Chapter 1 and 3:​

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Concept of Environment and Pollution & Pollution—meaning, kinds and effects of pollution

Environmental pollution
►​ It is defined as the presence of any substance in the environment in such a
concentration that it may tend or it may tend to injurious to humans, plants,
property, animals and to the environment itself.

►​ The word such a concentration is important, because if some substances are

present in a very low level then it may not be harmful or injurious. Usually, the
values of this concentration above which it is harmful is given in guidelines and
standards.

►​ These substances whose presence causes pollution is called environmental

pollutant.

►​ According to Indian Environmental Protection Act (EPA), 1986 environmental

pollution is defined as, ‘presence in the environment of any environmental
pollutant’.

►​ Environmental pollutant can be defined as solid, liquid or gaseous substance

present in such concentration as may be, or tend to be, injurious to
environment.

►​ As per environmentalist, Edward (1972) “Pollution is the release of harmful

substances or energy into the environment by man in quantities that damage
health and resources”.

Kinds of Pollution
►​ Environmental pollution can be of several types.

►​ Based on medium of pollution it can be of four types.

►​ 1) Air pollution 2) Water pollution 3) Soil pollution 4) Noise pollution

1. AIR POLLUTION
►​ Previously air pollution was defined as limited to “situation in which the outdoor
ambient atmosphere contains materials in concentration, which are harmful to
man and his surrounding environment”, by World Health Organization (WHO).

►​ With the advent of increase in indoor air pollutants the definition has been
changed to “Air pollution is the contamination of the indoor or outdoor
 environment by any chemical, physical or biological agent that modifies the
natural characteristics of the atmosphere”.

►​ The Air (Pollution and Prevention) Act, 1986, defines air pollution as “the
presence in the atmosphere of any air pollutants”.

►​ Air pollutants are defined as, any solid, liquid or gaseous substance (including
noise) present in the atmosphere in such concentration as may be or tend to
be injurious to human beings or other living creatures or plants or property or
environment.

2. WATER POLLUTION
►​ According to , The Water (Pollution and Prevention Act), 1974, water pollution is
defined as, “such contamination of water or such alteration of the physical,
chemical or biological properties of water or such discharge of any sewage or
trade effluent or of any other liquid, gaseous or solid substance into water
(whether directly or indirectly) as may, or is likely to, create a nuisance or render
such water harmful or injurious to public health or safety, or to domestic,
commercial, industrial, agricultural or other legitimate uses, or to the life and
health of animals or plants or of aquatic organisms”.

►​ Water pollutants are physical, chemical or biological agents which lead to

water pollution.

►​ Water pollution can be of several types: surface water pollution (pollution of

surface fresh water bodies like lakes, ponds, rivers, estuaries etc); groundwater
pollution (pollution of underground fresh water resources like aquifers), marine
pollution (pollution of ocean and sea), thermal pollution (pollution due to
discharge of warm water from thermal power plants).

3. SOIL POLLUTION
►​ Soil is a physical receptor of matter and energy flow reaching the earth surface
and provides the storehouse of nutrients for plants.

►​ The formation of soil is a complex process which takes centuries to develop a

fertile layer of soil.

►​ Soil is solid unlike air and water which are fluid systems. So, once pollutants enter
the soil system the chances of accumulation in a location causing permanent
damage to the soil quality is much more.
►​ Once the soil quality is degraded the natural and anthropogenic restoration is
a huge challenge and time taking.

►​ Decrease in the soil quality due to natural or anthropogenic contamination is

defined as soil pollution.

►​ Soil pollutants are the physical, biological, chemical, air borne agents which
degrades the quality of the soil.

4. NOISE POLLUTION
►​ Noise pollution may be defined as the state of discomfort and restlessness
caused to humans by unwanted high intensity sound known as noise.

►​ Noise is the only pollutant which causes noise pollution. Noise is an unwanted
sound and is considered as a pollutant when it exceeds certain limits.

►​ Noise pollution instantaneously effects human beings or other organisms. Unlike

other pollutants, it is not transported far away and spreading from its source
area.

Effects of Pollution

I. Effects of Air Pollution​

1. Health effects

►​ Air pollution poses serious health risks, including respiratory diseases such as
asthma and chronic bronchitis, cardiovascular conditions, and premature
mortality.

►​ Exposure to high levels of air pollution can also exacerbate health problems
and reduce life expectancy.

►​ Long-term exposure to air pollution can also adversely affect cognitive

development, especially in children.
2. Environmental Effects

►​ Air pollution adversely affects ecosystems by contaminating soil and

water bodies, damaging vegetation, and impacting wildlife.

►​ High concentrations of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides can lead to

Acid Rain, which has its environmental impacts.
 ►​ Some air pollutants, such as greenhouse gases (e.g., carbon dioxide and
methane), contribute to global warming and climate change by
trapping heat in the Earth’s atmosphere.

