EVS

UNIT -1
Environmental Pollution

• Contamination of the physical and biological components of the earth/atmosphere system to such an extent
that normal environmental processes are adversely affected .
• Naturally occurring substances or energies  More than natural levels  Pollutants / contaminants
• Natural levels exceed  Any use of natural resources at a rate higher than nature’s capacity to restore itself.
In general, environmental pollution takes place when the environment cannot process and neutralize
harmful by-products of human activities in due course without any structural or functional damage to its
system

TYPES OF POLLUTION Effects of population

•Local Pollution
•Global pollution

Air Water Soil Noise

Stationary
Dynamic
Entity
Entities

Are the major mode of transfer and

transport of pollutants
 AIR POLLUTION
•Atmosphere is a blanket of gases  Sustains life
•Air, part of the atmosphere, contributes to ~90 % of man’s daily intake
•Also protects all living organisms from the blasts of heat and radiation emanating from the sun.
• It warms the planet by day and cools it at night.
•Average human breathes ~ 22,000 times/day  inhales 16 kg of oxygen

Composition of Air Sources of Air Pollution

Nitrogen — 78 % Pollutant Sources

Oxygen — 21 %
Particulates Industrial processes,
Argon — 0.93 % combustion of fuels
Carbon dioxide — 0.04 %*
Trace amounts of neon, helium, methane, krypton Sulfur oxides Fuel combustion (coal),
Industrial processes, Volcanic
and hydrogen, as well as water vapor ~0.02% eruptions
*pre-industrial carbon dioxide was 0.028%
*Water vapor, varies over a wide range, typically Carbon monoxide Transportation, Agricultural
burning
< 0.03
Particulate matter  dust pollen, etc Nitrogen dioxide Transportation (automobiles),
Fuel combustion (natural gases
& coal)
Ozone Concentration depends on
reaction in lower atmospheric
level involving hydrocarbons
Hydrocarbons Automobiles, Agricultural
burning, Industrial processes,
evaporation of organic solvent
 Sources of Air Pollution (contd..)

•NATURAL or human related origin

Air pollutants

Primary (either man-made or natural processes) Secondary (primary pollutants undergo chemical change  products
are secondary)

•Residence time  time pollutant spends in air

•RT = amount of the pollutant in atmosphere/rate at which it is either removed/added in air.
Major air pollution sources

Stationary sources Mobile sources  vehicular emissions from

automobiles, aircrafts, ships and trains

Point Sources Fugitive Sources Area Sources from well defined areas
from industrial from wind processes, having several sources, like intense
sites (road dirt, construction industrialization within urban complexes
sites, farmlands, surface or agricultural areas sprayed with
mines, etc.) herbicides and pesticides.
Major air pollutants

•Gaseous Pollutants (e.g. SO2, NOx, CO, ozone, Volatile Organic Compounds).
•Particulate Matter.

Gaseous Pollutants

•Vary chemical composition greatly and result from fossil fuel.

•NOx result from automobiles, burning of fuels (natural gas & coal) & lightening
•Mainly released as NO (formed mainly due to lightening), combines with ozone or radicals in atmosphere to
form NO2
•NO is thermodynamically unstable Gibb’s free energy is at maximum  in chemical processes to reach
equilibrium (minimum Gibb’s free energy ) or a state such that the Gibb’s free energy is lowered.
•Gibb’s free energy is temperature dependent
Oxides of Carbon (Greenhouse gases)

• CO  Burning of organic matter and fossil fuels in oxygen deficient conditions & various metallurgical
operations
•CO ~ 52% of total Air pollution
• Colorless & odorless gas  non toxic to plants  toxic for humans & animals.
•On combining with hemoglobin  forms a complex (carboxy- hemoglobin)  lowering the oxygen
capacity of blood
•1000 ppm of Co may convert 50-60 % of hemoglobin
•Resulting in dizziness & headache to death
•Thus more hazardous for heart patients, people suffering from anemia & respiratory problems.
•Green plants, soil & oceans are natural sinks of CO.
•CO2  Burning of organic matter fossil fuels , metallurgical operations, industrial processes, incineration
of limestone to produce lime & cement &oxidation of methane, CO, etc.
•Local effects of high concentration of CO2 may lead to breathless & anoxia in humans.
•Global effect is more hazardous
•On global scales, higher levels of CO2  gaseous insulation around the globe  Global warming
Oxides of Sulphur (SO2)

Sources of origin Contribution on Sources of origin (Natural Minor)

(Human activity global scale
 Major)

Combustion of 60 % Volcanic eruptions

Coal
Hot spring
Combustion of 21 %
Petroleum
products Oxidation of H2S (hydrogen sulphide)
Sulphide ore 7.4 % in air, released from swamps and
smelting marshes on lands
Petroleum refining 6.8 % Oxidation of (CH3)2S (Dimethyl
Sulphibe), from oceans.  major
Burning of organic ~ biological source
matter (domestic
refuse)

2H2S + 3O2 → 2SO2 + 2H2O

SO2 + O3 → SO2 + H2O
Photochemical Process (in presence of hν)
SO2 + O3  SO3 + O2
Chemical Oxidation (particulates)
SO2 + 1/2 O2  SO3 + O2
In presencde of vapour
SO3 + H2O → H2SO4
Effects of Sulphur Oxides

• PRIMARY EFFECTS
1. HUMNAS: (immediate effects) irritation to nose, throat and airways giving rise to coughing,
wheezing, breathing problems and tightness in the chest. eye irritation. Effect of sulphur oxides is
much worsened when they are adsorbed on soot particles.
Inhaling SO2 +Particulates  pass deep within the respiratory tract  dissolve in body fluids  enter
the bloodstream, the lymphatic system and the connective tissue in the lungs  airways contract
irregularly making breathing difficult putting a strain on the affected person’s heart. Higher levels
of exposure to sulphur oxides and particulates bronchitis and lung cancer.

