ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION

ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION TYPES
CAUSES, EFFECTS AND CONTROL MEASURES

1. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION P. RAMESH Dept. of Environmental Science Sri Venkateswara University

2. ENVIRONMENT: The term environment has been derived from a French word “Environ” means to surround. It refers to both abiotic (non-living) and biotic (living) environment. The word environment means surroundings, in which organisms live. Environment regulates the life of the organisms including human beings. Human beings interact with the environment more vigorously than other living beings

3. ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES: Environmental studies is the interdisciplinary academic field which systematically studies human interaction with the environment in the interests of solving complex problems. It is a broad field of study that includes also the natural environment , built environment , and the sets of relationships between them.

4. ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY: Environmental chemistry is the scientific study of the chemical and biochemical phenomena that occur in natural places. It should not be confused with green chemistry, which seeks to reduce potential pollution at its source. It can be defined as the study of the sources, reactions, transport, effects, and fates of chemical species in the air, soil and water environments; and the effect of human activity and biological activity on these.

5. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION: Environmental Pollution can be defined as “ any desirable change in physical, chemical or biological characteristics of any component of the environment(air, water, soil), which can cause harmful effects on various forms of life or property”. Polluted Water

6. TYPES OF POLLUTIONS: Air Pollution Water Pollution Soil Pollution

7. Marine Pollution Thermal Pollution

8. AIR POLLUTION:

9. Air Pollutants: Pollutant a substance that pollutes something, especially water or the atmosphere. A pollutant may cause long- or short-term damage by changing the growth rate of plant or animal species. Primary Pollutants: These are emitted directly from the point source. Examples: Carbon monoxide( CO), Nitrogen (NO x ) oxides, Sulphur oxides(SO x ) Secondary Pollutants: These are formed by interaction of primary pollutants Examples: ozone(O 3 ), Photochemical smog, Peroxyacetyle nitrate (PAN)

10. Causes/Sources of Air Pollution: Natural Sources: The natural sources of air pollution are : Natural disasters- Volcanic eruption, Earthquakes, Cyclones etc

11. ii. Forest fires: iii. Biological decay

12. IV. Pollen grains v. Radio active material-Radon gas

13. 2. Man- made causes: Industrial waste: ii. Automobiles:

14. iii. Thermal power station iv. Nuclear explosions:

15. v. Agricultural activities vi. Disposal of garbage

16. Indoor Air Pollution : Indoor Air Pollution is the term used to describe the amount of contaminants in the air inside a building from sources such as cigarette smoking, fuel combustion for heating or cooking, certain wallboards, carpets, or insulation as well as the geology of the area (radon in soil or rocks beneath the structure). What’s indoor air pollution ?

17. Indoor air pollution in urban areas is due to pesticides, household care products, perfumes, hair sprays, furniture polish, glues, air fresheners, wood preservatives as well as reduced ventilation in buildings. Tobacco smoke contributes to a variety of chemicals that are harmful to the active as well as passive smoker. Biological pollutants are pollen from plants, mites, hair from pets, fungi, parasites. Formaldehyde from carpets, particle boards and insulation from cause allergies in many people. Asbestos and radon too cause harm to health.

18. Where does radon come from? Natural source: Earth and rock beneath home Well water; Outdoor air; Artificial source: Daily life materials: leather; low density plastic (like plastic bags, etc.); paints Building materials: gypsum board (sheetrock), concrete block, mortar, sheathing paper (tarpaper), wood paneling, and most insulation.

