Notes - Environmental Issues
Category : UPSC
Environmental Issue
Introduction
Environmental issues are harmful effects of human activity on the biophysical environment. Environmentalism, a social and environmental movement, addresses environmental issues through advocacy, education and activism.
Our environment is constantly changing, which no one can deny. With these great environment changes, it becomes highly important for us to become increasingly aware of the environmental problems as well. With a monumental inundation of natural disasters, warming and cooling periods, different types of weather forms and much more, people should be aware of what types of environmental problems our earth is facing.
Our planet is on the verge of a severe environmental crisis. Current environmental problems make us susceptible to disasters and tragedies, now as well as in the future. We are in a phase of planetary emergency, with environmental problems blooming around us. Unless we address the various issues proactively and sincerely we are surely going to be wrecked with this disasters. All the current environmental problems need an urgent attention.
Different Environmental Issues and Its Effect On Climate
Environmental issues are increasing day by day and it has an adverse effect on climate. Some of the Environmental issues are discussed below:
Global Warming
Atmostpheric gases like carbondioxide
\[(C{{O}_{2}})\]
, nitrogen oxide
\[(N{{O}_{2}})\]
methane
\[(C{{H}_{4}})\]
, chlorofluro carbons (CFCs) and water vapour have the ability of trapping the outgoing radiation (infrared) from the surface of earth. Such trapped radiation by the earth's surface cannot pass through these gases present in the atmosphere and exhibits the thermal energy or heat in the atmosphere. As a result the temperature of atmosphere is on rise globally. The phenomenon of increase of temperature i.e. heating in green houses are known as greenhouse effect. The increase in the temperature of earth's surface is known as global warming. Global warming leads to rising temperatures of the oceans and the earth's surface causing melting of polar ice caps, rise in sea levels and also unnatural patterns of precipitation such as flash floods, excessive snow desertification.
Elects of Global Warming
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was established in 1988 by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in recognition of the problem of global warming. IPCC has estimated the following effects of global warming:
\[1-30{}^\circ C\]
As global warming's, terrifying threat increases, our planet's nations come together at the panes climate conference (2015) to fight for our future.
In the wake of the paries conference America must lead the fight against global warming. We need to embrace clean energy and leave our dirt fossil fuels in the ground.
Here are five key steps the U.S. leaders should take to protect our planet.
(i) Suppost a just, ambitions and binding international climate treaty:
Under the parts framework and beyond, the U.S. should back efforts to end fossil fuel use in developed nations by 2050.
(ii) Strengthen the clean power plan:
The U.S. needs to move rapidly away from all fossil fuels and toward wildlife-friendly sources of clean energy.
(iii) Cut pollution from airplanes and other unregulated sources:
The Environmental protection Agency acknowledges that airoplane pollution endangers our climate.
(iv) Halt new fossil fuel development in America's oceans and on our public lands:
Ending new fossil fuel leasing on public lands and offshore areas controlled by the U.S. would keep up to 450 billion tons of greenhouse gases from polluting the atmosphere, according, to a recent analysis prepared for the centre by scientists at Ecoshift.
(v) Crack down on fossil fuel exports and transport
We must halt the dangerous push to send America's dirty fossil fuels abroad.
Control of Global Warming
Green House Effect
The earth gets energy from the sun in the form of sunlight. The earth's surface absorbs some of this energy and heats up. That's why the surface of a road can feel hot even after the sun has gone down because it has absorbed a lot of energy from the sun. The earth cools down by giving off a different form of energy, called infrared radiation. But before all this radiation can escape to outer space, greenhouse gases in the atmosphere absorb some of it, which makes the atmosphere warmer. As the atmosphere gets warmer, it makes the earth's surface warmer, too. Without this Greenhouse effect the earth would be at least 30 degrees cooler, in which life would not exist.
Greenhouse Gases
A greenhouse gas (GHG) is a gas in an atmosphere that absorbs and emits radiation within the thermal infrared range. This process is the fundamental cause of the greenhouse effect. The primary greenhouse gases in Earth's atmosphere are water vapour, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, ozone, and chlorofluorocarbons.
Unfortunately, recent human activities such as burning fossil fuels to run automobiles, heat homes and businesses, and power factories are causing increased concentrations of greenhouse gases, thereby resulting in more heat being trapped. The planet is losing less heat and, as a result we are beginning to experience Global Warming.
Estimates indicate there has been a 25% increase in \[C{{O}_{2}}\]concentration in the last 100 years and this is expected to double in the next 50 years, e.g. Brazil alone contributes billions of tons of\[C{{O}_{2}}\], every year due to deforestation.
Ozone depletion
Ozone \[({{O}_{3}})\] is a gas found throughout the atmosphere, but most highly concentrated in the stratosphere, between 10 and 50 above the sea level, where it is known as the “Ozone layer”
Unit for Ozone Thickness
The thickness of ozone in a column of air, from the ground to the atmosphere, is measured in Dobson units. (1 – Dobson unit = 10 urn thickness of ozone under standard temperature and pressure.) The term Dobson is after the name of Gordon Dobson of Oxford University. When the ozone thickness becomes less than 220 DU it is considered as thinning of ozone or the ozone hole.
