air pollution chapter 2

8/18/2019 Air Pollution Chapter 2

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Chapter -2

PROBLEMS

AND

CAUSES


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PROBLEMS AND CAUSES

The manmade sources of air pollutions are; stationary combustion,

transportation, industrial process, and solid disposal sources. Stationary

combustion processes yield mainly particulate pollutants such as fly ash,

smoke and oxides of sulfur and nitrogen. The amount of sulfur dioxide

emitted depends upon the content of sulfur in the fuel. Coal and oil which

contain considerable amounts of sulfur release appreciable quantities of

sulfur dioxide. High temperature processes such as thermal fixation of

atmospheric nitrogen yield larger quantities of oxides of nitrogen. Carbon

monoxide, a significant contaminant, is also emitted from combustion.

Howeer, complete combustion yields only carbon dioxide and not

carbon monoxide. The other contaminants that are produced by

combustion include acids and aldehydes. !f all the fuels used in

stationary combustion, natural gas is reported to be the best as it contains

little sulfur only and the particulate emission is much less.

"utomobiles hae internal combustion engines are the primary

transpiration sources. "utomobile exhausts release smoke and to a certain

extent lead particles. Smoke contains the gaseous pollutants such as

carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and oxides of nitrogen.


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#ndustries are also big air polluters. $ower, cement, steel, leather,

chemical and mining industries emanate significant amounts of air

pollutants. #n urban areas, een solid waste disposal causes pollution.

%ackyard burning and open burning of heaps of solid wastes result in the

emission of smoke and gaseous pollutants. "boe all, nuclear materials,

when released into the air, are potentially more ha&ardous. 'uclear

weapon testing, nuclear reactors, chemical processing plants, research

institutions and hospitals contribute many nuclides to the atmosphere. "ir

$ollution mainly affects the respiratory system. Carbon monoxide is an

asphyxiant gas and when it is absorbed into the lungs, it combines with

the hemoglobin leel aailable for carrying the oxygen to the body. Sulfur

dioxide damages the respiratory system( and causes cough and irritation

to the membranes of the eyes. !&one is strong irritant and damages lungs.

)ikewise, nitrogen oxide is also a strong irritant. The aldehydes and acids

formed may result in eye, nose and throat irritations. "s a matter of fact,

lung cancer, bronchitis, emphysema and asthma are some of the chronic

disease caused due to exposure to polluted air.

The effects of "ir pollution on animals are similar to that on human

beings. "ir pollution is highly detrimental to plant productiity and sets

1 Santosh Kumar and Sumit Mehta “ ARI and Indoor air pollution, its Garden and

correlation”. Inter Jr. of Pulmonar medicine. !ol. ",#, #$$%& pp. '(%.


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in the process of deforestation. The soil loses its alkaline characteristics

due to air pollution. The alkalinity of the soil is necessary for the plant

productiity. "ir pollution also damage property and materials. The

oxides of sulfur and nitrogen form sulfuric and nitric acids respectiely

after combination with water apour in the presence of sunlight. These

acids are far more corrosie and spoil the materials. #ndia*s famous

monument, Ta+ ahal,is losing its luster due to "ir $ollution.-

The relationship between human being and "ir $ollution has aried from

time to time. #t has also been arying place to place at a gien point of

time. #n the ery early stages of human history, human beings considered

the enironment as ery dominant and that was why, they worshipped

different aspects of nature like trees, forests, animals, mountains, riers,

etc. They were ery much afraid of these elements of riers, etc., because

# “In 1)"1, the Parliament enacted the Air *Pre+ention and ontrol of

Pollution- Act in contradistinction to the ater *Pre+ention and ontrol of Pollution- Act 1)%/, enacted 0 the Parliament under article ## States, the Air

*Pre+ention and ontrol of Pollution- Act 1)"1, has 0een enacted 0 the

Parliament under Article #' of the onstitution. 2he Air *Pre+ention and

ontrol of Pollution- Act as amended in 1)"%. 2he pream0le of the Act

clari3es that the Act has 0een enacted to implement the decisions ta4en at

the 5nited 6ation conference on human en+ironment held at stoc4home in

June 1)%# in so far as the aforesaid decisions relatin7 to the preser+ation of

the 8ualit of the air pollution” In #$1$ ASI has strictl armed to 0e more

careful air pollution and protect 2he 2a9. *ISI Respect. :eh. #$1$& pp. %1(%/.


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of the reason that they had no tools to oercome the danger posed by the

enironment.

4.1 Impact of Hma! "e#!$%&- The impact of man*s actiities on the

enironment has resulted in the pollution of enironment. $ollution not

only affects the air, water and lands but also the organisms in the

biosphere. The natural ecosystem has an inherent capacity to decompose

dead organisms or excreta and recycle them. hen harmful substances

contaminate the enironment in large quantities, the ecosystem is unable

to absorb them and they accumulate in the system resulting in the

degradation of enironment.

4.2 Pro"'em% - $roblems of "ir $ollution in #ndia can be classified

into two broad categories/

Those arising as negatie effects of the ery process of deelopment;

0Slow process of deelopment1.

(a) Poor P'a!!#!$&- The first category has to do with the impact of

efforts to achiee rapid economic growth and deelopment and

continuing pressures of demand generated by those sections of society

who are economically more adanced and impose great strains on the


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supply of natural resources. $oorly planned, deelopment pro+ects and

also often enironment destructie.

(") Heath a!* #!te$rat#o!&2 The second category has to do with the

impact on the health and integrity of our natural resources 0land, soil,

water, forests, wildlife, etc.1 as a result of poerty and the inadequate

aailability for a large section of our population of the means to fulfill

basic human needs 0food fuel, shelter, employment etc.1 'eedless to say

the two problems are interrelated.