19. Major Indoor Pollutants 1, 1, 1-Trichloroethane Aerosol sprays Dizziness, breathing irregularities Asbestos Pipe insulation, ceilings, floor tiles, oven mitts Lung Cancer and asbestosis Benzo-a-pyrene Tobacco smoke, woodstoves Lung Cancer Carbon Monoxide Faulty furnaces, cigarette smoke Headache, heartbeat irregularities, death, CO has 250x affinity for hemoglobin than O 2 Pollutant Source Health Effects

20. Radon – 222 Soil and rock near house foundation, concrete Lung cancer Styrene Carpets, plastics, Kidney & liver damage Tetrachlor- ethylene Dry-cleaning fluid Nerve disorders, damage to liver and kidneys, cancer Tobacco Smoke Cigarettes and other smoking sources Lung cancer and heart disease Organic Material (Living Organisms) Dust mites, fungal and algal spores, dust (human skin), animal dander, hair, carpet fibers, fur Allergies, coughs, sneezing, eye irritation, sore throats, difficulty breathing

21. Solutions Indoor Air Pollution Prevention Cover ceiling tiles & lining of AC ducts to prevent release of mineral fibers Use adjustable fresh air vents for work spaces Increase intake of outside air Ban smoking or limit it to well ventilated areas Change air more frequently Set stricter formaldehyde emissions standards for carpet, furniture, and building materials Circulate a building’s air through rooftop green houses Prevent radon infiltration Use exhaust hoods for stoves and appliances burning natural gas Use office machines in well ventilated areas Use less polluting substitutes for harmful cleaning agents, paints, and other products Install efficient chimneys for wood-burning stoves Cleanup or Dilution

22. EFFECTS OF AIR POLLUTION Effects on Human Health: CHRONIC : long duration exposure and/or long term effects Examples: lung cancer heart disease damage to brain, nerves, liver, kidneys, etc.

23. An average man breathes22,000 times a day and takes in 16 kg of air each day. The impurities in the inhaled air can affect human health in a number of ways, depending upon the nature and concentration of the pollutants, duration of exposure and age group of the receptor. Eye irritation can be caused by many air pollutants such as Nox,O3,PAN,smog,Particulates etc. A variety of particulates, particularly pollens, can initiate asthmatic attacks High concentrations of SO2, NO2,SPM and photochemical smog can aggravate chronic pulmonary disease like bronchitis and a asthma.

24. Decrease yield in agriculture. Suppressed growth of vegetables. Leaf injury and damage to young plants. Decreased growth rate and increased death rate. EFFECTS OF AIR POLLUTION ON PLANTS:

25. Sulfur dioxide, ozone, fluorides and peroxyacyl nitrate damage the leaves of plants. If enough leaves are damaged, the entire plant will die. Sulfur dioxide, a by-product of burning fossil fuels such as oil, coal and gasoline, causes changes in the colors of leaf tissue, which may turn white, brown or yellow. Ozone damage on leaves appears as mottled spots, which may be yellow, black or brown. the plant will drop its leaves altogether. Yellowish Tissue damage Molted spots

26. EFFECTS OF AIR POLLUTION ON MATERIALS: Corrosion of metals due to SO 2 in presence of oxygen and moisture is converted into H 2 SO 4 acid. H 2 SO 4 acid react with limestone, marble and other building materials to cause deterioration.

27. Soiling and eroding of building materials. SO 2 , O 3, H 2 S and aerosols damage protective coating and paints of the surface. O 3 and PAN causes cracking of rubber and various electrical insulations. Deterioration of art work due to SPM

28. Air pollution control Cannot be fully prevented but can be controlled. Preventative measures Control measures using equipments. Preventative measures (source control) Selection of suitable fuel. (Low sulphur coal in power plant, using of CNG) Modification in industrial process. Selection of suitable site and zoning for industrial unit.

29. The government is trying to Remove the use of leaded petrol, a major cause of air pollution. The industrial acts are implemented to control the harmful emission of gases. The natural management team work to minimize the effect of various natural disaster like forest fire, volcanic eruption that are causes of air pollution.

30. Air pollution controlling equipments Gravitational settling chamber: Used to remove particles with size greater than 50 μ m. Velocity of flue gas reduced in large chamber. Particles settle under gravitational force.

