IMPACT OF ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION

Pollution – Definition
Any undesirable change in physical , chemical
or biological characteristics of air , land , water

Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into

an environment that causes instability, disorder,
harm or discomfort to the ecosystem i.e.
physical systems or living organisms.
Pollution can take the form of chemical
substances or energy, such as noise, heat, or
light. ...
Pollution

Air Pollution

Water Pollution

Soil Pollution

Waste production
 AIR POLLUTION

Sources

 Combustion of fuel (natural gas, petroleum, coal and

wood)
 Industrial process
 Natural process (Volcanic)
 Major Air Pollutants: Problems
• Sulfur dioxide - acid rain, health damage,
visibility reduction
• Nitrogen oxides - acid rain, eutrophication,
growth of weedy species
• Carbon monoxide - inhibited respiration
• Lead and mercury - neurological damage
• Chlorofluorocarbons - ozone depletion
• Particulate matter - lung damage, cancer
• Volatile organic compounds – (isoprenes,
terpenes, methane, & benzene,
chloroform, etc) oxidized to CO,
CO2 in the atmosphere; carcinogens?
5
 Environmental Health

Air pollution
 What is air pollution

The result of emission into the air of

hazardous substances at a rate that
exceeds the capacity of natural
processes in the atmosphere to
convert, deposit, or dilute them…
 Factors that affect air pollution
• Emissions (traffic, industrial, domestic)
• Geography (terrain)
• Weather conditions (rain, winds, humidity)
• Season
• Time of day
• Population density
• Indoor vs outdoor
 Types of air pollution
 Aerosols  Gases
– Particulates solid phase COx
SOx
• Dust
NOx
• Ash
• Fumes
– Solid and liquid
• Smoke (from combustion)
• Coastal aerosols
– Liquid
– Aggregate gases (sulfate, nitrate)
Six primary or “criteria” air pollutants

• Carbon monoxide (CO)

• Ozone (O3)
• Nitrogen dioxide (NO2)
• Sulfur oxides (SOx)
• PM2.5 and PM10
• Lead (Pb)
Sources of combustion
• Tobacco
• Power plants
• Incinerators
• Automobiles
• Industry
 Diesel pollutants
• Particulate matter
– C + PAHs + N-aromatics
• Gases
– NOx, CO, SOx
• VOCs
– formaldehyde, acrolein, aldehydes

• Respiratory inflammation
• Cytotoxicity to airway cells
 Outdoor air pollution

Beijing

Delhi
 Outdoor air pollution

Santiago

Mexico City
 Indoor pollutants
• Non-specific symptoms
• Household vs work space
• Sick building syndrome (20% exposed)
– Cigarette smoke, combustion products
– Organic off gasing (glue, fabrics, furnishings)
– Biological agents (infections, allergens)
– Additional factors (stress, fatigue, diet,
alcohol)
Indoor air pollution
Frazier fir stand on Mount Mitchell in the Appalachian Mountains
of North Carolina

Acid Rainfall affects:

Plants - directly
(weakens or kills
plants)

Plants - indirectly
(lower soil nutrients,
insects attack weak trees)

Soils - directly
(leaching of base
cations
eg, Ca & Mg)

18
19
Air Pollutants and its impact on human
health
Particulate Matter
Dust and smoke particles cause irritation of the
respiratory tract and produce bronchitis, asthma
and lung diseases.
Dust and smoke function as nuclei for
condensation of water vapors and produce smog
which attract chemicals like SO2, H2S, NO2,etc.
Smog not only reduce visibility but is also harmful
due to its contained chemicals.
SMOG

Smog is the combination of smoke and fog.

It is a man made air pollutant in urban
areas. The term smog was coined by
H.A.Des Voeux
 Methane Carbon 50%
Carbon Dioxide
Earth Dioxide AEarth Methane 18%
Nitrous oxide Chlorofluoroc 14%
arbons
Ozone
This natural balance may be Ozone 12%
Green house gases in natural
condition insulates the earth against distorted by Green House Nitrous oxide 06%
extreme of temperature by limiting Effect as gases such as
carbon dioxide have built up Contribution of different gases
both incoming solar radiation &
in the atmosphere trapping to cause green house effect
escape of reradiated heat in to
space. more heat

