ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION AND NEED TO PRESERVE ENVIRONMENT

INTRODUCTION: Any undesirable physical, chemical or biological change caused to land, water and air and other natural resources is termed environmental pollution .As science and industries grow, pollution also grows. Ironically man is the reason for pollution. AIR POLLUTION: Air pollution is due to industrial and automobile exhaust. These contain carbon di oxide, sulphur di oxide and oxides of nitrogen .They cause breathing trouble. Plants are unable to synthesis food. The protective ozone layer is affected thereby exposing us to the ill effects of radioactive rays. LAND POLLUTION: Accumulation of rubbish, polythene and plastic containers , glass and porcelain result in land pollution. They cause various diseases. Some tanneries let toxic chemicals stagnate on lands. Those lands become uncultivable. Ground water is also polluted. WATER POLLUTION: The letting in of domestic sewage waste, industrial waste and tannery effluents, pollute drinking water. The use of excess of chemical fertilizers, insecticides, pesticides, DDT, pollute both land and water. They lead to many deadly, contagious diseases. Oil leaks in the oceans affect marine life. They endanger many species.

HEALTH HAZARDS: Gas leakage, leakage of nuclear reactors also pose several threats to us. The latest is the leak of cyanide from a gold mining company into the blue Danube. More than 80% of the marine species in dead. The river has turned grey. Of late old decommissioned ships are being brought to the shore of India for dismantling. They have tons of harmful asbestos. They are cancerous. The people who are engaged in dismantling the ship are affected by various ailments and diseases. This should be prevented to save our people and our country. Unless suitable steps are taken to check pollution, mankind will be destroyed along with other organism. REMEDY: The Central Pollution Control Board(CETP) has identified 1551 large and medium industries as highly polluting industries contributing maximum to the pollution load. Here the effluents from the industries are polled together and treated in an economic manner with cooperation. CETP OFFERS FOLLOWING ADVANTAGES: 1) It makes pollution control economical by reducing the cost of effluent treatment for each individual industry. 2) Problems arising due to lack of trained personnel can be minimized because fewer treatment plants would require fewer people to manage them. CONTROL MEASURES FOR AIR POLLUTION: Vehicular emission standards should be set up.

Smoking should be banned in public places. Quality of fuels should be improved. Use of Ethanol blended petrol, biodiesel, compressed natural gas (CNG) should be promoted as they are less polluting. Use of non-fossil fuels and renewable energy sources such as solar energy, hydro energy, tidal energy should be encouraged. CONTROL MEASURES FOR NOISE POLLUTION: Noise limits for vehicles should be set. Open use of loudspeakers and public address system should be restricted during night. Enforced zoning and planning should be done to separate industrial zone and highways from living space. CONCLUSION: Common man should be educated to know his right to live pollution free. Steps are taken globally to make earth pure.