GLOBAL WARMING

WHAT IT IS
INTRODUCTION

According to the National Academy of Sciences, the Earths

surface temperature has risen by about 1 degree Fahrenheit
in the past century, with accelerated warming during the
past two decades. There is new and stronger evidence that
most of the warming over the last 50 years is attributable to
human activities. Human activities have altered the chemical
composition of the atmosphere through the build up of
greenhouse gases- primarily carbon dioxide, methane, and
nitrous oxide. The heat- trapping property of these gases is
undisputed although uncertainties exit about exactly how
earths climate responds to them.
Infrared radiations emitted from sun and reflected back from
earths surface. This warms the atmosphere. This process is
called green house effect. This for long time arise Global
Warming. Moreover, methane has high absorbing power of
IR rays even higher than carbon dioxide. So near coalmines
and places where extraction of petroleum is held is always
hot due to global warming.
Since the beginning of the industrial revolution, atmospheric
concentrations of carbon dioxide have increased nearly 30%,
methane concentration have more than doubled, and Nitrous
oxide concentrations have risen by about 15%. These
increases have enhanced the heat-trapping capability of the
1

earths

atmosphere.

Sulfate

aerosols,

common

air

pollutant, cool the atmosphere by reflecting light back into

space; however, sulfates are short-lived in the atmosphere
and very regionally.
Why are greenhouse gas concentrations increasing?
Scientists generally believe that the combustion of fossil
fuels and other human activities are the primary reason for
the

increased

concentration

of

carbon

dioxide.

Plant

respiration and the decomposition of organic matter releases

more than 10 times the CO2 released by human activities;
but these releases generally been in balance during the
centuries leading up to the industrial revolution with carbon
dioxide absorbed by terrestrial vegetation and oceans.
Global mean surface temperatures have increased 1degree
Fahrenheit (0.6 degree Celsius ) since the late 19 th century.
The 20th century 10 warmest years all occurred in the last
15 years of the century. Of these, 1998 was the warmest year
on record. The snow cover in the Northern Hemisphere and
floating ice in the Antarctica Ocean has decreased by 5 to 10
inches. Globally, sea level has risen 4-8 meters over the past
century. Worldwide precipitation over land has increased by
about one percent. The frequency of extreme rainfall events
has increased throughout much of the United States.

Increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases are likely to

accelerate the rate of climate change. Scientist expect that
the average global surface temperature could rise 1-4.5
degree Fahrenheit (0.6-2.5 degree Celsius) in the next fifty
years, and 2.2 10 degree Fahrenheit (1.4-5.8 degree
Celsius) in the next century, with significant regional
variation. Evaporation will increase as the climate warms,
which

will

increase

average

global

precipitation.

Soil

moisture is likely to decline in many regions, and intense

rainstorms are likely to become more frequent. Sea level is
rise two feet along most of the U.S. coast.
Calculations of climate change for specific areas are much
less reliable than global ones, and it is unclear whether
regional climate will become more variable.
Earth has warmed by about 1F over the past
100

years.

But

why?

And

how?

Well,

scientists are not exactly sure. The Earth

could be getting warmer on its own, but
many

of

the

world's

leading

climate

scientists think that things people do are helping to make

the Earth warmer
Greenhouse

Effect,

Climate

Change,

and

Global

Warming
The Greenhouse Effect: Scientists are sure about the
greenhouse effect. They know that greenhouse gases make
the Earth warmer by trapping energy in the atmosphere.
Climate Change: Climate is the long-term average of a
region's weather events lumped together. For example, it's
possible that a winter day in Buffalo, New York, could be
sunny and mild, but the average weather the climate tells
us that Buffalo's winters will mainly be cold and include
snow and rain. Climate change represents a change in these
long-term weather patterns. They can become warmer or
colder. Annual amounts of rainfall or snowfall can increase
or decrease.
Global Warming: Global warming refers to an average
increase in the Earth's temperature, which in turn causes
changes in climate. A warmer Earth may lead to changes in
rainfall patterns, a rise in sea level, and a wide range of
impacts on plants, wildlife, and humans. When scientists talk
about the issue of climate change, their concern is about
global warming caused by human activities.

CLIMATE AND WHEATHER

Weather is all around us. Weather may be one of the
first things you notice after you wake up. Chances are, if it is
4

cold and snowing, you'll wear a jacket when

you go outside. If it's hot and sunny, you
may

wear

shorts.

Sounds pretty simple, right?But what about

climate?
How is it different from weather?
Weather
Weather describes whatever is happening
outdoors in a given place at a given time.
Weather is what happens from minute to
minute. The weather can change a lot within a very short
time. For example, it may rain for an hour and then become
sunny and clear. Weather is what we hear about on the
television news every night. Weather includes daily changes
in precipitation, barometric pressure, temperature, and wind
conditions in a given location. What is your weather like
today?
Climate
Climate describes the total of all weather occurring over a
period of years in a given place. This includes average
weather conditions, regular weather sequences (like winter,
spring, summer, and fall), and special weather events (like
tornadoes
and

floods).

Climate tells
us what it's
usually like in the place where you live. San Diego is known
as having a mild climate, New Orleans a humid climate,

Buffalo a snowy climate, and Seattle a rainy climate. How

would you describe the climate where you live?

