Pollution, Analysis & Control

Khalil Raza Bhatti 07ME40

Assignment No 1st

Submitted to Respected Sir,

Engr. Zaheerudin Memon Sahab

Khalil Raza Bhatti 07ME40

4/23/2010
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Question No 1: Describe Air Atmospheric Pollutants, Their Characteristics, Harmful

Effects, Atmospheric Reaction Say Global Warming, Acid Rain, Green House Effect and
Ozone Gas?

Air pollution is a real public health and environmental problem that can lead to among other
things global warming, acid rain, and the deterioration of the ozone layer. This chart names some
common pollutants, their sources, and their effect on the environment.

Pollutant Sources Effects

Ozone. A gas that can be found in
two places. Near the ground (the
troposphere), it is a major part of
smog. The harmful ozone in the
lower atmosphere should not be
confused with the protective layer
of ozone in the upper atmosphere
(stratosphere), which screens out
harmful ultraviolet rays.
Carbon monoxide. A gas that
comes from the burning of fossil
fuels, mostly in cars. It cannot be
seen or smelled.
Nitrogen dioxide. A reddish-brown
gas that comes from the burning of
fossil fuels. It has a strong smell at
high levels.
Ozone is not created directly, but
is formed when nitrogen oxides
and volatile organic compounds
mix in sunlight. That is why
ozone is mostly found in the
summer. Nitrogen oxides come
from burning gasoline, coal, or
other fossil fuels. There are
many types of volatile organic
compounds, and they come from
sources ranging from factories to
trees.
Carbon monoxide is released
when engines burn fossil fuels.
Emissions are higher when
engines are not tuned properly,
and when fuel is not completely
burned. Cars emit a lot of the
carbon monoxide found
outdoors. Furnaces and heaters
in the home can emit high
concentrations of carbon
monoxide, too, if they are not
properly maintained.
Nitrogen dioxide mostly comes
from power plants and cars.
Nitrogen dioxide is formed in
two ways—when nitrogen in the
fuel is burned, or when nitrogen
Ozone near the ground can cause
a number of health problems.
Ozone can lead to more frequent
asthma attacks in people who
have asthma and can cause sore
throats, coughs, and breathing
difficulty. It may even lead to
premature death. Ozone can also
hurt plants and crops.
Carbon monoxide makes it hard
for body parts to get the oxygen
they need to run correctly.
Exposure to carbon monoxide
makes people feel dizzy and
tired and gives them headaches.
In high concentrations it is fatal.
Elderly people with heart disease
are hospitalized more often when
they are exposed to higher
amounts of carbon monoxide.
High levels of nitrogen dioxide
exposure can give people coughs
and can make them feel short of
breath. People who are exposed
to nitrogen dioxide for a long
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in the air reacts with oxygen at time have a higher chance of

