machines and transportation systems, motor vehicles, aircraft, and trains. Outdoor noise is summarized by the word environmental noise.

Radioactive PollutionRadioactive pollution can

be defined as the release of radioactive substances or high-energy particles into the air, water, or earth as a result of human activity, either by accident or by design.

Environmental Pollution

Environmental Pollution is thus defined as “any undesirable change in the physical, chemical or biological characteristics of any component of the environment (air, water, soil) which can cause harmful effects in various forms of life or property.”

Types of Pollutants Depending upon their existence in

nature Quantitative Pollutants They normally occur in environment but acquire the status of a pollutant when their concentration increases due to unmindful human activities. Ex CO2

Qualitative Pollutants Do not naturally occur in the environment but are added by man. For ex. Insecticides

Types of Pollutants.. Depending upon the form in which they

persist after being released into atmospherePrimary Pollutants Those which are emitted directly from the source and persists in the form in which they were added to the environment for ex. Ash, dust, hydrocarbon etc.Secondary Pollutants Those which are formed from primary pollutants for ex. SO3, PAN (Peroxyl Acetyl Nitrate), Ketones, Aldehydes etc.

Types of Pollutants… Depending upon the way in which

they are removed/accumulated in the environmentBiodegradable Those which can be degraded/decomposed by living organism for ex. Wood, sewage, paper, card board, garbage etcNon biodegradable Those which cannot be degraded/decomposed by living organism for ex. DDT, plastic etc

Types of Pollutants…. Depending upon their source

Natural Those which are released from natural resources for ex. volcanic eruptions, wind borne, and dust release of H2S etcMan-made Those which are released due to human activities (commercial, industrial, residential etc) for ex. Insecticides, Pesticides, Radioactive substances etc.

Types of Sources:1. Point source -

single, identifiable source e.g. smokestack, drainpipe etc

2. Non-point source - dispersed source, e.g. runoff from pesticides, fertilizers

Point source

Non-point sources

What Are The Major Sources of Air, Water,

Land/Soil, Noise, Radio-active Pollution?

Air PollutionAir pollution results from human

activities such as burning fossil fuels (oil, coal, and gasoline) to create electricity and power, automobiles, and manufacture industrial products such as chemicals and plastic.

The air Pollutants are particulates, HC, CO2, CO, NO, NO2, SO3 -- source may be industrial, autos, etc.

Air PollutionNormal composition of clean air :

Nitrogen 78.084%Oxygen 21%Argon 0.934%Carbon Dioxide 0.0314%Methane 0.0002%Hydrogen 0.00005%Other gasesMinute

Sources of Air Pollution


Stationary SourcesSingle or Point SourcesIndustrial process chimneys i.e stack emissions from steel mill, power plant, oil refineries etc.Municipal Incinerators.

Multiple or Mobile SourcesDomestic combustion of fuel in residential areas, offices, apartments, hotels etc.On site incinerators, Open burning


Mobile Sources:Line SourcesHighway vehicles, trains, channel vessels.

Area SourcesAircrafts, light, medium and heavy duty vehicles, rail yard locomotives etc.


Natural: Volcanoes, forest fires and hot springs. Decay from marshes, swamp.Increase ozone due to thunderstorms, fires.

Air Pollutants Sources & Effects

Pollutant Source Pathological effects on man

Sulphur Dioxide Major source is burning of fossil fuel in thermal plants. Colourless gas produced by Coal and Oil Combustion and certain industrial process like smelting sulphur containing ore.

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

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

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

Hydrogen Sulphides H2S

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

Causes nausea, irritates eyes and throat.


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

Reduces oxygen carrying capacity of blood.

Ammonia Explosives, dye making, fertilizer plants and lacquers.

Inflames upper respiratory passages.

Phosgene (CCl2O) or Carbonyl Chloride

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

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

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

Aldehydes fats (R-CHO) or glycerol

Thermal decomposition of oils, tracks.

Irritate nasal and respiratory passage.


Arsenic Occurs in many minerals, usually in conjunction with sulfur and metals. Process involving metal or acids containing soldering.

Damage red cells in blood, kidneys and cause jaundice.

Suspended particles ( ash, soot, smoke etc)

Solid or liquid particles produced by combustion and other processes at major industrial sources (e.g. steel mills, power plants, chemical plants, incinerators etc)

Respiratory irritant aggravates asthma and other lung and heart diseases (especially in combination with sulphur dioxide) many are known as Carcinogens.

Lead Very small particles emitted from motor vehicle exhaust.

Toxic to nervous and blood forming systems, can cause brain and organ damage in high concentration.


