ASSIGNMENT ON

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

SHIVAJIRAO JONDHLE INSTITUTE OF

MANAGEMENT SCIENCE
AND RESEARCH

SUBMITTED BY:NAVIN.SHARMA

S.Y.M.M.S

ROLL NO.333

SUBMITTED TO: PROF. NAMEETA. SONASKAR

 CONVENTIONAL AND NON-CONVENTIONAL
SOURCES OF ENERGY

CONVENTIONAL SOURCES OF ENERGY

Your Dictionary.com defines conventional as "not unusual or extreme; ordinary." This fits well
with conventional energy sources in terms of being not unusual, however, the impact on society
by these sources has been anything but ordinary and have actually been quite extreme.
Conventional energy sources have demonstrated both extremely positive and negative
consequences. These negative effects have fueled the proliferation of alternative energy sources
in recent years.

Advantages

• Very large amounts of electricity can be generated in one place using coal, fairly cheaply.

• Transporting oil and gas to the power stations is easy.

• Gas-fired power stations are very efficient.

• A fossil-fuelled power station can be built almost anywhere, so long as you can get large
quantities of fuel to it.

COAL ENERGY

The use of coal in energy production causes many major problems, usually on a greater scale
than the use of oil or gas. Coal-burning produces acid rain, sulfur oxide emission, carbon
dioxide emission, poorer land, hazardous waste, and other problems.

Several forms of coal exist in the world. Anthracite, bituminous coal, lignite, and sub-
bituminous coal are all different types that are used by humans.

Coal is a nonrenewable energy source because it takes millions of years to create. The energy in
coal comes from the energy stored by plants that lived hundreds of millions of years ago, when
the Earth was partly covered with swampy forests.

For millions of years, a layer of dead plants at the bottom of the swamps was covered by layers
of water and dirt, trapping the energy of the dead plants. The heat and pressure from the top
layers helped the plant remains turn into what we today call coal.

NATURAL OILS
Crude oil is a complex mixture of hydrocarbons with small amounts of other chemicals such as
sulphur. The crude oil is useless as a mixture and must be sent to an oil refinery to be separated.
Crude oils from different parts of the world, or even from different depths in the same oilfield,
contain different mixtures of hydrocarbons and other compounds. This is why they vary from
light coloured volatile liquids to thick, dark oils. It's found way down in the ground, usually
between layers of rock. To get oil out, a well is dug. Digging a well is like putting a straw into a
can of pop. The oil is then pumped out of the ground, just like when you suck pop up the straw.
Oil is carried in pipelines and large tanker ships. A refinery changes the oil into products like
gasoline, jet fuel and diesel fuel. It's also burned in factories and power plants to make
electricity. The oil is burned, which produces gases that turn a turbine to create electricity.

Natural Gas

Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) is a fossil fuel substitute for gasoline, diesel, or propane
fuel. Although its combustion does produce greenhouse gases, it is a more environmentally
clean alternative to those fuels, and it is much safer than other fuels in the event of a spill
(natural gas is lighter than air, and disperses quickly when released). CNG is used in
traditional gasoline internal combustion engine cars that have been converted into bi-fuel
vehicles (gasoline/CNG). Natural gas vehicles are increasingly used in Europe and South
America due to rising gasoline prices. In response to high fuel prices and environmental
concerns, CNG is starting to be used also in light-duty passenger vehicles and pickup trucks,
medium-duty delivery trucks, transit and school buses, and trains. Italy currently has the
largest number of CNG vehicles in Europe and is the 4th country in the world for number of
CNG-powered vehicles in circulation. Canada is a large producer of natural gas, so it follows
that CNG is used in Canada as an economical motor fuel. Canadian industry has developed
CNG-fueled truck and bus engines, CNG-fueled transit buses, and light trucks and taxis.
Both CNG and propane refueling stations are not difficult to find in major centers. During
the 1970s and 1980s, CNG was commonly used in New Zealand in the wake of the oil crises,
but fell into decline after petrol prices receded.
NON-CONVENTIONAL SOURCES OF ENERGY

Wind power

Airflows can be used to run wind turbines. Modern wind turbines range from around 600 kW to
5 MW of rated power, although turbines with rated output of 1.5–3 MW have become the most
common for commercial use; the power output of a turbine is a function of the cube of the wind
speed, so as wind speed increases, power output increases dramatically. Areas where winds are
stronger and more constant, such as offshore and high altitude sites, are preferred locations for
wind farms. Typical capacity factors are 20-40%, with values at the upper end of the range in
particularly favourable sites.

