Environmental Problems

and Solutions

Environmental Pollution and Its

Effects

Environmental Pollution and Its

Effects
One of the greatest problems that the world is
facing today is that of environmental pollution
Increasing with every passing year and
causing grave and irreparable damage to the
earth.
Environmental pollution consists of five basic
types of pollution, namely, air, water, soil,
noise and light.

Air pollution

Air pollution
Air pollution is by far the most harmful
form of pollution in our environment.
Air pollution is cause by the injurious
smoke emitted by cars, buses, trucks,
trains, and factories, namely sulphur
dioxide, carbon monoxide and
nitrogen oxides.

 Even smoke from burning leaves and cigarettes

are harmful to the environment causing a lot of
damage to man and the atmosphere.
Evidence of increasing air pollution is seen in
lung cancer, asthma, allergies, and various
breathing problems along with severe and
irreparable damage to flora and fauna.
Even the most natural phenomenon of
migratory birds has been hampered, with
severe air pollution preventing them from
reaching their seasonal metropolitan
destinations of centuries.

Water pollution

Water pollution
Of course water is very important for
our society, and if we start saving it.
We will pay less because we consume
less and of course we will keep our
environment clean.
After we use water, it is not the same as
it was before. It is polluted

 Water pollution caused industrial waste

products released into lakes, rivers, and
other water bodies, has made marine
life no longer hospitable.
Humans pollute water with large scale
disposal of garbage, flowers, ashes and
other household waste.
Acid rain further adds to water pollution
in the water.

 In many rural areas one can still find

people bathing and cooking in the same
water, making it incredibly filthy.
In addition to these, thermal pollution and
the depletion of dissolved oxygen
aggravate the already worsened condition
of the water bodies.
Water pollution can also indirectly occur as
an offshoot of soil pollution through
surface runoff and leaching to groundwater.

Noise pollution

Noise pollution
Noise pollution, soil pollution and
light pollution too are the damaging
the environment at an alarming rate.
Noise pollution include aircraft noise,
noise of cars, buses, and trucks,
vehicle horns, loudspeakers.

 Industry noise, as well as highintensity sonar effects which are

extremely harmful for the
environment.
Maximum noise pollution occurs due
to one of modern sciences best
discoveries the motor vehicle,
which is responsible for about ninety
percent of all unwanted noise
worldwide.

Here are some typical sound levels

measured infollowing
surroundings, arranged in order of
level of sound:
Library - 35 dB
Office - 60- 65
Normal traffic noise 70 - 80 dB
Airport (plane take off) - 120 dB

Soil pollution

Soil pollution
Soil pollution, which can also be called
soil contamination, is a result of acid rain,
polluted water, fertilizers etc., which
leads to bad crops.
Soil contamination occurs when chemicals
are released by spill or underground
storage tank leakage which releases
heavy contaminants into the soil.
These may include hydrocarbons, heavy
metals, MTBE, herbicides, pesticides and
chlorinated hydrocarbons.

Light Pollution

Light Pollution
Light Pollution includes light trespass, overillumination and astronomical interference.
Effects on animals: Light pollution stops
migrating birds of having any way of seeing
the moon and stars.
They use them to navigate the direction of
their migration, therefore not being able to
migrate to the correct place.

 Also, sea turtles do not come to shore and nest

as often, because they are afraid of the lights.
It also affects animals eyes as a flash of
camera weakens the eyesight of animals.
Effects on humans: Glare causes sleep
problems in humans.
Too much light in an apartment shining in from
a nearby billboard will disturb their sleep.

 Also science is being affected by light

pollution.
Astronomers have no way of
observing, or making discoveries
with too much light to block the night
sky.
It also causes headache as when
light directly falls into our eyes and
affects the sensory nerves.

 Light pollution is the intrusion of

unwanted or unneeded artificial light
into a man-made or natural
environment.
A variety of somewhat separate
phenomena comprise the overall
issue of pollution due to excess
artificial light:

Domestic Pollution

Domestic Pollution

At a domestic level, exposure to

smoke while cooking can be curtailed
by the adoption of cleaner fuels,
improved stoves, better ventilation
and the use of biogas.
The choice of the correct species of
tree as fuel.

