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UNIT 14
ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY
(c) Hydrocarbons: Hydrocarbons are atmosphere. With the increased use of fossil
composed of hydrogen and carbon only and fuels, a large amount of carbon dioxide gets
are formed by incomplete combustion of fuel released into the atmosphere. Excess of CO2
used in automobiles. Hydrocarbons are in the air is removed by green plants and this
carcinogenic, i.e., they cause cancer. They maintains an appropriate level of CO2 in the
harm plants by causing ageing, breakdown of atmosphere. Green plants require CO2 for
tissues and shedding of leaves, flowers and photosynthesis and they, in turn, emit oxygen,
twigs. thus maintaining the delicate balance. As you
(d) Oxides of Carbon know, deforestation and burning of fossil fuel
(i ) Carbon monoxide: Carbon monoxide (CO) increases the CO2 level and disturb the balance
is one of the most serious air pollutants. It is a in the atmosphere. The increased amount of
colourless and odourless gas, highly CO2 in the air is mainly responsible for global
poisonous to living beings because of its ability warming.
to block the delivery of oxygen to the organs Global Warming and Greenhouse Effect
and tissues. It is produced as a result of About 75 % of the solar energy reaching the
incomplete combustion of carbon. Carbon earth is absorbed by the earth’s surface, which
monoxide is mainly released into the air by increases its temperature. The rest of the heat
automobile exhaust. Other sources, which radiates back to the atmosphere. Some of the
produce CO, involve incomplete combustion
heat is trapped by gases such as carbon
of coal, firewood, petrol, etc. The number of
dioxide, methane, ozone, chlorofluorocarbon
vehicles has been increasing over the years all
compounds (CFCs) and water vapour in the
over the world. Many vehicles are poorly
atmosphere. Thus, they add to the heating of
maintained and several have inadequate
the atmosphere. This causes global warming.
pollution control equipments resulting in the
release of greater amount of carbon monoxide We all know that in cold places flowers,
and other polluting gases. Do you know why vegetables and fruits are grown in glass
carbon monoxide is poisonous? It binds to covered areas called greenhouse. Do you know
haemoglobin to form carboxyhaemoglobin, that we humans also live in a greenhouse? Of
which is about 300 times more stable than the course, we are not surrounded by glass but a
oxygen-haemoglobin complex. In blood, when blanket of air called the atmosphere, which has
the concentration of carboxyhaemoglobin kept the temperature on earth constant for
reaches about 3–4 per cent, the oxygen centuries. But it is now undergoing change,
carrying capacity of blood is greatly though slowly. Just as the glass in a
reduced. This oxygen deficiency, results into greenhouse holds the sun’s warmth inside,
headache, weak eyesight, nervousness and atmosphere traps the sun’s heat near the
cardiovascular disorder. This is the reason why earth’s surface and keeps it warm. This is
people are advised not to smoke. In pregnant called natural greenhouse effect because it
women who have the habit of smoking the maintains the temperature and makes the
increased CO level in blood may induce earth perfect for life. In a greenhouse, visible
premature birth, spontaneous abortions and light passes through the transparent glass and
deformed babies. heats up the soil and the plants. The warm
(ii) Carbon dioxide: Carbon dioxide (CO2) is soil and plants emit infrared radiations. Since
released into the atmosphere by respiration, glass is opaque to infrared (heat) radiations, it
burning of fossil fuels for energy, and by partly reflects and partly absorbs these
decomposition of limestone during the radiations. This mechanism keeps the energy
manufacture of cement. It is also emitted of the sun trapped in the greenhouse.
during volcanic eruptions. Carbon dioxide gas Similarly, carbon dioxide molecules also trap
is confined to troposphere only. Normally it heat as they are transparent to sunlight but
forms about 0.03 per cent by volume of the not to the heat radiation. If the amount of
ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY 401
This plan aims at clearing the air in herbicides and insecticides that miss their
the ‘Taj Trapezium’– an area that includes targets and travel through air and form
the towns of Agra, Firozabad, Mathura and mists.
