Air pollution is introduced by both natural and human-made sources that release contaminants such as chemicals and gases into the atmosphere. Major causes of air pollution include the burning of fossil fuels for energy, transportation, industrial processes, and agriculture. Effects of air pollution include increased global warming, respiratory and heart diseases in humans, and damage to wildlife and ecosystems. Control measures involve reducing pollution at the source through clean energy use, fuel substitution, and increasing green spaces.

1. CHAPTER NO . 4

2. • SUBTOPIC:
• 1. CONCEPT OF POLLUTION
• 2. TYPES OF POLLUTION
A. AIR POLLUTION CAUSES, EFFECTS AND
CONTROL MEASURES
B. WATER POLLUTION CAUSES, EFFECTS
AND CONTROL MEASURES
C. SOIL POLLUTION CAUSES, EFFECTS
AND CONTROL MEASURES

4. Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into the
natural environment that cause adverse
change. Pollution can take the form of chemical
substances or energy, such as noise, heat or
light. Pollutants, the components of pollution, can be
either foreign substances/energies or naturally occurring
contaminants.
• Pollutants
A pollutant is a waste material that pollutes air, water,
or soil. Three factors determine the severity of a
pollutant: its chemical nature, the concentration, the
area affected and the persistence.

5. What’s Environmental
Pollution?
Environmental pollution in
any an undesirable
change in
physical,chemical, or
biological characteristics
of any component of the
environment

11. Meaning of Air Pollution
• Air pollution is a mixture of solid particles and
gases in the air. Car emissions, chemicals from
factories, dust, pollen and mold spores may be
suspended as particles. Ozone, a gas, is a
major part of air pollution in cities. When
ozone forms air pollution, it's also called
smog. Some air pollutants are poisonous.

14. Causes of Air Pollution
• Any process that produces substances that are
small and light enough to be carried in air, or are
gases themselves, can contribute to air pollution.
These sources can be natural or man-made and
occur all at once or slowly over time. Sources can
be localized, such as industrial complexes, or
come from multiple producers, such as cars. They
can be indoor or outdoor, and even if pollutants
are present, this does not mean that they are
dangerous to health, as long as they do not
exceed safe limits set by organizations such as the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

15. • Combustion from Industry
Almost all of the common air pollutants can be produced
by industrial processes. Some of these are produced by
combustion of fossil fuels that drive the industrial
process, resulting in particulates, ozone and nitrogen
oxides.
• Transportation Emissions
Common forms of transportation like cars, planes and
ships generally use combustion to harness energy from
fossil fuels. The combustion process releases pollutants
into the air, such as particles and carbon monoxide, and
also releases substances that quickly form into nitrogen
oxides and ozone, which are important air pollutants.

16. • Agriculture Side-Effects
Farmers use machinery driven by fossil fuels to plow
fields and harvest produce, and the animals that are
raised in bulk for food also produce their own type of air
pollution. Methane is a gas that contributes to the
greenhouse effect that allows global warming; it arises
from intestinal gas released by livestock.
• Home Heating
Keeping homes warm is commonly the job of fossil fuels
such as oil, gas and coal. Their combustion means that
heating is an important source of air pollutants like sulfur
dioxide. If electricity is used to heat the house, the energy
plants that produced it may also have been driven by
fossil fuels.

17. • Home Cooking
The energy used in cooking may have come from energy
plants, in which case the potential for air pollution has
arisen earlier. Alternatively, such as in developing
countries, home cooking requires direct burning of wood
or coals, which produces the particulate pollution at the
point of use.
• Volcano Eruptions
Sometimes people think of air pollution as entirely man-
made. In fact, natural processes release lots of substances
into the air that are classed as pollution. Sulfur dioxide is
a major modern air pollutant, and according to National
Geographic, volcanoes can release enough sulfur dioxide
into the air to influence global cooling.

18. • Forest Fires
Forest fires release pollutants into the air in the same way
as fireplaces burning wood produce pollution. They
produce fine smoke particles, which, according to the
EPA, are small enough to be able to get into the lungs and
damage the lungs and the heart.
• Tobacco Smoke
In the developing world, homes may have visible smoke
coming from the fire that is used to cook and heat the
home. In the developed world, tobacco smoke is
commonly the only visible type of air pollution inside the
house. Both types of indoor smoke are linked to
respiratory diseases.

19. • Metal Smelting
Specific industries produce particular air pollutant
profiles, and the major source of metal pollution like lead
is metal smelting, although niche uses of lead, such as in
the manufacture of certain aviation fuels, also contribute.
• Aerosols and CFCs
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) in aerosols were a major
cause of ozone layer destruction, and their production
was banned in the United States in 1995. Despite such
bans worldwide, the U.S. National Library of Medicine
says CFCs can last for a century in the atmosphere, where
they continue to do damage. The ozone layer helps shield
the planet from dangerous ultraviolet rays.

20. • Burning of Fossil Fuels
The combustion of fossil fuels emits a large
amount of sulphur dioxide. Carbon monoxide
released by incomplete combustion of fossil
fuels also results in air pollution.
• Automobiles
The gases emitted from vehicles such as jeeps,
trucks, cars, buses, etc. pollute the environment.
These are the major sources of greenhouse
gases and also result in diseases among
individuals.

