Index

Particulars Page Number

Index 1
Chapter – 1 Introduction to Pollution 4
1. Introduction of pollution 4
2. Definition of pollution 4
3. What is pollution? 4
4. History of pollution 4

Chapter – 2 Types of pollution and explanation 6

1. Introduction 6
2. Air pollution 7
1. Introduction to Air pollution 7
2. What is Air pollution 7
3. Definition of Air pollution 7
4. Formation of Air pollution 8
5. Man-made pollutants of Air pollution 8
6. Natural source 9
7. Health effect 9
8. Agricultural effect 10
9. Economic gains 10
10. Economic effect 11
3. Land pollution 12
1. Introduction 12
2. What is land pollution 12
3. Causes of land pollution 12
4. Waste disposal 13
5. Urbanization 14
6. Agricultural chemicals 15
7. Soil erosion 16
8. Effects of land pollution 16
9. Economic gains 17
10. Economic losses 17
4. Light pollution 18
1. Effects of Light pollution 18
2. Environment 18
3. Energy 18
4. Wildlife 19
5. Astronomy 19
6. Humans 20
7. Types of land pollution 20
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 8. Economic gain 22
9. Economic loss 22
5. Noise pollution 23
1. Introduction 23
2. Various Causes of pollution 23
3. Effects of Noise pollution` 24
4. Solution to reduce sound pollution 26
5. Economic gains 26
6. Economic loss 26
6. Plastic pollution 27
1. Various causes of plastic pollution 27
2. Serious effect of plastic pollution 28
7. Thermal pollution 30
1. Causes of Thermal pollution 30
2. Effects of Thermal pollution 31
8. Visual pollution 34
1. Causes of visual pollution 34
2. Effects of visual pollution 34
3. Types of visual contamination 35
4. Examples of visual pollution 35
9. Water pollution 36
1. Water pollution causes 36
2. Types of water pollution 38
3. Categories of pollution source 39
10.Chemical pollution 43
1. Classification of chemical pollution 43
2. Effects of chemical pollution 45
3. Effects on health 45
11.Personal pollution 49
1. Effects of personal pollution 49
12.Particle pollution 50
1. Health effects 50
2. Environmental pollution 51

Chapter – 3 Case study on pollution 52

1. Case study 1 52
2. Case study 2 54

Chapter – 4 Preventing and law in preventing pollution 58

1. Preventing of pollution by various categories 58
2. Air pollution 58
3. Land pollution 59
4. Light pollution 59
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 5. Noise pollution 61
6. Plastic pollution 63
7. Thermal pollution 65
8. Visual pollution 67
9. Water pollution 67
10.Chemical pollution 70
11.Personal pollution 71
12.Particle pollution 72
13.Laws in India to prevent pollution 72
14.Encouragement scheme by government to prevent 76
pollution

Chapter – 5 Voluntary Clubs in eradicating pollution 77

1. Roghedha Lions Club’s 77
2. Drogheda Lions Club’s 78

Chapter – 6 People who worked and supports to eradicate 80

pollution
1. Afroz Shah 80
2. Marino Morkawa 81
3. Famous people supports to reduce pollution 82
4. Leonardo DiCaprio 82
5. Edward Norton 82

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 Chapter 1
Introduction to Pollution
Introduction of pollution
Pollution is one of the most serious problems facing humanity and other life forms on our planet
today. Pollution is a word that we are all aware of these days. What does it mean exactly? If you
look up "pollution" in the dictionary you will find something like - "to destroy purity of; to
contaminate, especially with man-made waste". Yes the environment, i.e. our surroundings, the
place we live, is being made unclean by our own activities. It also make our life uncomfortable.
The pollutants we produce not only affect our own lives but also those of other living things, the
plants and animals that we share our environment with. All living things depend upon the non-
living parts of the environment to survive - the land, the air and the water, and it is these 3 parts
which are affected by pollution. There is also an economic impact on pollution. Now it’s an
opportunity to learn the pollution and what are the various factors affecting the pollution and in
which dimension is it affecting the pollution. Case study to discuss a real life pollution situation. A
survey is conducted to know the people options and thoughts on pollution. With new and new law
is introduced for controlling pollution. By the end of this project a person shall know all the things
and avoid pollution in a future period of time.

Definition of pollution
The presence in or introduction into the environment of a substance which has harmful or
poisonous effects.

What is pollution?

Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into the natural environment that cause adverse
change. Pollution can take the form of chemical substances or energy, such as noise, heat or light.
Pollutants, the components of pollution, can be either foreign substances/energies or naturally
occurring contaminants.

History of pollution

Although environmental pollution can be caused by natural events such as forest fires and active
volcanoes, use of the word pollution generally implies that the contaminants have an
anthropogenic source—that is, a source created by human activities. Pollution has accompanied
humankind ever since groups of people first congregated and remained for a long time in any one

4
place. Indeed, ancient human settlements are frequently recognized by their wastes—shell
mounds and rubble heaps, for instance. Pollution was not a serious problem as long as there was
enough space available for each individual or group. However, with the establishment of
permanent settlements by great numbers of people, pollution became a problem, and it has
remained one ever since.

Cities of ancient times were often noxious places, fouled by human wastes and debris. Beginning
about 1000 CE, the use of coal for fuel caused considerable air pollution, and the conversion of
coal to coke for iron smelting beginning in the 17th century exacerbated the problem. In Europe,
from the Middle Ages well into the early modern era, unsanitary urban conditions favoured the
outbreak of population-decimating epidemics of disease, from plague to cholera and typhoid
fever. Through the 19th century, water and air pollution and the accumulation of solid wastes
were largely problems of congested urban areas. People didn’t care about pollution a much and
were not aware about pollution and is effect. But, with the rapid spread of industrialization and
the growth of the human population to unprecedented levels, pollution became a universal
problem. By the middle of the 20th century, the world war had been started and caused a lots of
pollution and which affected many lives of people and nature. Nuclear pollution is a new types of
pollution which even caused a huge pollution and cause Genetic diseases. An awareness of the
need to protect air, water, and land environments from pollution had developed among the
general public. In particular, the publication in 1962 of Rachel Carson’s book Silent Spring focused
attention on environmental damage caused by improper use of pesticides such as DDT
(Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane) and other persistent chemicals that accumulate in the food
chain and disrupt the natural balance of ecosystems on a wide scale. Bhopal gas tragedy in 1984
has effected lots of people and effected Air, Land and Water pollution. Plastic pollution is a new
cause of Water and land pollution which caused spoilage to human health, Soil and animals.

5
 CHAPTER 2
Types of pollution and explanation

Introduction
There are various types of pollution i.e. air, water, land, noise, industrial, soil, light, thermal etc. and they
are categorized based on the region of the environment which they negatively impact, contributing to the
multiple causes of pollution. Accordingly, each and every type of pollution has its own distinguishing causes
and environmental effects. Understanding pollution and its various causes can help address the various
concerns linked to environmental degradation and destruction, and the dangers it brings to human health.

Pollution is of many kinds, but the commonly known are air, water, land and water pollution. Below are the
different types of pollution and distinctive comprehensive explanation.

1. Air Pollution
2. Land pollution
3. Light Pollution
4. Noise Pollution
5. Plastic Pollution
6. Thermal Pollution
7. Visual Pollution
8. Water Pollution
9. Chemical Pollution
10. Radioactive Pollution
11. Personal Pollution
12. Particle Pollution

6
 AIR POLLUTION

Introduction of Air Pollution

Air lets our living planet breathe—it's the mixture of gases that fills the atmosphere, giving
life to the plants and animals that make Earth such a vibrant place. Broadly speaking, air is
almost entirely made up of two gases (78 percent nitrogen and 21 percent oxygen), with a
few other gases (such as carbon dioxide and argon) present in absolutely minute quantities.
We can breathe ordinary air all day long with no ill effects, so let's use that simple fact to
define air pollution, something like this:

As with water pollution and land contamination, it's the quantity (or concentration) of a
chemical in the air that makes the difference between "harmless" and "pollution." Carbon
dioxide (CO2), for example, is present in the air around you at a typical concentration of less
than 0.05 percent and breathing it in usually does no harm (you breathe it out all day long);
but air with an extremely high concentration of carbon dioxide (say, 5–10 percent) is toxic
and could kill you in a matter of minutes. Since Earth's atmosphere is very turbulent—many
of us live in windy countries—air pollution will often disperse relatively quickly. In less
enlightened times, factory operators thought that if they built really high smokestacks, the
wind would simply blow their smoke away, diluting and dispersing it so it wouldn't be a
problem. The only trouble was, Earth is a much smaller place than we think and pollution
doesn't always disappear so conveniently.

What is Air Pollution?

Air pollution occurs when harmful or excessive quantities of substances including gases,
particles, and biological molecules are introduced into Earth's atmosphere. It may cause
diseases, allergies and even death to humans; it may also cause harm to other living
organisms such as animals and food crops, and may damage the natural or built
environment. Both human activity and natural processes can generate air pollution.

Definition of Air Pollution

Air pollution is a gas (or a liquid or solid dispersed through ordinary air) released in a big
enough quantity to harm the health of people or other animals, kill plants or stop them
growing properly, damage or disrupt some other aspect of the environment (such as making
buildings crumble), or cause some other kind of nuisance (reduced visibility, perhaps, or an
unpleasant odour).

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Formation of air pollution

A common type of air pollution happens when people release particles into the air from
burning fuels. ... These can take part in further chemical reactions such as carbon dioxide,
Sulphur oxides, Nitrogen oxides, Carbon monoxide, etc. Once they are in the atmosphere,
creating acid rain and smog and it leads to depletion of ozone layer.

Man-made pollutants of Air pollution

 Stationary sources include smoke stacks of fossil fuel power stations (see for example
environmental impact of the coal industry), manufacturing facilities (factories) and waste
incinerators, as well as furnaces and other types of fuel-burning heating devices. In
developing and poor countries, traditional biomass burning is the major source of air
pollutants; traditional biomass includes wood,
crop waste and dung.
 Pollution due to burning of household waste
such as plastic, paper, wood, etc.
 People cook food from wood and biomass-
based fuel to cook food which creates more
pollution.
 Burning of fuel to create electricity for
household, industry purposes, etc.
 People using transportation for only for themselves for small distance and using of car
which produce high emission.
 Production of goods which produce high emission such as metal production, glass
products etc.
 Mobile sources include motor vehicles, marine vessels, and aircraft.
 Controlled burn practices in agriculture and forest management. Controlled or prescribed
burning is a technique sometimes used in forest management, farming, prairie
restoration or greenhouse gas abatement. Fire is a natural part of both forest and
grassland ecology and controlled fire can be a tool for foresters. Controlled burning
stimulates the germination of some desirable forest trees, thus renewing the forest.
 Fumes from paint, hair spray, varnish, aerosol sprays and other solvents. These can be
substantial; emissions from these sources was estimated to account for almost half of
pollution from volatile organic compounds in the Los Angeles basin in the 2010s.
 Waste deposition in landfills, which generate methane. Methane is highly flammable and
may form explosive mixtures with air. Methane is also an asphyxiant and may displace
oxygen in an enclosed space. Asphyxia or suffocation may result if the oxygen
concentration is reduced to below 19.5% by displacement.
 Military resources, such as nuclear weapons, toxic gases, germ warfare and rocketry.
 Fertilized farmland may be a major source of nitrogen oxides.
 Mining Operation: Mining is a process wherein minerals below the earth are extracted
using large equipment. During the process dust and chemicals are released in the air
causing massive air pollution. This is one of the reasons which is responsible for the
deteriorating health conditions of workers and nearby residents.

8
Natural sources
These are some natural source of Air pollution which are not caused by Human Activities and
have no control over these pollution. This happens due to natural effect in the Earth.

 Dust from natural sources, usually large areas of land with little or no vegetation
 Methane, emitted by the digestion of food by animals, for example cattle
 Radon gas from radioactive decay within the Earth's crust. Radon is a colorless, odourless,
naturally occurring, radioactive noble gas that is formed from the decay of radium. It is
considered to be a health hazard. Radon gas from natural sources can accumulate in
buildings, especially in confined areas such as the basement and it is the second most
frequent cause of lung cancer, after cigarette smoking.
 Smoke and carbon monoxide from wildfires. During periods of actives wildfires, smoke
from uncontrolled biomass combustion can make up almost 75% of all air pollution by
concentration.
 Vegetation, in some regions, emits environmentally significant amounts of Volatile organic
compounds (VOCs) on warmer days. These VOCs react with primary anthropogenic
pollutants—specifically, NOx, SO2, and anthropogenic organic carbon compounds — to
produce a seasonal haze of secondary pollutants. Black gum, poplar, oak and willow are
some examples of vegetation that can produce abundant VOCs. The VOC production from
these species result in ozone levels up to eight times higher than the low-impact tree
species.
 Volcanic activity, which produces sulphur, chlorine, and ash particulates.

Health effect

We know air pollution is a bad thing without even thinking about it. Have you ever coughed
when a truck drove past belching out its sooty exhaust? Instinctively, you cough to clear
your lungs and protect your body and you might even cover your face with your
handkerchief or sleeve to filter the air until it feels safe to breathe deeply again. You don't
have to be told that pollution like this might harm your health to want to steer clear of it:
your body takes action automatically. The only trouble is, we can't always see or smell air
pollution, tell when it's affecting us, or know how it might harm us days, months, or even
years in the future.

Sometimes the connection between air pollution and human health is obvious, as in the
Bhopal Disaster. Another notable incident happened in London, England in 1952 when thick,
deadly pollution known as the Great Smog, caused by people burning coal in home fires and
coal-fired power plants, killed an estimated 4000 people. Other times, it's much more
difficult to make the link. Some estimates suggest perhaps 10–20 percent of cancers are
caused by air pollution of one kind or another, but cancers can take a long time to develop
and many other things can cause them too. Proving a direct link with a particular kind of air

9
 pollution (say, a garbage incinerator in your community or a neighbor who persistently
burns plastic on garden bonfires) is very difficult.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution is one of the world's
biggest killers: it causes around four million people to die prematurely each year. Many of
these deaths happen in developing countries (over half a million in India alone), but
wealthier industrial nations suffer too: in the United States, for example, around 41,000
people a year are estimated to die early because of air pollution. Imagine how much media
coverage there would be if several million people (that's roughly the population of Houston,
Texas or the West Midlands conurbation in England) were killed in a terrorist incident or an
earthquake. Because air pollution kills quietly and relentlessly, and its finger is hard to
detect on the trigger, people barely seem to notice—or care.

Deaths aren't the only human consequence of air pollution. For every person who dies,
hundreds or thousands more suffer breathing problems such as asthma and bronchitis.
Workers exposed to high levels of dust sometimes suffer years of misery before dying from
illnesses such as silicosis.

Agricultural effect

Farming is as much of an art as a science; crops can thrive—or fail—for all sorts of reasons.
One of the things that characterized the 20th century was the huge growth in industrial
agriculture—using fertilizers, pesticides, and so on to increase crop yields and feed the
world's ever-growing population. These aren't the only chemicals that crops are exposed to,
however. We know that air pollution (in common with water pollution) can seriously affect
the growth of plants. At one end of the spectrum, it's easy to find chemical residues
(everything from toxic heavy metals such as lead to cocktails of brake fluids and other
chemicals) in plants that grow alongside highways. At the opposite extreme, the huge
increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide now causing global warming and climate change is
expected to have a major impact on the world's agriculture (reducing crop yields in some
places but potentially increasing yields elsewhere).

Economic gains
 There will sales related to electric vehicles such as scooter, van, car, trains, etc.
 More business will be launched on electric vehicles such as Ather vehicle (electric scooter), Tesla
(electric cars), Harley Davison (Electric bikes), Volvo (Electric truck), etc.
 People will save more money on using the electric bike.
 People will buy electric vehicles at a lower cost in a future period of time.
 Employment creation for electric vehicles manufacture.

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Economic effect

 Air pollution costs the world economy $5 trillion per year as a result of productivity
losses and degraded quality of life, according to a joint study by the World Bank and the
Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington.
 These productivity losses are caused by deaths due to diseases caused by air pollution.
 One out of ten deaths in 2013 was caused by diseases associated with air pollution and
the problem is getting worse.
 The problem is even more acute in the developing world. "Children under age 5 in
lower-income countries are more than 60 times as likely to die from exposure to air
pollution as children in high-income countries."
 The report states that additional economic losses caused by air pollution, including
health costs and the adverse effect on agricultural and other productivity were not
calculated in the report, and thus the actual costs to the world economy are far higher
than $5 trillion.
 Petrol will lead to scarcity.
 There will be ban in the petrol and diesel vehicles in India after 2030.
 Unemployment will be created on petrol related works and business will many business
will be shut down.

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 LAND POLLUTION

Introduction

What’s beneath your feet? Maybe a wooden floor or a stone one... and, beneath that? Brick
foundations, water pipes, power cables... and who knows what else. Keep going down and
you'll come to soil, rocks, and the raw stuff of Earth. We imagine these basic foundations of
our planet to be a kind of pristine, internal wilderness—but often that's far from the case.
While we can see many of the changes we've made to the world, some of our impacts are
virtually invisible, and land pollution is a good example. You might see factory smoke rising
through the air or oil slicks drifting over the ocean, but you can't easily see the poisons that
seep from underground mines, the garbage we tip into landfills by the truckload, or the way
the very soil that feeds us is turning slowing to dust. Land pollution, in short, is a much
bigger and more subtle problem than it might appear. How does it occur and what can we
do about it? Let's take a closer look!

