DESCRIPTIVE - Essay FOR SBI PO 2017
Essay -
Environmental Pollution
Overview
o
Define environmental pollution.
o
Effects of environmental pollution on humans and animals.
o
Air pollution and its prevention and control.
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Noise pollution and the steps to minimise it.
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Water pollution and some measures to control it.
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Radioactive pollution and number of ways to control it.
o
Initiatives taken by the government to control pollution.
One of the biggest menace to the human race
on this planet today is the environment pollution. It is increasing with every
passing year. It is an issue that troubles us economically, physically and
socially. The contamination of the environment is also being linked to some of
the fatal diseases. The environmental problem that is worsening with each day
needs to be addressed so that its harmful effects on humans as well as the
planet can be rectified.
The effects of environmental pollution on humans are mainly physical, but can
also turn into neuro-affections in the long term. The best-known troubles are
respiratory, in the form of allergies, asthma, irritation of the eyes and nasal
passages or other forms of respiratory infections. Environmental pollution also
affects animals by causing harm to their living environment, making it toxic
for them to live in. Acid rains can change the composition of rivers and seas,
making them toxic for fishes, an important quantity of ozone in the lower parts
of the atmosphere can cause lung problems to all animals.
In short, environmental pollution, almost exclusively created by human
activities, has a negative effect on the ecosystem, destroying crucial layers
of it and causing an even more negative effect on the upper layers. Problems
like ozone depletion, global warming, greenhouse effect, melting of glaciers
etc have arisen due to pollution. Environmental pollution consists of five
basic types of pollution namely; Air, Noise, Water, Soil and Radioactive
Pollution etc.
Air Pollution
Air pollution is a gas (or a liquid or solid
dispersed through-ordinary air) released in a big enough quantity to harm the
health of people or other animals, kill plants or stop them to growing
properly. Air pollution may be defined as the presence of any solid, liquid or
gaseous substance including noise and radioactive radiation in the atmosphere
in such concentration that may be directly and indirectly injurious to humans
or other living organisms, plants, property or interferes with the normal
environmental processes. Air pollution is a result of industrial and certain
domestic activity. An ever increasing use of fossil fuels in power plants,
industries, transportation, mining, construction of buildings etc; had led to
air pollution. Some major diseases caused by air pollution are bronchitis,
asthma, lung cancer, tuberculosis and pneumonia.
Prevention and control measures of air pollution are
o Better designed equipment and smokeless fuels should be used in
homes and industries
o Renewable and non-polluting sources of energy like solar energy,
wind energy, etc should be used
o Tall chimneys should be installed in factories
o More trees should be planted along roadsides and houses.
Noise Pollution
Noise is one of the most pervasive
pollutant. Noise by definition is, 'Sound without value' or 'Any noise that is
unwanted by the recipient'. Noise in industries such as stone cutting and
crusing, steel forgings, loudspeakers, shouting by hawkers selling their wares,
movement of heavy transport vehicles, railways and airports leads to irritation
and an increased blood pressure, loss of temper, decrease in work efficiency,
loss of hearing which may be first temporary but can become permanent in the
noise stress continues. Noise level is measured in terms of decibels
(dB).
Noise pollution is a growing problem. All
human activities contribute to noise pollution to varying extent. Sources of
noise pollution are many and may be located indoors or outdoors. Indoor sources
include noise produced by radio, television, generators, electric fans, air
coolers, air conditioners, different home appliances and family
conflicts.
Outdoor sources of noise pollution include
indiscriminate use of loudspeakers, industrial activities, automobiles, rail
traffic, aeroplanes and activities such as those at market place, religious,
social, and cultural functions, sports and political rallies. Noise pollution
is highly annoying and irritating. Noise disturbs sleep, causes hypertensions
(high blood pressure), emotional problems such as aggression, mental depression
and annoyance. Noise pollution adversely affects efficiency and performance of
individuals.
Following steps can be taken to control or minimise noise pollution
o Road traffic noise can be reduced by better designing and proper
maintenance of vehicles.
o Industrial noises can be reduced by sound proofing equipment
like generators and areas producing lot of noise.
o Power tools, very loud music and land movers, public functions
using loudspeakers, etc should not be permitted at night
o Use of horns, alarms, refrigeration units, etc is to be
restricted. Use of fire crackers which are noisy and cause air pollution should
be restricted.
o A green belt of trees is an efficient noise absorber.
o A loud speaker or a public address system shall not be used at
night (between 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.) except in closed premises for
communication within e.g. auditoriums, conference rooms, community halls and
banquet halls.
o A person may, if the noise level exceeds the ambient noise
standards by 10 dB(A) or more given in the corresponding columns against any
area/zone, make a complain to the authority.
Water Pollution
Water pollution is one of the most serious
environmental problems. Water pollution is caused by a variety of human
activities such as industrial, agricultural and domestic. Agricultural run off
laden with excess fertilizers and pesticides, industrial effluents with toxic
substances and sewage water with human and animal wastes pollute our water
thoroughly. Natural sources of pollution of water are soil erosion, leaching of
minerals from rocks and decaying of organic matter.
Water pollution is the major source of water
born diseases and other health problems. Sediments brought by runoff water from
agricultural fields and discharge of untreated or partially treated sewage and
industrial effluents, disposal of fly ash or solid waste into or close to a
water body cause severe problems of water pollution. Increased turbidity of
water because of sediments reduces penetration of light in water that reduces
photosynthesis by aquatic plants.