(c) Pop'at#o!&- $opulation is an important resource for deelopment,

yet it is a ma+or source of enironmental degradation when it exceeds the

threshold limits of the support systems. 3nless the relationship between

the multiplying population and life support can be stabili&ed,

deelopment programs, howeer, innoatie are not likely to yield the

desired results. #t is possible to expand the 4carrying capacity* through

technological adances and spatial distribution. %ut neither of these can

support unlimited population growth. "lthough technological progress

will add to the capabilities for sustaining a large number of populations,

the need for a igor our drie for population control can hardly be oer


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emphasi&ed in iew of the linkage between poerty, population growth

and the "ir $opulation.5

(*) +ore%t ,ea'th&- !ur forest wealth is dwindling due to oer2

gra&ing, oer2exploitation both2for commercial and house2hold needs,

encroachments, unsuitable practices including certain practices of shifting

cultiation and deelopmental actiities6. "ccording to the State of 7orest

8eport -99:, the actual forest coer in the country was ene erosion also erodes the prospects for deriing full

economic and ecological benefits form recent adances in molecular

biological and genetic engineering.

(e) Cora' reef%&2 Coral reefs are the most productie marine eco2

systems and proide habitat for dierse flora and fauna. These

ecosystems are adersely affected by indiscriminate exploration of coral

for production of lime, recreational use and for ornamental trade.

Similarly, the fragile enirons of island ecosystems hae been sub+ected

' Go+t. of India, ersion report. #$11. *Section A-./ Go+t. of India. State :orest report, #$$%.


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to pressures of arious forms including migration of people from the

mainland.

(f) 'o"a' cha!$e%&- >lobal atmospheric changes resulting in altered

temperature and precipitation and rising ocean leels, are no longer

within the realm of theoretical possibilities. Combination of local

subsidence, greenhouse induced sea2leel rise and coastal enironmental

degradation may lead to periodic floods, incursion of salt water, melting

of glaciers and rier flooding. )ocal changes of aerage rainfall will

seerely affect agricultural and water supply, especially in semi2arid

areas.

($) Lac of opport!#t#e%&- )ack of opportunities for gainful

employment in illages and the ecological stresses is leading to an eer2

increasing moement of resource2poor families to towns. ega cities are

emerging and urban slums are expanding. #lliteracy and child labor are

persisting. There has been a substantial urban growth in the last four

decades. This has resulted in congestion and squatter settlements with

millions of people haing no access to the basic needs of ciic amenities.

The green coer in our urban centres has been largely destroys and once

beautiful garden cities hae become concrete +ungles. The man2made

heritage in #ndia has been often graely and een irreocably damaged.


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(h) I!*%tr#e%&- " large number of industries and other deelopment

pro+ects has also resulted in the pollution, which are ma+or constituents of

our life support systems. $ollution of water bodies, in turn has adersely

affected the growth of aquatic fauna and flora, which is an

enironmentally undesirable phenomenon for any ecosystem. The

problems of women in illages are compounded in this whole scenario of

energy, enironmental and deelopmental imbalance. This has caused ?a1

aleria b1 )ier ailments c1 >astro2intestinal disease.

#t is difficult to clearly delineate the cause an consequence of "ir

$ollution in terms of simple one2to2one relationships. The causes and

effects are often interwoen in complex webs of social, technological and

enironmental factors. 7or instance, from a purely scientific and

technological standpoint soil erosion would result from the cultiation of

marginal lands.

2.1.2 Po/ert0&- The oerriding impact of aderse demographic pressures on

pressures on our resources and ecosystems due to poerty= and

oerpopulation of man and liestock has to be highlighted. 3nless there

ha+e;, harlos A. and Satranlumes, Johan 4. “ontrollin7 ur0an air pollution

caused 0 households”. Jrl. (#%'.

> Kumar, Santosh and Mehra, Sumit ARI and Indoor air pollution& its 7arden and

correlation”. Int. Jrl.


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is curb on population growth and een reduction of such populations and

a corresponding improement in land use policies, the current trend of

oer2exploitation and ecological degradation is not likely to improe.

2.2 Ca%e%/2 orld Health !rgani&ation has described "ir $ollution as

substances put into the air by the actiity of mankind into concentration

sufficient to cause harmful effects to health, property, crop yield or to

interfere with the en+oyment of property.

(a) Br!#!$ of fo%%#' fe'%&- The burning of fossil fuels in large

quantities during the recent decades has resulted in gradual increase in

carbon dioxide content in the atmosphere. #ncrease of carbon dioxide in

the atmosphere has the effect of increasing the temperature of

atmosphere. #ncrease in carbon dioxide content is also due t the large2

scale deforestation. 8eduction in the number of trees, which absorbs

carbon dioxide, resulted in the accumulation of carbon dioxide in the

atmosphere.

(") So'ar ra*#at#o!&- #n the normal circumstances, much of the solar

radiation that penetrates the earth*s atmosphere is re2radiated as heat from

the earth*s surface and dissipates into space. %ut an increase of carbon

dioxide, through it allows most solar radiation to penetrate the

atmosphere, preents part of the heat re2radiated by the land and water


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bodies from escaping into space. "s carbon dioxide accumulates, enough

heat may be trapped to gradually warm the atmosphere. This is called the

Greenhouse effect.

(c) Car"o! *#o#*e&- #f the content of carbon dioxide increases further

in the next 9 years, rise in air temperature would certainly melt the polar

ice caps and consequently sea leel would rise by about -. meters

causing submergence of coastal regions.

(*) S'fr *#o#*e&2 %urning of coal adds sulfur dioxide to the

atmosphere. The automobile exhaust contributes to the addition of lead,

carbon monoxides and nitrogen oxides in the atmosphere. These gases

not only causes nasal irritation and respiratory diseases to the inhalers but

also causes acid rains which damages the plants, metals buildings apart

from aquatic ecosystems which support arious life forms:. "cid rain also

dames forests to a great extent. #t affects the growth of the trees.