21. • Mining Activities
In the mining process, the minerals below the earth
are extracted using large pieces of equipment. The
dust and chemicals released during the process not
only pollute the air, but also deteriorate the health
of the workers and people living in the nearby
areas.
• Domestic Sources
The household cleaning products and paints contain
toxic chemicals that are released in the air. The
smell from the newly painted walls is the smell of
the chemicals present in the paints. It not only
pollutes the air but also affects breathing.

23. Effects of Air Pollution
• The hazardous effects of air pollution on the environment include:
• Diseases
Air pollution has resulted in several respiratory disorders and heart diseases
among humans. The cases of lung cancer have increased in the last few
decades. Children living near polluted areas are more prone to pneumonia
and asthma. Many people die every year due to the direct or indirect effects
of air pollution.
• Global Warming
Due to the emission of greenhouse gases, there is an imbalance in the
gaseous composition of the air. This has led to an increase in the temperature
of the earth. This increase in earth’s temperature is known as global warming.
This has resulted in the melting of glaciers and an increase in sea levels. Many
areas are submerged underwater.
• Acid Rain
The burning of fossil fuels releases harmful gases such as nitrogen oxides and
sulphur oxides in the air. The water droplets combine with these pollutants,
become acidic, and fall as acid rain which damages human, animal and plant
life.

24. • Ozone Layer Depletion
The release of chlorofluorocarbons, halons, and hydro
chlorofluorocarbons in the atmosphere is the major cause
of depletion of the ozone layer. The depleting ozone layer
does not prevent the harmful ultraviolet rays coming
from the sun and causes skin diseases and eye problems
among individuals.
• Effect on Animals
The air pollutants suspend on the water bodies and affect
the aquatic life. Pollution also compels the animals to
leave their habitat and shift to a new place. This renders
them stray and has also led to the extinction of a large
number of animal species.

25. • Accelerated Global Warming.
This is a green energy discussion, so let’s tackle this one first.
Earlier on, you learned about the Ozone layer and its role in protecting
our planet. Air pollution directly accelerates the rate at which global
warming happens by depleting the Ozone layer.
Global warming refers to the increased temperatures Earth continues
to experience. These higher temperatures lead to the melting of the
polar ice caps and icebergs, which elevates sea levels and creates
concern for the human race.
• Human Respiratory and Heart Concerns.
Air pollution is known to cause irritation in the eyes, lungs, nose, and
throat. It creates respiratory problems and exacerbates existing
conditions such as asthma and emphysema.
When continually exposed to air pollution, humans become at higher
risk for cardiovascular disease. Air filled with toxins can have a number
of adverse effects on the arteries, and have even been a contributor to
heart attacks.

26. • Wildlife Endangerment.
Most diseases and conditions that humans are
susceptible to, animals are as well. Air pollution
creates many of the same issues that humans
face.
Heavily polluted areas force inhabitants to seek
new homes, which can negatively impact the
ecosystem. Toxic chemicals, which we’ll discuss
in the next bullet, also deposit over surfaces of
water that can lead to the endangerment of
marine life animals.

27. Air Pollution Control
Following are the measures one should adopt, to control
air pollution:
1.Avoid Using Vehicles
People should avoid using vehicles for shorter distances.
Rather, they should prefer public modes of transport to
travel from one place to another. This not only prevents
pollution, but also conserves energy.
2.Energy Conservation
A large number of fossil fuels are burnt to generate
electricity. Therefore, do not forget to switch off the
electrical appliances when not in use. Thus, you can save
the environment at the individual level. Use of energy-
efficient devices such CFLs also controls pollution to a
greater level.

28. 3. Use of Clean Energy Resources
The use of solar, wind and geothermal energies
reduce air pollution at a larger level. Various
countries, including India, have implemented the
use of these resources as a step towards a cleaner
environment.

29. Other air pollution control measures include:
1. By minimizing and reducing the use of fire and fire products.
2. Since industrial emissions are one of the major causes of air
pollution, the pollutants can be controlled or treated at the source itself
to reduce its effects. For example, if the reactions of a certain raw
material yield a pollutant, then the raw materials can be substituted
with other less polluting materials.
3. Fuel substitution is another way of controlling air pollution. In many
parts of India, petrol and diesel are being replaced by CNG –
Compressed Natural Gas fueled vehicles. These are mostly adopted by
vehicles that aren’t fully operating with ideal emission engines.
4. Although there are many practices in India, which focus on repairing
the quality of air, most of them are either forgotten or not being
enforced properly. There are still a lot of vehicles on roads which
haven’t been tested for vehicle emissions.

30. 5. Another way of controlling air pollution caused by
industries is to modify and maintain existing pieces of
equipment so that the emission of pollutants is
minimized.
6. Sometimes controlling pollutants at the source is not
possible. In that case, we can have process control
equipment to control the pollution.
7. A very effective way of controlling air pollution is by
diluting the air pollutants.
8. The last and the best way of reducing the ill effects of
air pollution is tree plantation. Plants and trees reduce a
large number of pollutants in the air. Ideally, planting
trees in areas of high pollution levels will be extremely
effective.