Pollution and Pollutants Flashcards
What is Pollution
In literal meaning pollution means the destruction of purity or sanctity of something. In technical terms it is an undesirable change in the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of environment i.e. human and animal life, living conditions, industrial processes and cultural asset such as human and animal health, food sources and forests etc.
Types of pollution
Gaseous or air pollution
Liquid pollution
Nuclear pollution
Solid pollution
Noise pollution
Biological pollution
Air pollution
It is defined as the presence of substances or energy in the atmosphere in such a quantity and duration that is liable to cause harm to human, plants and animal, life, or damage to manmade structures or changes in the weather and climate. These gases include CO, S02, H2S, O3, CH4 etc.
Liquid pollution
It is the contamination of water and water like fluids with the materials that are injurious to the health and cause disturbance in the normal flow of life on earth.
Water pollution
The pollution of all types of water on earth like drinking water, canals, rivers, sea, oceans, streams and fountains etc. Sources of water pollution are artificial and manmade sources.
Solid pollution
It is a pollution that is caused by solid pollutants. The solid pollutants include solid waste such as garbage, animal and human excreta, industrial sludge, ash, cloth cut offs, waste paper, industrial solid waste such as bark from pulp and paper industry.
Biological pollution
It is caused by the contamination of the environment by the pathogenic microorganisms. Major sources of this type of pollution are the fermentation industries, unhygienic habits of the people living in different localities and biological warfare.
Nuclear pollution
The radioactive pollution is a pollution that is caused by the radiations that enter the atmosphere from the outer space and that are emitted from the nuclear establishments such as nuclear reactors and their wastes, nuclear bomb blasts etc. The waste contains radioactive material that emits radioactive radiations in the atmosphere to pollute the environment.
Noise pollution
The noise is the random dispersion of the unwanted frequencies of sound waves in the environment. Its major sources are vehicular horns, running industrial machinery, dancing halls and loudness of music.
Pollutants
A pollutant is a material or energy that is introduced in the environment and that has unintended consequences or reduces the utility of a resource.
Classification of pollutants
They are classified on the basis of pollution, biodegradability, chemical nature, sources and pattern of use.
Types of pollutants
Primary pollutants are the ones that are discharged directly into the atmosphere from natural and artificial sources. They are those that are immediately emitted from the source and remain in the form in which they were introduced. e.g. ashes, smoke, fume, dust, nitric oxide.
Secondary pollutants are produced by chemical reaction or physical interaction between primary pollutants and other atmospheric components. e.g. sulfur trioxide, ketones, ozone and nitrogen dioxide.
Indoor pollutants
Is defined as dust, filth, or gases in the air basically the inside structures such as your house or workplace that are potentially unhealthy to breath. E.g. mold and pollen, pesticides, and gases such as carbon monoxide etc.
Outdoor pollutants
Is caused by the release of pollutants from industries, factories and vehicles directly into the environment. E.g. emission from motor vehicles, solid fuel burning and industry are some of the most common sources of outdoor pollutants.
Non degradable pollutants
Pollutants that are non degradable or decay slowly into the environment are known as non degradable pollutants. They do not emit foul odor when they are decomposed. They get accumulated in nature and persist for a longer time. For example mercury. long chain phenolic compounds, DDT and aluminum cans.
