Module 5: Environmental Pollution and Health

Pollution

Pollution may be defined as an undesirable change in the physical,

chemical or biological characteristics of air, water and land that may
be harmful to human life and other animals, living conditions and
industrial processes.
Pollution can be natural, or man made

POLLUTANTS
The agents that can pollute are called as
pollutants.
Deposited matter- Soot, smoke, tar or dust and
domestic wastes
Metals- Zinc, lead, iron, and chromium.

 Industrial pollutants- Benzene, ether, acetic acid,

etc., and cyanide components.

Agriculture pollutants- Pesticides, herbicides,

fungicides and fertilizers.

Photochemical pollutants- Ozone, oxides of

nitrogen, aldehydes, ethylene, photochemical
smog and peroxy acetyl nitrate.

Radiation pollutants- Radioactive substances and

radioactive fall-outs of the nuclear test.

Classification of Pollutants
Pollutants
Nature of disposal
-Non-degradable pollutants
EX: aluminum cans, mercuric
salts, and even DDT.
Biodegradable pollutants
EX: Human sewages water and food wastes.

Nature of form
Primary pollutants
Ex: SO2, NO, and H2S produced by the oxidation of fuel. Oxides of carbon (CO +
CO2)

Secondary pollutants
These include those substances, which are emitted directly from some
identifiable sources. This include SO2, NO, and H2S produced by the
oxidation of fuel. Oxides of carbon (CO + CO2)

Types of Pollution
 Air Pollution
 Water Pollution
 Soil Pollution
 Noise Pollution
 Nuclear Pollution

AIR POLLUTION
Definition: Air pollution is the introduction of chemicals, particulate
matter, or biological materials that cause harm or discomfort to humans or other
living organisms or damages the natural environment into the atmosphere.

A physical, biological or chemical alteration to the air in

the atmosphere can be treated as air pollution .
 It occurs when any harmful gases, dust, smoke enters
into the atmosphere and makes our life is difficult to survive

It is difficult for plants, animals, and humans to survive as

the air becomes dirty.

Causes of air pollution

Air pollution is caused by a variety of factors, including both
natural processes and human activities.
Here are some of the major causes of air pollution:

 Burning of fossil fuels.

 Agricultural activities.
 Exhaust from factories and industries
 Mining operations
 Suspended particulate matter

1.Combustion of Fossil Fuels: Burning of fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and
natural gas for electricity generation,transportation, industrial processes,
and heating releases pollutants such as carbon dioxide (CO2), sulfur dioxide
(SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), particulate matter (PM), and volatile
organic compounds (VOCs) into the atmosphere.

2.Vehicle Emissions: Cars, trucks, buses, and other vehicles emit pollutants
such as nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO),
particulate matter (PM), and VOCs through the combustion of
gasoline and diesel fuel.

3.Industrial Activities: Industrial processes, including

manufacturing, mining, refining, and power generation, release a
wide range of pollutants into the air, including sulfur dioxide
(SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), particulate matter (PM), volatile
organic compounds (VOCs), and heavy metals.

4. Agricultural Activities: Agricultural practices such as livestock farming,

use of fertilizers and
pesticides, and crop residue burning can release ammonia (NH3), methane (CH4),
nitrous oxide
(N2O), and particulate matter (PM) into the atmosphere.

5.Waste Management: Improper disposal and incineration of solid waste, as well

as landfill
emissions, release methane (CH4), carbon dioxide (CO2), and other pollutants
into the air.

6. Deforestation and Biomass Burning: Clearing of forests for agriculture,

urbanization, and
logging, as well as burning of forests and vegetation for land clearing and
agriculture, release
carbon dioxide (CO2), particulate matter (PM), and other pollutants into the
air.

7. Construction and Demolition: Construction activities such as excavation,

demolition, and material handling can generate dust and emissions from heavy
machinery, contributing to particulate matter (PM) and other pollutants in the
air.

10. Natural Sources: Volcanic eruptions, wildfires, dust storms, and biogenic
emissions from plants and trees release pollutants such as sulfur dioxide
(SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), particulate matter (PM), and volatile organic
compounds (VOCs) into the atmosphere.

Sources of Air pollution: Air pollution can originate from various sources,
both natural
 and anthropogenic (human-made).

Stationary sources
Industrial processing.
Power plants.
Fuel combustion
Solid waste disposal
Residential and industrial areas.
Onsite incineration
Open burning sites

Mobile sources
• Highway vehicles
• Railroad locomotives
• Aircraft

Major Air pollutants

• Carbon monoxide
• Oxides of nitrogen
• Sulphur dioxide
• Particulate Matter
• Lead
• Hydrocarbons
• Carbon dioxide
• Fluorides

Types of air pollutants

Primary air pollutants: The pollutants that are a direct result of the process
can be called primary air pollutants.
A classic example of a primary pollutant would be the sulphur dioxide (SO2)
emitted from factories.

Secondary air pollutants: These are the ones that are caused by the
intermingling and reactions of primary
pollutants. Smog created by the interactions of several primary pollutants is
known to be as secondary pollutant.

Effects of air pollution

Air pollution can have numerous adverse effects on human health, ecosystems,
the environment, and the economy.
• Respiratory and Cardiovascular Health Issues
• Reduced Lung Function
• Increased Mortality
• Cancer
• Impacts on Reproductive Health
 Damage to Ecosystems
• Loss of Biodiversity
• Climate Change

Effect of air pollution

• Adverse effects on living organisms.

• Carbon monoxide (CO): difficulty in

breathing, coughness, sort of death.

• Nitrogen dioxide(NO2): Acid rain hurt

plants and animals, lakes and fish.