(e) Oo!e 'a0er&- The o&one layer in the stratosphere seres as a

protectie shield, which protects the earth from harmful ultraiolet

radiation. hen thus o&one layer gets depleted ultra iolet radiation

entres the earth*s surface and causes skin cancer. The o&one layer gets

% o?, hristopher . “!alidation of an e+a@uated cinister method for

measurin7 Part(Per(illion le+els of chemical arfare a7ent stimulants”. Jrl. of

Air B Caste Mu7t. Asso. !o. >1,", #$11& pp. "#>("''.


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affected by exhausts from the +et aircraft and also by the use of C7C

0Chloro 7luoro Carbon1 in arrosol propellants in sprayers, refrigerators

etc.

(f) Smoe3 *%t3 car"o! part#c'e%&- >aseous effluents from factories

pollute the atmosphere. Smoke, dust and particles of carbon, lead, etc.

gets accumulated in the atmosphere. !n cool nights, when for occurs,

these particles remain suspended in the air. This condition is called Smog.

#n Tamil 'adu, because of burning of used tyros of motor ehicles on

%hogi @ay, the smog oer Chennai and other parts of Tamil 'adu causes

annoyance and a lot of inconenience to the people.A

"ccording to the report released by the 3'B$ in September -99A, the

following are some of the possible harmful effects of "%C/

• %y slashing the sunlight that reaches the ground by (9 to ( percent

the choking smog has also altered the region*s climate, cooling the

ground while heating the atmosphere;

• The region*s brown ha&e affects rainfall and farming, and puts

hundreds of thousand of people in +eopardy.

" 2he Report released 0 56=P *#$$"- states that, “the ha;e is the result of

forest 3res the 0urnin7 of a7ricultural astes, dramatic increases in the

0urnin7 of fossil fuels in +ehicle, industries and poer stations, and emissions

from millions of ineDcient coo4ers 0urnin7 ood, co dun7 and other E0io(

fuelsF.”


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• #t has a direct effect on human health, causing more respiratory

disease.

• There are also global implications, not least because a pollution parcel

like this, which stretches three kilometers 0two miles1 high, can trael

halfway round the globe in a week.

• The report*s authors say the reduction in solar energy reaching the

Barth*s surface also means less oceanic eaporation of the moisture,

which controls summer rainfall.• They estimate that the ha&e could be reducing #ndia*s winter rice

harest by up to (9. "nd they fear Dseeral hundreds of thousandE of

premature deaths from ha&e2related respiratory disease.

• The potent ha&e lying oer the entire #ndian subcontinent2from Sri

)anka to "fghanistan2has led to some erratic weather, sparking

flooding in %angladesh, 'epal and north2eastern #ndia, but drought in

$akistan and north2western #ndia.

• They discoered not only that the smog cut sunlight, heating the

atmosphere, but also that it created acid rain, a serious threat to crops

and trees, as well as contaminating oceans and hurting agriculture.

%ut because the lifetime of pollutants is short and they can be rained out,

scientists are hopeful that if "sians use more efficient way of burning

fuel, such as better stoes, and cleaner source of energy, time has not run

out.


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($) Po#%o!o% $a%&- "ccidents inoling escape of poisonous gases

from industries cause illness and death. The escape of #C 0ethyl #so

Cyanide1 from the pesticide plant of 3nion Carbide Corporation at

%hopal in (


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oxygen een for breathing(9. @ays are not far, when we will be buying

oxygen cylinders from the roadside shops +ust as we buy drinking water

now.

@umping of solid waste also causes )and degradation. @umping of solid

waste from urban centres and waste materials from mining centres and

industrial wastes render the land unsuitable for any purpose. The

dumping of toxic wastes generated from chemical industries in %ichiri

illage of 3daipur @istrict in 8a+asthan.(( The sludge deposited in areas

ad+oining those industries in the illage percolated into the earth, making

the soil reddish and ground water highly polluted. The well water in those

areas became dark in colour and turned unfit for any purpose. oreoer,

it ery seriously affected the productiity of the land. Surface run2off

from such areas pollutes and streams and ground water by seepage.

Saline encrustation of irrigated lands is another examples of degradation

of land. #n semi2arid regions, wind action causes deposition of sand on a

large scale oer cultiated land rendering them unfit for cultiation. This

marks the beginning of the process of desertification. @eposition of

1$ 2he stud conducted 0 the 56=P *5nited 6ations =n+ironmentPro7ram- identi3ed the presence of a '4m thic4 0lan4et of 0ronishlaer of pollution spread o+er South Asia and most of tropical Indian


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coarse material and sand during high floods may also cause irreparable

damage to cultiated land(-.

2. E++EC5 AIR POLLU5ION

2..1 Defore%tat#o! -

7orests hae played a ery ital role in maintaining a balanced ecological

system. 7orests assist in the essential global recycling of water, oxygen,

carbon dioxide and nitrogen. They also influence solar radiation reaching

the earth*s surface, wind, humidity and temperatures and thus moderate

the thus moderate the climate especially the rainfall. They support an

extremely rich bio diersity, which proides a wide ariety of products

and serices. Their role in soil formation and conseration is extremely

crucial.Thus forests perform protectie, regulatie and productie functions(5 as

described below/a. "melioration of climate;". 8egulation of temperature, increase local precipitation and regulation

of humidity;c. %alancing carbon dioxide and oxygen of the atmosphere.*. $roiding fuel and timber for the people;

1# AIR #$$' *S 1/>-

1' M.. ash and P. . Mishra, man and en+ironment om0a Macmillan,

#$$1& p.1"


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$roduction of oxygen, proiding leaf protein, preenting soil and wind

erosion, maintain soil fertility, recycling of water and humidity control,

proiding shelter to birds, insects and plants and controlling "ir $ollution

are some of the inisible enironmental serices rendered by forests.(6

2..2 HUMAN IMPAC5 ON BIOSPHERE

an is at the top of the ecological pyramid. He acts as a predator as he is

an omniore, feeding on a ariety of plants and animals. Cultiation of

land has had a serious impact on the ecosystem. The remoal of original

plant coer and its replacement by single cultiated crop reduced the

biological diersity and simplifies the ecosystem making its ulnerable

to pests and disease which attack that particular crop.

