Notes for ME3003 - Environmental Studies for Mechanical

Engineers Module 2 part 2 Topics covered: Water Pollution Causes and Effects, Marine Pollution, Soil Pollution. References used Book 1 : [1] Environmental Studies, by Mr. Benny Joseph.

Book 2 : [2] Environmental Engineering and Management, by

Mr. Suresh. K. Dhameja.

Water pollution Causes and Effects

Presence of impurities (organic, inorganic, biological, radiological) and foreign
substances in such quantities which cause health hazards by lowering the quality of water and making it unfit for use. Causes Effects Ref [1]

Bacteria, virus, parasitic worms (enter

1 water from domestic sewage).

sickness, disease, death.

Oxygen demanding waste - organic waste

which if present in large quantities, will

deplete oxygen from water because it is decomposed 2 bacteria. by oxygen-consuming-

fish and other aquatic life die.

Water pollution Causes and Effects

Causes cause Inorganic plant nutrients water Effects excessive

Ref [1]

growth

of

soluble algae etc. which die, decay resulting in oxygen depletion. cause death of aquatic life. make water unfit for drinking,

phosphate and nitrate compounds. 3

Water soluble organic chemicals - Acids, salts, harm aquatic life, reduce crop toxic metal (Pb, Hg) compounds. 4 Radioactive substances - water soluble radio yields, promote corrosion in equipment using this water. cause birth defects, cancer etc. decreases and dissolved increases oxygen water

isotopes, ionizing radiation etc.

Heat of hot water from power plants, cooling towers, which is discharged into water.

temperature.

Water pollution Sources

Sources of water pollution

Ref [1]

Point sources
e.g. Pipe, sewage treatment plants, factories, ditches, offshore oil wells, coal mines etc. These are easy to be identified, regulated and monitored.

Non-point sources
e.g. run-offs from agricultural etc. / get

industrial

land,

roads

discharged into ground and surface waters and pollute them.

Ground water pollution caused by waste disposed on land.

Water pollution Drinking water quality

Potable drinking water should be substances etc. Ref [2] Colorless, odorless, clear, without suspended solids and turbidity, free from toxic

Dissolved inorganic solids (in moderate quantity).

Non-corrosive (pH between 7 and 8.5) . Aesthetically pleasant, should not cause stains in clothes.

Effects of water pollution (Health hazards from water pollution)

Ref [1] Phosphate, nitrate in fertilizers, detergents etc. pollute surface water bodies. These are nutrients and encourage algae growth which consume oxygen which reduces DO (dissolved oxygen) levels.

Arsenic, Cd, Pb etc. harm aquatic life and also reach humans through these.
Organic pollutants (coming from petroleum refineries, paper mills etc.) provide nutrition to microorganisms that decompose organic matter, consume oxygen resulting in reduced DO levels, leading to death of aquatic organisms.

Effects of water pollution (Health hazards from water pollution)

Ref [1]

Non-biodegradable pesticides reach humans through food chains and

get accumulated in the fatty tissues and harm nervous systems . Typhoid, Cholera etc. caused due to drinking of contaminated water. Fluoride-containing pollutants cause dental problems, gastro-

intestinal, neuro-muscular respiratory disorders.

Thermal pollution reduces DO levels reduces survival of aquatic life. Oil pollutants cause death of aquatic life.

Radioactive pollutants (from Uranium mining/refining areas, nuclear

power plant etc.) reaching humans through food chain get accumulated in liver, muscles, blood, thyroid gland etc.

Marine Pollution

Ref [1]

Introduction of energy / substances into the marine envt resulting in

harms / hazards to living organisms, and affect quality of sea water. Natural causes like earthquake on ocean floor etc. are not included as causes. Marine pollution refers to pollution caused as a result of human activity only. Causes originate from land or sea.

Causes and Effects of Marine Pollution

Type of pollutant Source / Cause Sewage, run-off Effects from cause blooming of algae,

farming, air-borne nitrogen oxygen depletion, death of 1 2 Nutrients Plastics oxide from cars etc. Fishing nets, beach litter. marine life. cause harm to marine life. spread cholera, typhoid and 3 Pathogens Sewage and livestock. other diseases.

Causes and Effects of Marine Pollution

Type of pollutant Source / Cause Effects

Ref [1]

Hinder photosynthesis, clog gills Due to erosion, by 4 Sediments Persistent toxins forestry, mining. Industrial discharge, of fish. Contains excess of

nutrients and toxins.

(DDT, PCB, heavy

5 metals)

wastewater

discharge, Contaminate seafood. Fat soluble pesticides from farms. toxins are harmful.

Oil

spills In

(have low

long levels,

lasting cause

effect).

disease of marine life. Volatile

Oil - crude and

refined petroleum (fuel oil, gasoline 6 etc.) From land (industry and cars), accidents at sea, offshore drilling etc.

hydrocarbons in oil destroy corals

and harm marine organisms.

Natural insulation or buoyancy of marine organisms affected by oil.

Control of Marine Pollution

Ref [1]

Improve sewage disposal facilities. Each house can have septic tanks.

Better use of municipal sewage systems.

Better coastal & marine planning and management.

Soil Pollution
Soil is made up of organic and inorganic layers.
Organic formed by decaying of plants and animals. Inorganic rocky layers . Pollution of soil is caused when / substances / organisms enter soil and harm its quality.

Ref [1]

energy / biological

Causes of Soil Pollution Accidents involving vehicles carrying fuels, resulting in their spilling. Toxic chemicals due to solid waste disposal.
e.g. garbage from homes, industries result in respiratory and nervous problems.

Hazardous

substances

from

industries

(Chemical,

petroleum and metal related).

Control of Soil Pollution

Ref [1]

Restricting construction in certain sensitive areas.

Use 3 Rs (Reduce, Reuse and Recycle) so that it results in lesser fertilizer and pesticide use.

Treatment (Physical, chemical and biological) of industrial

wastes. Bioremediation A treatment process that uses fungi / bacteria / yeast etc. to degrade / breakdown hazardous substances to non-toxic /

less toxic substances. (like CO2, H2O etc.)

Control of Soil Pollution Types of Bioremediation

Biostimulation - stimulating biological activity.

Ref [1]

Bioaugmentation Inoculating soil with microbes.

Bioventing Injecting air / nutrients into unsaturation zone. Biospraying Injecting air / nutrients into unsaturated and saturated zones.

End of Module 2 part 2 notes