Some reradiated Less reradiated

sun sun heat escapes in
heat escapes in
to space to space
More reradiated
Infra-red Some reradiated heat reflected
radiation heat reflected back to earth
back to earth Surface
Surface
Temperature Temperature
Atmosphere
normal Atmosphere increases
 Ultraviolet rays
from Sun

Chlorofluorocarbons
The Ozone layer in
are entering in to
stratosphere atmosphere releasing
blocks these chlorine. The chlorine
harmful UV rays than break down the
ozone

Oxygen
ozone

hole in
Ozone layer

chlorine

The chlorine released from CFCs break

down the ozone molecule. More ultraviolet radiations are reaching in to earths
surface as there is a whole in ozone layer.
 Types of Smog

Photochemical Smog
Los Angeles Smog

 Photochemically- produced

 Associated with motor vehicle emissions

 Brown in color
“Los Angeles” Smog
Los Angeles Smog: driven by the photochemistry
of the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and
oxygenated nitrogen species (NOx) contained in
exhaust from combustion engines.
Photochemical smog is air saturated with ozone,
VOCs and aerosol particles.
Industrial smog

The gray air in industrial cities in cold winter

areas, caused from burning fossil fuel.

Industrial smog is in the forms of dust, smoke,

soot, ashes, asbestos, oil, lead, heavy metals,
and sulfur oxides.

In 1952, industrial smog held in place by a

thermal inversion caused the 4,000 deaths in
London.
DUSTS (Pneumoconiosis)
Inorganic Dust
Coal Dust - Anthracosis
Silica - Silicosis
Asbestos - Asbestosis
Iron - Siderosis
Organic Dusts
Cane Fiber - Bagassosis
(Bronchi gets affected)

Cotton dust - Byssinosis

(In Textile industries)
Tobacco - Tobaccosis, Lung
Cancer
Grain Dust - Farmer’s Lungs
Coal Dust - Anthracosis
Silica - Silicosis
 Asbestos - Asbestosis

Iron- Siderosis

The iris has the " rusty "

appearance that results
from siderosis.
 Pneumoconiosis

A disease of the lungs

characterized by
fibrosis and caused by the
chronic
inhalation of mineral dusts,
especially silica
and asbestos. When
Insoluble Inorganic Material
(like
silica and asbestos) enters
the lungs, they stay in the
lungs and cause
inflammation and disease
 Oxides of Nitrogen
- Brochiolitis

They cause eye irritation

and respiratory trouble.

They have mutagenic

properties
Ozone - Broncho constriction
Hydrocarbons – Lung Cancer
 Sulphur dioxide –
COPD,Asthma

COPD - diseases of the

lungs in which the
airways become
narrowed
Grain Dust-Farmer’s Lungs
Carbon Monoxide
 It is formed by incomplete combustion of carbon
fuels in various industries , motor vehicles,
hearths,etc.
 It causes impairment of judgment and vision,
headache and dizziness.

Sulphur Dioxide
 It is produced in large quantity during smelting of
metallic ores.
 It causes trachial irritation, cough, bronchial spasms.
Chlorine
 It is present in volcanic eruptions and emitted in
processes involving use of chlorinated chemicals.
 It causes eye and respiratory ailments.
 Chlorine rising up in the atmosphere poses danger
to ozone layer.
Water Pollution
Water, Air, Land ….

The solution to
pollution is
dilution.
Key Concepts

 Types, sources, and effects of water

pollutants
 Major pollution problems of surface water

 Major pollution problems of groundwater

 Reduction and prevention of water pollution

 Drinking water quality

Water
makes
us
unique
and
gives
life to
Earth.
What is water pollution?

Any chemical, biological,

or physical change in
water quality that has a
harmful effect on living
organisms or makes
water unsuitable for
desired usage.
What is water pollution?
WHO:
• 3.4 million premature
deaths each year from
waterborne diseases
• 1.9 million from
diarrhea
• U.S. 1.5 million
illnesses
• 1993 Milwaukee
370,000 sick
 Part 6: Water Pollution

