What is pollution.?

Pollution is an undesirable change in the physical,

chemical or biological characteristics of our air, land
and water that may or will harmfully affect human life
or that of desirable species, or industrial processes,
living conditions, and cultural assets; or may or will
waste or deteriorate our raw material resources
Waste management and control
Committee on Pollution, National
Academy of Sciences, 1966

Pollution

Increasing population and needs of present

civilization

therefore generation of waste

Air, Water & Solid

therefore

immediate

need

for

approach to manage the environment

systems

Waste Generation
Processe
s&
Activitie
s

Domestic or
Industrial

Wastewater
Sludge
Solidwaste
Air
Pollutants

Biodegradable or
Hazardous or
Non-biodegradable Non-hazardous

Ranking of waste management actions Waste

Management Hierarchy

The 3R
concept
Reduce
Reuse
Recycle

Types of pollutants

Air Pollution

Noise Pollution

Water Pollution

Thermal Pollution

Marine Pollution

Soil Pollution

Nuclear Pollution

Air Pollution

Books..

Current Environmental
K.K.Garg

S.C.Jain

&

TIET Library

Environmental Science - G.T.Miller

Issues

TCIRD Library

Text book of Environmental Chemistry & Pollution

Control S.S. Dara

S.Chand Publication

Air Pollution

Definition

A state of atmosphere that poses a threat to

the human health and/or the environment

Pollutant

Substances added in significant concentration

to produce harmful effects on humans and
other animals or on vegetation

Air pollutants

Two catagories Gaseous & Particulates

Sources

Types natural & man-made

Number & Spathial distribution Point
source, Area/volume source, Line source

Types of emissions Gas/particles

Another catagorization

Primary pollutants

Secondary Pollutants

Air pollutants

Primary pollutants
Are emitted directly from an identifiable source
Suspended particulate matter, Nitrogen oxides,
Sulphur oxides and other compounds, carbon
monoxide, hydrocarbons, lead, allergic agents
like pollen and spores
Secondary Pollutants
Produced due to (a) interaction of two or more
primary pollutants or (b) by reaction of primary
pollutants with normal air constituents with or
withoug photo-activation
More
harmful than the original primary
pollutants from which they have formed
Sulphuric
acid, formaldehydes, peroxy-acyl
nitrate

Sources of air pollutants

Activities

Pollutants

Transportation

Lead & carbon Particulates, SOx,

NOx, CO, Benzopyrene

Thermal Power Plants

Particulates, SOx, NOx

Industrial Activities

Particulates, SOx, NOx, metals

Lead, CFCs

Biomass burning

Particulates, SOx, NOx, CO

Domestic activites

Minor combustion gases

Primary Pollutant Gaseous components

Carbon monoxide (CO)

is a colourless, odourless gas

produced by the incomplete burning of carbon-based

fuels including petrol, diesel, and wood.

also produced from the combustion of natural and

synthetic products such as cigarettes.

It lowers the amount of oxygen that enters our blood.

It can slow our reflexes and make us confused and

sleepy.

Primary Pollutant components

Chloroflorocarbons (CFC)
are gases that are released mainly from air-conditioning
systems and refrigeration.
CFCs rise to the stratosphere, where they come in contact
with few other gases, which leads to a reduction of the ozone
layer that protects the earth from the harmful ultraviolet rays
of the sun.
Carbon dioxide (CO2)
is the principle greenhouse gas emitted as a result of human
activities such as the burning of coal, oil, and natural gases.

Primary Pollutant Components

Nitrogen oxide (NOx)
causes smog and acid rain.
It is produced from burning fuels including petrol, diesel,
and coal.
Nitrogen oxides can make children susceptible to
respiratory diseases in winters.
Sulphur dioxide (SO2)
is a gas produced from burning coal, mainly in thermal
power plants.
Some industrial processes, such as production of paper and
smelting of metals, produce sulphur dioxide.
It is a major contributor to smog and acid rain.
Sulfur dioxide can lead to lung diseases.