What is land pollution?

If you've read our articles on water pollution and air pollution, you'll know that pollution can
be defined generally along these lines: it's the introduction into the environment of
substances that don't normally belong there, which, in great enough concentrations, can
have harmful effects on plants, animals, and humans. We can define land pollution either
narrowly or broadly. Narrowly defined, it's another term for soil contamination (for
example, by factory chemicals or sewage and other wastewater). In this article, we'll define
it more widely to include garbage and industrial waste, agricultural pesticides and fertilizers,
impacts from mining and other forms of industry, the unwanted consequences of
urbanization, and the systematic destruction of soil through over-intensive agriculture; we'll
take land pollution to mean any kind of long-term land damage, destruction, degradation, or
loss.

Causes of land pollution

There are many different ways of permanently changing the land, from soil contamination
(poisoning by chemicals or waste) to general urbanization (the systematic creation of cities
and other human settlements from greenfield, virgin land). Some, such as huge landfills or
quarries, are very obvious; others, such as atmospheric deposition (where land becomes
contaminated when air pollution falls onto it) are much less apparent. Let's consider the
main causes and types of land pollution in turn.

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Waste disposal

Humans produce vast quantities of waste—in factories

and offices, in our homes and schools, and in such
unlikely places as hospitals. Even the most sophisticated
waste processing plants, which use plasma torches
(electrically controlled "flames" at temperatures of
thousands of degrees) to turn waste into gas, produce
solid waste products that have to be disposed of
somehow. There's simply no getting away from waste:
our ultimate fate as humans is to die and become waste
products that have to be burned or buried!.

Waste disposal didn't always mean land pollution. Before

the 20th century, most of the materials people used were
completely natural (produced from either plants, animals,
or minerals found in the Earth) so, when they were
Chart: Although most of the waste we
disposed of, the waste products they generated were produce is relatively harmless and easy
natural and harmless too: mostly organic (carbon- to dispose of (blue), around one fifth of
it (orange, yellow, and green) is
based) materials that would simply biodegrade (break dangerous or toxic and extremely
down eventually into soil-like compost). There was difficult to get rid of without
automatically contaminating land.
really nothing we could put into the Earth that was
more harmful than anything we'd taken from it in the
first place. But during the 20th century, the development of plastics (polymers generally
made in chemical plants from petroleum and other chemicals), composites (made by
combining two or more other materials), and other synthetic (human-created) materials has
produced a new generation of unnatural materials that the natural environment has no idea
how to break down. It can take 500 years for a plastic bottle to biodegrade, for example.
And while it's easy enough to recycle simple things such as cardboard boxes or steel cans,
it's much harder to do the same thing with computer circuit boards made from dozens of
different electronic components, themselves made from countless metals and other
chemicals, all tightly bonded together and almost impossible to dismantle.

Nothing illustrates the problem of waste disposal more clearly than radioactive waste.
When scientists discovered how to create energy by splitting atoms in nuclear power plants,
they also created the world's hardest waste disposal problem. Nuclear plants produce toxic
waste that can remain dangerously radioactive for thousands of years and, what's worse,
will contaminate anything or anyone that comes into contact with it. Nuclear plants that
have suffered catastrophic accidents (including the Chernobyl plant in the Ukraine, which
exploded in 1986, and the Fukushima plant in Japan, which was damaged by an earthquake
in 2011) are generally sealed with concrete and abandoned indefinitely. Not surprisingly,
local communities object vociferously to having nuclear waste stored anywhere near them.

13
Urbanization

Humans have been making permanent settlements for at least 10,000 years and, short of
some major accident or natural disaster, most of the cities and towns we've created, and
the infrastructure that keeps them running, will
remain with us for thousands more years into
the future. Not many of us would automatically
classify cities and other human settlements as
"land pollution"; people obviously need to live
and work somewhere. Even so, urbanization
marks a hugely important change to the
landscape that can cause land pollution in a
variety of subtle and not-so-subtle ways.
Chart: Urbanization goes hand-in-hand with
With over 7.7 billion people on the planet, it might other changes in land use, such as
come as a surprise to find that humans have urbanized deforestation. In 2015, the world had about
96 percent as much forested area as it had in
only about 3 percent of Earth's total land surface, 1990—a huge loss of forest in total. This
though about 30–40 percent of the total land area has chart shows 15 example countries that have
either gained forest (green) or lost it
been transformed if we include agriculture. Our impact (orange), with the world total shown in the
on the planet extends much further than urbanization middle (yellow). For each country, the bar
shows the percentage of forest area in 2015
might suggest. Way back in 1996, Herbert Girardet compared to 1990, so 100 percent would be
estimated that London, England has an ecological no change. Drawn by explainthatstuff.com
footprint (area of land needed to support it) some 125 using data from UN Food and Agriculture
Organization/World Bank, published under a
times bigger than the city itself. Add up that effect for Creative Commons BY-4.0 license.
every major city in the world and you get an idea of
how big an impact urbanization has had. Today's
figures are staggering. According to the Global Footprint
Network, the ecological footprint of most countries (what they
use) hugely exceeds their bio capacity (what they can
produce): in the United States, the ecological footprint per
person is 2.3 times bigger than the bio capacity; in Germany it's
2.8 times bigger; in China, 3.7 times bigger; and in India, 2.2
times bigger.

One of the problems of urbanization is that, by concentrating

people, it concentrates their waste products at the same Photo: Greenfield to brownfield:
time. So, for example, crudely disposing of sewage from a big This once-green field will soon
be a large housing estate.
city automatically creates water or land pollution, where the People need homes to live in,
same number of people and the same volume of sewage but they also need green
spaces—and agricultural land
might not create a problem if it were created in 10 smaller to feed them.
cities or 100 small towns. Concentration is always a key
factor when we talk about pollution. Having said that, it's important to remember that
urbanization, when it works, can also help people to live very efficiently. Thus, New York has
the lowest ecological footprint of any state in the USA, largely because people there have
smaller homes and make greater use of public transportation.

14
Agricultural chemicals

Those of us who are lucky enough to live in rich countries take our basic survival for granted:
aside from trips to the grocery store, we don't worry about where our food comes from or
how it gets to us. The reality is that seven billion hungry people consume a vast amount of
food. Feeding the world on such a scale is only possible because agriculture now works in an
industrial way, with giant machines such as tractors and combine harvesters doing the work
that hundreds of people would have done in the past, and chemicals such as fertilizers and
pesticides (herbicides that kill weeds and insecticides that kill bugs) increasing the amount
of food that can be grown on each piece of land. Unfortunately, most pesticides are by
definition poisons, and many remain in the soil or accumulate there for years. One infamous
and now widely banned pesticide, DDT, is not ordinarily biodegradable so it has remained in
the environment ever since it was first used in the mid-20th century and even spread to
such places as Antarctica. DDT is just one of many organic (carbon-based) chemicals that
remain in the environment for years or decades, known as persistent organic pollutants.

Air pollution doesn't remain air pollution forever. Ideally it disperses, so the concentration
of problematic chemicals becomes so low that it no longer constitutes pollution. Sometimes,
though, it falls back to the ground and becomes either water pollution (if it enters the
oceans, rivers, and lakes) or land pollution. Pollution created ("deposited") in water or land
from existing pollution in the air (atmosphere) is known as atmospheric deposition. Land
can become polluted by deposition in some much unexpected ways. For example, a corridor
of land either side of a highway or freeway becomes systematically polluted over time with
all kinds of harmful by products of road travel—everything from fuel spills and brake linings
to dust worn from the pavement and heavy metal deposits (such as lead) washed from the
engines. These chemicals accumulate in the soil where they can undergo reactions with one
another and form substances that are even more toxic.

Two important things are worth noting about atmospheric deposition. First, it means no
land on Earth—not even the most isolated island—can be considered completely safe from
pollution: even if it's hundreds or thousand miles from the nearest factory or human
settlement, even if no human has ever lived there, it could still be polluted from the air.
Second, if you're doing something that causes pollution (maybe spreading weedkiller on
your garden or perhaps running a factory where ash is discharged from a smokestack), the
effects are not necessarily going to be confined to the place where the pollution is first
produced. It's important to remember that pollution knows no boundaries.

15
Soil erosion

If you define "land pollution" as irreversible damage to the land, you have to include soil
erosion as a type of pollution too. Many people think soil is soil, always there, never
changing, ever ready to grow whatever crops we choose to
bury in it. In reality, soil is a much more complex growing
habitat that remains productive only when it is cared for
and nurtured. Too much wind or water, destruction of soil
structure by excessive plowing, excessive nutrients,
overgrazing, and overproduction of crops erode soil,
damaging its structure and drastically reducing its
productivity until it's little more than dust. At its worst, soil Photo: Soil erosion turns fields
erosion becomes desertification: once-productive agricultural into deserts. Photo by Jack
areas become barren, useless deserts. How serious is the Dykinga courtesy of US
Department of
problem? In 2001, former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan Agriculture/Agricultural Research
warned the world that: "Drought and desertification threaten Service (USDA/ARS).
the livelihood of over 1 billion people in more than 110
countries around the world." Deforestation doesn't only harm the place where the trees are
cut down. A 2013 study by Princeton University researchers found that if the Amazon
rainforest were completely destroyed, it would have a dramatic effect on the atmosphere,
which would carry across to places like the United States, causing drought and potentially
desertification there as well.

Unfortunately, because soil erosion has so far affected developing countries more than the
developed world, it's a problem that receives relatively little attention. Accelerating climate
change will soon alter that. In a future of hotter weather and more intense storms, it will
become increasingly difficult to maintain soil in a fertile and productive state, while heavy
rainstorms and flash floods will wash away topsoil more readily. Meanwhile, agriculture may
become impossible in coastal areas inundated by saltwater carried in by rising sea levels.
We might think of global warming as an example of air pollution (because it's caused mostly
by humans releasing gases such as carbon dioxide into the atmosphere). But if it leads to
dramatic sea-level rise and coastal erosion, you could argue that it will become an example
of land pollution as well.

Effects of land pollution

With luck and the right atmospheric conditions, air and water pollution disperse and
disappear. What makes land pollution such a problem is that land is static, so land pollution
stays exactly where it is until and unless someone cleans it up. Land that's polluted stays
polluted; land that's urbanized almost invariably stays urbanized. As we've already see,
plastics take hundreds of years to disappear while radiation can contaminate land for ten
times longer. That means landfill sites and radioactive waste dumps remain that way pretty
much indefinitely.

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 The simplest effect of land pollution is that it takes land out of circulation. The more land we
use up, the less we have remaining. That might not sound a problem where there's plenty of
land in rural areas, but it's certainly a concern where productive agricultural land is
concerned, especially as the world's population continues to increase. The biggest problem
comes when contaminated land is returned to use, either as building or agricultural land.
Houses might be built on brownfield (former industrial) sites that haven't been cleaned up
properly, putting future owners and their families at risk. Or people might get their water
from rivers supplied by groundwater contaminated by landfill sites, mine workings, or
otherwise polluted land some distance away. Illnesses such as cancer develop over years or
decades for a variety of reasons and it's extremely difficult to prove that they've been
caused by something like local environmental pollution, especially when people move
homes during their lifetime. No-one knows how much land is contaminated, how
contamination varies from one place to another, or how land contaminants react with one
another once they enter watercourses and become water pollution. So the scale of the
problem and its ultimate effects are impossible to determine.

However, we do know what effect individual pollutants have. We know, for example, that
lead is a toxic heavy metal that has all kinds of unpleasant effects on human health; it's been
implicated in developmental deficits (such as reductions in intelligence) in children. We
know that some chemicals are carcinogenic (cancer-causing) while others cause congenital
defects such as heart disease. At the very least, it seems prudent not to introduce
dangerous chemicals, such as persistent organic pollutants, into the environment where
they may mat harm people's health for many years into the future.

Economic Gains

 There will be business which deals in removing land pollution.

 There will be more employment for removing pollution.
 There will be reuse of the material which saves cost for production.

Economic Losses

 Fertility of the soil reduces and hence produce low quality of crops.
 Land value will be less as no one is going to buy land near polluted area and on the
polluted area.
 People have to spend more on health care.

17
 LIGHT POLLUTION

Light pollution, also known as photo pollution, is the presence of anthropogenic and
artificial light in the night environment. It is exacerbated by excessive, misdirected or
obtrusive uses of light, but even carefully used light fundamentally alters natural conditions.
As a major side-effect of urbanization, it is blamed for compromising health, disrupting
ecosystems and spoiling aesthetic environments.

Effects of Light Pollution

Luminous pollution has dire effects on our environment and resources of energy as well as
wildlife ecology and astronomical research. Light pollution also affects the quality of life and
safety of humans. Here are some of known side effects of light pollution.

Environment

The International Dark-Sky Association (IDA), a non-profit organization that raises

awareness of light pollution, estimates that excessive nighttime lighting releases more
than 12 million tons of carbon dioxide, the most serious greenhouse gas, into the
atmosphere each year. It would take nearly 702 million trees to absorb the carbon
dioxide produced by wasted light.

Light pollution may also contribute to other forms of pollution. According to a 2010
study by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association, photopollution increases
air pollution by suppressing a naturally occurring radical that cleans the air at night.
Nitrate radical, a form of nitrogen oxide, breaks down vehicle and factory emissions at
night. The nightly process prevents the emissions from becoming smog, ozone
pollution, or other harmful irritants. The process only takes place at night because
sunlight destroys nitrate radical. However, artificial lights from buildings, cars, and
streetlights, although 10,000 times dimmer than sunlight, also affect nitrate radical
and slow down the cleansing process by 7%. Artificial light also increase the chemicals
for ozone pollution by 5%.

Energy

Wasted light results in energy waste. A 2007 IDA study estimated that 30% of all light
emitted by public outdoor light fixtures is wasted, which amounts to 22 Terawatt Hours
(TWh)/year of wasted electrical energy. This is equivalent to the following:

 About 3.6 million tons of coal per year

 About 12.9 million barrels of oil per year

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The total amount of wasted electrical energy each year is enough to illuminate over 11
million homes and power over 777,000 cars.

Wildlife

Luminous pollution affects the feeding, sleeping, mating, and migration cycles of all
wildlife. Wildlife can also experience disorientation of time when there is too much artificial
light at night.

 Mammals - Mammals such as bats, raccoons, coyotes, deer, and moose can
experience difficulty foraging for food at night due to over illumination. They risk
exposure to natural predators and increased mortality due to night vision
impairment. They also experience a decline in reproduction that leads to a shrinking
population.
 Birds - Birds such as owls and nighthawks use moonlight and starlight to hunt and
migrate at night. Artificial lights sources can overwhelm natural light sources,
causing birds to be drawn to or fixated on the artificial lights. This results in birds
deviating from their intended migration route, flying until they experience
exhaustion and collapse, and becoming prey to other animals. Marine birds such as
albatrosses are known to collide with lighthouses, wind turbines, and drilling
platforms at sea due to their bright lights. In North America alone, 100 million birds
die annually in collisions with illuminated buildings and towers.
 Amphibians - Sky glow affects amphibians such as frogs, toads, and salamanders in
marshes and wetlands. The orange haze confuses and disorients them, which causes
a decrease in feeding and mating. It also impairs natural instincts that protect
amphibians against natural predators and the elements.
 Reptiles - Reptiles such as sea turtles are greatly affected by light pollution. Female
turtles nest on dark, remote beaches, but bright coastal lights prevent them from
finding safe nesting areas for their eggs. This leads the female turtles depositing
their eggs in an unsafe area or the ocean. Sea turtle hatchlings instinctively crawl
toward the brightest part on the beach, which for many centuries was the
moonlight and starlit ocean; however, excessive lighting on the beach or near the
shore confuses the hatchlings and causes them wander away from the ocean. The
hatchlings may be eaten by predators, run over by vehicles, drown in swimming
pools, or die from dehydration or exhaustion. Artificial lights may also disorient
other nocturnal reptiles.
 Insects - Insects such as moths are naturally attracted to light and may use all their
energy to stay near a source of light. This interferes with mating and migration as
well as makes them vulnerable to natural predators, which reduces their population.
This also affects all species that rely on insects for food or pollination.

Astronomy

Light pollution alters our view of the sky and stars, but no group of people is more affected
by this phenomenon than astronomers. Light spill and sky glow interferes with
astronomical equipment, and makes viewing faint celestial bodies difficult even with the
aid of a telescope.
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 Astronomy is one of the oldest sciences in human history, and has made countless
contributions to technology, economy and society with applications like personal
computers, communication satellites, mobile phones, Global Positioning Systems (GPS),
solar panels, and Magnetic Resonance (MRI) scanners.

Today, astronomy helps us determine the Sun's effect on Earth's climate, and identify any
potential threats to Earth from space. In order to conduct observation and research,
astronomers require dark skies.

Humans

Humans, like plants and wildlife, are regulated by circadian rhythms, the physical, mental
and behavioural changes that occur in a 24-hour cycle. The circadian clock regulates
physiologic activities such as brain wave patterns, hormone production, and cell regulation.
The rhythms respond to the light and darkness around an organism. Disrupting these
rhythms can result in a variety of health problems, including sleep disorders, anxiety,
depression, diabetes, cancer (particularly breast and prostate cancer), cardiovascular
disease, immunological disorders, and obesity.

Melatonin, the naturally occurring hormone that regulates the sleep and wake cycle, is
acutely affected by light pollution. The hormone is activated by darkness and repressed by
light. Melatonin deficiency can result in anxiety and mood disorders, insomnia, and
elevated estrogen/progesterone ratio.