GREENHOUSE EFFECT
The greenhouse effect is the rise in temperature that the
Earth experiences because certain gases in the atmosphere
(water vapor, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, and methane, for
example) trap energy from the sun. Without these gases,
heat would escape back into space and Earths average
temperature would be about 60F colder. Because of how
they warm our world, these gases are referred to as
greenhouse gases
Have you ever seen a greenhouse?
Most greenhouses look like a small
glass house. Greenhouses are used to
grow plants, especially in the winter.
Greenhouses work by trapping heat
from the sun. The glass panels of the
greenhouse let in light but keep heat from escaping. This
causes the greenhouse to heat up, much like the inside of a
car parked in sunlight, and keeps the plants warm enough to
live in the winter. The Earths atmosphere is all around us. It
is the air that we breathe. Greenhouse gases in the
atmosphere

behave

much

like

the

glass

panes

in

greenhouse. Sunlight enters the Earth's atmosphere, passing

through the blanket of greenhouse gases. As it reaches the
Earth's surface, land, water, and biosphere absorb the
sunlights energy. Once absorbed, this energy is sent back

into the atmosphere. Some of the energy passes back into

space, but much of it remains trapped in the atmosphere by
the greenhouse gases, causing our world to heat up

The greenhouse effect is important. Without the greenhouse

effect, the Earth would not be warm enough for humans to
live. But if the greenhouse effect becomes stronger, it could
make the Earth warmer than usual. Even a little extra
warming may cause problems for humans, plants, and
animals.

Earth's atmosphere acts like a greenhouse, warming our

planet in much the same way that an ordinary greenhouse
warms the air inside its glass walls. Like glass, the gases in
the atmosphere let in light yet prevent heat from escaping.
This natural warming of the planet is called the greenhouse
effect.
Greenhouse gases -- carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide,
and others -- are transparent to certain wavelengths of the
Sun's radiant energy, allowing them to penetrate deep into
the atmosphere or all the way to Earth's surface. Clouds, ice

caps, and particles in the air reflect about 30 percent of this

radiation, but oceans and land masses absorb the rest, then
release it back toward space as infrared radiation. The
greenhouse gases and clouds effectively prevent some of the
infrared radiation from escaping; they trap the heat near
Earth's surface where it warms the lower atmosphere. If this
natural barrier of atmospheric gases were not present, the
heat would escape into space, and Earth's mean global
temperatures could be as much as 33 degrees Celsius cooler
[about -18 degrees Celsius as opposed to 15 degrees Celsius.
The greenhouse effect is important to life on Earth, without
it the Earth would be far too cold for us. But some scientists
are

concerned

that

humans

are producing

too many

greenhouse gases, and that we may be warming the Earth

too much. The first step to a safe future is to be aware of the
possible

problems.

Next

we

atmospheric

trends,

observation.

NASA is very involved

measuring

which

must

greenhouse

will

gases in

study

take
the

climate

many
in these

years

and
of

studies,

atmosphere from

satellites in space. As we develop a deeper understanding of

climate trends, we can better predict what affects we have
on our environment, and how to ensure a healthy future

WHAT IS AIR POLLUTION?

Ill go out for a breath of fresh air is an often-heard phrase.
But how many of us realize that this has become irrelevant
in todays world, because the quality of air in our cities is
anything but fresh.
The moment you step out of the house and are on the road
you can actually see the air getting
polluted; a cloud of smoke from the
exhaust of a bus, car, or a scooter; smoke
billowing from a factory chimney, flyash
generated by thermal power plants, and speeding cars
causing dust to rise from the roads. Natural phenomena
such as the eruption of a volcano and even someone smoking
a cigarette can also cause air pollution.

The gaseous composition of unpolluted air

The Gases
Parts per million
(vol)
756,500
Nitrogen
202,900
Oxygen
31,200
Water
9,000
Argon
305
Carbon Dioxide
17.4
Neon
5.0
Helium
0.97-1.16
Methane
0.97
Krypton
0.49
Nitrous oxide
9

Hydrogen
Xenon
Organic vapours

0.49
0.08
ca.0.02

Air pollution is aggravated because of four developments:

increasing

traffic,

development,

and

growing

cities,

industrialization.

rapid

economic

The

Industrial

Revolution in Europe in the 19th century saw the beginning

of air pollution as we know it today, which has gradually
become a global problem.
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
It

refers

to

the

physical,

chemical,

and

biological

characteristics of air in the indoor environment within a

home, building, or an institution or commercial facility.
Indoor air pollution is a concern in the developed countries,
where energy efficiency improvements sometimes make
houses relatively airtight, reducing ventilation and raising
pollutant levels. Indoor air problems can be subtle and do
not always produce easily recognized impacts on health.
Different conditions are responsible for indoor air pollution
in the rural areas and the urban areas.
In the developing countries, it is the rural
areas that face the greatest threat from
indoor pollution, where some 3.5 billion
people continue to rely on traditional fuels
such as firewood, charcoal, and cowdung for cooking and
heating. Concentrations of indoor pollutants in households

10

that burn traditional fuels are alarming. Burning such fuels

produces large amount of smoke and other air pollutants in
the confined space of the home, resulting in high exposure.
Women and children are the groups most vulnerable as they
spend more time indoors and are exposed to the smoke. In
1992, the World Bank designated indoor air pollution in the
developing countries as one of the four most critical global
environmental problems. Daily averages of pollutant level
emitted indoors often exceed current WHO guidelines and
acceptable levels. Although many hundreds of separate
chemical agents have been identified in the smoke from
biofuels, the four most serious pollutants are particulates,
carbon

monoxide,

polycyclic

organic

matter,

and

formaldehyde. Unfortunately, little monitoring has been done

in rural and poor urban indoor environments in a manner
that is statistically rigorous.
In

urban

areas,

exposure

to

indoor

air

pollution has increased due to a variety of

reasons, including the construction of more
tightly sealed buildings, reduced ventilation,
the use of synthetic materials for building and furnishing
and the use of chemical products, pesticides, and household
care products. Indoor air pollution can begin within the
building or be drawn in from outdoors. Other than nitrogen
dioxide, carbon monoxide, and lead, there are a number of
other pollutants that affect the air quality in an enclosed
space.