Primary Pollutant Components

Suspended particulate matter (SPM)
consists of solids in the air in the form of smoke, dust, and
vapour that can remain suspended for extended periods
is also the main source of haze which reduces visibility.
The finer of these particles, when breathed in can lodge in
our lungs and cause lung damage and respiratory
problems.
SPM can also constitute pollen dust and microbial
organisms

Secondary Pollutants Acid rain

H2SO4 & HNO3

Secondary Pollutants
Acid rain
The phenomenon occurs when sulphur dioxide and nitrogen
oxides from the burning of fossil fuels such as, petrol, diesel,
and coal combine with water vapour in the atmosphere and fall
as rain, snow or fog. These gases can also be emitted from
natural sources like volcanoes.
Acid rain causes extensive damage to water, forest, soil
resources and even human health.
It can corrode buildings and be hazardous to human health.
Because the contaminants are carried long distances, the
sources of acid rain are difficult to pinpoint and hence difficult to
control.
It has Trans-boundary implications.

Acid rain
Effects
Damage to structures (metallic and non-metallic)
Deterioration of Biota
Health effects such as respiratory disorders
Transboundary implication

Secondary PollutantsPhotochemical smog

Photochemical smog
Effects

stimulation of the eye (smarting eye, watery eye),

membrane irritation in the nose, throat and respiratory
airway

It is known that oxidant induces asthmatic fits

Among the reports, there were a few cases in which

victims complained of serious symptoms such as pains in
the chest,

dyspnea,

numbness

in

the

limbs,

and

convulsions
Deaths in cases such as London smog, Los Angeles smog

Secondary Pollutants.. Ground level ozone

..Ground level ozone

Effects
especially harmful for seniors, children, asthmatics, and
people with heart and lung conditions.
can inflame breathing passages, decreasing the lung's
working capacity, and causing shortness of breath, pain
when inhaling deeply, wheezing, and coughing.
and interfere with the body's ability to fight infection,
increasing susceptibility to illness.

Secondary pollutant effects ..

Depletion of Ozone layer

Thickness of ozone layer measured in Dobson Units

(Du)
One Dobson is equal to 0.01mm of compressed
gas at pressure of 760mm mercury at 00C

Average thickness of ozone layer in stratosphere

around 300 dobson units

Marginally varies with locations and seasons

Depletion of Ozone layerChemistry

CFCs

Cl + O3

ClO + O3 or O

Cl

ClO

+
O2

2O2 or O2 + Cl

Depletion of Ozone layerChemistry

Wide range of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are

synthesized
Trichlorofluoromethane (usually called CFC-11 or
R-11);
Dichlorodifluoromethane, (CFC-12 or R-12); and
1,1,2 Trichlorotrifluoroethane, (CFC-113 or R-113).

CFCs have long atmospheric residence time

Remain in trophosphere upto 40 years followed by

movement to stratosphere with longer residence
period

Undergo photochemical reactions during residence

time

Chlorine and bromine compounds remain in active

state for more than 100 years with potential to

Depletion of Ozone layerDimensions

First discovered in 1979 and scientifically validated in 1985

in Antarctica

In 1987 and 1989-95 it covered the entire Antarctic continent

and part of the surrounding ocean

As of December 2004 -The ozone hole (where ozone values

are below 220 DU) covers around 15 - 20 million square
kilometres (based on seasonal variations) - 40% below
normal

The edge of the ozone hole passed over the southern tip of
South America, the Falkland Islands and South Georgia

Depletion of Ozone layerEffects

16% reduction of ozone concentration - increase UV-B

radiation (280 and 315 nm) penetration to earth

UV radiation intensity increase by 2% with every 1%

decrease in ozone concentration

UV-B potentially damages genetic material (DNA) and

photosynthetic chemicals (plastoquinine and plastoquinol)

Free radical induced health effects

Decrease in ocean productivity due to destruction of

planktons on which fish feed

Higher UV incidence results in higher earth temperature and

melting of polar caps

Lower food productivity in temperate regions and loss of

biodiversity

Depletion of Ozone layer

Global efforts
The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone
Layer
Negotiated and signed by 24 countries and by the EEC in
September 1987
The Montreal Protocol is one of the first international
environmental agreements that includes trade sanctions to
achieve the stated goals of a treaty

The Protocol stipulates that the production and consumption

of ozone depleting chemicals to be phased out by 2010 (2005
for methyl chloroform).

Fluorocarbon Alternatives to CFCs..

Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs)
HCFC-22

CHClF2

HCFC-123

CHCl2CF3

ozone depletion potentials

HCFC-124

CHClF2CF3

(ODPs) and global warming

HCFC-141b

CH3CCl2F

potentials (GWPs) of HCFCs

HCFC-142b

CH3CClF2

and HFCs are much smaller

HCFC-225ca

CHCl2CF2CF3

than those for the CFCs, and

HCFC-225cb

CHClFCF2CClF2

they do not contribute to

HFC-32

CH2F2

tropospheric ozone or acid

HFC-125

CHF2CF3

deposition.

HFC-134a

CH2FCF3

HFC-143a

CH CF

Secondary Pollutants.. Green house effect

Secondary Pollutants.. Green house effect

Carbon dioxide, aerosols, etc

.. Green house effect

Green House Gases
Many chemical compounds found in the Earths atmosphere
act as greenhouse gases.
Some of them occur in nature (water vapor, ozone, carbon
dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide), while others are
exclusively human-made (like gases used for aerosols,
CFCs).
These gases allow sunlight to enter the atmosphere freely.
When sunlight strikes the Earths surface, some of it is
reflected back towards space as infrared radiation (heat).
Greenhouse gases absorb this infrared radiation and trap the
heat in the atmosphere.

.. Green house effect

Natural processes can absorb some of the net 6.1 billion metric
tons of anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions produced each
year (measured in carbon equivalent terms),
But, an estimated 3.2 billion metric tons is added to the
atmosphere annually.
Positive imbalance between emissions and absorption results in
the continuing growth in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

.. Green house effect

Effects
Increase in global temperature
World temperature increasing by 0.70C
Combined effect of increased carbondioxide and methane
emissions to increase temperature further by 0.40C
Climatic Changes
More warming and colder winters at higher altitudes than tropics
Warming of poles 2-3 times of global average
Warming of tropics 50-100 percent of average
Disturbance in thermal gradient
Disturbances in global climatic cycles such as rainfall schedules
Disturbances in global water balance

.. Green house effect

Global efforts
Global Climate Change Treaty: The Kyoto Protocol
Responding to concerns that human activities are increasing
concentrations of "greenhouse gases" in the atmosphere,
most nations of the world joined together in 1992 to sign the
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
(UNFCCC)
Negotiations on the Kyoto Protocol to UNFCCC completed
December 11, 1997
committing the 110 industrialized as well as developing
nations to specified, legally binding reductions in emissions of
six "greenhouse gases"

.. Green house effect

Why a Global Climate Change Treaty: The Kyoto Protocol
The Third Assessment Report from the Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)..
The outcome of a process involving 2000 international
scientific experts
confirmed scientifically that projected growth of emissions of
greenhouse gases would warm up the world's climate by up
to 5.8C by the end of this century.

.. Green house effect

..summary of The Kyoto Protocol
1. The developed countries commit themselves to reducing
their collective emissions of six key greenhouse gases by at
least 5%.
8% by Switzerland, most Central and East European states
7% by the US
6% by Canada, Hungary, Japan, Poland. Russia, New
Zealand, and Ukraine
Norway can increase emissions by 1%
Australia by up to 8%
Iceland up 10%.
The six gases are to be combined in a "basket", with
reductions in individual gases translated into "CO2
equivalents"

.. Green house effect

The Kyoto Protocol
2.

Each countrys emissions target must be achieved by the

period 2008-2012.
Cuts in the three most important gases carbon dioxide
(CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N20) - base year of
1990
Cuts

in

three

long-lived

industrial

gases

hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), and

sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) - 1995 baseline.
Actual emission reductions will be much larger than 5%. - the
richest industrialized countries (OECD members) - reduce
-collective output by about 10%.

.. Green house effect

The Kyoto Protocol
3. Countries will have a certain degree of flexibility in how
they make and measure their emissions reductions.
an international "emissions trading" regime will be
established allowing industrialized countries to buy and
sell emissions credits amongst themselves
a

"Clean

sustainable

Development
development

Mechanism"
will

enable

for

promoting

industrialized

countries to finance emissions-reduction projects in

developing countries and receive credit for doing so.

.. Green house effect

The Kyoto Protocol
4. The member countries will pursue emissions cuts in a
wide range of economic sectors.
improve energy efficiency,
reform the energy and transportation sectors,
promote renewable forms of energy,
limit methane emissions from waste management and
energy systems,
and protect forests and other carbon "sinks".