3. Economic effects

►​ Air pollution can have significant economic costs, including increased

healthcare expenditures, reduced productivity, and property damage.

►​ Air pollution reduces agricultural productivity by damaging the soil.

►​ Acid rain can damage forests, lakes, and buildings

II. Effects of Water pollution

1. On the environment:​
Water pollution truly harms biodiversity and aquatic ecosystems. The toxic chemicals
can change the color of water and increase the amount of minerals - also known as
eutrophication - which has a bad impact on life in water.

2. On human health:​
Water pollution has very negative effects on public health.

A lot of diseases result from drinking or being in contact with contaminated water,
such as diarrhea, cholera, typhoid, dysentery or skin infections.

In zones where there is no available drinking water, the main risk is dehydration
obviously.

3.Contamination of the food chain. Fishing in polluted waters and the use of waste
water for livestock farming and agriculture can introduce toxins into foods which are
harmful to our health when eaten.

4. Lack of potable water. The UN says that billions of people around the world have
no access to clean water to drink or sanitation, particularly in rural areas.

5. Disease. The WHO estimates that about 2 billion people have no option but to
drink water contaminated by excrement, exposing them to diseases such as
cholera, hepatitis A and dysentery.

6. Infant mortality. According to the UN, diarrhoeal diseases linked to lack of hygiene
cause the death of about 1,000 children a day worldwide.
III.Effects of Soil Pollution
1.Inferior Crop Quality

►​ It can decrease the quality of the crop.

►​ Regular use of chemical fertilizers, inorganic fertilizers, pesticides will decrease

the fertility of the soil at a rapid rate and alter the structure of the soil.

►​ This will lead to decrease in soil quality and poor quality of crops. Over the time
the soil will become less productive due to the accumulation of toxic chemicals
in large quantity.

2. Harmful Effect on Human Health

►​ It will increase the exposure to toxic and harmful chemicals thus increasing
health threats to people living nearby and on the degraded land.

►​ Living, working or playing in the contaminated soil can lead to respiratory

diseases, skin diseases, and other diseases.

►​ Moreover, it can cause other health problems.

3. Water Sources Contamination

►​ The surface run-off after raining will carry the polluted soil and enter into
different water resource.

►​ Thus, it can cause underground water contamination thereby causing water

pollution.

►​ This water after contamination is not fit for human as well as animal use due to
the presence of toxic chemicals.

4. Negative Impact on Ecosystem and Biodiversity

►​ Soil pollution can cause an imbalance of the ecosystem of the soil. The soil is an
important habitat and is the house of different type of microorganisms, animals,
reptiles, mammals, birds, and insects.

►​ Thus, soil pollution can negatively impact the lives of the living organisms and
can result in the gradual death of many organisms.
►​ It can cause health threats to animals grazing in the contaminated soil or
microorganisms residing in the soil.

IV. Effects of Noise Pollution

1. on Human health

Noise pollution can be hazardous to human health in the following ways:

►​ Hypertension: It is a direct result of noise pollution which is caused due to

elevated blood levels for a longer duration.

►​ Hearing loss: Constant exposure of human ears to loud noise that are beyond
the range of sound that human ears can withstand damages the eardrums,
resulting in loss of hearing.

►​ Sleeping disorders: Lack of sleep might result in fatigue and low energy level
throughout the day affecting everyday activities. Noise pollution hampers the
sleep cycles leading to irritation and an uncomfortable state of mind.

►​ Cardiovascular issues: Heart-related problems such as blood pressure level,

stress and cardiovascular diseases might come up in a normal person and a
person suffering from any of these diseases might feel a sudden shoot up in the
level.

►​ 2. On animals

►​ Noise pollution also impacts wildlife.

►​ A wide range of animals, including insects, frogs, birds, and bats, rely on sound
for a variety of reasons.

►​ Noise pollution can interfere with an animal’s ability to attract a mate,

communicate, navigate, find food, or avoid predators and thus can even be
an existential threat to vulnerable organisms. The problem of noise pollution is
especially serious for marine animals, particularly those that rely
on echolocation, such as certain whales and dolphins, and much of the world’s
oceans are polluted with chaotic sounds from ships, seismic tests, and oil drills.
Some of the loudest and most detrimental sounds in the sea are from
naval sonar devices, whose noise can travel hundreds of miles through the
water and is associated with mass strandings of whales and dolphins.
•​Plant growth
Noise pollution can interfere with photosynthesis and nutrient uptake, which can inhibit plant
growth and reduce plant diversity.
•​Soil quality
Loud noise can lead to soil compaction, which reduces the amount of air and water available
to plants and other organisms.
•​Ecosystem balance
Noise pollution can affect wildlife habitats and ecosystem balance, which can lead to
reduced biodiversity and ecological damage