11

VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS originate mainly from

solvents and chemicals. The main indoor sources are
perfumes, hair sprays, furniture polish, glues, air fresheners,
moth repellents,

wood preservatives,

and many other

products used in the house. The main health effect is the

imitation of the eye, nose and throat. In more severe cases
there may be headaches, nausea and loss of coordination. In
the long term, some of the pollutants are suspected to
damage to the liver and other parts of the body.
TOBACCO SMOKE generates a wide range of harmful
chemicals and is known to cause cancer. It is well known
that passive smoking causes a wide range of problems to the
passive smoker (the person who is in the same
room with a smoker and is not himself/herself a
smoker) ranging from burning eyes, nose, and
throat irritation to cancer, bronchitis, severe
asthma, and a decrease in lung function.
PESTICIDES , if used carefully and the manufacturers,
instructions followed carefully they do not cause too much
harm to the indoor air.
BIOLOGICAL POLLUTANTS include pollen from plants,
mite, hair from pets, fungi, parasites, and some bacteria.
Most of them are allergens and can cause asthma, hay fever,
and other allergic diseases.

12

FORMALDEHYDE is a gas that comes mainly from carpets,

particle boards, and insulation foam. It causes irritation to
the eyes and nose and may cause allergies in some people.
ASBESTOS is mainly a concern because it is suspected to
cause cancer.
RADON is a gas that is emitted naturally by the soil. Due to
modern houses having poor ventilation, it is confined inside
the house causing harm to the dwellers
OUTDOOR AIR POLLUTION
Smog is a type of large-scale outdoor pollution. It is caused
by chemical reactions between pollutants
derived from different sources, primarily
automobile exhaust and industrial emissions.
Cities are often centers of these types of
activities, and many suffer from the effects of smog,
especially during the warm months of the year. Additional
information about smog and its effects are available from
Environment Canada and the Air Quality Management
District (AQMD) in southern California.
For each city, the exact causes of pollution may be different.
Depending on the geographical location, temperature, wind
and weather factors, pollution is dispersed differently.
However, sometimes this does not happen and the pollution
can build up to dangerous levels. A temperature inversion
occurs when air close to the earth is cooler than the air

13

above it. Under these conditions the pollution cannot rise

and be dispersed. Cities surrounded by mountains also
experience trapping of pollution. Inversion can happen in
any season. Winter inversions are likely to cause particulate
and cabon monoxide pollution. Summer inversions are more
likely to create smog.
Another consequence of outdoor air pollution is acid rain.
When a pollutant, such as sulfuric acid combines with
droplets of water in the air, the water (or snow) can become
acidified . The effects of acid rain on the environment can be
very serious. It damages plants by destroying their leaves, it
poisons the soil, and it changes the chemistry of lakes and
streams. Damage due to acid rain kills trees and harms
animals, fish, and other wildlife. The U.S. Geological Survey
(USGS), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and
Environment Canada are among the organizations that are
actively studying the acid rain problem.
The Greenhouse Effect, also referred to as global warming,
is generally believed to come from the build up of carbon
dioxide gas in the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide is produced
when fuels are burned. Plants convert carbon dioxide back
to oxygen, but the release of carbon dioxide from human
activities is higher than the world's plants can process. The
situation is made worse since many of the earth's forests are
being removed, and plant life is being damaged by acid rain.
Thus, the amount of carbon dioxide in the air is continuing to
increase. This buildup acts like a blanket and traps heat

14

close to the surface of our earth. Changes of even a few

degrees will affect us all through changes in the climate and
even the possibility that the polar ice caps may melt. (One of
the consequences of polar ice cap melting would be a rise in
global sea level, resulting in widespread coastal flooding.)
Additional resources and information about the Greenhouse
Effect

and

global

warming

are

available

from

the

Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), the Science Education

Academy of the Bay Area (SEABA) and the Society of
Environmental Journalists (SEJ).
Ozone depletion is another result of pollution. Chemicals
released by our activities affect the stratosphere , one of the
atmospheric layers surrounding earth. The ozone layer in the
stratosphere protects the earth from harmful ultraviolet
radiation from the sun. Release of chlorofluorocarbons
(CFC's) from aerosol cans, cooling systems and refrigerator
equipment removes some of the ozone, causing "holes"; to
open up in this layer and allowing the radiation to reach the
earth. Ultraviolet radiation is known to cause skin cancer
and has damaging effects on plants and wildlife. Additional
resources

and

information

about

the

ozone

depletion

problem are available from the National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Ozone ACTION.
AIR AND ITS MAJOR POLLUTANTS
One of the formal definitions of air pollution
is

as

follows

The

presence

in

the

atmosphere of one or more contaminants in

15

such quality and for such duration as is injurious, or tends to

be injurious, to human health or welfare, animal or plant
life. It is the contamination of air by the discharge of
harmful substances. Air pollution can cause health problems
and it can also damage the environment and property. It has
caused thinning of the protective ozone layer of the
atmosphere, which is leading to climate change.
Modernisation and progress have led to air getting more and
more polluted over the years. Industries, vehicles, increase
in the population, and urbanization are some of the major
factors responsible for air pollution. The following industries
are among those that emit a great deal of pollutants into the
air: thermal power plants, cement, steel, refineries, petro
chemicals, and mines.
Air pollution results from a variety of causes, not all of which
are within human control. Dust storms in desert areas and
smoke from forest fires and grass fires contribute to
chemical and particulate pollution of the air. The source of
pollution may be in one country but the impact of pollution
may be felt elsewhere. The discovery of pesticides in
Antarctica, where they have never been used, suggests the
extent to which aerial transport can carry pollutants from
one place to another. Probably the most important natural
source of air pollution is volcanic activity, which at times
pours great amounts of ash and toxic fumes into the
atmosphere. The eruptions of such volcanoes as Krakatoa in
Indonesia, Mt. St. Helens in Washington, USA and Katmai in

16

Alaska, USA, have been related to measurable climatic

changes.