Deforestation
The process of clearance of forest by burning or logging is called deforestation. The main reasons for deforestation are trees or derived charcoal are used as, or sold, for fuel or as a commodity, while cleared land is used as grassland for livestock, plantations of commodities, and settlements. Deforested areas usually sustain extensive adverse soil erosion and regularly damage into wasteland.
Causes of deforestation
There are numerous causes of deforestation such as
(i) Expansion of farming land
(ii) Logging and fuel wood
(iii) Overgrazing
(iv) Fires
(v) Mining
(vi) urbanization/Industrialization and Infra-structure.
(vii) Air Pollution
(viii) Wars and role of military
(ix) Tourism
(x) Over population and poverty
(xi) land rights, land tenure and inequitable land distribution resources
(xii) Economic, i.e. development/land conversion value, fiscal policies, etc.
(xiii) Under valuing the forest
(xiv) Corruption and political cause
Jhum Cultivation (Slash and Burn Agriculture) In North- East states of India Jhum cultivation has been responsible for deforestation. The farmers cut-down the trees of forest and burn the plant - remains. The "land' so developed is use for farming or cattle grazing, and 'ash' is used as fertilizer. After cultivation, the area is left for several years so as to allow its recovery. The farmers then move on to other forest areas and repeat the process. During earlier days of Jhum cultivation enough time- gap was given for land - recovery from the effect of cultivation. Later, with increasing population, and repeated cultivation, the recovery phase was done away, and this resulted with deforestation. |
Strategies to reduce deforestation
Strategies to reduce deforestation should be a combination of pro-active role of national, state, municipalities, civil societies and private sector in the following ways-
(i) Reducing Population growth
(ii) Reducing emissions from deforestation and forest
Degradation
(iii) Increase the area and standard of management of protected areas
(iv) Increase the area of forest reserved for timber production
(v) launch the mass awareness programme regarding value of forest.
(vi) Encouraging substitutes
(vii) Increase area of forest plantation
(viii) Government initiatives through policies and action-plan
(ix) Participatory forest management and rights
(x) Increase investment in research, education and extension
(xi) Improve the information base and monitoring
Reforestation
It is the process of restoring a forest. Though the reforestation may occur naturally in a deforested area, but it is speeded up by planting the forest trees. (Please remember that the management of forests for the benefit of the entire ecosystem is called Silviculture. The Forestry, on the other hand, is the practice of growing and managing forest trees for the production of commercial timber).
Forest Conservation
In people- participation, for the conservation of forests, therole of Bishnois and Garhwalis has been exemplary.
Amrita Devi (Bishnoi) and her 3- daughters sacrificed their life for the cause of environment. For them the Trees mattered more than their own life.
Similarly, the local women of Garhwal Himalaya, protected the trees by hugging them. This is popularly known as Chipko Movement (1974).
Government of India has recently announced 'Amrita Devi Bishnoi Wild life Protection Award' for the individuals or communities from the rural area who have courage and dedication in the protection of wildlife.
Looking to the participation of local people, the Government of India in 1980, also introduced the concept of 'Joint Forest Management' (JFM) for the protection and management of the forests. From such projects the rural communities get the benefits of forest products, like. Rubber, Gum, Resin and Medicinal products etc. and thus, conserve the forests in a sustainable manner.
Human population has increased enormously in the last century due to which the demand of food, water, home, electricity, roads and automobiles etc. has increased many fold. These demands are creating tremendous pressure on the natural resources and causing environmental pollution (of Air, Water and Soil etc.) On one hand we need to check the degradation and depletion of natural resources, and on the other the level of Pollution is to be controlled without halting the process of development.
Pollution is an undesirable change in physical, chemical or biological characteristics of air, land, water or soil. The agents that bring about such an undesirable change are called
Pollutants.
For the classification of pollution/ pollutants various parameters are used,
To improve the quality of environment (air, water and soil), and control pollution, the Government of India passed Environment (Protection) Act in 1986.
Air Pollution
Air pollution is defined as the presence of any liquid, gaseous or solid substance which includes noise and radi active radiation in the atmosphere in such concentration that may be directly and indirectly injurious to human or other living organisms, plant property or interferes with the normal environmental process.
The main issue among environmentalists and researchers especially in developed countries is air pollution.
Outdoor air pollution
Contributors of Pollutants
Effects
For millions of years the ingredients of such substances have been cycling through the ecosystem, constantly changing their form. They pass in animal and plant tissues, sink in sea, return to the earth and are vaulted aloft in some geologic event to begin the cycle again. An atom of oxygen completes this cycle generally once in 2000 years. We are in the midst of a chemical revolution in which around 65,000 commercial compounds enter our environment each year. Some are proven carcinogens. A modern city suffers from many air pollutants which form a complex mixture of smog.
