How Does Waste Affect the Environment?

Accumulation of wastes due to its improper disposal is a major problem in our country. Population in India has been growing at a rapid rate. With this increase, there has also been an increase in the amount of wastes being produced especially in the cities. Every person, on an average generates about 400 to 500 grams of wastes per day. At this rate, in a city of about 10 lakh people around 500 tonnes of wastes is being produced every day. In the absence of proper waste management, this waste lies littered on our streets, road corners and improperly disposed of in vacant land. All of these are serious health hazards apart from being eyesores. If they are not cleared regularly at the earliest, they invite host of problems like increasing numbers of insect vectors like flies, mosquitoes, etc., scavengers such as stray dogs, pigs and rats which spread dangerous diseases. It also generates bad odour and causes pollution.

Impact of Waste Accumulation

Impact Of Waste Accumulation Introduction The generation of wastes has increased alarmingly-both in quality and complexity.We can see piles and piles of garbage everywhere around us. These wastes not only give an ugly look and foul smell, but are also the cause of serious health hazards. When left uncared, accumulated solid wastes start decomposing, giving rise to the growth of a number of pathogenic bacteria,fungi,and viruses and also harmful, air- polluting gases. Flies, insects, Rodents etc., live on these wastes and carry germs of various diseases to human habitations.During rains, the accumulated wastes along with pathogens are carried to water bodies, causing water pollution. This leads to the outbreak epidemics and other health hazards. Spoilage of Landscape Pollution Health Hazards The Impact of Waste Accumulation is given under the following topics: Much of the world's solid wastes are simply dumped into vacant lands and left to decompose.These open dumps not only ruin the beauty of the landscape but also provide a breeding ground to rodents and other pathogens.Both open dumps and landfills may contain poisonous substances that flow into groundwater, streams or lakes. Burning of coal,petroleum or fuel wood produce sulphur and nitrogen which react with oxygen to form their respective oxides.These oxides react whith atmospheric water vapour to form acids like nitric acid and sulphuric acid.The acids precipitate with rain and form Acid Rain. Spoilage of Landscape A chemical reaction occurs between the acids in acid rain and buildings.It exerts a pressure on the building surface leading to corrosion of its body. The gypsum and calcium sulphate are washed away by water causing damaging marks on monuments and statues.Limestone statues are also destroyed naturally because carbonic acid in rainwater converts limestone into bicarbonate which is soluble in water and is washed away. Examples of Monuments affected by Acid rain are: Taj Mahal of Agra,the Parthenon of Athens,the Colosseum of Rome,the Leaning Tower of Pisa,Tower of London etc. Effects of Acid Rain Pollution The word 'pollute' means to degrade. Pollution, thus, is an unfavourable modification of the natural world caused entirely or partly due to direct or indirect actions of human beings. Pollution is caused by the addition of waste toxic chemicals through

the atmosphere into the Biosphere.It is also caused by other substances which may no affect organisms directly, but have an adverse influence on the environment. Accumulation of wastes is probably the most visible form of pollution, with over a billion metric tonnes of solid wastes being disposed off each year. Sources of Wastes The main sources of wastes are: Domestic wastes Industrial wastes municipal wastes agricultural wastes Agriculture and food processing Industry are considered to be the largest contributors to the total production of solid wastes annually. Disposal of Wastes The handling of solid wastes is a problem because most disposal methods cause harm to the environment.Both open dumps and landfills contain toxic chemicals which may seep into the soil and water bodies (Soil and Water Pollution). The uncontrolled burning of accumulated wastes creates smoke and other air pollutants which release toxic substances into the environment(Air Pollution). Scavengers and stray animals invade open garbage dumps and spread the wastes over a large area, thereby spreading germs and diseases and also destroying the natural beauty of the place. Impact Of Industrial Wastes Industrial waste contains harmful chemicals,particulates and toxic heavy metals such as lead and mercury, which get deposited in animal tissues and harm organisms along the food chain. For example: Grass is polluted by toxins Animals eat the grass Animals directly or Indirectly pass on these toxins to Human beings(through meat or Dairy products). As accumulated meat decomposes, it produces a large quantity of methane gas.This is highly explosive, if not properly managed.

Eutrophication Eutrophication is the process of depletion of oxygen from water bodies occurring
naturally or due to human activities. It takes place due to introduction of chemicals and nutrients through discharge of domestic wastes,industrial effluents, and fertilizers from agricultural fields.The natural aquatic food chain goes like this: Algae and Phytoplankton consume carbon dioxide, inorganic nitrogen and phosphate from water as food They serve as food for Zooplankton Small fish feed on Zooplankton Small fish are consumed by large fish When nutrients become abundant due to waste accumulation,the growth of phytoplankton and algae increases, and consequently the penetration of oxygen, light and heat into the water body is reduced. This causes death of many aquatic organisms, draining the water of all its oxygen. Health Hazards Waste that is not properly managed is a serious health hazard. Wastes in open dumping grounds attract flies, rodents and other vectors which spread diseases among human beings.Domestic waste poses a serious threat. Since it is organic in nature, it creates conditions favourable for growth of pathogens. Wastes dumped near water sources percolate through soil to the water bodies and contaminate them.Direct Dumping of untreated wastes in water bodies results in accumulation of toxic substances in the food chain through plants and animals that feed on it.This is called Biomagnification. Water logging results in the breeding of mosquitos which cause diseases like dengue and malaria. Radioactive wastes generated in nuclear power plants causes serious harm to health. Effects of Toxic Particulate Materials Lead: affects blood system, behavioural disorders and may also cause death. Cadmium: Cardiovascular Diseases, Hypertension, Kidney Damage Nickel: Respiratory Symptoms,Lung Cancer Mercury: Brain and Nerve Damage, Kidney Damage Beryllium: Causes Berylliosis.Affects mucus membrane of eyes and lungs. Causes shortness of breath,weight loss, lung cancer and affects heart Asbestos: Causes Asbestosis, shortness of breath, lung cancer. Presented By: Simrat Kaur Smriti Iyer Smriti Misra Smriti Tahiliani Tanvee Utpat Yastika Shetty Recap Need For Management of Wastes Greenhouse Effect Global Warming Depletion Of Ozone Layer Acid Rain Impact of Waste Accumulation