NATIONAL AMBIENT AIR QUALITY STANDARDS

AVERAGE
CONCENTRATIO
POLLUTANTS
TIME
N
Sulphur dioxide
Annual
60 g/m3
(SO2)
average
24 hour
80 g/m3
Oxides of Nitrogen
A.A
60 g /m3
(NO2)
24H
80 g /m3
Suspended
Particulate
(SPM)

MatterA.A

140 g/m3

24H

200 g/m3

Lead

A.A
24H

0.75 g/m3
1.0 g/m3

Carbon Monoxide

A.A
24H

2.0 g/m3
4.0 g/m3

Respirable
Particulate
(RPM)

MatterA.A

60 g/m3

24H

100 g/m3

LISTED BELOW ARE THE MAJOR AIR POLLUTANTS

AND THEIR SOURCES.
CARBON MONOXIDE (CO) is a colourless, odourless gas
that is produced by the incomplete burning of carbon-based
fuels including petrol, diesel, and wood. It is also produced
from the combustion of natural and synthetic products such
as cigarettes. It lowers the amount of oxygen that enters our

17

blood . It can slow our reflexes and make us confused and

sleepy.
CARBON DIOXIDE (CO2)is the principle
greenhouse gas emitted as a result of human
activities such as the burning of coal, oil, and
natural gases.
CHLOROFLOROCARBONS
released

mainly

from

(CFC)

are gases that are

air-conditioning

systems

and

refrigeration. When released into the air, CFCs rise to the

stratosphere, where they come in contact with few other
gases, which leads to a reduction of the ozone layer that
protects the earth from the harmful ultraviolet rays of the
sun.
LEAD is present in petrol, diesel, lead batteries, paints, hair
dye products, etc. Lead affects children in particular. It can
cause nervous system damage and digestive problems and,
in some cases, cause cancer.
OZONE

occur

naturally

in

the

upper

layers

of

the

atmosphere. This important gas shields the earth from the

harmful ultraviolet rays of the sun. However, at the ground
level, it is a pollutant with highly toxic effects. Vehicles and
industries are the major source of ground-level ozone
emissions. Ozone makes our eyes itch, burn, and water. It
lowers our resistance to colds and pneumonia.

18

NITROGEN OXIDE (NOX) causes smog and acid rain. It is

produced from burning fuels including petrol, diesel, and
coal. Nitrogen oxides can make children susceptible to
respiratory diseases in winters.
SUSPENDED PARTICULATE MATTER (SPM) consists of
solids in the air in the form of smoke, dust, and vapour that
can remain suspended for extended periods and is also the
main source of haze which reduces visibility. The finer of
these particles, when breathed in can lodge in our lungs and
cause lung damage and respiratory problems.
SULPHUR DIOXIDE (SO2) is a gas produced from burning
coal, mainly in thermal power plants. Some industrial
processes, such as production of paper and smelting of
metals, produce sulphur dioxide. It is a major contributor to
smog and acid rain. Sulfur dioxide can lead to lung diseases.
HOW CAN AIR POLLUTION HURT MY HEALTH?
Air pollution can affect our health in many ways with both
short-term

and

long-term

individuals

are

effects.
affected

Different
by

groups

of

air pollution

in

different ways. Some individuals are much more

sensitive to pollutants than are others. Young
children and elderly people often suffer more
from the effects of air pollution. People with
health problems such as asthma, heart and lung disease may
also suffer more when the air is polluted. The extent to
which an individual is harmed by air pollution usually

19

depends on the total exposure to the damaging chemicals,

i.e., the duration of exposure and the concentration of the
chemicals must be taken into account.
Examples of short-term effects include irritation to the
eyes, nose and throat, and upper respiratory infections such
as bronchitis and pneumonia. Other symptoms can include
headaches, nausea, and allergic reactions. Short-term air
pollution can aggravate the medical conditions of individuals
with asthma and emphysema. In the great "Smog Disaster"
in London in 1952, four thousand people died in a few days
due to the high concentrations of pollution.
Long-term health effects can include chronic respiratory
disease, lung cancer, heart disease, and even damage to the
brain, nerves, liver, or kidneys. Continual exposure to air
pollution affects the lungs of growing children and may
aggravate or complicate medical conditions in the elderly. It
is estimated that half a million people die prematurely every
year in the United States as a result of smoking cigarettes.
Research into the health effects of air pollution is ongoing.
Medical conditions arising from air pollution can be very
expensive.

Healthcare

costs,

lost

productivity

in

the

workplace, and human welfare impacts cost billions of

dollars each year.
Additional information on the health effects of air pollution is
available from the Natural Resources Defense Council. A

20

short article on the health effects of ozone (a major

component of smog) is available from the B.A.A.Q.M.D.
WHAT YOU CAN DO TO REDUCE AIR POLLUTION
The task of cleaning up air pollution,
though difficult, is not believed to be
impossible. The shift to less polluting forms
of power generation, such as solar energy,
wind energy, geothermal, tidal and other forms of renewable
energy in place of fossil fuel can be used for controlling
pollution. The example of London, as well as of other cities,
has shown that major improvements in air quality can be
achieved in 10 years or less
Many cities in India now have pollution control checks for
vehicles. Cars are being fitted with catalytic converters and
unleaded petrol is being used. There is an attempt to keep a
check on polluting industrial units by the judiciary. Cars that
use CNG have also been introduced
You can also contribute to reducing air
pollution to some extent. One of the first
things you can start doing is to conserve
energy. Walk or ride a bicycle to the market
or to your friends house. Take a bus to school or organize a
carpool. See to it that the use of aerosols is reduced in your
house. Make sure that your father or mother gets a pollution
check of the car done at regular intervals and that the car is
well maintained. Trees give out oxygen and take in carbon

21

dioxide and thereby clean the air around us. It is therefore

our duty to take care of them. Look after the trees in your
neighborhood, along with your friends, begin a tree watch
similar to a neighborhood watch. See to it that trees in your
area are looked after. Plant more trees and tend to them too.
Switch off the lights and fans each time you leave a room.
During the day, use only the required number
of lights. At home, during hot summer months
when you tend to use an air conditioner or a
cooler or a heater on very cold winter days,
learn to share the room with your brother or sister when you
are studying, watching the television, etc.