Sr. No. |
Pollutant |
Origin |
Effect |
1. |
Arsenic (As) |
Coal, oil furnaces, glass factories |
Lung and skin cancer |
2. |
Benzene \[({{C}_{6}}{{H}_{6}})\] |
Refineries, motor vehicles |
Leukemia |
3. |
Cadmium (Cd) |
Smelters, coals, oil furnaces |
Damage to lung, kidney, bones |
4. |
Chlorine (CI) |
Chemical Industries, volcanic activities |
Causes irritation |
5. |
Carbon monoxide (CO) |
Motor vehicles, smelters, coal steel plants |
Starves body of oxygen, damages heart |
6. |
Fluoride (F) |
Smelters, steel plants |
Mottles teeth in children |
7. |
Hydrocarbons |
Unburnt gasoline fumes, motor vehicles |
Combines with nitrogen oxides in sunlight to form smog, |
8. |
Formaldehyde (HCHO) |
Chemical plants |
Allergenic, carcinogenic, headaches, burning sensation in the throat, and can aggravate asthma symptoms |
9. |
HCI (Hydrogen chloride) |
Incinerators |
Irritates eyes and lungs |
10. |
Hydrogen fluoride (HF) |
Fertilizer plants smelters |
Irritates skin, eyes, mucous membrane |
11. |
Mercury (Hg) |
Coal, from \[N{{O}_{2}}\] causes acid rain |
Tremors, nerve troubles |
12. |
Nitric acid \[(HN{{O}_{3}})\] |
Formed from \[N{{O}_{2}}\] causes acid rain |
Respiratory diseases |
13. |
Nitrous acid \[(HN{{O}_{3}})\] |
Formed from \[N{{O}_{2}}\] and water vapour |
Respiratory disease |
14. |
Hydrogen sulphide \[({{H}_{2}}S)\] |
Refineries, Pulp mills |
Nausea, irritates eyes |
15. |
Sulphuric acid \[({{H}_{2}}S{{O}_{4}})\] |
Formed from \[S{{O}_{2}}\]in sunlight with |
Respiratory diseases hydroxyl inos |
16. |
Manganese (Mn) |
Steel and sulphur dioxide power plants |
Parkinson?s diseases |
17. |
Nickel (Ni) |
Smelters, coal, oil |
Lung Cancer furnaces |
18. |
Nitric Oxide (NO) |
Motor Vehicles, coal, oil furnaces |
Oxidizes to \[N{{O}_{2}}\] |
19. |
Nitrogen dioxide \[(N{{O}_{2}})\] |
Formed in Sunlight from NO |
Bronchitis Loss of resistance to influenza forms Ozone |
20. |
Ozone \[({{O}_{3}})\] |
Ground level ozone formed from nitrogen oxides \[(N{{O}_{x}})\]and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) |
Asthma, irritates eyes sunlight from nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons |
21. |
Lead (Pb) |
Motor vehicles, high smelters |
Brain damage |
22. |
Silicon Tetra fluoride \[(Si{{F}_{4}})\] |
Chemical plants |
Lung diseases |
23. |
Sulfur dioxide \[(S{{O}_{2}})\] |
Smelters Coal, Oil furnaces |
Irritates eyes, breathing problems |
Prevention of air pollution
Air pollution can be reduced with the help of-
(i) using smokeless sources of energy like smokeless stoves, biogas, solar and wind energy
(ii) using devices for filtering smoke in chimneys of factories and power houses
(iii) Planting more trees
(iv) Locating industries away from residential areas
(v) Strictly checking pollution levels in automobiles exhaust emission by using catalytic converter.
(vi) Using CNG
Auto Fuel policy
The vehicular emission norms were introduced in India in year 2000 and in the same year Bharat Stage norms were adapted. The Bharat stage II, equivalent to Euro II norms, was made applicable in 11- cities, i.e. Agra, Ahmadabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kanpur, Kolkata, Mumbai, Pune and Surat. It had to be applicable to all automobiles throughout the country from April 1st 2005. From 1st April 2005, all automobiles had to meet Euro III emission specifications in the above 11- cities. By 1st April 2010, they had to meet Euro IV norms. The rest of the country, by 2010, had to meet Euro III emission norms for automobiles and the fuel. According to the norms of Euro III the sulphur was to be controlled at 150 ppm (parts per million) in petrol, and 350 ppm in diesel. The aromatic hydrocarbon were to be regulated at 42 % of the fuel. The goal was to reduce sulphur to 50 ppm and hydrocarbon to 35 % of the fuel. According to the corresponding fuel the vehicular engines were also needed to be upgraded. Bharat Stage- IV (BS-IV) in certain States and Union Territories is to be introduced on 1st April, 20l6, and in the rest of country on 1st April, 2017. In March 2017, supreme court of India banned the registration of BS-III vehicles in New Delhi. BS-V emission norms for vehicles across me entire country will be implemented from 2019. BS-VI for four wheelers will be enforced in India from year: 2023. |
Water Pollution
Types of Water Pollutants
All domestic sewage and industrial effluents, without being treated, are dumped into nearby river.
Types of Water Pollution based on causes &
Pollutants
Even 0.1 % of impurities by sewage, makes the water unfit for human use. These impurities of domestic sewage may include
The solids from such sewage are easy to remove by physical treatment but the removal of nutrients, toxic metal ions and organic compounds is difficult. (In municipal waste, the detergent residues have excess phosphates, and the organic remains have excess nitrates.)
The presence of a large amount of nutrients in water also causes excessive growth of planktons or free floating algae to produce Algal bloom. Such algal blooms
Unlike domestic sewage, the waste water from the industries, like chemical industry, paper industry, petroleum industry and metal extraction and process industry, often contain toxic substances like, heavy metals and variety of Organic compounds (e.g., DDT).
