ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION

Flashcards on Environmental Pollution based on lecture notes.

Pollution

An addition or excessive addition of certain materials to the physical environment (water, air, and lands), making it less fit or unfit for life.

Pollutants

Materials or factors that cause adverse effects on the natural quality of any component of the environment.

Primary Pollutants

Pollutants that persist in the form in which they are added to the environment (e.g., DDT, plastic).

Secondary Pollutants

Pollutants formed by interaction among primary pollutants (e.g., peroxyacetyl nitrate {PAN}).

Quantitative Pollutants

Pollutants that occur in nature and become pollutants when their concentration reaches beyond a threshold level (e.g., carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide).

Qualitative Pollutants

Pollutants that do not occur in nature and are man-made (e.g., fungicides, herbicides, DDT etc.).

Biodegradable Pollutants

Waste products that are degraded by microbial action (e.g., sewage).

Non-biodegradable Pollutants

Pollutants which are not decomposed by microbial action (e.g., plastics, glass, DDT, salts of heavy metals, radioactive substances etc.).

Air Pollution

The contamination of air by the discharge of harmful substances, which can cause health problems, damage the environment, property, and climate change.

Carbon monoxide (CO)

A colorless, odorless gas produced by incomplete burning of carbon-based fuels; lowers the amount of oxygen entering the blood.

Carbon dioxide (CO2)

The principle greenhouse gas emitted as a result of human activities, such as burning of coal, oil, and natural gases.

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC)

Gases released mainly from air-conditioning systems and refrigeration; rise to the stratosphere and lead to a reduction of the ozone layer.

Lead

A pollutant present in petrol, diesel, lead batteries, paints, etc.; affects children in particular, causing nervous system damage and digestive problems.

Ozone

A gas that shields the earth from harmful ultraviolet rays in the upper layers of the atmosphere; at ground level, it is a pollutant with highly toxic effects.

Nitrogen oxide (Nox)

A pollutant that causes smog and acid rain; produced from burning fuels including petrol, diesel, and coal.

Suspended particulate matter (SPM)

Solids in the air in the form of smoke, dust, and vapor that can remain suspended for extended periods, causing haze and respiratory problems.

Sulphur dioxide (SO2)

A gas produced from burning coal, mainly in thermal power plants; a major contributor to smog and acid rain.

Smog

A condition of fog that has soot or smoke in it; photochemical smog results from the interaction of sunlight with certain chemicals in the atmosphere.

Indoor air pollution

The physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of air in the indoor environment within a home, institution, or commercial facility.

Radon

A gas emitted naturally by the soil; confined inside houses with poor ventilation, causing lung cancers.

Fly Ash

A residue produced whenever combustion of solid material takes place, particularly from thermal power plants; can pollute air and water.

Bharat Stage Emission Standards (BS Norms)

Government-set regulations aimed at controlling the release of air pollutants from motor vehicles.

Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM)

A commission in NCR responsible for air quality management, utilizing a Decision Support System (DSS) to capture emissions from various sources.

Environment (Protection) Act, 1986

An Act empowering the Central Government to take measures to prevent and control pollution and establish effective machinery for protecting and improving environmental quality.

Water Pollution

The addition of certain substances to water, such as organic, inorganic, biological, radiological, and heat, which degrades water quality, making it unfit for use.

Point Sources (of water pollution)

Pollution directly attributable to one influence, where pollutants travel directly from source to water.

Diffuse or non-point sources (of water pollution)

Pollution from various ill-defined and diffuse sources that vary spatially and temporally and are difficult to regulate.

Putrescibility

The process of decomposition of organic matter present in water by microorganisms using oxygen.

Oil Spills

One of the most dangerous water pollutants, where oil spills from tankers or leaks from storage tanks contaminate water, decreasing oxygen levels and harming organisms.

Minamata disease

A crippling deformity caused by consumption of fish captured from mercury-contaminated Minamata Bay in Japan.

Blue baby syndrome

A condition called methaemoglobinemia or blue baby syndrome from excess nitrate in drinking water reacts with hemoglobin.

Biological Magnification

The increase in concentration of a substance in the tissues of organisms at successively higher levels in a food chain.

Eutrophication

The enrichment of a water body with nutrients, leading to excessive plant growth and oxygen depletion.

Riparian buffers

A water remediation technique where strips of trees and vegetation are left along streams and shorelines, controlling erosion and keeping water clearer and cooler.

Thermal Pollution

The rise or fall in the temperature of a natural aquatic environment caused by human influence.

Soil

A thin layer of organic and inorganic materials covering the Earth's rocky surface.

Soil Pollution

The addition of substances to the soil, which adversely affect its physical, chemical, and biological properties, reducing its productivity.

Pesticides

Chemicals that include insecticides, fungicides, algicides, rodenticides, and weedicides sprayed in order to improve productivity of agriculture, forestry, and horticulture.

Noise Pollution

An unpleasant noise created by people or machines that can be annoying, distracting, intrusive, and/or physically painful.

Light pollution

Excessive, misdirected, or intrusive artificial lighting that hinders the visibility of starlight, disrupts ecosystems, poses health risks, and results in energy wastage.

Radioactivity

A phenomenon of spontaneous emission of protons (alpha-particles), electrons (beta-particles), and gamma rays (short wave electromagnetic waves) due to disintegration of atomic nuclei of some elements.