22

WATER POLLUTION

INTRODUCTION
Comprising over 70% of the Earths surface, water is
undoubtedly the most precious natural resource that exists
on our planet. Without the seemingly invaluable compound
comprised of hydrogen and oxygen, life on Earth would be
non-existent: it is essential for everything on our planet to
grow and prosper. Although we as humans recognize this
fact, we disregard it by polluting our rivers, lakes, and
oceans. Subsequently, we are slowly but surely harming our
planet to the point where organisms are dying at a very
alarming rate. In addition to innocent organisms dying off,
our drinking water has become greatly affected as is our
ability to use water for recreational purposes. In order to
23

combat water pollution, we must understand the problems

and become part of the solution.
POINT AND NONPOINT SOURCES
According to the American College Dictionary, pollution is
defined as: to make foul or unclean; dirty. Water pollution
occurs when a body of water is adversely affected due to the
addition of large amounts of materials to the water. When it
is unfit for its intended use, water is considered polluted.
Two types of water pollutants exist; point source and
nonpoint source.

Point sources of pollution occur when

harmful substances are emitted directly into a body of

water. The Exxon Valdez oil spill best illustrates a point
source

water

pollutants
through
changes.

pollution.

nonpoint

source

delivers

indirectly
environmental
An example of

this type of water pollution

is

when fertilizer from a field

is

carried into a stream by

rain, in the form of run-off
which in turn effects aquatic life. The technology exists for
point sources of pollution to be monitored and regulated,
although political factors may complicate matters. Non-point
sources are much more difficult to control. Pollution arising
from non-point sources accounts for a majority of the
contaminants in streams and lakes.

24

CAUSES OF POLLUTION

Many causes of pollution including sewage and fertilizers

contain nutrients such as nitrates and phosphates. In excess

levels, nutrients over stimulate the growth of aquatic plants
and algae. Excessive growth of these types of organisms
consequently clogs our waterways, use up dissolved oxygen
as they decompose, and block light to deeper waters. This, in
turn, proves very harmful to aquatic organisms as it affects
the respiration ability or fish and other invertebrates that
reside in water.

Pollution is also caused when silt and

other suspended solids, such as soil, wash off plowed fields,

construction and logging sites, urban areas, and eroded river
banks when it rains. Under natural conditions, lakes, rivers,
and other water bodies undergo Eutrophication, an aging
process that slowly fills in the water body with sediment and
organic matter. When these sediments enter various bodies
of

water,

fish

respiration

be

comes

impaired,

plant

productivity and water depth become reduced, and aquatic

organisms and their environments become suffocated.
Pollution in the form of organic material enters waterways in
many different forms as sewage, as leaves and grass
clippings, or as runoff from livestock feedlots and pastures.
When natural bacteria and protozoan in the water break
down this organic material, they begin to use up the oxygen
dissolved in the water.

Many types of fish and bottom-

dwelling animals cannot survive when levels of dissolved

oxygen drop below two to five parts per million. When this

25

occurs, it kills aquatic organisms in large numbers which

leads to disruptions in the food chain.

POLLUTED RIVER IN THE UNITED KINGDOM

The

pollution

contaminants

of
has

rivers

and

become

streams

one

of

with

the

chemical

most

crutial

environmental problems within the 20th century. Waterborne

chemical

pollution

entering

rivers

and

streams

cause

tramendous amounts of destruction.

Pathogens are another type of pollution that prove very harmful. They can cause
many illnesses that range from typhoid and dysentery to minor respiratory and skin
diseases. Pathogens include such organisms as bacteria, viruses, and protozoan. These
pollutants enter waterways through untreated sewage, storm drains, septic tanks, runoff
from farms, and particularly boats that dump sewage. Though microscopic, these
pollutants have a tremendous effect evidenced by their ability to cause sickness.

ADDITIONAL FORMS OF WATER POLLUTION

Three last forms of water pollution exist in the forms of
petroleum, radioactive substances, and heat.
26

Petroleum

often pollutes waterbodies in the form of oil, resulting from

oil

spills.

The

previously

mentioned Exxon Valdez is an

example of this type of water
pollution.
accidental

These

large-scale

discharges

of

petroleum are an important

cause of pollution along shore
lines.

Besides

the

supertankers, off-shore drilling

operations contribute a large share of pollution.

One

estimate is that one ton of oil is spilled for every million tons
of oil transported. This is equal to about 0.0001 percent.
Radioactive substances are produced in the form of waste
from nuclear power plants, and from the industrial, medical,
and scientific use of radioactive materials. Specific forms of
waste are uranium and thorium mining and refining. The
last form of water pollution is heat. Heat is a pollutant
because increased temperatures result in the deaths of many
aquatic organisms. These decreases in temperatures are
caused when a discharge of cooling water by factories and
power plants occurs.

27

DEMONSTRATORS PROTEST DRILLING

Oil pollution is a growing problem, particularly devestating
to coastal wildlife. Small quantities of oil spread rapidly
across long distances to form deadly oil slicks. In this
picture, demonstrators with "oil-covered" plastic animals
protest a potential drilling project in Key Largo, Florida.
Whether or not accidental spills occur during the project, its
impact on the delicate marine ecosystem of the coral reefs
could be devastating.