Globally, the long-term technical potential of wind energy is believed to be five times total
current global energy production, or 40 times current electricity demand. This could require wind
turbines to be installed over large areas, particularly in areas of higher wind resources. Offshore
resources experience mean wind speeds of ~90% greater than that of land, so offshore resources
could contribute substantially more energy.

Hydropower

Energy in water can be harnessed and used. Since water is about 800 times denser than air,[24][25]
even a slow flowing stream of water, or moderate sea swell, can yield considerable amounts of
energy. There are many forms of water energy:

• Hydroelectric energy is a term usually reserved for large-scale hydroelectric dams.

Examples are the Grand Coulee Dam in Washington State and the Akosombo Dam in
Ghana.
• Micro hydro systems are hydroelectric power installations that typically produce up to
100 kW of power. They are often used in water rich areas as a remote-area power supply
(RAPS). There are many of these installations around the world, including several
delivering around 50 kW in the Solomon Islands.
• Damless hydro systems derive kinetic energy from rivers and oceans without using a
dam.
• Ocean energy describes all the technologies to harness energy from the ocean and the sea.
This includes marine current power, ocean thermal energy conversion, and tidal power.

Solar energy
Solar energy is the energy derived from the sun through the form of solar radiation. Solar
powered electrical generation relies on photovoltaics and heat engines. A partial list of other
solar applications includes space heating and cooling through solar architecture, daylighting,
solar hot water, solar cooking, and high temperature process heat for industrial purposes.

Solar technologies are broadly characterized as either passive solar or active solar depending on
the way they capture, convert and distribute solar energy. Active solar techniques include the use
of photovoltaic panels and solar thermal collectors to harness the energy. Passive solar
techniques include orienting a building to the Sun, selecting materials with favorable thermal
mass or light dispersing properties, and designing spaces that naturally circulate air.

Biomass

Biomass (plant material) is a renewable energy source because the energy it contains comes from
the sun. Through the process of photosynthesis, plants capture the sun's energy. When the plants
are burned, they release the sun's energy they contain. In this way, biomass functions as a sort of
natural battery for storing solar energy. As long as biomass is produced sustainably, with only as
much used as is grown, the battery will last indefinitely.[26]

In general there are two main approaches to using plants for energy production: growing plants
specifically for energy use, and using the residues from plants that are used for other things. The
best approaches vary from region to region according to climate, soils and geography.[26]

Biofuel

Liquid biofuel is usually either bioalcohol such as bioethanol or an oil such as biodiesel.

Bioethanol is an alcohol made by fermenting the sugar components of plant materials and it is
made mostly from sugar and starch crops. With advanced technology being developed, cellulosic
biomass, such as trees and grasses, are also used as feedstocks for ethanol production. Ethanol
can be used as a fuel for vehicles in its pure form, but it is usually used as a gasoline additive to
increase octane and improve vehicle emissions. Bioethanol is widely used in the USA and in
Brazil.

Biodiesel is made from vegetable oils, animal fats or recycled greases. Biodiesel can be used as a
fuel for vehicles in its pure form, but it is usually used as a diesel additive to reduce levels of
particulates, carbon monoxide, and hydrocarbons from diesel-powered vehicles. Biodiesel is
produced from oils or fats using transesterification and is the most common biofuel in Europe.

Biofuels provided 1.8% of the world's transport fuel in 2008.

Geothermal energy
Geothermal energy is energy obtained by tapping the heat of the earth itself, both from
kilometers deep into the Earth's crust in volcanically active locations of the globe or from
shallow depths, as in geothermal heat pumps in most locations of the planet. It is expensive to
build a power station but operating costs are low resulting in low energy costs for suitable sites.
Ultimately, this energy derives from heat in the Earth's core.

Three types of power plants are used to generate power from geothermal energy: dry steam,
flash, and binary. Dry steam plants take steam out of fractures in the ground and use it to directly
drive a turbine that spins a generator. Flash plants take hot water, usually at temperatures over
200 °C, out of the ground, and allows it to boil as it rises to the surface then separates the steam
phase in steam/water separators and then runs the steam through a turbine. In binary plants, the
hot water flows through heat exchangers, boiling an organic fluid that spins the turbine. The
condensed steam and remaining geothermal fluid from all three types of plants are injected back
into the hot rock to pick up more heat

The geothermal energy from the core of the Earth is closer to the surface in some areas than in
others. Where hot underground steam or water can be tapped and brought to the surface it may
be used to generate electricity. Such geothermal power sources exist in certain geologically
unstable parts of the world such as Chile, Iceland, New Zealand, United States, the Philippines
and Italy. The two most prominent areas for this in the United States are in the Yellowstone
basin and in northern California. Iceland produced 170 MW geothermal power and heated 86%
of all houses in the year 2000 through geothermal energy. Some 8000 MW of capacity is
operational in total

Tidal power

Tidal power, also called tidal energy, is a form of hydropower that converts the energy of tides
into electricity or other useful forms of power. The first large-scale tidal power plant (the Rance
Tidal Power Station) started operation in 1966.