Point source pollution - Nonpoint source pollution -

source is from drain pipes, runoff from farm fields and
ditches, sewer outfalls, feedlots, lawns and gardens, golf
factories and power plants - courses, construction sites,
easy to monitor and regulate atmospheric deposits - no specific
location so harder to monitor and
regulate
Types and Results of Water Pollution
• Infectious agents - 25 million deaths a year
• Organic materials - biological oxygen demand (BOD)
increase resulting in oxygen sag
• Plant nutrients - eutrophication, toxic tides
• Metals - mercury and lead poisoning
• Nonmetallic salts - poison seeps and springs
• Acids and bases - ecosystem destabilization
• Organic chemicals - birth defects, cancer
• Sediments - clogged estuaries, death of coral reefs
• Thermal pollution - thermal plume
 Infectious Agents
• Main source of waterborne pathogens is untreated and
improperly treated human waste.
– Animal wastes from feedlots and fields is also an important
source of pathogens.
– In developed countries, sewage treatment plants and
pollution-control devices have greatly reduced pathogens.
– Tests for water quality are done for coliform bacteria
(intestinal bacteria). Such tests are easier and cheaper.
• Escherichia coli (E. coli) is the major coliform bacterium
species
 Basics for Understanding Environmental
Implications of Oxygen-Demanding Wastes
• Water with a Dissolved Oxygen Content (DOC) content > 6
parts per million (ppm) will support desirable aquatic life,
whereas water with < 2 ppm oxygen will support mainly
detritivores and decomposers.
• Oxygen is added to water by diffusion from wind and waves,
and by photosynthesis from green plants, algae, and
cyanobacteria. Oxygen is removed from water by respiration
and oxygen-consuming processes.
• Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) is the amount of
dissolved oxygen consumed by aquatic microorganisms in
respiration.
• When organic wastes are added to rivers, microorganisms
demand oxygen for respiration used in consuming the
increase in food resource. As a result, DOC levels decline
downstream (oxygen sag) from a pollution source as
decomposers metabolize organic waste materials.
Oxygen sag
 Plant Nutrients and Cultural
Eutrophication
• Oligotrophic - Bodies of water
that have clear water and low
biological productivity.
• Eutrophic - Bodies of water that
are rich in organisms and
organic material.
– Eutrophication - Process of
increasing nutrient levels and
biological productivity.
• Cultural Eutrophication -
Increase in biological
productivity and ecosystem
succession caused by
human activities.
 Inorganic Pollutants
• Metals
– Many metals such as mercury, lead, cadmium, and nickel
are highly toxic.
• Highly persistent and tend to bioaccumulate in food chains.
– Lead pipes are a serious source of drinking water pollution.
– Mine drainage and leaching are serious sources of environmental
contamination.

• Nonmetallic Salts
– Many salts that are non-toxic at low concentrations can be mobilized by
irrigation and concentrated by evaporation, reaching levels toxic to
plants and animals.
• Leaching of road salts has had detrimental effect on many ecosystems.

• Acids and Bases

– Often released as by-products of industrial processes.
 Organic Chemicals

• Thousands of natural and synthetic organic

chemicals are used to make pesticides,
plastics, pharmaceuticals, pigments, etc.
• Two most important sources of toxic organic
chemicals in water are:
– Improper disposal of industrial and household
wastes.
– Runoff of pesticides from high-use areas.
• Fields, roadsides, golf courses
 Sediment

• Human activities have accelerated erosion

rates in many areas.
– Cropland erosion contributes about 25 billion
metric tons of suspended solids to world
surfaces each year.
• Sediment can either be beneficial (nourish
floodplains) or harmful (smother aquatic life).
Types of soil erosion
Splash
erosion

Rill erosion

Gully
erosion
Sheet erosion
Figure 8.11
Types, Effects and Sources of Water
Pollution
 Point sources

Refer to Tables 22-1 and

22-2 p. 492 and 493
 Nonpoint sources

Fig. 22-3 p. 494

 Water quality
Point and Nonpoint Sources
NONPOINT SOURCES

Rural homes

Urban streets Cropland

Animal feedlot

Suburban POINT
development SOURCES
Factory

Wastewater
treatment
plant

Fig. 22-4 p. 494

Major Sources of Water Pollution
Agriculture: by far the
leader
• Sediment, fertilizers,
bacteria from livestock,
food processing, salt from
soil irrigation
Industrial: factories and
powerplants
Mining: surface mining
toxics, acids, sediment
Freshwater Stream Pollution
Flowing streams can recover from
moderate level of degradable
water pollution if their flows
are not reduced.
• Natural biodegradation
process
• Does not work if
overloaded or stream flow
reduced
• Does not work against non
biodegradable pollutants
Pollution of Streams
 Oxygen sag curve Factors influencing recovery

Fig. 22-5 p. 496

What factors will influence this oxygen sag curve?