In 2009, the American Medical Association (AMA) unanimously supported the reduction of
light pollution, and advocated the development of energy-efficient outdoor lighting to
reduce glare and energy waste.

Types of Light Pollution

Photo pollution occurs in a variety of forms, including light trespass, glare, sky glow, and
light clutter. One source of light can result in multiple forms of pollution. Here is how you
can identify each form of light pollution.

1. Light Trespass

Light trespass, also known as spill light, occurs when a light

fixture casts illumination beyond the property lines,
unintentionally illuminating other homes, businesses, or areas.
Spill light is the most subjective form light pollution because
there are no guidelines to determine when, where, or how
much light is unwanted. A common example of spill light is light
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from a streetlight coming through a window and illuminating a bedroom, light from outdoor
wall lights that direct light up towards the sky rather than towards the ground, or light
from a neighbour’s floodlight or security light shining over the fence and illuminating your
property.

2. Glare

Glare is the visual sensation one experiences when stray light, light
in the visual field, is greater than the light to which the eyes are
adapted. Glare, depending on the intensity, can result in reduced
contrast, colour perception, and visual performance.

Glare occurs in the following three forms:

a. Discomfort Glare – Discomfort glare is also known as psychological glare, and is

the most common type of glare. Psychological glare occurs when lighting causes
annoyance or irritation, but does not decrease visual performance and physical
discomfort is short term. Reduce discomfort glare by installing a light dimmer to
dim lights, such as recessed lights, in your home.
b. Disability Glare – Disability glare, also known as veiling glare, occurs when stray
light scatters in the eye, producing a veil over the retina, affecting visual
performance. Veiling glare reduces contrast as well as color and spatial perception,
which can lead to unsafe driving conditions. Older drivers are more prone to
experience disability glare while driving.
c. Blinding Glare – Blinding glare, also known as absolute glare or dazzle, occurs
when a light source impairs the field of vision, preventing the eye from seeing
anything but the light source. Visual performance may remain affected for some
time well after the incident.

3. Sky Glow

Sky glow originates from natural and man-made sources;

however, poorly designed and targeted artificial lights are
the main cause of sky glow. Sky glow occurs when light is
emitted directly into the atmosphere, accidently or
purposefully, where it is scattered by dust and gas
molecules, creating a dome-like orange glow that covers
the night sky. The glow reduces the contrast between the
stars and the galaxies in the sky, making celestial objects
difficult to see even with a telescope. Light domes also affect the polarization of
moonlight, which nocturnal animals use to navigate.

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 Glow domes are visible in cities and towns throughout the world, and they appear in a
variety of sizes such as large domes over metropolitan hubs or small domes above over-
illuminated commercial areas and sport complexes or stadiums. Cloud coverage, snow,
trees, and the quantity of dust and gas molecules in the atmosphere can amplify sky glow.

According to the National Park Service, artificial sky glow from major cities is visible up to
200 miles away in many national parks. For example, the bright lights of Las Vegas are
visible in Nevada’s Great Basin National Park, located 295 miles west of the city, and in
California’s Death Valley National Park, located 118 miles west of the city. The lights are
even visible in the Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah, known as one of the darkest spots
in North America, located over 260 miles northeast of the city.

4. Light Clutter

Light clutter is the excessive grouping of bright

lights that cause confusion and distract from
oncoming or surrounding objects. Light clutter
is visible on roads surrounded by unshielded
street lights and brightly lit advertisements or
signs. This creates a hazardous environment for
drivers and pilots because it competes with
traffic and navigation signals. Clutter
contributes to other forms of light pollution,
including light trespass, glare, and sky glow.

Economic gains

 There will be better income for eye hospital as more and more people come for surgery
and check-up.
 There will be business related to lights.

Economic loss

 People spend more on electricity and do not use it the maximum.

 They need to spend more on eye check-up.
 It leads to reduction of resource.
 More expenditure on light from electricity.

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 NOISE POLLUTION

Introduction

Noise pollution, also known as environmental noise or

sound pollution, is the propagation of noise with
harmful impact on the activity of human or animal life.
The source of outdoor noise worldwide is mainly caused
by machines, transport (especially planes) and
propagation systems. Poor urban planning may give rise
to noise pollution, side-by-side industrial and residential
buildings can result in noise pollution in the residential
areas. Some of the main sources of noise in residential
areas include loud music, transportation noise, lawn
care maintenance, nearby construction, explosions, or
young people yelling (sports games). Noise pollution
associated with household electricity generators is an
emerging environmental degradation in many
developing nations.

Various Causes of Noise Pollution

1. Industrialization
Most of the industries use big machines which are capable of producing a large amount
of noise. Apart from that, various equipment like compressors, generators, exhaust
fans, grinding mills also participates in producing big noise. Therefore, you must have
seen workers in these factories and industries wearing earplugs to minimize the effect
of noise.
2. Poor Urban Planning
In most of the developing countries, poor urban planning also plays a vital role.
Congested houses, large families sharing small space, fight over parking, frequent fights
over basic amenities leads to noise pollution which may disrupt the environment of
society.
3. Social Events
Noise is at its peak in most of the social events. Whether it is marriage, parties, pub, disc
or place of worship, people normally flout rules set by the local administration and
create nuisance in the area. People play songs on full volume and dance till midnight

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 which makes the condition of people living nearby pretty worse. In markets, you can see
people selling clothes via making a loud noise to attract the attention of people.
4. Transportation
A large number of vehicles on roads, airplanes flying over houses, underground trains
produce heavy noise and people get it difficult to get accustomed to that. The high
noise leads to a situation wherein a normal person loses the ability to hear properly.
5. Construction Activities
Under construction activities like mining, construction of bridges, dams, buildings,
stations, roads, flyovers takes place in almost every part of the world. These
construction activities take place every day as we need more buildings, bridges to
accommodate more people and to reduce traffic congestion. The down point is that
these construction equipment are too noisy.
6. Household Chores
We people are surrounded by gadgets and use them extensively in our daily life.
Gadgets like TV, mobile, mixer grinder, pressure cooker, vacuum cleaners, washing
machine and dryer, cooler, air conditioners are minor contributors to the amount of
noise that is produced but it affects the quality of life of your neighbourhood in a bad
way.
While this form of pollution may seem harmless, it, in fact, has far-reaching
consequences. The adverse effects on the health of the environment are quite severe.
Not only is the local wildlife affected by pollution but humans also face a number of
problems due to it.

Effects of Noise Pollution

1. Hearing Problems
Any unwanted sound that our ears have not been built to filter can cause problems
within the body. Our ears can take in a certain range of sounds without getting
damaged. Man-made noises such as jackhammers, horns, machinery, airplanes and
even vehicles can be too loud for our hearing range. Constant exposure to loud levels of
noise can easily result in the damage of our eardrums and loss of hearing. It also
reduces our sensitivity to sounds that our ears pick up unconsciously to regulate our
body’s rhythm.

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2. Health Issues
Excessive noise pollution in working areas such as offices, construction sites, bars and
even in our homes can influence psychological health. Studies show that the occurrence
of aggressive behavior, disturbance of sleep, constant stress, fatigue, and hypertension
can be linked to excessive noise levels. These, in turn, can cause more severe and
chronic health issues later in life.

3. Sleeping Disorders
Loud noise can certainly hamper your sleeping pattern and may lead to irritation and
uncomfortable situations. Without a good night sleep, it may lead to problems related
to fatigue and your performance may go down in the office as well as at home. It is
therefore recommended to take a sound sleep to give your body proper rest.
4. Cardiovascular Issues
Blood pressure levels, cardiovascular disease, and stress-related heart problems are on
the rise. Studies suggest that high-intensity noise causes high blood pressure and
increases heartbeat rate as it disrupts the normal blood flow. Bringing them to a
manageable level depends on our understanding of noise pollution and how we tackle
it.
5. Trouble Communicating
High decibel noise can put trouble and may not allow two people to communicate
freely. This may lead to misunderstanding and you may get difficult understanding the
other person. Constant sharp noise can give you a severe headache and disturb your
emotional balance.
6. Effect on Wildlife
Wildlife faces far more problems than humans because of noise pollution since they are
more dependent on sound. Animals develop a better sense of hearing than us since
their survival depends on it. The ill effects of excessive noise begin at home. Pets react
more aggressively in households where there is a constant noise.
They become disoriented more easily and face many behavioral problems. In nature,
animals may suffer from hearing loss, which makes them easy prey and leads to
dwindling populations. Others become inefficient at hunting, disturbing the balance of
the eco-system.
Species that depend on mating calls to reproduce are often unable to hear these calls
due to excessive man-made noise. As a result, they are unable to reproduce and cause
declining populations. Others require sound waves to echolocate and find their way
when migrating. Disturbing their sound signals means they get lost easily and do not
migrate when they should. To cope up with the increasing sound around them, animals

25
 are becoming louder, which may further add to the pollution levels. This is why
understanding noise pollution can help us lower the impact it has on the environment.

Solution to reduce Sound pollution

As of now, there do not exist many solutions to reduce sound pollution. On a personal
level, everybody can help to reduce the noise in their homes by lowering the volume of the
radio, music system and the television. Listening to music without headphones is also a
good step forward. Removal of public loudspeakers is another way in which pollution can
be countered.
As is controlling the sound levels in clubs, bars, parties, and discos. Better urban planning
can help in creating ‘No-Noise’ zones, where honking and industrial noise are not
tolerated. It is only when our understanding of noise pollution is complete, can we take
steps to eradicate it completely.

Economic gains
 There will be more gains for the ENT clinic.
 New business will be coming for avoiding noise pollution device.

Economic loss.
 People have to spend more on the ENT clinic.
 People have to spend more on the device for noise pollution.
 There will be expenditure in Research and development for removal of noise pollution.
 People need to spend more money to buy device or material to cope with noise
pollution.
 It leads to low productivity of the employees in the company which in turn to low
impact in the work and leads to lower salary of the employees for low impact.

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 PLASTIC POLLUTION

Plastic pollution, accumulation in the environment of synthetic plastic products to the point
where they create problems for wildlife and their habitats as well as for human populations. In
1907 the invention of Bakelite brought about a revolution in materials by introducing truly
synthetic plastic resins into world commerce. By the end of the 20th century, however, plastics
were found to be persistent polluters of many environmental niches, from Mount Everest to
the bottom of the sea. Whether being mistaken for food by animals, flooding low-lying areas
by clogging drainage systems, or simply causing significant aesthetic blight, plastics have
attracted increasing attention as a large-scale pollutant.

Various Causes of Plastic Pollution

While solving the problem of plastic pollution may seem as easy as just implementing recycling
or cleaning up empty bottles, the truth is that the plastic causing the pollution can range in size
from big to microscopic. The major contributors to this problem today include:
1. Plain Old Trash
Plastic is everywhere, even on those items you may not expect it to be. Milk cartons are
lined with plastic, water bottles are handed out everywhere, and some products may
even contain tiny plastic beads. Every time one of these items gets thrown away or
washed down a sink, the toxic pollutants have more of a chance to enter the environment
and do harm.
Trash dumps and landfills are unfortunate major problems, as they allow pollutants to
enter the ground and affect wildlife and groundwater for years to come.
2. It is overused
As plastic is less expensive, it is one of the most widely available and overused item in
the world today. When disposed of, it does not decompose easily and pollutes the land
or air nearby when burned in the open air.
3. Fishing Nets
Commercial fishing is an economic necessity for many parts of the world, and tons of
people eat fish for their daily survival. However, this industry has helped contribute to
the problem of plastics pollution in the oceans in several ways. The nets used for certain
large-scale trolling operations are usually made of plastic.
First, these spend long times submerged in water, leaking toxins at will, but they also
often get broken up or lost, left to remain wherever they fall. This not only kills and
harms local wildlife, but also ensures that pollutants enter the water and fish of the
area.

27
 4. Disposing of Plastic and Garbage
This may sound a bit confusing, but because plastic is meant to last, it is nearly
impossible to break down. Burning plastic is incredibly toxic, and can lead to harmful
atmospheric conditions and deadly illness. Therefore, if it is in a landfill, it will never
stop releasing toxins in that area.
Even recycling doesn’t cut down on plastic, as it essentially uses the existing plastic,
albeit in a new form. The process of recycling plastic can also lead to plastic irritants
being released in a number of ways.

Serious Effects of Plastic Pollution

It seems rather obvious that this amount of a material that isn’t meant to break down can
wreak havoc on natural environments, leading to long-term issues for plants, animals, and
people. Some of the major long-term effects of plastic pollution are:
1. It Upsets the Food Chain
Because it comes in sizes large and small, polluting plastics even affect the world’s
tiniest organisms such as plankton. When these organisms become poisoned due to
plastic ingestion, this causes problems for the larger animals that depend on them for
food. This can cause a whole slew of problems, each step further along the food chain.
Plus, it means that plastic are present in the fish that many people eat every day.
2. Groundwater Pollution
Water conservation is already a concern in places ranging from California to parts of
India, but the world’s water is in great danger because of leaking plastics and waste. If
you’ve ever seen a garbage dump, imagine what happens every time it rains – then
imagine that being in your drinking water. Groundwater and reservoirs are susceptible to
leaking environmental toxins.
Most of the litter and pollution affecting the world’s oceans also derives from plastics.
This has had terrible consequences on many marine species, which can lead to
consequences for those that eat fish and marine life for nutrients – including people.
3. Land Pollution
When plastic is dumped in landfills, it interacts with water and form hazardous
chemicals. When these chemicals seep underground, they degrade the water quality.
Wind carries and deposits plastic from one place to another, increasing the land litter. It
can also get stuck on poles, traffic lights, trees, fences, tower etc. and animals that may
come in the vicinity and might suffocate them to death.
4. Air Pollution
Burning of plastic in the open air, leads to environmental pollution due to the release of
poisonous chemicals. The polluted air when inhaled by humans and animals affect their
health and can cause respiratory problems.
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5. It Kills Animals
Despite countless TV ads over the years showing ducks or dolphins trapped in six-ring
plastic can holders, these items are still used and discarded en masse each day.
Whether because the mass of plastic has displaced animals or the related toxins have
poisoned them, plastic pollution does a lot of damage to the world’s ecosystems.
6. It is Poisonous
Man artificially makes plastic by using a number of toxic chemicals. Therefore, the use
of and exposure to plastics has been linked to a number of health concerns affecting
people around the world. The processes of making, storing, disposing of, and just being
around plastics can be extremely harmful to living things.

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 THERMAL POLLUTION
When someone thinks of pollution, the idea of thermal pollution often doesn’t come to mind.
People will first think of things like carbon emissions, personal pollution and waste, and a
variety of other changing factors. However, thermal pollution is a real and persistent problem
in our modern society. In layman’s terms, thermal pollution is when an industry or other
human-made organization takes in water from a natural source and either cools it down or
heats it up. They then eject that water back into the natural resource, which changes the
oxygen levels and can have disastrous effects on local ecosystems and communities.
Thermal pollution is defined as sudden increase or decrease in temperature of a natural body
of water which may be ocean, lake, river or pond by human influence. This normally occurs
when a plant or facility takes in water from a natural resource and puts it back with an altered
temperature. Usually, these facilities use it as a cooling method for their machinery or to help
better produce their products.

Plants that produce different products or waste water facilities are often the culprits of this
massive exodus of thermal pollution. In order to properly control and maintain thermal
pollution, humans and governments have been taking many steps to effectively manage how
plants are able to use the water. However, the effects are still lasting today.

Causes of Thermal Pollution

1. Water as Cooling Agent in Power, Manufacturing and Industrial plants:

Production and Manufacturing plants are biggest source of thermal pollution. These
plants draw water from nearby source to keep machines cool and then release back to
the source with higher temperature. When heated water returns to the river or ocean,
the water temperature rises sharply. When oxygen levels are altered in the water, this
can also degrade the quality and longevity of life in wildlife that lives underwater. This
process can also wipe away streamside vegetation, which constantly depends on
constant levels of oxygen and temperature. By altering these natural environments,
industries are essentially helping decrease the quality of life for these marines based life
forms and can ultimately destroy habitats if they are not controlled and careful about
their practices.

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2. Soil Erosion:

Soil erosion is another major factor that causes thermal pollution. Consistent soil
erosion causes water bodies to rise, making them more exposed to sunlight. The high
temperature could prove fatal for aquatic biomes as it may give rise to anaerobic
conditions.

3. Deforestation:

Trees and plants prevent sunlight from falling directly on lakes, ponds or rivers. When
deforestation takes place, these water bodies are directly exposed to sunlight, thus
absorbing more heat and raising its temperature. Deforestation is also a main cause of
the higher concentrations of greenhouse gases i.e. global warming in the atmosphere.

4. Runoff from Paved Surfaces:

Urban runoff discharged to surface waters from paved surfaces like roads and parking
lots can make water warmer. During summer seasons, the pavement gets quite hot,
which creates warm runoff that gets into the sewer systems and water bodies.

5. Natural Causes:

Natural causes like volcanoes and geothermal activity under the oceans and seas can
trigger warm lava to raise the temperature of water bodies. Lightening can also
introduce massive amount of heat into the oceans. This means that the overall
temperature of the water source will rise, having significant impacts on the
environment.