very high temperatures. Nitrogen
dioxide can also react in the
atmosphere to form ozone, acid
rain, and particles.
getting respiratory infections.
Nitrogen dioxide reacts in the
atmosphere to form acid rain,
which can harm plants and
animals.
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Particulate matter. Solid or liquid Particulate matter can be divided
matter that is suspended in the air. into two types—coarse particles
To remain in the air, particles and fine particles. Coarse
usually must be less than 0.1-mm particles are formed from
wide and can be as small as 0.00005 sources like road dust, sea spray,
mm. and construction. Fine particles
are formed when fuel is burned
in automobiles and power plants.
Sulfur dioxide. A corrosive gas that Sulfur dioxide mostly comes
cannot be seen or smelled at low from the burning of coal or oil in
levels but can have a “rotten egg” power plants. It also comes from
smell at high levels. factories that make chemicals,
paper, or fuel. Like nitrogen
dioxide, sulfur dioxide reacts in
the atmosphere to form acid rain
and particles.
Lead. A blue-gray metal that is very Outside, lead comes from cars in
toxic and is found in a number of areas where unleaded gasoline is
forms and locations. not used. Lead can also come
from power plants and other
industrial sources. Inside, lead
paint is an important source of
lead, especially in houses where
paint is peeling. Lead in old
pipes can also be a source of
lead in drinking water.
Toxic air pollutants. A large Each toxic air pollutant comes
number of chemicals that are known from a slightly different source,
or suspected to cause cancer. Some but many are created in chemical
important pollutants in this category plants or are emitted when fossil
include arsenic, asbestos, benzene, fuels are burned. Some toxic air
and dioxin. pollutants, like asbestos and
formaldehyde, can be found in
building materials and can lead
to indoor air problems. Many
toxic air pollutants can also enter
the food and water supplies.
Particulate matter that is small
enough can enter the lungs and
cause health problems. Some of
these problems include more
frequent asthma attacks,
respiratory problems, and
premature death.
Sulfur dioxide exposure can
affect people who have asthma
or emphysema by making it
more difficult for them to
breathe. It can also irritate
people's eyes, noses, and throats.
Sulfur dioxide can harm trees
and crops, damage buildings,
and make it harder for people to
see long distances.
High amounts of lead can be
dangerous for small children and
can lead to lower IQs and kidney
problems. For adults, exposure
to lead can increase the chance
of having heart attacks or
strokes.
Toxic air pollutants can cause
cancer. Some toxic air pollutants
can also cause birth defects.
Other effects depend on the
pollutant, but can include skin
and eye irritation and breathing
problems.
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Stratospheric ozone depleters.
Chemicals that can destroy the
ozone in the stratosphere. These
chemicals include
chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs),
halons, and other compounds that
CFCs are used in air
conditioners and refrigerators,
since they work well as coolants.
They can also be found in
aerosol cans and fire
extinguishers. Other
If the ozone in the stratosphere is
destroyed, people are exposed to
more radiation from the sun
(ultraviolet radiation). This can
lead to skin cancer and eye
problems. Higher ultraviolet
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include chlorine or bromine.
Greenhouse gases. Gases that stay
in the air for a long time and warm
up the planet by trapping sunlight.
This is called the “greenhouse
effect” because the gases act like
the glass in a greenhouse. Some of
the important greenhouse gases are
carbon dioxide, methane, and
nitrous oxide.
stratospheric ozone depleters are
used as solvents in industry.
Carbon dioxide is the most
important greenhouse gas. It
comes from the burning of fossil
fuels in cars, power plants,
houses, and industry. Methane is
released during the processing of
fossil fuels, and also comes from
natural sources like cows and
rice paddies. Nitrous oxide
comes from industrial sources
and decaying plants.
radiation can also harm plants
and animals.
The greenhouse effect can lead
to changes in the climate of the
planet. Some of these changes
might include more temperature
extremes, higher sea levels,
changes in forest composition,
and damage to land near the
coast. Human health might be
affected by diseases that are
related to temperature or by
damage to land and water.

Atmospheric Reaction

Acid rain harms living things:
When an air pollutant, such as sulfuric acid
combines with the water droplets that
make up clouds, the water droplets become
acidic. When those droplets fall to the
ground as rain or snow, the acidity of the
water can have damaging effects on the
environment. When acid rain falls over an
area, it can kill trees and harm animals, fish,
and other wildlife. Acid rain destroys the
leaves of plants. When acid rain infiltrates
into soils, it changes the chemistry of the
soil making it unfit for many living things
that rely on soil as a habitat or for nutrition.
Acid rain also changes the chemistry of the
lakes and streams that the rainwater flows
into, harming fish and other aquatic life.
Global warming harms living things:
additional greenhouse gasses that are
released into the atmosphere from air
pollution. When fuels are burned, some of
the pollutants released, such as carbon
dioxide, are greenhouses gasses. Through
the process of photosynthesis, plants
convert carbon dioxide into oxygen and use
the carbon to grow larger. However, the
amount of carbon dioxide released by
burning fuels is far greater than plants can
convert. Cutting down forests exacerbates
the problem.
Global warming is changing climate globally
and is causing significant changes to various
regions of the world. For example:
 Polar ice melt and permafrost melt
are causing changes in the habitat
and resources for plants and animals
living in polar ecosystems.
April 23, 2010