Bharatpur. Under this plan more than
(d) Fumes are generally obtained by the
2000 polluting industries lying inside the
trapezium would switch over to the use of condensation of vapours during
natural gas or liquefied petroleum gas sublimation, distillation, boiling and
instead of coal or oil. A new natural gas several other chemical reactions. Generally,
pipeline would bring more than half a organic solvents, metals and metallic
million cubic metres of natural gas a day oxides form fume particles.
to this area. People living in the city will
also be encouraged to use liquefied
The effect of particulate pollutants are
petroleum gas in place of coal, kerosene or largely dependent on the particle size. Air-
firewood. Vehicles plying on highways in borne particles such as dust, fumes, mist etc.,
the vicinity of Taj would be encouraged to are dangerous for human health. Particulate
use low sulphur content diesel. pollutants bigger than 5 microns are likely to
lodge in the nasal passage, whereas particles
2. Particulate Pollutants of about 1.0 micron enter into lungs easily.
Particulates pollutants are the minute solid Lead used to be a major air pollutant
particles or liquid droplets in air. These are emitted by vehicles. Leaded petrol used to be
present in vehicle emissions, smoke particles the primary source of air-borne lead emission
from fires, dust particles and ash from in Indian cities. This problem has now been
industries. Particulates in the atmosphere overcome by using unleaded petrol in most of
may be viable or non-viable. The viable the cities in India. Lead interferes with the
particulates e.g., bacteria, fungi, moulds, development and maturation of red blood cells.
algae etc., are minute living organisms that are Smog
dispersed in the atmosphere. Human beings The word smog is derived from smoke and fog.
are allergic to some of the fungi found in air. This is the most common example of air
They can also cause plant diseases. pollution that occurs in many cities
Non-viable particulates may be classified throughout the world. There are two types of
according to their nature and size as follows: smog:
(a) Smoke particulates consist of solid or (a) Classical smog occurs in cool humid
mixture of solid and liquid particles formed climate. It is a mixture of smoke, fog and
during combustion of organic matter. sulphur dioxide. Chemically it is a
Examples are cigarette smoke, smoke from reducing mixture and so it is also called
burning of fossil fuel, garbage and dry as reducing smog.
leaves, oil smoke etc. (b) Photochemical smog occurs in warm, dry
(b) Dust is composed of fine solid particles and sunny climate. The main components
(over 1µm in diameter), produced during of the photochemical smog result from the
crushing, grinding and attribution of solid action of sunlight on unsaturated
materials. Sand from sand blasting, saw hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides
dust from wood works, pulverized coal, produced by automobiles and factories.
cement and fly ash from factories, dust Photochemical smog has high
storms etc., are some typical examples of concentration of oxidising agents and is,
this type of particulate emission. therefore, called as oxidising smog.
(c) Mists are produced by particles of spray Formation of photochemical smog
liquids and by condensation of vapours in When fossil fuels are burnt, a variety of
air. Examples are sulphuric acid mist and pollutants are emitted into the earth’s
404 CHEMISTRY
troposphere. Two of the pollutants that are to produce chemicals such as formaldehyde,
emitted are hydrocarbons (unburnt fuels) and acrolein and peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN).
nitric oxide (NO). When these pollutants build 3CH4 + 2O3 → 3CH2 = O + 3H2O
up to sufficiently high levels, a chain reaction
Formaldehyde
occurs from their interaction with sunlight in
which NO is converted into nitrogen dioxide CH2=CHCH=O CH3COONO2
(NO2). This NO2 in turn absorbs energy from
sunlight and breaks up into nitric oxide and O
free oxygen atom (Fig. 14.2). Acrolein Peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN)
NO2(g) NO(g) + O(g) (i) Effects of photochemical smog
Oxygen atoms are very reactive and The common components of photochemical
combine with the O2 in air to produce ozone. smog are ozone, nitric oxide, acrolein,
formaldehyde and peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN).
O(g) + O2 (g) U O3 (g) (ii) Photochemical smog causes serious health
The ozone formed in the above reaction (ii) problems. Both ozone and PAN act as powerful
reacts rapidly with the NO(g) formed in the eye irritants. Ozone and nitric oxide irritate the
reaction (i) to regenerate NO2. NO2 is a brown nose and throat and their high concentration
gas and at sufficiently high levels can causes headache, chest pain, dryness of the
contribute to haze. throat, cough and difficulty in breathing.
