What is environmental pollution in chemistry?

 

What is environmental pollution in chemistry?


If a substance is present in more than normal amounts in the environment and adversely affects the normal life of the species or organism, then that substance is called pollutant, and this process is called environmental pollution.


Pollution is the introduction of pollutants into the environment that cause harm or discomfort to humans or other living things or damage the environment.

Contaminants can be any naturally occurring substance or energy. However, its levels are considered to be contaminants due to excess.


What is pollutant in environmental science?


Pollutant is a substance produced either by a natural source or human activity which has an adverse effect on the environment, that is, which causes environmental pollution.


Definition of pollutant


If a substance is present in more than normal amounts in the environment and adversely affects the normal life of the species or organism, then that substance is called pollutant or contaminant.

For examples, carbon monoxide(CO), sulfur dioxide(SO2), nitrogen dioxide(NO2), lead(Pb), mercury(Hg) etc.

The safe level of carbon monoxide in air is 0.1 ppm. If the level of carbon monoxide present in the air is more than 0.1ppm for any reason, it is considered as pollutant.


What is threshold limiting value or TLV of pollutants?


There is a specific level of pollutants, above which they affect the environment and ecosystem deadly, that specific level of pollutants are called threshold limiting value or TLV of pollutants.

For examples, the threshold limiting value of sulfur dioxide is 5 mg /m3 and that of carbon dioxide is 9000 mg /m3. The threshold limiting value or TLV of some pollutants are shown below.


environmental pollution


Types of pollutants

According to the sources there are two types of pollutants in the atmosphere.

  •         Primary pollutants   
  •         Secondary pollutants

Primary pollutants

There are some pollutants those are entered into the air directly from their sources, are called primary pollutants.

For examples, ash, dust particle, sulfur powder, CO, NOx, hydrocarbon, radioactive, matter, various metallic compounds or particles, carbon powder flower pollen etc.

Secondary pollutants

Pollutants, those are produced by the combination of two or more primary pollutants, are called secondary pollutants.

Such as, O3, HCHO, H2SO4,aldehyde, ketone, PAN, SO3, NO2, various organic peroxides etc.


There are other two types of pollutants.

·        Biodegradable pollutants

·        Non-biodegradable pollutants


What is biodegradable pollutant?


Contaminants that are decomposed by bacteria or microbe are called biodegradable pollutants. For examples, animal manure, household waste, sugar and paper industry contaminants.

 

What is non-biodegradable pollutant?

 

Contaminants that are not decomposed by bacteria or microbe are called non-biodegradable pollutants.

 For examples, metallic pollutants, dichloro diphenyl trichloro ethane etc.




 

 

  • What is environmental pollution in chemistry?
  • What is pollutant in environmental science?
  • What is threshold limiting value or TLV of pollutants?
  • What is biodegradable pollutant?
  • What is non-biodegradable pollutant?








No comments

Powered by Blogger.