2. Vegetation: destroy plant cells and interfere with chlorophyll synthesis. High concentration of sulphur
dioxide results in the opening of leaf stomata in plants leading to excessive loss of water. Sulphur
oxides are more dangerous in combination with other pollutants such as oxides of nitrogen, fluorides,
and ozone. At the ecosystem level, it eliminates sensitive species thereby affecting species
distribution. Crop yields are reduced in the presence of sulphur dioxide pollution.

3. Materials: Stones (especially carbonate based stones,) used in making buildings, statues etc. undergo
severe erosion in the presence of sulphur dioxide as well as discoloration. This is called ‘stone
leprosy’.
In metal structures, SO2 accelerates corrosion reactions that occur naturally when sufficient moisture
is present on a metal surface. Steel panels have been found to corrode 50% more rapidly in the
presence of 0.1 ppm sulphur dioxide in conjunction with particulates. Painted surfaces take longer to
dry and continuous exposure to sulphur oxides causes discoloration and loss of gloss, requiring
frequent repainting. Paper, fabric and leather become discolored. Paper exposed to sulphur dioxide
also becomes brittle.
OZONE (Secondary Pollutant, causes oxidation)

•Higher up (Stratosphere)  Shield (Good Ozone)

•Ground level (Troposphere) Major pollutant (Bad Ozone)
•Formed  Chemical reactions of oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOC) in
presence of Sunlight
•Very reactive gas  Oxidizes macromolecules within biological system  Free radicals  damage DNA
• )
 Carcinogenesis.

Local effects Global effects

Deep lung irritant  Large
concentrations inhaled  Pulmonary
edema  Death
Crack & deteriorate rubber, damage
textiles & materials
Smog is primarily made up of ground
level ozone combined with other gases
and particle pollution.
Greenhouse gas which contributes to
climate change.
HYDROCARBONS

Sources of Origin General Effects

Biological decomposition of Organic Plants : Necrosis of leaves, Chlorosis of

matter flower buds, growth inhibition
Natural Gas Humans : Irritation of mucous
membrane, bronchial constriction,
carcinogenesis
Volatile emissions

Incomplete combustion of fossil fuels

& Biomass
Automobile Exhausts
METHANE (GREENHOUSE GASES)

•Methane, the main component of natural gas, is leaked from oil and gas industry operations at a rate
of seven million tons / yr
•Absorbs heat waves & infrared  Radiate back to space from earth’s space  heating effect
•Oxidizes to CO2 & water
• Low concentration , high "global warming potential" (21 times that of carbon dioxide)

CFCs (Greenhouse gases)

•Inert chemicals, persist for long durations in troposphere

•Stratosphere catalytically decompose Ozone
• Refrigerators, Acs, foam blowing, spray cans, cleaning solvents
•Oxidizes to CO2 & water
• Low concentration , high "global warming potential" (21 times that of carbon dioxide)

Aldehydes

•Toxic chemicals released from automobile exhausts, incomplete burning of fossil fuels, biomass &
glue used in plywood, etc.
•Formaldehyde (50%), acetaldehyde & acrolein (5%)
• Components of photochemical smog
• Inhibit photosynthesis in plants, cause eye and lung irritations, and even possibly cause cancer.
PEROXY-ALKYL NITRATES

• Produced through chemical reactions involving hydrocarbons (aldehydes & oxides of nitrogen)
•Cause eye irritation, respiratory disorder
• In plants  suppress photosynthesis

AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS

• Combustion of biomass, fossil fuels(coal, oil, tar, etc.) and plant material
•Fishes & smoked meat may contain appreciable amounts for preservation.
• Benzene is the most common, used in fuel oils & as solvents
• 80 % of Benzene inhaled comes from air
•Benzene toxicity is reduction of WBCs & leukemia
• Also carcinogenic

POLY- NUCLEAR AROMATIC COMPOUNDS

•Posses 2 or more Benzene rings fused together.

•More than 100 of such compounds are present, of which 11 are carcinogenic
• Many of these compounds are produced naturally
• Liver damage, cause lung cancer., mutagenic effects, convulsions
PARTICULATE MATTER

• Varying mixtures of particles suspended in air

• Particulates  airborne asbestos particles & small particles of heavy metals (As, Cu, Pb & Zn) 
Industrial facilities (Smelting)
• Fly-ash, dust particles  burning of coal, oil, organic matter, mining.

Size Effect

Above 10 μm Settle down easily (before wind can

transport)local effects (vicinity of
source of origin)
< 10 μm Remain suspended for long durations

< 2.5 μm Easily inhaled into lungs remain there

for long time or absorbed by
bloodstream