Our planet is currently warming much more

rapidly than expected because of
 Ocean warming, rising sea levels,
increasing runoff, and coral diseases
are causing change in shallow marine
ecosystems such as coral reefs.
 Less rainfall in the dry interiors of
continents due to global warming is
limiting water resources for plants
and animals.
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The thinning ozone layer harms living
things:
Air pollutants called chlorofluorocarbons(or
CFCs) destroy ozone molecules in the
stratosphere. This has left places in the
layer where the ozone is thin. These areas
of thin ozone are called ozone holes. The
ozone layer, located in the stratosphere
Question No 2: Describe Land pollution and its
control in details?
Land Pollution:
Land pollution is basically about the
contamination of the land surface and soil of the
Earth. Land pollution basically is about
contaminating the land surface of the Earth
through dumping urban waste matter
indiscriminately, dumping of industrial waste,
mineral exploitation, and misusing the soil by
harmful agricultural practices. Land pollution
includes visible litter and waste along with the
soil itself being polluted. The soil gets polluted by
the chemicals in pesticides and herbicides used
for agricultural purposes along with waste matter
being littered in urban areas such as roads, parks,
and streets.
Land Pollution Comprises Of: Solid Waste and
Soil Pollution
Solid Waste: Semisolid or solid matter that are
 Unhealthy methods of soil management.
layer of Earth’s atmosphere, shields our
planet from the Sun’s ultraviolet
radiation. Ultraviolet radiation causes skin
cancer and damages plants and wildlife. In
recent decades the number of CFCs
released into the atmosphere has
decreased significantly due to an
agreement between the nations of the
world called the Montreal Protocol.
Although it takes a long time to see the
impact, the ozone holes might someday be
smaller.
created by human or animal activities, and which
are disposed because they are hazardous or
useless are known as solid waste. Most of the
solid wastes, like paper, plastic containers,
bottles, cans, and even used cars and electronic
goods are not biodegradable, which means they
do not get broken down through inorganic or
organic processes. Thus, when they accumulate
they pose a health threat to people, plus,
decaying wastes also attract household pests and
result in urban areas becoming unhealthy, dirty,
and unsightly places to reside in. Moreover, it
also causes damage to terrestrial organisms,
while also reducing the uses of the land for other,
more useful purposes.
Soil Pollution: Soil pollution is chiefly caused by
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chemicals in pesticides, such as poisons that are
used to kill agricultural pests like insects and
herbicides that are used to get rid of weeds.
Hence, soil pollution results from:
 Harmful practices of irrigation methods.
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Land pollution is caused by farms because they
allow manure to collect, which leaches into the
nearby land areas. Chemicals that are used for
purposes like sheep dipping also cause serious
land pollution as do diesel oil spillages.
CONTROLS OF LAND
POLLUTION
How can Land Pollution be prevented?
 People should be educated and made
aware about the harmful effects of
littering
 Items used for domestic purposes ought
to be reused or recycled
 Personal litter should be disposed
properly
 Organic waste matter should be disposed
in areas that are far away from residential
places
 Inorganic matter such as paper, plastic,
glass and metals should be reclaimed and
then recycled
Reduction
We can reduce the amount of waste that is
produced by doing simple things like two-sided
copying on paper and backyard composting. This
will decrease the amount of waste that will be
Energy Recycling
We can also recycle energy sources by
incinerating waste and use the heat for energy.
Although many combustibles are recyclable,
disposed of in landfills. The Government can raise
awareness of the importance of reduction
through campaigns and advertisements and
encourage the public to participate actively in
reduction strategies like waste exchange
program. Reduction methods can have positive
environmental impacts like conserving resources.
Reuse
Another way to reduce the amount of waste
produced is by reusing a product. We are reusing
when we keep something and use them again for
either the same or other purposes. When we go
shopping at supermarkets, we can bring our own
shopping bag to carry our groceries and cut down
on the use of plastic bags. We can also bring our
own lunchboxes to store our meals instead of
disposing plastic containers after we use it. These
are some simple ways that we can do to
contribute.
Recycle
Some of the waste materials that can be recycled
are used paper, newspapers, plastic and glass
bottles and aluminum cans. We should throw
these waste materials into the appropriate
recycling bins whenever we can, instead of
throwing it into the rubbish bin. Public awareness
can be raised and everyone can also take part
actively in recycling activities
there is often a higher total value (due to
processing costs) in burning the waste for energy
than in recycling.
Incineration reduces the volume of refuse by up
April 23, 2010
to 90 percent, leaving behind only ash, and
resulting in less need for landfill space.
 7 Khalil Raza Bhatti 07ME40
Question No 3:
Describe Nuclear
Pollution and its
control in detail?
Nuclear Pollution or Waste
 Nuclear power is the only large-scale
energy-producing technology which takes full
responsibility for all its wastes and fully costs
this into the product.
 The amount of radioactive wastes is very
small relative to wastes produced by fossil fuel
electricity generation.
 Used nuclear fuel may be treated as a
resource or simply as a waste.
 Safe methods for the final disposal of
high-level radioactive waste are technically
proven; the international consensus is that this
should be deep geological disposal.
All parts of the nuclear fuel cycle produce some
radioactive waste (radio waste) and the cost of
managing and disposing of this is part of the
electricity cost, i.e. it is internalised and paid for
by the electricity consumers.
