Environmental pollution

Environmental pollution problems and control measures – Overview
Environmental pollution, problems and control measures –Overview
A. Introduction and definition of environmental pollution –We know that, a living organism cannot live by itself.

Organisms interact among themselves. Hence, all organisms, such as plants, animals and human beings, as well as the physical surroundings with whom we interact, form a part of our environment.

All these constituents of the environment are dependent upon each other. Thus, they maintain a balance in nature.

As we are the only organisms try to modify the environment to fulfill our needs; it is our responsibility to take necessary steps to control the environmental imbalances.

The environmental imbalance gives rise to various environmental problems.

Some of the environmental problems are pollution, soil erosion leadingto floods, salt deserts and sea recedes, desertification, landslides, change of river directions, extinction of species, and vulnerable ecosystem in place of more complex and stable ecosystems, depletion of natural resources, waste accumulation, deforestation, thinning of ozone layer and global warming.

The environmental problems are visualized in terms of pollution, growth in population, development, industrialization, unplanned urbanization etc.

Rapid migration and increase in population in the urban areas has also lead to traffic congestion, water shortages, solid waste, and air, water and noise pollution are common notice able problems in almost all the urban areas since last few years.Environmental pollution is defined as the undesirable change in physical, chemical and biological characteristics of our air, land and water. As a result of over-population, rapid industrializations, and other human activities like agriculture and deforestation etc. Earth became loaded with diverse pollutants that were released as by-products.

Pollutants are generally grouped under two classes:

(a) Biodegradable pollutants -Biodegradable pollutants are broken down by the activity of micro-organisms and enter into the biogeochemical cycles.

Examples of such pollutants are domestic waste products, urine and faucal matter, sewage, agricultural residue, paper, wood and cloth etc.

(b) Non- Biodegradable pollutants-Non-biodegradable pollutants are stronger chemical bondage, do not break down into simpler and harmless products.

These include various insecticides and other pesticides, mercury, lead, arsenic, aluminum, plastics, radioactive waste etc.

B. Classification of EnvironmentalPollution -Pollution can be broadly classified according to the components of environment that are polluted.

Major of these are: Air pollution, Water pollution, Soil pollution (land degradation) and Noise pollution.

Details of these types of pollutions are discussed below with their prevention measures.

(1) Air Pollution:Air is mainly a mixture of various gases such as oxygen, carbon dioxide, nitrogen.These are present in a particular ratio. Whenever there is any imbalance in the ratio of these gases, air pollution is caused.

The sources of air pollution can be grouped as under

(i) Natural; such as, forest fires, ash from smoking volcanoes, duststorm and decay of organic matters.
(ii)Man-madedue to population explosion, deforestation, urbanization and industrializations.Certain activities of human beings release several pollutants in air, such as carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO2), hydrocarbons (HC), oxides of nitrogen (NOx), lead, arsenic, asbestos, radioactive matter, and dust.

The major threat comes from burning of fossil fuels, such as coal and petroleum products. Thermal power plants, automobiles and industries are major sources of air pollution as well.

Due to progress in atomic energy sector, there has been an increase in radioactivity in the atmosphere.

Mining activity adds to air pollution in the form of particulate matter.

Progress in agriculture due to use of fertilizers and pesticides has also contributed towards air pollution.

Indiscriminate cutting of trees and clearing of forests has led to increase in the amount of carbon dioxide in atmosphere.

Global warming is a consequence of green house effect caused by increased level of carbon dioxide (CO2). Ozone (O3) depletion has resulted in UV radiation striking our earth.