Pollution

Pollution

Unwanted changes in the chemical and physical features of air, water and land (environment) that are dangerous to human and other organisms, their life conditions, industrial process and cultural achievements are called pollution.

The types of pollution are mainly –

1. Air pollution,         2. Water pollution,

3. Sound pollution,    4. Soil pollution,

5. Nuclear pollution.

1. Air pollution:

When pollutant are present in the atmosphere and the quality of atmosphere reduces then it is called Air pollution.

Main air pollutants:

Carbon monoxide (CO), Sulphur dioxide (So₂), Hydrogen sulphide (H₂S), Hydrogen fluoride (HF), Nitrogen oxide (NO and NO₂), Hydrocarbon, Ammonia (NH₃) Smoke of tobacco, Fluorides smoke and particles of smoke, Aerosols etc.

• Carbon monoxide get combine with hemoglobin more rapidly than oxygen.
• Suphur dioxide (SO₂), Sulphur trioxide (SO₃), Nitrogen oxide (NO) React with environmental water and form Sulphuric acid and Nitric acid. These acids reach to the earth with rain water called acid rain.
• On 3^rd December, 1984 an incidence of leakage of Methyl isocyanate gase took place in the fertilizer making Union Carbide Factory (Bhopal)
• The most important indoor air pollutant is Radon gas.

2. Water pollution:

Mixing of unwanted substances in water is called water pollution.

• Only 2.5% to 3% water present on the earth is usable.

Sources of water pollution:

The water pollution takes place mainly due to mixing up of Carbonate, sulphates of Magnesium and Potassium, Ammonia, Carbon monoxide, Carbon dioxide and Industrial remains in water. Seat-water pollution is due to mixing up of heavy metals, hydro carbon, petroleum etc in water.

• Oil spill from the tanker spread soon on the surface of sea water.
• Contaminated water in which mercury is present cause Minimata disease.
• Pollution of river water is measured by oxygen dissolve in it.
• In some part of India Arsenic is found as pollutant in drinking water.
• Ozone, Chlorine dioxide and Chloramines are used as disinfectant of water.

3. Sound pollution:

The unwanted and undesirable sound scattered in atmosphere is called sound pollution.

Source of sound pollution:

The source of sound pollution is loud sound or noise, in whatever ways it has produced.

4. Soil pollution:

Distorted from of soil which change its chemical nature is called Soil pollution.

Source of soil pollution:

Acid rain, water from mines, excessive use of fertilizers and germicide chemicals, garbage, industrial remains, excretion in open field etc are the main sources of soil pollution.

5. Nuclear pollution:

This pollution is created by radioactive rays.

Sources of radioactive pollution –

(a) Pollution from the rays which are used in treatment.

(b) Pollution created from fuels used in Atomic reactors.

(c) Pollution created from the use of nuclear weapons.

(d) Pollution created remaining substances coming out of Atomic power-houses.

• Pollutant responsible for ozone hole is CFC.
• One of the best solutions to get rid of non-biodegradable wastes is recycling.
• Vermi composting is done by worms.
• Soil erosion can be prevented by afforestation.
• Natural sources of air pollution are volcanic eruptions.
• The best indicator of SO₂ pollution is lichen .
• Positive pollution of soil is due to excessive use of fertilizers.
• Green muffler is used against noise pollution.
• Photochemical smog formed n congested metropolitan cities mainly consist of ozone, peroxyacetyl nitrate and NO₂.
• DDT is a non-biodegradable pollutant.

Population, Biotic Community

• Population: Population is a group of individuals of same species occupying the same area at a given time.
• Population density: Total number of individual present in per unit area.
• Natality: Increase in the number of individual in given population by birth is called natality.
• Mortality: Number of individuals removed from a population due to death under given environmental condition at a given time is called mortality.
• Biotic potential: It refers the maximum capacity of inherent of an organism to reproduce.
• Environmental resistance: Environmental factors, which put a check on the growth of population.
• Mutalism: It is a functional association between two different species in which both the species are benefited.
• Commensalism: It is an association between individuals of two different species in which one species is benefited and other one is neither benefited nor affected.
• Population Explosion: The dramatic increase in population size over a relatively short period is called population explosion.
• Demographic transition: If the birth rate is equal to the death rate, it results in zero population growth, which is called demographic transition.
• Psychosis: It is a mid form of mental illness where the patient show prolonged emotional reaction.
• Drug abuse: When drugs are taken for a purpose other than their normal clinical use in an amount that impairs ones physical, physiological and psychological function of body is called drug abuse.
• Biosphere: The space retaining life in any form is called biosphere.
• Biogas: Methane released from biogas plant used as fuel gas.