Although not yet widely used, tidal power has potential for future electricity generation. Tides
are more predictable than wind energy and solar power. Among sources of renewable energy,
tidal power has traditionally suffered from relatively high cost and limited availability of sites
with sufficiently high tidal ranges or flow velocities, thus constricting its total availability.
However, many recent technological developments and improvements, both in design (e.g.
dynamic tidal power, tidal lagoons) and turbine technology (e.g. new axial turbines, crossflow
turbines), indicate that the total availability of tidal power may be much higher than previously
assumed, and that economic and environmental costs may be brought down to competitive
levels.

Nuclear Power
Nuclear power is any nuclear technology designed to extract usable energy from atomic nuclei
via controlled nuclear reactions. The only method in use today is through nuclear fission, though
other methods might one day include nuclear fusion and radioactive decay. All utility-scale
reactors heat water to produce steam, which is then converted into mechanical work for the
purpose of generating electricity or propulsion. In 2007, 14% of the world’s electricity came
from nuclear power, with the U.S., France, and Japan together accounting for 56.5% of nuclear
generated electricity. There are 439 nuclear power reactors in operation in the world, operating in
31 countries. According to the World Nuclear Association, globally during the 1980s one new
nuclear reactor started up every 17 days on average, and by the year 2015 this rate could increase
to one every 5 days.
Proponents of nuclear energy contend that nuclear power is a sustainable energy source that
reduces carbon emissions and increases energy security by decreasing dependence on foreign oil.
Proponents also emphasize that the risks of storing waste are small and can be further reduced by
using the latest technology in newer reactors, and the operational safety record in the Western
World is excellent when compared to the other major kinds of power plants. Critics believe that
nuclear power is a potentially dangerous energy source, with decreasing proportion of nuclear
energy in power production, and dispute whether the risks can be reduced through new
technology. Proponents advance the notion that nuclear power produces virtually no air
pollution, in contrast to the chief viable alternative of fossil fuel.
FOREST AND WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT

Wildlife and forest management are not only compatible, but are interrelated. Developing an
active management plan allows you to place a special emphasis on wildlife species you are
interested in, while improving forest productivity and increasing bio-diversity, beauty and
personal enjoyment.
Linking the forest and wildlife
Wildlife have four basic requirements: food, cover, water and space. Different wildlife species
require different stages of forest growth to meet these needs. Several aspects of your property
determine how many species can live and thrive in your forest - plant cover, harvest operations,
water resources and topography.

Your forest may have streams, swamps, rivers, ponds, and areas that adjoin fields, pastures,
roads and other openings. Even managing these "edges" of your forest is crucial to abundant
populations of some wildlife species. The relationships between vegetation manage - ment and
wildlife species habitat is well established. Understanding relationships is the first step in
determining how your ow n forest can be managed to promote the wildlife species you want to
attract.
For example, quail and partridge feed on seeds of annual and perennial weeds and grasses that
occur in young stands of timbers, where sunlight reaches the forest floor. This is early
successional habitat. Pileated woodpeckers depend on dead and rotting trees found in mature
forests. This is late successional habitat. Still other wildlife prefer mid-successional habitat.
Management practices impacts on wildlife

Young, even-aged forests benefit early successional wildlife species by encouraging forbs,
grasses and brush. The size and shape of harvest areas is important. There are several ways you
can improve the value of even-aged harvest/regen eration areas for wildlife.
Small harvest areas (up to 50 acres) scattered over the landscape provide more edge and
landscape diversity
Irregularly shaped areas provide more edge than square or round areas
Separating harvest areas with 100-foot (or wider) areas of uncut timber enhances diversity of
habitats and provides travel corridors between fragmented habitats
Buffer strips on streams protect water quality, but are also critical wildlife corridors
Islands of uncut timber within harvest areas will enhance wildlife habitat by leaving mast (food)
producing trees. Oaks, hickories, dogwoods, persimmons and berry producing shrubs are
excellent hard and soft mast species to leave
Uneven-aged forests
This method simulates minor natural disturbances such as wind throw, insect and disease
mortality, or spot fires. Mid and late succession habitat types are maintained with single tree
selection. Group selection provides pockets of early-succession vegetation interspersed within
the mid and late succession habitat.
Thinning
Thinning stands allows more sunlight to reach the forest floor resulting in more vigorous
understory growth. This practice sets back succession at the ground level, yet leaves some mid
and late successional trees in the overstory.
Controlled or prescribed burning

