Effects of Pollution

Significant change in pulse rate

100 dB

Eutrophication

Biomagnification

Bioaccumulation

Minamata

Itai-itai

Fluorosis

All of the above.

Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.

Explanation — Birds rely heavily on sound for communication, navigation, and detecting predators. That's why birds avoid migrating to places where noise level is above 100 dB. Some of the birds have been found to have stopped laying eggs due to noise pollution. Hence, doctors' and scientists' confirmation that noise (in excess of about 100 dB) disturbs living organisms and their respective functions explains why birds avoid such areas.

(a) The given picture is showing Air Pollution by Industrial emissions.

Pollutants generated —

1. Smoke (suspended particulate matter)
2. Carbon monoxide (CO)
3. Sulphur dioxide (SO₂)
4. Nitrogen oxides (NO_x)

Effects on Environment —

1. The combination of smoke and fog leads to formation of Smog.
2. Increase in concentration of Carbon dioxide (CO₂) along with other Greenhouse gases like Methane, Nitrogen oxides (NO_x), Chlorofluorocarbons and water vapour are responsible for increasing temperature causing Global warming.
3. Due to excessive heat, water will evaporate quickly. The soil affected with erosion and devoid of vegetative cover will not retain moisture for long leading to droughts.
4. Rising temperatures cause glaciers to melt, forming natural lakes between debris mounds. These lakes receive meltwater faster than they can drain, increasing the risk of frequent flooding.
5. Sulphur dioxide (SO₂) and Nitrogen oxides (NO_x) affect the growth of plants and metabolism by destroying chlorophyll and disrupting photosynthesis.

Effects on Humans and other living beings —

1. Smoke causes Asthma, irritation of eyes and cancer.
2. Carbon monoxide damages lungs, weakens bones, reduces the oxygen carrying capacity of blood and damages heart.
3. In the long term air pollution causes damage to the nerves, brain, liver and kidneys.
4. Oxides of Nitrogen (nitric oxide, nitrogen dioxide and nitrous oxide) cause acute respiratory infections, bronchitis, lowers resistance to influenza.
5. Animals that feed on grass and plants (coated with polluted particulate matter) are affected with arsenic poisoning.
6. Lead poisoning results in bronchitis and lack of appetite in pet animals.

Effects on Materials —

1. Soot, dust and fumes from air pollutants cause damage to the painted surfaces, fabrics and buildings.
2. Sulphur dioxide together with moisture forms Sulphuric acid and causes corrosion of metals like steel, copper, and zinc.
3. Sulphuric acid mist and Acid rains damage marble and limestone.
4. Paper becomes brittle and leather undergoes disintegration by Sulphur dioxide and Acid gases.
5. Nitrogen oxides (NO_x) discolour, deteriorate and reduce the strength of textiles.

(b) The given picture is of a waterbody affected by Eutrophication, showing Water Pollution.

Pollutants generated —

1. Phytoplankton and Algae

Effects on Environment —

1. Chemicals that are drained into the water have harmful effects on every organism that lives there.
2. Phytoplankton and algae reduce the penetration of oxygen, light and heat into the waterbody, creating oxygen depleted zones.
3. Algae forming a layer on top of the waterbody obstructs photosynthesis.

Effects on Humans and other living beings —

1. Most of the water organisms die due to lack of oxygen.
2. Algae are harmful for the fishes as they contain lots of toxins. Consumption of contaminated fish makes us sick.
3. The pathogens present in polluted water are responsible for several water borne diseases like cholera, typhoid, diarrhoea, dysentery, hepatitis, polio and jaundice.

Effects on Materials —

1. Eutrophication speeds up corrosion of metals like iron, steel, and copper. This affects pipes, boats, and underwater structures.
2. Water often becomes green, cloudy, or even black due to excess algae and decaying organic matter. The breakdown releases foul-smelling gases like hydrogen sulphide (H₂S) and ammonia.
3. Algae and bacterial slime can form layers on surfaces affecting water treatment equipment, ship hulls, and industrial machinery.

(c) The given picture shows a polluted river, indicating Water Pollution and Land Pollution.

Pollutants generated —

1. Bad smell
2. Pathogens — Bacteria, viruses, protozoa and parasites from sewage and animal waste.

Effects on Environment —

1. Water quality is deteriorated.
2. This polluted water infiltrates down the soil and further pollutes the groundwater.
3. Plastics and polythene bags can clog waterways, preventing proper water flow and disrupting aquatic ecosystems.
4. When plastics break down into microplastics, they can contaminate the soil, making it difficult for plants to grow.