31. Advantages Low initial cost. Easy to design. Low pressure drop. Low maintenance cost. Dry and continuous disposal of solid particulates. Disadvantages Require large space. Less collection efficiency. Only larger size particles can be collected.

32. Scrubbers: Particulate matters are incorporated into liquid droplets and removed from the gas stream. Different types of scrubbers are- - Spray tower - Venturi scrubber - Cyclone scrubber Flue gas made to push up against a down falling water current. Particulate matter mix up with water thus falls down and gets removed.

33. Spray tower Cyclone scrubber

34. Advantages Simultaneously remove particulates and gaseous pollutants. Hot gases can be cooled down. Corrosive gases can be recovered and neutralize. Disadvantages Lot of waste waters produced. Poses freezing problem in cold countries. Maintenance cost is high when corrosive materials are collected.

35. WAYS TO REDUCE AIR POLLUTION DRIVE LESS  carpool, walk or ride a bike, shop by phone or mail, ride public transit, telecommute. DRIVE SMART  obey the speed limit, combine all errands in one trip, use cruise control, keep car tuned, don’t top off at the pump, replace car’s air filter, keep tires properly inflated, buy clean cars. BUY AIR-FRIENDLY PRODUCTS  buy products that are water-based or are low in VOCs, buy water-based paints, paint with a brush instead of a sprayer, use a push or electric lawn mower, use propane or gas barbecue.

36. WAYS TO REDUCE AIR POLLUTION SAVE ENERGY  turn off lights when you leave a room, use fluorescent lighting, use a programmable thermostat, insulate your home, use a fan instead of an air-conditioner, install low-flow shower heads. WASTE NOT  choose recycled products, choose products with recycled packaging, print or xerox on both sides of the paper, reuse paper bags, recycle papers, plastics and metals. DON’T CREATE DUST  don’t use fireplace on days with unhealthy air, use rake instead of leaf blower, drive slowly on dirt roads.

37. ODOUR POLLUTION: Odour Pollution refers to the release of offensive, unpleasant and undesirable odour of objectionable proportions. The source of odour pollution are industrial operations, livestock operations, agricultural activities, vehicular emissions, sewage and waste treatment plants, solid waste landfill area, decaying vegetation, chicken and pig sheds, poultry forms, tanneries, slaughter houses, food and meet processing units.

38. Effects of Odour Pollution: Undesirable and unpleasant odour can effects human in many ways Respiratory problems Nausea: is an uneasiness of the stomach that often comes before vomiting. Insomnia: is a sleep disorder that is characterized by difficulty falling and/or staying asleep. Physical discomfort Annoyance: is an unpleasant mental state that is characterized by such effects as irritation and distraction from one's conscious thinking Nausea Insomnia Annoyance

39. CONTROLLING ODOURS FROM AREA SOURCES : For large area sources like sewage treatment farms, cattle feedlots, composting, household or industrial tips and manure spreading, there are only two proven methods that can be used to reduce odour complaints. These are: 1 . Excluding development close to the site 2. Ensuring that the operation is carried out under best management practice.

40. WATER POLLUTION

41. Water covers over 70% of the Earth’s surface and is a very important resource for people and the environment. Water pollution affects drinking water, rivers, lakes and oceans all over the world . This consequently harms human health and the natural environment .

42. “ Any alteration in the physical or chemical or biological properties of water and the contamination with any unwanted foreign substances, which would contribute a health hazard or otherwise decrease the utility of water” WATER POLLUTION

43. . Types of water pollution

44. If the pollution comes from a single source, such as an oil spill, it is called point-source pollution. Nonpoint-source If the pollution comes from many sources, it is called nonpoint-source pollution. Point-source

45. Surface water pollution Surface waters are the natural water resources of the Earth. They are found on the exterior of the Earth’s crust and include: Oceans, Rivers, Lakes These waters can become polluted in a number of ways, and this is called surface water pollution