Some toxic substances of industrial waste- water may undergo biological magnification (Bio-magnification) in the aquatic food chain. Since such toxic substances cannot be metabolized or excreted. They get accumulated in the organisms and from there they pass on to the next higher trophic level.
The increase in the concentration of the toxicant at successive trophic levels is called Bio-magnification. This phenomenon is well known for DDT and Mercury.
The high concentration of DDT in fish - eating birds due to bio-magnifications of DDT in aquatic food chain has resulted in
III. Hot Water
Another important category of pollutant is heated waste water, released from electricity generating units, like thermal power plants. Such thermal water damages aquatic fauna and flora (Thermal Pollution). It also reduces the number of temperature sensitive organisms. Besides, the thermal waste water also reduces the amount of dissolved gases. However, in extremely cold area, such water may enhance the growth of plants and fishes.
There is ageing of water bodies in nature which affect the aquatic ecosystem. Such natural ageing of a water body due to biological enrichment of its water, leading to depletion of species diversity, is called Eutrophication.
The natural ageing of a lake depends upon climate, size of lake and other factors, normally taking thousands of years.
The ageing process can however, be accelerated by the transportation of pollutants from homes, agricultural fields and industries due to human activities. Such wastes may poison the whole population of fish and the decomposing- remains further deplete the dissolved oxygen content, and the lake can literally choke to death. This phenomenon of choking of lake is called Cultural or Accelerated Eutrophication.
Oil Spills/Pollution
The oil spill is an accidental discharge of petroleum in ocean or estuaries causing oil pollution of marine ecosystem.
The oil exploration, oil refineries and offshore oil mining contribute to oil pollution affecting planktons, fish and marine birds. The oil, being lighter than water, spreads as a thin film which is called an ‘Oil slick’. The oil slick is also harmful to coral reefs.
Integrated Waste- Water Management - A Case Study
The waste water including sewage can be treated in an integrated manner by utilizing a mixture of artificial and natural processes. Such an initiative was taken by the people of the ?Town of Arcata? along the biologists of Humboldt State University and created an ?Integrated waste- water treatment system?. This included 1. Conventional method of sedimentation, filtering and chlorine treatment 2. The development of a series of 6- connected Marshes (over 60 hectares of marshland) In such marshes, with the help of biologists, appropriate plants- fungi, algae and bacteria etc. were seeded. Such organisms neutralized, absorbed and assimilated the dangerous pollutants or toxics, like dissolved heavy metals. The water that passed through these marshes got naturally purified. These marshes also constituted a Sanctuary with a high level of biodiversity from fishes to birds- mammals. A group of people, called FOAM (Friends Of the Arcata- Marsh) are responsible for up keeping and safeguarding this projects. |
Ecological Sanitation (Eco San)
Generally a lot of water is required for the removal of wastes. We use tremendous amount of water to flush the toilet.
The Eco San is a sustainable system for handling human excreta or faecal matter by using dry 'Composting Toilets'. Such toilets are very useful for the rural areas where sewer systems are not possible and water supplies are very limited. These toilets are hygienic, efficient, practical and cost effective for the disposal of human waste. With this method the human excreta can be recycled into natural fertilizer (a resource) which lessens the load of chemical fertilizers.
These Eco San recycle water and organic nutrients of human wastes back into the local environment. Thus such sanitation systems
Such Eco San are already working in Kerala and Sri Lanka.
Diseases caused by Water Pollution
The most common water pollution diseases involve digestive system and infectious diseases, it may cause many others like-
(a) Infections diseases caused by pathogens from animal fecal origins involving: - Typhoid, Giardiasis, Amoebiasis, Ascariasis, Hookworm
(b) Diseases caused by polluted beach water: - Gastroenteritis, Diarrhea, Encephalitis stomach craps and aches, vomiting, Hepatitis, Respiratory infections
(c) Liver damage and cancer caused by chlorinated solvents, MTBE.
(d) Kidney damage caused by a series of chemicals found in contaminated water.
(e) Neurological problems due to pesticides (eg. DDT)
(f) Reproductive and endocrine damage
(g) Bathing in polluted water causes rashes, ear aches and pink eyes.
Water Pollution treatment
Water can be treated by many ways, i.e. denitrification, industrial treatment, Septic tank and Ozone waste water treatment. Raw sewage should be treated in water treatment plant before releasing it in environment. In water treatment plant sewage goes through many chambers and chemical processes which reduce its toxicity. Denitrification is an ecological method to prevent the discharge of nitrates in soil, and stops ground water pollution with nutrients. Septic tanks treat sewage at the place where it is located and used to treat sewage from an individual building. Untreated sewage from a property streams into the septic tank and the solids are separated from the liquid. Breaking of pollutants into water sources is done by ozone generator. By using Ultraviolat radiation and Electric discharge field oxygen is converted into ozone by the generators.
BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand)
BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand), also known as referred to as biological oxygen demand, is a test performed to measure the potential of wastewater and other waters to deplete the oxygen level of receiving waters. In other words, the BOD test is performed to determine what effect dirty water, containing bacteria and organic materials, will have on animal and plant life when released into a stream or lake. When there is an abundance of bacteria and organic materials, the bacteria will take in oxygen in order to breakdown these molecules. If bacteria are taking in large amounts of oxygen, this will have a detrimental effect on the surrounding ecosystem. On the contrary, when there are low levels of organic waste in the water, there are fewer bacteria present, the BOD will be lower and the dissolved oxygen levels higher. In wastewater treatment plants, they often calculate the percentage removal of BOD to determine the efficiency of the treatment process. For this reason, BOD is sometimes referred to as a water contaminant.