India’s Ganges River
• Holy River (1 million take
daily holy dip)
• 350 million (1/3rd of pop) live
in watershed
• Little sewage treatment
• Used for bathing, drinking etc.
• Bodies (cremated or not)
thrown in river
• Good news is the Indian
government is beginning to
work on problem
Freshwater Lake Pollution
Dilution as a solution in
lakes less effective
• Little vertical mixing
• Little water flow
(flushing)
Makes them more
vulnerable
• Toxins settle
• Kill bottom life
• Atmospheric deposition
• Food chain disruptions
Biomagnification
s of PCBs in an
aquatic food
chain from the
Great Lakes.
Eutrophication of Lakes
Eutrophication: nutrient
enrichment of lakes
mostly from runoff of
plant nutrients (nitrates
and phosphates)
• During hot dry weather can
lead to algae blooms
• Decrease of photosynthesis
• Dying algae then drops DO
levels
• Fish kills, bad odor
Pollution of Lakes
Eutrophication

Fig. 22-7 p. 499

Eutrophication in Lakes
Solutions:
• Advanced sewage
treatment (N, P)
• Household detergents
• Soil conservation
• Remove excess weed
build up
• Pump in oxygen or
freshwater
Section 4: Groundwater

• Why is groundwater pollution a serious

problem?
• What is the extent of the problem?
• What are the solutions?
Groundwater
Groundwater can become
contaminated
• No way to cleanse itself
• Little dilution and
dispersion
• Out of sight pollution
• Prime source for
irrigation and drinking
• REMOVAL of
pollutant difficult
 Groundwater Pollution
• Agricultural products
• Underground storage tanks
• Landfills
• Septic tanks
• Surface
impoundments
Groundwater Pollution:
Causes

Hazardous waste injection well

Pesticides
Coal strip
De-icing Buried gasoline
mine runoff
road salt and solvent tank
Pumping Cesspool
well Gasoline septic tank
station
Waste lagoon Water pumping Sewer
well Landfill
Accidental Leakage from faulty
spills casing

Discharge

Confined aquifer

Groundwater
flow
Fig. 20-11
Prevention is
the most
effective and
cheapest
Groundwater Pollution Prevention

 Monitor aquifers

 Find less hazardous substitutes

 Leak detection systems

 Strictly regulating hazardous waste

disposal
 Store hazardous materials above ground
Section 5 Ocean Pollution

• How much pollution can the oceans tolerate?

• Coastal zones: How does pollution affect
coastal zones?
• What are major sources of ocean pollution and
what is being done?
• Oils spills
Ocean Pollution
Oceans can disperse and
break down large
quantities of degradable
pollution if they are not
overloaded.
• Pollution worst near heavily
populated coastal zones
• Wetlands, estuaries, coral
reefs, mangrove swamps
• 40% of world’s pop. Live
within 62 miles of coast
Ocean Pollution
• Large amounts of untreated
raw sewage (viruses)
• Leaking septic tanks
• Runoff
• Algae blooms from
nutrients
• Dead zones NO DO
• Airborne toxins
• Oil spills
Ocean Pollution

Fig. 22-11 p. 504

Preventing
and reducing
the flow of
pollution from
land and from
streams
emptying into
the ocean is
key to
protecting
oceans
Oil Spills
 Sources: offshore wells, tankers, pipelines
and storage tanks
 Effects: death of organisms, loss of animal
insulation and buoyancy, smothering
 Significant economic impacts
 Mechanical cleanup methods: skimmers and
blotters
 Chemical cleanup methods: coagulants and
dispersing agents
Section 6: Prevention and
Reduction
• How can we reduce surface water pollution:
point and also nonpoint.
• How do sewage treatment plants work?
• How successful has the U.S. been at reducing
water pollution? Clean Water Act
Solutions: Preventing and Reducing
Surface Water Pollution
Nonpoint Sources Point Sources

 Reduce runoff
 Clean Water Act
 Buffer zone
vegetation
 Water Quality Act
 Reduce soil
erosion
 Only apply pesticides and
fertilizers as needed
Nonpoint Sources