Photochemical smog leads to cracking of
NO (g) + O3 (g) → NO2 (g) + O2 (g) (iii) rubber and extensive damage to plant life. It
Ozone is a toxic gas and both NO2 and O3 also causes corrosion of metals, stones,
are strong oxidising agents and can react with building materials, rubber and painted
the unburnt hydrocarbons in the polluted air surfaces.
Fig. 14.2 Photochemical smog occurs where sunlight acts on vehicle pollutants.
ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY 405
How can photochemical smog be in the production of plastic foam and by the
controlled ? electronic industry for cleaning computer
Many techniques are used to control or reduce parts etc. Once CFCs are released in the
the formation of photochemical smog. If we atmosphere, they mix with the normal
control the primary precursors of atmospheric gases and eventually reach the
photochemical smog, such as NO 2 and stratosphere. In stratosphere, they get broken
hydrocarbons, the secondary precursors such down by powerful UV radiations, releasing
as ozone and PAN, the photochemical smog chlorine free radical.
will automatically be reduced. Usually catalytic
CF2Cl2 (g) (g) + F2Cl (g) (i)
converters are used in the automobiles, which
prevent the release of nitrogen oxide and The chlorine radical then react with
hydrocarbons to the atmosphere. Certain stratospheric ozone to form chlorine monoxide
plants e.g., Pinus, Juniparus, Quercus, Pyrus radicals and molecular oxygen.
• •
and Vitis can metabolise nitrogen oxide and C l (g) + O3 (g) → Cl O (g) + O2 (g) (ii)
therefore, their plantation could help in this
matter. Reaction of chlorine monoxide radical with
atomic oxygen produces more chlorine
14.2.2 Stratospheric Pollution radicals.
• •
Formation and Breakdown of Ozone Cl O (g) + O (g) → C l (g) + O2 (g) (iii)
The upper stratosphere consists of The chlorine radicals are continuously
considerable amount of ozone (O3), which regenerated and cause the breakdown of
protects us from the harmful ultraviolet (UV)
ozone. Thus, CFCs are transporting agents for
radiations (λ 255 nm) coming from the sun.
continuously generating chlorine radicals into
These radiations cause skin cancer
the stratosphere and damaging the ozone layer.
(melanoma) in humans. Therefore, it is
important to maintain the ozone shield. The Ozone Hole
Ozone in the stratosphere is a product of In 1980s atmospheric scientists working in
UV radiations acting on dioxygen (O 2 ) Antarctica reported about depletion of ozone
molecules. The UV radiations split apart layer commonly known as ozone hole over the
molecular oxygen into free oxygen (O) atoms. South Pole. It was found that a unique set of
These oxygen atoms combine with the conditions was responsible for the ozone hole.
molecular oxygen to form ozone. In summer season, nitrogen dioxide and
methane react with chlorine monoxide
O2 (g) O(g) + O(g) (reaction iv) and chlorine atoms (reaction v)
O(g) + O2 (g) O3 (g) forming chlorine sinks, preventing much ozone
depletion, whereas in winter, special type of
Ozone is thermodynamically unstable and
clouds called polar stratospheric clouds are
decomposes to molecular oxygen. Thus, a
formed over Antarctica. These polar
dynamic equilibrium exists between the
stratospheric clouds provide surface on which
production and decomposition of ozone
chlorine nitrate formed (reaction iv) gets
molecules. In recent years, there have been
hydrolysed to form hypochlorous acid
reports of the depletion of this protective ozone
(reaction (vi)). It also reacts with hydrogen
layer because of the presence of certain
chloride produced as per reaction (v) to give
chemicals in the stratosphere. The main
molecular chlorine.
