Environmental Pollution

Definition of Pollution

  • Alteration of biological, thermal, physical, or radioactive properties of any medium
  • Creates hazards to human health and other living species (Source: Royston & Roberts, 2006)

Environmental Health Paradigm

  • Movement of contaminants from source to ultimate receptor (e.g., air, water, soil)
  • Exposure through ingestion, inhalation, skin absorption
  • Key for preventive medicine and environmental health

Types of Pollutants

  • Physical: Heat, noise
  • Chemical: Acids, toxic gases
  • Biological: Pathogenic organisms
  • Geochemical: Sediments, dust

Pollution Pathway

  • How pollutants move from source to human body
  • Primary recipients: water, air, soil
  • Exposure through contaminated food/water and air
  • Processes that reduce pollutant effects: dispersion, dilution, deposition, degradation

Sources of Pollution

  1. Point Source Pollution: Identifiable sources (e.g., factory smoke, oil spills)
  2. Non-point Source Pollution: Indirect sources, often widespread (e.g., agriculture, urban runoff)

Air Pollution

  • Air Pollutants: Substances emitted into the air at unnatural concentrations
  • Categories: primary (directly emitted), secondary (formed by reactions)
  • Health impacts include reduction in life expectancy due to PM2.5 exposure (5.3 years for Indians)

Air Quality Monitoring in India (NAMP)

  • Network of 804 stations across 344 cities
  • Monitors pollutants: SO2, NO2, PM10, PM2.5
  • Aims: assess air quality trends and standards compliance

Air Quality Index (AQI)

  • Scale measuring air quality impacts:
    • Good (0-50): Minimal impact
    • Satisfactory (51-100): Minor discomfort
    • Moderate (101-200): Health warnings for sensitive groups
    • Poor (201-300): Breathing discomfort for sensitive groups
    • Very Poor (301-400): Serious health effects for all, even healthy individuals
    • Severe (401-500): Health alert for everyone

Water Pollution

  • 1 billion people lack access to clean water
  • Major pollutants: Biological, inorganic, organic from anthropogenic and natural sources
  • Key parameters: pH, TDS, turbidity, chloride, hardness, sulphates, arsenic, coliform bacteria

Soil Pollution

  • Causes: industrial waste, agricultural chemicals, municipal waste
  • Contaminants include heavy metals and agricultural runoff
  • Remedies: biological, chemical, and physical treatment methods

Noise Pollution

  • Common sources: transportation systems, industrial activities, recreational activities
  • Health impacts include anxiety, depression, diabetes, and various cancers
  • Measured in decibels (dB), with established exposure limits

Biomedical Waste Management

  • Types: infectious, sharps, chemical, pharmaceutical, radioactive
  • Health risks: chemical injuries, contamination of water, air pollution from incinerators
  • Management steps include segregation, storage, transportation, treatment.