Reduce runoff
Nonpoint Sources

Buffer Zones Near Streams

Nonpoint

Prevent soil erosion and only apply

needed pesticides and fertilizers
Point Sources

Most developed countries

use laws to set water
pollution standards.
Federal Water Pollution
Control Act (Clean
Water Act 1972, ’77,
’87)
• Regulates navigable
waterways..streams,
wetlands, rivers, lake
Clean Water Act
• Sets standards for key
pollutants
• Requires permits for
discharge
• Requires sewage treatment
• Require permits for
wetland destruction
• Does not deal with
nonpoint sources well
• Goal All Waterways
fishable and swimable
Technological Approach: Septic
Systems
 Require suitable soils and maintenance

Fig. 22-15 p. 510

Combined sewer
overflow is a
problem in many
older towns
•EPA: 1.8 M to
3.85 M sick from
swimming in
water
contaminated by
sewer overflows
•EPA: $100
billion to fix
Technological Approach: Sewage
Treatment
 Physical and biological treatment

Fig. 22-16 p. 511

Primary: removes 60% of
solids and 30-40%
oxygen demanding
wastes (physically)
Secondary: uses
biological processes to
remove up to 90% of
biodegradables
Tertiary: advanced
techniques only used in
5% of U.S. $$$$
Disinfection: chlorine,
ozone, UV
What is not taken out???
Section 7 Drinking Water

• How is drinking water purified? High tech

way.
• How can we purify drinking water in
developing nations?
• What is the Safe Drinking Water Act?
• Is bottled water a good answer or an expensive
rip-off?
Drinking Water Quality

 Purification of urban drinking water

 Protection from terrorism

 Purification of rural drinking water

 Safe Drinking Water Act

 Maximum contaminant levels (MCLs)

 Bottled water
Purification of urban drinking
water
Surface Water: (like
Delaware River)
• Removed to reservoir to
improve clarity
• Pumped to a treatment
plant to meet drinking
water standards
Groundwater: often does
not need much
treatment
Purification of rural drinking
water
There can be simple ways
to purify water:

• Exposing to heat and UV

rays
• Fine cloths to filter water
• Add small amounts of
chlorine
 What Can You Do?
Water Pollution

• Fertilize garden and yard plants with manure or

compost instead of commercial inorganic fertilizer.

• Minimize your use of pesticides.

• Do not apply fertilizer or pesticides near a body of water.

• Grow or buy organic foods.

• Do not drink bottled water unless tests show that your tap
water is contaminated. Merely refill and reuse plastic
bottles with tap water.

• Compost your food wastes.

• Do not use water fresheners in toilets.

• Do not flush unwanted medicines down the toilet.

• Do not pour pesticides, paints, solvents, oil, antifreeze, or

other products containing harmful chemicals down the drain
or onto the ground.
Nuclear pollution– The source of nuclear pollution are
weapon testing, atomic power plants, recycling plants,
nuclear wastes, etc.
 It causes blood and bone cancer

 It disrupts normal functioning of thyroid, and

consequently produces abnormal growth and metabolism

The consequence of two bomb blasts over

Hiroshima and Nagasaki (JAPAN) still send waves of
tremor in us. Innumerable persons died. The survivors
not only suffered themselves but also passed to their
offspring malignant growth , cancer, congenital
deformities, mental retardation, etc.
Pesticides– They are discharged to the water
body through the agricultural run-off.

Chlorinated Hydrocarbon, organo pesticides and

inorganic pesticides are poisonous and causes
sweating, salivation, nausea, vomiting , diarrhoea
and muscular tremors for the people

Chromium has carcinogenic properties.

Nickel can cause damage to liver and kidney.

Arsenic can cause hyper-pigmentation, Keratosis

and black foot disease
Fluoride Pollution
96 % of fluoride is found in bones and teeth.
Fluorine is essential for the normal mineralization
of bones and formation of dental enamel.

Water resources near granitic rocks containing

more than 2.5 ppm cause Fluorosis The cause
of this diseases mainly due to consumption of
high quantity of fluoride through water, food,
cosmetic like fluoridated tooth paste, drugs
and inhaling air contaminated with fluoride in
industrial environment.
Fluorosis was first detected in India among cattle by the
farmers of Andhra pradesh State during early 1930. The
farmers noticed the inability of the bullocks to walk due to
painfull and stiff joints.
This endemic fluorosis had been identified in total 15
state of the Indian union.
Fluorosis is a clinical condition recognized by Shrott in
1937 .
 NOISE POLLUTION
The term noise is applied to the sound that cause
irritation on hearing of healthy human being.