Effects of Thermal Pollution

Among recognized scientists and scholars, there are generally two schools of thought
when it comes to the effects of thermal pollution. Some lean on the side of the negatives
of this pollution on marine ecosystems and how it is detrimental to positive environmental
practices. However, some lean towards the side that without these industries operating
the way they do, then some of the most basic parts of human life would be completely
obsolete. Waste water would not be able to be properly maintained, we would have no
industries that could produce the goods we need, and so on. The effects of thermal
pollution on ecosystems, however, greatly outweigh the benefits that industries have by
participating in the act.

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1. Decrease in DO (Dissolved Oxygen) Levels:

The warm temperature reduces the levels of DO (Dissolved Oxygen) in water. The warm
water holds relatively less oxygen than cold water. The decrease in DO can create
suffocation for plants and animals such as fish, amphibians and copepods, which may
give rise to anaerobic conditions. Warmer water allows algae to flourish on surface of
water and over the long term growing algae can decrease oxygen levels in the water.

2. Increase in Toxins:

With the constant flow of high temperature discharge from industries, there is a huge
increase in toxins that are being regurgitated into the natural body of water. These
toxins may contain chemicals or radiation that may have harsh impact on the local
ecology and make them susceptible to various diseases.

3. Loss of Biodiversity:

A dent in the biological activity in the water may cause significant loss of biodiversity.
Changes in the environment may cause certain species of organisms to shift their base
to some other place while there could be significant number of species that may shift in
because of warmer waters. Organisms that can adapt easily may have an advantage
over organisms that are not used to the warmer temperatures.

4. Ecological Impact:

A sudden thermal shock can result in mass killings of fish, insects, plants or amphibians.
Hotter water may prove favourable for some species while it could be lethal for other
species. Small water temperature increases the level of activity while higher
temperature decreases the level of activity. Many aquatic species are sensitive to small
temperature changes such as one degree Celsius that can cause significant changes in
organism metabolism and other adverse cellular biology effects.

5. Affects Reproductive Systems:

A significant halt in the reproduction of marine wildlife (although this may be true,
reproduction can still occur between fish – but the likelihood of defects in new-borns is
significantly higher) can happen due to increasing temperatures as reproduction can
happen within certain range of temperature. Excessive temperature can cause the
release of immature eggs or can prevent normal development of certain eggs.

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6. Increases Metabolic Rate:

Thermal pollution increases the metabolic rate of organisms as increasing enzyme

activity occurs that causes organisms to consume more food than what is normally
required, if their environment were not changed. It disrupts the stability of food chain
and alter the balance of species composition.

7. Migration:

The warm water can also cause particular species of organisms to migrate to suitable
environment that would cater to its requirements for survival. This can result in loss for
those species that depend on them for their daily food as their food chain is
interrupted.

Above all else, the most important thing to consider is that the effects of thermal pollution
greatly outweighs the human need for it to be done. Plants and industries have been able to
find successful ways around thermal pollution, but many of them are not practicing it because
it’s simply easier to work from the traditional model. If we want to promote the thriving
environment that surrounds marine biology, then the attitude around thermal pollution needs
to take a drastic turn. By being aware of the causes and effects, you can have a significant
impact on how these plants choose to operate and you can opt to make change.

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 VISUAL POLLUTION

Visual pollution is a term used to describe something that blocks or otherwise obstructs the
view of a particular place or thing. It may refer to the visibility of an object that is located at a
distance, to visibility in general, or to clutter within a particular view. It is primarily an aesthetic
issue, meaning that it interferes with the ability to fully appreciate the perceived beauty of a
specific site, landscape, or city. Given this characteristic, which is largely dependent on
personal preference, visual pollution is a difficult concept to define.

Causes of visual pollution

There are different causes of visual pollution. Among the most frequent we can mention:
 Excessive use of illuminated billboards and animations on roads.
 Excessive use of television advertising.
 Garbage agglomerated in public spaces.
 Constructions or distortions in natural environments that scare away the fauna of that
space.
 Networks of electrical wiring placed in the cables in a disorderly manner.
 Urban graffiti.
 Air traffic.
 Deteriorated buildings.
 Parabolic antennas.
 Pipes in poor condition and external wiring of buildings.

Effects of visual pollution

Although it is believed that this over-stimulation generated by visual pollution only affects
the area in which it is found, in reality its negative impact permeates other beings. In the
case of human beings, over-stimulation in sight generates visual problems and stress in
the eyeball because it needs to work harder to assimilate the information. This type of
pollution can produce a deterioration in health, causing anxiety, anguish, headaches,
nervousness and psychological stress in people.
Also, the amount of visual information on streets and highways can cause distractions and
traffic accidents that can put the lives of drivers and pedestrians at risk.
On the other hand, the environment suffers from visual pollution and its consequences
can be very severe for fauna and flora. Many species affected by visual pollution have had
to migrate from their habitats or have died as a result of deforestation, the construction of
signs and electric towers.
In light pollution, which is part of visual pollution, effects have been generated in the night
sky, they do not allow the stars and planets to be seen because of the excess light that
comes from cities.
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Types of visual contamination

Types of visual contamination include the following:

 Billboards.
 Air traffic.
 Wired electricity poles.
 Television antennas.
 Satellite dishes.
 Garbage or rubbish dumps.
 Deteriorated buildings.
 Electricity distribution networks.
 Excessive traffic signs.
 Light pollution generated by excess lights.

Examples of visual pollution

Among the most obvious examples that can be mentioned, we will cite the spaces where:

 The excess of light at night does not allow us to see the stars in the sky. This often
happens in some capitals of developed countries
 The excess of luminous fences with animations and movements on motorways and
roads. An example of this can be the city of Vegas.
 The use of computers or televisions very close to the eye. This leads to eye fatigue and
headache.
 The agglomeration of waste in the streets. This can be seen in the misery belts of Brazil.
 Vehicle high beams can also generate visual pollution. This is very common on highways
and highways in many countries.

35
 WATER POLLUTION

Water pollution, the release of substances into subsurface groundwater or into lakes, streams,
rivers, estuaries, and oceans to the point where the substances interfere with beneficial use of
the water or with the natural functioning of ecosystems. In addition to the release of
substances, such as chemicals or microorganisms, water pollution may also include the release
of energy, in the form of radioactivity or heat, into bodies of water.

Water Pollution Causes

The causes of water pollution vary and may be both natural and anthropogenic. However, the
most common causes of water pollution are the anthropogenic ones, including:

 Agriculture runoff - carrying fertilizers, pesticides/insecticides/herbicides and other

pollutants into water bodies such as lakes, rivers, ponds). The usual effect of this type of
pollution consists of algae growing in affected water bodies. This is a sign of increased
nitrates and phosphates in water that could be harmful to human health.
 Storm water runoff – carrying various oils, petroleum products, and other contaminants
from urban and rural areas (ditches). These usually forms sheens on the water surface.
 Leaking sewer lines – may add trihalomethanes (such as chloroform) as well as other
contaminants into groundwater ending up contaminating surface water, too. Discharges
of chlorinated solvents from dry-cleaners to sewer lines are also a recognized source of
water pollution with these persistent and harmful solvents.
 Mining activities – mining activities involve crushing rocks that usually contain many
trace metals and sulfides. The leftover material from mining activities may easily
generate sulfuric acid in the presence of precipitation water.
 Foundries – have direct emissions of metals (including Hg, Pb, Mn, Fe, Cr and other
metals) and other particulate matter into the air. Please, read more at Foundry.
 Industrial discharges – discharges produced by industrial sites may add significant
pollution to water bodies, but are usually regulated today.
 Accidental leaks and spills – associated with handling and storage of chemicals. They
may happen anytime and, although they are usually contained soon after they occur,
the risk of polluting surface and groundwater still exists. An example is ship accidents
such as the Exxon Valdez disaster, which spilled large amounts of petroleum products
into the ocean.

36
 Deliberate/illegal discharges of waste – while such occurrences are less common today,
they may still happen due to the high cost of proper waste disposal; illegal waste
discharges into water bodies were recorded all over the world.
 Burning of fossil fuels – the emitted ash particles usually contain toxic metals (such as
As or Pb). Burning will also add a series of oxides including carbon dioxide to air and,
respectively, water bodies.
 Transportation – even though Pb has been banned in gasoline in the U.S. and many
other countries, vehicle emissions pollute the air with various tailpipe compounds
(including sulphur and nitrogen compounds, as well as carbon oxides) that may end up
in water bodies via deposition with precipitation water.
 Construction activities – construction work can release a number of contaminants into
the ground that may eventually end up in groundwater.
 Plastic materials/waste in contact with water – may degrade slowly releasing harmful
compounds for both human health and ecosystem.
 Disposal of personal care products and household chemicals (including detergents and
various cleaning solutions) – this is a serious problem since these releases into water are
unpredictable and hard, if not impossible to control. It is up to each of us to minimize
this contribution to water pollution by controlling our consumption and disposal of such
chemical products, as well as trying to recycle as much as we can!
 Improper disposal of car batteries and other batteries – may add metals
 Leaking landfills – may pollute the groundwater below the landfill with a large variety of
contaminants (whatever is stored by the landfill).
 Animal waste – contribute to the biological pollution of water streams.

37
Types of water pollution
Surface water pollution
Surface water pollution includes pollution of rivers, lakes and oceans. A subset of surface
water pollution is marine pollution.
Marine pollution

One common path of entry by contaminants to the sea are

rivers. An example is directly discharging sewage and
industrial waste into the ocean. Pollution such as this occurs
particularly in developing nations. In fact, the 10 largest
emitters of oceanic plastic pollution worldwide are, from the
most to the least, China, Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, Sri
Lanka, Thailand, Egypt, Malaysia, Nigeria, and Bangladesh,
largely through the rivers Yangtze, Indus, Yellow, Hai, Nile,
Ganges, Pearl, Amur, Niger, and the Mekong, and accounting
for "90 percent of all the plastic that reaches the world's
oceans."
Large gyres (vortexes) in the oceans trap floating plastic A polluted river draining an
debris. Plastic debris can absorb toxic chemicals from ocean abandoned copper mine on
pollution, potentially poisoning any creature that eats it. Anglesey.

Many of these long-lasting pieces end up in the stomachs of marine birds and animals. This
results in obstruction of digestive pathways, which leads to reduced appetite or even
starvation.
There are a variety of secondary effects stemming not from the original pollutant, but a
derivative condition. An example is silt-bearing surface runoff, which can inhibit the
penetration of sunlight through the water column, hampering photosynthesis in aquatic
plants.
Groundwater pollution
Interactions between groundwater and surface
water are complex. Consequently, groundwater
pollution, also referred to as groundwater
contamination, is not as easily classified as surface
water pollution. By its very nature, groundwater
aquifers are susceptible to contamination from
sources that may not directly affect surface water
bodies. The distinction of point vs. non-point source
may be irrelevant.
Analysis of groundwater contamination may focus on soil characteristics and site geology,
hydrogeology, hydrology, and the nature of the contaminants. Causes of groundwater
pollution include: naturally-occurring (geogenic), on-site sanitation systems, sewage,
38
 fertilizers and pesticide, commercial and industrial leaks, hydraulic fracturing, landfill
leachate.

Categories of pollution sources

Surface water and groundwater have often been studied and managed as separate
resources even though they are interrelated. Surface water seeps through the soil and
becomes groundwater. Conversely, groundwater can also feed surface water sources.
Sources of surface water pollution are generally grouped into two categories based on
their origin.
Point sources
Point source water pollution refers to contaminants that enter a waterway from a single,
identifiable source, such as a pipe or ditch. Examples
of sources in this category include discharges from a
sewage treatment plant, a factory, or a city storm
drain.
The U.S. Clean Water Act (CWA) defines point source
for regulatory enforcement purposes. The CWA
definition of point source was amended in 1987 to
include municipal storm sewer systems, as well as Point source pollution at a shipyard
in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
industrial storm water, such as from construction
sites.
Non-point sources
Nonpoint source pollution refers to diffuse contamination that does not originate from a
single discrete source. This type of pollution is often the cumulative effect of small
amounts of contaminants gathered from a large area. A common example is the leaching
out of nitrogen compounds from fertilized agricultural lands. Nutrient runoff in storm
water from "sheet flow" over an agricultural field or a forest are also cited as examples of
non-point source pollution.
Contaminated storm water washed off of parking lots,
roads and highways, called urban runoff, is sometimes
included under the category of non-point sources. This
runoff becomes a point source because it is typically
channeled into storm drain systems and discharged
through pipes to local surface waters.

Blue drain and yellow fish symbol

Contaminants and their sources used by the UK Environment Agency
The specific contaminants leading to pollution in water to raise awareness of the ecological
include a wide spectrum of chemicals, pathogens, and impacts of contaminating surface
physical changes such as elevated temperature and drainage

discoloration. While many of the chemicals and substances that are regulated may be

39
 naturally occurring (calcium, sodium, iron, manganese, etc.) the concentration usually
determines what is a natural component of water and what is a contaminant. High
concentrations of naturally occurring substances can have negative impacts on aquatic
flora and fauna.
Oxygen-depleting substances may be natural materials such as plant matter (e.g. leaves
and grass) as well as man-made chemicals. Other natural and anthropogenic substances
may cause turbidity (cloudiness) which blocks light and disrupts plant growth, and clogs
the gills of some fish species.
Alteration of water's physical chemistry includes acidity (change in pH), electrical
conductivity, temperature, and eutrophication. Eutrophication is an increase in the
concentration of chemical nutrients in an ecosystem to an extent that increases the
primary productivity of the ecosystem. Depending on the degree of eutrophication,
subsequent negative environmental effects such as anoxia (oxygen depletion) and severe
reductions in water quality may occur, affecting fish and other animal populations.
Pathogens

Poster to teach people in South Asia about human activities

leading to the pollution of water sources

Disease-causing microorganisms are referred to as pathogens.

Pathogens can produce waterborne diseases in either human
or animal hosts. Coliform bacteria, which are not an actual
cause of disease, are commonly used as a bacterial indicator
of water pollution. Other microorganisms sometimes found in
contaminated surface waters that have caused human health
problems include:

 Burkholderia pseudomallei
 Cryptosporidium parvum
 Giardia lamblia
 Salmonella
 Norovirus and other viruses
 Parasitic worms including the Schistosoma type.

High levels of pathogens may result from on-site sanitation systems (septic tanks, pit latrines)
or inadequately treated sewage discharges. Older cities with ageing infrastructure may have
leaky sewage collection systems (pipes, pumps, valves), which can cause sanitary sewer
overflows. Some cities also have combined sewers, which may discharge untreated sewage
during rain storms. Silt (sediment) from sewage discharges also pollutes water bodies.

Muddy river polluted by sediment.

Pathogen discharges may also be caused by poorly managed livestock operations.

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Organic, inorganic and macroscopic contaminants

Contaminants may include organic and inorganic substances. Many of the chemical substances
are toxic.

A garbage collection boom in an urban-area stream in Auckland, New Zealand.

Organic water pollutants include:

 Detergents
 Disinfection by-products found in chemically disinfected drinking water, such as
chloroform
 Food processing waste, which can include oxygen-demanding substances, fats and
grease
 Insecticides and herbicides, a huge range of organohalides and other chemical
compounds
 Petroleum hydrocarbons, including fuels (gasoline, diesel fuel, jet fuels, and fuel oil) and
lubricants (motor oil), and fuel combustion byproducts, from storm water runoff.
 Volatile organic compounds, such as industrial solvents, from improper storage.
 Chlorinated solvents, which are dense non-aqueous phase liquids, may fall to the
bottom of reservoirs, since they don't mix well with water and are denser.
o Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCBs)
o Trichloroethylene
 Perchlorate
 Various chemical compounds found in personal hygiene and cosmetic products
 Drug pollution involving pharmaceutical drugs and their metabolites, this can include
antidepressant drugs or hormonal medicines such as contraceptive pills. These
molecules can be small and difficult for treatment plants to remove without expensive
upgrades.

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Inorganic water pollutants include:

 Acidity caused by industrial discharges (especially sulfur dioxide from power plants)
 Ammonia from food processing waste
 Chemical waste as industrial by-products
 Fertilizers containing nutrients--nitrates and phosphates—which are found in storm
water runoff from agriculture, as well as commercial and residential use
 Heavy metals from motor vehicles (via urban storm water runoff) and acid mine
drainage
 Secretion of creosote preservative into the aquatic ecosystem
 Silt (sediment) in runoff from construction sites, logging, slash and burn practices or
land clearing sites.

Macroscopic pollution – large visible items polluting the water – may be termed "floatables" in
an urban storm water context, or marine debris when found on the open seas, and can include
such items as:

 Trash or garbage (e.g. paper, plastic, or food waste) discarded by people on the ground,
along with accidental or intentional dumping of rubbish, that are washed by rainfall into
storm drains and eventually discharged into surface waters.
 Nurdles, small ubiquitous waterborne plastic pellets. See plastic pollution and
microplastic pollution.
 Shipwrecks, large derelict ships.

Change in temperature

Thermal pollution is the rise or fall in the temperature of a natural body of water caused by
human influence. Thermal pollution, unlike chemical pollution, results in a change in the
physical properties of water. A common cause of thermal
pollution is the use of water as a coolant by power plants
and industrial manufacturers. Elevated water temperatures
decrease oxygen levels, which can kill fish and alter food
chain composition, reduce species biodiversity, and foster
invasion by new thermophilic species. Urban runoff may
also elevate temperature in surface waters.
The Brayton Point Power Station
Thermal pollution can also be caused by the release of very in Massachusetts discharges
cold water from the base of reservoirs into warmer rivers. heated water to Mount Hope
Bay

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 CHEMICAL POLLUTION
Chemical pollution is defined as the presence or increase in our environment of chemical
pollutants that are not naturally present there or are found in amounts higher than their
natural background values. Most of the chemicals that pollute the environment are man-
made, resulted from the various activities in which toxic chemicals are used for various
purposes.

