Pollution

Pollution

Pollutants

Environmental Pollution

Water Pollution

Secondary pollutants

Air Pollution

Non-Biodegradable pollutants

Noise pollution

All of the above

All of the above

Both A and R are true but R does not explain A.

Explanation — Mining for materials such as copper and gold is indeed a major source of contamination in the ocean. However, many other activities such as spreading of harmful substances like oil, plastic, industrial and agricultural waste and chemical particles into the ocean contribute to the mentioned eighty per cent of marine pollution from land.

1. Construction Waste — Non-Biodegradable pollutant
2. Food Service Waste — Non-Biodegradable pollutant
3. Green Waste — Biodegradable pollutant
4. Paper — Biodegradable pollutant
5. E-Waste — Non-Biodegradable pollutant
6. Glass — Non-Biodegradable pollutant

Harmful effects of using non-biodegradable products like plastic bags are:

1. Environmental pollution — Non-biodegradable plastic bags contribute to environmental pollution when improperly disposed of, leading to littering of land, water bodies, and natural habitats.
2. Wildlife and marine life impact — Animals can mistake plastic bags for food or become entangled in them, resulting in injury, suffocation, and death. Marine life suffers from plastic pollution in oceans and waterways.
3. Soil degradation — When plastic bags end up in soil, they can hinder water and nutrient absorption, affecting the growth of plants. The presence of plastic debris in soil disrupts natural processes and can lead to long-term soil degradation.
4. Health hazards — Non-biodegradable plastic bags can release toxic chemicals and microplastics into the environment. These pollutants can contaminate water sources, enter the food chain, and pose risks to human health.
5. Long-term persistence — Plastic bags take hundreds of years to decompose, leading to their long-term presence in the environment and the accumulation of plastic waste.

Some measures that can help to replace plastic bags with eco-friendly products are:

1. Promote reusable bags made from sustainable materials like cotton, jute, or canvas.
2. Support the development and use of biodegradable bags made from materials like bioplastics or compostable plant fibers.
3. Implement policies such as plastic bag bans, levies, or mandatory fees to discourage the use of plastic bags.
4. Raise public awareness about the harmful effects of plastic bags and the benefits of eco-friendly alternatives.
5. Promote responsible waste management and encourage individuals to choose reusable bags.

Environmental pollution refers to any unfavourable alteration of our surroundings, wholly or largely as a byproduct of man's actions. These changes may affect man and other organisms.

Pollutants are the products which are released into the biosphere in large quantities and which affect the normal functioning of ecosystems and have an adverse effect on plants, animals and man.

Air pollution is the excessive concentration of foreign matter in the air which adversely affects the well being of human beings, animals, plants and their environment.

Fumes released by automobiles like cars, scooters etc are one of the causes of air pollution.

Water pollution can be defined as alteration in physical, chemical or biological characteristics of water, making it unsuitable for designated use in its natural state.

Soil pollution is defined as the change in physical, chemical and biological conditions of the soil through man's intervention resulting in degradation in quality and productivity of the soil.

We should avoid soil pollution because of the following reasons-

1. The pollutants enter the food chain at the plant level and get magnified as we move up the food chain.
2. The pollutants remain in the soil for relatively longer periods.

Radioactive pollution is defined as the increase in natural background radiation, emerging from the activities of man using naturally occurring or artificially produced radioactive materials.

Noise pollution is defined as an unwanted sound that is an irritant and a source of stress.

There are mainly two man-made causes of radioactive pollution:

1. Nuclear fuels used in atomic reactor — There are two types of waste formed in a Nuclear Reactor which cause pollution:
   1. The fission products remaining in both the primary and secondary fuels.
   2. Waste products in the coolant.
2. Nuclear Weapons — Development and testing of Nuclear weapons creates risk of leakage of radioactive radiations in the environment. The atom bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki caused huge destruction and had an enormous impact on the environment till decades later.

Radioactive pollution is more harmful than other types of pollution because the high level products of nuclear wastes remain in the environment for several hundred years. Leakage in nuclear reactors causes environmental pollution and the leakage may result in the death of a number of people.

Noise is a physical form of pollution which is not directly harmful to the life supporting systems. It is not fatal to human life, yet its effects cannot be overlooked because repeated exposure to noise reduces the sleeping hours, productivity or efficiency of a human being and it affects the peace of mind and invades the privacy of a human being.

(i) Music is relaxing when played at low volume. However, loud music becomes noise and adversely affects a person. Repeated exposure to loud music reduces the sleeping hours, productivity or efficiency of a human being and it affects the peace of mind and invades the privacy of a human being. Hence, loud music becomes unpleasant and is a source of Noise pollution.

(ii) Secondary pollutants are formed from the chemical reaction of primary pollutants in the environment. These pollutants react in the presence of sunlight, water vapour, or other chemicals to form new substances which are often more harmful and toxic than the original pollutants.

(iii) This is because pesticides are toxic chemicals created by humans to aid in agriculture. They alter the quality of the environment by introducing harmful chemicals that were not originally present.

The main sources of pollution of ocean waters are — oil, plastic, industrial and agricultural waste, chemical particles and waste from mining for materials such as copper and gold.

Air pollution is a significant environmental concern in my city. The major sources of air pollution in the city are:

1. Vehicular Emissions — A high number of vehicles on the road contribute to air pollution.
2. Industrial emissions — The city has a considerable number of industries that emit pollutants such as particulate matter, sulphur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide.
3. Construction activities — The ongoing construction activities in the city also contribute to air pollution through dust emissions.
4. Deforestation — To accommodate the growing population of the city, the surrounding forest area is being cut to develop housing colonies and various other amenities.

Various measures that can be taken to check air pollution in the city are:

1. Encouraging the use of public transport can help to reduce the number of vehicles on the road, which in turn can help to reduce emissions.
2. Promoting the use of renewable energy sources can help to reduce emissions from industries and other sources.
3. Implementing stricter regulations for industries can enforce stricter emission norms for industries to limit the amount of pollution they release into the air.
4. Promoting green spaces in the city can develop green spaces to absorb pollutants and improve air quality.

Environmental pollution is an incurable disease which can only be prevented. This can be well understood by the following examples:

1. Air pollution — Once pollutants like particulate matter and harmful gases are released into the air, it is difficult to remove them completely. Prevention measures like promoting clean energy sources, implementing emission controls, and reducing industrial pollution are crucial to prevent the occurrence of air pollution.
2. Water pollution — Once water bodies are contaminated with pollutants such as chemicals, toxins, and waste, it can be challenging and expensive to clean them. Prevention through proper waste management, reducing industrial discharges, and promoting responsible agricultural practices is essential to prevent water pollution.
3. Soil pollution — Once soil is contaminated by pollutants like chemicals, heavy metals, or pesticides, it can take a long time to restore its fertility. Prevention measures such as using organic farming practices, responsible use of fertilizers and pesticides, and proper waste disposal can help prevent soil pollution.

In each case, proactive prevention measures are more effective in mitigating environmental pollution than attempting to cure or reverse the damage caused.