Ozone Colourless gas formed by chemical reaction between motor vehicle exhaust and sunlight. It is the major component of smog.

Respiratory irritant, aggravates asthma and other lung and heart diseases, impairs lung function.

Acid RainOzone Layer DepletionGreen House Effect

Sources of Water Pollution

Point SourceDischarge from domestic, commercial and small industrial waste water into sewer. Wastewater generated from industries e.g. dye, textile, pulp and paper, oil, refineries, food processing etc. are major sources of water pollution. It has both organic and inorganic matter.Organic Pollutants: Carbohydrates, proteins, oils, fats, cellulose, phenols etcInorganic Pollutants: Chlorides, sulphates, metals, oxides of metals, acids and alkalis etc


Non-Point Source The pollutants scattered on the ground ultimately reach the water source and cause water pollution. E.g. Runoff from agricultural fields eventually enters streams, rivers, lakes and the ocean.Air pollution gets dissolved in rain water and contaminates the ground water as well as surface water sources..


Ground Water PollutionThe total water requirement will be served from ground water which is about 30 times more than surface water. Ground water seems to be less affected to pollution as the soil mantle through which water passes helps to retain various contaminants ( વિ�વિ�ધ

અશુદ્ધિ�ઓ જાળ�ી રાખ�ા માટે મદદ કરે છે) due to its cation exchange property.


Surface Water PollutionIndustrial/Municipal DischargeAgrochemical Oil spillage into sea water during drilling and shipment pollute it.Synthetic Detergents

Sources of Land/Soil Pollution

Sources of Soil/Land Pollution

Industrial Waste: It includes any discarded solid materials resulting from an industrial operation, or solids in domestic or industrial waste water. Chemicals, paints, sand, metal ore processing, fly ash, sewage treatment sludge etc.

Garbage: It refers to putrescible (liable to get decayed) solid waste constituents produced during the preparation or storage of meat, fruit, vegetable etc. These wastes have moisture content of about 70%.


Rubbish: It refers to non-putrescible solid waste constituents, either combustible or non combustible. Combustible would include paper, wood, scrap, rubber etc and Non combustible would include metal, glass, ceramic etc. These wastes have moisture content of about 25%.

Pathological Waste: It refers to dead animals, humans etc. These wastes have moisture content of about 85%..


Agricultural Waste: These are generally organic including pesticides, herbicides, excessive fertilizers etc. The table below represents various agricultural wastes:Waste CompositionCrop residue Corn stalks, grain stubble, cull, fruit and vegetables, rice

hulls, bagasse etc.Animal Manure

Organic matter, protein, fat, carbohydrates etc. nitrogen, phosphorous.Poultry Manure

Pesticides, Insecticides, etc. residue and containers

Chlorinated hydrocarbons, organo phosphorous compounds, other organic and inorganic compounds like sulphur, lead, arsenic etc.

Sources of Land Pollution

Sources MethodsAgriculture Accumulation of animal manures.

Excessive Inputs of Chemical Fertilizers.Illicit dumping of tainted crops land

Mining and Quarrying

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

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

Dredged Spoils (Dredging is an excavation activity carried underwater)

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

Sources of Noise Pollution


Sources MethodsTraffic Noise Automobile revolution ( ઓટોમોબાઇલ ક્રાંવિ�) in urban areas is

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

Factory & Construction Machinery

Factory equipment, generators, pile drivers, pneumatic drills, road rollers, and similar machinery also make a lot of noise.

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


Sources MethodsTraffic Noise Household activities contribute to indoor noise pollution.

Domestic gadgets like TV, Music System, Exhaust Fans, Vacuum Cleaners, and Mixer Grinders etc are major sources of household noise pollution.

Factory & Construction Machinery

Tank launching of rockets, explosions, exercising of military aeroplanes and shooting practises are added in the sources of noise pollution.

Sources of Radioactive Pollution

Sources MethodsNuclear Explosions During nuclear explosion, a large number of radio-

nuclides are generated in the atmosphere. The radio nuclides settle down with rain contaminating the soil and water bodies. Finally, these enter into food chain causing serious prob lem to the living organisms

Radio active wastes The nuclear power plants produce a lot of nuclear radio-active wastes. The disposal of these wastes has become a global problem. Some countries producing large quantity of nuclear wastes dump them in ocean near other coun tries.

Radio-Isotopes Radio-isotopes are also prepared artificially either by nuclear fusion or by nuclear fission. If these radio-isotopes are not properly handled, these emit radiations causing pollution.

What Are The Effects of Air & Water Pollution?

Human Health Effects Human health, including

pulmonary, cardiac, vascular, and neurological impairments.