46. Groundwater Pollution A lot of the Earth’s water is found underground in soil or under rock structures called aquifers. When this water becomes polluted it is called groundwater pollution. Groundwater pollution is often caused by pesticide contamination from the soil, this can infect our drinking water and cause huge problems

47. causes of water pollution Sewage and wastewater Marine Dumping Industrial Waste Radioactive Waste Oil Pollution Underground Storage Leakages Atmospheric Decomposition Global Warming

48. . Pollutants from industrial sources include : Asbestos – Asbestos fibres can be inhaled and cause illnesses such as asbestosis, mesothelioma, lung cancer, intestinal cancer and liver cancer. Lead – This is a metallic element and non-biodegradable substance. Mercury –causes mercury poisoning. Nitrates and phosphates – nitrates are more often being washed and can cause  eutrophication . Sulphur – This is a non-metallic substance that is harmful for marine life. Oils  – Oil does not dissolve in water, instead it forms a thick layer on the water surface. This can stop marine plants receiving enough light for photosynthesis. Petrochemicals  – This is formed from gas or petrol and can be toxic to marine life

49. Radioactive waste : *Nuclear waste is produced from industrial, medical and scientific processes that use radioactive material. Nuclear waste comes from a number of sources: *Operations conducted by nuclear power stations produce radioactive waste. *Mining and refining of uranium and thorium are also causes of marine nuclear waste. *Waste is also produced in the nuclear fuel cycle which is used in many industrial, medical and scientific processes

50. OIL POLLUTION Oceans are polluted by oil on a daily basis from oil spills, routine shipping, run-offs and dumping .

51. Underground storage leakages A tank or piping network that has at least 10 percent of its volume underground is known as an underground storage tank (UST ).

52. Atmospheric deposition * Atmospheric deposition is the pollution of water caused by air pollution. *In the atmosphere, water particles mix with carbon dioxide sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, and forms acid rain and pollute water

53. Nutrients and their effect on water Nutrients are essential for plant growth and development. Many nutrients are found in wastewater and fertilizers, and these can cause excess weed and algae growth if large concentrations end up in water .

54. Eutrophication Eutrophication is when the environment becomes enriched with nutrients and  can cause algal blooms. The bloom of algae may also block sunlight from photosynthetic marine plants under the water surface.

55. Microbiological water pollution Microbiological water pollution is caused by microorganisms such as: Bacteria, Viruses ,Protozoa cause Serious diseases like cholera and thyphoid .

56. Suspended Matter Some pollutants do not dissolve in water as their molecules are too big to mix between the water molecules. This material is called particulate matter and can often be a cause of water pollution. .

57. * Industrial and agricultural work involves the use of many different chemicals that can run-off into water and pollute it. *Metals and solvents from industrial work can pollute rivers and lakes. These are poisonous to many forms of aquatic life and may slow their development, make them infertile or even result in death. Chemical water pollution

58. Agricultural Wastes: Chemical fertilizers and pesticides have become essential for present day high yielding crops. Consequently , they have become a potential source of water pollution. These fertilizers contain major plants nutrients mainly nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium. Excess fertilizers may reach the ground water by leaching or may be mixed with surface water of rivers, lakes and ponds by runoff and drainage

59. Sewage and Wastewater Sewage is the term used for wastewater that often contains faeces, urine and laundry waste. In developed countries, sewage often causes problems when people flush chemical and pharmaceutical substances down the toilet . .

