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Vehicles that run on petrol and diesel release harmful gases like smoke, nitrous oxide, carbon monoxide, benzopyrene, carbon dioxide, etc. into the air and pollute it.

Water sources like rivers, lakes, ponds and underground water are polluted by water from gutters.

B. Poisonous

Answer is A. Cholera

C. Carbon dioxide

The high levels of CO₂ in air have led to the intense problem of ‘Global warming’.

Trees and plants absorb the harmful CO₂ gas from the atmosphere and release useful O₂ gas. When trees are cut, the proportion of CO₂ increases in the atmosphere thus increasing air pollution.
Dust particles get mixed with air due to the decreasing tree-and-forest cover resulting in the increase of air pollution.

We do not do anything that may pollute air. Since LPG is used as a fuel at our place, there is no smoke created in the kitchen. We also use CNG in vehicles and so do not add to air pollution. We do not spread air pollution by spitting or cleaning our noses in public places. If we need to sneeze or cough we cover our mouths with a handkerchief so that air does not get polluted.

Thermal pollution is defined as the addition of excess of undesirable heat to water thereby making it harmful to man, animal or aquatic life.

Sources of Thermal Pollution

1. Nuclear power plants:

Nuclear power plants including drainage from hospitals, research institutions, nuclear experiments and explosions discharge a lot of heat that is not utilized.

2.Coal-fired power plants:

Coal fired power plants constitute a major source of thermal pollution. The condenser coils in such plants are cooled with water from nearby lakes or rivers. The resulting heated water is discharged into streams thereby raising the water temperature by 15C.

3. Industrial effluents:

Industries like textile, paper, pulp and sugar manufacturing release huge amounts of cooling water along with effluents into nearby natural water bodies.

4. Domestic Sewage:

Domestic sewage is discharged into rivers, lakes, canals or streams with minimal treatment or without any treatment. These wastes have a higher organic temperature and organic load.

5. Hydro-electric power:

Generation of hydroelectric power sometimes leads to negative thermal loading in water systems.

Effects of Thermal pollution

1. Reduction in dissolved oxygen: Concentration of Dissolved Oxygen (DO) decreases with increase in temperature.

2. Increase in toxicity The concentrated pollutant causes the rise in the temperature of water which increases the toxicity of the poison present in water. The toxicity in water will increase the death rate in marine life.

3. Disruption of Biological activities Temperature changes disrupt the entire marine ecosystem because changes in temperature causes change in physiology, metabolism and biological process like respiration rate, digestion, excretion and development of an aquatic organism.

4. Interference in reproduction: In fishes, several activities like nest building, spawning, hatching, migration and reproduction depend on optimum temperature.

Control measures for thermal pollution

The following measures can be taken to prevent or control high temperature caused by thermal pollution:

1. Heated water from the industries can treated before discharging directly to the water bodies.

2. Heated water from the industries can be treated by the installation of cooling ponds and cooling towers.

3. Industrial treated water can be recycled for domestic use or industrial heating.

4. Through artificial lakes: In this lake Industries can discharge their used or heated water at one end and water for cooling purposes may be withdrawn from the other end. The heat is eventually dissipated through evaporation.

The discharge of waste substances in to the sea resulting in harm to the living resources, hazards to the human health hindrances to the fishery and impairment of quality use of sea water.

Causes

1. Dumping the wastes:

Dumping of untreated wastes and sewages in the oceans by coastal towns, cities and industries. Rivers on the way to sea carry huge amount of sewage garbage agricultural discharge pesticide heavy metals. Huge quantity of plastic dumped in to the sea.

2. Oil:

This is discharged in to the sea as crude oil and as separate fraction. Oil and it’s fractions are used in houses automobiles and industries. This causes devastation of marine environment

3. Radioactive materials enter the ocean from nuclear weapon testing.

4. Toxics:

Toxic waste is the most harmful form of marine pollution. Once toxic wastes affects an organism it quickly passes along the food chain and as sea food which cause various problems.

5. Marine Debris:

Garbage like plastic bags, ropes helium balloons.

Effects of marine pollution

1. Heavy metals and organic pollutants damages birds by thinning of egg shells and tissue damage of egg.

2. Oil pollution causes damage to marine animals and plants including algae bird, fish etc.

3. Oil spilling in the sea causes abnormal low body temperature in birds resulting in hypothermia. During Exxon Valdez accident 150 rare species of bald eagles are affected by ingested oil.

4. Oil films are able to retard the rate of oxygen uptake by water.

5. Hydrocarbon and benzpyrene accumulate in food chain and consumption of fish by man may cause cancer.

6. Many marine birds ingest plastic that causes gastrointestinal disorders.

7. Oil spills inhibit photosynthesis and the growth of planktons. All aquatic animals depend either directly of indirectly on planktons the basis of tropic chain.

Control of marine pollution

The industrial unit on the coastal lines should be equipped with pollution control instrument. Methods of removal of oil by skimming the oil off the surface with suction device or Chemical methods like dispersion , emulsification etc.

1. Municipal and industrial waste should be treated before disposing in to sea

2. Coastal waste are periodically analyzed for detecting pollution level

3. Soil erosion in the coastal land should be arrested be suitable techniques

4. Recreation beaches should be maintained to meet hygienic and aesthetic standard.

Soil pollution is defined as, “contamination of soil by human and natural activities which may cause harmful effect on living organisms”.