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

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

Human Health Effects Exposure to air pollution can cause both Acute

(Short-term) and Chronic (Long-term) health effects.

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

Chronic effects are usually not immediate and tend not to be reversible when exposure to the pollutant ends.ex. Decreased lung capacity,Lung cancer resulting from long-term exposure to toxic air pollutants.

Effect on Plants Air pollutants affect plants by entering through

stomata ( સૂક્ષ્મ દ્ધિછદ્રો) destroy chlorophyll and affect photosynthesis. During the day time the stomata are wide open to facilitate photosynthesis. Air pollutants during day time affect plants by entering the leaf through stomata more than night. Pollutants also erode waxy coating of the leaves called cuticle. Cuticle prevents excessive loss of water and damage from the diseases, pests, drought and frost.

Effect on Climate Due to manmade activities like

industrialization, automobiles, deforestation etc. concentration of CO2 and other green house gases in atmosphere has increases due to which the temperature of the earth’s atmosphere has increases globally.

This increase in temperature has resulted in melting of ice craps and glaciers

Effect on Aesthetic Beauty The most noticeable effect of air pollution on

the properties of atmosphere is the Reduction In Visibility which may lead to safety hazards.

The aesthetic beauty of nature is not visible due to scattering of light by air bone particles.

Industrial and automobile emissions, sewage and garbage emit foul odour causing loss of aesthetic beauty.

Effect on Animals Lead poisoning occurs in animals grazing

near smelters and lead mines. It causes Paralysis and difficulty in breathing. It also causes Loss Of Appetite.

Arsenic poisoning in animals causes severe salivation, thirst, and Vomiting, Irregular Pulse & Respiration, abnormal body temperature and Death.

Farm animals like cattle and sheep are quite susceptible to Fluorine Toxicity. It affects to Lack Of Appetite, Periodic Diarrhoea, Muscular Weakness, Loss Of Weight etc.

Effect of Water Pollution

Parameter Source General and Health effect

Oxygen Demanding Wastes

Sewage effluent, agricultural run-off including animal wastes, some industrial effluents.

Increase in demand of oxygen in water, flora and fauna; decomposition by anaerobic bacteria produces foul-smelling, toxic substances such as hydrogen sulphide.

Plant Nutrients Sewage effluents including phosphates from detergents, agricultural runoffs, nitrates from fertilizers.

Death of submerged vegetations, production of large amounts of dead organic matter with problems of oxygen depletion.

Acid Acid rain, mine drainage, planting of extensive areas of coniferous forests which acidify the soil.

Acidification of natural wastes, sharp decline of species, fish loss etc.

Parameter Source General and Health effect

Toxic metals like Hg, Pb, Cd, Zn

Ore mining, associated industries, lead from vehicle exhaust emissions.

Biomagnifications of toxic metals with each successive stage of food chain, threat to consumers including humans.

Oil Drilling operations, oils tankers spillage, natural seepage, waste disposal.

Contamination of aquatic environment, death of birds and mammals.

DDT Direct application, agricultural runoff and via aerial crop spraying.

Biomagnifications, Carnivores at risk.

PCBs Sewage effluent, land fill sites.

Biomagnifications, Carnivores at risk, effect on human health include joint pain, chlorance and fatigue.

Radiation From nuclear weapon testing, medical X-rays, nuclear energy industries etc.

Degree of tissue damage and risk of death depended on exposure.

Biomagnifications refers to the ability of micro-organisms to accumulate certain chemicals to a larger concentration than that occurring in environment, in case of animals the food they eat. However magnifications deals with accumulation of non-essential chemicals ex. HC (DDT, PCBs poly chlorinated biphenyls) which are insoluble in water.

Effect of Water Pollution

Parameter BIS Guideline Value (maximum allowable)

General and Health effect

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

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

Alkalinity 600 mg/lt Boiled rice turns yellowish.

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

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



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

Iron 1 Poor or sometimes bitter taste ( કડ�ો સ્�ાદ), colour and turbidity, staining of clothes materials, iron, bacteria causing slime.

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

Aluminium 0.2 Neurological disorders.

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

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



Ammonia -- Indicates pollution, growth of algae.

Nitrite -- Forms nitrosoamines which are carcinogenic.

Nitrate 100 Blue baby disease, algal growth.

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

Chloride 1000 Taste affected corrosive.

Fluoride 1.5 Dental and Skeletal fluorosis.

Phosphate -- Algal growth.

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



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

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

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

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

Pesticide 0.001 Affects central nervous systems.

Detergent --- Undesirable foaming.

Thank you

Education

Basic of Environmental Pollution