reason of ozone layer depletion is believed to •
be the release of chlorofluorocarbon Cl O (g) + NO2 (g) → ClONO2(g) (iv)
• •
compounds (CFCs), also known as freons. C l (g) + CH4 (g) → C H3(g) + HCl(g) (v)
These compounds are nonreactive, non
ClONO2(g) + H2O (g) → HOCl (g) + HNO3 (g) (vi)
flammable, non toxic organic molecules and
therefore used in refrigerators, air conditioners, ClONO2(g) + HCl (g) → Cl2 (g) + HNO3 (g) (vii)
406 CHEMISTRY
When sunlight returns to the Antarctica in where pollutants enter the water-source. Non
the spring, the sun’s warmth breaks up the point sources of pollution are those where a
clouds and HOCl and Cl2 are photolysed by source of pollution cannot be easily identified,
sunlight, as given in reactions (viii) and (ix). e.g., agricultural run off (from farm, animals
• • and crop-lands), acid rain, storm-water
HOCl (g)
hν
→ O H (g) + Cl(g) (viii)
drainage (from streets, parking lots and lawns),
•
Cl2 (g)
hν
→ 2 Cl (g) (ix) etc. Table 14.1 lists the major water pollutants
and their sources.
The chlorine radicals thus formed, initiate
the chain reaction for ozone depletion as 14.3.1 Causes of Water Pollution
described earlier. (i) Pathogens: The most serious water
Effects of Depletion of the Ozone Layer pollutants are the disease causing agents
called pathogens. Pathogens include bacteria
With the depletion of ozone layer, more UV
and other organisms that enter water from
radiation filters into troposphere. UV
domestic sewage and animal excreta. Human
radiations lead to ageing of skin, cataract,
excreta contain bacteria such as Escherichia
sunbur n, skin cancer, killing of many
coli and Streptococcus faecalis which cause
phytoplanktons, damage to fish productivity
gastrointestinal diseases.
etc. It has also been reported that plant
proteins get easily affected by UV radiations (ii) Organic wastes: The other major water
which leads to the harmful mutation of cells. pollutant is organic matter such as
It also increases evaporation of surface water leaves, grass, trash etc. They pollute water as
through the stomata of the leaves and a consequence of run off. Excessive
decreases the moisture content of the soil. phytoplankton growth within water is also a
Increase in UV radiations damage paints and cause of water pollution. These wastes are
fibres, causing them to fade faster. biodegradable.
The large population of bacteria
14.3 WATER POLLUTION decomposes organic matter present in water.
Water is essential for life. Without water there They consume oxygen dissolved in water. The
would be no life. We usually take water as amount of oxygen that water can hold in the
granted for its purity, but we must ensure the solution is limited. In cold water, dissolved
quality of water. Pollution of water originates oxygen (DO) can reach a concentration up to
from human activities. Through different 10 ppm (parts per million), whereas oxygen in
paths, pollution reaches surface or ground air is about 200,000 ppm. That is why even a
water. Easily identified source or place of moderate amount of organic matter when
pollution is called as point source. e.g., decomposes in water can deplete the water of
municipal and industrial discharge pipes its dissolved oxygen. The concentration of
Pollutant Source
Micro-organisms Domestic sewage
Organic wastes Domestic sewage, animal excreta and waste, decaying animals
and plants, discharge from food processing factories.
Plant nutrients Chemcial fertilizers
Toxic heavy metals Industries and chemical factories
Sediments Erosion of soil by agriculture and strip mining
Pesticides Chemicals used for killing insects, fungi and weeds
Radioactive substances Mining of uranium containing minerals
Heat Water used for cooling in industries
ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY 407
dissolved oxygen in water is very important The organic chemicals are another group
for aquatic life . If the concentration of dissolved of substances that are found in polluted water.
oxygen of water is below 6 ppm, the growth of Petroleum products pollute many sources of
fish gets inhibited. Oxygen reaches water water e.g., major oil spills in oceans. Other
either through atmosphere or from the process organic substances with serious impacts are
of photosynthesis carried out by many the pesticides that drift down from sprays or
aquatic green plants during day light. runof f from lands. Various industrial
However, during night, photosynthesis stops chemicals like polychlorinated biphenyls,
but the plants continue to respire, resulting (PCBs) which are used as cleansing solvent,
in reduction of dissolved oxygen. The detergents and fertilizers add to the list of
dissolved oxygen is also used by water pollutants. PCBs are suspected to be
microorganisms to oxidise organic matter. carcinogenic. Nowadays most of the detergents
available are biodegradable. However, their use
If too much of organic matter is added to
can create other problems. The bacteria
water, all the available oxygen is used up. This
responsible for degrading biodegradable
causes oxygen dependent aquatic life to die.