Effects on Humans and other living beings —

1. When plastics degrade, they release harmful chemicals into the environment, affecting human health via contaminated water and air.
2. The pathogens from these areas enter the human body from contaminated drinking water and are responsible for several waterborne diseases.
3. It can cause diseases in aquatic organisms, disrupting ecosystems.

Effects on Materials —

1. Plastic waste may cause long-term damage like staining or corrosion.
2. As plastics break down into microplastics, they can embed in materials such as textiles, construction materials, or even concrete, potentially weakening them or altering their properties.
3. Plastics can leach harmful additives and heavy metals into water and soil. These chemicals can contaminate other materials, especially food, water supplies, and packaging.

(d) The given picture is of Nuclear Reactors, indicating Radioactive pollution.

Pollutants generated —

1. Radioactive particles
2. Fuel elements
3. Coolants
4. Wastewater

Effects on Environment —

1. Radioactive wastes like used fuel and coolants may escape into the surroundings. Inert gases escape as vapours and pollute the environment.
2. The radioactive waste emitted during nuclear tests makes the surrounding materials radioactive.
3. Radioactive particles are carried away to distant places by wind and brought down by rain. When these rain drops fall to the ground, they cause soil pollution.
4. When wastewater from research laboratories reach the water bodies through the sewers, they cause water pollution.
5. The high level products of nuclear wastes remain in the environment for several hundred years.
6. Other radioactive threats to the environment are the accidents connected with the activities of nuclear reactors, nuclear powered vessels and satellites, etc.

Effects on Humans and other living beings —

1. The X-rays pass through genetic cells and affect the chromosomes, resulting in mutations.
2. Genetic Variation: The damage caused by radiations is often seen in the offsprings and may be transmitted to many generations.
3. Somatic Variation: Short term exposures to radiation can cause damage to organs of the body. The harm done by them includes breast cancer, thyroid cancer, lung cancer and brain cancer, sterility and defective eyesight.
4. Other living beings such as animals and aquatic life also faces the consequences of improper radioactive waste handling.

Effects on Materials —

1. Radioactive particles can bind to dust, soil, water, and organic matter, making them hazardous.
2. Corrodes and weakens building structures over time.
3. Contaminated water, food, or raw materials can pose risks to health and safety, even in small amounts.
4. Materials contaminated by radioactive waste must be stored or disposed of with extreme care because they remain hazardous for years or even centuries.

Noise from industries, railways, crackers, explosions and commotion in the cities and aircraft, affect animals, birds, mice, fishes and domestic animals in the following ways-

1. Birds avoid migrating to places where noise level is above 100 dB.
2. The noise emissions caused by supersonic aircraft and railways may cause miscarriage in mammals and fishes as well.
3. Some of the birds have been found to have stopped laying eggs due to noise pollution.

Major harm done to human beings by air pollution are-

1. Chronic respiratory diseases
2. Lung cancer
3. Cardiovascular diseases and coma
4. Damage to the nerves, brain, liver, kidney etc.

Animals that feed on grass and plants, coated with polluted particulate matter, are affected with arsenic poisoning. Lead poisoning results in bronchitis and lack of appetite in pet animals.

Sea water polluted with crude oil leakage causes oil spills which contaminate sea water and lead to the death of marine organisms.

Oil spills kill marine mammals such as whales, dolphins, seals, and sea otters. Oil can clog blow holes of whales and dolphins, making it impossible for them to breathe properly and disrupting their ability to communicate. Oil coats the fur of otters and seals, leaving them vulnerable to hypothermia.

Most of the waste waters especially sewage contain pathogens like bacteria, viruses and protozoa. These pathogens enter the human body from contaminated drinking water and are responsible for several waterborne diseases like cholera, typhoid etc.

Soil pollution affects human beings in the following ways-

1. Soil contains many pathogenic bacteria, viruses and intestinal worms which are transmitted to man by the consumption of fruits and vegetables. These pathogens cause various types of diseases.
2. Radioactive fallout on vegetation is the source of radioisotopes which enter the food chain through the grazing animals. Some of these radioisotopes cause abnormalities.
3. Use of animals and human excreta as manure pollutes the soil. Excreta contains pathogens that contaminate the soil and vegetable crops and affect the health of human beings.

