Pollution is an undesirable change in the physical, chemical or biological characteristic of our air, land and water that may harmfully affect human lives or other species, living conditions and cultural assets. Industrial pollution and Degradation of Environment Industrial pollution is the pollution which can be directly linked with industry, in contrast to other sources of pollution. Industrial pollution hurts the environment in many of ways, and it has negative impact on human lives and health. Pollution-prone Industries- The recently developed industrial complexes, oil refineries, fertilizer factories, textile and sugar mills, chemical factories, distilleries, synthetic material plant for drugs, fibers, rubber, plastics etc. all produce a variety of pollutants which are deposited in the nearby water sources. Forms of Industrial Pollution INDUSTRIAL POLLUTION ACCELERATED WITH THE START OF INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION: Widespread industrial pollution accelerated rapidly in the year of 1800 with the start of the Industrial Revolution. The Industrial Revolution was a mechanized means of production, allowing for a much greater volume of production, and generating a corresponding increase in pollution. The problem was compounded by the use of fuels like coal, which is notoriously unclean, and a poor understanding of the causes and consequences of pollution. Water Pollution: This is the most common form of water pollution which is caused by dumping of industrial waste into waterways or improper contaminant of waste which causes leakage into groundwater and waterways. Water pollution causes severe poisoning of water in rivers, lakes, ponds, etc. which is a serious threat to aquatic lives.
Air Pollution: Industrial pollution can also affect air quality and it can enter the soil, causing widespread environmental problems. Major cause of air pollution is the smoke produced by the burning of coal and mineral oil, which are burnt at houses and in factories. This liberates SO 2, CO 2, CO smoke and soot, which contaminate air. Soil Pollution: Industrial waste effluents: The solid and liquid wastes of industries are dumped over the surface of soil. They include scrap, effluents, sludge, fly ash and radioactive wastes which ass a lot of toxic chemicals into the soil. Sources of pollution Automobile exhust Mining Heat and Power Generation Industrial Processes Auto Manifacturing By Human Activities Chemical fertiliser plants Solid waste disposal Fuel prodution sources of Air Pollution Thermal Pollution Brick Klins Pesticides Forest fires By Natural Mens Volcanic eruption Duststorm REASONS OF AIR POLLUTION MOTOR VEHICLE: Most air pollution comes from vehicles of various types. These vehicles pump out huge quantities of smoke and other harmful substances into air.
BURNING GARBAGE: Garbage includes paper, rags, hair, house dust waste etc. Burning of garage is also a good source of air pollution due to smoke and poisonous gases coming out. So garbage burning is strictly prohibited for waste disposal. INDUSTRIAL WASTE: The introduction of a wide variety of pollutants, both biodegradable, like oil, plastics, metallic, suspended solids, phenols and chemicals etc. generates industrial waste. POWER PLANTS: Power plants produce huge amounts of fly ash, which is one the major causes of land pollution. BIOMEDICAL WASTES: These wastes are generated from hospital activities including laboratories and other associated areas. Biomedical wastes include animal remains, biological wastes, chemotherapy, wastes and stocks of infectious agents, etc. CHEMICAL FERTLIZERS: Chemical fertilizers are often washed out of the soil by rain. They eventually drain into streams and rivers, where they nourish the algae as effectively as they nourish farmer s crops. In this way the whole water body gets deteriorated. OFFSHORE OIL DRILLING: Oil drilling in between sea causes a lot of water pollution and imbalance to ecosystem. Oil drilling causes a lot of water pollution like oil spilling, air pollution, etc. which is dangerous to aquatic animals. RADIATION X-RAYS: X-rays are electromagnetic waves very similar to gamma rays, but originate from the outer electron shell of radioactive substances, which are not dispersed in nature. X-ray radiations causes radioactive pollution which is a special form of physical pollution of air, water and soil due to the presence of radioactive materials. RADIOACTIVE FALLOUT FROM NUCLEAR PLANTS: The atomic blasts not only produce the local ionizing radiations at that time but the radioisotopes produced as a result of explosion enter the atmosphere and continue to fall out gradually over broad geographic areas for a very long time. These are known as nuclear fallout or radioactive fallout.
MEASURES TO CONTROL POLLUTION: AIR POLLUTION: Air pollution strategies rely on local, national and regional authorities setting air quality and emission standards. Government can encourage industries to develop new and better technologies. Various steps to control air pollution are as follows. 1. Control Technology: Modifying the fuel or combustion technique or removing pollution from the fuel gases. 2. Catalytic reduction: The use of three ways catalytic converters to control motor vehicle pollution. 3. New manufacturing processes: Using low-temperature hydrometallurgical techniques which reduce sulphur dioxide emissions associated with traditional metal smelting methods. 4. Control of gaseous contaminants Combustion: The process is like flame combustion or catalytic combustion which is used when gases or vapors is organic in nature. Absorption: This is the process in which effluent gases that remove one or more of the pollutants in the gas stream. Adsorption: In this process, the effluent gases are passed through absorbs, which contain solids of porous structure. WATER POLLUTION WATER TREATMENT METHODS: Chemical Treatment: It includes coagulation, flocculation, and sedimentation. Treatment through sand and pressure filters, iron removal and deflourination are example of chemical treatment. Biological Treatment: Aerobic Treatment: In this process, purification is carried out by aerobes in the presence of molecular oxygen. Anaerobic Treatment: In this process, purification of waste is achieved by anaerobes in complete absence of molecular oxygen. Industrial waste treatment: Effluents generated by various industries are not of similar character. They vary in their chemical composition and require various degree of treatment.
Recovery from black liquor: Lignin is recovered through acidification by carbon dioxide or sulphuric acid. Colour Removal: Lime treatment removes 90% of colour and 60% of Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) load. Biological treatment: Oxidation ponds remove 85% of BOD load. Aerated lagoon is useful in removing organic load. ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION: Green House Effect: The greenhouse effect is a natural process in which certain gases known as greenhouse gases trap heat that radiates from the earth s surface. We all live in a global greenhouse. The air, clouds, soils, vegetation and structures that surround us reflects and absorb and reemit radiant energy across the electromagnetic spectrum that arrives from the sun. Sources of greenhouses gases: Numerous factories spread all over the world burn immense quantities of coal, mineral oil and natural gas and spew huge amounts of carbon dioxide together with other undesirable gases through their chimneys into the atmosphere. Global warming: Due to greenhouse effect, the average temperature of the earth and its atmosphere is increasing, this is called global warming. Sources of global warming: Burning fossil fuels such as oil, coal and gas result in the production of carbon dioxide and other gases which cause global warming. Coal which is nearly pure carbon is almost completely converted into carbon dioxide when it is burned; oil and gas contain hydrogen in addition to carbon, hence both carbon dioxide and water are released when they are burnt. Natural gas is the least carbon dioxide and water is released when they are burnt. Natural gas is the least carbon dioxide producer, while synthetic gas from coal produces 80% CO 2 more than fuel oil.
Ozone layer depletion: Ozone is a form of oxygen, which consists of three atoms of oxygen bound together. Unlike oxygen, ozone is poisonous gas, and an increase in its concentration at ground level causes pollution. In stratosphere, where ozone exists naturally, it blocks out the sun s ultraviolet rays. A natural balance keeps us well supplied with ozone. Sufficient evidences are there for thinning of ozone layer. During spring and summer, ozone layer at the middle and high latitudes is being observed to be depleting. Ozone depletion occurs when the natural balance between the production and destruction of stratospheric ozone is trapped in favor destruction.