This controls woody vegetation, releases nutrients and increases seed germination and
herbaceous vegetation – including legumes and grasses. Controlled burning in stands of fire
resistant tree species sets back succession just as a raging wildfire would do, but without the
damage to potential timber crop trees. Burning cannot be used in many regions and certain types
of forests.
Very light, cool burns are now being used in hardwood forests, particularly to favor oaks which
produce important hard mast. Before conducting any burn, consult a professional forester.
Den trees and mast trees

These trees are critically important for food and cover. Den trees have one or more cavities used
by birds, reptiles and mammals for roosting or nesting. As a rule, two to four den trees per acre
should be left in any thinned or harvested area.

Small den trees might house chickadees, woodpeckers, screech owls or flying squirrels. Large
den trees are used by squirrels, raccoons, wood ducks and occasionally, even a bear. Mast trees
produce fruits and nuts used by wildlife for food. Hickory, oaks, beech, persimmon,
serviceberry, black gum, hollies, hawthorns, dogwoods, grapevines and many other species are
valuable to wildlife. The ideal time to select and mark den and mast trees is before you thin or
harvest your timber.
Road construction and maintenance
Access to your property is essential and can provide multiple benefits. Proper location, design
and construction increases the value and enjoyment of your forest. One practice that benefits
wildlife is 'daylighting.' In this process, trees shading the road surface are removed. Sunlight on
the road surface enhances the growth and proliferation of grasses and weeds which are food
plants for wildlife. Insects attracted to the vegetation are also an important food source for many
wildlife species.

Restricting vehicle traffic also increases wildlife use, particularly during nesting season.
Establishing ground cover or wildlife food plots

Along roads, forest edges, logging decks, in created openings, food and ground cover vegetation
controls erosion, improves water quality and can enhance wildlife food and cover.
Seeding and establishment recommendations vary widely depending on geographic region, soil
type, moisture availability and fertility. Successful plantings require soil testing, fertilization,
adequate seedbed preparation and planting at the appropriate time. Most ground covers require
maintenance by mowing, discing, burning, fertilization or liming. Consult a natural resources
professional for specific recommendations for your area.

AIR, NOISE AND SOIL POLLUTION

 Air pollution

Air pollution is the introduction of chemicals, particulate matter, or biological materials that
cause harm or discomfort to humans or other living organisms, or cause damage to the natural
environment or built environment, into the atmosphere.
The atmosphere is a complex dynamic natural gaseous system that is essential to support life on
planet Earth. Stratospheric ozone depletion due to air pollution has long been recognized as a
threat to human health as well as to the Earth's ecosystems.
Indoor air pollution and urban air quality are listed as two of the world's worst pollution
problems in the 2008 Blacksmith Institute World's Worst Polluted Places report
Causes and Effects of Air Pollution

The major air pollutants are sulfur dioxides, carbon monoxides, carbon dioxides, nitrogen oxides
and particulate matters. Among several different causes of air pollution, burning of fossil fuels,
such as coal, petroleum and gasoline is the main source. Fossil fuels are used in all major
industries, including the automobiles, jet planes, manufacturing industries, power plants,
petroleum refineries etc.

In the United States, automobile exhaust and power plants are responsible for more than 90
percent of air pollution. Carbon dioxide gas, which is used by the plants for photosynthesis, is
identified as the major cause of global warming. Nitrogen oxide and sulfur dioxide, when
dissolved in water, can cause acid rain, which in turn, leads to water pollution and and affects the
aquatic life.

Air pollutants, either present inside the house (indoor pollutants) or outside (outdoor pollutants),
are hazardous to humans. The effects of air pollution on the human health are many; to mention a
few, air pollution can cause respiratory diseases and irritation of eyes and throat. The common
symptoms observed after exposure to a high level air pollution are chest tightness, burning eyes
and cough. Those with certain medical conditions like heart disease and asthma are more
susceptible to the hazards of air pollution than others. The effect of air pollution is more serious
in case of children; prolonged exposure to air pollution can lead to earache, bronchitis and
asthma in children.