A BOD level of 1-2 ppm is considered very good. The will not be much organic waste present in the water supply. A water supply with a BOD level of 3-5 ppm is considered moderately clean. In water with a BOD level of 6-9 ppm, the water is considered somewhat polluted because there is usually organic matter present and bacteria are decomposing this waste. At BOD levels of 100 ppm or greater, the water supply is considered very polluted with organic waste.
A pH of 6.5 to 8, 2 is optimal for most organisms. Rapidly growing algae or submerged aquatic vegetation remove \[C{{O}_{2}}\] from the water during photosynthesis, significantly increasing pH levels, pH levels > 9.0 begin to be harmful to salmonids (trout) and perch. Rainwater naturally has a pH of 5.5; pH < 5.5 is harmful to freshwater shrimp, snails, and clan metals normally trapped in sediments may be released into the acidified water.
Acidic < 6.5 pH Basic > 7.5 pH
Sound Pollution
In India, the Air (Prevention and control of pollution) A came into force in 1981 and in 1987 it was amended to include Noise as an Air pollutant. Unwanted sounds created by humans, animals and machines which disturbs the environment and humans is called as sound pollution. The word noise comes from the Latin word nausea meaning seasickness.
Sources of Sound
The main source of noise is transportation system including rail noise, aircraft noise and vehicle noise. People leaving a factories experience sound pollution because of the unwanted sounds coming from factories. Other sources of sound pollution are car alarms, emergency service sirens, office equipment, factory machinery, construction work, grounds keeping equipment, barking of dogs, appliances, power tools, lighting hum, audio entertainment systems, loudspeakers, and noisy people. Use of loudspeakers for political purposes and other purposes is also the cause of sound pollution.
Measurement of sound
Sound pollution is measured in decibels. Humans can't sleep at 45 decibels; hearing begins to damage in 85decibels and pain in ears start at 120 decibels.
According to 'Central pollution control board', the permissible ambient noise levels are
|
Day time |
Night time |
Industrial |
75 dB |
70 dB |
Commercial |
65 dB |
55 dB |
Residential |
55 dB |
45 dB |
Silent zone |
50 dB |
40 dB |
A brief exposure to extremely high level of sound\[(\underline{>}-150\,\,dB)\], generated by taking off of a jet- plane or rocket, may damage ear drums and hence can impair hearing ability permanently. The same may also happen from prolonged exposure to even lower noise level.
Effects of Sound pollution
Health and behaviour of humans are disturbed by the noise pollution. Unwanted sounds can damage physiological and psychological health. Sound pollution can cause annoyance and aggression, hypertension, high stress levels, tinnitus, hearing loss, sleep disturbances, and other harmful effects. Due to increase in sound level there can be lack of concentration at work which can lead to low productivity and performance. High sound levels can increase in cardiovascular effects in humans which is very dangerous for health.
Central Government?s Regulation & Control of Noise Pollution
These regulations are meant for the following: (i) Implementation of noise standards in different zones/areas. (ii) Restrict the use of loud-speakers. (iii) Restrict the over-usage of horns, sound creating equipment?s for construction and fire-crackers. (iv) Allotting responsibility to state pollution control boards and central pollution control board to provide data about the noise pollution, so that measures may be taken to control noise pollution. |
Control of Noise Pollution
Agro-chemicals & effect
Agro chemicals are developed by the use of modern technologythat depends on inorganic fertilizers and pesticides. Excess useof these fertilizers can lead to immediate harmful effect orcan also be long lasting. Although many benefits are there bythe use of agro chemicals which are related to increase yieldof plants and animal crops and less wastage during storing.These profits are substantial. In combination with geneticallyenhanced varieties of crop species, agrochemicals have madesignificant contributions to the accomplishments of the "greenrevolution." However there are certain environmental andecological damages also related to the use of agro chemicals.For example excess use of fertilizers can contaminate the groundwater with nitrate, making it unfit for the consumption of humansand livestock. If there is large concentration of nitrogen in waterit can poison animals by immobilizing some hemoglobin in bloodand hence reducing the ability to transport oxygen. However ifthe fertilizers are in the water such as streams, lakes, etc. cancause an increased productivity of those aquatic ecosystems, aproblem known as eutrophication. Due to eutrophication therecan be excessive growth of algae, wide mortality of fish andother aquatic animals and a bad taste of water.
There can be many environmental problems due to the use of pesticides. As we all know that pesticides are used to reduce the abundance of species of pets. But while using pesticides humans also come in contact with them which are harmful to them. When the entire fields are spayed with pesticides by the use of tractor or airplane or helicopter many non-targeted organisms come in contact with the pesticides. This happens on the treated site, and also on nearby off-sites as a result of "drift" of the sprayed agrochemical. These non-target contacts cause several unnecessary poisonings and deaths of organisms that are not agricultural pests.