2.. DEPLE5ION O+ NA5URAL RESOURCES

@ue to the pressure of the population, forest and soil resources are getting

depleted at a ery high rate. Bxcessie demand leads to consumption of

resources at a rate faster than necessary. This situation makes the

renewable resources like forests and soil, non2renewable. The situation is

same een with respect to non2renewable mineral resources. @ue to the

1/ India has a total 7eo7raphical of '#"." million hectares, out of hich %/.%"million hectares *a0out ##.%- ere occupied 0 forests at the time of Independence. 2he represented #.# percent of the orldFs land area. 2he6ational Remote Sensin7 A7enc reported 1/.1 percent of the total land areain India as forests hile other studies indicate a still loer +alue of 1$ percentin 1))$.


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increasing demand, mineral resources are being consumed at a faster rate.

)ikewise the world is also facing an energy crisis due to the depletion of

oil resources. The existing oil resources may last only for a few decades.

There is an urgent need for use of renewable sources of energy.

'ations and Scientists should try to introduce new technologies for use of

renewable source of energy. #t is always better to be late than neer. "t

least at this point of time something has to be done to sae the natural

resources. #t is not something impossible. Therefore, the need of the hour

is some kind of clean technology which will use renewable sources of

energy like solar energy, wind power etc.

2..4 C'#mate Cha!$e%6 a! emp#r#ca' co!cept &

eather is the condition of the atmosphere at a particular place and time.

#t is characteri&ed by parameters such as the temperature, humidity rain,

and wind. Climate is the long2run pattern of weather conditions for a

gien area. Change is a fundamental characteristic of the enironment.

7rom the ice ages of the past to the industrial age of the present, the

climate of the earth has been changing. Barth*s climate as a result of

complex interactions between the sun, atmosphere, oceans, land and

biosphere. 8elatiely, small change in climate could hae a ma+or, effect

on our resources.


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2..7 +actor% effect#!$ c'#mate&- The factor that influence global

climate are the amount of solar energy the earth receies, the condition of

the atmosphere, the shape and rotation of the earth, and the currents and

other processes of the ocean. The scientific eidence suggests that the

earth*s climate is changing. The atmosphere is warming, and this trend

will continue.(

2..8 ree!ho%e Effect&- " glass house for raising plants is called

4greenhouse*. " greenhouse has higher temperature inside than outside

though the interior receie less radiations2it is called 4greenhouse effect*.

The factor which contribute to this effects are2

#. >lass walls,##. High carbon dioxide content, and###. High water apor content of the air in the greenhouse. They let the

short#/. ae radiations pass through them but preent the passage of long

wae radiations emitted by the earth*s surface. This makes inside

of the greenhouse warmer than outside.

The greenhouse effect is a naturally2occurring process that aids the

heating of the earth*s surface and atmosphere. #t results from the fact that

1 the ear #$$ scientists predict that the orld ill 0e armer 0 ana+era7e of 0eteen 1.$ and /.$. limate chan7e ill increase +ariouscurrent health pro0lems, and ma also 0rin7 ne and une@pected one. *Go+t.of India. Air poluution Report on climate chan7e #$1$. Mana7er Pu0lications,elhi-


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certain atmospheric gases, such as carbon dioxide, water apor and

methane are capable of changing the energy balance of the planet by

being able to absorb long wae radiation from the earth*s surface. The

term DgreenhouseE is used to describe this phenomenon since these gases

act like the glass of a greenhouse to trap heat and maintain higher interior

temperature than would normally occur.

#n the context of enironment, greenhouse effect refers to Dselectie

energy absorption by some atmospheric gases, which allow short

waelength energy to pass through but absorb longer waelengths and

reflect heat back to earthE(=.

2..9 ree!ho%e $a%e%

The atmospheric gases, which are permeable to short wae solar

radiations but strong absorber of long wae relations emitted from the

surface of earth are called greenhouse gases. They are/

(1) Car"o! *#o#*e (CO2)&- Carbon dioxide is the most abundant

greenhouse of fuels gas in the atmosphere. #t is chiefly produced by the

1> Cithout the 7reenhouse e?ect, it is not possi0le to sustain life on the plant as

the a+era7e temperature of the earth ould 0e 1"$ rather than the present

1$. *Green ouse and =arth Surface. C. I. Cinsa. Hondon. #$$%& pp. 11%(

1#1-.


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burning of fuels. #t is also released by plants and animals during the

process of respiration. #t is responsible for more than percent of the

current global warming. #ts concentration has increased by more than 59

percent since pre2industrial times 0around (,:9 "@1, i.e., the leel of

C!- in the atmosphere has increased from the pre2industrial leel of

-A9ppm to 5=Appm in -999 and currently increased by ( percent eery

year. This has been largely due to the burning of fossil fuels, particularly

coal, and increasingly, motor ehicle exhaust 0:1. @eforestation and

biomass burning contribute - C!- remains in the atmosphere for

around -99 years.

(2) Metha!e (CH4)&- #t accounts for (= percent of the increase in

>H>s. #t can trap -9 to - times more heat than C! -on (9 to (- years,

but is remoed when it reacts with the hydroxyl 0!H1 radical to form

C!-. ethane is a product of incomplete decomposition caused by a

>roup of bacteria called methanogens, under anaerobic conditions. #t is

produced from garbage dumps, freshwater wet lands 0swamps1, flooded

rice fields and enteric fermentation in cattle. #t is also produced by

biomass burning. The concentration of methane in atmosphere has

become more than double in -999 0(:9ppb1 than its concentration

during the preindustrial time 0:99ppb1.


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() N#tro% o#*e (N2O)&- #t accounts for = percent of the human input

of greenhouse gases. #ts life span in the troposphere is (-9 to (


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manufacture of semiconductors. Howeer, their global warming potential

is 6,999 to (9,999 times that of C!-. #ts concentration in -999 "@ is

-A-ppt.