detergent feed on it and grow rapidly. While
Thus, anaerobic bacteria (which do not require
growing, they may use up all the oxygen
oxygen) begin to break down the organic waste
dissolved in water. The lack of oxygen kills all
and produce chemicals that have a foul smell
other forms of aquatic life such as fish and
and are harmful to human health. Aerobic
plants. Fertilizers contain phosphates as
(oxygen requiring) bacteria degrade these
additives. The addition of phosphates in water
organic wastes and keep the water depleted
enhances algae growth. Such profuse growth
in dissolved oxygen. of algae, covers the water surface and reduces
Thus, the amount of oxygen required by the oxygen concentration in water. This leads
bacteria to break down the organic matter to anaerobic conditions, commonly with
present in a certain volume of a sample of accumulation of abnoxious decay and animal
water, is called Biochemical Oxygen Demand death. Thus, bloom-infested water inhibits the
(BOD). The amount of BOD in the water is a growth of other living organisms in the
measure of the amount of organic material in water body. This process in which nutrient
the water, in terms of how much oxygen will enriched water bodies support a dense plant
be required to break it down biologically. Clean population, which kills animal life by depriving
water would have BOD value of less than it of oxygen and results in subsequent loss of
5 ppm whereas highly polluted water could biodiversity is known as Eutrophication.
have a BOD value of 17 ppm or more.
14.3.2 International Standards for
(iii) Chemical Pollutants: As we know that Drinking Water
water is an excellent solvent, water soluble
The International Standards for drinking water
inorganic chemicals that include heavy metals
are given below and they must be followed.
such as cadmium, mercury, nickel etc
constitute an important class of pollutants. All Fluoride: For drinking purposes, water
these metals are dangerous to humans should be tested for fluoride ion concentration.
because our body cannot excrete them. Over Its deficiency in drinking water is harmful to
the time, it crosses the tolerance limit. These man and causes diseases such as tooth decay
metals then can damage kidneys, central etc. Soluble fluoride is often added to drinking
nervous system, liver etc. Acids (like sulphuric water to bring its concentration upto 1 ppm
–3 –
acid) from mine drainage and salts from many or 1 mg dm . The F ions make the enamel on
different sources including raw salt used to teeth much harder by converting
melt snow and ice in the colder climates hydroxyapatite, [3(Ca3(PO4)2.Ca(OH)2], the
(sodium and calcium chloride) are water enamel on the surface of the teeth, into much
soluble chemical pollutants. harder fluorapatite, [3(Ca 3 (PO 4 ) 2 .CaF 2 ].
408 CHEMISTRY
–
However, F ion concentration above 2 ppm pollution levels. Ensure that appropriate
causes brown mottling of teeth. At the same action is taken. You can write to the press
time, excess fluoride (over 10 ppm) causes also. Do not dump waste into a
harmful effect to bones and teeth, as reported household or industrial drain which can
from some parts of Rajasthan. enter directly to any water body, such as,
Lead: Drinking water gets contaminated with river, pond, stream or lake. Use compost
lead when lead pipes are used for instead of chemical fertilizers in gardens.
transportation of water. The prescribed upper Avoid the use of pesticides like DDT,
limit concentration of lead in drinking water malathion etc., at home and try to use
is about 50 ppb. Lead can damage kidney, dried neem leaves to help keep insects
liver, reproductive system etc. away. Add a few crystals of potassium
permanganate (KMnO 4) or bleaching
Sulphate: Excessive sulphate (>500 ppm) in powder to the water tank of your house.
drinking water causes laxative effect, otherwise
at moderate levels it is harmless.
14.4 SOIL POLLUTION
Nitrate: The maximum limit of nitrate in
India being an agriculture based economy
drinking water is 50 ppm. Excess nitrate in
gives high priority to agriculture, fisheries and
drinking water can cause disease such as
livestock development. The surplus
methemoglobinemia (‘blue baby’ syndrome).
production is stored by governmental and
Other metals: The maximum concentration non-governmental organisations for the lean
of some common metals recommended in season. The food loss during the storage also
drinking water are given in Table 14.2. needs special attention. Have you ever seen the
damages caused to the crops, food items by
insects, rodents, weeds and crop diseases etc?