This is because landfills contain toxic substances like heavy metals, chemicals, and non-biodegradable waste that can remain in soil for many years. Crops or fruit trees grown on such soil could absorb these toxins, making the food produced unsafe for human or animal consumption. So, by planting sturdy plants, we can limit the spread of pollutants to surrounding areas, and they may even absorb some pollutants over time, slowly improving soil health.

Radiations affect living organisms. They cause harmful changes in the body cells and at genetic level. Some impacts of radiations on human body are-

1. Genetic variations — The damage caused by radiations is often seen in the offsprings and may be transmitted to many generations.
2. Somatic variations — Short term exposures to radiation can cause damage to organs of the body. The harm done by them includes breast cancer, thyroid cancer, lung cancer and brain cancer, sterility and defective eyesight.

Nuclear radiations are more dangerous than other forms of pollution because the high level products of nuclear wastes remain in the environment for several hundred years.

1. Aquatic Life in the River, Creek and Bay of Bengal —

   1. Oil spills block oxygen and cause many aquatic animals to die.
   2. Poisonous chemicals in the oil can harm fish.
   3. Oil can damage coral reefs and mangroves, which are important for sea life.

2. Migratory Birds —

   1. The oil might stick to the birds' feathers making it hard for them to fly or stay warm. This can lead to death.
   2. Birds may eat oily fish which lets the oil enter their bodies and cause internal harm.

3. People’s Health —

   1. People who eat fish from the polluted river or sea might fall sick because the fish can contain harmful chemicals.
   2. The oil may also mix with water sources and make the water unsafe for drinking, bathing, or farming.

4. Soil and Groundwater —

   1. Oil can soak into the soil along the riverbanks and harm plants growing nearby.
   2. It may also pollute underground water, which people use for drinking or farming.

Hence, the oil spill has a significant impact over the environment, human beings and other living things.

Noise pollution is detrimental to human health because of the following effects-

1. Effect on hearing or deafness — Continuous exposure to noise levels above 100 dB has an adverse effect on hearing ability within a fairly short time.
2. Effect on Communication — External sounds can interfere with communication at important places like schools and offices. It also effects the use of radio and television.
3. Interference with sleep — Noisy conditions near residential areas at night cause difficulties in sleeping.
4. Mental or Physiological effects — Even short exposure to noise in excess of about 100 dB can lead to mental illness, cardiovascular diseases, stomach ulcers, respiratory disorders, headache and dizziness. It effects the foetus as well.
5. Effects on physical health and psychological problems — Exposure to noise in excess of about 100 dB can cause damage to inner ear. It also leads to problems like speech interference, annoyance, fatigue,sleep interference and emotional distress.

The short term effects are-

1. irritation in the eyes, nose and throat
2. respiratory infections like bronchitis, pneumonia
3. headaches, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, convulsions and allergic reactions

The long term effects are-

1. Chronic respiratory diseases
2. Lung cancer
3. Cardiovascular diseases and coma
4. Damage to the nerves, brain, liver, kidney etc.

The accumulation of nutrients and chemicals in the water proves fatal for the marine organisms as the nutrient accumulation results in phenomenal growth of phytoplankton and algae, thereby reducing the penetration of oxygen, light and heat into the water body. As a result, most of the organisms die, draining water of all its oxygen.

Below diagram shows the increase in accumulation of toxic substances as we move up the food chain:

Biomagnification means increasing the concentration of various toxic substances along the food chain. Toxic substances at the level of primary producers get concentrated at each trophic level as they move up the food chain. The phenomenon of concentrated toxic deposition at the higher trophic level is known as bioaccumulation.

For example, if there are traces of toxic chemicals in water, then their concentration in algae will be much higher. When fish eat the algae, the concentration of toxins will increase further. Therefore, accumulation of a small amount of toxic chemicals in water can have a serious impact on the fish that live in it.

Effects of soil pollution on human beings are -

1. Soil contains many pathogenic bacteria, viruses and intestinal worms which are transmitted to man by the consumption of fruits and vegetables. These pathogens cause various types of diseases.
2. Radioactive fallout on vegetation is the source of radioisotopes which enter the food chain through the grazing animals. Some of these radioisotopes cause abnormalities.

Effects of soil pollution on environment are-

1. Nitrogenous fertilisers produce toxic concentration of nitrate and nitrite in the leaves.
2. Land and soil pollution is responsible for loss of fertility and productivity of soil.

Pathogens are disease causing organisms like bacteria, viruses and protozoa.