Half-life

The time needed for half of its atoms to decay. Half-life of a radio nuclide refers to its period of radioactivity.

Solid Waste

Discarded materials with a waste-like categorization, including garbage, refuse, sludge from treatment plants, and discarded materials from industrial, commercial, and community activities.

Municipal Waste

A solid waste comprised of household waste, construction and demolition debris, sanitation residue, and waste from streets.

Hazardous Waste

Waste considered hazardous due to the presence of toxic substances.

Hospital Waste

Waste generated during the diagnosis, treatment, or immunization of human beings or animals, or in research activities.

Incineration

Treating waste by burning it in large furnaces at high temperature.

Pyrolysis

A process of combustion in absence of oxygen or the material burnt under controlled atmosphere of oxygen.

Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016

Rules regarding solid waste made a mandate for authorities to collect, store, segregate and transport MSW.

E-waste

Discarded and end-of-life electronic products ranging from computers, equipment used in Information and Communication Technology, home appliances, audio and video products.

Bioremediation

The use of microorganisms (bacteria and fungi) to degrade the environmental contaminants into less toxic forms.

Bioventing

The supply of air and nutrients through wells to contaminated soil to stimulate the growth of indigenous bacteria for biodegradation.

Biopiles

A hybrid of landfarming and composting, where engineered cells are constructed as aerated composted piles to treat surface contamination.

Phytoremediation

The use of plants to remove contaminants from soil and water. Types include phytoextraction, phytotransformation, phytostabilization, and phytodegradation.

Acid Rain

Rainfall that has been acidified, formed when oxides of sulfur and nitrogen react with the moisture in the atmosphere, resulting in a pH of less than 5.6.

Wet Deposition

Wet deposition is precipitation that removes gases and particles from the atmosphere

Dry Deposition

The acidity in the atmosphere becomes part of smoke or dust and falls through dry deposition

Water Contamination

The introduction of harmful chemical or biological contaminants into a body of water, degrading its quality and posing risks to aquatic life and human health.

Biomagnification

The process by which certain substances, particularly pollutants and pesticides, become more concentrated in the tissues of organisms at each successive trophic level in a food chain.

Land Contamination

The contamination of soil with harmful substances, leading to degradation, reduced fertility, and potential health risks.

Noise Zones

Regions where the average sound exposure exceeds 70 decibels, leading to potential health risks from prolonged exposure.

Radioactive Contamination

The presence of radioactive materials in the environment, which can result in harmful effects on living organisms.

Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)

The total amount of organic material at a given time; it is used as an indicator of the degree of waste pollution and the effects of waste discharges in a water body.

Industrial Smog

A combination of smoke and fog, mainly produced from the combustion of fossil fuels. It is often associated with industrial areas and can cause respiratory problems.

Designated Best Use

The designation for inland surface water that is used or intended to be used for drinking purposes. It requires more stringent standards for pollutants to ensure safety.

Natural Filters

Areas that include wetlands, floodplains, or other natural water bodies that help filter pollutants and protect water quality.

Integrated Waste Management

A comprehensive approach to managing solid waste which involves reducing waste generation, reusing materials, recycling, and proper disposal methods such as landfilling and incineration.

Data and Electronics Disposal

The removal, storage, and disposal of unwanted digital data and electronics. Essential for environmental sustainability and preventing data breaches.

Ecological Remediation

Any process that uses living organisms, like bacteria and plants, to break down or remove pollutants. Common applications include cleaning up oil spills and treating wastewater.

Sustainable Resource Management

The policy-driven approach of ensuring resources are used efficiently and sustainably to minimize environmental impact and support long-term ecological balance.

Ecological Restoration

The act of restoring degraded, damaged, or destroyed ecosystems through active human intervention. Actions include reforestation, wetland restoration, and reintroduction of native species.

Risk Assessment and Mitigation

Activities designed to identify, assess, and mitigate potential risks to human health and the environment. Crucial for informed decision-making and the prevention of negative consequences.

Environmental Toxicology

The field of studying the effects of environmental contaminants on living organisms and ecosystems. Aids in understanding pollution impacts and developing effective management strategies.

The process of cleaning up chemical spills or contamination to protect ecosystems and human health. Usually involves containment

pH Value

A measure of the acidity or alkalinity of water-soluble substances. It is measured on a scale from 0 to 14, with values below 7 indicating acidity and values above 7 indicating alkalinity, and 7 being neutral.

Harmful Algal Blooms Effects

Harmful algal blooms are accelerated by warmer waters, nutrient-rich runoff, and pollution. Some algae produce toxins that can harm aquatic animals and humans.

Water Source Pollution

The contamination of surface water and groundwater from various sources, including industrial discharge, agricultural runoff, and residential waste. It can introduce harmful chemicals and pathogens, affecting water quality and ecosystems.

Phytoremediation Techniques

The process of using plants to stabilize or remove contaminants from soil, water, or sediments. It includes phytoextraction, phytodegradation, phytostabilization, and rhizofiltration.

Brownfield Management

The management of contaminated sites to prevent or reduce the exposure of humans, animals, or ecosystems to harmful substances. Strategies include containment, treatment, and in-situ remediation.

Circular Economy

An economic strategy of organizing production and distribution that reduces the environmental impact of waste generation. It focuses on designing products that can be easily disassembled, repaired, or recycled.

The process of collecting and processing materials that would otherwise be thrown away as trash and turning them into new products. Reduces the need