Table 14.2 Maximum Prescribed Concen- How can we protect them? You are acquainted
tration of Some Metals in
with some insecticides and pesticides for
Drinking Water.
protection of our crops. However, these
Metal Maximum concentration insecticides, pesticides and herbicides cause
–3
(ppm or mg dm ) soil pollution. Hence, there is a need for their
Fe 0.2 judicious use.
Mn 0.05 14.4.1 Pesticides
Al 0.2 Prior to World War II, many naturally
Cu 3.0 occurring chemicals such as nicotine (by
Zn 5.0 planting tobacco plants in the crop field), were
Cd 0.005 used as pest controlling substance for major
crops in agricultural practices.
Activity 2 During World War II, DDT was found to be
of great use in the control of malaria and other
You can visit local water sources and insect-borne diseases. Therefore, after the war,
observe if the river/lake/tank/pond are DDT was put to use in agriculture to control
unpolluted/slightly polluted/ moderately the damages caused by insects, rodents, weeds
polluted or severely polluted by looking and various crop diseases. However, due to
at water or by checking pH of water. adverse effects, its use has been banned in
Document the name of the river and the India.
nearby urban or industrial site from
where the pollution is generated. Inform Pesticides are basically synthetic toxic
about this to Pollution Control Board’s chemicals with ecological repercussions. The
office set up by Government to measure repeated use of the same or similar pesticides
give rise to pests that are resistant to that
ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY 409
group of pesticides thus making the pesticides sodium chlorate (NaClO3), sodium arsinite
ineffective. Therefore, as insect resistance of (Na3AsO3) and many others. During the first
DDT increased, other organic toxins such as half of the last century, the shift from
Aldrin and Dieldrin were introduced in the mechanical to chemical weed control had
market by pesticide industry. Most of the provided the industry with flourishing
organic toxins are water insoluble and non- economic market. But one must remember that
biodegradable. These high persistent toxins these are also not environment friendly.
are, therefore, transferred from lower trophic Most herbicides are toxic to mammals but
level to higher trophic level through food chain are not as persistent as organo-chlorides.
(Fig.14.3). Over the time, the concentration of These chemicals decompose in a few months.
toxins in higher animals reach a level which Like organo-chlorides, these too become
causes serious metabolic and physiological concentrated in the food web. Some herbicides
disorders. cause birth defects. Studies show that corn-
fields sprayed with herbicides are more prone
to insect attack and plant disease than fields
that are weeded manually.
Pesticides and herbicides represent only a
very small portion of widespread chemical
pollution. A large number of other compounds
that are used regularly in chemical and
industrial processes for manufacturing
activities are finally released in the atmosphere
in one or other form.
quantities of toxic wastes are usually destroyed household discards, there are medical,
by controlled incineration, whereas small agricultural, industrial and mining wastes. The
quantities are burnt along with factory improper disposal of wastes is one of the major
garbage in open bins. Moreover, solid wastes causes of environmental degradation.
if not managed effectively, affect the Therefore, the management of wastes is of
components of the environment. utmost importance.
Collection and Disposal
Do you know about waste recycling?
Domestic wastes are collected in small bins,
• Fuel obtained from plastic waste has which are then transferred to community bins
high octane rating. It contains no lead by private or municipal workers. From these
and is known as “green fuel”. community bins, these are collected and
• Due to recent developments made in carried to the disposable site. At the site,
chemical and textile industries, clothes garbage is sorted out and separated into
will be made from recycled plastic biodegradable and non-biodegradable
waste. These will be available soon in materials. Non-biodegradable materials such
the global textile market. as plastic, glass, metal scraps etc. are sent for
• In India, our cities and towns face recycling. Biodegradable wastes are deposited
endless hours of power cut. We can also in land fills and are converted into compost.
see piles of rotting garbage here and
The waste if not collected in garbage bins,
there. There is a good news that we can
finds its way into the sewers. Some of it is eaten
get rid from both these problems
by cattle. Non-biodegradable wastes like
simultaneously. Technology has now
been developed to produce electricity
polythene bag, metal scraps, etc. choke the
from the garbage. A pilot plant has been sewers and cause inconvenience. Polythene
set up, where after removing ferrous bags, if swallowed by cattle can cost their lives
metals, plastic, glass, paper etc. from also.