OIL SPILL CLEAN-UP

28

Workers use special nets to clean up a California beach after

an

oil

tanker

spill.

Tanker

spills

are

an

increasing

environmental problem because once oil has spilled, it is

virtually impossible to completely remove or contain it. Even
small amounts spread rapidly across large areas of water.
Because oil and water do not mix, the oil floats on the water
and then washes up on broad expanses of shoreline.
Attempts to chemically treat or sink the oil may further
disrupt marine and beach ecosystems.
When toxic substances enter lakes, streams, rivers, oceans,
and other water bodies, they get dissolved or lie suspended
in water or get deposited on the bed. This results in the
pollution of water whereby the quality of the water
deteriorates, affecting aquatic ecosystems. Pollutants can
also seep down and affect the groundwater deposits.
Water pollution has many sources. The most polluting of
them are the city sewage and industrial waste discharged
into the rivers. The facilities to treat waste water are not
adequate in any city in India. Presently, only about 10% of
the waste water generated is treated; the rest is discharged
as it is into our water bodies. Due to this, pollutants enter
groundwater, rivers, and other water bodies. Such water,
which ultimately ends up in our households, is often highly
contaminated

and

carries

disease-causing

microbes.

Agricultural run-off, or the water from the fields that drains

into rivers, is another major water pollutant as it contains
fertilizers and pesticides.

29

Domestic sewage refers to waste water that is discarded

from households. Also referred to as sanitary sewage, such
water contains a wide variety of dissolved and suspended
impurities.
It amounts to a very small fraction of the sewage by weight.
But it is large by volume and contains impurities such as
organic materials and plant nutrients that tend to rot. The
main organic materials are food and vegetable waste, plant
nutrient come from chemical soaps, washing powders, etc.
Domestic sewage is also very likely to contain diseasecausing microbes. Thus, disposal of domestic waste water is
a significant technical problem. Sewage generated from the
urban areas in India has multiplied manifold since 1947.
Today, many people dump their garbage into streams, lakes,
rivers, and seas, thus making water bodies the final resting
place

of

cans,

bottles,

plastics,

and

other

household

products. The various substances that we use for keeping

our houses clean add to water pollution as they contain
harmful chemicals. In the past, people mostly used soaps
made from animal and vegetable fat for all types of washing.
But

most

of

todays

cleaning

products

are

synthetic

detergents and come from the petrochemical industry. Most

detergents and washing powders contain phosphates, which
are used to soften the water among other things. These and
other chemicals contained in washing powders affect the
health of all forms of life in the water.

30

Biochemical oxygen demand, or BOD

The amount of

organic material that can rot in the sewage is measured by

the biochemical oxygen demand. BOD is the amount of
oxygen required by micro-organisms to decompose the
organic substances in sewage. Therefore, the more organic
material there is in the sewage, the higher the BOD. It is
among the most important parameters for the design and
operation of sewage treatment plants. BOD levels of
industrial sewage may be many times that of domestic
sewage. Dissolved oxygen is an important factor that
determines the quality of water in lakes and rivers. The
higher the concentration of dissolved oxygen, the better the
water quality. When sewage enters a lake or stream, microorganisms begin to decompose the organic materials.
Oxygen is consumed as micro-organisms use it in their
metabolism. This can quickly deplete the available oxygen in
the water. When the dissolved oxygen levels drop too low,
many aquatic species perish. In fact, if the oxygen level
drops to zero, the water will become septic. When organic
compounds decompose without oxygen, it gives rise to the
undesirable odours usually associated with septic or putrid
conditions.
AGRICULTURAL RUN OFF
The use of land for agriculture and the practices followed in
cultivation
Intensive

greatly

affect

cultivation of

the

quality

of

groundwater.

crops

causes

chemicals

from

fertilizers (e.g. nitrate) and pesticides to seep into the

31

groundwater, a process commonly known as leaching.

Routine

applications

of

fertilizers

and

pesticides

for

agriculture and indiscriminate disposal of industrial and

domestic wastes are increasingly being recognized as
significant sources of water pollution.
The high nitrate content in groundwater is mainly from
irrigation run-off from agricultural fields where chemical
fertilizers have been used indiscriminately.
Eutrophication

When

fresh

water

is

artificially

supplemented with nutrients, it results in an abnormal

increase in the growth of water plants. This is known as
eutrophication. The discharge of waste from industries,
agriculture, and urban communities into water bodies
generally stretches the biological capacities of aquatic
systems. Chemical run-off from fields also adds nutrients to
water. Excess nutrients cause the water body to become
choked with organic substances and organisms. When
organic matter exceeds the capacity of the micro-organisms
in water that break down and recycle the organic matter, it
encourages rapid growth, or blooms, of algae. When they
die, the remains of the algae add to the organic wastes
already in the water; eventually, the water becomes deficient
in oxygen. Anaerobic organisms (those that do not require
oxygen to live) then attack the organic wastes, releasing
gases such as methane and hydrogen sulphide, which are
harmful to the oxygen-requiring (aerobic) forms of life. The
result is a foul-smelling, waste-filled body of water. This has

32

already occurred in such places as Lake Erie and the Baltic

Sea, and is a growing problem in freshwater lakes all over
India. Eutrophication can produce problems such as bad
tastes and odours as well as green scum algae. Also the
growth of rooted plants increases, which decreases the
amount of oxygen in the deepest waters of the lake. It also
leads to the death of all forms of life in the water bodies.
INDUSTRIAL EFFLUENTS
Waste water from manufacturing or chemical processes in
industries contributes to water pollution. Industrial waste
water usually contains specific and readily identifiable
chemical compounds. During the last fifty years, the number
of industries in India has grown rapidly. But water pollution
is concentrated within a few subsectors, mainly in the form
of toxic wastes and organic pollutants. Out of this a large
portion can be traced to the processing of industrial
chemicals and to the food products industry. In fact, a
number of large- and medium-sized industries in the region
covered by the Ganga Action Plan do not have adequate
effluent

treatment

facilities.

