Pollution Flashcards
define waste
any unwanted or undesired material or substance resulting from industrial, commercial mining, agricultural operations, and from community activities
define biodegradable waste
those substances which can be broken down by microorganisms into harmless and non toxic substances
define pollution
addition of any such constituent to air, water, or land, which deteriorates the natural quality of the environment
define pollutant
any constituent which causes pollution
define air pollution
deterioration of air quality which harmfully affects living organisms as well as certain objects
types of air pollution
- gaseous pollution
- particulate pollution
sources of air pollution
- natural sources
- man made sources
control of vehicular air pollution
efficient engines
good quality fuel
lead-free petrol
use of CNG
man made sources of air pollution
- vehicles
- industries
- burning
- brick kilns
define water pollution
any change in the water quality which makes it unsuitable for use by humans and other living organisms
sources of water pollution
- household detergents
- sewage
- oil spills
- industrial wastes
- thermal pollution
define effluent
liquid waste material produced by factories, which is commonly discharged into rivers
sources of soil pollution
- industrial wastes
- urban commercial and domestic wastes
- chemical fertilizers
- biomedical waste
- pesticides
define sanitary landfills
places where the wastes are dumped in a ground depression and covered with dirt every day
ex of fertilizers
nitrates, phosphates, ammonium salts