garbage, it is mixed with water. It is then As a normal practice, therefore, all
cultured with bacterial species for domestic wastes should be properly collected
producing methane, commonly known and disposed. The poor management causes
as biogas. The remaining product is health problems leading to epidemics due to
used as manure and biogas is used to contamination of ground water. It is specially
produce electricity. hazardous for those who are in direct contact
with the waste such as rag pickers and workers
14.6 STRATEGIES TO CONTROL involved in waste disposal, as they are the ones
who handle waste materials mostly without
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
protective device such as gloves or water proof
After studying air, water, soil and industrial boots and gas masks. What can you do for
waste pollution in this unit, by now you must them?
have started feeling the need of controlling
environmental pollution: How can you save 14.7 GREEN CHEMISTRY
your immediate environment? Think of the 14.7.1 Introduction
steps/activities, which you would like to
It is well known fact that self-sufficiency in food
undertake for controlling air, water, soil and th
industrial waste pollution in your has been achieved in India since late 20
neighbourhood. Here, an idea about the century by using fertilizers and pesticides and
strategies for the management of waste is given. exploring improved methods of farming, good
quality seeds, irrigation etc. But over -
14.6.1 Waste Management exploitation of soil and excessive use of
Solid waste is not the only waste, which you fertilizers and pesticides have resulted in the
see in your household garbage box. Besides deterioration of soil, water and air.
ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY 411
The solution of this problem does not lie in tetrachloride etc., are highly toxic. One should
stopping the process of development that has be careful while using them.
been set in; but to discover methods, which
As you know, a chemical reaction involves
would help in the reduction of deterioration of
reactants, attacking reagents and the medium
the environment. Green chemistry is a way of
in which the reaction takes place. Extent of any
thinking and is about utilising the existing
knowledge and principles of chemistry and reaction depends upon physical parameters
other sciences to reduce the adverse impact like temperature, pressure and use of catalyst.
on environment. Green chemistry is a In a chemical reaction, if reactants are fully
production process that would bring about converted into useful environmental friendly
minimum pollution or deterioration to the products by using an environment friendly
environment. The byproducts generated medium then there would be no chemical
during a process, if not used gainfully, add pollutants introduced in the environment.
to the environmental pollution. Such During a synthesis, care must be taken to
processes are not only environmental
choose starting materials that can be converted
unfriendly but also cost-ineffective. The
into end products with yield approximately
waste generation and its disposal both are
economically unsound. Utilisation of existing upto 100 per cent. This can be achieved by
knowledge base for reducing the chemical arriving at optimum conditions of synthesis.
hazards along with the developmental It may be worthwhile to carry out synthetic
activities is the foundation of green reactions in aqueous medium since water has
chemistry. Have you perceived the idea of green high specific heat and low volatility. Water is
chemistry ? It is well known that organic cost effective, noninflammable and devoid of
solvents such as benzene, toluene, carbon any carcinogenic effects.
SUMMARY
energy for the sustainance of life. The increase in the greenhouse gases is raising the
temperature of the earth’s atmosphere which, if not checked, may eventually result in
melting of polar ice caps and consequently may submerge the costal land mass. Many
human activities are producing chemicals, which are responsible for the depletion of
ozone layer in the stratosphere, leading to the formation of ozone hole. Through the
ozone hole, ultraviolet radiations can penetrate into the earth’s atmosphere causing
mutation of genes. Water is the elixir of life but the same water, if polluted by pathogens,
organic wastes, toxic heavy metals, pesticides etc., will turn into poison. Therefore, one
should take care to follow international standards to maintain purity levels of drinking
water. Industrial wastes and excessive use of pesticides, result into pollution of land
mass and water bodies. Judicious use of chemicals required for agricultural practices
can lead to sustainable development. Strategies for controlling environmental
pollution can be: (i) waste management i.e., reduction of the waste and proper disposal,
also recycling of materials and energy, (ii) adopting methods in day-to-day life, which
results in the reduction of environmental pollution. The second method is a new branch
of chemistry, which is in its infancy known as green chemistry. It utilizes the existing
knowledge and practices so as to bring about reduction in the production of pollutants.
EXERCISES