JAMNABAI NARSEE SCHOOL Geography Pollution PDF 2024-2025

GEOGRAPHY POLLUTION Types of Pollution Std 9...

GEOGRAPHY POLLUTION Types of Pollution Std 9 2024-2025 1. Define pollution. Pollution is the introduction of substances or energy (such as light, heat or sound) into the natural environment in amounts or concentrations that can be harmful for humans, animals, and plants. 2. What are pollutants? Pollutant is a substance present in the environment in harmful concentration which contaminates air, water or soil and has adverse effects on plants, animals and man. 3. Which two categories are pollutants divided into? Biodegradable pollutants: The pollutants which can be degraded by biological or microbial actions are known as biodegradable pollutants, e.g. sewage, domestic garbage, etc. Non-biodegradable pollutants: The pollutants which are not degraded by microbes or degrade at a very slow rate, are known as non-biodegradable pollutants, e.g. glass, plastics, radioactive substances, pesticides etc. (1) 4. What is air pollution? Air pollution is the excessive concentration of foreign matters in the air which adversely affects the well-being of human beings, animals, plants and their environment. 5. State the causes of air pollution. Air pollution takes place through the pollutants of gas, solid and liquid particles of both organic and inorganic chemicals. Gases such as sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulphide, pollen from plants, etc., are continuously added to air, thereby lowering its quality. 6. What is water pollution? Water pollution can be defined as alteration in physical, chemical or biological characteristics of water, making it unsuitable for designated use in its natural state. (2)  7. Mention the factors that pollute freshwater and marine water. Fresh water pollution: The freshwater bodies are polluted by domestic, industrial and agricultural effluents. Polluted freshwater is unsafe for drinking. Polluted lakes are unfit for swimming and fishing. Marine water pollution: When oil, plastic, industrial and agricultural wastes and chemical particles enter into oceans, it leads to marine water pollution. Mining for copper and gold also contaminates the ocean. 8. What is soil pollution? Soil pollution is defined as the change in physical, chemical and biological conditions of the soil through man’s intervention resulting in degradation in quality and productivity of the soil. The pollutants enter the food chain at the plant level and get magnified as we move up the food chain. 9. (i)Define radioactive pollution. Radioactive pollution is defined as the increase in natural background radiation, emerging from the activities of man using naturally occurring or artificially produced radioactive materials. (3) (ii) Mention natural and man-made resources of radioactive pollution. a. Natural sources: Cosmic radiation from outer space reaching earth’s surface and terrestrial radiation. b. Man-made sources: Mining, production and explosion of nuclear weapons, nuclear power plants and fuels and preparation of radioactive isotopes 10. What is noise pollution? Any unwanted sound that is an irritant causes annoyance, disturbance and prohibits concentration and is a source of stress. Sources of Pollution 1. What are the main sources of pollution? Natural Sources – Volcanic eruptions, forest fires, volatile organic compounds emitted by animals like cattle, etc. and trees like pine trees etc. Man-made sources – Industrial processes, thermal power plants, vehicles, domestic combustion, mining areas, suspended particulate matter. Indoor pollution includes tobacco smoking, building materials and microorganisms. (4) 2. List the sources of pollution for the following: a) Noise Pollution b) Air Pollution c) Water Pollution d) Soil Pollution e) Radiation Pollution. a. Noise Pollution: Traffic: Blowing of horns and sounds of vehicles produce lot of noise. Factories: Machines, drilling, generators, heavy earth- moving machinery cause noise. Construction Sites: Machines, generators used at construction sites cause noise. Loudspeakers: Use of loudspeakers in events, weddings cause noise. Airports: Motor vehicles, aircraft, supersonic planes produce lot of noise. b. Air Pollution: Vehicular Pollution: Carbon monoxide is a poisonous greenhouse gas. It is product of combustion of natural gas, coal and wood. Gasoline-powered vehicles are the principal source of sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide and lead. Diesel-fueled engines emit particulate matter, Sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide. Industrial Pollution: Industries such as chemical industries, paper and pulp mills, cotton mills and petroleum refineries produce most air pollution. Chlorofluorocarbon (CFCs) gases are emitted through air conditioners, refrigerators and spray aerosols. Nitrogen oxide is a product of high temperature combustion and diesel fueled engines. Brick Kilns in rural areas. Burning of garbage: Dumping and burning of garbage cause air pollution. Carbon dioxide, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide is emitted during burning. (5) c. Water Pollution: 1. Domestic Waste: Huge quantities of used water and detergents that find their way into water bodies like rivers, lakes and oceans through sewage and drainage systems of settlements cause pollution. Domestic sewage is mixed with other wastes like plastic, detergents, animal dung etc. 2. Industrial Waste: Industries dealing with chemicals, pulp and paper, food processing