.. Green house effect

The Kyoto Protocol
5. The Protocol will advance the implementation of existing
commitments by all countries.
promote adaptation to future climate change impacts,
submit information on their national climate change
programmes and inventories,
promote technology transfer,
cooperate on scientific and technical research,
and promote public awareness, education, and training.

NOISE POLLUTION

Noise Pollution
Physiological Effects
Loud sounds cause
neuronal distortions
hormonal imbalances
Side effects such as enhancement of adrenalin, increase
in blood sugar, suppression of immune systems and
decrease in liver functions
Psychological effects
Mental and nervous illnesses due to chronic exposure
Mild distress and depression
Sleep disorders and emotional instability
Abnormal behavioural patterns

Noise Pollution

In general terms, noise is any form of unwelcome sound.

Of all the human senses, hearing is the most difficult for us

to recollect.

Noise is temporary; once the noise stops, it is gone.

The perception of sound is highly subjective. To some the

roar of an engine is satisfying or thrilling; to others it can be
annoyance.

Noise Pollution

Noise is the perception of pressure waves in the air

caused by a vibrating source.

The ears transduce this mechanical energy to

electrochemical impulses that are transmitted to the brain,
resulting in the perception of sound.

Exposure to excessive levels of noise can result in

permanent hearing loss, acuity, development of tinnitus
(i.e., ringing of the ears), a possible increase in blood
pressure, and stress-related problems.

Noise may also cause annoyance or difficulty in

communicating or working effectively and safely.

Noise Pollution

How people perceive loudness or noisiness of any given sound

depends on several measurable physical characteristics of the
sound. These factors are:

Intensity.

In general, a ten decibel increase in intensity may be considered a

doubling of the perceived loudness or noisiness of a sound.

Frequency Content.

Sounds with concentration of energy between 2,000 Hz and 8,000 Hz

are perceived to be more noisy than sounds of equal sound pressure
level outside this range.

Noise Pollution

Changes in Sound Pressure Level.

Sounds that are increasing in level are judged to be somewhat louder

than those decreasing in level (consider police and emergency
vehicle sirens).

Rate of Change of Sound Pressure Level.

Impulsive sound (ones reaching a high peak very abruptly, such as

pile drivers or jack hammers) are usually perceived to be very noisy.

Noise Pollution
The average human ear begins sensing at a
pressure of only 20 micropascals and begins to
experience pain at approximately 100 pascals.
The ratio between these pressures is greater
than a million to one.
Because the human ear perceives pressure
changes logarithmically over a large range,
sound pressure level (SPL) is measured in
decibels (dB).
The decibel is logarithmic in relation to sound
pressure (sound pressure is measured in
pascals) giving a more manageable scale.

Noise PollutionMeasurements
dB ten times the logarithm of the ratio of two sound
intensities

dB = 10 log [sound intensity measured /

reference sound intensity]

Reference sound 10-12 watts/sec

Weighting of Sound
dBA readings representing ears response to sounds
near 40 dB
dBB Response of ear at 70 dB
dBC Used for levels near 100 dB or higher
Measurement Sound level meter (20 20,000 Hz)

Noise PollutionMeasurements
Weighting of Sound

dBA readings representing ears response to sounds near 40 dB

dBB Response of ear at 70 dB
dBC Used for levels near 100 dB or higher

Measurement Sound level meter (20 20,000 Hz)

Noise PollutionMeasurements
Rules of thumb in measurements

Noise PollutionControl
Modifications of three basic elements
The source to reduce its noise output
Altering the environment to reduce the noise level reaching
the listener
Altering or controlling the transmission path
Providing the receiver (person/community) with personal
protection equipment

Noise PollutionControl
At source
Process substitution Substituting a quieter process,
machine, or tool
System design
Reduction in impact factors,
reducing speeds and pressures,
reducing frictional resistance,
reducing the radiating area,
reducing noise leakage, and
isolating and damping vibrating elements

Noise PollutionControl
In transmission path
Acoustic separation Using absorptive capacity of the atmosphere
as well as divergence to reduce noise levels
Absorbant materials
Acoustic linings
Physical Barriers Use of barriers, screens and deflectors in the
noise path
Barriers and Panels
Enclosures
Isolators and Silencers Structural breaks or discontinuities
between noise source and receiver
Vibrating isolators and flexible couplers
Mufflers and silencers

Noise PollutionControl
Protecting the receiver
Work Schedules
Equipment and shelters
Ear protection muffs, plugs, plastic inserts
Individual enclosures or noise shelters

THERMAL POLLUTION

Thermal Pollution
Large inputs of heated water from a single plant or a number of
plants using the water body can have harmful effects on aquatic
life.
The addition of heat reduces the waters ability to hold dissolved
gases, including the oxygen required for aquatic life.

