Transcript Presentation-vishal pollutionx

ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
Dr VISHAL SHARMA
Assoc. Prof.
Botany Department
Post Graduate College for Girls-11,
Chandigarh
AIR POLLUTION:
Air pollution is defined as any atmospheric condition in which certain substances are
found in such cincentration that they can produce undesirable effects on living
organisms.
Major types of pollutants are:
(1)Sulphur dioxide:
Humans chronically exposed to SO2have a higher incidence of coughs, shortness of breath,
bronchitis, fatigue, ‘colds’ of lung duration.
Small particles can adsorb sulfur dioxide and with water form acid containing particles which
irritate the respiratory system and damage the cells that line the system.
Effect of SO2 + Effect of small particles ----> worse effect than the sum of the individual effects.
(2)Photochemical smog:
The word ‘smog’ means combination of smoke and fog.The characteristic symptoms of
smog arebrown haze,eye irritation,respirators distress,reduce visibility and damage to
plants.
(3) Effect of Ozone on Plants
Action
Results
•acts as oxidizing agent and attacks cells
cell break down and collapse
•modifies proteins, amino acids,
unsaturated fatty acids, sulfhydryl
residues
leakage of water and iron from cells
•produces ethylene
damage in plants sensitive to ethylene
•reduces carbon dioxide fixation
reduced plant vigor and reduction in new
amount of cell material produced.
(4)Particulate matter:
These are the atmospheric substances which are not gases and are in the form of
suspended droplets or solid particles.
Suspended Particulate Matter
- very small particles
- solid or liquid
- float in air/ settle slowly
Types of Suspended Particulates
- Mist(>10 μm)
- Fog
- Dust(1μm)
- Fly ash
-Smoke(o.1 μ to 1 μm)
-Fumes(0.1 μm)
Effect of Toxicity is modified by
- number of particles
- size of particles
(5)Nitric oxides :
These are the major primary pollutants of seven oxides of nitrogen,only three
N2O(nitrous oxide),NO(nitric oxide) and NO2(nitrogen dioxide)
The primary source of these oxides is automobileexhaust and combustion of fuels.These
play an important role in formation of photochemical smog.
- It is not very toxic at ambient levels
- is rapidly converted to nitrogen dioxide which is toxic
- at concentrations far above those observed in cities, it can cause
disturbance in the
central nervous system
circulatory system
enzyme system
Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2)
- NO2 penetrates to the most remote portions of the respiratory tract,
the alveoli because of its low solubility in water.
(6)Carbon Monoxide(CO):
It is considered to be single largest pollutant in the urban atmosphere.This gas is
produced by incomplete combustion of coal,charcoal,petrol and its products.
The source of atmospheric carbon monoxide is the oxidation of methane.Anaerobic
decomposition of organic matter produces CH4 which gets oxidised to produce CO.
The effects of carbon monoxide are dependent upon both
- concentration
- duration
Oxygen transport cells usually replace carbon dioxide with oxygen. However, in the
presence of carbon monoxide, they will replace oxygen and carbon dioxide with carbon
monoxide. This reduces the supply of oxygen to the body.Carbon dioxide has a strong
affinityu with haemoglobin and reduces its oxygen carrying capacity,thus affecting the
respiratory activity and metabolism.It causes severe headache,blurred vision and
onconciousness.
Under ambient conditions, carbon monoxide intoxication is likely to aggravate existing
physical conditions. Under acute conditions, it may result in death.
Effect of Carbon Monoxide
Concentration of CO (ppm)
Effect
High concentration- greater than 100
ppm for 10 minutes.
Physiological stress on patients with
heart disease
100 ppm-intermittently
Impaired performance in psychomotor
tests
50 ppm – for 90 min.
Impaired time-interval discrimination for
non-smokers
30 ppm – for up to 12 hours.
Elevated carbon in hemoglobin levelsreduced oxygen transport
OZONE HOLE
Ozone is largely found in the stratosphere and the atmospheris ozone
plays a very important role in biospheres.It absorbs all the solar
ultraviolet radiations.
Recently ,satellite data has indicated that there is a reduction of the ozone
layer over Antartica causing ozone hole.The gasese resposible for
depletion is Cholorofluorocarbon(CFC),NO3 etc
CCl2F2----------------CClF2+Cl
Cl+2O3--------------CL+3O2
A single atom of chlorine is sufficient to convert I Lakh molecules of
Ozone into oxygen.In ozonosphere chlorine attacks ozone ,thus depleting
6.5% in the process
Ozone depletion(2006)
Effect of Global Warming on Earth Atmosphere
Melting glaciers
Effect of Acid Rain on Forest
SOURCES OF WATER POLLUTION
1) INDUSTRY
Industry is a huge source of water pollution, it produces pollutants that are
extremely harmful to people and the environment.
Many industrial facilities use freshwater to carry away waste from the plant and
into rivers, lakes and oceans.
Pollutants from industrial sources include:
Asbestos – This pollutant is a serious health hazard . Asbestos fibres can be
inhaled and cause illnesses such as asbestosis, lung cancer, intestinal cancer
and liver cancer.
Lead – This is a metallic element and can cause health and environmental
problems. It is a non-biodegradable substance so is hard to clean up once the
environment is contaminated. Lead is harmful to the health of many animals,
including humans, as it can inhibit the action of bodily enzymes.
Chemical and Metallic Pollutants:
Industries including textiles, pesticides,paints,dyes,soap ,drugs,cement, rubber,paper ,
pulp,sugar,steel and metal industries pou their pollutants which include
Mercury,Arsenic,Cadmium,Chromium,Nickel etc in water.These chemicals have
adverse effect on human beings and crop productivity
Mercury
- irritation of respiratory system, lung, liver and kidney damage
Arsenic:
- irritation of respiratory system, liver and kidney damage
- weakness, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting
Cadmium
- lung, liver and kidney damage
- irritation of respiratory system
Chromium
- lung damage and Irritation of respiratory system
Nickel
- lung, liver and kidney damage
(2) OIL POLLUTION IN WATER
Oceans are polluted by oil on a daily basis from oil spills, routine shipping, run-offs and
dumping.
Oil spills make up about 12% of the oil that enters the ocean. The rest come from
shipping travel, drains and dumping.
An oil spill from a tanker is a severe problem because there is such a huge quantity of
oil being spilt into one place.
Oil spills cause a very localised problem but can be catastrophic to local marine wildlife
such as fish, birds and sea otters.
Oil cannot dissolve in water and forms a thick sludge in the water. This suffocates fish,
gets caught in the feathers of marine birds stopping them from flying and blocks light
from photosynthetic aquatic plants
3) RADIO ACTIVE WASTE
Nuclear waste is produced from industrial, medical and scientific processes that use
radioactive material. Nuclear waste can have detrimental effects on marine habitats.
Nuclear waste comes from a number of sources:
Operations conducted by nuclear power stations produce radioactive waste. Nuclearfuel reprocessing plants in northern Europe are the biggest sources of man-made
nuclear waste in the surrounding ocean. Radioactive traces from these plants have been
found as far away as Greenland.
Mining and refining of uranium and thorium are also causes of marine nuclear waste.
Ganga Action plan:
An plan was setup to save river Ganga.
The plan was launched in 1985.
It was aimed to reduce the pollution levels in the
ganga.
But, the increasing population and
industrialization have already damaged
this mighty river beyond repair.
Yamuna action plan:
This plan was setup to save river
Yamuna.
It was launched in 1993.
It had a plan to restore the river
yamuna to its past glory.
There were two plans setup named as
YAP-I and YAP-II.