Most

of

these

defaulting

industries are sugar mills, distilleries, leather processing

industries,

and

thermal

power

stations.

Most

major

industries have treatment facilities for industrial effluents.

But this is not the case with small-scale industries, which
cannot afford enormous investments in pollution control
equipment as their profit margin is very slender.
EFFECTS OF WATER POLLUTION
33

The effects of water pollution are not only devastating to

people but also to animals, fish, and birds. Polluted water is
unsuitable for drinking, recreation, agriculture, and industry.
It diminishes the aesthetic quality of lakes and rivers. More
seriously, contaminated water destroys aquatic life and
reduces its reproductive ability. Eventually, it is a hazard to
human health. Nobody can escape the effects of water
pollution.
The individual and the community can help minimize water
pollution.

By

simple

housekeeping

and

management

practices the amount of waste generated can be minimized.

CLASSIFYING WATER POLLUTION

The major sources of water pollution can be classified as

municipal, industrial, and agricultural.
pollution

consists

of

waste

water

Municipal water
from

homes

and

commercial establishments. For many years, the main goal

of treating municipal wastewater was simply to reduce its
content of suspended solids, oxygen-demanding materials,
dissolved inorganic compounds, and harmful bacteria.

In

recent years, however, more stress has been placed on

improving means of disposal of the solid residues from the
municipal treatment processes.

The basic methods of

treating municipal wastewater fall into three stages: primary

treatment, including grit removal, screening, grinding, and
sedimentation; secondary treatment, which entails oxidation
of dissolved organic matter by means of using biologically

34

active sludge, which is then filtered off; and tertiary

treatment, in which advanced biological methods of nitrogen
removal and chemical and physical methods such as
granular filtration and activated carbon absorption are
employed. The handling and disposal of solid residues can
account for 25 to 50 percent of the capital and operational
costs of a treatment plant. The characteristics of industrial
waste waters can differ considerably both within and among
industries. The impact of industrial discharges depends not
only on their collective characteristics, such as biochemical
oxygen demand and the amount of suspended solids, but
also on their content of specific inorganic and organic
substances. Three options are available in controlling
industrial wastewater. Control can take place at the point of
generation in the plant; wastewater can be pretreated for
discharge to municipal treatment sources; or wastewater
can be treated completely at the plant and either reused or
discharged directly into receiving waters.

35

WASTE WATER TREATMENT

Raw

sewage

includes

waste

from

sinks,

toilets,

and

industrial processes. Treatment of the sewage is required

before it can be safely buried, used, or released back into
local water systems. In a treatment plant, the waste is
passed through a series of screens, chambers, and chemical
processes to reduce its bulk and toxicity. The three general
phases of treatment are primary, secondary, and tertiary.
During primary treatment, a large percentage of the
suspended solids and inorganic material is removed from the
sewage. The focus of secondary treatment is reducing
organic

material

by

accelerating

natural

biological

processes. Tertiary treatment is necessary when the water

will be reused; 99 percent of solids are removed and various
chemical processes are used to ensure the water is as free
from impurity as possible.
Agriculture, including commercial livestock and poultry
farming, is the source of many organic and inorganic
pollutants in surface

waters and

groundwater.

These

contaminants include both sediment from erosion cropland

and compounds of

phosphorus and nitrogen that partly

originate in animal wastes and commercial fertilizers.

Animal wastes are high in oxygen demanding material,
nitrogen and phosphorus, and they often harbor pathogenic
organisms. Wastes from commercial feeders are contained
and disposed of on land; their main threat to natural waters,
therefore, is from runoff and leaching. Control may involve
settling basins for liquids, limited biological treatment in
36

aerobic or anaerobic lagoons, and a variety of other

methods.
GROUND WATER
Ninety-five percent of all fresh water on earth is ground
water. Ground water is found in natural rock formations.
These formations, called aquifers, are a vital natural
resource with many uses. Nationally, 53% of the population
relies on ground water as a source of drinking water. In
rural areas this figure is even higher. Eighty one percent of
community water is dependent on ground water. Although
the 1992 Section 305(b) State Water Quality Reports
indicate that, overall, the Nations ground water quality is
good to excellent, many local areas have experienced
significant ground water contamination. Some examples are
leaking underground storage tanks and municipal landfills.
LEGISLATION
Several forms of legislation have been passed in recent
decades to try to control water pollution. In 1970, the Clean
Water Act provided 50 billion dollars to cities and states to
build wastewater facilities. This has helped control surface
water pollution from industrial and municipal sources
throughout the United States. When congress passed the
Clean Water Act in 1972, states were given primary
authority to set their own standards for their water.

In

addition to these standards, the act required that all state

beneficial uses and their criteria must comply with the

37

fishable and swimmable goals of the act. This essentially

means that state beneficial uses must be able to support
aquatic

life

recreational

and
use.

Because it is impossible
to test water for every
type of disease-causing
organism,

states

usually look to identify

indicator bacteria. One
for

example

is

bacteria known as fecal

coliforms.(Figure

shows the quality of

water for each every state in the United States, click on the
US link). These indicator bacteria suggest that a certain
selection of water may be contaminated with untreated
sewage and that other, more dangerous, organisms are
present. These legislations are an important part in the fight
against water pollution.

They are useful in preventing

Envioronmental catastrophes.

The graph shows reported

pollution incidents since 1989-1994. If stronger legislations

existed, perhaps these events would never have occurred.