At each stage of the fuel cycle there are proven
technologies to dispose of the radioactive wastes
safely. For low- and intermediate-level wastes
Nuclear Pollution and
Its Controls
Sea-based approaches to the disposal of nuclear
waste make it hard for terrorists, rebels, or
these are mostly being implemented. For high-
level wastes some countries await the
accumulation of enough of it to warrant building
geological repositories; others, have encountered
political delays.
The radioactivity of all nuclear waste decays with
time. Each radionuclidea contained in the waste
has a half-life – the time taken for half of its
atoms to decay and thus for it to lose half of its
radioactivity. Radionuclides with long half-lives
tend to be alpha and beta emitters – making their
handling easier – while those with short half-lives
tend to emit the more penetrating gamma rays.
Eventually all radioactive wastes decay into non-
radioactive elements. The more radioactive an
isotope is, the faster it decays.
The main objective in managing and disposing of
radioactive (or other) waste is to protect people
and the environment. This means isolating or
diluting the waste so that the rate or
concentration of any radionuclides returned to
the biosphere is harmless. To achieve this,
practically all wastes are contained and managed
– some clearly need deep and permanent burial.
From nuclear power generation, none is allowed
to cause harmful pollution.
All toxic wastes need to be dealt with safely, not
just radioactive wastes. In countries with nuclear
power, radioactive wastes comprise less than 1%
of total industrial toxic wastes (the balance of
which remains hazardous indefinitely).
criminals to steal for use in radiological weapons
or in nuclear bombs. The enormous volume of
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water in the world's oceans also has a vastly
greater dilutive capacity than any single land site
in the event of unintended leaks. And seawater
itself contains a variety of radionuclides, so
treating it as a domain in which there is no
natural radioactivity runs counter to fact.
8 Khalil Raza Bhatti 07ME40
Sub-Seabed Disposal in Stable Clay Formations
Burial in Subduction Faults
A second sub-seabed option has received almost
no attention but deserves careful consideration:
burying canisters of nuclear waste in Subduction
Faults that would carry the waste downward
toward the Earth's mantle. This approach
possesses the virtue of being very permanent--
the reverse of shooting the waste with rockets
into the Sun, except much more practical. As the
subduction fault would carry the canisters down
at a rate of, say, 10 cm per year, the chances of
any release of radionuclides into the biosphere
would become increasingly remote.
As with the stable clay approach, it would be
possible to bore deep holes into the subduction
faults in order to get the waste as deep as
possible, even though the danger of leakage
upward to the seafloor appears to be minimal.
Radionuclides are heavier than water, so there is
also no reason why they should migrate upward
to the ocean's surface, especially since there is no
evidence that bottom-dwelling marine species
are concentrated upward into a food pyramid
that leads to the surface.
Engineered Island Disposal
The notion of burying nuclear waste on remote,
unpopulated islands has been investigated, but
one must question how thoroughly. The Yucca
Mountain Project Website lists the reasons why
this option was not pursued: 1) risks of ocean
transport, especially bad weather; 2) earthquake
and volcanic activity; 3) penetration of island
foundations by seawater and fresh water, leading
to leakage; and 4) the opposition of nearby
countries.
Objection #1 (risks of ocean transport) does not
deter the shipment of nuclear waste now, and it
can be reduced by various technical and
procedural means, including monitoring by an
authorized international body. Engineered Island
disposal is an option that deserves more
research, especially since the human-made island
approach has tended to be overlooked thus far.
Seawater Uranium Cycling
The presence of uranium in seawater at 3 parts
per billion suggests a fourth and final sea-based
nuclear waste solution. Technology already exists
to separate this uranium from seawater, but
currently its cost far exceeds the cost of
conventional uranium mining. Nonetheless, the
potential for such seawater uranium extraction
holds considerable interest for countries like
Japan where other sources of energy are lacking.
One way to lower the cost would be to combine
the extraction of uranium with related activities.
The most obvious would be to extract other
valuable minerals such as gold at the same time.
A second such activity would consist of
performing the extraction of uranium and other
minerals using the water flowing through an
Oceanic Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) plant,
which in turn would make OTEC technology more
economically attractive.
While many people might feel consternation at
the image of simply pouring radionuclides into
the water, a correct scientific view shows this
image to be very misleading. The gigantic volume
of the ocean and the careful dispersal carried out
in accordance with international monitoring
would make SUC an admirably safe method. It
would also provide incentives for the
development and deployment of seawater
uranium extraction, while lessening the
environmental impact of opening new uranium
mines on land.
Conclusion
While objections can--and surely will--be raised
to each of these sea-based approaches to nuclear
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waste disposal, it is much harder to oppose them
as a bundle. Even though they compete with
each other, they also support each other in terms
of reinforcing the general concept of carefully
investigating methods of sea-based disposal.
Relying, as we now do, on dozens of nuclear
countries each to develop and maintain secure
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geological disposal sites for nuclear waste is a will win international acceptance and become
thoughtless and dangerous approach. The the long-term one for all High-Level Waste, and
ultimate goal should be to devise a nuclear waste perhaps for Low-Level Waste as well.
solution (not necessarily a sea-based one) that