Most of the waste waters especially sewage contain pathogens like bacteria, viruses and protozoa. These pathogens enter the human body from contaminated drinking water and are responsible for several waterborne diseases like cholera, typhoid, diarrhoea, dysentery etc.

Example of radioactive accident

There was a radioactive accident in 1986 in Chernobyl in the Ukraine. On 26th April, 1986, a reactor at the nuclear power complex at Chernobyl exploded.

There was a massive steam explosion. The core of the reactor combined with water to produce hydrogen which exploded blowing toxic radioactive gases into the air. There were numerous fires. The Chernobyl accident is considered as the most disastrous nuclear power plant accident, both in terms of cost and casualties.

Due to the accident, 237 people suffered from acute radiation sickness, of whom 31 died within the first three months. After the disaster, four square kilometers of pine forest near the reactor turned reddish brown and died, earning the name of the 'Red Forest'. Some animals in the worst hit areas died or stopped reproducing.

Effects of radiations on human health

Radiations affect living organisms. They cause harmful changes in the body cells and at genetic level. Some impacts of radiations on human body are-

1. Genetic variations — The damage caused by radiations is often seen in the offsprings and may be transmitted to many generations.
2. Somatic variations — Short term exposures to radiation can cause damage to organs of the body. The harm done by them includes breast cancer, thyroid cancer, lung cancer and brain cancer, sterility and defective eyesight.

Effects of radiations on the environment

Radiations emitting from radioactive materials and the disposal of radioactive wastes cause pollution and damage the environment.

The high level products of nuclear wastes remain in the environment for several hundred years. Other radioactive threats to the environment are the accidents connected with the activities of nuclear reactors, nuclear powered vessels and satellites etc.

Some examples to support the statement that the apparent lack of concern for the effects of pollution seems to be the reason for not implementing plans to prevent pollution are:

1. Economic interests — Industries prioritize profits over environmental concerns, leading to resistance in implementing pollution prevention plans. For example, some factories may avoid investing in cleaner technologies to cut costs.
2. Limited awareness — Insufficient knowledge about pollution's harmful effects results in a lack of concern and demand for prevention measures. For instance, individuals may not fully understand the impact of air pollution on respiratory health.
3. Political priorities — Governments prioritize other issues, delaying or neglecting pollution prevention. This can result in delays or inadequate implementation of necessary plans.
4. Weak enforcement — Inadequate penalties and enforcement create a perception of impunity for polluters. This reduces the motivation for industries to comply with pollution prevention measures.
5. Public indifference — Lack of public concern and support hampers pressure on policymakers to take action.

One of the most visible effects of pollution on human beings in my city is the deterioration of air quality. The main causes for the deterioration of air quality are:

1. Industrial emissions — This includes the burning of fossil fuels and release of pollutants into the air.
2. Vehicle emissions — Emissions from cars, trucks and motorcycles contribute significantly to air pollution.
3. Agricultural practices — Burning crop residues and the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides add to the pollution.
4. Household pollution — This is due to the use of solid fuels like coal, wood and biomass for cooking and heating purposes.

The possible remedies to improve the quality of air are:

1. Transition to clean energy sources like solar and wind power to reduce dependence on fossil fuels.
2. Improve industrial practices by implementing stricter emission control measures and promoting cleaner production techniques.
3. Promote public transportation systems and encourage the adoption of electric vehicles to reduce vehicular emissions.
4. Encourage sustainable alternatives to crop residue burning, such as recycling for energy production or composting.
5. Raise awareness and promote behavioral changes in waste management and reduction of polluting substances.
6. Strengthen environmental regulations, ensure compliance, and impose penalties for violators.

Northern India is enveloped in smog in the month of November because of the following causes:

1. Crop Residue Burning — In Punjab and Haryana, farmers often burn crop residues after harvesting to prepare the fields for the next crop. This releases a significant amount of smoke and particulate matter into the air.
2. Stubble Burning — The burning of leftover crop residue in the fields is a common practice after rice harvesting and contributes to the smog problem in northern India.
3. Diwali Celebrations — Diwali is celebrated with fireworks and firecrackers, which releases a large amount of pollutants, including particulate matter and toxic chemicals into the atmosphere.
4. Industrial Emissions — The industrial activities and factories in the region release pollutants like sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter into the air, contributing to the smog formation.
5. Vehicular Emissions — The high number of vehicles in the region contribute to air pollution through exhaust emissions.