CBSE CLASS VIII

AIR & WATER POLLUTION

What are the different ways in which water gets contaminated?

Water gets contaminated by the addition of:
Agricultural chemicals: Farmers use excessive amounts of pesticides and fertilizers to
increase crop production. These chemicals get carried away to the water bodies due to rains and
floods which lead to water pollution.
Industrial wastes: Industries release harmful chemical wastes into water sources, thereby
polluting them.
Sewage wastes: Waste materials from kitchens, toilets, and laundry sources are also
responsible for contaminating water.

At an individual level, how can you help reduce air pollution?

An individual can reduce air pollution by:
Avoiding the use of cars as much as possible and by using public transport whenever
possible.
By not using vehicles for short distances.
By using clean fuels such as LPG and CNG instead of diesel and petrol.
Always disposing the garbage properly and not burning it.
Controlling the emissions from vehicles and household chimneys.

Clear, transparent water is always fit for drinking. Comment.

Clear and transparent water is not always fit for drinking. Water might appear clean, but it may
contain some disease causing micro-organisms and other dissolved impurities. Hence, it is
advised to purify water before drinking. Purification can be done by water purifying systems or
by boiling the water.

Explain the differences between pure air and polluted air.

Pure Air Polluted air

Pure air contains around 78% nitrogen, 21% Polluted air includes gases like sulfur
oxygen, and 0.03% carbon dioxide also small dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, carbon dioxide,
amounts of argon, methane, ozone, and water etc. and other particulate matter.
vapours.

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Smog is not present. Smog can be present.

Not harmful for human beings Harmful for human beings as cause
diseases like asthma

Explain circumstances leading to acid rain. How does acid rain affect us?
When harmful gases like sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide, react with moisture present in air,
they form nitric acid and sulphuric acid. These acids when drop down on earth along with rain, is
called acid rain. Effects of acid rain:
Acid rains damage crops, decrease fertility of soil and affect aquatic life.
Acid rains corrode buildings and structures.

Which of the following is not a greenhouse gas?

(a) Carbon dioxide
(b) Sulphur dioxide
(c) Methane
(d) Nitrogen
(d) Nitrogen

Describe the 'Greenhouse Effect' in your own words.

The greenhouse effect is the rise in the temprature of the Earth's surface due to increased
concentration of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, methane, and water vapour in the
atmosphere. These gases trap solar radiations released back by the Earth. This helps in keeping
our planet warm and thus, helps in human survival. However, an increase in the amount of
greenhouse gases can lead to an increase in the Earth's temperature leading to global warming.

Why does the increased level of nutrients in the water affect the survival of aquatic
organisms?
The increased in the level of nutrients in the water leads to an excessive increase in the
population of algae in the water body. When these algae die, they serve as food for decomposers.
A lot of oxygen is utilised in this process, consequently leading to a decrease in the level of

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oxygen dissolved in the water body. This in turn causes fishes and other aquatic organisms to
die.

Describe the threat to the beauty of the Taj Mahal.

Acid rain is a major threat to the beauty of the Taj Mahal. When acid rains fall on the monument
made of marble, they react with marble to form a powder-like substance that is then washed
away by the rain. This phenomenon is known as marble cancer. Also, the soot particles emitted
from the Mathura oil refinery located near Agra is leading to the yellowing of the marble.

Substances that cause harmful changes in the air are called pollutants.
Air pollution is caused due to the presence of pollutants in the air.
Air pollution is caused by burning fossil fuels, like coal and petroleum, in industries, power
plants and vehicles, and by burning of firewood and dung cakes.
Pollutants are also released into the air by natural events like a dust storm, forest
fire or volcanic eruption.
Incomplete burning of fossil fuels, like petrol and diesel, results in the production of
colourless, odourless and toxic carbon monoxide gas.
Smog is a mix, in the air, of smoke and chemicals with fog.
The chemical components of smog can include ozone, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide
and carbon monoxide.
Smog can trigger breathing difficulties like asthma and coughing.
Pollutants like sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide are released in large quantities by
petroleum refineries.
These emissions can cause respiratory problems and also permanent lung damage.
CFCs or chlorofluorocarbons are synthetic products that contain carbon, chlorine and
fluorine.
They were formerly used as a refrigerant and as a propellant in aerosol or air sprays.

