A summary on different types of pollution, their definition, source of generation, effects on the environment and life forms and some preventive measures. Over the years, we are leading our life in such polluted environments that may be natural but the major hand in it is of humans. There is a rising concern regarding the adverse affects and ways are adopted to control and minimize the same.

1. Environmental
Pollution
By
Sabin Shaji
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2. Air Pollution
 Air pollution refers to the release of pollutants into the air that are
detrimental to human health and the planet as a whole.
 Some different types of air pollutants include carbon monoxide,
methane, CFCs, nitrous oxides, particulates etc.
 Source:
 Anthropogenic
 Stationary sources like smoke stacks of fossil fuel power stations, incinerators,
furnaces, traditional biomass burning.
 Mobile sources like motor vehicles, marine vessels, aircrafts.
 Burning practices in agriculture.
 Fumes from paints, hair sprays, varnish, aerosol sprays.
 Methane from landfills.
 Natural sources
 Dust from lands with little or no vegetation
 Methane emitted from decay of vegetation.
 Smoke and carbon monoxide from wildfires.
 Volcanic activity producing sulfur, ash particles.
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3. Air Pollution
 Effects:
 Premature death – Around 8.8 million deaths in a year (March 2019)
 Lung diseases like asthma and COPD including lung cancer.
 Affects the central nervous system causing damaging changes in the brain
as Autism and Schizophrenia.
 Greenhouse gases leading to rise in global temperatures.
 Control measures:
 Use of cleaner alternatives to fossil fuels ;like natural gas.
 Biodigesters can be used in place of slash and burn.
 Replacing electric power generation from fossil fuels with power generation
from renewables.
 Limiting the use of private vehicles and making use of public transit.
 Exhaust gas recirculation and filtration.
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4. Water Pollution
 The contamination of water bodies like lakes, rivers, ocean,
groundwater etc., usually as a result of human activities is termed as
water pollution.
 The contaminants may be organic or inorganic substances. Even
elevated temperatures can pollute the water.
 Source based on origin:
 Point Source
 It refers that the contaminants enter the water body from a single, identifiable
source, such as a pipe or a ditch.
 Example: Discharge from a sewage treatment plant, a factory, or a city storm drain.
 Non point sources
 It refers to the diffused contamination that does not originate from a single discrete
source, but is the cumulative effect of small amounts of contaminants from a large
area.
 Example: Leaching out of nitrogen compounds from fertilized lands. Nutrient runoff
in storm water from an agricultural field or forest.
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5. Water Pollution
 Source based on contaminants:
 Pathogens
 On-site sanitation system or inadequately treated sewage discharge.
 Leaky sewage collection system in older infrastructure.
 Poorly managed livestock operations.
 Organic Contaminants
 Food processing waste that have oxygen demanding substances like fats.
 VOCs from industrial solvents due to improper storage.
 Petroleum hydrocarbons including fuels and lubricants from storm water runoff.
 Inorganic Contaminants
 Ammonia from food processing waste.
 Silt in runoff from construction sites , slash and burn practices.
 Chemical waste as industrial by products.
 Macroscopic Contaminants
 Trash or garbage which gets washed into surface water by rainfall.
 Shipwrecks
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6. Water Pollution
 Effects:
 Plastic debris absorb toxic chemicals from ocean pollution potentially
poisoning any creature that eats it.
 Health problems for people living downstream of the river where
inadequately treated wastewater may be released.
 Higher concentration of nitrogen and phosphorus in water as a result of
runoff from surrounding agricultural lands may lead to algal bloom, thus
choking the aquatic life.
 Control measures:
 Proper treatment of wastewater and storm water before it is discharged into
the water bodies.
 Properly designed sanitation system and repair and replacement of leaking
parts.
 Removal of heat from wastewater generated by power plants or
manufacturing plants can be achieved by cooling ponds or cooling towers.
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7. Soil Pollution
 Soil pollution is a part of land degradation which is caused by the
presence of man-made chemicals or other alteration in the natural
environment.
 The chemicals involved are petroleum hydrocarbons, pesticides,
lead, heavy metals etc.
 Source:
 Pesticides and herbicides
 Pesticide is a substance used to kill a pest. They can be a chemical substance, a
biological agent or a disinfectant.
 Herbicides are used to kill weeds. Some herbicides are very toxic and kills the soil
bacteria.
 Agents of war
 The disposal of munitions, along with the lack of care while manufacturing the
munitions caused by urgency in production can contaminate the soil.
 Example: Mustard gas stored during World War II has contaminated some sites for
upto 50 years.