Sources

 Transport noise--- Originates from road traffic

(vehicular), air craft and rail traffic.
 Industrial noise--- It produced by presses; punch
and stamp machine, pneumatic drills, milling
machines, cutter and routers, dust extractors. etc.
 Domestic noise--- It is generated from domestic
appliance like washing machines, spin dryers, food
mixer, sink waste grinder and vacuum cleaner.
Effects Of Noise Pollution

Hearing damage from noise exposure

Pathological and Physiological disorders

The impact of noise may cause permanent

hearing loss due to the exposure to noise

levels exceeding 90 dB
Land Pollution
 Causes of Land Pollution
• Four Main causes of land pollution
– Construction
– Agriculture
– Domestic waste
– Industrial Waste
 Construction
• Buildings take up resources and land, the trees
are chopped down and used to make buildings
• Takes away from places for animals and other
organisms to live
 Agriculture
• As there are more and more people inhabiting
the earth, food is in higher demand and so
forests are chopped down and turned into
farmland
• In addition, herbicides, pesticides, artificial
fertilizers, animal manure (poop) are washed
into the soil and pollute it
 Domestic Waste
• Tons of domestic waste is dumped every day.
Some waste from homes, offices and
industries can be recycled or burnt in
incinerators
• There is still a lot of garbage, such as
refrigerators and washing machines that are
dumped in landfills simply because they
cannot be reused in anyway, nor recycled
 Industrial Waste
• Plastics factories, chemical plants, oil
refineries, nuclear waste disposal activity,
large animal farms, coal-fired power plants,
metals production factories and other heavy
industry all contribute to land pollution
 Consequences of Land Pollution
• Land pollution exterminates wild life
• Acid rain kills trees and other plants
• The vegetation that provides food and shelter is destroyed
• Land pollution can seriously disrupt the balance of nature,
and, in extreme cases, can cause human fatalities
• Pesticides can damage crops; kill vegetation; and poison
birds, animals, and fish. Most pesticides kill or damage life
forms other than those intended. For example, pesticides
used in an effort to control or destroy undesirable
vegetation and insects often destroy birds and small
animals. Some life forms develop immunity to pesticides
used to destroy them
SOLID WASTE
MANAGEMENT

117
 WHAT IS SOLID WASTE?

• Solid or semi-solid material (including gases and

liquids in containers) which are non soluble in
nature are solid waste.
• It may be hazardous or not and includes
agricultural refuse, demolition waste, industrial
waste, mining residues, municipal garbage, and
sewage sludge.
 SOURCES OF WASTES

•HOUSEHOLDS

•BUSINESS AND
INDUSTRIES
•AGRICULTURE

•HOTELS
 TYPES OF SOLID WASTE
Solid waste can be classified into different types
depending on their source:
• Household waste or municipal waste: includes
food, paper, cardboard, plastic, textiles, leather,
glass, metal, ashes, electronics waste etc.
• Industrial waste: includes toxic chemicals, oil,
debris from construction site, packaging waste,
ashes etc.
• Biomedical waste or hospital waste: medicine
bottles, expired medicines, syringes, medical
instruments such as scissors, blades etc.
• Agriculture waste: includes pesticides, crops,
water coming from the fields also consists of
small amount of toxic chemicals.
• Nuclear waste: includes radioactive substances
coming from reactors, fuel (uranium, thorium,
plutonium etc). Its highly dangerous and
requires proper disposal.
• Hazardous waste: includes toxic chemical,
acids, corrosive, ignitable and reactive materials,
gases etc.
 CLASSIFICATION OF WASTES
ACCORDING TO THEIR
PROPERTIES
• Bio-degradable
can be degraded (paper, wood, fruits and
others)

• Non-biodegradable
cannot be degraded (plastics, bottles, old
machines, cans, containers and others)
SOLID WASTE COMPOSITION
EFFECTS OF WASTE IF NOT
MANAGED PROPERLY
• Affects our health
• Affects our socio-economic conditions
• Affects our coastal and marine
environment
• Affects our climate

126
 EFFECTS OF HAZARDOUS
WASTE
• When hazardous wastes are released in the air,
water, or on the land, they can spread or
contaminate our environment.
• When rain falls on soil at a waste site, it can
carry hazardous waste deeper into the ground
and the can pollute groundwater.
• Every year, major health problems result from
hazardous waste like cancer, repertory
condition, heart diseases etc, so it required
proper disposal.
128
 SOURCES OF HAZARDOUS
WASTE
Sources of hazardous wastes include:
• Research and academic laboratories
• Shops and repair facilities
• Art and theater departments
• Facility maintenance and grounds
• Power Plant operations
• Experimental Farm operations