Ways to Prevent Air Pollution

The fact is that human activities contribute the most to air pollution. Considering the harmful
effects of air pollution, now it is very essential that everyone should contribute a bit to prevent air
pollution. There are certain ways that one can help to reduce the emission of air pollutants in the
atmosphere. Following are some tips for preventing air pollution:

Car Pool: Forming and implementing a car pool will reduce the number of cars, thereby,
preventing air pollution by cutting down the use of fossil fuels. This way, it will help in the
sustainable use of fossil fuel and its conservation for the future generations.

Vehicle Care: Timely servicing of the car helps to keep it in a good condition and also minimizes
fuel exhaust. Driving the car at an average speed and turning off in traffic is a key to save fuel.
Make sure to use unleaded petrol and opt for regular pollution checking of your car.

Public Transport: Whenever possible, try to travel by public transports. This helps in two ways;
prevents air pollution and increases public income. If you are going to a nearby place, go by
walking or use bicycle, instead of using your vehicle. The objective is to minimize the use of fuels,
as far as possible.

Alternative Energy Source: Another effective way to prevent air pollution is to use alternative
energy sources such as solar energy, hydroelectric energy and wind energy. Nowadays,
sophisticated technologies such as wind turbine, solar water heaters are introduced to generate
electricity and other energy forms for the household use.

Saving Energy: Saving energy will, of course, help to prevent air pollution. Switch off the lights,
fans, air conditioners, televisions, and other appliances, when not in use. You can also share a
room with others when the air conditioner or fan is on, instead of switching them on in every
room.

Minimize Air Pollutants: Always try to minimize smoke emission, as it can contribute to air
pollution. One way is to compost dried leaves and kitchen waste, instead of burning them.
Composting will also give you organic fertilizer for your garden. While buying the products,
always choose air-friendly and recyclable products that will minimize the emission of pollutants.

Social awareness about air pollution is the most essential step to be taken for the prevention of air
pollution. Awareness programs and/or advertisements should be encouraged, so that people
understand the potential health hazards of air pollution. Improvement of transport facilities and
proper use of land for the sake of social benefits are equally important for controlling air pollution.
Noise pollution

Noise can be defined as an unwanted or undesired sound. Decibel is the standard unit for
measurement of sound. Usually 80 db is the level at which sound becomes physically painful.
And can be termed as noise. Humans, animals, plants and even inert objects like buildings and
bridges have been victims of the increasing noise pollution caused in the world. Be it human or
machine-created, noise disrupts the activity and balance of life. While traffic dons the cap of
being the largest noise maker throughout the world, there are many others that add to it, making
our globe susceptible to its effects. The effect of noise pollution is multi-faceted and inter-
related. In the following lines, we have provided some of the causes and effects of noise
pollution.

Causes Of Noise Pollution

• Traffic noise is the main source of noise pollution caused in urban areas. With the ever-
increasing number of vehicles on road, the sound caused by the cars and exhaust system
of autos, trucks, buses and motorcycles is the chief reason for noise pollution.
• With the low flying military aircrafts soaring over the national parks, wasteland and other
vacant areas, the level of noise pollution has drastically increased in these previously
unaffected zones.
• People living beside railway stations put up with a lot of noise from locomotive engines,
horns and whistles and switching and shunting operation in rail yards. This is one of the
major sources of noise pollution.
• To meet the demands of the basic necessity of living, the construction of buildings,
highways and city streets causes a lot of noise. Pneumatic hammers, air compressors,
bulldozers, loaders, dump trucks and pavement breakers are the major sources of noise
pollution in construction sites.
• Though not a prime reason, industrial noise adds to the noise pollution. Machinery,
motors and compressors used in the industries create a lot of noise which adds to the
already detrimental state of noise pollution.
• Plumbing, boilers, generators, air conditioners and fans create a lot of noise in the
buildings and add to the prevailing noise pollution.
• Household equipments, such as vacuum cleaners, mixers and some kitchen appliances are
noisemakers of the house. Though they do not cause too much of problem, their effect
cannot be neglected.

Effects Of Noise Pollution

• Deafness, temporary or permanent, is one of the most prevalent effects of noise pollution.
Mechanics, locomotive drivers, telephone operators etc all have their hearing impairment.
• The first and foremost effect of noise is a decrease in the efficiency in working. Research
has proved the fact that human efficiency increases with noise reduction.
• Too much of noise disturbs the rhythms of working, thereby affecting the concentration
required for doing a work. Noise of traffic or the loud speakers or different types of horns
divert the attention, thus causing harm in the working standard.
• Fatigue caused is another effect of noise. Due to lack of concentration, people need to
devote more time to complete their task, which leads to tiredness and fatigue.
• Noise pollution acts as a stress invigorator, increasing the stress levels among people.
• Sometimes, being surrounded by too much of noise, people can be victims of certain
diseases like blood pressure, mental illness, etc.
• Noise pollution indirectly affects the vegetation. Plants require cool & peaceful
environment to grow. Noise pollution causes poor quality of crops.
• Animals are susceptible to noise pollution as well. It damages the nervous system of the
animals.
• Noise indirectly weakens the edifice of buildings, bridges and monuments. It creates
waves, which can be very dangerous and harmful and put the building in danger
condition.