(8) Per f'orocar"o!% (P+C%)&- They are replacement gases for

C7Cs, but they are also a by2product of aluminum smelting. Small

amounts are also produced during the uranium2enrichment process. They

can trap =,999 to (9,999 times more heat than C!- as >HCs.

(9) S'phr heaf'or#*e (S+8)&- 0S7=1 is a man2made gas used an

insulating material for high2oltage equipment such as circuit2breakers. #t

is also used for detecting water leaks in cable2cooling systems. #t can trap

-,999 times more heat than C!-.

(:) Oo!e (O)&- #t is a greenhouse gas that has -,999 times the heat2

retention property of C!-. "t ground leel, o&one is found in small

quantities in the air and is formed when other pollutants react in sunlight.

#t is also harmful to human health, animal and plant life.

(;) Car"o! mo!o#*e (CO)&2 #t is generally not thought of as a

greenhouse gas as it does not trap heat direct. Howeer, it is indirectly

responsible for increasing greenhouse warming because it raises the leel


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of methane and o&one. C! participates in the formation of o&one. otor

ehicles are the ma+or source of Carbon onooxide C!(:.

"n energy from the sun passes through the atmosphere, a number of

things take place. -= of he energy is reflected back to space by clouds

and particles. "bout (H> intensity of the economy, in purchasing power parity

terms, #ndia emitted a little aboe 9.6 ton C!-, equialent per (999 3S

dollars in -99-, which is lower than global aerage. #n terms of primary

1% “2he 6ational =n+ironment Polic, #$$> *Part .#.1$- States “IndiaFs GG

emissions in 1))/ ere 1##" million ton *M2-


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energy use, #ndia*s share of renewable energy 0being a non >H> emitting

energy form1 at 5= percent is far higher than industriali&ed countries can

hope to reach in many decades. Since >H> emissions are directly linked

to economic actiity, #ndia*s economic growth will necessarily inole

increase in >H> emissions from the current extremely low leels. "ny

constraints on the emissions of >H> by #ndia, whether direct by way of

emission targets, or direct, will reduce growth rates.(<

E

2.4 Ac#* Ra#! (Ac#* Depo%#t#o!)

4"cid rain* is an umbrella term which is used to coer a number of

different pollution processes. #t is used to describe all precipitation2rain,

snow, fog, dew and dry acid deposition2which are more acid than normal.

"cid rain forms when oxides of sulphur and nitrogen combine with

atmospheric moisture to yield sulphuric and acids which may then be

carried long distances from their source before they are deposited by rain.

DThe 'ational Bnironment $olicy, -99= 0$art .-.(91 States/ D#ndia*s

>H> emissions in ( emissions. #n per2capita terms, it is -5

percent of the global aerage and 6 percent of 3S", A percent of

1) 6=P, *#$$>-.


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>ermany < percent of 3.F. and (9 percent of Gapan, per capita emissions

in (


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4"cid rain* refers to any precipitation which has a pH alue less than .=,

the pH of uncontaminated rain water. The pH of acid rain can compared

with that of common acid and alkaline substances. %ecause the pH scale

is logarithmic, there is tenfold difference between numbers. Thus, water

at pH6 is ten times more acidic than at pH, and (99 times more acidic

than at pH=. "cid precipitation generally ranks between about .= and 5.

and in some cases een lower.

"cid rain falls on the ground, sometimes hundreds of kilometers from the

area in which it formed and generally one to four days later. The effects

of such acid rain are generally quite damaging.

2.4.1 Ca%e of Ac#* ra#!

(1 hen fossil fuels such as high2sulphur coal, oil and natural gases are

burned, chemicals like sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide are

produced. These chemicals react with water and other chemicals in the

air to form sulphuric acid, nitric acid and other harmful pollutants like

sulfates and nitrates. These acid pollutants spread upward into the

atmosphere, and are carried by air currents, to finally return to the

ground in the form of acid rain.-1 "cids also results from natural causes such as egetation , olcanoes,

lighting and gey&ers.


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51 %iomass burning due to forest fires causes emissions of formic acid

0HC!!H1 are formaldehyde gets oxidi&ed to formic acid in the

atmosphere.61 "cidification results from emission and deposition of airborne primary

pollutants such as sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, olatile organic

compounds and particulates gien off by power plants industry and

ehicle and of ammonia produced by agriculture.

1 'itrogen oxides and carbon particles produced by automobiles and

other motor ehicle are so plentiful in some large cities that the air is

coloured by them.=1 " by2product of animal manure and fertili&er use, ammonia is mainly

the cause of acid rain.

2.4.2 Impact% of Ac#* Ra#!

1) #ntense sulphur dioxide causes death of many kinds of trees

particularly conifers and other egetation.2) "cid rains dissole and wash away nutrients in the soil which are

needed by plants.) "cid rain indirectly affects plants by remoing nutrients from the soil

in which they grow.4) "cid rain affects trees directly by creating holes in the wary coating of

leaes, causing brown dead spots which affect the plant*s

photosynthesis.7) 7arm crops are affected by acid rains.


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8) "cid rain that falls or flows as groundwater to reach riers, lakes and

wetlands causes the water in them to become acidic. This affects

plants and animal life in aquatic ecosystems.9) "cid rain also has far2reaching effects on wildlife. %y adersely

affecting one species, the entire food chain is disturbed, ultimately

endangering the entire ecosystem.:) "cid rain and dry acid deposition damage buildings, automobiles, and

other structures made of stone or metal. The acid corrodes the

materials causing extensie damage and ruins historic buildings. 7or

instance, the $arthenon in >reece and the Ta+ ahal in #ndia hae

been affected by acid rain.;) "lthough surface water polluted by acid rain does not directly harm

people, toxic does not directly harm people, the toxic substances

leached from soil can pollute the water supply. 7ish caught in these

water may be harmful for human consumption.1


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2) Switching to cleaner burning fuels is also a way out. 7or instance,

using natural gas which is cleaner than coal or using coal with lower

sulfur content.) #nstalling scrubbers to reduce smoke2stack emission, though

expensie would be economical compared to the losses due to damage

done to lakes, forests, monuments, food production and so on.

