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POLLUTION
Lecture 6 7 and 8
Environment:
The term environment refers to all the components
of the earth such as land, water and air, all living
and nonliving organisms and interactions among
them.
Ecosystem:
An ecosystem is all the living and nonliving things in a
certain area. All the plants and animals, even the
microorganisms that live in the soil, are living parts of an
ecosystem. Air, water, and rocks are nonliving parts of an
ecosystem.
Ecosystems are smaller parts of all the living environments
on Earth. Earth’s entire living environment is called the
biosphere.
Definition
• Pollution is the introduction of
contaminants into a natural environment
that causes instability, disorder, harm or
discomfort to the ecosystem.
• Pollution can take the form of chemical
substances or energy such as noise, heat
or light
Definition (contd)
• An unwanted change in the environment
which involves the physical, biological and
chemical changes involving air, water and
land which affects the human life in one way
or the other”.
• Pollution has become a serious issue after
World War II in developing countries due to
unchecked rapid industrialization.
• Pollution is the root cause of many diseases
that kill and disable living organisms.
A Broader View of Pollution
Contamination by
Industries
Pollution is everywhere.....
Causes of Pollution
• Industrial wastewater.
• Acids, alkali, bases, pesticides, fungicides, metal salts, animal body waste,
heavy metals
• Agricultural wastewater.
• Fertilizers, pesticides, insecticides, fungicides, silt
Other polluting agents
• Oil from oil spills
• Washing of automobiles
• Radioactive pollutants
• Minerals
• Fine soil particles
• Clay
• Hazardous waste
• Infectious organisms
Water Pollutants….
• Petroleum hydrocarbons
• Plastics
• Pesticides
• Heavy metals
• Sewage
• Radioactive waste
• Thermal effluents
Water Pollutants…
• Detergents
• Chloroform
• Food processing waste, (fats and grease)
• Insecticides and herbicides.
• Petroleum hydrocarbons, (gasoline, diesel
fuel, jet fuels, and fuel oil).
• Lubricants (motor oil).
• From stormwater runoff.
Effect of Heavy Metals on
Water
Cadmium:
Source: Ni-Cd battery and Gold ornaments industries
Effects: Absorbed on suspended water when ingested, cause itai-itai
diseases ( increased salvation, acute gastritis, liver and kidney
damage)
Lead:
Source: Lead acid industry battery, galvanic iron pipe connection and
plastic industry
Effects: poison, constipation, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, anemia
Mercury:
Source: alkali, thermometer industries and pharma
Effects: highly toxic methyl mercury, ingested by fish and cause nerve
and brain damage
Effect of Heavy Metals on
Water
Inorganic Species:
Cyanide:
Source: metallurgical operations, like gold and
silver refinery, heat treatment industry
Effects: small dosage of cyanide cause
cyanohaemoglobin in blood
Ammonia:
Source: fertilizers, chemical industry, biological
degradation of vegetable matter add ammonia
Effects: ammonia increases pH of water causing
stomach disorder,
Effect of Heavy Metals on
Water
Hydrogen Sulphide
Source: Detergent industry, decay of vegetable
matter decomposition of sulphide containing materials
Effects: it is toxic and have harmful effects on
human, bad odor and highly corrosive
Pesticides:
Source: pesticides industry and farm drain
Effects: lead to cancer
Preventing Water
Pollution…
• Primary Treatment
• Primary treatment is used to remove suspended and
floating solids from waste water by physical and
chemical method.
• i. Screening using bar screens and mesh screens floating,
suspended and coarse particles are removed passing sewage
water through it.
• ii. Slit and grit removal: sand and powdered glass called grit
are removed passing water through chamber. Heavier sand
and broken glass settle down by gravity.
• iii. Removal of oil and grease: sewage water is kept in
skimming tank and compressed air is blown through it. Oil and
grease form froth and float on the surface.
Secondary Treatment
• Agriculture
• Mining and Quarrying
• Sewage sludge
• Dredged spoils
• Household
• Demolitions and construction
• Industrial
Soil misuse:
Soil erosion is when top soil is stripped of essential
nutrients need for plant and vegetable growth. When
soil erodes rich top layer called humus removed.
Recycling:
Recycling is extended to industry and municipal
wastes
Process for ferrous and non ferrous, paper, glass and
plastics are developed
Incineration:
Method of disposing solid waste. Waste is burned at
high temp in incinerator machine. Incinerator ash
contains high ratio of heavy metals
Waste Disposal