WAYS TO PREVENT NOISE POLLUTION

• Do not use car horns unnecessarily. Areas like hospitals and campuses are silence
zones and honking is prohibited there.
• Avoid loud music, which hurts your ears and others' ears.
• Firecrackers are extremely loud. So don't try and burn them unnecessarily.
• Motors, machines and vehicles also produce loud noises when not maintained
properly. Proper maintenance should be carried out for better performance.
• If you are working in an area where there are loud noises, you must wear earplugs
to prevent loss of hearing.
• When going to theme parks and such, avoid riding on the rides which produce a
lot of noise. One example is the ATV, which is like a huge motorbike.
• Turn off the engine of your car or motorbike when you are not using it. It stops
the annoying hum, and reduces air pollution!
• Better off, walk or cycle to school! It does wonders to the environment, reduces
the amount of air pollution and noise, and makes you fit!
SOIL POLLUTION

Soil contamination (soil pollution) is caused by the presence of xenobiotic (human-made)

chemicals or other alteration in the natural soil environment. This type of contamination typically
arises from the rupture of underground storage tanks, application of pesticides, percolation of
contaminated surface water to subsurface strata, oil and fuel dumping, leaching of wastes from
landfills or direct discharge of industrial wastes to the soil. The most common chemicals
involved are petroleum hydrocarbons, solvents, pesticides, lead and other heavy metals. This
occurrence of this phenomenon is correlated with the degree of industrialization and intensities
of chemical usage.

What is soil pollution anyways? Soil pollution is defined or can be described as the
contamination of soil of a particular region. Soil pollution mainly is a result of penetration of
harmful pesticides and insecticides, which on one hand serve whatever their main purpose is, but
on the other hand, bring about deterioration in the soil quality, thus making it contaminated and
unfit for use. Insecticides and pesticides are not to be blamed alone for soil pollution, but there
are many other leading causes of soil pollution too. Let us have a look at some of them in the
following text.

What Causes Soil Pollution?

Soil pollution is a result of many activities and experiments done by mankind and some of the
leading soil pollution causes are discussed below.

• Industrial wastes, such as harmful gases and chemicals, agricultural pesticides, fertilizers
and insecticides are the most important causes of soil pollution.
• Ignorance towards soil management and related systems.
• Unfavorable and harmful irrigation practices.
• Improper septic system and management and maintenance of the same.
• Leakages from sanitary sewage.
• Acid rains, when fumes released from industries get mixed with rains.
• Fuel leakages from automobiles, that get washed away due to rain and seep into the
nearby soil.
• Unhealthy waste management techniques, which are characterized by release of sewage
into the large dumping grounds and nearby streams or rivers.

The intensity of all these causes on a local or regional level might appear very small and you
may argue that soil is not harmed by above activities if done on a small scale! However, thinking
globally, it is not your region or my place, that will be the only sufferer of soil pollution. In fact,
it is the entire planet and mankind that will encounter serious problems, as these practices are
evident almost everywhere in the world. Want to know what are those problems, which can turn
more serious in the near future?
What are the Effects of Soil Pollution?

The effects of pollution on soil are quite alarming and can cause huge disturbances in the
ecological balance and health of living creatures on earth. Some of the most serious soil pollution
effects are mentioned below.

• Decrease in soil fertility and therefore decrease in the soil yield. Definitely, how can one
expect a contaminated soil to produce healthy crops?
• Loss of soil and natural nutrients present in it. Plants also would not thrive in such a soil,
which would further result in soil erosion.
• Disturbance in the balance of flora and fauna residing in the soil.
• Increase in salinity of the soil, which therefore makes it unfit for vegetation, thus making
it useless and barren.
• Generally crops cannot grow and flourish in a polluted soil. Yet if some crops manage to
grow, then those would be poisonous enough to cause serious health problems in people
consuming them.
• Creation of toxic dust leading is another potential effect of soil pollution.
• Foul smell due to industrial chemicals and gases might result in headaches, fatigue,
nausea, etc. in many people.
• Soil pollutants would bring in alteration in the soil structure, which would lead to death
of many essential organisms in it. This would also affect the larger predators and compel
them to move to other places, once they lose their food supply.