129
 CHARACTERISTICS

• Hazardous Wastes are defined as wastes

that exhibit the following characteristics:
• Ignitable
• Corrosive
• Reactivity
• Toxic

130
 UNIVERSAL HAZARDOUS
WASTES
• Universal wastes include the following materials
that are commonly found in the workplace
• Batteries
• Fluorescent lamps
• Pesticides
• Thermometers (containing mercury)
• Used oil

131
 SOLUTION OF HAZARDOUS
WASTE
• The government can increase regulations on the
disposal of hazardous waste.
• Provide incentives to create less waste.
• Industries can break down chemical compounds
into less dangerous forms.
• Store waste in ways that protect the environment
from being exposed to the waste.
• Recycle if possible.
• Minimize and prevention.
 METHODS OF DISPOSALS
These are the following methods for disposal
of the solid waste.
• LAND FILLS
• INCINARATION
• BIOLOGICAL REPROCESSING
• RECYCLING
• OCEAN DUMPING
• PLASMA GASSIFICATION
SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT
HIERARCHY
 LAND FILL
• It is the most traditional method of waste
disposal.
• Waste is directly dumped into disused quarries,
mining voids or borrow pits.
• Disposed waste is compacted and covered with
soil to prevent vermin and wind-blown litter.
• Gases generated by the decomposing waste
materials are often burnt to generate power.
• It is generally used for domestic waste.
 ADVANTAGES

• Landfill site is a cheap waste disposal option for

the local council.
• Jobs will be created for local people.
• Lots of different types of waste can be disposed
of by landfill in comparison to other waste
disposal methods.
• The gases given off by the landfill site could be
collected and used for generating power.
 DISADVANTAGES
• The site will look ugly while it is being used for
landfill.
• Dangerous gases are given off from landfill sites
that cause local air pollution and contribute to
global warming.
• Local streams could become polluted with toxins
seeping through the ground from the landfill site.
• Once the site has been filled it might not be able
to be used for redevelopment as it might be too
polluted.
LAND REQUIRED FOR
DISPOSAL OF MSW
EMMISION OF METHANE FROM
LANDFILL
 INCINERATION
• Incineration is a waste treatment process that
involves the combustion of solid waste at 1000C.
• waste materials are converted into ash, flue gas,
and heat.
• The ash is mostly formed by the inorganic
constituents of the waste and gases due to
organic waste.
• the heat generated by incineration is used to
generate electric power.
 ADVANTAGES
• Minimum of land is needed compared to other
disposal methods.
• The weight of the waste is reduced to 25% of the
initial value.
• No risk of polluting local streams and ground
waters as in landfills.
• Incineration plants can be located close to
residential areas.
• Gases are used to generate power.
 DISADVANTAGES
• Expensive
• Required skilled labour.
• The chemicals that would be released into the
air could be strong pollutants and may destroy
ozone layer (major disadvantage).
• high energy requirement
INCINERATION PLANT OBERHAUSEN, GERMANY
 OCEAN DUMPING
• Ocean dumping is the dumping or placing of
materials in the ocean, often on the continental
shelf.
• A wide range of materials is involved, including
garbage, construction and demolition debris,
sewage sludge, dredge material, waste
chemicals, and nuclear waste.
• Sometime hazardous and nuclear waste are
also disposed but these are highly dangerous for
aquatic life and human life also.
 ADVANTAGES
• Convenient
• Inexpensive
• Source of nutrients for fishes and marine
mammals.
• Vast amount of space is available.
• All type of wastes are disposed.
 DISADVANTAGES
• There are three main direct public health risks
from ocean dumping:
• (1) occupational accidents, injuries, and
exposures
• (2) exposure of the public to hazardous or toxic
materials washed up on beach sand.
• (3) human consumption of marine organisms
that have been contaminated by ocean disposal.
• Highly dangerous for aquatic life.
 BIOLOGICAL REPROCESSING
• Materials such as plants, food scraps, and paper
products can be decomposed into the organic
matter.
• The organic matter that is produced from this
type of recycling can then be used for such
things as landscaping purpose or agricultural
uses.
• Usually this method of recycling is done by
putting the materials in a container and let to
stay there until it decomposes.
 RECYCLING

