Environmental Pollution

Q 1. What is the environmental pollution?

Answer-

Environmental pollution is defined as “the contamination of the earth/atmosphere system’s physical and biological components to such an extent that typical environmental processes are adversely affected.”

Q 2. What are the 4 types of environmental pollution?

Answer-

Major kinds of pollution, are air pollution, water pollution, and land pollution, usually classified as environmental pollution. But these days, people are also concerned about noise pollution, light pollution, and plastic pollution.

Q 3. What is sewage treatment?

Answer-

Wastewater treatment, also known as sewage treatment, is the process of cleaning or removing all pollutants from wastewater, treating it, and making it safe and suitable for drinking before releasing it into the environment.

Q 4. What are the effects of water pollution?

Answer-

Water pollution has the potential to devastate the ecosystem. Furthermore, toxic chemicals can enter our bodies through the food chain, causing diseases and death.

Q 5. What are the effects of major air pollutants?

Answer-

Significant amounts of gaseous pollutants are produced, which have a negative impact on human health. Human activities emit billions of tonnes of pollutants into the atmosphere. Bronchitis, chest congestion, and wheezing are the most common and acute health problems caused by gaseous pollutants.

• Sulfur dioxide: Sulfur dioxide is a major contributor to lung disease. It causes nasal and mucus lining irritation, shortness of breath, fluid accumulation in tissues, oedema, and bronchospasm.
• Nitrogen oxides: Nitrogen oxides released from the exhausts of buses, trucks, and two-wheelers irritate the eyes and lungs. Inhaling large amounts of these oxides can cause gum inflammation, internal bleeding, pneumonia, and even cancer.

Q 6. What are the effects of radioactive pollutants?

Answer-

The effect of radiation on health is determined by a number of factors, including the energy, type and amount of radiation, the individual’s age, and the body part exposed. In humans, ionising radiation may have the following biological effects.

1. Carcinogenic effects – Ionizing radiation increases the risk of most cancers.
2. Mutagenic effects – Mutagenic effects change the genetic material, and the mutations are passed down to the offspring.
3. Teratogenic effects – The embryo’s development is hampered, resulting in birth defects.

Q 7. How is natural soil pollution caused? 

Answer-

Some pollutants naturally accumulate in soils as a result of extremely rare processes. This can happen as a result of the atmosphere’s differential deposition of soil. Another way for this type of soil pollution to occur is through the transport of soil pollutants with precipitation water. The accumulation of compounds containing the perchlorate anion (ClO4–) in some dry, arid ecosystems is an example of natural soil pollution. It is important to note that some contaminants can be produced naturally in the soil as a result of certain environmental conditions. During a thunderstorm, for example, perchlorates can form in soils containing chlorine and certain metals.

Q 8. What are the effects of noise pollution on human health? 

Answer-

Noise pollution can endanger human health in the following ways:

1. Hypertension is a direct result of noise pollution and is caused by elevated blood levels for an extended period of time.
2. Hearing loss occurs when human ears are repeatedly exposed to loud noises that exceed the range of sound that human ears can withstand, causing eardrum damage and loss of hearing.
3. Sleeping disorders: A lack of sleep can cause fatigue and a low energy level throughout the day, interfering with daily activities. Noise pollution hampers the sleep cycles leading to irritation and an uncomfortable state of mind.
4. Cardiovascular issues: Heart-related issues such as blood pressure, stress, and cardiovascular diseases can occur in a healthy person, and a person suffering from any of these diseases may experience a sudden increase in the level.

The environment is defined as a physical system’s surroundings, which may interact with other systems by exchanging mass and energy. All living and nonliving things are included in the natural environment. Because the environment is the setting in which we live, it is our responsibility to keep it safe from harm. Environmental pollution is one of the most serious issues confronting human society today. The three basic areas of environmental pollution are air, water, and soil.