Soil pollution can be prevented by the following methods:

1. Improved agricultural techniques and reduction of chemical fertilizer and
pesticide: Improved agricultural methods might help to reduce the washing of
fertilisers into water -ways. Crop rotation or mixed cropping can improve the fertility
of the land. Applying bio-fertilizers and manures can reduce chemical fertilizer and
pesticide use. Biological methods of pest control can also reduce the use of pesticides
and thereby minimize soil pollution.
2. Proper solid waste management: This is very important method for the
prevention of soil pollution. An efficient system of disposal should be developed to
deal with domestic solid waste. Industrial wastes can be treated physically,
chemically and biologically until they are less hazardous. Acidic and alkaline wastes
should be first neutralized; the insoluble material if biodegradable should be allowed
to degrade under controlled conditions before being disposed. Solid wastes should be
pre treated and recycles and only minimum quantity of such wastes should be
discharged.
3. Creating laws: Proper legislation should be passed and strictly enforced for the
prevention of soil pollution. Stringent laws should be imposed on defaulters.
4. Reforestation: Reforestation and plantation of grasses helps a lot in the
prevention of soil pollution. In afforestation, native species should be proffered over
exotic species. Control of land loss and soil erosion can be attempted through
restoring forest and grass cover to check wastelands, soil erosion and floods.
5. Recycling: Recycling is another method for the prevention of soil pollution.
Recycling paper, plastics and other materials reduces the volume of refuse in landfills,
another common cause of soil pollution.
6. Educating people: Public awareness and involvement to combat the weeds like
Parthenium and Eupatorium.
WATER, MARINE POLLUTION AND SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT.

WATER & MARINE POLLUTION

Water pollution is the contamination of water bodies (e.g. lakes, rivers, oceans and groundwater).
Water pollution occurs when pollutants are discharged directly or indirectly into water bodies
without adequate treatment to remove harmful compounds.

Water pollution affects plants and organisms living in these bodies of water; and, in almost all
cases the effect is damaging not only to individual species and populations, but also to the
natural biological communities.

Marine pollution is the release of by-products of human activity that cause harm to natural
marine ecosystems. The pollutants may be sewage, farm waste, toxic chemicals, or inert
materials that may smother, choke, or strangle living organisms. Sewage, animal waste, and
chemical fertilizers all have a high content of nitrogen and phosphorus. Artificially high levels of
these substances in the water promote excessive growth of microscopic or macroscopic plants,
in a process called eutrophication. When these plants accumulate, die, and decay, they cause
low oxygen content in the water. Even if sewage is treated to remove solids, the liquid
discharged contains high levels of nitrogen and phosphorus. Intensive cultivation of animals in
feedlots, or application of more fertilizer than a crop can absorb, also cause runoff rich in
nitrogen and phosphorus that find their way into rivers and estuaries. Vehicle exhausts and
industrial chimneys are large sources of nitrogen compounds that are transported in the
atmosphere and deposited in coastal waters

Causes And Effects Of Marine Pollution

Causes

• Accidental and deliberate discharge of crude oil into the ocean by cargo ships is regarded
as one of the prime causes of pollution of the water body.
 • Dumping of industrial wastes into ocean is another reason for marine pollution. The
wastes often contain toxic materials such as mercury, dioxin, PCBs, PAHs and
radioactive materials, which contaminate the water of ocean.
• Deposition of sediments from mining leads to ocean pollution.
• Trash washed into the ocean after heavy rain or floods gives rise to marine debris, which
pollutes the water body.
• Dumping of human wastes, plastic and disposal of untreated or partially treated sewage
water into the ocean is called 'garbage dumping'. This is one of the leading causes of
marine pollution.
• Carbon dioxide, emitted by automobiles, due to the burning of fossil fuels, leads to air
pollution. The contaminated air containing carbon dioxide reaches the ocean in the form
of acid rain, thereby polluting the water.

Effects

• Oil spilling is hazardous for the marine life. It seriously affects the life cycle of coral
reefs thriving in the ocean. The oil spilled in the ocean could clog up the gills of fishes,
thereby preventing respiration. It affects the process of photosynthesis of marine plants,
since it blocks the sunlight.
• Toxic wastes have direct effect on marine life and affect the human beings indirectly.
When the harmful toxic wastes are dumped into the ocean, the fishes could consume the
poisonous chemicals. When the fish is eaten by humans, this could lead to food
poisoning.
• Dumping of garbage into ocean can deplete the oxygen dissolved in water. As a result,
the health of marine life is affected seriously. Due to lack of oxygen, the sea animals
including whales, seals, herrings, dolphins, penguins and sharks could perish.
• Carbon dioxide is hazardous for marine life including coral reefs and free-swimming
algae.
• Plastics dumped into ocean can affect the marine life seriously. Plastic items such as
bottles and bags could choke and suffocate the sea animals, as they eat them thinking that
they are food. Plastics are known to be a major cause for the death of turtles, as they
swallow the floating bags, mistaking them for jelly fish.
• Dumping of industrial wastes such as pesticides, especially DDT, can accumulate in the
fatty tissue of animals. This could lead to the failure in the reproductive system of
mammals and birds.