• It is basically processing or conversion of a

waste item into usable forms.
• Recyclable materials include many kinds of
glass, paper, metal, plastic, textiles, and
electronics.
• But recycling is not a solution to managing every
kind of waste material.
• For many items like plastic bags, plastic wrap,
yogurt cups, margarine container etc. recycling
technologies are unavailable or unsafe.
 ADVANTAGES
• Reduction of air and water pollution.
• Reduction in the release of harmful chemicals
and greenhouse gases from rubbish.
• Saves space required as Waste Disposal
Landfill.
• Reduce financial expenditure in the economy.
• it helps in conserving a lot of energy resources
like petroleum and coal deposits.
SAVING THROUGH RECYCLING

• When aluminum is recycled - considerable

saving in cost.
• Making paper from waste saves 50% energy.
• Every tone of recycled glass saves energy
equivalent to 100 liters of oil.
• Recycling about 54 kg of newspaper will save
one tree.
MATERIAL ENERGY SAVING

ALLUMINIUM 95%

CARDBOARD 24%

GLASS 5-30%

PAPER 50%

PLASTIC 70%

STEEL 60%
RECYCLING NOT A SOLUTION TO
ALL PROBLEMS!
• Recycling is not a solution to managing every
kind of waste material

• For many items recycling technologies are

unavailable or unsafe

• In some cases, cost of recycling is too high.

WHAT SHOULD BE DONE?

155
 PLASMA GASSIFICATION
• Plasma gasification is a new garbage disposal
solution using plasma technology.
• Uses electrical energy and the high
temperatures (4000°C to over 7000°C) created
by an plasma torches.
• Almost completely breaks down the waste into
syngas which are used to generate electricity.
• The remaining material (slag) is used to
produced material for building projects.
 WHAT IS PLASMA?
• Fourth state of matter.
• It is an ionized gas at high
temperature, capable of
conducting current due to
free electrons.
• Created by applying an
electric arc to a low-
pressure gas.
• Lightning is an example
from nature.
 PLASMA TORCHES
• Consists of a tungsten rod
(cathode) and a water-
cooled copper (anode).
• Shaped in the form of a
nozzle.
• Gas is introduced in the
electrode gap and a dc arc
is established between the
electrodes to create
plasma.
 RE-USE :
Great for plastics. Instead of throwing away your
plastics bag or bottle, have you tried reusing it?
If not as a bottle, try making a flowerpot out of it or
pencil stand.

REDUCE:
Reduce the generation of unnecessary waste ,
eg: carry your own shopping bag when you go to the market
and put all your purchases directly in to it.
Recycle:
Use shopping bags made of cloth or jute, which can be
used over again.

Refuse:
Instead buying new containers from the market, use the
once that are in the house. Refuse to buy new items though
you may think they are prettier than the one you already have.
 SUMMERY

• Solid waste is hazardous to health so it has to be

handled carefully and disposed properly in order
to protect our health and to maintain good
environment.
 SOLID WASTE
 Urban India produces 1,20,000 tons of MSW/Day.

 Per capita waste generation in major cities of India

ranges from 0.8 kg to 1.0 kg per day.

 Of the MSW collected; 94% is dumped on land and 5%

is composed.

 23 metrocities generates 30,000 tons of SW/Day.

 Class-I cities generate 50,000 tons of solid waste per

day

 Karnataka State generates 3553.97 tons/Day , disposes

2848.05 tons/Day and the remaining is un collected
wastes.
Effects of Solid Wastes

 Pollute ground water

 Waste becomes storehouses for pathogens
 Bag pickers affected by skin diseases, respiratory tract
infections, stomach infections, eye irritation, etc.
 Dumping helps the breeding of mosquitoes
 Burning releases furans (Chlorinated Carbons) which
reduces the fertility of human.
 Hazardous substances include mercury, chromium, etc
– Bioaccumulation
Accumulation of copper in soil inhibit plant growth.
 What are
the
solutions
to all these
problems?
 Let Us Together Build a World In
Which Every Person Has

And Lives in

Safe Adequate water Sanitation

Hygienic Environment
 Sustainable
Development
Solid waste
Hazards Management
mitigation

World
Energy Conservation
conservation strategy
HEALTHY
ENVIRONMENT
Environmental
Pollution Laws
control

Rain water
Water
Biodiversity Harvesting
Resources
conservation
THANK YOU ALL