Question No 4: Describe Major environmental

issues of Pakistan and their remedies?
Pakistan Environment - current issues
Environment - current issues: water pollution from raw sewage, industrial wastes, and agricultural runoff;
limited natural fresh water resources; most of the population does not have access to potable water;
deforestation; soil erosion; desertification

Definition: This entry lists the most pressing and important environmental problems. The following terms
and abbreviations are used throughout the entry:

Acidification - the lowering of soil and water pH due to acid precipitation and deposition usually through
precipitation; this process disrupts ecosystem nutrient flows and may kill freshwater fish and plants
dependent on more neutral or alkaline conditions (see acid rain).
Acid rain - characterized as containing harmful levels of sulfur dioxide or nitrogen oxide; acid rain is
damaging and potentially deadly to the earth's fragile ecosystems; acidity is measured using the pH scale
where 7 is neutral, values greater than 7 are considered alkaline, and values below 5.6 are considered acid
precipitation; note - a pH of 2.4 (the acidity of vinegar) has been measured in rainfall in New England.
Aerosol - a collection of airborne particles dispersed in a gas, smoke, or fog.
Afforestation - converting a bare or agricultural space by planting trees and plants; reforestation involves
replanting trees on areas that have been cut or destroyed by fire.
Asbestos - a naturally occurring soft fibrous mineral commonly used in fireproofing materials and
considered to be highly carcinogenic in particulate form.
Biodiversity - also biological diversity; the relative number of species, diverse in form and function, at the
genetic, organism, community, and ecosystem level; loss of biodiversity reduces an ecosystem's ability to
recover from natural or man-induced disruption.
Bio-indicators - a plant or animal species whose presence, abundance, and health reveal the general
condition of its habitat.
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Biomass - the total weight or volume of living matter in a given area or volume.
Carbon cycle - the term used to describe the exchange of carbon (in various forms, e.g., as carbon dioxide)
between the atmosphere, ocean, terrestrial biosphere, and geological deposits.
Catchments - assemblages used to capture and retain rainwater and runoff; an important water
management technique in areas with limited freshwater resources, such as Gibraltar.
DDT (dichloro-diphenyl-trichloro-ethane) - a colorless, odorless insecticide that has toxic effects on most
10 Khalil Raza Bhatti 07ME40

animals; the use of DDT was banned in the US in 1972.