Causes of Soil Pollution:

1. Industrial wastes

Disposal of Industrial wastes is the major problem for soil pollution. This has probably been the biggest contributor in the last century, especially from mining and manufacturing, as the by-products are often contaminated, and not disposed of properly.

2. Urban wastes

Urban wastes comprise of both commercial and domestic wastes consisting of garbage and rubbish materials like plastics, glasses, metallic cans, fibres, paper, rubbers etc. Urban wastes, can be dangerous. This happens because they are not easily degraded.

3. Agricultural practices 

Modern agricultural practices pollute the soil to a large extent. With the advancing agro-technology, huge quantities of fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides and weedicides are added to increase the crop yield. They are full of chemicals that are not produced in nature and cannot be broken down by it. As a result, they seep into the ground after they mix with water and slowly reduce the fertility of the soil.

4. Radioactive pollutants

Radioactive substances resulting from explosions of nuclear testing laboratories and industries giving rise to nuclear dust radioactive wastes, penetrate the soil and accumulate giving rise to land/soil pollution.

5.Accidental Oil Spills

Oil leaks can happen during the storage and transport of chemicals. This can be seen at most of the fuel stations. The chemicals present in the fuel deteriorates the quality of soil and make them unsuitable for cultivation.

6. Acid Rain

when there are pollutants in the air, and it starts to rain, they mix and fall back to the ground, causing acid rain. This pollution can then dissolve important nutrients, changing the structure of the soil.

7. Biological agents

Soil gets a large amount of human, animal and bird excreta which constitute a major source of land pollution by biological agents.

Effects of Soil Pollution on Human Beings

Crops and plants that are grown on polluted soil absorb much of the pollution and then pass these on to us. This could explain the sudden surge in small and terminal illnesses.Long term exposure to such soil can affect the genetic make-up of the body, causing chronic health problems that cannot be cured easily. In fact, it can cause food poisoning over a long period of time.

Effects on Plants and Animals

Since soil pollution is often accompanied by a decrease in the availability of nutrients, plant life ceases to thrive in such soils. Soils contaminated with inorganic aluminum can prove toxic to plants. Also, this type of pollution often increases the salinity of the soil, making it inhospitable for the growth of plant life. Effects on the Ecosystem

Since the volatile contaminants in the soil can be carried away into the atmosphere by winds or can seep into underground water reserves, soil pollution can be a direct contributor to air and water pollution. It can also contribute towards acid rain (by releasing huge quantities of ammonia into the atmosphere). Crop yield is greatly affected by this form of pollution. In China, over 12 million tons of grain (worth approximately 2.6 billion USD) is found to be unfit for human consumption due to contamination with heavy metals (as per studies conducted by the China Dialogue).

Control measures of soil pollution:

1. Soil erosion can be controlled by a variety of forestry and farm practices. Ex: Planting trees on barren slopes. Contour cultivation and strip cropping may be practiced instead of shifting cultivation.

2. Proper dumping of unwanted materials: Excess wastes by man and animals pose a disposal problem. Open dumping is the most commonly practiced technique. Nowadays, controlled tipping is followed for solid waste disposal. The surface so obtained is used for housing or sports field.

3. Production of natural fertilizers: Bio-pesticides should be used in place of toxic chemical pesticides. Organic fertilizers should be used in place of synthesized chemical fertilizers. Ex: Organic wastes in animal dung may be used to prepare compost manure instead of throwing them wastefully and polluting the soil.

4. Proper hygienic condition: People should be trained regarding sanitary habits. Ex: Lavatories should be equipped with quick and effective disposal methods.

5. Public awareness: Informal and formal public awareness programs should be imparted to educate people on health hazards by environmental education.

6. Recycling and Reuse of wastes: To minimize soil pollution, the wastes such as paper, plastics, metals, glasses, organics, petroleum products and industrial effluents etc should be recycled and reused.

7. Ban on Toxic chemicals: Ban should be imposed on chemicals and pesticides like DDT, BHC, etc which are fatal to plants and animals.

I like soft and melodious sounds. I like music that is tuneful and has a nice beat. I do not like harsh or loud sounds or music that is chaotic. I prefer sound of 60 decibels which one can hear quite naturally in everyday conversations.

People throw-away (polythene) plastic bags after using them once. Plastic is non-degradable i.e. it does not dissolve in water or land and so pollutes both water and land. Plastic bags thrown in sewage collect at a place in gutter lines and block the flow of wastewater due to which dirty water overflows onto land and spreads pollution. When such gutters overflow in the rainy season they cause waterlogging in major parts of cities which leads to many water-borne diseases.

Abandoned animals that roam the streets in search of food, find plastic bags full of discarded food stuff. These hungry animals try to get at the food and when they can’t, they eat the plastic bags along with the food-stuff. These bags choke up their intestines and make them ill sometimes leading to their deaths.

Yes, many electronic devices create noise pollution. Loudspeakers, radios, TV’s and other electronic musical instruments when played at high volume create noise pollution. Noise pollution leads to deafness. Moreover, it has an adverse effect on the mental health also.

I like pure and invigorating environment that has sufficient amounts of life-supporting gas-Oxygen. Other gases, dust particles, and water vapour should also be present in their natural measure. There should be no poisonous gases. The air should be fragrant with the smell of land and sweet-smelling flowers. The breeze should be pleasing. If I live in such an environment my body and mind will remain healthy so that I can accomplish many tasks and progress in life.