MARINE Pollution Prevention

Prevention of marine water pollution emphasizes on identifying the various ocean pollution
causes and finding a solution for them. These include
 • Ensuring that there is no leakage of crude oil from tankers by regular monitoring of
vessels by proper agencies.
• Declaring deliberate discharge of crude oil by vessels and industrial waste by industries
on land as an offense with a significant penalty.
• Ensuring that garbage produced by humans is treated properly instead of just dumping it
in the oceans.
• Ensuring that the amount of air pollution, which causes phenomena such as acid rain, is
lessened if not totally curbed.
• Understanding the importance of marine life for us and making sure that we don't cause
harm to them.

More importantly, rather than just talking about such measures, proper implementation at all the
levels has to be ensured if we intend to make the crusade of 'clean oceans' successful.

These were some of the ocean pollution causes, their effects on various life forms, and the
preventive measures we need to take to mend the damage that has been already done. We can't
just leave the prevention part to the authorities, in fact, it's the steps at individual level will
ensure that no further damage is caused. We need to understand that irrespective of what
development we achieve in various sciences, success will always elude us when we take on
nature.
SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT.

Solid waste management is one among the basic essential services provided by municipal
authorities in the country to keep urban centers clean. However, it is among the most poorly
rendered services in the basket—the systems applied are unscientific, outdated and inefficient;
population coverage is low; and the poor are marginalized. Waste is littered all over leading to
insanitary living conditions. Municipal laws governing the urban local bodies do not have
adequate provisions to deal effectively with the ever-growing problem of solid waste
management. With rapid urbanization, the situation is becoming critical. The urban population
has grown fivefold in the last six decades with 285.35 million people living in urban areas as per
the2001 Census.

Solid waste management is a polite term for garbage management. As long as humans have been
living in settled communities, solid waste, or garbage, has been an issue, and modern societies
generate far more solid waste than early humans ever did. Daily life in industrialized nations can
generate several pounds of solid waste per consumer, not only directly in the home, but
indirectly in factories that manufacture goods purchased by consumers. Solid waste management
is a system for handling all of this garbage; municipal waste collection is solid waste
management, as are recycling programs, dumps, and incinerators.

To the great benefit of archeology, early solid waste management consisted of digging pits and
throwing garbage into them. This created a record of the kinds of lives that people lived, showing
things like what people ate, the materials used to make eating utensils, and other interesting
glimpses into historic daily life. When human cities began to be more concentrated, however,
solid waste management became a serious issue. Houses that did not have room to bury their
garbage would throw it into the streets, making a stroll to the corner store an unpleasant prospect.
In response, many cities started to set up municipal garbage collection, in the form of rag and
bone men who would buy useful garbage from people and recycle it, or waste collection teams
which would dispose of unusable garbage.

To the great benefit of archeology, early solid waste management consisted of digging pits and
throwing garbage into them. This created a record of the kinds of lives that people lived, showing
things like what people ate, the materials used to make eating utensils, and other interesting
glimpses into historic daily life. When human cities began to be more concentrated, however,
solid waste management became a serious issue. Houses that did not have room to bury their
garbage would throw it into the streets, making a stroll to the corner store an unpleasant prospect.
In response, many cities started to set up municipal garbage collection, in the form of rag and
bone men who would buy useful garbage from people and recycle it, or waste collection teams
which would dispose of unusable garbage. There are a number of types of solid waste which
need to be dealt with. The first is recyclable waste, objects which are useful, but no longer
wanted. Solid waste management includes the construction of facilities to recycle these goods,
which include scrap metal, glass, cans, paper, plastics, wood, and similar materials. Another
category is toxic waste; waste which could potentially contaminate the environment, meaning
that it needs to be handled with care. This category includes electronic waste, a growing problem
in many industrialized nations. Next is green waste such as compost and yard clippings. People
with land can compost their own green waste, and many cities collect it separately from true
garbage, the final category, so that the green waste can be composted and returned to the earth.