The presence of hundreds of potentially toxic chemical substances in the environment, generally
caused by human activity, is the cause of chemical pollution. These pollutants contaminate the
water, soil, air and food.

A general classification of chemical pollutants based on their chemical structure includes:

Organic chemical pollutants – are those chemicals of organic origin or that could be produced
by living organisms or are based on matter formed by living organisms. Common organic
chemical pollutants include:

 Crude oil and petroleum refined products (e.g., gasoline, diesel fuel, kerosene, mineral
spirit, motor oil, lubricating oil);
 Solvents (e.g., acetone, MEK, toluene, benzene, xylene) used in industry as well as in
many household products;
 Chlorinated solvents (e.g., PCE, TCE, 1,1,1-TCA, 1,2-DCA, 1,1,2-TCA) used in industrial
degreasing processes, as well as in dry cleaning, and in various household products;
 PAHs (polyaromatic hydrocarbons) are found in petroleum products, crude oil, but are
also a result of burning activities (e.g., from coal power plants as well as historical
manufacturing gas plants);
 PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyl ethers) which are now banned but were used in
transformers and are already present in large amounts in environment
 Alcohols (e.g., ethanol, methanol, isopropanol) are used in a large variety of
applications and household products;
 Trihalomethanes (e.g., chloroform, dibromochloromethane, chlorobromomethane,
bromoform) which are common products of water chlorination
 Phenols are usually an indication of waste water and a result of industrial processes;
 Plastics are a result of industrial processes as well as our daily activities involving using
and disposing of a large variety of plastics (e.g., bags, bottles, containers);
 Pesticides / Insecticides / Herbicides are commonly used in agriculture and may contain
toxic organic chemicals and metals (such as mercury and arsenic);
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  Detergents (e.g., nonylphenol ethoxylate) include a variety of chemical compounds with
surface activity;
 Organo-metallic compounds (e.g., organo-arsenicals, organo-mercurials) are usually
pesticides / insecticides / herbicides.

Inorganic chemical pollutants – are those chemicals of mineral origin in (not produced by living
organisms). Common inorganic chemical pollutants include:

 Metals and their salts – usually from mining and smelting activities, as well as disposal
of mining wastes;
 Inorganic fertilizers (e.g., nitrates, phosphates) used largely in agriculture and
gardening. If present in large amounts in water they can be harmful to human health
and usually trigger algae blooming events;
 Sulfides (such as pyrite) are usually mined minerals and once disposed of in the
environment, they may generate sulfuric acid in the presence of precipitation water and
microorganisms
 Ammonia is a poisonous gas if released in higher amounts and may cause blindness
followed by death;
 The oxides of nitrogen and sulphur are very common air pollutants resulting from
vehicle emissions, industrial processes, and other human activities
 Acids and bases are used in a variety of industrial applications as well as in chemical
laboratories. These are less problematic chemicals because their effect can be easily
neutralized in the environment, but if spread in large amounts they may still pose a
threat to environment and human health;
 Perchlorate includes the perchloric acids and its various salts. Perchlorate is used in a
variety of applications including rocket fuel, explosives, military operations, fireworks,
road flares, inflation bags, etc. Perchlorate is problematic because it is persistent and
may damage thyroid function in humans.

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Effect of Chemical pollution
Short-Term Effects on the Environment
When a chemical pollutant enters a body of water, it can impact surrounding wildlife,
watershed and residents. For example, if chemicals get into to a freshwater supply that
people and/or animals rely on for drinking, it may no longer be safe for consumption or
sanitation purposes. Toxic releases from industrial plants into the environment and
agricultural runoff can threaten water supplies in the short term.
Long-Term Effects on the Environment
Fertilizers or sewage can introduce chemicals containing nitrate or phosphate into bodies
of water. Nitrate and phosphate are food for the algae in water. An overload of these
chemicals will cause the algae to bloom. As the excess algae die and decay, dissolved
oxygen is used up and the overall quality of the water is degraded. Aquatic life dies from
oxygen deprivation.
When emissions from industrial plants like sulfur and nitrogen oxides enter the
atmosphere, they can produce acid rain. Acid rain can weaken plant life, stress marine
animals and cause the soil to leach toxic metals. In some cases, chemical pollution can kill
populations of beneficial species that support ecosystems, like bees.
When long-term exposure to chemical pollutants cause native species within an
ecosystem to die, the area experiences a loss of diversity and becomes more vulnerable
to invasive and undesirable species.
Global Warming
The class of chemical pollutants called greenhouse gases may contribute to global
warming. Greenhouse gases released as a result of human activities include carbon
dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and fluorinated gases. Methane and nitrous oxide are
released mostly through agricultural activities. The burning of fossil fuels and
deforestation release carbon dioxide. Many industrial processes release fluorinated
gases. The effects of global warming include accelerated ice melt at the Earth's poles,
rising sea levels, and loss of species who are unable to adapt.
Effects on Health
Chemical pollution can affect animals -- including humans -- when ingested, breathed in
or absorbed through the skin. Short-term exposure to some chemical pollutants can
impair the immune, endocrine and reproductive systems. Pollutants may cause lesions,
alter liver function or darken the skin. Chemical pollutants may also trigger asthma
symptoms in those diagnosed with the disease. Exposure to chemical pollution can also
lead to headaches, upper respiratory infections, dizziness and nose, throat or eye
irritations. According to the World Health Organization, developing fetuses are among
the most sensitive to some types of chemical pollution, as the toxins can affect the
development of organ systems and growth.

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 RADIOACTIVE POLLUTION
The radioactive pollution is defined as the physical pollution of living organisms and their
environment as a result of release of radioactive substances into the environment during
nuclear explosions and testing of nuclear weapons, nuclear weapon production and
decommissioning, mining of radioactive ores, handling and disposal of radioactive waste, and
accidents at nuclear power plants.

Causes of Radioactive Pollution

1. Nuclear accidents from nuclear energy generation plants
In the postmodern world, various forms of energy are being discovered. Among them is
nuclear energy, which is touted to be the most potent source of energy due to its high
latent power. Reports indicate that the high latent power is due to its high level of
radiation.
Its use is, therefore, prohibited but research is underway to determine its
environmental safety and to put in place the most appropriate precautionary measures
for its use. In some cases and countries, however, nuclear power plant accidents like the
Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster, Chernobyl disaster, and Three Mile Island accident
that left many dead and even many more affected by the radiation released.
2. The use of nuclear weapons as weapons of mass destruction (WMD)
The use of nuclear missiles and atomic bombs, a form of nuclear energy, in the Second
World War not only explains cause but also the damaging nature of radioactive
pollution or contamination. The effects of those two strikes in Hiroshima and Nagasaki
that prompted the end of the war in 1945 have been seen to date with children born
with complications such mental retardation as well as conditions such as autism and
other disorders. The number of cancer cases present in the two towns is more than
those of the rest of Japan.
3. Use of radio isotopes
Radio isotopes are used to make detectors and in other industrial activities. Isotopes
such as uranium have high concentrations of radiation in them. On the other hand,
common Isotopes such as carbon containing radioactive material are easily found in
water ways through sewage lines.
Since most of the raw sewage is untreated before release, once released, the isotope
combines with other compounds and elements in water. This is the same water that
people fetch for domestic use. Moreover, fishes use the same water to survive.
Consumption of these fish and from contaminated water sources means potential
intake of radiation.

46
4. Mining
Mining mostly involves the excavation of the mineral ores which are then broken into
smaller manageable pieces. Radium and Uranium, for instance, are naturally occurring
in the environment and are equally radioactive. Hence, mining increases the natural
geological processes by moving these materials from underneath the earth to the
surface. Other minerals with a hint of radiation are thorium, plutonium, radon,
potassium, carbon and phosphorus.

5. Spillage of radioactive chemicals

There have been instances of spillages over oceans when ships hit glaciers or coral reefs
and end up releasing chemicals on waterways and in the atmosphere. The majority of
these chemicals including petroleum products have a significant level of radiation which
can be detrimental to the environment.

6. Tests on radiation
Radiation has been seen to have a lot of interesting properties which has promoted a lot
of scientists to conduct tests to learn more about it. It is one of the key elements in the
cure and treatment of cancer.
Chemotherapy, a cancer curative health initiative uses radiation to prevent further
growth of the cancer cells as well as keep the immune system strong. Despite this,
scientists have been exposed to radiation leading to their deaths or to complications.

7. Cosmic rays
These come from outer space to our planet with intense radiation as their nature,
therefore, causing radioactive pollution. Gamma rays, for example, are said to have the
highest level of radiation and yet, depending on their intensity, some are not visible to
the human eye. The quantity with which the rays hit the earth depends on the altitude
of the earth and the geographical location.

Effects of Radioactive Pollution

1. Genetic mutations
Radiation has adverse effects when it comes to
genetics. It leads to damage of DNA strands leading
to genetic break up in the course of time. The
degree of genetic mutation leading to changes in
DNA composition vary due to the level of radiation
one has been exposed to and the kind of exposure.

47
 In the event that a human or an animal is exposed to too much radiation from the
atmosphere, food consumed and even water used then chances are that their bodies
have already absorbed the radiation. Once in the body, it remains active because energy
cannot be destroyed.
The resulting mutation makes one highly susceptible to cancer. For pregnant women,
kids born have adverse defects caused by genetic mutations like low weight during
birth. Effects such as disfigured births and impairment like blindness in children have
also been reported. Infertility has also been mentioned as an effect of radiation.
2. Diseases
Cancer is the most dominant radiation related disease. It has developed over the years
and poses great risk in global health. Others include leukemia, anemia, hemorrhage, a
reduction in the life span leading to premature aging and premature deaths as well as
others such as cardiovascular complications. Leukemia, for instance, is caused by
radiation in the bone marrow.
3. Soil infertility
Exposure of radiation to the atmosphere means it is present even in soils. Radioactive
substances in the soil react together with the various nutrients leading to destruction of
those nutrients, thus rendering the soil infertile and highly toxic. Such soil leads to the
harvest of crops that are riddled with radiation and thus, unfit for consumption by both
humans and animals.
Plants that grow from such soil are also genetically modified. Since these are at the base
of the food chain, the herbivores consume them and retain the radiation levels. The
carnivores such as lions, vultures end up consuming them and increasing their levels of
radiation – explained through the concept of Biomagnification.

4. Cell destruction
Radioactive pollution has diverse effects such as the alteration of cells. The bodies of
living organisms are unique in that there are millions of cells in one single body, where
each has its purpose to fulfil. Radiation distorts the cells present leading to permanent
damage of the various organs and organ systems. In the face of too much radiation,
permanent illnesses and death are inevitable.
5. Burns
Radiation is not easy to feel but it is easy to realize that you have been affected by it.
The immediate presence of burns, red lesions and sores is evidence. To make it worse,
this can lead to skin cancer.

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 PERSONAL POLLUTION.
Personal pollution is a kind of pollution that we produce and create, is the pollution of our
body and lifestyle with harmful actions. This may include:
 Smoking
 Drinking
 Drug abuse

Causes of personal pollution

In some case, contamination may be cause by individual carers, while in other cases is caused
by voluntary action.
The causes of personal pollution include driving a vehicle and throwing trash on side of the
concrete.
Polluting the soil is another cause. An individual should do all they can to preserve the
environment.
Some of the common sources of personal pollution include fertilizers, pet waste hazards
around the home (motor oil, antifreeze, and gas) urban runoff (oil, grease and toxic chemicals.

Effects of personal pollution

Personal pollution can have the effect of some diseases, affecting polluters and those who are
contaminated.
Smoking: present diseases such as asthma, affecting the person who smokes and also passive
smoking, respiratory and heart disease.
Drinking: cirrhosis, liver disease, heart diseases.
Drug abuse: affect heart diseases, neurological system and mental diseases.
Particle pollution

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 PARTICLE POLLUTION (PM)
Particle pollution, also called particulate matter or PM, is a mixture of solids and liquid droplets
floating in the air. Some particles are released directly from a specific source, while others
form in complicated chemical reactions in the atmosphere.
Particles come in a wide range of sizes. Particles less than or equal to 10 micrometres in
diameter are so small that they can get into the lungs, potentially callusing serious health
problems.

 Coarse dust particles (PM10) are 2.5 to 10 micrometres

in diameter. Sources include crushing or grinding
operations and dust stirred up by vehicles on roads.

 Fine particles (PM2.5) are 2.5 micrometres in diameter

or smaller, and can only be seen with an electron
microscope. Fine particles are produced from all types of combustion, including motor
vehicles, power plants, residential wood burning, forest fires, agricultural burning, and
some industrial processes

HEALTH EFFECTS

People with heart or lung diseases, older adults and children are most likely to be affected by
particle pollution exposure. However, even if you are healthy, you may feel temporary
symptoms if you are exposed to high levels of particle pollution. Numerous scientific studies
connect particle pollution exposure to a variety of health issues, including:

 irritation of the eyes, nose and throat

 coughing, chest tightness and shortness of breath
 reduced lung function
 irregular heartbeat
 asthma attacks
 heart attacks
 Premature death in people with heart or lung diseases.

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ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS

Particle pollution can:

 Reduce visibility (haze) in parts of the US, including some national parks
 Stain and damage buildings and statues
 Increase acidity in water bodies or change the flow of nutrients
 Deplete the soil and damage forests and crops

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 CHAPTER 3
Case study on pollution

Case study 1

S&C Electric Company

Situation

As a supplier to the utility industry, where there’s a big emphasis on smart grid and renewable energy projects,
S&C is committed to providing equipment and services that help customers meet sustainability goals. That
commitment led S&C to the Green Suppliers Network (GSN), a collaborative venture of industry, the EPA and
the Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology Manufacturing Extension
Partnership. Through a series of interactive site reviews (sometimes known as E3: Economy, Energy,
Environment), manufacturers work to improve business processes – with the goal of lessening environmental
impacts and improving productivity and customer satisfaction.

IMEC Solution

To pursue registration as a GSN Partner, S&C teamed up with IMEC (project management and efficiency review),
the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center (environmental analysis) and the UIC Energy Resources Center
(energy analysis) and selected its painting operation as the value stream to assess. Over the course of six-plus
months, IMEC facilitated a diverse group of S&C employees as they analyzed the process from grinding to final
painting. The team reviewed chemical, water and energy usage; waste and pollution generated; and employee
safety.

Results

Successful registration as a Green Supplier Network Partner

Efficiency improvements and waste reductions in painting operation

Initiation of additional efficiency, waste reduction and environmental projects

Enhanced culture of “green” thinking

Green thinking takes root in Chicago electric company’s culture

Having served electric power transmission and distribution customers for more than a century, S&C Electric
Company’s focus on energy efficiency and sustainable operations isn’t new – but working with IMEC to become
a registered Green Suppliers Network Partner did help the Chicago-based manufacturer of switching and
protection products more deeply embed “green” thinking into its culture.

“In our industry, there’s a big emphasis on smart grid and renewable energy projects,” said S&C Safety &
Environmental Director Bob Sullivan. “We’re committed to providing equipment and services that support those
efforts to help our customers meet their sustainability goals.”

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That commitment led S&C to the Green Suppliers Network (GSN), a collaborative venture of industry, the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and
Technology Manufacturing Extension Partnership. Through a series of interactive site reviews (sometimes
known as E3: Economy, Energy, Environment), manufacturers work to improve business processes – with the
goal of lessening environmental impacts and improving productivity and customer satisfaction.

To pursue registration as a GSN Partner, S&C teamed up with IMEC (project management and efficiency review),
the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center (environmental analysis) and the UIC Energy Resources Center
(energy analysis) and selected its painting operation as the value stream to assess. Over the course of six-plus
months, IMEC facilitated a diverse group of S&C managers, engineers, shop floor workers and maintenance
employees as they analyzed the entire process from grinding to final painting. This team reviewed everything
from chemical, water and energy usage to the amount of waste and pollution generated through the painting
operation. Employee safety was also a key focus for S&C, even though it wasn’t required as part of the GSN
assessment.

S&C used this green value stream analysis to make efficiency improvements and waste reductions in its painting
operation – but the real benefit, company leaders say, extended much further.

“The GSN process got our employees’ juices flowing, spawning a bunch of smaller projects,” Sullivan said.
“Sometimes efforts like these die out quickly, but this one is still living on in our organization more than a year
later. It’s really taken root in our culture.”

Examples of smaller projects S&C has implemented since becoming a GSN Partner include switching to more
environmentally friendly solvents and installing controllers that cycle pumps more efficiently, thereby reducing
electricity costs. The company also is exploring demand-driven compressor options.

According to Sullivan, having access to a team of experts with experience in the utility industry as well as energy
usage and audits was key to the GSN project’s success.

“IMEC has a very good team, and we appreciated that they tailored the individual team members to our
industry,” he said. “Having the right people working with us made it a much more efficient process.”