The following measures can be adopted to
control water pollution
o The water requirement should be minimised by altering the
techniques involved.
o Water should be reused with or without treatment.
o Recycling of water after treatment should be practiced to the
maximum extent possible.
o The quantity of waste water discharge should be minimised.
Soil Pollution
The next source of environmental pollution
is soil. It is caused by the presence of man-made chemicals and other
alteration in the natural soil. This type of contamination typically arises
from percolation of contaminated surface water to subsurface strata, oil and
fuel dumping, direct discharge of industrial wastes to the soil, leaching of
wastes from landfills etc. The most common chemicals involved in soil pollution
are petroleum hydrocarbons, solvents, pesticides, lead and other heavy metals.
Soil pollution is a very dangerous aspect of environment since it affects the
fertility and food production of the area and country.
It is a serious concern which can be called
for improvement by appropriate and moderate use of healthy pesticides to
increase the fertility and quality of soil and thus, reducing the harm. To
control soil pollution, it is essential to stop the use of plastic bags. Sewage
should be treated properly before using as fertilizer and as landfills.
Biomedical waste prior to disposal should be properly treated for removing
hazardous materials. Biomedical waste should be separately collected and
incinerated in proper incinerators.
Radioactive
Pollution
The radioactive pollution is defined as the
physical pollution of air, water and the other radioactive materials. The
ability of certain materials to emit the proton, gamma rays and electrons by
their nuclei is known as the radioactive. The protons are known as the alpha
particle and the electrons are also known as the beta particle. Those materials
are known as the radioactive elements. The environmental radiations can be from
different sources and can be natural or man-made.
The natural radiations are also known as the
background radiations. In this, the cosmic rays are involved and reach the surface
of Earth from space. It includes the radioactive elements like radium.,
uranium, thorium, radon, potassium and carbon. These occur in the rock, soil
and water. The man-made radiations include the mining and refining of plutonium
and thorium. This production and explosion of nuclear weapons include the
nuclear fuels, power plants and radioactive isotopes.
Low levels of radiation exposure on a small
portion of the body may just affect the cell membranes and cause mild skin
irritation. Other immediate effects of short span exposure of nuclear radiation
are nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, loss of hair and nails, bruises owing to
subcutaneous bleeding etc. High radiation exposures have much acute toxicity
and can quickly kill the victim. The victim declines in vitality and dies from
anaemia, infection and haemorrhage.
Radioactive pollution can be controlled by
number of ways. It includes the stoppage of leakage from the radioactive
materials including the nuclear reactors, industries and laboratories. The
power plants must follow the safe instructions. The protective garments must be
worn by the workers who work in the nuclear plants.
Governmental
Initiatives to Control Pollution
The Government of India has been a keen
observer of the effects on the environment and has been in the forefront to
help and protect it. The Ministry of Environment and Forests has been actively
involved in monitoring and formulating ways to preserve Indians natural beauty
and maintain a healthy ecological balance. From the promotion of organic
farming to the implementation of stringent industrial waste treatment rules,
the government has provided facilities and policies to protect our
nature.
Many initiatives have been taken by
Government at international and national level both to combat environmental
pollution. The UN Conference on Human Environment (UNEP) was convened to study
the profound changes in the relationship between man and his environments in
the wake of modern scientific and technological development.
In last few years, the Indian Government has taken various measures in response
to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
'National Action Plan on climate Change' and low Carbon Strategies for
Inclusive Growth' have been initiated.
The World Health Organisation also set-up an international network for the
monitoring and study of air pollution on a global scale and for devising
possible remedies. India
has been working on the issue of its Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions for several
years now. The estimated average, per capita GHG emissions of India in 2020
are expected to be well below those of the developed countries.
Never the less, India is acutely conscious of the need to address the issue of
climate change and hence, the Indian Government has a robust National Action
Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) in place which is a mix of both mitigation and
adaptation measures.
India
has under taken several initiatives to combat climate change under the areas of
Science and Research, Policy Development, Policy Implementation, International
Co-operation and Forestry. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has taken
several positive steps to minimise pollution of the environment. The Government
of India has passed some important Environmental Laws, viz., Water (Prevention
and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and Air (Prevention and Control of
Pollution) Act, 1981.
The present Government of India took six crucial eco-friendly steps to control
environmental pollution. These steps included `Swachh Bharat Abhiyan', 'Clean
Ganga Mission', 'National Air Quality Index (NAQI)', `Toilets before Temples',
'Mount Everest Ascent', i.e., Mount Everest Cleaning drive, 'Water
Conservation' etc.
The past decade has witnessed a remarkable shift in government policy from emphasis
on pollution control to pollution prevention in order to tackle the
environmental problem posed by the industry. Concerted efforts have been made
by the government in this direction.
Now, the responsibility lies with the industry, equipment manufacturers,
academic and consultancy organisations, national and international
organisations etc., to work in line with the Government's policy to create a
healthy and competitive atmosphere for sustainable industrial development in
the counter.
Difficult Words with Meanings :
o Contamination make (something)
impure by exposure to or addition of a poisonous or polluting substance
o Respiratory relating to
breathing
o Pervasive spreading widely
throughout an area or a group of people
o Turbidity cloudy or muddy; not
clear
o Percolation the slow movement of
water through the pores in soil or permeable rock
o Strata a level of people or
population with reference to social position etc
o Incinerated destroy by burning;
8. Subcutaneous situated or applied under the skin
o Devising plan or invent (a
complex procedure, system) by careful thought