2.7 SOCIO-ECONOMIC E++EC5S O+ AIR POLLU5ION

#ndiiduals and society suffer a direct loss a result of the effect of "ir

pollution on plants, animals, property and human health. "ir pollution

causes number socio2economic effects, namely.

0(1 onetary loss due to illness and death and incidental loss resulting

from abstention from work due to ill2health and incidental loss due

to decreased productiity;-(

0-1 #ncrease of trael costs and time of trael due to reduced isibility,

together with increased risk of accidental in+ury in trael because

of decreased isibility;

051 #ncrease of cost of artificial illumination;

061 Cost of repair of damage to buildings and other structures;

#1 A mula K.6. Read, “e+elopment onicts(:or a ne a7enda”, Sur+e of

the =n+ironment 1))", the indu& pp. 1$(11.


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01 #ncreased cost of cleaning;--

0=1 )osses due to in+ury to animals of economic importance;

0:1 Bxtra costs of manufacture because of pollution from outside

sources;-5

0A1 Bxtra costs of manufacture because of pollution from outside

sources;

0


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enironment. The industrialists shift the loss caused by air pollution on

the society. The >oernment also spends a huge sum eery year for

maintaining public health. #f air pollution could be kept under control,

this unnecessary expenditure can be reduced and thereby the society can

be relieed of economic pressure apart from relief from pressures caused

by pollution.-

2.8 REPOR5 O+ 5HE UNI5ED NA5IONS CON+ERENCE

ON EN=IRONMEN5 AND DE=ELOPMEN5

(AENDA 21)

#t proides that in order to meet the challenges of enironment and

deelopment, States hae decided to establish a new global partnership. #t

also proides that those economic policies of indiidual countries and

international economic relations both hae great releance to sustainable

deelopment. The report suggests that the international economy should

proide a supportie international climate for achieing enironment and

deelopment goals by/2

0(1 $romoting sustainable deelopment through trade liberali&ation;

0-1 aking trade enironment mutually supportie;

# Sa4sena K. . =n+ironmental Plannin7, Policies and Pro7rammes in India,

*Shipra, elhi #$$', ed. #& p. #'-.


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051 $roiding adequate financial resources to deeloping countries

and dealing with international debt;

061 Bncouraging macro2economic policies conductie to

enironment and deelopment;

The report declares that the >oernments recogni&e that there is a new

global effort to relate the elements of the international economic system

and man kind*s need for a safe and stable natural enironment.

3.'. 8eport deals with strategies for combating poerty. The report

suggests that, while managing resources sustainably, an enironmental

policy that focuses mainly on the conseration and protection of

resources must take due account of those who depend on the resource for

their lie hood. !therwise, it could hae an aderse impact both on

poerty and on changes for long term success in resource and

enironmental conseration.

3.'. 8eport speaks-=

about 4Changing consumption patterns* This chapter

aims at programmes focusing on unsustainable patterns of production and

consumption and programmes for deeloping national policies and

strategies to encourage changes in unsustainable consumption patterns.

This chapter highlights that the ma+or cause of the continued deterioration

#> 5.6. Report. =n+ironment and pollution in South Asia. #$$)& pp. #1'(1.


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of the global enironment is the unsustainable pattern of consumption

and production, particularly in industriali&ed countries, which is a matter

of grae concern, aggraating poerty and imbalances.

3.'. 8eport again speaks about 4changing consumption patterns*.-: This

chapter aims at programmes focusing on unsustainable patterns of

production and consumption and programmes for deeloping national

policies and strategies to encourage changes in unsustainable

consumption patterns. This chapter highlights that the ma+or cause of the

continued deterioration of the global enironment is the unsustainable

pattern of consumption and production, particularly in industriali&ed

countries, which is a matter of grae concern, aggraating poerty and

imbalances.

3.'. 8eport suggests that health and deelopment are intimately

interconnected. %oth insufficient deelopments leading to poerty and

inappropriate deelopment resulting in oer2consumption, coupled with

an expanding world population can result in seere enironmental heath

problems.

#% hapter / of 5.6. report of A7enda#1


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The 3nited 'ations Conference on Bnironment and @eelopment held

at 8io @e Ganeiro 052(6 Gune (


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>lobali&ation of commerce is further internationali&ing enironmental

issues, with trade in natural resources such as fish and timber soaring.

Bnironment problems are climbing eer higher on the international

political agenda, at times preoccupying international diplomats almost as

much as arms control negotiations did during the cold war -<

#nternational moements of goods, money and people playa ma+or role in

today*s unprecedented biological losses59. Iet the emerging rules of the

>lobal economy pay little heed to the importance or reersing the

biological impoerishment of the planet. This mismatch between

ecological imperaties and preailing economic practice will need to be

bridged if the world is to halt an unraeling of critical ecological system

in the early decades of this century. The planet*s forest coers is steadily

shrinking. 'early half of the forests that once coered earth hae already

been lost, and almost fourteen million hectares of tropical forest are being

sacrificed each year.

#) Mers 6orman, 2he CorldFs :orests and their ecosstem ser+ices, inGretchen . ail, ed., 6atureFs Ser+ices, Cashin7ton, Island Press, 1))%.

'$ R. Arder, . ausen, Jaron and 4upro+, . “!ascular function and short terme@posure to 3ne particles air polites”. Jrl. of Air B Caste Mu7t. Asso. !ol. >1,",

#$11& pp. ""(">'.