60. Health Effects: * Heavy metals  result in birth defects and some are carcinogenic. * Industrial waste can cause immune suppression, reproductive failure or acute poisoning. * Microbial pollutants, infectious diseases such as cholera and typhoid fever being the primary cause of infant mortality. * Organic matter and nutrients causes an increase in aerobic algae and depletes oxygen from the water *Sulfate particles from acid rain can result in mortality. * Suspended particles can often reduce the amount of sunlight penetrating the water, disrupting the growth of photosynthetic plants and micro-organisms

61. . Oxygen Depleting Microorganisms that live in water feed on biodegradable substances. When too much biodegradable material is added to water, the number of microorganisms increase and use up the available oxygen. This is called oxygen depletion

62. CONTROLLING OF WATER POLLUTION: 1. All domestic and municipal effluents be drained to water bodies only after treatment 2. Use of pesticides in agriculture should be limited. Only standard quality pesticides Should be used. 3. Chemicals like potassium permanganate should be sprayed regularly to protect water from micro organisms. 4. Radio active substances can be removed by Ion-exchange method. 5. Plants, trees and forests control pollution and they act as natural air conditions. 6. Bacteria are killed by passing chlorine gas into water bodies 7. Inorganic wastes can be treated chemically. 8. Acids and bases are removed by neutralization

63. What Can You Do?

64. Marine pollution

65. MARINE POLLUTION: 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 Sources: 1. Dumping the wastes 2. Oil Spillage 3. Radio active materials enter the ocean from nuclear weapon testing 4.Toxic chemicals 5. Marine Debris:

66. Marine dumping of 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 .

67. 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 Oil Spillage

68. Radio active materials Ocean disposal or ocean dumping as a method to dispose of nuclear/radioactive waste The waste materials included both liquids and solids housed in various containers, as well as reactor vessels, with and without spent or damaged nuclear fuel

69. Marine Debris: Garbage like plastic bags, ropes helium balloons

70. Effects of marine pollution: 1. Many marine birds ingest plastic that causes gastrointestinal disorders. 2. Heavy metals and organic pollutants damages birds by thinning of egg shells and tissue damage of egg. 3. Oil pollution causes damage to marine animals and plants including algae bird, fish etc

71. Control of marine pollution: 1. The industrial unit on the coastal lines should be equipped with pollution control instrument. 2. Urban growth near the coast should be regulated. Methods of removal of oil Physical methods. a) skimming the oil off the surface with suction device b) Floating oil can be absorbed using absorbing materials like ploy urethane foam. Chopped straw and saw dust also used to absorbed oil from the sea water. c) Chemical methods like dispersion , emulsification and using chemical additives are used to coagulated the oil

72. Protective method: 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

73. . NOISE POLLUTION NOISE POLLUTION

74. Noise is the unwanted sound The word noise is cognate with the Latin word nauseas, which means disgust or discomfort. Noise pollution is displeasing or excessive noise that may disrupt the activity or balance of human or life.

75. source of Noise pollution: 1. Natural 2. Manmade Natural : Wind, Thunder, Movement of water etc,. Manmade: Industries, Domestic, Traffic, etc,.

76. Outdoor Noise pollution Machines Transportation systems,  Motor vehicles,  Aircrafts and Trains

77. Indoor noise pollution Machines, Building activities, Music performances and Especially in some workplaces

78. Noise pollution affects: both health and behavior. Unwanted sound (noise) can damage psychological health. Noise pollution can cause annoyance and aggression, hypertension, high stress levels, hearing loss, sleep disturbances, and other harmful effects.

79. Adultery effects First ear effected Deafness Permanent hear losing Non adultery effects Disturbances Sleeping problem Physiological disorders

80. On animal 1 . Lion, Deer, Rhinos they appear dull and inactive 2. Increasing the risk of death by changing. 3.Acoustic ( Audio) overexposure can lead to temporary or permanent loss of hearing. 4. Migrating birds stops resting due to close of habitation An impact of noise on animal life is the reduction of usable habitat that noisy areas may cause, which in the case of endangered species may be part of the path to  extinction.

81. CONTROL OF NOISE POLLUTION Reducing in sources of noise ( Heavy Vehicles, Old motor vehicles) Machines should be kept in containers Using sound absorbing silencers Planting more trees Through law

82. SOIL POLLUTION Soil Pollution is defined as the changes in physical, chemical and biological conditions of the soil through man’s intervention resulting in the degradation in quality and productivity of soil SOIL Soil is dynamic natural body composed of mineral matter and organic matter and living forms in which plant grows.