Source: https://www.imec.org/client-successes/sc-electric-company/

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Case study 2
Project Information Croc’s 19th Street Bistro in Virginia Beach offers coastal cuisine made with
local sustainable seafood and local produce from their chef’s garden that inspires their
seasonal specials. Croc’s is committed to environmental excellence and works to minimize
environmental impacts whenever possible. As part of this commitment to excellence, Croc’s
has joined Virginia Green, the Commonwealth of Virginia’s campaign to promote
environmentally-friendly practices in all aspects of Virginia’s tourism industry. Restaurants are
an integral part of Virginia’s tourism industry and they are the largest sector of Virginia
tourism. As such, Virginia Green Restaurants have the opportunity to have a significant impact
on how people think about the environment.

Environmental Challenges and Opportunities When the Virginia Green program was first
developed in 2006, Croc’s 19th Street Bistro became first restaurant to join the program.
Croc’s already had some of the “core activities” in place, such as minimizing the use of
disposable food service products, conserving energy, recycling grease, and using water
efficiently, and decided to implement recycling programs for common recyclables in order to
complete the qualifications needed to be a Virginia Green partner. When the restaurant
started their recycling program they immediately saw cost savings, which led them to seek out
more ways to incorporate environmental considerations into their day-to-day operations. The
next opportunity that came up was when their interior designer suggested they switch from
their old carpet, which they were removing anyway, to new carpet from Interface Flooring that
was made from recycled materials and also recyclable at the end of its useful life. Each time a
choice had to be made on what to purchase Croc’s went for the environmentally friendly
option. In the end, the main decision to pursue all of these green initiatives was because the
owners wanted to set a good example for their daughters and to do what they could to make
the world a better place for everyone.

Implementation of the Program

Building Design & Improvements Incorporated into the design of the Bistro are reused building
materials and materials from sustainable sources, like the engineered hardwood flooring
incorporating farm-raised lumber veneers and man-made substrates. High efficiency
dishwashers, toilets, and urinals are in use in addition to low flow restrictors on faucets to
conserve water. In addition to installing these operational controls to reduce water use the
Bistro also favours dry clean-up methods over water based methods and has an effective
landscape management plan to minimize water use.

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Energy bills at the restaurant are tracked and computers, appliances, and other electronic
equipment are primarily Energy Star compliant. An Energy Star air conditioning unit has helped
increase the Bistro’s efficiency as well as natural lighting and high efficiency compact
fluorescent light bulbs. Croc’s is also the first full service restaurant in the state to have solar
hot water heating.

With each new purchase or upgrade that the restaurant makes, environmental considerations
are taken into account. The carpet in the restaurant is made up of 45% recycled content, the
paint used in the facility is low VOC, and the bar service coolers are Freon-free. Aluminum
chairs and tables were purchased to avoid cleaning and refinishing with harmful products. All
of these choices were made because they are better for the environment and better for the
health of the employees and customers at Croc’s.

In addition to the upgrades made to the building itself, additional projects have taken place on
the Croc’s 19th Street Bistro property. First, a bike rack was added to allow for customers to
use a more environmentally friendly way to reach the restaurant. More recently, the first Tesla
car charging station at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront was installed at Croc's 19th Street Bistro.
Tesla Motors provided two chargers, one for its electric cars and a universal charger for other
electric cars, through the company's "destination" charging program. Hotels, restaurants and
shopping centres can apply online to receive the devices at no cost. This allows the Bistro’s
patrons to plug in while they eat. One hour at the Croc's parking lot station provides up to 60
miles of driving energy to the car. The program was suggested to Croc’s after a Tesla employee
visited the Old Beach Farmers Market in the Croc's parking lot. Croc's joins the Commodore
Theatre in Portsmouth and The Founders Inn and Spa in Virginia Beach as the only Tesla
destination charging stations in the South Hampton Roads area of Virginia.

Waste Reduction Croc’s Bistro has numerous efforts in place in order to minimize the amount
of waste that is sent to landfill. A big factor in reducing waste at restaurants includes inventory
control. Effective food inventory control, including a last-in/first-out system, and effective
labelling and ordering processes are the first step in waste reduction. Croc’s also purchases
disposable containers that are compostable, allowing the container to be diverted from the
consumer’s waste stream when possible.

The restaurant recycles glass, steel cans, aluminium cans, plastic, office paper, toner cartridges,
newspaper, cardboard, packing supplies, fluorescent lamps, batteries, and used electronic
equipment. In addition to these more common recyclables, Croc’s also recycles their cooking
grease. The grease is sent to Greenlight Biofuels in Charlottesville, who then sells it to
companies that turn it into fuel. All waste is tracked through the Bistro’s waste bills, and Croc’s
has seen a $200 per month savings from their recycling programs and is also now making

55
money from the recycled grease. The restaurant also donates the excess food from events held
at their facility as another method of waste diversion. In addition to diverting waste from
landfills, Croc’s is always looking for new ways to prevent waste. This includes extensive use of
electronic correspondence and forms instead of using paper for printing. Screen-based
ordering systems are also helpful to reduce waste from using paper tickets.

Green Purchasing Restaurants purchase a lot of food, and their purchasing power can have a
big influence not only on their suppliers, but also on the consumers. Croc’s makes an effort to
purchase locally grown, organic, and sustainably grown produce and other foods whenever
possible. Sustainable menu items include Sensible SeafoodTM, organic wines and vodka, and
local items as well. The Sensible SeafoodTM Program promotes ocean-friendly seafood from
local and sustainable
sources that are not over-fished or harvested in environmentally destructive ways. The
restaurant encourages its suppliers to minimize their packaging and other waste materials to
reduce any unnecessary materials from coming into their facility.

In addition to environmentally preferable food products, the restaurant takes sustainability

into account for all of its purchases. Recycled content paper towels and toilet paper are
purchased for the restrooms as well as bulk eco-foam soap dispensers. Non-bleached napkins
and coffee filters are purchased as well. Menus and wine lists are printed on recycled content
paper with soy-based inks. The restaurant makes every effort to ensure that customers are
aware of the environmentally friendly practices by using the Virginia Green logo on their menu
and website in addition to having it on display at the entrance of the Bistro. The Bistro has a
garden behind the building that is used for some menu items and servers make a point of
informing customers what is growing now and what is fresh as a way to raise awareness.

Evaluation of the Process

The success of the programs are primarily due to the efforts and promotion of co-owner Laura
Habr, a champion for sustainable practices that brought the Bistro to where it is today, as a
leader in its field for local and environmentally friendly dining. Croc’s became the first
restaurant to join Virginia Green and it has not stopped setting the pace since then. The
programs were implemented as opportunities arose and there has been regular re-training of
the staff when programs or equipment are updated or changed.

Outreach has been a big focus of the restaurant. Croc’s has been an integral part of bringing
many of these environmentally friendly practices to the Virginia Beach area, helping found the
Virginia Beach Green Team. The Green Team works with local hotels, restaurants, and
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attractions to make them more aware of the economic advantages of recycling. The owners of
Croc’s Bistro applied for an EPA grant to fund a pilot program for restaurant composting and
then worked with the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Museum to enroll Virginia Green
restaurants in the effort. After the grant period the program proved to be too costly to
continue, but the Bistro still composts coffee grounds for their garden and sends their oyster
shells to S.O.S (Save Our Shells), a program run by Lynnhaven River Now that puts the shells
back into the water to be a home for new oyster spats.

Sustainable. Organic. Local (S.O.L.) has become the mission of Croc’s 19th Street Bistro. The
Bistro is the gathering place for “Virginia Beach Green Drinks,” an informal happy hour held
monthly for people who care about the environment. These monthly get-togethers provide an
opportunity for the local sustainability community to socialize, network, and learn from one
another. Because of the Bistro’s active role in the community, the National Restaurant
Association recognized Croc’s with the Good Neighbor Award for Virginia in 2005 for going
above and beyond in giving back to its community. In addition to supporting local businesses
the restaurant encourages individuals to do so as well. The bistro’s parking lot is home to the
Old Beach Farmers Market, which supports family farms, watermen, and Virginia wineries. The
Farmers Market is also recognized as a Virginia Green partner.

Continual Improvement of the Program

Croc’s 19th Street Bistro is committed to running their business sustainably. They are always
looking for ways to continually improve their environmental efforts. They plan to reinvigorate
a full-fledged composting program if it becomes cost-effective in their area. The S.O.L. mantra
is not only their mission, but has also translated into a purchasing policy, focusing the Bistro’s
purchasing power on products and upgrades that have the least environmental impact. Every
time furniture or equipment is replaced Croc’s makes sure to find the most environmentally
friendly products that fit their needs. Croc’s has also pioneered the “greening” of numerous
Virginia Beach community events such as the Virginia Beach Wine Week and Shamrock
Marathon.
Source:
https://www.deq.virginia.gov/Portals/0/DEQ/PollutionPrevention/P2%20Case%20Studies/Cro
csCaseStudyFinal.pdf?ver=2015-12-08-195642-000

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 CHAPTER 4
Preventing and law in preventing pollution.

Prevention of Pollution by various category

1. Air Pollution

2. Land pollution

3. Light Pollution

4. Noise Pollution

5. Plastic Pollution

6. Thermal Pollution

7. Visual Pollution

8. Water Pollution

9. Chemical Pollution

10. Radioactive Pollution

11. Personal Pollution

12. Particle Pollution

1. Air pollution.

 Conserve energy - at home, at work, everywhere.

 Look for the ENERGY STAR label when buying home or office equipment.
 Carpool, use public transportation, bike, or walk whenever possible.
 Follow gasoline refueling instructions for efficient vapor recovery, being careful not to
spill fuel and always tightening your gas cap securely.
 Consider purchasing portable gasoline containers labeled “spill-proof,” where available.
 Keep car, boat, and other engines properly tuned.
 Be sure your tires are properly inflated.
 Use environmentally safe paints and cleaning products whenever possible.
 Mulch or compost leaves and yard waste.
 Consider using gas logs instead of wood.

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2. Land pollution
Public education

Communities must invest in sound and engaging environmental education, where the
harmful effects of land pollution are well communicated.

Policy and strategy

Governments and local councils have a role to play too. Local farms, industries and
mining businesses, health centres and public places must be given the right training and
capacity to dispose of hazardous waste. These must be very well supervised and
enforced with very hard penalties for businesses that do not comply. Already polluted
places and landfills must be secured by local authorities with the aim of reversing the
damage they are causing.

Families and households

Individuals and families can also play a vital role here. Households must be empowered
and encouraged to cut the amount of waste produced. For example, tax incentives can
be given to households that create less waste, and fees for households who create
more. These ways, people will make a conscious effort not to create waste in the first
place. Additionally, hazardous waste disposals should be accessible to all, so that people
are encouraged to send hazardous waste in for proper disposal.

Recycling

People should learn to separate the household and office waste for recycling purposes.
Recycling is key to keeping junk away from landfills and also reducing our reliance on
new raw materials.

3. Light pollution
1. Use Core Glow stones for all your Outdoor Night Lighting:

Core Glow stones only emit 5-7 candelas of light, and do not 'cast' light as electric lights
do. The ambient glow from Core Glow stones is not a source of light pollution, and does
not contribute to bright skies at night. Use Core Glow stones to line pathways, steps,
and more outdoors instead of bright electric lights. Even better - Core Glow stones do
not break and do not require technical expertise to use. Reduce your resource and light
pollution impact by choosing Core Glow.

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 In fact, Core Glow stones can be used as light pollution indicators. If you are able to see
the glow at night, that means you are in an area with low light pollution (lucky you!). If
the glow is faint or not visible, that means you are in an area where light pollution is
high. Use your Core Glow stones to test your home, yard, and neighbourhood for light
pollution hot spots, as well as to find the best Dark Sky spots.

2. Only purchase IDA Approved light fixtures:

The International Dark Sky Association certifies dark sky friendly light-fixtures that meet
their rigorous guidelines. Look for this symbol when you are purchasing new lights:

The Fixture Seal of Approval provides objective,

third-party certification for luminaires that
minimize glare, reduce light trespass, and don’t
pollute the night sky. You can also help by using
energy saving features such as timers, motion
sensors, and dimmers; ensuring your light fixtures
are shielded so light shines down, not up; and
installing lights only when and where they are
needed.

3. Talk to your local representatives and support Dark Sky initiatives:

From the IDA website: in 2011 IDA and the

Illuminating Engineering Society of North America
approved the Model Lighting Ordinance, an
outdoor lighting template designed to help
municipalities develop outdoor lighting standards
that reduce glare, light trespass, and skyglow.
Follow the tips on the IDA page to set up policy in
your own community, or to support policy that is
already in place.

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 4. Set an example - Turn your lights off!

Join Core Glow in the easiest way to help reduce light pollution - turn your lights off!
Not only does this help reduce light pollution, it also reduces your energy bill and
carbon emissions, as well as revealing the beauty of our world in darkness.

During power outages in cities the beautiful night

sky can be seen just as it would be out in nature.
Light pollution is an easy fix compared to
persistent pollutants! Help darken your little part
of the sky by turning off your indoor and outdoor
lights in the evening, and using IDA approved
lighting or Core Glow stones if night-time
illumination is needed.

Before and during the 2003

Northeast blackout, a massive
power outage that affected 55
million people. Photo by of Todd
Carlson, from IDA website.

5. Tell your friends, family, and neighbours about light pollution:

The best way to start helping is to spread the word about light pollution is to start
talking about it. Do some of your own research, and visit a Dark Sky approved site close
to you to see the difference light pollution makes. The best place to start is by watching
'Losing the Dark' a quick introduction into the subject (video below). A great resource is
the IDA website resource page: the most up to date research database on the effects of
'Artificial Light at Night'.

4. Noise Pollution

Turn off Appliances at Home and offices

We can turn off home and office appliances when not in use such as TV, games,
computers etc. it can create unnecessary stress on ears. We can save electricity also
when we turn them off.

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Shut the Door when using noisy Machines

We can shut the door after we turn on dishwashers or washing machines for rooms
where it is kept or we can turn them on before leaving house so that overlapping of
exposure to loud noises can be reduced

Use Earplugs

Use of earplugs or earmuffs can bring down loud noises to manageable level. Earplugs
are small inserts that fit into out ear canal. And earmuffs fit over the entire outer ear to
form an air seal keeping ears safe from loud noises.

Lower the volume

We can listen songs, radios, TVs in lower volume when listening from headphones or
speakers.

Stay away from Noisy area

Noise producing industries, airports, vehicles should be far from residential areas as it
very dangerous for infants and senior citizens.

Follow the Limits of Noise level

Community law should check use of loudspeakers, outdoor parties as well as political
public announcements.

Control Noise level near sensitive areas

There should be control on noise level (Silent zones) near schools, hospitals. Place noise
limits boards near sensitive areas.

Go Green by planning trees

We can plant more trees as they are good noise absorbents. According to studies it can
reduce noise by 5 to 10 decibels Db around them.

Create Healthy noise to eliminate unwanted noise

If we can’t eliminate unwanted noise coming from outside then we can create healthier
noise such as music, singing birds or waterfalls in homes or offices.

Use Noise absorbents in noisy machineries

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 We can check for machineries which are creating noise due to vibrations and put some
noise absorbents to reduce noise.

Use Proper Lubrication and Better maintenance

We can use proper lubrication as well as better maintenance of machines to reduce

noise pollution and improve efficiency. It reduces friction between movable parts and
helps to reduce noise.

Notify Authorities about Disobedience of Noise Rules

We can notify to government agencies if someone is not following rules and regulation
regarding noise levels.

Regularly check noise levels

Regularly checking noise level in industrial complex and indoor to keep noise level
within limit.

It is necessary to control noises created around us. It is necessary to aware people

around us through various mediums. We can start from ourselves to spread awareness
about noise pollution and its effects on human and environment. Limit for noise at
daytime is 55 dB and in night it is 30 dB to avoid health effects.

5. Plastic Pollution

1. Wean yourself off disposable plastics.

Ninety percent of the plastic items in our daily lives are used once and then chucked:
grocery bags, plastic wrap, disposable cutlery, straws, coffee-cup lids. Take note of how
often you rely on these products and replace them with reusable versions. It only takes
a few times of bringing your own bags to the store, silverware to the office, or travel
mug to Starbucks before it becomes habit.

2. Stop buying water.

Each year, close to 20 billion plastic bottles are tossed in the trash.
Carry a reusable bottle in your bag, and you’ll never be caught
having to resort to a Poland Spring or Evian again. If you’re nervous
about the quality of your local tap water, look for a model with a
built-in filter.

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3. Boycott microbeads.

Those little plastic scrubbers found in so many beauty products—facial scrubs,

toothpaste, body washes—might look harmless, but their tiny size allows them to slip
through water-treatment plants. Unfortunately, they also look just like food to some
marine animals. Opt for products with natural exfoliants, like oatmeal or salt, instead.

4. Cook more.

Not only is it healthier, but making your own meals doesn’t involve takeout containers
or doggy bags. For those times when you do order in or eat out, tell the establishment
you don’t need any plastic cutlery or, for some serious extra credit, bring your own
food-storage containers to restaurants for leftovers.

5. Purchase items second hand.

New toys and electronic gadgets, especially, come with all kinds of plastic packaging—
from those frustrating hard-to-crack shells to twisty ties. Search the shelves of thrift
stores, neighborhood garage sales, or online postings for items that are just as good
when previously used. You’ll save yourself a few bucks, too.

6. Recycle (duh).

It seems obvious, but we’re not doing a great

job of it. For example, less than 14 percent of
plastic packaging is recycled. Confused about
what can and can’t go in the bin? Check out
the number on the bottom of the container.
Most beverage and liquid cleaner bottles will
be #1 (PET), which is commonly accepted by
most curbside recycling companies. Containers marked #2 (HDPE; typically slightly
heavier-duty bottles for milk, juice, and laundry detergent) and #5 (PP; plastic cutlery,
yogurt and margarine tubs, ketchup bottles) are also recyclable in some areas. For the
specifics on your area, check out Earth911.org’s recycling directory.

