Pollution

is the effects by different agents which results in the damage of environment.

can be classified according to their nature and decomposition levels. The article explains the
classification of pollutants in detail.
is defined as the presence of impurities or pollutant substances in sufficient concentration
levels, causing harmful effects on human beings, animals, plant life or material resources when
exposed for a sufficient duration of time, thus reducing the quality of life in the environment.
is the effect of undesirable changes in our surroundings that have harmful effects on plants,
animals and human beings. Pollutants include solid, liquid or gaseous substances present in
greater than natural abundance, produce due to human activity, which have a determined
effect on our environment.

On the Basis of Nature

Depending upon the nature of the pollutants and their interaction with environment process, the
pollution caused by different agents can be classified into the following categories:

1. Pollution Caused by Solid Wastes

The solid wastes includes the pollutants like garbage, rubbish, ashes, large wastes formed due to
demolition and construction processes, dead animals wastes, agricultural wastes, etc.

2. Pollution Caused by Liquid Wastes

Oxygen cycle is nicely operated in aquatic system maintaining ecological balance. That is, the
dissolved oxygen is used by aquatic living organisms for their respiration and in return, these
liberate carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide molecules are again used by green plants and algae in
the process of photosynthesis. During photosynthesis, oxygen is again liberated to water which
remains in dissolved state. However, if some organic matter (food for bacteria) enters the water
course, then bacteria oxidize these materials consuming oxygen from water. At such a condition,
if the process of re-oxygenation is slower than the process of deoxygenation, then the river will
be devoid of life sustaining dissolved oxygen and aquatic living organisms will die.

The most important source of organic pollutants is sewage which contains faecal matter, urine,
kitchen washing and oil washings. Sewage also contains a large number of pathogenic and
harmless bacteria. The strength of organic waste material of sewage is measured in terms of
Bio-chemical Oxygen Demand (B.O.D). The value is expressed in terms of mg of oxygen per liter
of waste for 5 days at 20C. If the volume of B.O.D. is below 1500mg per liter, the sewage is
termed as weak waste, if it is 4000mg per liter, it is medium and above this value it is termed as
strong waste. However, if liquid industrial wastes containing acids, alkalis and poisonous
substances enter the river, the aquatic life is affected and self-purification system of water is
impaired. Pesticides and herbicides which enter water may kill some organisms or accumulate in
fishes which, when consumed by man, pass on the chemicals giving rise to cumulative
poisoning.
3. Pollution Caused by Gaseous Wastes
The gaseous wastes include Carbon monoxide (CO), Sulfur dioxide (SO2), Nitrogen dioxide
(NO2), Ozone (O3) and smog gases (composed of a complex mixture of photochemical oxidation
products of hydrocarbons. These gases are more abundant in the atmosphere of industrial
cities.

4. Pollution from Waste without Weight

This type of pollution is also known as pollution by energy waste; Wastes without weight may be
of the following types:

i. Radio-active Substance
Despite of all possible precautions in the functioning and maintenance of nuclear
reactors, it is seen that minute quantity of radio-active waste escapes out into the
environment. From the mining operation of the uranium to the use and final disposal of
wastes from the reactor, radio-active materials continuously escape out into the
environment. Besides, a lot of radio-active wastes enter into environment during the
nuclear tests.
ii. Heat
A large quantity of waste heat energy is dissipated into environment by the way of hot
liquid streams or hot gases released by industries and automobiles.

iii. Noise
The unwanted sound is known as noise. This sources of noise for the general public are
the machines in the industry, traffic noise, indiscriminate use of transistor, radios,
public address systems, etc.

On the Basis of Decomposition

1. Non-Degradable Pollutants
These are not broken down by the natural processes like action of microbes. Most of these
pollutants get accumulated in the environment and also get biologically magnified as these
moves along the food chains in an under-composed state. These may also react with other
compounds in the environment to produce toxins. These can be further sub-divided into two
more classes:

i. Waste e.g., glass, plastic, phenolics, aluminium cans, etc.

ii. Poisons e.g., radio-active substances, pesticides, smog gases, heavy metals like mercury, lead
and their salts.
2. Degradable Pollutants or Bio-degradable Pollutant
These are natural organic substances which can be decomposed, removed or consumed and
thus, reduced to acceptable levels either by natural processes like biological or microbial action
or by some engineered systems, like sewage treatment plants. The degradable pollutants can be
further sub-divided into two categories:

i. Rapidly Degradable or Non-Persistent Pollutant

The degradation of these pollutants is very faster process. For example, the
decomposition of sewage and wastes of animals and plants is a faster process. The
domestic sewage can be rapidly decomposed by natural processes. However, the
problems become complicated when the input into environment get exceeded of the
decomposition or dispersal capacity.

ii. Slowly Degradable or Persistent Pollutant

The degradation of these pollutants is a very slower process. It seems as if the amount
of pollutant remains unchanged with time. For example, degradation of synthetic
compounds and radio-active elements like Iodine 137, Strontium 90 or Plutonium 239
takes a longer period of time.

The nature and concentration of a pollutant determine the severity of its detrimental effects on
human health. Impurities released directly from the source of origin are known as primary
pollutants, for example, CO, SO2, NO. When contaminants like HC, NO, O3, combine in the
atmosphere (moisture, sunlight) to form new products like PAN (peroxy acetyl nitrate),
petrochemical smog, formaldehyde, which are known as secondary pollutants.
From an ecological perspective, pollutants can be classified as degradable, slowly degradable
and non-degradable. The Degradable or called as non-persistent pollutants can be rapidly
broken down by natural process. For example domestic sewage, discarded vegetables, Slowly-
degradable or persistent pollutants are pollutants that remain in the environment for many
years in an unchanged condition and take decades or longer to degrade.
For example, DDT (pesticides) and most plastics. The Non-degradable pollutants cannot be
degraded by natural process. Once they are released into the environment they are difficult to
eradicate and continue to accumulate: For example, toxic elements like lead or mercury, and
nuclear wastes.
Causes:
The ultimate cause of pollution is human activity itself. Pollution is a human contribution to
nature. Human activities mainly include: industries for various human needs both directly and indirectly,
agriculture for food production and industrial needs, health care for health of human beings and
animals, transport for mobility of human beings, dwelling for settlement in city or villages, energy for
various direct human and industrial needs.