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CONCLUSION

Bconomic +ustifications for the protection of the enironment are

probably, the most popular protection rationales in enironment debates.-=

7or examples, in (


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3nited 'ations Bnironment $rogram, has once obsered that Duntil

recently, the language of mainstream economics has defined the economy

in market terms, without giing much attention to non2market element

elements such as subsidies proided by eco2system serices, sub2

substance actiities, household labor or cultural aspects of human social

serices. This must change. 7rom an ecological and an economic

perspectie, both poerty and enironment degradation are symptoms of

a poorly functioning economic system.E5(

'ow, enironmental questions are becoming increasingly dominated by

economics. @espite the fact that many of those inoled in enironment

protection are weary of economic rationales, many hae neertheless

accepted the central message of this type of enironmental quality that

society tries to achiee in practice. " primary +ustification for this change

is because of the high economic alues that can be attached to the

enironment through reformulated economic method.

.T.!. obsered as early as in (


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lasting good of men. Conseration is the foresighted utili&ation,

preseration and renewal of forests, waters, land and minerals for the

greatest good of the greatest number for the longest time.E5-

Humanity stands at a defining moment in the history. e are confronted

with a perpetuation of disparities between and within nations, a

worsening of poerty, hunger, ill health and illiteracy, and the continuing

deterioration of the ecosystems on which we depend for our well being. 55

Howeer, integration of enironment and deelopment concerns and

greater attention to them will lead to the fulfillment of basic needs,

improed liing standards for all, better protected and managed

ecosystems and a safer, more prosperous future.56

DThe primary cause of enironmental problems, is not the price2making

market, but rather the failure of markets and goernments to price the

enironment appropriatelyE5

'# Corld 2rade


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2.: O>ONE AND NUCLEAR HOLOCOS5

2.:.1 O>ONE&- !&one is highly reactie pale2blue gas with a

penetrating odour. #t is an allotrope of oxygen, made up of three atoms

of oxygen. #t is formed when the molecule of the stable form of

oxygen 0!51 is split by ultraiolet radiation or electrical discharge.

!&one is naturally2occurring gas found in ery small traces in the

earth*s atmosphere. !&one is formed by the action of sunlight on

oxygen.

Oo!e 'a0er&- e lie in the troposphere where most of the weather

occurs; such as rain, snow and clouds. "boe troposphere is the

stratosphere, an important region in which effects such as o&one form

as a layer. !&one layer is a protectie thin band in the stratosphere

0aboe troposphere1 that shields the earth from the harmful ultraiolet

rays coming from the sun.

!&one if formed in the atmosphere when ultraiolet 03J1 radiation from

the sun strikes the stratosphere, splitting oxygen molecules 0!-1 into

atomic oxygen 0!1. the atomic oxygen quickly combines with further

oxygen molecules to from o&one 0!51. This o&one dynamics the 3J as

heat, if this stratospheric o&one layer is condensed ertically to

standards temperature and pressure, its thickness aerages 9.-


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aboe the equator and may exceed 9.69 cm aboe poles at the of

winter season. The thickness of o&one slayer is not uniform at het

same time concentration of !5 in the stratosphere changes with season

it is highest during the spring season 07ebruary2"pril1 and lowest

during the rainfall season 0Guly2!ctober1. The absorption of 3J

radiation by o&one layer increases exponentially with its thickness.

Therefore, maximum amount of 3J radiations are absorbed in the

tropics 0i.e. near the equator1 an this amount decreases towards poles.

The layer of o&one formed in the stratosphere is also known as

4Chapmam layer*.

#n the stratosphere, o&one acts as o&one shield and protects the earth*s

organism*s from harmful pollutant and causes photochemical smog. "

trace of o&one in troposphere can damage human lungs and tissues,

and also plants. !&one in troposphere can damage human lungs and

tissues, and also harm plants. !&one in troposphere is also a

greenhouse gas and contributes to the greenhouse effect.5=

'> “2he total amount of o;one EcolummF of a from the earthFs surface up to

an altitude of $cm is the total column


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The leel of o&one in the atmosphere is naturally fluctuating by small

amounts all the time it is affected by the seasons changing wind

patterns and other natural factors. 7or billions, of years a delicate

balance 0equilibrium1 has been maintained by nature. Howeer today

many, human actiities are harming the o&one layer and are leading to

an o&one leels in the upper atmosphere.

2.:.2 Oo!e ho'e&-

!&one hole refers to the thinning of stratospheric o&one layer during the

spring time. #n (


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chemically stable compounds containing chlorine or bromine, which

remain unchanged for long enough to drift up to the upper

atmosphere. an made emissions of C7Cs occur mainly in the

northern hemisphere. ith about


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down and release chlorine atoms which speed up the breakdown of

an o&one molecule into an oxygen molecule 0!-1 and oxygen action

0!1. !ne C7C molecule can break down (99,999 o&one molecules

through a catalytic chain reaction.

(".) Ha'o!%&2 Halons are similar to C7Cs in structure but contain

bromine atoms instead of chlorine. They are dangerous to o&one than

C7Cs. Halons are used as fire2extinguishing agents. Bach bromine

atom destroys hundreds of times more o&one molecules than a

chlorine atom does.

(c.) 5etrach'or#*e (CC'4)&- #t is used as cleaning solent for clothes and

metals and also in products such as correction fluid, dry2cleaning

sprays, spray adhesies, fire extinguishers, etc. it is another o&one

depleting substance.

" number of pollution including C7Cs, CCl6 and '-! enter into the

stratosphere and deplete the o&one layer. The discoeries related to

o&one destruction were made by Sherwood 8owland, ario olina

and $aul Crute&en. They were honored with 'obel $ri&e in Chemistry

in (


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The depletion of o&one layer allows more 3J2% radiation reaching the

earth surface. #t has been estimated that a percent loss of o&one

results in a (9 percent increase in 3J2% radiation, 3J radiation form

the sun cause the following/2

(1.) " ariety of health problems in human including skin cancers, eye

cataracts an a reduction in our natural immunity towards many

diseases.

(2.) 3J radiation can be damaging to microscopic life in the ocean

which from the basis of the world*s food chain

(.) The eleated leel of 3J radiation damages nucleic acid in the

liing organisms.

(4.) 3J radiation inhibits photosynthesis in plants and phytoplankton,

which in turn, affects the whole food chain.