7. Support a bag tax or ban.

Urge your elected officials to follow the lead of those in San Francisco, Chicago, and
close to 150 other cities and counties by introducing or supporting legislation that
would make plastic-bag use less desirable.

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 8. Buy in bulk.

Single-serving yogurts, travel-size toiletries, tiny packages of nuts—consider the

product-to-packaging ratio of items you tend to buy often and select the bigger
container instead of buying several smaller ones over time.

9. Bring your own garment bag to the dry cleaner.

Invest in a zippered fabric bag and request that your cleaned items be returned in it
instead of sheathed in plastic. (And while you’re at it, make sure you’re frequenting a
dry cleaner that skips the perc, a toxic chemical found in some cleaning solvents.)

10. Put pressure on manufacturers.

Though we can make a difference through our own habits, corporations obviously have
a much bigger footprint. If you believe a company could be smarter about its packaging,
make your voice heard. Write a letter, send a tweet, or hit them where it really hurts:
Give your money to a more sustainable competitor

6. Thermal Pollution

1. Cooling towers and artificial lakes

Industries which generate excess heat release the heated water into water channels.
This water affects the normal temperature of the water bodies affecting the ecosystem
adversely. An economic solution to the problem is using cooling ponds to let the heated
water lose its temperature with time. Once the temperature is in equilibrium with the
surroundings, it can be released into water bodies or recycled for further use. Artificial
lakes work on the same principle and can help check thermal pollution by using natural
processes to minimize heat transfer to natural water bodies.

2. Save Electricity

Electricity was never a cheap commodity. Its production involves burning of coal in
thermal power plants, which is used to heat up water and in turn, the steam produced is
used to power turbines which generate electricity. However, the waste heat generated
from thermal power plants is in large quantities and can cause excess thermal pollution.
Hence, when we save electricity, we indirectly prevent thermal pollution.

3. Use of alternative cooling agents- other than water.

A majority of our infrastructure surrounds around the use of water as a coolant. The
primary reason behind it is the ease of availability and easy disposal once the cooling

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 purpose is fulfilled. However, the heated water disturbs the ecosystem of water bodies.
Hence, emphasis should be laid on using coolants other than water. Air-cooled systems
are the best alternative to water-based cooling systems. For smaller units, oil-based
cooling systems would fulfill the task of cooling. Well, the oil is reusable and can be used
for multiple cooling cycles.

4. Release heated water in less vulnerable regions

Several heavy scale industries are established close to water bodies. It helps with an
easy discharge of waste in an economic way. However, several natural water bodies
have a sensitive ecosystem. In other words, the vegetation of the particular water body
would not survive a sudden rise in temperature. Hence, steps should be taken to
prevent the release of heated water in less vulnerable regions.

5. Circular ploughing to prevent erosion.

This farming practice is a method of ploughing and is also used to prevent tillage
erosion. Stones are placed around the boundaries to prevent erosion, and hence retain
the texture and quality of the soil.

6. Reuse of heated water

The heated water generated from industries can be reused to heat up homes or
buildings. This process, in turn, would minimize the heat transfer to natural water
bodies and help in preventing thermal pollution.

7. Tree planting along the shorelines

The most economical way to control any form of pollution is afforestation. Tree
plantation along shorelines would help the soil to retain its texture and productivity.
Additionally, the trees would help control air pollution and result in a better and more
stable ecosystem.

8. Cogeneration

Cogeneration works on the principle of ‘reuse’, where the residue heat from the
generation of electricity is used to provide heat to homes and buildings. Hence,
Cogeneration or Combined Heat and Power is an effective measure to prevent thermal
pollution.

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 9. Use of alternative sources of energy

Electricity generation through conventional thermal power

plants is the major source of pollution. Thermal power plants
use steam-driven turbines to generate electricity. Hence, it
results in thermal pollution. As a precaution, solar energy or
hydropower plants could be used to prevent the thermal
pollution in the production of electricity.

10. Environmental Awareness

In the present set of conditions, the issues of thermal pollution are set to increase over
a period. The only viable solution would be raising environmental awareness and
making people familiar with the ill-effects of rapid industrialization.

7. Visual pollution
 Visual pollution can be prevented with a supervised use of outdoor advertising in order
that it does not cause visual stimulus saturation in its public, the collection of solid
waste from the streets to care for the aesthetics of open spaces, the maintenance of
buildings, especially in the remodeling of deteriorated facades, tree cultivation in
streets and avenues, reduce the excess of advertising on television and see it with a
distance that does not tire the view. Turn off high beams when they are not needed on
the road. These are some of the precautions that can be taken in some cities where
visual pollution is present.

8. Water pollution

1. Keep out oils, fat, or grease from the sink. Desist from pouring cooking oil, fat or grease
down the kitchen sink. Instead, keep a jar that collects all the fats, grease or oil then
discard in solid waste.
2. Abstain from flushing contaminated liquids, pills, drugs, or medications down the drain.
These substances contain scores of toxic materials that destroy the quality of natural
water systems. Instead, use the recommended disposal methods.
3. Desist from using the toilet as a bin. Most people discard dust clothes, paper wastes,
synthetic materials, and wrappers in the toilet. The destructive elements of these
materials may finally end up in the oceans, lakes or rivers. Desisting from this habit can
considerably prevent water pollution.
4. Ensure minimal use of bleach or detergents. During cleaning of laundry or cutleries, it is
vital to minimize the use of bleach and detergents. Instead, you can persist on only using
phosphate-free detergents and soaps.

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5. Reduce the use of herbicides, pesticides, and
fertilizers. Excessive use of herbicides, pesticides, and
fertilizers leads to water pollution as the chemicals
contained in the products often find way into the
water systems through surface runoff or infiltration
into the soil. Minimizing their usage or using organic
methods for pest, weed, and disease control can
appreciably reduce water pollution.
6. Proper sewage treatment and management. Proper sewage treatment is required to
limit the amount of toxic substances that normally end up in water systems such as
lakes, rivers, and oceans. Also, individual homes that use septic tanks or cellar drains
need to ensure proper management of their home sewage to avoid pollution.
7. Dispose trash properly. When trash is not disposed properly some of the non-degradable
products such as diapers and sanitary towels may end up destroying the process of
sewage treatment, especially when they are flushed down the toilet. At times, poor
disposal of solid non-degradable materials such as plastics normally ends up littering the
beaches and river banks.
8. Avoid direct dumping into water systems. By all means possible, we should desist from
disposing rubbish or any other waste products into lakes, rivers, streams or oceans. Still,
you can do the best to clean your local water body whenever you notice rubbish littering
the beaches or banks.
9. Always conserve water. Play an active role in reducing water pollution by conserving
water at all time. You can achieve this by ensuring the taps are always turned off when
they are not in use. Conserving water reduces the amount of contaminated water that
needs to be treated.
10. Insist on using environmentally safe products. Whenever you purchase household
products such as cleaning material, medical supplies, paints, insect/ant repellants, or
chemical substances; always persist on obtaining and using products that are less
harmful to the environment.
11. Practice tree planting. Planting trees reduce the speed of surface water runoff and as
such, lessens erosion and prevents toxic substances and chemicals from washing into
water systems. If you live next to a water body, please take this initiative today and plant
trees and vegetation covers such as flowers, grass, and shrubs.
12. Re-use automobile oil as much as possible and keep your vehicle well maintained. Re-
using automobile oil reduces the amount of used oil that is discarded which may end up
polluting water bodies. Also, it is essential to keep your vehicle well maintained so as to
prevent the leakage of deadly fluids like oil and antifreeze.
13. Support green-oriented companies. These are the companies that take creative
initiatives to reduce water pollution. For instance, some green cleaning product
companies make the packaging materials by using recycling plastics collected from the
oceans. Also, some sewage treatment firms now clean wastewater without the use of
chemicals. Supporting and using the services of such companies can greatly help reduce
water pollution.
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14. Use super energy saving washing machines. When purchasing washing machines, ensure
you buy energy star approved washing equipment which can save energy and up to 60
liters of water. Eventually, it reduces the amount of wastewater that needs treatment.
15. De-clog your drains naturally. The typical drain cleaners contain several noxious
chemicals such as sodium hydroxide. You can instead use natural methods such as
pouring equal portions of white vinegar, boiling water and baking soda and let it stay in
the drain for 30 minutes before rinsing.
16. Always opt for recyclable and reusable options. Reusable and recycled materials avoid
the unnecessary use of water. By using these options, it, therefore, means you are
conserving water. At the same time, you are minimizing the amount of waste water
produced during production and processing. This should also include re-using dishware
and linens such as towels and bed sheets.
17. Skip the use of plastics. Plastic leftovers such as used plastic
water bottles, disposable plastic plates, and plastic bags
frequently end up in the oceans, lakes, streams and rivers,
contaminating natural habitats and destroying aquatic life.
18. Dispose motor oil, batteries or antifreeze at specially assigned
collection points. Ensure each and every time you want to dispose used engine oil,
batteries or antifreeze you do so at designated collection points to avoid the
unnecessary contamination of ecosystems which may end up polluting surface and
ground waters.
19. Keep your boat well maintained if you have one or in charge of any. Ensure your boat is
in good condition at all times to avoid toxic substances from leaking into the water.
20. Only wash when you have a full load. By washing only when you have full loads of
laundry and dishware, you can save tons of water while also reducing the amount of
contaminated water that has to be treated.
21. Pick up pet waste. Pet waste might contain harmful bacteria which can flow into storm
drains and contaminate water systems.
22. Practice organic farming. Organically grown crops reduce the quantity of herbicides and
pesticides used in farming. It also promotes the use of organic fertilizer which promotes
natural growth and eliminates the use of toxic chemicals found in synthetic fertilizers,
which can penetrate into the ground and pollute water supplies.
23. Contact the local water protection and conservation authority whenever you notice any
pollution activities. Take the initiative of promptly contacting the relevant local water
conservation office when you notice any kind of pollutant or chemical being discharged
or injected into water bodies.
24. Install water-efficient household appliances. In our homes, we have several appliances
used for cleaning and sanitary purposes such as dishwashers, washing machines, toilets,
and shower heads. When we persist on installing these types of appliances that are
water efficient, we end up saving millions of liters of water which would have been
contaminated. Next time you want to install any of these products, first, look at their
water efficiency rating.

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 25. Take action by actively participating in water pollution prevention. You can make
monetary contributions or donations to water conservation agencies. Also, you can
actively sensitize your peers and community on how to prevent water pollution and how
they can ensure water conservation.

9. Chemical pollution

At Home

 Use products that have been produced in a way that has reduced waste.
 Buy recycled products. Buy durable products that use the least packaging possible. Buy
only as much chemical product as you need.
 Use household chemicals and products before they go bad or reach their expiration
date.
 Give away things such as paint and chemicals to people who will use them.
 Recycle, reuse or donate liquids from automobiles.
 Do not pour them down the drain or throw them away in the regular trash.
 Limit the use of your cars and motor vehicles.
 Riding a bike or taking public transportation will help reduce
the amount of chemicals put into the air.
 Add insulation to your walls so that your house only uses the
energy and heat it needs.
 Caulk windows and doors.
 Excess heat and energy released into the atmosphere has
negative effects for the environment.
 Also, make certain your septic tank is adequately lined to prevent leakage.
 Use your fruit and vegetable waste as mulch or compost instead of chemical compost.
 Try non-chemical herbicides and pesticides on your yard.

On the Job

 Keep your work area clean and well labeled if your company uses chemicals.
 Keep containers well sealed and have them inspected to make sure there is no
contamination and no leaks.
 The Delaware Department of Natural Resources says, "Keep waste streams separate for
re-use, recycling or treatment. Keep nonhazardous materials from becoming
contaminated."
 Work to see that your company becomes involved in the industrial-waste exchange
program.
 Use recycled and non-toxic substances whenever possible.
 Invest more in hazardous-waste programs. Use energy-efficient lighting and low-flow
toilets.

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  Create incentives for employees to car pool and manage the company's vehicle use.
Reduce the use of motor vehicles whenever possible.
 Make sure employees are given directions for working with specific chemicals.
 Run frequent tests and offer classes and information sessions to keep your workers up
to date on proper movement, storage and disposal techniques for chemicals.
 Use non-toxic and non-chemical solutions and products whenever possible.

10. Radioactive pollution

 Select reagents and procedures that minimize the volume and toxicity of all wastes. If
feasible, design experiments in such a way that radioactive wastes are generated
separately from chemically or biologically hazardous wastes
 Avoid ordering radioactive materials in quantities that exceed your intended usage
 Non-radioactive wastes must never be mixed with radioactive wastes. Failure to do this
significantly increases the volume of wastes
 Non-radioactive tracers and methods are available for many common assays, and
procedures used in biomedical
 Substitute with Short-lived Radionuclides where feasible
 Reduce the activity and volumes of materials used in the experiment to decrease the
amount of wastes generated
 Replace hazardous chemical solvents with formulations not regulated as hazardous or
mixed wastes
 Limit the number of users of radioactive materials
 Limit the number of areas where radioactive materials are used.

11. Personal pollution

 Avoid use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides especially during rainy season
 Avoid applying excessive amounts of these chemicals. If you have to use them, make
sure to read the label and use them correctly.
 Wash your vehicles on grass so that the detergents soak into the lawn, rather than
running down your driveway into the storm drain OR take your car to a car wash where
the water is recycled.
 If you change your own vehicle oil, make sure to take it to an oil recycling centre.
 Pick up after your pets and dispose of their waste in your toilet
 Don't dump anything down the storm drains.

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12. Particle pollution

 Opening windows, installing better filtration and having ventilation systems serviced can
all reduce the concentration of existing particle pollutants.
 Restricting the use of computers, printers and other office equipment to areas with
improved ventilation may help fight these devices' tendency to emit harmful ultrafine
particles.
 Remediating spaces that contain asbestos, degraded plywood and other friable building
materials may stop these substances from releasing matter into the air supply.
 Using appropriate ventilation in association with wood-burning heating sources can
lessen their adverse impacts.
 Making construction improvements to limit the amount of outdoor air that gets inside
may reduce the risks of living close to transit networks, urban areas and industrial
facilities.
 Giving up smoking is an essential health benefit not only for PM pollution sufferers but
also those worried about VOCs and other carcinogens.

Laws in India to prevent pollution

The need for protection and conservation of environment and sustainable use of natural
resources is reflected in the constitutional framework of India and also in the international
commitments of India. The Constitution under Part IVA (Art 51A-Fundamental Duties) casts a
duty on every citizen of India to protect and improve the natural environment including
forests, lakes, rivers and wildlife, and to have compassion for living creatures. Further, the
Constitution of India under Part IV (Art 48A-Directive Principles of State Policies) stipulates that
the State shall endeavour to protect and improve the environment and to safeguard the
forests and wildlife of the country.
Several environment protection legislations existed even before Independence of India.
However, the true thrust for putting in force a well-developed framework came only after the
UN Conference on the Human Environment (Stockholm, 1972). After the Stockholm
Conference, the National Council for Environmental Policy and Planning was set up in 1972
within the Department of Science and Technology to establish a regulatory body to look after
the environment-related issues. This Council later evolved into a full-fledged Ministry of
Environment and Forests (MoEF).
MoEF was established in 1985, which today is the apex administrative body in the country for
regulating and ensuring environmental protection and lays down the legal and regulatory
framework for the same. Since the 1970s, a number of environment legislations have been put
in place. The MoEF and the pollution control boards ("CPCB", ie, Central Pollution Control
Board and "SPCBs", ie, State Pollution Control Boards) together form the regulatory and
administrative core of the sector.

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Some of the important legislations for environment protection are as follows:

 The National Green Tribunal Act, 2010

 The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981
 The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974
 The Environment Protection Act, 1986
 The Hazardous Waste Management Regulations, etc.

These important environment legislations have been briefly explained in the succeeding
paragraphs.
The National Green Tribunal Act, 2010
The National Green Tribunal Act, 2010 (No. 19 of 2010) (NGT Act) has been enacted with the
objectives to provide for establishment of a National Green Tribunal (NGT) for the effective
and expeditious disposal of cases relating to environment protection and conservation of
forests and other natural resources including enforcement of any legal right relating to
environment and giving relief and compensation for damages to persons and property and
for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
The Act received the assent of the President of India on June 2, 2010, and was enforced by
the Central Government vide Notification no. S.O. 2569(E) dated October 18, 2010, with
effect from October 18, 2010. The Act envisages establishment of NGT in order to deal with
all environmental laws relating to air and water pollution, the Environment Protection Act,
the Forest Conservation Act and the Biodiversity Act as have been set out in Schedule I of
the NGT Act.
Consequent to enforcement of the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010, the National
Environment Tribunal Act, 1995 and the National Environment Appellate Authority Act,
1997 stand repealed. The National Environment Appellate Authority established under s
3(1) of the National Environment Appellate Authority Act, 1997stands dissolved, in view of
the establishment of the National Green Tribunal under the National Green Tribunal Act,
2010 vide Notification no. S.O. 2570(E) dated October 18, 2010.
The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981

The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 (the "Air Act") is an act to provide
for the prevention, control and abatement of air pollution and for the establishment of
Boards at the Central and State levels with a view to carrying out the aforesaid purposes.