Defoliants - chemicals which cause plants to lose their leaves artificially; often used in agricultural
practices for weed control, and may have detrimental impacts on human and ecosystem health.
Deforestation - the destruction of vast areas of forest (e.g., unsustainable forestry practices, agricultural
and range land clearing, and the over exploitation of wood products for use as fuel) without planting new
growth.
Desertification - the spread of desert-like conditions in arid or semi-arid areas, due to overgrazing, loss of
agriculturally productive soils, or climate change.
Dredging - the practice of deepening an existing waterway; also, a technique used for collecting bottom-
dwelling marine organisms (e.g., shellfish) or harvesting coral, often causing significant destruction of reef
and ocean-floor ecosystems.
Drift-net fishing - done with a net, miles in extent, that is generally anchored to a boat and left to float
with the tide; often results in an over harvesting and waste of large populations of non-commercial marine
species (by-catch) by its effect of "sweeping the ocean clean."
Ecosystems - ecological units comprised of complex communities of organisms and their specific
environments.
Effluents - waste materials, such as smoke, sewage, or industrial waste which are released into the
environment, subsequently polluting it.
Endangered species - a species that is threatened with extinction either by direct hunting or habitat
destruction.
Freshwater - water with very low soluble mineral content; sources include lakes, streams, rivers, glaciers,
and underground aquifers.
Greenhouse gas - a gas that "traps" infrared radiation in the lower atmosphere causing surface warming;
water vapor, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, methane, hydrofluorocarbons, and ozone are the primary
greenhouse gases in the Earth's atmosphere.
Groundwater - water sources found below the surface of the earth often in naturally occurring reservoirs
in permeable rock strata; the source for wells and natural springs.
Highlands Water Project - a series of dams constructed jointly by Lesotho and South Africa to redirect
Lesotho's abundant water supply into a rapidly growing area in South Africa; while it is the largest
infrastructure project in southern Africa, it is also the most costly and controversial; objections to the
project include claims that it forces people from their homes, submerges farmlands, and squanders
economic resources.
Inuit Circumpolar Conference (ICC) - represents the 145,000 Inuits of Russia, Alaska, Canada, and
Greenland in international environmental issues; a General Assembly convenes every three years to
determine the focus of the ICC; the most current concerns are long-range transport of pollutants,
April 23, 2010

sustainable development, and climate change.

Metallurgical plants - industries which specialize in the science, technology, and processing of metals;
these plants produce highly concentrated and toxic wastes which can contribute to pollution of ground
water and air when not properly disposed.
Noxious substances - injurious, very harmful to living beings.
Overgrazing - the grazing of animals on plant material faster than it can naturally regrow leading to the
permanent loss of plant cover, a common effect of too many animals grazing limited range land.
11 Khalil Raza Bhatti 07ME40

Ozone shield - a layer of the atmosphere composed of ozone gas (O3) that resides approximately 25 miles
above the Earth's surface and absorbs solar ultraviolet radiation that can be harmful to living organisms.

Poaching - the illegal killing of animals or fish, a great concern with respect to endangered or threatened
species.
Pollution - the contamination of a healthy environment by man-made waste.
Potable water - water that is drinkable, safe to be consumed.
Salivation - the process through which fresh (drinkable) water becomes salt (undrinkable) water; hence,
desalination is the reverse process; also involves the accumulation of salts in topsoil caused by evaporation
of excessive irrigation water, a process that can eventually render soil incapable of supporting crops.
Siltation - occurs when water channels and reservoirs become clotted with silt and mud, a side effect of
deforestation and soil erosion.
Slash-and-burn agriculture - a rotating cultivation technique in which trees are cut down and burned in
order to clear land for temporary agriculture; the land is used until its productivity declines at which point
a new plot is selected and the process repeats; this practice is sustainable while population levels are low
and time is permitted for regrowth of natural vegetation; conversely, where these conditions do not exist,
the practice can have disastrous consequences for the environment .
Soil degradation - damage to the land's productive capacity because of poor agricultural practices such as
the excessive use of pesticides or fertilizers, soil compaction from heavy equipment, or erosion of topsoil,
eventually resulting in reduced ability to produce agricultural products.
Soil erosion - the removal of soil by the action of water or wind, compounded by poor agricultural
practices, deforestation, overgrazing, and desertification.
Ultraviolet (UV) radiation - a portion of the electromagnetic energy emitted by the sun and naturally
filtered in the upper atmosphere by the ozone layer; UV radiation can be harmful to living organisms and
has been linked to increasing rates of skin cancer in humans.
Water-born diseases - those in which bacteria survive in, and are transmitted through, water; always a
serious threat in areas with an untreated water supply.

April 23, 2010