83. 1. Agricultural pesticides 2. Disposal of solid wastes on land 3. Mining activities 4. Biological agents 5. Radioactive pollutants 6. Heavy metal pollutants CAUSES OF SOIL POLLUTION-

84. The use of inorganic nutrients for a long time gradually declines the soil fertility. The intensive inappropriate tillage practices lowers the capability of soil. Agricultural practices

85. Disposal of solids wastes on land The solid wastes are mostly generated from industrial, domestic and urban and agricultural sources. The solid wastes generated in Indian cities mainly contains sludge, glass materials, metallic cans, fibers, waste paper, packing materials, leather.

86. The top layer of soil is generally damaged or destroyed during both shaft and strip mining practices. The uncontrolled mine fires may also destroy the productivity of the areas near mines. Mining activities

87. The major sources of biological agents causing soil pollution are human excreta, animal and bird excreta, municipal wastes, faulty sanitation. The industrial parasites are among the most threatening biological agents . Biological agents

88. Radioactive pollutants Huge amounts of radio-active substances result from nuclear device explosion, nuclear testing laboratories, nuclear power plants and weapons. All these are responsible for enhancing soil pollution.

89. Heavy metals in soil are basically due to industrial discharges. Certain heavy metals eg . Zn, Cu, Ni, Cd and Pb are also present in significant levels in sewage sludge and reach the soil where they become part of life cycle and affects adversely. Heavy metal pollutants

90. Soil fertility is adversely affected if pesticide remain in soil for longer period. Excessive use of fertilizers and pesticide chemicals does not allow microbial flora and fauna in soil to flourish. Excessive use of nitrogen and phosphatic fertilizer makes the soil deficient in other micronutrients like Zn, Co etc. and causes nutrition imbalance. Pesticides like DDT, deldrin etc. are known to seep gradually through soil into ground water and thus contaminate public drinking water supplies. Effects of soil pollution

91. People in contact with pesticides are extremely prone to get poisoned . Some of the industrial wastes are extremely toxic for organisms. Solid urban wastes and industrial wastes produce foul and offensive odour. Heavy metals and other toxic substances can destroy beneficial microorganisms of the soil. Radioactive pollutants can cause a number of undesirable disease of digestive system if they enter our body through food chain.

92. Control of soil pollution Adoption of sustainable agriculture having organic farming and use of biofertilizers, biointegrated pest management and proper water management, composting etc. Adoption of suitable and proper industrial and urban wastes management . Adequate controlled use of heavy metal and toxic substances. Non-biodegradable wastes can be recycled and used again Biomedical wastes should be carefully disposed off so that it does not create any health hazard .

93. DON’T USE EXCESS CHEMICAL FERTILIZERS

94. DON’T USE EXCESS CHEMICAL PESTICIDE

95. THERMAL POLLUTION

96. DEFINITION: addition of excess of undesirable heat to water that makes it harmful to man, animal or aquatic life

97. Waste Heat from Power Plants

98. CAUSES discharge of heated water or hot waste material into water bodies from NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS INDUSTRIAL EFFLUENTS DOMESTIC SEWAGE HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER COAL FIRED POWER PLANTS

99. Nuclear Power Plants Nuclear power plants use water as a cooling agent. After the water is used, it is put back into a water supply at 9-20 o C warmer This 1988 thermal image of the Hudson River highlights temperature changes caused by discharge of 2.5 billion gallons of water each day from the Indian Point power plant. The plant sits in the upper right of the photo — hot water in the discharge canal is visible in yellow and red, spreading and cooling across the entire width of the river.