Thermal Pollution
effect on water properties Physico-chemical
1. Most living organisms depend on oxygen in one form or
another.
2.

Solubility is directly proportional to partial pressure at a

given temperature under equilibrium conditions.

3.

Temperature changes cause complicated adjustments on

the dynamic oxygen balance in waters and make it difficult
to relate absolutely the dissolved oxygen and other factors
to

oxygen

demand,

such

as,

atmospheric

photosynthetic production, diffusion, mixing, etc.

aeration,

Thermal Pollution
effect on water properties Physico-chemical
4. Since waters seldom carry a saturated value of water,
temperature rise will decrease the holding capacity which
is already less than optimum.
5.

Recent evidence shows that increased temperatures may

increase nitrogen levels so as to seriously effect fish life.

6.

For a given reaction the position of equilibrium changes

with temperature Speed of reaction approximately doubles
for every 10C rise.

Thermal Pollution
effect on water properties Physico-chemical
7.

Many reactions effecting water quality are biochemical and

center around microbial activity.

8.

Most reactions occur at low temperatures in presence of

enzymes which in turn are temperature sensitive. Most are in
the mesophilic classification and thrive on temperature range
of 10 to 40C.

9.

Taste and odour problems may be induced by temperature

that accelerates chemical or biochemical action, particularly
when oxygen is depleted.

Thermal Pollution
effect on water properties Physico-chemical
10. Substances wich may accumulate include H2S, SO 2,CH4,
iron compounds, carbonates, sulfates and phenols.
11. Tastes and odors are more pronounced in warm water
because of decreased solubility.
12. When temperatures of receiving waters rise the action of
microorganisms cause BOD to be satisfied in shorter
distances
material.

from

discharge

of

biodegradable

organic

Thermal Pollution
effect on water properties Biological
Fish
1. Temperature directly effects physiology of fish.
2. Rates of metabolism increase with temperature up to lethal
limit.
3. Rates vary and are affected by oxygen level and salinity.
4. Effects on death mechanism:

Acceleration of enzyme reactions may make enzyme

inactive

Coagulation of cell proteins

Reduction in permeability of cell membranes

production of toxic products

Thermal Pollution
effect on water properties Biological
5.

Temperature range within which fish reproduce is narrow.

6.

Temperature affects embryonic development. Incubation of

eggs

and

development

is

critically

sensitive

to

temperature.
7.

Toxicity

effects

of

certain

chemicals

increase

with

temperature
Shellfish

Physiology, metabolism and development of many species

are affected by temperature.

Thermal Pollution
effect on water properties Biological
Algae and other aquatic plants

Increased temperature often eliminates desirable species

and helps establish undesirable ones.

Bacteria

In general, growth increases with temperature if food is

abundant. not necessarily harmful unless pathogens
increase.

Thermal Pollutionsolution
Prevention
Using and wasting less electricity.
Limiting the amount of heated water discharged into the
same body of water.
Control by Dilution
Returning the heated water at a point away from the
ecologically vulnerable shore zone.
Transferring the heat from the water to the atmosphere
by means of wet or dry cooling towers.
Discharging the heated water into shallow ponds or canals,
allowing it to cool, and reusing it as cooling water. This
method is useful where enough affordable land is available.

Thermal Pollutionsolution
Warm water from power plants can also be used for
irrigation to extend the growing season in frost-prone
areas and cycled through aquaculture pens to speed the
growth of commercially valuable fish and shellfish.
For example, waste hot water is used to cultivate
oysters in aquaculture lagoons in Japan and in New
York's Long Island Sound and to cultivate catfish and
redfish in Texas.
Heated water could also be used to heat nearby buildings
and greenhouses, desalinate ocean water, and run under
sidewalks to melt snow.