etc produce waste materials such as heavy metals and synthetic organic compounds which reach the water bodies. Lead – used in industries. Lead enters water from sources like mining and smelting of metals. Manganese – It’s found in manufacturing steel Mercury – used in plastic and chemical industries d. Soil Pollution: (i) Mention the adverse effect of using chemical fertilizers. Chemical fertilizers: Farmers use fertilizers to correct any deficiency in soil. Use of fertilizers leads to increased agricultural production. Fertilizers get leached into the soil and contaminate it. May also reach nearby water bodies. This leads to eutrophication in the water bodies. (ii) What is Biomedical waste? How is it harmful? Biomedical waste consists of hospital waste in the form of solids, liquids, and laboratory waste. It is considered unsafe and infectious. It contaminates the soil with pathogens that affect human health. The excreta of humans and animals pollute the soil. (iii) Give an example of a pesticide. What effect does it have on the environment? A pesticide is a chemical substance, biological agent, used to kill any pest. Examples of pesticides are DDT, Aldrin, and Dieldrin. They are used to control pests and weeds on the farm. They contaminate the soil. The change in chemical properties of soil introduce these toxic materials into plants products. e. What are the various types of Radiation Pollution? 1. X – rays: X – ray contains many risks to human body as it has high energy radiation that can have a destructive effect on living tissues and can cause DNA damage and mutations. X –rays pass through genetic cells and affect chromosomes, resulting in mutations. (6) 2. Radioactive Fallout from Nuclear Plants: Nuclear waste handling and disposal: It may generate low to medium radiation over a long period of time. Radiation may contaminate and propagate through air, water and soil. It cannot be degraded or treated chemically or biologically. Mining of radioactive ores: Uranium generates radioactive by-products. Nuclear accidents: The nuclear explosion at Chernobyl in 1986 has effects on human beings today. Effects of Pollution 1. State the effects of noise pollution on the environment and human health. Environment: The loud noise can lead to cracks in the old structures like the national and archaeological monuments. High levels of noise cause cracks in hills, break glass panes and cause vibrations in buildings. Human Health: a. Effect on hearing or deafness: Many workers who are exposed to the noise of jet aircraft or very noisy workshops soon develop hearing defects. b. Effect on communication: External sounds can interfere with conversation and use of the telephone, as well as the enjoyment of radio and television programs. c. Interference with sleep: Noisy conditions near residential areas at night cause difficulties in sleeping. d. Mental or Physiological effects: Doctors and scientists have confirmed that continuous exposure to high levels of noise give rise to neurosis, mental illness, stomach ulcers etc. (7)  thereby reducing human life. e. Effects on physical health and psychological problems: Psychiatrists and psychologists have observed that noise has certain relations with physical health causing speech interference, annoyance, fatigue, emotional distress. 2. How does air pollution affect the environment and human beings? Environment: a. Due to global warming, the regions of the Northern hemisphere will heat up more than other areas of the planet. b. In temperate mountains, snowlines will melt earlier. c. Winter and night temperatures will tend to rise more than those of summer and daytime. d. Deltas will be threatened by flooding, erosion and salt intrusion. Human Health: a. Irritation in eyes, nose and throat. b. Respiratory infections like bronchitis and pneumonia. c. Headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness. d. Slurring of speech. e. Lung cancer f. Cardiovascular diseases and coma. g. Damage to nerves, brain, liver and kidneys. (8) 3. Write a note on Bhopal Gas Tragedy. It was the worst industrial accident that happened on December 3, 1984. 40 tons of methyl isocyanate (MIC) gas leaked into the atmosphere from Union Carbide’s pesticide factory in Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh. 3500 people were killed and 40000 affected. The gas leak engulfed the city buildings and the residents, choking and suffocating them. The gas affected the tissues of their eyes and lungs and attacked nervous system. Women lost their unborn children. 4. Mention the effect of water pollution on environment and human health. Environment: a. Due to water pollution, the process of photosynthesis is obstructed. This leads to Eutrophication [The process of addition of substances in a water body through fertilizers or sewage. It causes depletion of oxygen and reduces the quality of water] b. Bioaccumulation: Bioaccumulation is the gradual accumulation of substances, such as pesticides or other chemicals, in an organism. Bioaccumulation occurs when an organism absorbs a substance faster than it can be lost or eliminated by catabolism and excretion. c. Biomagnification: The increase in concentration of toxic substances along the food chain. Toxic substances at the level of primary producers get concentrated at each trophic level as they move up the food chain. Human Health: a. Mercury damages the nervous system, liver, eyes and causes deformity in infants. It also causes insomnia, tremors and gingivitis. b. Methyl mercury