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8. Soil Pollution
 Effects:
 Infiltration of the soil contaminants into the ground water aquifers which are
used for human consumption pose great threats to the human health.
 Chronic exposure to chromium, lead, petroleum, solvents etc. which are
contamination the soil can be carcinogenic.
 Prolonged contamination of agricultural land by pesticides and herbicides
can cause a reduction in crop yields.
 Cleanup options:
 Introducing heat to raise subsurface temperatures sufficiently to volatize
chemical contaminants out of the soil for vapor extraction.
 Phytoremediation by using plants (like willow) to extract heavy metals.
 Bioremediation by involving microbial digestion of certain organic
chemicals.
 Excavation of the contaminated soil and disposing it away from the human
or sensitive ecosystem contact.
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9. Noise Pollution
 Noise pollution is the propagation of noise with ranging impacts on
the activity of human or animal life, most of them to a harmful degree.
 Poor urban planning can result in noise pollution. Side by side
industrial and residential buildings lead to noise pollution in
residential area.
 Source:
 Loud music from parties and clubs.
 Transportation sectors which includes traffic on roads, railways, airways etc.
 Construction industry: drilling, demolition, maintenance etc.
 Electrical generators
 Explosions etc.
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10. Noise Pollution
 Effects:
 Prolonged exposure to high levels of noise can cause hearing loss which
could be temporary or even permanent.
 Among the elderly, noise pollution can cause cardiac problems.
 It can be detrimental to animals by interfering with the use of the sounds in
communication and navigation.
 Noise from marine vessels and pile driving has affected the ability of the
invertebrates to pick up the surrounding vibrations.
 Control measures:
 People around loud sounds can protect their ears using ear plugs.
 Urban planning and better design of roads can reduce the noise from
roadways.
 Use of quieter jet engines in aircrafts.
 Develop equipments that are quieter and promote the use of such
equipment.
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11. Thermal Pollution
 The degradation of water quality as a result of the change in ambient
water temperature is termed as thermal pollution.
 Water used as a coolant by power plants and industrial
manufacturers when returned to the natural environment at high
temperatures causes a sudden decrease in the DO levels that affects
the marine ecosystem.
 Source:
 Industrial waste water
 Majoring of the thermal pollution is generated by power plants.
 Some amount is from industrial sources including petroleum refineries, still mills,
smelters etc.
 Urban runoff
 Suring hot weather, storm water passes over parking lots, roads or sidewalks and
enters the small streams. This leads to significant thermal impacts on the streams.
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12. Thermal Pollution
 Effects:
 High temperatures decrease the DO levels in water. This affects the aquatic
animals like fish, amphibians etc.
 Increased water temperature can increase the solubility and kinetics of
metals. This can increase the uptake of heavy metals by aquatic organisms
that can be toxic to them.
 A sudden increase or decrease in the water temperature (thermal
shock)can be detrimental to the fish and other organisms.
 Control measures:
 Use of cooling ponds which are designed for cooling by evaporation,
convection and radiation.
 Utilize the heat in the water for domestic or industrial heating.
 Direct the storm water from urban runoff into the groundwater or infiltration
basins to reduce the thermal effects.
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13. Nuclear Pollution
 Nuclear pollution is the undesirable effect caused due to the
deposition or presence of radioactive substances in solids liquids or
gases.
 It affects almost all the life forms which comes in contact with it. The
level of radiation determines how lethal it is and is extremely
hazardous in nature.
 Source:
 Man-made
 Spent nuclear fuel at the reactor site.
 Tailings and waste rocks at uranium mining mills.
 Release of ill-defined quantities of radioactive materials during accidents.
 Natural
 Elements like uranium and thorium and their decay products present in rocks and
soil.
 Carbon-14 which is present in all living organisms.
 Naturally occurring radon gas can set out false alarms in the instruments set to
detect contamination.
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14. Nuclear Pollution
 Effects:
 Large quantitates of inhaled or ingested radioactive iodine may impair or
destroy the thyroid.
 In small doses, one can experience vomiting, fatigue and loss of appetite.
 Higher exposure may cause changes in the blood cells causing bleeding,
hair loss, loss of immunity and eventually death in a few days.
 Plants die and some may show genetic changes and stunted growth.
 Control measures:
 While undergoing procedures for X-rays or radiation therapy, correct
protection gear should be worn.
 Radioactive waste should be contained properly in sealed containers.
Disposal should be done in properly managed and engineered landfills.
 Power plants should ensure the safe transportation and disposal of
radioactive fuels and wastes.
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15. Thank You
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