100. Coal-fired power plants Coal is utilized as a fuel Condenser coils are cooled with water from nearby lake or river The heated effluents decrease the DO of water Damages the marine organisms

101. Industrial Effluents Discharged water from steam-electric power industry using turbo generators will have a higher temperature ranging from 6 to 9 ˚C than the receiving water. In modern stations, producing 100 MW, nearly one million gallons are discharged in an hour with increase in temperature of the cooling water passing by 8 to 10 ˚C

102. Domestic sewage Sewage is commonly discharged into lakes , canals or streams Municipal sewage normally has a higher temperature than the receiving water Increase in temperature of the receiving water decreases the DO of water. The foul smelling gases increased in water resulting in death of marine organisms

103. CONTROL MEASURES Cooling towers Cooling ponds Spray ponds Artificial lakes Cooling tower

104. Spray ponds Artificial lakes

105. Radioactive Pollution

106. What is Radioactive Pollution? Addition of radiation to environment by using radioactive elements .

107. Causes Production of nuclear weapons Decommissioning of nuclear weapons  Mining of radioactive ore (uranium, phosphate etc.) Coal ash  Medical waste Nuclear power plants 

108. Production of nuclear weapons Radioactive materials used in this production have high health risks and release a small amount of pollution. Thanks to good current health-standards this release is not significant and is not a danger to us unless an accident occurs.

109. Mining of radioactive ore  Mining these involves crushing and processing of the radioactive ores and this generates radioactive waste which emits alpha particles. This waste is of low risk unless ingested.

110. Coal ash  It may come as a surprise that coal ash can be very dangerous. Some coal contains more radioactive material than usual and is often referred to as 'dirty' coal; when this is burnt the ash becomes more radioactive as the radioactive particles do not burn well. This level of radioactivity is less than in phosphate rocks, however, due to small amounts being released into the atmosphere and its ability to be inhaled, this ash is significantly more dangerous.

111. Medical waste A number of radioactive isotopes are used in medicine, either for treatment or diagnostics. These can be left to decay over a short period after which they are able to be disposed of as normal waste.

112. Nuclear power plants   Nuclear power plants under current standards produce little radioactive pollution due to safety precautions that must be adhered to. Accidents at these power plants can cause dangerously high radioactive pollution, such as in the case of Chernobyl, the most well-known and worst nuclear disaster in history and the more recent Fukushima, after the earthquake and tidal wave in Japan.

113. Effects On Human Beings The magnitude of the adverse effects largely depends on the level and duration of exposure to radioactivity. Low levels of localized exposure may only have a superficial effect and cause mild skin irritation . Long-term exposure or exposure to high amounts of radiation can have far more serious health effects. Radioactive rays can cause irreparable damage to DNA molecules and can lead to a life-threatening condition .

114. The rapidly growing/dividing cells, like those of the skin, bone marrow, are more sensitive towards radioactive emissions. On the other hand, cells that do not undergo rapid cell division, such as bone cells and nervous cells, aren't damaged so easily. Skin cancer, lung cancer and thyroid cancer are some of the common types of cancers caused by radiation effect.

115. Prevention Nuclear devices should be exploded under ground. Contaminants may be employed to decrease the radioactive emissions. Production of radio isotopes should be minimised. Extreme care should be exercised in the disposal of industrial wastes contained with radionuclide's. Use of high chimney and ventilations at the working place where radioactive contamination is high. .

116. In nuclear reactors, closed cycle coolant system with gaseous coolants of very high purity may be used to prevent extraneous activation products. Fission reactions should be minimised. In nuclear mines, wet drilling may be employed along with underground drainage. Nuclear medicines and radiation therapy should be applied when absolutely necessary and earth minimum doses

117. Solid Waste Management Solid waste means any garbage, refuse, sludge from a wastewater treatment plant, water supply treatment plant, or air pollution control facility and other discarded materials including solid, liquid, semi-solid, or contained gaseous material, resulting from industrial, commercial, mining and agricultural operations, and from community activities,

118. THANK YOU