There are global contaminators of environment with pesticidessuch as DDT, Dieldrin, and Aldrin. This contaminationincludes the extensive presence of pesticide residues in almostall wildlife, well water, food, and even in humans. Residuesof some of the chemicals used in animal husbandry are alsothought by some people to be a problem, for example, whentraces of antibiotics and bovine growth hormones arise inconsumer products such as meat or milk.
The worst examples of the use of pesticides are the use of DDT.Modern use of pesticides includes the use of pesticides that areless persistent than DDT and related chlorinated hydrocarbon.However humans are also at the risk of the use of somepesticides. There are about almost one million pesticidespoisoning all over the world with nearly 20,000 fatalities.About one-half of the human poisonings happen in poorer,less-developed countries, even though these places account foronly 20% of the world's use of pesticides. This is due to theilliteracy in these countries and to negligent enforcement ofregulations about the use of pesticides.
Example of the damage cause by the pesticides to humans includes Bhopal tragedy in India which occurred in 1984, in the area of a factory that was manufacturing an agricultural insecticide. In that case, there was an accidental discharge of about 45 tons (40 tonnes) of deadly methyl isocyanate vapor to the atmosphere. This agrochemical-related emission caused the deaths of about 3,000 people, and more than 20,000 others were seriously injured.
Researchers are continuously searching for non-chemical means of dealing with several of these agricultural requirements. Organic methods are been invented in enhancing the soil fertility and dealing with pests. Therefore, modem agricultural industries will continue to depend on heavily on the use of agrochemicals to achieve their problems of fertility, soil quality, and pests.
Organic Farming - A Case Study
The? integrated organic farming? is acyclic and zero waste procedure in which the waste products of one process are cycled to be used as nutrient for the other processes. Such faming allows the maximum utilization of the resources and increases efficiency of production. Mr. Ramesh Chandra Dagar, a farmer in Sonipat (Haryana) has started integrated farming that includes a chain of processes like- Bee keeping, agriculture, Dairy farming, Water harvesting and Composting etc. The Processes support each other and make the project extremely economical and well sustainable. Following are the advantages of such farming ? · There is no need of chemical fertilizers for crops. · The cattle ? dung is used as manure. · The crop waste is used to create compost. · The so formed compost is used as a Natural fertilizer. · The compost is also used to generate ?Natural gas? for the energy needs of the farmers. Mr. Dagar has also created ?Haryana Kisan Welfare Club? to spread the idea of organic farming.. |
Acid Rain
Acid rain is a rain or any other form of precipitation that is unusually acidic, meaning that it possesses elevated levels of hydrogen ions (low pH). The term "acid rain" was coined in 7872 By Robert Angus Smith, after a link was established between sulfur dioxide \[(S{{O}_{2}})\] coal in Manchester and acidification of nearby rainfall. Rainfall with pH less than 5.6 is called Acid rain.
Sources of Acid Rain
Acid rain is caused by a chemical reaction that starts when sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are released into the air.
Effects of Acid Rain
In Calcutta also, architectures such as the marble-built Victoria Memorial Hall may be in similar danger in the near future.
Measures to control Acid Rain
Some of the major procedures that must be followed to control acid rain are as follows:
Solid Waste Management
Solid waste management is one of the major challenges faced by many countries around the globe. Inadequate collection, recycling or treatment and uncontrolled disposal of waste in dumps can lead to severe hazards, such as health risks and environmental pollution.
No other pollutant is discussed about more vociferously among environmentalists, politicians and the people at large than the garbage which is the bulky plastic and refuse heap variety trash that accumulates in different corners of the cities. These piles are quite often taller than the city halls. What we throw away is the closest we come to the pollution problem as we rarely see the acid rain or spot those CFCs.
The growing accumulation of garbage reduces the land values, increases truck traffic, and ruins health, aesthetics and the necessities of life - the air we breathe and the water we drink.
Sources
Solid waste refers to the non-liquid waste materials arising from domestic (garbage debris and night soil) activities, trade and commercial activities (hazardous and non-hazardous) industrial activities, agricultural activities, mining and public services (office and hospital wastes).
Ejects
It may be emphasized that unsanitary disposal and utilization of wastes result in high incidence of illness and death from faecal borne diseases. The faecal borne diseases are bacillary dysentery typhoid fever and enteritis. Therefore, it is necessary to provide adequate and sanitary measures of disposal of wastes.
Types of Wastes
Urban wastes are discarded as organic and inorganic substances in the form of solid, semi-solid, liquid and gases, which are residues or derivatives of human, vegetable material and industry. These wastes are broadly classified into the following categories:
Method of Collection
The 90% of the refuse is collected from refuse bins and 10% of the refuse is collected by house to house collection method, as described below.
Radioactive Waste Management
Radioactive waste which arises from civil nuclear activities as well as from defense related nuclear weapon activities, poses a terrible problem for handling and keeping the environment to be safe to the present and future generations. The techniques used emphasizes on waste minimization and volume reduction. Nuclear waste is categorized into high, intermediate and low levels depending on the level of radioactivity in it.
Spent fuel is stored for long time to reduce the level of radioactivity in it and then reprocessed at reprocessing plants for gathering fissile elements. The generation of high level waste is at reprocessing plants. The amount of this waste in our country is much lesser due to our adoption of the closed fuel cycle. High level waste produced from the reprocessing plant is vitrified into a glassy form, enclosed in multiple barrier vessels and stored for a temporary period of three to four decades in engineered vaults with essential observation services. After cooling down in these storage facilities, waste vessels will be stored for long term in deep geological repositories.
