CBSE8 - Notes - Pollution of Air and Water
CBSE8 - Notes - Pollution of Air and Water
CBSE8 - Notes - Pollution of Air and Water
• These undesirable substances that cause pollution are called pollutants. There are
many causes of pollution, such as-population explosion, deforestation, burning of
fuels specially fossil fuel, industrial emissions etc.
• The Taj Mahal in Agra is affected by the pollution of the air. The white marble turns
yellowish due to fumes emitted from the Mathura Refinery.
• Air pollution can be defined as the presence of an undesirable substance present in the
air which adversely affects the environment.
• The unwanted substances which cause air pollution are called pollutants.
• Air pollutants include the emission of harmful gases, dust, smoke, and fumes. These
pollutants make the air unclean.
• Due to the population explosion, the demand for land has also increased, which has
led to the cutting down of trees. The cutting down of trees and forests changes the
composition of the air.
• The industries release air pollutants like carbon dioxide, sulphur dioxide, foul odour,
fumes, smoke and dust.
• Nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide are the principal pollutants. Acid rain is caused
by these pollutants in the Agra region.
• Nitrogen dioxide reacts with water to generate nitric acid, and sulphur dioxide reacts
with water to form sulphuric acid.
Acid Rain
• Acid rain can cause damage to forests, soil resources, and even human death. When
acid rain falls on leaves, they lose nutrients present in them.
• Acid rain is a threat to living and non-living things both. The corrosion of buildings,
monuments, and statues is caused by acid rain.
• The combustion of fossil fuels such as coal and oil in automobiles emits gases into the
atmosphere such as carbon dioxide, sulphur dioxide, and nitrogen oxide.
• In clouds, these gases react with water vapour to form sulphuric acid, carbonic acid,
and nitric acid.
• The rain that falls as a result of such cloud precipitation is highly acidic and is thus
referred to as acid rain.
• The monuments made of marble are corroded by acid rain. Marble Cancer is another
name for this phenomenon.
Why has the Taj Mahal located in Agra become a matter of concern?
• Its marble has become discoloured as a result of pollution in the air. The yellowing of
the marble has been exacerbated by suspended particulate matter, such as soot
particles released by the Mathura oil refinery.
• The Mathura oil refinery, as well as other businesses like as autos, rubber
manufacturing, and chemicals, emit toxic compounds into the atmosphere are some of
the major pollutants and their emission must be checked.
• Several attempts have been taken by the Supreme Court to save the Taj. The
government has directed enterprises to use greener fuels such as CNG and LPG.
Greenhouse effect
• It is the atmosphere's action that allows heat in, but also prevents a part of it from
returning to space.
• Greenhouse gases are the gases that cause the greenhouse effect, such as carbon
dioxide, water vapour, methane, nitrous oxide, and CFCs.
• Life on Earth would not have been feasible without this mechanism. However, it is
now a hazard to life.
• One of the gases responsible for the greenhouse effect is an excess of carbon dioxide
in the atmosphere.
• Carbon dioxide traps heat and does not allow it to escape into space, which results in
a gradual increase in the earth's atmosphere.
• Use of CNG
• Using solar energy, hydro, and wind energy instead of fossil fuels might assist a lot.
• Say no to plastic bags.
• Carpets and furniture are the major causes of indoor air pollution.
• Water is also required for many daily activities, such as cleaning, washing
clothes, bathing, cooking, and so on.
• In other words, we can say that water pollution is the contamination of water
by unwanted and harmful substances.
• Water pollutants are compounds that contaminate water and render it unfit for
human and animal consumption.
Potable water
Water which is purified and fit for drinking is known as potable water.
Water can be made fit for drinking or potable by following the following methods. Physical
methods and chemical methods
Physical method – By filtering and boiling the water. The Candle filter is a popular domestic
filter. Boiling is a common method for obtaining safe drinking water. Boiling water
eliminates bacteria and makes it safe to drink.
Chemical method – By using chlorine tablets. It involves adding chlorine pills or bleaching
powder to water to disinfect it. But using more chlorine tablets than recommended is
dangerous.
Another way to make water fit for drinking is through water treatment plants. Polluted water
should not be dumped straight into rivers and lakes. All industrial regions should have water
treatment systems.
Individuals should save water and not waste it. Reducing, reusing, and recycling should be a
priority. Water used for washing can be utilised to water plants in the garden, whereas water
used for brushing teeth or washing utensils should be turned off. Letting the tap run wastes
several litres. Simple, common practices can help save water.
• Industries discharge their chemical waste into rivers and streams, causing pollution of
water.
• Industrial waste affects the soil by causing changes in acidity and the growth of
worms.
• The use of pesticides and weedicides also results in pollution, as when the rain comes,
the sprayed pesticides and weedicides wash off from the crop and reach the river
where they cause pollution.
• Water pollution is dangerous for aquatic life and many aquatic organisms face the
threat of expansion as a result of it.
• Domestic sewage water must be treated before being released into rivers.
• Reuse of waste water from the kitchen to water the plants in the garden.
The earth's atmosphere is surrounded by ozone gas. This ozone gas blocks the sun's
harmful ultraviolet rays from reaching the earth's surface. The sun's UV radiation can
cause serious difficulties if it reaches the earth's surface. They have the potential to
destroy plants, cause cancer in humans, and cause skin and eye disorders. Thus, the
ozone layer is vital to the environment.
Clean air is made up of a mixture of gases that, by volume, are 78 percent nitrogen, 21
percent oxygen, and trace amounts of argon, methane, ozone, and water vapours.
Polluted air, on the other hand, contains undesired elements known as air pollutants
that are hazardous to both living and non-living things.
Air pollutants are compounds that contaminate the air. Major pollutants of air are
compounds like oxides of nitrogen, sulphur dioxides etc that collect at large
concentrations in the air, posing a threat to all organisms or materials exposed. Such
pollutants can sometimes arise from natural sources, such as smoke and dust from
forest fires or volcanic eruptions, or from certain human activities.
Air pollution is defined as the contamination of air by undesirable elements that are
damaging to both living and non-living things. Water pollution is defined as the
polluting of water by undesirable and hazardous substances.