 For example, Acacia nilotica (babul)

and Casuarinas, produces less smoke
as compared to species like mango
and neem.
Utilization of charcoal is relatively
safer than burning firewood.
Utilization of smokeless stoves will
reduce exposure to smoke.

Automobile Pollution

Regular tests for automobile emissions

should be made compulsory.
Environmental groups should pressurize
state governments to bring in this
legislation.
Non-leaded fuel alone should be sold.
Environmental groups must get together to
pressurize the government.

 To make automobile manufacturers

modify their designs to suit nonleaded fuel and stop the sale of
leaded fuel.
People should be encouraged to
share their vehicles or use public
transport.
This would mean lesser traffic on the
road, and thus, lesser pollution.

Industrial Pollution

Industrial Pollution

Small pressure groups should be

formed to influence industries to install
filters, electrostatic precipitators,
scrubbers, etc., to control atmospheric
pollution.
Education is the most important
solution

 Plan campaigns in schools and

colleges on simple issues such as the
ill-effects of smoking.
substitutes for domestic fuel
consumption such as smokeless
chulhas, etc.
Mobilize your immediate locality to
protest against local polluting
industries.

Health Effects of Pollution

The solution

Group solution

Group solution
There are now several groups that
are trying to prevent light pollution.
Light pollution first made news in
1964, when an observatory was
specially placed just to avoid light
pollution.

 However, it wasnt brought to the

attention of most people until June 6,
2002.
When the Czech Republic passed the
worlds first light pollution law.
Since then, light pollution is slowly
being recognized by the general
public as a major problem.

Individual solution
You can lower the amount of light
pollution by having lights off when
they are not needed.
You can also shield yourself from this
pollution by putting curtains on a
window facing the street or any other
disturbing light source.

Environmental
Protection

Environmental Protection

It is now time to join hands across the globe

to protect and preserve our environment.
Thereby safeguard human health along with
the natural environment: air, water, and
land. We need to preserve our wetlands, our
rainforests, our farmlands and arctic zones.
And we need to save the endangered
species.

Greenhouse Effect

Greenhouse Effect

The Greenhouse effect is the rise in the

temperature of the Earths
atmosphere.
Due to certain gases like, methane,
water vapour, nitrous oxide and carbon
dioxide, which trap the energy and
heat from the sun.

 Without these gasses, the heat would

escape reducing the temperature of
the atmosphere.
These gases are commonly known as
Greenhouse gases, because they
help to maintain the Earths average
temperature.
Simply put, it is a natural process
which make the Earths atmosphere
just right for life forms to flourish.

Greenhouse Gases

Greenhouse Gases

Carbon dioxide () is one of the

greenhouse gases. It consists of one
carbon atom with an oxygen atom
bonded to each side.
When its atoms are bonded tightly
together, the carbon dioxide molecule
can absorb infrared radiation and the
molecule starts to vibrate.

 Eventually, the vibrating molecule

will emit the radiation again, and it
will likely be absorbed by yet another
greenhouse gas molecule.
This absorption-emission-absorption
cycle serves to keep the heat near
the surface, effectively insulating the
surface from the cold of space.

Try combining driving with

alternative modes of transportation
Carpool.
Walk or ride a bicycle.
Shop by phone or mail.
Ride public transit.
Telecommute.

Driving smart keeps pollution at a

minimum

Accelerate gradually.
Use cruise control on the highway.
Obey the speed limit.
Combine your errands into one trip.
Keep your car tuned and support the
smog check program.
Don't top off at the gas pumps.
Replace your car's air filter.
Keep your tires properly inflated.

Saving the Environment

Saving the Environment

Saving the environment is not an issue

anymore.
It is a survival truth. Individuals,
organizations and governments need to
come together.
And join hands to protect what is left of our
planet so that the future is not wiped out
before its time for curtain call.

Global Warming

Global Warming On The Rise

Global warming is rapid increase in the

temperature of earth's atmosphere and
oceans in the past few years.
The negative effects of Global warming
are heat waves, unusual warm weather,
ocean warming, rise in sea level, and
coastal flooding, warming of

 Arctic and Antarctic zones, changes

in the pattern and amount of
precipitation.
Species extinction and melting of the
glaciers which have proven to be
extremely dangerous.

Pollution and Global

Warming