Reprocessing and Waste Management plants are currently being operated by Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC).
Harmful Effects
Initially the use of nuclear energy was considered to be a non-polluting way for generating electricity. Soon it proved to have 2- serious problems-
The accidental leakage occurred in the 'Three Mile Island' and 'Chernobyl'.
The nuclear waste is extremely potent pollutant. The radiation given off by nuclear waste is extremely damaging to biological organisms since it causes mutations at a very high rate. In lower doses, it creates various disorders, the most frequent of which is Cancer. In higher doses the nuclear radiation becomes lethal.
Radioactive wastes have the harmful effects in the following ways:
(i) Pollutes the earth to a dangerous level of toxicity.
(ii) Are absorbed in water and then enter in living beings through food chains.
(iii) Emit harmful radiations which damage cells, tissues and Red blood corpuscles (RBC).
(iv) Can cause cancer, leukemia, etc.
(v) Are threats for aquatic life.
Control Measures for Radioactive wastes
With respect to control of the materials composition radioactive waste can be grouped into:
(i) The treatment and packaging has to be performed according to a qualified process.
(ii) Conditioned waste produces being qualified with respect to the radiological requirements.
(iii) Legacy waste products need to be qualified by sport checking according to composition requirements.
Plastic Waste Management
Plastics have become an indispensable part of our daily lives. Invented in 1935, they are wonderful products of polymer chemistry produced from the by- products of petroleum refining. They are classified as into two main categories:
Environmental aspects of Plastic Manufacturing
All the varieties of plastics are manufactured from petrochemical based hydrocarbons. These hydrocarbons, and the plastic manufacturing processes involved possess environmentally critical characteristics.
The raw materials and intermediate products used in the manufacture of Poly vinyl chloride (PVC) - Ethylene, Chlorine, Hydrogen chloride. Vinyl Chloride Monomer (VCM), and Ethylene Dichloride (EDC) - are known hazardous materials. Additives, fillers, and coloring pigments used in plastic goods can also exhibit hazardous properties.
Environmental issues
Heavy-Metal Pollution from Plastics
Lead and cadmium compounds are added as stabilizers in PVC Manufacturing these chemicals are used in the manufacture of soft plastic items such as vinyl flooring sheets, soft toys, etc. increase their durability. Lead and cadmium can leach out during human contact, or when disposed in land-fills. Incineration of such rejected plastic items produces ash with high heavy met content. Use of lead compounds in the manufacturing process can be a potential hazard to workers in the PVC industry. Lead and cadmium are known neurotoxins and nephrotoxins respectively. Neurotoxins damage the nervous system, whereas nephrotoxins affect the kidneys. Strict adherence to process controls in industry, and quality control of products can greatly reduce the risk of heavy-metal pollution.
Nature of Plastics
Articles made of plastics are environment friendly if properly used and handled. Plastics are non-biodegradable because of their chemical structure. They cannot be bio-chemically decomposed by the microbes and as such, there is no threat of pollution. Being non-biodegradable they become virtually inert materials and remain in the environment for very long periods. They obstruct the natural and man-made activities in a physical way and do not easily participate in any reactions. These activities can be avoided by little care and common sense while discarding used plastics. That proves the fact that plastic, an 'environment friendly' product has been made an enemy by the callousness of humans. It is the misuse or abuse of plastic that is creating problems and not the plastics that are derived from the depths of Mother Earth.
The importance of plastic should be seen in their utility some of their uses and contributions to the environment are preseted below.
Negative effects of not using plastics, and using other materials
(i) Carry bags and packing amount environment
If paper is used in place of plastic, a great amount of biomsss has to be extracted either from Natural forests or commercial wood plantations for paper-making. In any case either environment loses greenery. Instead, the nutrients circulated these plants and trees could be used for producing food. Further manufacturing of paper in pulp and paper mills produces large quantities of highly polluting waste-waters, which are difficult and expensive to treat and clean of their pollution effects. If discharged without treatment they pose an equally big threat as that of unscientific discarding of plastics to the environment.
(ii) Food packaging using plastics
Milk Supply: In earlier days milk supplied in glass bottles which involved Jobs, like supply the milk and then next day to collect and transport back empty bottles to the dairy plant. Thus the glass bottles were adding to transportation cost and transport related air pollution problems. Now more milk can be transported per truck in plastic sachets whereas glass bottles used to occupy large space as they were bulky and heavy. Loading and unloading of milk bottles and empty bottles was also difficult, and required more labour. Elaborate washing of milk bottles for refilling was another big job. Bottle washing was consuming large quantity of scarce fresh water releasing highly polluted wastewater adding to water treatment costs. If charged without treatment wastes create severe pollution problems including odour. Use of plastic sachets for milk transportation has eliminated these problems. Earlier dairies used to receive complaints of milk getting spoiled due to improper washing of bottles, which does not happen with plastic sachets. Food packaging: food ingredients, precooked and ready to cook and use foods are widely available in the market and are popular in cities. Plastics are the mainstay of the packaged food industry.
(iii) Drinking water supplied in plastic bottle
Drinking water outside the home was a big menace earlier.It is recognized fact that drinking contaminated or unsafe wateris a cause for spread of contagious diseases.
