1.

(a) What is ‘environmental pollution’? (b) Distinguish between biodegradable and non-biodegradable pollutants. (c) Choose the biodegradable pollutants from the list given below: Sewage, DDT, radioactive waste, agricultural waste.

Answer»

(a) Environmental pollution is an undesirable change in the physical, chemical or biological characteristics of the natural environment, brought about by man’s activities. This pollution may affect the soil, rivers, seas or the atmosphere.

(b)

Biodegradable pollutants Non-biodegradable pollutants
(i) These pollutants can be broken-down into nonpoisonous substances in nature by the action of microorganisms.(i) These pollutants cannot be brokendown into non-poisonous substances by microorganisms.
(ii) They get recycled thus, do not need any dumping sites.(ii) They cannot be recycled thus, require dumping sites.
(iii) These are obtained from living things.(iii) These are obtained from non-living things.
(iv) They cause minimum environmental pollution.(iv) They cause environmental pollution.

(c) Biodegradable pollutants are sewage and agricultural waste.



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