To counter the problems associated with air pollution, ambient air quality standards were
established under the Air Act. The Air Act seeks to combat air pollution by prohibiting the
use of polluting fuels and substances, as well as by regulating appliances that give rise to
air pollution. The Air Act empowers the State Government, after consultation with the
SPCBs, to declare any area or areas within the Sate as air pollution control area or areas.
Under the Act, establishing or operating any industrial plant in the pollution control area
requires consent from SPCBs. SPCBs are also expected to test the air in air pollution control
areas, inspect pollution control equipment, and manufacturing processes.
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The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974

The Water Prevention and Control of Pollution Act, 1974 (the "Water Act") has been
enacted to provide for the prevention and control of water pollution and to maintain or
restore wholesomeness of water in the country. It further provides for the establishment
of Boards for the prevention and control of water pollution with a view to carry out the
aforesaid purposes. The Water Act prohibits the discharge of pollutants into water bodies
beyond a given standard, and lays down penalties for non-compliance. At the Centre, the
Water Act has set up the CPCB which lays down standards for the prevention and control
of water pollution. At the State level, SPCBs function under the direction of the CPCB and
the State Government.

Further, the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Cess Act was enacted in 1977 to
provide for the levy and collection of a cess on water consumed by persons operating and
carrying on certain types of industrial activities. This cess is collected with a view to
augment the resources of the Central Board and the State Boards for the prevention and
control of water pollution constituted under the Water (Prevention and Control of
Pollution) Act, 1974. The Act was last amended in 2003.

The Environment Protection Act, 1986

The Environment Protection Act, 1986 (the "Environment Act") provides for the protection
and improvement of environment. The Environment Protection Act establishes the
framework for studying, planning and implementing long-term requirements of
environmental safety and laying down a system of speedy and adequate response to
situations threatening the environment. It is an umbrella legislation designed to provide a
framework for the coordination of central and state authorities established under the
Water Act, 1974 and the Air Act. The term "environment" is understood in a very wide
term under s 2(a) of the Environment Act. It includes water, air and land as well as the
interrelationship which exists between water, air and land, and human beings, other living
creatures, plants, micro-organisms and property.

Under the Environment Act, the Central Government is empowered to take measures
necessary to protect and improve the quality of environment by setting standards for
emissions and discharges of pollution in the atmosphere by any person carrying on an
industry or activity; regulating the location of industries; management of hazardous
wastes, and protection of public health and welfare. From time to time, the Central
Government issues notifications under the Environment Act for the protection of
ecologically-sensitive areas or issues guidelines for matters under the Environment Act.

In case of any non-compliance or contravention of the Environment Act, or of the rules or

directions under the said Act, the violator will be punishable with imprisonment up to five
years or with fine up to Rs 1,00,000, or with both. In case of continuation of such violation,
74
 an additional fine of up to Rs 5,000 for every day during which such failure or
contravention continues after the conviction for the first such failure or contravention, will
be levied. Further, if the violation continues beyond a period of one year after the date of
conviction, the offender shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may
extend to seven years.

Hazardous Wastes Management Regulations

Hazardous waste means any waste which, by reason of any of its physical, chemical,
reactive, toxic, flammable, explosive or corrosive characteristics, causes danger or is
likely to cause danger to health or environment, whether alone or when in contact with
other wastes or substances.

There are several legislations that directly or indirectly deal with hazardous waste
management. The relevant legislations are the Factories Act, 1948, the Public Liability
Insurance Act, 1991, the National Environment Tribunal Act, 1995 and rules and
notifications under the Environmental Act. Some of the rules dealing with hazardous
waste management are discussed below:

 Hazardous Wastes (Management, Handling and Transboundary) Rules, 2008,

brought out a guide for manufacture, storage and import of hazardous chemicals
and for management of hazardous wastes.
 Biomedical Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 1998, were formulated
along parallel lines, for proper disposal, segregation, transport, etc, of infectious
wastes.
 Municipal Solid Wastes (Management and Handling) Rules, 2000, aim at
enabling municipalities to dispose municipal solid waste in a scientific manner.

In view of the short-comings and overlapping of some categories causing inconvenience in

implementation of the Biomedical Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 1998 as well
as the Municipal Solid Wastes (Management and Handling) Rules, 2000, the Ministry of
Environment, Forest and Climate Change has formulated the draft Bio-Medical Waste
(Management & Handling) Rules, 2015 (Draft BMW Rules) and the draft Solid Waste
Management Rules, 2015 (Draft SWM Rules) and sought comments on the draft Rules.

The Draft BMW Rules are to replace the Biomedical Waste (Management and Handling)
Rules, 1998, and the Draft SWM Rules are to replace the Municipal Solid Waste
(Management and Handling) Rules, 2000. The objective of the Draft BMW Rules is to
enable the prescribed authorities to implement the rules more effectively, thereby,
reducing the bio- medical waste generation and also for its proper treatment and disposal
and to ensure environmentally sound management of these wastes, and the Draft SWM
Rules aim at dealing with the management of solid waste including it segregation at
source, transportation of waste, treatment and final disposal.

 E - Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2011 have been notified on May 1,
2011 and came into effect from May 1, 2012, with primary objective to reduce the
use of hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment by specifying
75
 threshold for use of hazardous material and to channelize the e-waste generated in
the country for environmentally sound recycling. The Rules apply to every producer,
consumer or bulk consumer, collection centre, dismantler and recycler of e-waste
involved in the manufacture, sale, purchase and processing of electrical and
electronic equipment or components as detailed in the Rules.
 Batteries (Management & Handling) Rules, 2001 deal with the proper and effective
management and handling of lead acid batteries waste. The Act requires all
manufacturers, assemblers, re-conditioners, importers, dealers, auctioneers, bulk
consumers, consumers, involved in manufacture, processing, sale, purchase and use
of batteries or components thereof, to comply with the provisions of Batteries
(Management & Handling) Rules, 2001.

Encouragement scheme by government to prevent pollution.

The National Clean Air Programme is a pollution control initiative that was launched by the
Ministry of Environment with the intention to cut the concentration of coarse (particulate
matter of diameter 10 micrometer or less, or PM10) and fine particles (particulate matter
of diameter 2.5 micrometer or less, or PM2.5) by at least 20% in the next five years, within
2017 as the base year for comparison.

Government reduced GST on Electric vehicles to make electrical vehicles affordable.

Swachh Bharat Abhiyan is a campaign launched by the

Prime Minister, Narendra Modi as a nationwide cleanliness
campaign. It is implemented to fulfill the vision and
mission of clean India one day. It was launched especially
on the birth anniversary of the Mahatma Gandhi as he
always dreamed and was very keen to make this country a
clean country. He had tried for clean India during his time
by motivating people through his campaigns and slogans
however it was only partially successful because of the limited involvement of the people
of India.

But after so many years, Swachh Bharat Mission was again started by the Government of
India to make the dream of clean India come true till 150th birth anniversary of the
Mahatma Gandhi. It was started in 2014 on 2nd of October on the 145th birth anniversary
of Mahatma Gandhi. It is a big challenge for all the citizens of India. It is only possible if
each and every person living in India would understand this campaign, their own
responsibility and try to join hands together to make it a successful mission.

The mission is promoted by the many famous Indian personalities to spread this mission as
an awareness programme throughout the country. In order to ensure cleanliness, UP CM,
Yogi Adityanath, has banned chewing of paan, gutka and other tobacco products in the
government offices across the state, since March 2017.

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 CHAPTER 5
Volunteering Club in eradicating pollution
Rogheda Lions Club’s
Rogheda Lions Club’s Big Beach Clean Up is taking place this Saturday, 28th April 2018 at Termonfeckin Beach
from 12 noon to 2pm and everyone is encourage to join in.

The aim is to remove a substantial amount of marine plastics and debris from one of our local natural beauty
spots. Representatives from An Taisce will also be on hand to tell participants about their Clean Beach Initiative.

“As we all have become aware, plastic is a major killer of Marine Wildlife and our local Lions Club are promoting
the removal of non-biodegradable material from our coastal areas. By reducing plastics from our coasts, we will
ensure that plastics do not get ingested by our local marine life and thus does not enter the food chain”
organiser Sandra Gough told Drogheda Life today.

“We are also running Clean Coasts Workshops in Termonfeckin National School and Aston Village National
School on Friday, 27th April” she added.

“This is to inform the younger generation of the dangers of plastics within the marine environment and the
importance of cleaning our beaches when we visit them. The students are also invited to take part in the Big
Beach Clean Up on Saturday, 28th April 2018, along with their families and friends.”

The Big Beach Clean Up is open to all and Louth County Council will collect all rubbish collected on the day.

Last year, Drogheda Lions Club had a very successful Beach Clean Up and also introduced the #2 Minute Beach
Clean Up Programme at Termonfeckin as part of the Clean Coasts programme and this has seen a marked
reduction in general rubbish on the beach.

The #2 Minute Beach Clean Up encourages all visitors to take their rubbish home rather than littering our
natural resource. Biodegradable rubbish bags and litter pickers are provided at the entrance to the Beach. This
makes it easy for everyone to be part of an international family of Beach Lovers who are rolling up their sleeves
to help rid the world’s beaches of marine litter and plastic pollution.

“Drogheda Lions are committed to promoting the Clean Coasts Initiative throughout the year and we are asking
everyone to come along on Saturday” Sandra said, “so if they can spare an hour or two this Saturday, we can all
make a positive difference to our environment.”

Drogheda Lions Club’s Big Beach Clean Up is taking place this Saturday, 28th April 2018 at Termonfeckin Beach
from 12 noon to 2pm and everyone is encourage to join in.

The aim is to remove a substantial amount of marine plastics and debris from one of our local natural beauty
spots. Representatives from An Taisce will also be on hand to tell participants about their Clean Beach Initiative.

“As we all have become aware, plastic is a major killer of Marine Wildlife and our local Lions Club are promoting
the removal of non-biodegradable material from our coastal areas. By reducing plastics from our coasts, we will
ensure that plastics do not get ingested by our local marine life and thus does not enter the food chain”
organiser Sandra Gough told Drogheda Life today.
77
“We are also running Clean Coasts Workshops in Termonfeckin National School and Aston Village National
School on Friday, 27th April” she added.

Drogheda Lions Club’s

“This is to inform the younger generation of the dangers of plastics within the marine environment and the
importance of cleaning our beaches when we visit them. The students are also invited to take part in the Big
Beach Clean Up on Saturday, 28th April 2018, along with their families and friends.”

The Big Beach Clean Up is open to all and Louth County Council will collect all rubbish collected on the day.

Last year, Drogheda Lions Club had a very successful Beach Clean Up and also introduced the #2 Minute Beach
Clean Up Programme at Termonfeckin as part of the Clean Coasts programme and this has seen a marked
reduction in general rubbish on the beach.

The #2 Minute Beach Clean Up encourages all visitors to take their rubbish home rather than littering our
natural resource. Biodegradable rubbish bags and litter pickers are provided at the entrance to the Beach. This
makes it easy for everyone to be part of an international family of Beach Lovers who are rolling up their sleeves
to help rid the world’s beaches of marine litter and plastic pollution.

“Drogheda Lions are committed to promoting the Clean Coasts Initiative throughout the year and we are asking
everyone to come along on Saturday” Sandra said, “so if they can spare an hour or two this Saturday, we can all
make a positive difference to our environment.”

By taking advantage of social media, people can make a positive difference in the world. As far as environment
protection is concerned, social media can potentially act both as bullhorn and tallying system that is needed to
show that not only are people demanding change, but it is a multitude compared to just a few.

The degradation of earth’s environment has become more popular to discuss in the last decade, and while
individuals can alter their routines and habits to be greener, the major companies can make the most impact.
While someone on their own might lack the ability to call up the top executives of a company and demand
change, the internet has begun to provide a platform to do almost the same thing.

Read up on how social media affects the issue of environmental protection and how you can join the cause.

It has Helped Before

Social media has had a strong presence in modern society starting in the early 2000s. Now, almost everyone has
access to a profile on one various social media website or another, and they’re using it to make change where
they see that it needs to be made.

One case of this is from a few years back when Greenpeace began to raise awareness that Nestle used palm oil
in their Kit Kat bars. Palm oil that came from companies that killed Indonesian rain forests. Without the help of
social media, Greenpeace might have tried to change this by going to court against corporate attorneys. They
might have lost without the public ever actually knowing much about the case.

Instead, they started spreading the hashtag #kitkat and it started trending on Twitter. People spread the news
so quickly and to such a far reaching audience that the mainstream news began to pick it up. They reported on
the issue and even called out Nestle for its reaction on its own social media. By using social media, people came
together and made change happen, since Nestle committed to using only using plantation level palm oil by 2015
(although the deadline got pushed back to 2020 around 2017).

But Don’t Rely on it Entirely

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There is a fine line everyone has to acknowledge when deciding to use social media to change such a broad
issue like environmentalism. Retweeting a hashtag, while it helped in the Kit Kat case, isn’t always going to be
enough. Sometimes you need to retweet that hashtag and then get up and do something about it. That might be
adjusting your habits or leading a community event to get more people involved.

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 CHAPTER - 6
People who have worked and supports to eradicate pollution

Afroz Shah

Afroz Shah had started the effort to clean up Versova

Beach almost single-handedly two years ago
The man who spearheaded the effort to clean up
Mumbai's notoriously dirty has been warned off.
Afroz Shah, a 33-year-old lawyer, had started the
effort almost single-handedly nearly two years ago.
His efforts had ended up drawing more than 12,000
volunteers and the initiative was even praised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. But on Sunday, he
was caught by a bunch of goons, abused and heckled, and told to get off the beach.
Over the last 109 weeks, more than 7 million kg of plastic and waste has been removed from the
Versova beach. On September 17, as the movement completed 100 weeks, diplomats, politicians,
students and local residents come together for what Mr Shah, called a "date with the ocean".

The left one is before cleaning by Afroz shah

and right one is after cleaning by Afroz shah

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Marino Morikawa

Marino Morikawa used his education in environmental science to

develop a completely organic and effective solution to lake
pollution. The young Japanese-Peruvian was devastated to learn
that his childhood lake was going to be capped because it was so
polluted. Armed with science and a love for the environment,
Morikawa set out to revive area’s ecosystem.
Humans aren’t treating lakes, rivers, or streams well, even though we need them for fresh water.
According to National Geographic, 70% of industrial waste in developing countries are dumped into
untreated waters. Other than synthetic pollutants, organic waste such as sewage, runoff water full of
fertilizers, and animal excrement also end up in freshwater sources. Without proper waste treatment
and pollution clean-up, we could lose many precious lakes and destroy a huge number of ecosystems.
In 2010, Morikawa took a break from school because he wanted to clean up the lake in El Cascajo
Wetlands. The water became a dumpsite for industrial waste and sewage, so most life in the area has
left. Morikawa was able to clean the water using two inventions: a nanobubbling system and biological
filters. The tiny bubbles trap and paralyze bacteria, and the filters contain clay that retains inorganic
pollutants. In just 15 days, Morikawa was able to revive the wetlands and wildlife came back to the
area. With this technology, funding, and a bunch of volunteers, he aims to clean the largest lake in
South America, Lake Titicaca. In an interview with NAS Daily, Morikawa was asked why he thinks his
effective solution hasn’t been used more frequently, and he responded because it is expensive. He was
able to revive a small ecosystem, but it cost him a lot of money. This means that big clean-up projects
are going to require a lot of time, money, and resources, and people need to be prepared to give all
that.
While it’s easy to assume that people are selfish and won’t contribute to freshwater cleaning, it’s
important to know that people like Morikawa exist. He was a young student who was so passionate
about the issue that he took off time from school to help out. There are more people like him in the
world who can push us towards a common goal. In turn, we should encourage brave and noble
behavior like this by supporting projects like the Lake Titicaca cleanup—whether it be financially or
through volunteered labor. We can only clean the Earth’s lakes with the help of each other.

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Famous people supports to reduce pollution.
In today world, where important message to be spread to large number of audience in a short period
of time is possible by a famous person. They might be as actor, singer, Entrepreneur etc. It is easy to
influence them to save the environment by Famous person voices. Hoping that pollution to eradicate
fast.
Leonardo DiCaprio

The Oscar-winning actor has long been involved in a

series of environmental causes — forest preservation,
clean water access, and renewable energy - and has
donated over $30 million to his Leonardo DiCaprio
Foundation, which works toward restoring balance to
threatened ecosystems and communities. An active
member on boards of numerous environmental
organizations, including the Natural Resources Defense
Council and the WWF, he produced a docu-drama on global warming in 2007, entitled "The
11th Hour." The actor avoids traveling on private jets and owns only one car — a Toyota Prius.
During his award acceptance speech at the 2016 Oscars, he said: "Climate change is real, it is
happening right now, it is the most urgent threat facing our entire species and we need to
work together and stop procrastinating."

Edward Norton
The actor is involved in a number of environmental causes, and credits his passion for nature
to his father. Norton runs the Solar Neighbor Program, which
donates a solar energy system to a low-income family every
time a celebrity purchases one. A regular contributor to
various organizations and trust, including the Grand Canyon
Trust, Wilderness Society, and Earthjustice, he hosts the
National Geographic series "Strange Days on Planet Earth." In
2009, he ran the New York City Marathon with Maasai
warriors to raise funds for the Maasai Wilderness
Conservation Trust. He is also an active member of Friends of the High Line, a campaign to save
green spaces in New York City. In 2010, he was appointed a United Nations Goodwill
Ambassador for Biodiversity by Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon.

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