(7.) 3J radiation may een affect the global climate. The increase in

intensity of sunlight may include global warming that melts the ice

caps at the poles. #f this happens, the sea leel will rise from a few

centimeters to a few matters. The low2lying areas will come under

water. #t is an ecological disaster. Howeer, the economic centres


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are always located along the coast. Hence flooding can lead to

great economic loss.

2.:.2.4 Protect#o! of Oo!e La0er&- #t is highly essential to stop

producing any o&one depleting chemicals now. Ben after stepping

the production of o&one layer to return to (


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"lthough foam packing is C7C2free, some products contain o&one

layer, could contribute substantially to global warming. hence, aoid

them and re2use non2disposable packing.

2.:.2.7 I!ter!at#o!a' effort%&- The 3nited 'ations formed the 3nited

'ations Bnironmental $rogram 03'B$1. #t took up the issue of

o&one depletion in (


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###. Helping the deeloping countries to implement use of alternaties

of C7Cs.

"n international conference held in Fyoto, Gapan in @ecember (


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sowety, although nuclear power plants designed in a way that there is

no leakage of radioactie materials from them.

"lthough many studies of nuclear safety hae been made since (


50/58

The nuclear 8egulatory Commission 0'8C1, 3S" estimates that there is (2

6 degree change of a complete core meltdown at a 3.S. reactor during

the next -9 years. The '8C also found that 5< 3S reactor hae a 9

chance of either containment failure from a meltdown or a tremendous

gas explosion.#n the short history of nuclear energy, according toe >reenpeace, there hae

occurred oer 59 nuclear accidents that can be termed Dma+orE and which

were lif2threatening and actually killed people. "ccidents inoling

nuclear dangers are more common than is generally perceied. ost of

the nuclear reactor accidents +ust go unreported until the coer2up of it by

the goernment and the administration is exposed by media and the non2

goernmental organi&ations. The elaborate secrecy threat shroud

operations at nuclear installations cannot hide the usually horrific

consequences that the enironment and sometimes people hae to face.There hae been a number of accidents that hae surpassed any materials

calamities or other. " single nuclear accidents causes loss of life, long

term illenes and destruction of property on a large scale and for a long

period of time. 8adioactiity and its fallout led to cancer, genetic

disorders and death in the affected area for decades, thus affecting all

forms of life for generation to come.2.:..1 Nc'ear Po,er P'a!t% Acc#*e!t%&-

7ollowing are some of the important nuclear station accidents that aboe

occurred in arious countries.


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(1) Cha' r#/er !c'ear po,er reactor acc#*e!t (Ca!a*a)&-

#t was the first nuclear power reactor accidents. The reactor '8K was

heay water moderated, located on the !ntario bank of he !ttwa rier,

about (9 kilometer from !ttwa in Canada. The accident occurred on

(- @ecember (


52/58

The wind scale nuclear reactor, which was graphite2moderated reactor,

air2colled with huge filters on the top of the stack, was located near the

#rish Sea, west of the lake district, )ierpool, Bngland, on onday,

!ctober :, (


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people from a contaminated area. 'o. causalities were reported by the

Soiet officials.

(4) Stat#o!ar0 Do,er Po,er-I !c'ear reactor acc#*e!t (USA)&-The S)2# was -99 kw nuclear reactor located at #daho falls in the 3nited

States. #t was designed for electric power production for remote "rctic

stations, on Ganuary 5, (


54/58

oerheating and partial meltdown of its uranium core. Some

radioactie water gases were released.

Seeral hundred people at the time of the accident reported nausea,

omiting, hair loss and skin rashes. The residents rushed in the

opposite direction of the domains with their belongings. "

proclamation was made by the >oernor of State urging pregnant

women and those with small children liing within miles of T# to

leae the area. The news of the accident rocked the nation. Technically

the T# nuclear power reactor accident was not a disaster, it was

characteri&ed as emergency. Howeer, the eacuation which occurred

in connection with the nuclear threat may be compared with

eacuation in the face of other threats(9) 5%r$a Nc'ear po,er %tat#o! acc#*e!t (@apa!)&-

The Tsuruga 'uclear power station was located in 7ukui $refecture in

Gapan. " whole series of accidents at the Tsuruga clear power plant

has been disclosed. #n each of the nine accidents reealed so far, a

serious leakage of radioactie materials occurred. The worst accident

in the history of Gapan*s nuclear power industry was reealed on "pril

(A, (


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Tsuruga is actually trying to conceal een more serious accidents

which caused a large amount of radioactie leakage. There are

indications that the company tried to erase records of the accidents.

The Gapan atomic power company is not qualified to run nuclear plant

and has committed comes against humanity.(:) Cher!o"0' Nc'ear Reactor Acc#*e!t (USSR)&-

!n "pril -=, (


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seasonally. #t is slightly less hemispheres, going up to a maximum of

about [email protected]

(;.)5oa#mra Nc'ear p'a!t acc#*e!t (@apa!)&- The nuclear power plant was located at Tokaimura in Gapan. !n

September 59, (radually the reactor was wrecked by 4cracks

in the end2shields.*" chemical plant at a nuclear #ndia*s southern city, Hyderabad was sealed

and kept under inspection by atomic experts following a blast on (Ath

'oember, -99- that left no casualties, according to official sources.The sealed uranium oxide plant in the sprawling nuclear fuel complex at

oulali near Hyderabad was inspected by a team of export from

#ndia*s "tomic Bnergy 8egulatory Commission. The explosion, which

officials told, occurred due to the high temperature in the plant, but

described it as a minor one, though it blew off the roof of the plane.

/$ D"round -< sick peoples were hospitali&ed. "s the area had to be eacuated, (5999 people had

to be moed immediately and another (. lakh by (


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"round -< sick people were hospitali&ed. "s the area had to be

eacuated (5,999 people had to moed immediately and another (.

lakh by (


58/58

air pollution chapter 2

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