38

GLOBAL WATER POLLUTION

Estimates suggest that nearly 1.5 billion people lack safe
drinking water and that at least 5 million deaths per year
can be attributed to waterborne diseases. With over 70
percent of the planet covered by oceans, people have long
acted as if these very bodies of water could serve as a
limitless dumping ground for wastes. Raw sewage, garbage,
and oil spills have begun to overwhelm the diluting
capabilities of the oceans, and most coastal waters are now
polluted. Beaches around the world are closed regularly,
often because of high amounts of bacteria from sewage
disposal, and marine wildlife is beginning to suffer.

39

Perhaps the biggest reason for developing a worldwide

effort to monitor and restrict global pollution is the fact that
most forms of pollution do not respect national boundaries.
The first major international conference on environmental
issues was held in Stockholm, Sweden, in 1972 and was
sponsored by the United Nations (UN). This meeting, at
which

the

United

controversial

States

took

because

many

developing countries were fearful

that

focus

on

environmental

protection was a means for the

developed

world

undeveloped

to

world

keep

the

in

an

economically subservient position.

The most important outcome of the
conference was the creation of the
United

Nations

Environmental

Program (UNEP).

40

leading

role,

was

UNEP was designed to be the environmental conscience of

the United Nations, and, in an attempt to allay fears of the
developing world, it became the first UN agency to be
headquartered in a developing country, with offices in
Nairobi, Kenya. In addition to attempting to achieve
scientific consensus about major environmental issues, a
major focus for UNEP has been the study of ways to
encourage sustainable development increasing standards of
living without destroying the environment. At the time of
UNEP's

creation

in

1972,

only

11

countries

had

environmental agencies. Ten years later that number had

grown to 106, of which 70 were in developing countries.

WATER QUALITY
Water quality is closely linked to water use and to the
state

of

economic

development.

In

industrialized

countries,

bacterial
surface

contamination
water

of

caused

serious health problems in

major cities throughout the
mid 1800s. By the turn of
the century, cities in Europe
and North America began
building sewer networks to

41

route

domestic wastes downstream of water intakes.

Development of these sewage networks and waste treatment

facilities in urban areas has expanded tremendously in the
past two decades. However, the rapid growth of the urban
population (especially in Latin America and Asia) has
outpaced the ability of governments to expand sewage and
water infrastructure. While waterborne diseases have been
eliminated in the developed world, outbreaks of cholera and
other similar diseases still occur with alarming frequency in
the developing countries. Since World War II and the birth
of the chemical age, water quality has been heavily
impacted

worldwide

by

industrial

and

agricultural

chemicals. Eutrophication of surface waters from human and

agricultural wastes and nitrification of groundwater from
agricultural practices has greatly affected large parts of the
world. Acidification of surface waters by air pollution is a
recent phenomenon and threatens aquatic life in many area
of the world. In developed countries, these general types of
pollution have occurred sequentially with the result that
most developed countries have successfully dealt with major
surface

water

pollution.

In

contrast,

however,

newly

industrialized countries such as China, India, Thailand,

Brazil,

and

Mexico

are

now

simultaneously.

42

facing

all

these

issues

CONCLUSION
Clearly, the problems associated with water pollution
have the capabilities to disrupt life on our planet to a great
extent. Congress has passed laws to try to combat water
pollution thus acknowledging the fact that water pollution is,
indeed, a seriousissue. But the government alone cannot
solve the entire problem. It is ultimately up to us, to be
informed, responsible and involved when it comes to the
problems we face with our water. We must become familiar
with our local water resources and learn about ways for
disposing harmful household wastes so they dont end up in
sewage treatment plants that cant handle them or landfills
not designed to receive hazardous materials. In our yards,
we must determine whether additional nutrients are needed
before fertilizers are applied, and look for alternatives where
fertilizers might run off into surface waters. We have to
preserve existing trees and plant new trees and shrubs to
help prevent soil erosion and promote infiltration of water
into the soil. Around our houses, we must keep litter, pet
waste, leaves, and grass clippings out of gutters and storm
drains. These are just a few of the many ways in which we,
as humans, have the ability to combat water pollution. As
we head into the 21st century, awareness and education will
most assuredly continue to be the two most important ways
to prevent water pollution. If these measures are not taken
and water pollution continues, life on earth will suffer
severely.

Global environmental collapse is not inevitable.

But the developed world must work with the developing

43

world to ensure that new industrialized economies do not

add to the world's environmental problems. Politicians must
think of sustainable development rather than economic
expansion. Conservation strategies have to become more
widely accepted, and people must learn that energy use can
be dramatically diminished without sacrificing comfort. In
short, with the technology that currently exists, the years of
global environmental mistreatment can begin to be reversed.

CUTTING OF TREES:

It is also a cause for global warming. We just cut a tree but

never a single tree. So forest area is being decreasing day by
day. There trees make a total control over global warming
because these trees help us in rain which lower down the
temperature also decreases. So global warming can be
stopped.

44

You can understand the importance of trees when no

rain comes on time. Every problem came to halt on just this
concept that plant more and more trees. A survey shows that
in 1950-60 nearly 45% part of India is forest area. In 196070 nearly 40% is forest area. But in 1970-90 just 23% area is
forest area. Rest is industrial or residential but now in 2005
only 16% part is forest area. (This survey is done in selected
cities)

45

BIBLOGRAPHY
A Global Warming Forum
Michael Tennesen - The Complete Idiot's Guide to Global
Warming.
Gary C. Bryner - Global Warming: A Reference Handbook
(Contemporary World Issues S.).
Principle of ecology (all volumes)
www.google/global warming.com
www.google.com/global warming+india
www.google.com/global warming+india+Tsunami
www.google.com/pollution
www.google.com/air pollution
www.google.com/climate
www.livescience.com
www.aip.org/history/climate

46