Though expensive, packaged water bottles have reduced the risk of contamination.
(iv) In the field of medicine and health services
Before the advent of plastic injection syringes and needles, glucose bottles and many other glass appliances had to besterilized and reused in hospitals. There was always a risk of improper sterilization, which had the potential for spreading infection. This could have happened even in blood collected in bottled. Imagine the use of improperly sterilized glass articles in a scenario where HIV-AIDS infected patients are handled. Disposable syringes, blood sachets and many other hospital items made of plastic have greatly reduced the risks and hazards of contamination.
(v) Water supply pipes and Industrial piping Transportation of water in PVC pipes is very common as it has several advantages over conventional G1 Pipes.
(vi) Construction material
Plastics are extensively used as construction materials such as doors and windows house hold. Articles such as chairs, table holding racks, bucket and more. Use of plastics is reducing the burden on conventional materials such as wood and metals. If these are all the advantages of using plastics, why so much of a hue and cry is being raised about the ill effects of plastics on the environment? In this regard we have to recognize the fact that plastic is not the culprit; it is humans and society who, after use of plastics, discard them indiscriminately into the environment creating problems that are easily avoidable.
Problems Arising from Indiscriminate Discarding of used Plastics, particularly Carry Bags
Thin plastic carry bags are found strewn everywhere on land, water bodies and in drains. They have become a main component of municipal solid waste. Being non-biodegradable, they stay in the environment for very long periods. Several ill effects of these plastic items have been recognized:
Prevention of Plastic-Disposal – Related Problems
Do not burn the plastics. They are valuable resource. Also gaseous emissions from combustion of plastics pollute the air and some of them are considered to be toxic. Combustion of plastics, particularly in high temperature incinerators produces (Dioxins) and (Furan) as by-products. (Dioxins) are a family of more than 75 different chlorinated hydrocarbons while Plastic or PVC - polyvinyl chloride is a chlorinated hydrocarbon. Some of them are highly toxic and are persistent chemicals that stay in the environment for a very long period. (Furans) (e.g. Furfuran) a colorless liquid, with a low boiling point of 320 °C- used as an intermediate chemical in manufacture of synthetic resins are also toxic in nature.
Recycling
The best way to tackle the plastic-disposal problem is to adopt suitable methods for collection and conveyance of plastic articles and practice recycling. With proper quality control, reprocessed plastics can be made as good as first- generation products are cheaper than good reprocessed plastic goods. Methods should be devised to make up this extra cost through taxes or subsidy. The extra monetary expenses involved in purifying the used plastic may become small compared to the environmental burden imposed by indiscriminate discarding of plastics.
Should 'Plastics toe banned?
Some environmental activists are arguing in favour of completely banning low-end plastic items and recycled plastics. This is not very sound thinking particularly in India. Thousands of families are dependent on the collection of plastic wastes and small-scale reprocessing. Besides, more area would be deforested to supply raw materials to paper manufacturing industries for producing packing paper and carry bags. |
Government Regulations on Manufacture and Use of Recycled Plastics
The Ministry of Environment and Forests issued the Recycled Plastics Manufacture and Usage Rules 1999, and amended it in 2003 under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 for regulating and managing plastic carry bags and containers.
Salient features of the Rules are:-
Difficulties in Recycling
Almost the entire content of the discarded plastics is made up of thin carry bags and small food-packaging pouches. Laminations made on books, electronic goods, compact discs, cassettes, and many consumer goods add to this problem.
Bio-degradable Plastics
Reuse of Plastics
Mixing shredded PVC bags with asphalt for road making has been experimented with reasonable success. Rope-making using fiber removed from knitted cement bags is done in rural areas. These ropes are used in farming activities.
Mercury Pollution
Mercury is one of the most harmful pollutants faced by fish and wildlife.
Degradation of Natural Resources
The degradation of natural resources has occurred not only by pollution but also by improper utilization of natural resources
Soil Erosion and Desertification
The Development of fertile, top soil, takes centuries but the following human - practices can remove or erode this soil easily
When large barren patches extend and meet over time, a desert is created. Now-a- days the desertification is occurring mainly clause of urbanization, by human activities.
Water-Logging and Soil Salinity
These problems have come-up due to Green revolution. When irrigation is done and there is no proper drainage of water, it leads to water-logging in the soil.
Besides affecting the crops, the water logging draws down salt soil surface. This soil is deposited as a thin crust and also acumulates in the roots of plants. This increased salt content (Soil-salinity) is injurious to the growth of crops and damages agriculture
Earth Hour
WWF's Earth Hour is an annual global celebration where people switch off their lights for one hour to show they care about the future of our planet. This year?s celebrations will be on Saturday 19 March from 8.30 pm to 9.30 pm. Since it first began in Sydney Australia in 2007, the number of countries taking part in Earth Hour has grown to an incredible 172 countries and territories. India joined the Earth Hour campaign in 2009 and over the years has seen an exponential growth in participation across cities, towns and even far-flung villages of rural India. Iconic monuments of the country like the Rashtrapati Bhawan, Gateway of India, India gate, Howrah Bridge and the Victoria Memorial, among others, swithch off their non-essential lights in support of this global campaign. |
Eco Sensitive Zones
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