causes Minamata disease which is a form of mercury poisoning which disturbs the sensory and auditory nerves and causes muscular rigidity and involuntary movement. In severe cases leads to death. c. Fluoride causes fluorosis and cause humpback, knock knee etc. d. Arsenic causes nausea, unconsciousness, vomiting, stomach burns, gastroenteritis, black foot etc. e. Pesticides cause tumours, chromosomal alterations, brain damage, impotency and cancer. (9) 5. ‘People in Japan suffered from a disease called Minamata’. Comment. Minamata disease was announced as an outcome of a pollution caused by the Chisso Co. Ltd, Japan. Chisso Corporation dumped 27 tonnes of mercury compounds into Minamata Bay. Thousands of people whose diet included fish from bay developed symptoms of methyl mercury poisoning. It was known as ‘Minamata Disease’. It was caused by eating large quantities of fish and shellfish polluted by methyl mercury in factory waste water. The methyl mercury that enters the body attacks the nervous system, numbness, unsteadiness in legs and hands, ringing in ears, narrowing vision, loss of hearing, slurred speech, headaches, loss of smell and taste, forgetfulness. There are congenital Minamata disease patients who were born with handicaps after being attacked by methyl mercury while in the wombs of their mothers who consumed polluted fish. 6. List the effect of soil pollution on environment and human health. Environment: a. Nitrogenous fertilizers produce toxic concentrations of nitrate and nitrite in the leaves. b. Industrial wastes cause pollution of underground water. c. The soil loses its fertility and productivity. Human Health: a. Pathogenic bacteria, viruses get transmitted to man by the consumption of fruits and vegetables. These pathogens cause diseases. b. Radioactive fallout on vegetation is the source of radioisotopes which enter the food chain through grazing animals. These causes abnormalities. 7. How does radioactive pollution affect the environment and human beings? Environment: Radioactive pollution damages the environment. Other radioactive threats to the environment are accidents connected with nuclear reactors, satellites etc. Human Health: a. Genetic variations (damaged by radiations are transmitted to many generations) b. Somatic variations (damage the organs and cause cancer) ( 10 )  8. Write a note on Chernobyl Disaster. On April 26, 1986, a sudden surge of power during a reactor systems test destroyed Unit 4 of the nuclear power station at Chernobyl, Ukraine, in the former Soviet Union. The accident and the fire that followed released massive amounts of radioactive material into the environment. Children are still being born with severe birth defects and rare types of cancer in areas near Chernobyl. ***************************************************************************** PREVENTIVE MEASURES 1. Carpools Advantages: Reduces pollution. Help to save money in buying fuel and maintenance cost of cars. Helps to save petrol and diesel and save foreign exchange. Reduces traffic congestion preventing traffic jams, saves fuel and commuting time. It helps to use commuting time in useful pursuits like reading novels etc. It helps to distress by talking to fellow commuters. ( 11 ) 2. Promotion of public transport Advantages: Reduces damage to the environment. Reduces fuel consumption and saves foreign exchange. It causes less noise and no air pollution. It helps to save money spent on maintenance of personal vehicles. It avoids the need to find parking space for private vehicles. It reduces congestion on roads, traffic jams and travelling time. It averts number of accidents and it is safer. 3. No smoking zones Advantages: It reduces the possibility of second-hand tobacco being inhaled by non-smokers. Reduces air pollution. Reduces health care costs by reducing the chances of diseases caused by smoking. It reduces the chances of influencing the youth, to take on the habit of smoking. It reduces the chances of accidental fires in places with highly flammable materials. 4. Restricted use of fossil fuels Advantages: Reduces air pollution, global warming and acid rain. Reduces health hazards like asthma, lung cancer etc. 5. Saving Energy Measures that help in saving energy: Use of blankets and sweaters instead of room heaters. In summers dress in light cotton clothes to save on air conditioning costs. Use products with Energy Star. This reduces the electricity bill. Use a low floor shower head to reduce water consumption and energy usage to heat the water. Turn off equipment and lights when not in use. Use CFL bulbs and tubes and LED lights. Maintenance of the appliances makes them last longer. ( 12 )  Paint your exterior and interior walls in a light colour so more light is reflected. Use public transport or carpool. 6. Encouragement of organic farming. Principles of Organic Farming: i. Principle of Health: Organic agriculture should sustain and enhance the health of soil, plant, animal, human and planet as one and indivisible. ii. Principle of Ecology: Organic agriculture should be based on living ecological systems and cycles, work with them, emulate them and help sustain them. iii. Principle of Fairness: Organic agriculture should build on relationships that ensure fairness with regard to the common environment and life opportunities. iv. Principle of Care: Organic agriculture should be managed in a precautionary and responsible manner to protect the health and well-being of current and future generations and the environment. ( 13 )