CFCs contribute to the depletion of the ozone layer that protects us from the harmful
ultraviolet rays of the sun.
Soot is released when automobiles burn fossil fuels, like petrol and diesel.
Pollutants like sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide, which are produced by industries like

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rubber processing, automobile chemicals and the Mathura oil refinery near Agra, are
responsible for the decolourisation of the Taj Mahal.
These gases react with water vapour in the atmosphere and form sulphuric acid and nitric
acid.
Precipitation carries these acids back to the earth as acid rain.
The corrosion of the Taj Mahal due to acid rain is called marble cancer.
Global warming has already started melting the polar ice caps, which has resulted in a rise in
the global sea level.
Gases, like methane, nitrous oxide and water vapour, also contribute to the greenhouse
effect, and, along with carbon dioxide, are collectively called the greenhouse gases.

Steps to prevent air pollution:

Use of fuels like CNG and unleaded petrol in automobiles.
Switching to alternative fuels, like solar energy, hydropower and wind energy.
Planting trees.
Travelling to school on a bicycle or on public transport or car pooling.
Avoiding the burning of leaves, trash and vegetable matter.
Restricting cigarette smoking.

Water covers two-thirds of the earths surface and makes up 75 per cent of the human body.
A water body is said to be polluted when toxic substances damage it, making it undrinkable
and also dangerous for organisms to live in it.

Harmful substances, like sewage, silt, toxic chemicals and domestic waste, are called water
pollutants. They spoil the quality of water by altering its smell and colour, and render it unfit
for drinking.

Pollution can enter a body of water in many ways, such as domestic sewage, agricultural run-
off containing fertilisers and pesticides, eroded soil, acid rain, chemicals released from
industries or other wastes from cities and towns.

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At places along the Ganga, people bathe, wash clothes and even defecate in the water.
They also throw huge quantities of garbage, flowers, idols of gods and goddesses, untreated
sewage, animal carcasses and non-biodegradable polythene bags directly into the river.
Chemical contamination of water due to chemicals, such as compounds of arsenic, fluorides
and lead, cause plants and animals to die.
The soil is also affected by polluted water, causing changes in its acidity, and, therefore,
the growth of plant life.
Polluted water is unsuitable for drinking, recreation, agriculture and industry.

Contaminated water destroys aquatic life and reduces its reproductive ability.
Water pollution drastically reduces the quantity of dissolved oxygen in water, which results in
the death of aquatic organisms.
Anaerobic micro-organisms release gases like methane and hydrogen sulphide, leaving
a foul-smelling, waste-filled body of water.
The large quantities of chemicals that are washed in from the fields are responsible for the
excessive growth of algae.
Once the algae die, it serves as a food for bacteria. As a result, a lot of oxygen in the water is
used up and many aquatic organisms die.

Water that is suitable for drinking is called potable water.

Sewage treatment plants treat wastewater to purify it before releasing it back
into rivers and lakes.
Municipal bodies treat water before supplying it to our households.
Some popular ways of making water potable are:

Using candle type water filters

Boiling
Chlorination
Reduce, reuse and recycle is a popular mantra and one that is so important for us to practise.
Steps to conserve water:
Rain water harvesting

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Using drip irrigation method in agriculture

Reusing the water used to wash vegetables
Minimising water consumption

Acid Rain : Oxides of nitrogen, sulphur, carbon produced by combustion of coal, petroleum,
etc,. dissolve in atmospheric water vapour. They form their corresponding acids like nitric acid,
sulphuric acid, etc., and reach the earths surface as acid rain.

Effects of acid rain

It irritates eyes and skin of human beings.
It inhibits germination and growth of seedlings.
It changes the fertility of the soil, destroys plants and aquatic life.
It causes corrosion of many buildings, bridges, etc.,

Control of air pollution :Air pollution can be minimized by the following methods:
1. Use of crude oil should be avoided and use of high quality fuels, unleaded petrol, bio-diesel
and compressed natural gas(CNG) should be recommended.
2. Use of automobiles should be minimized.
3. Industrial smokes must be filtered before releasing into the atmosphere.
4. By planting more trees to get pure air (O2) and reduce the CO2 content of the environment.

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