• Sulphur dioxide (SO2):It also forms

acid rain. In human system, SO2 constricts air passages, making it a problem
to asthma people and low
levels of exposure leads to difficultly in breathing.
 • Particulate matter(PM): are solid and liquid droplets vary in their sizes.
They
tend to enter deeply into lungs.

• Lead –Mainly effects the brain, kidney and impaired mental

functioning in children

Control measures of air pollution

• Source control: Some measures that can be
adopted in this direction are…

• Using unleaded petrol.

• Using Fuels with low Sulphur and ash content.

• Encouraging people to use public transport, walk or use cycle as opposed to

private
vehicles.

• Plant trees along busy streets as they remove particulates, carbon dioxide
and absorb noice.

• Industries and waste disposal sites should be situated outside the city
preferably on the
downwind of the city.

• Catalytic converters should be used to help control emissions of carbon

monoxide and
hydrocarbons.

WATER POLLUTION
Definition: Water pollution may be defined as the alteration in
physical, chemical, or biological characteristics of water which
may cause harmful effects on humans and aquatic life.

Sources of water pollution

 Point sources: These are pollutants that are discharged at specific
locations through pipes, ditches or sewers into bodies of surface water.
EX: Factories, Sewage treatment plants, underground mines and oil
tanks.

 Non-point sources: These pollutants cannot be traced to a single point

of discharge.
EX: Logged forests, urban streets, lawns, and rural homes.

Major pollutants
 Inorganic Pollutants
 Organic Pollutants
 Biological Pollutants

Inorganic pollutants examples

 Pb in gasoline
 Radionuclides  Phosphorus, nitrogen (Great Lakes)
 Other heavy metals
 Hg traces, Pb traces
 Phosphates, Nitrates

Biologic pollutants
o Virus
o Bacteria
o Fungi

Organic Pollutants
  Three classes of compounds
Pesticides and Herbicides
Materials for common household and industrial use
Materials for industrial use

EFFECTS OF WATER POLLUTON

• The food chain is damaged.

• Diseases can spread via polluted water.
• Pollutants in the water will alter the overall chemistry of water.
• Marine food sources are contaminated.
• Altered water temperatures can kill marine life.

Effects on human health

• Cancer
• Kidney stone formation• Organ Failure
• Nervous Damage
• Tooth Decay
• Skin Irritation
• Infection
• Birth Defects and Fertility Problems
• Susceptibility to H1N1 (Swine Flu)

SOIL POLLUTION
Soil pollution is defined as, ‘Contamination of soil by human and natural
activities which may cause
harmful effect on living organisms.
The root cause of soil pollution is often
one of the following:
• Agriculture (excessive/improper use of pesticides)
• Excessive industrial activity
• Poor management and inefficient disposal of waste

SOURCES OF SOIL POLLUTION

The root cause of soil pollution is often one of the following:
• Extreme industrial activity
• Agriculture (excessive/improper use of pesticides)
- Pesticides
- Chlorinated Organic toxins
- Herbicides
- Inorganic Fertilizers
- Inferior Irrigation Practices
• Poor management and inefficient disposal of waste
• Accidental Oil Spills
• Acid Rain
• Urban Activities

EFFECTS OF SOIL POLLUTION ON HUMAN HEALTH

• The contaminants found in polluted soil can enter human bodies through
several
channels such as the nose, the mouth, or the skin.
• Exposure to such soils can cause a variety of short-term health problems
such as
headaches, coughing, chest pain, nausea, and skin/eye irritation.
• Prolonged exposure to contaminated soil can lead to the depression of the
central nervous system and damage to vital organs (such as the liver).
• Long-term exposure to polluted soils has also been linked to cancer in
humans.

EFFECTS OF SOIL POLLUTION

• These pollutants affect and alter the chemical and biological properties of
the soil.
• Causes water logging
• Causes biomagnification of toxic materials through food chain.
 • Causes salination, micronutrient imbalance, and loss of fertile soil.
• The nitrate causes cancer, and blue baby syndrome in infants.

SOLUTION TO SOIL POLLUTION

• Reducing deforestation
• Soil erosion can be controlled by a variety of forestry and farm practices.
Ex. Planting trees on barren slopes
• Proper dumping of unwanted materials
• Production of natural fertilizers. • Biopesticides should be used in the
place of toxic chemical pesticides.
• Organic fertilizers should be used in the place of synthesized chemical
fertilizers.
• Proper hygienic conditions; People should be trained regarding sanitary
habits.
• Recycling and reuse of wastes.
• Bioaugmentation can be beneficial for treating the contaminants.

Bioaugmentation is defined as the use of certain bacteria for degrading

contaminants.

• Bioremediation is another method to prevent the soil pollution. In this

method organisms can be used to remove the contaminats
from the contaminated soil.

SOLID and HAZARDOUS WASTE

Solid wastes: wastes in solid forms, domestic, commercial and industrial
wastes.
Examples: Plastics, Bottles, Cans, Papers, Scrap iron, and other trash
Sources of Solid Wastes
• Solid domestic garbage.
• Solid waste material from various industries
• Solid agricultural waste.
• Plastics, glass, metals, e-waste, etc.
• Medical waste.
• Construction waste, sewage sludge
• Radioactive materials
Examples for Biodegradable Waste:
Plant products like rubber, paper, wood,
leaves, cotton, and wool, Human and
animal excreta, Dead remains of living
organisms, Kitchen waste, Agricultural waste.

MANAGEMENT STRATEGY OF SOLID WASTE

The management strategy includes the following steps,
1. Controlling the material flow in a society
2. Reduction in raw material usage
3. Reduction in solid waste quantity
4. Reuse of materials
5. Energy recovery
6. Monitoring the day-to-day solid waste management.