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For example, factories consume a lot of water and electricity and release harmful chemicals in air, land, and water,
thus contaminating the atmosphere. Water pollution caused by factories and other industries can be the most
serious problem. They also pollute the air through fossil fuel emissions. These emissions include carbon dioxide,
methane, and nitrous oxide, which are harmful to living beings.
Pollutants are of two types:
Pollutants that can decompose Pollutants that cannot decompose
Pollutants that break down into simpler, harmless Pollutants which cannot be broken down into simpler
substances naturally (by the action of moisture and and harmless substances are called non-biodegradable
bacteria) are called biodegradable pollutants. pollutants. The harmful effect caused by these pollutants
will be there for hundreds of years.
Examples: vegetable waste, sewage waste, paper, wood, Examples: plastics, insecticides, pesticides, chemicals like
cattle dung, agricultural waste from organic farms, etc. mercury or lead, aluminium, glass, etc.
Some of the other factors responsible for polluting the environment are as follows:
• Exhaust fumes released from vehicles pollutes the air.
• Excessive use of chemicals in agriculture (like insecticides and fertilisers) affect the alkalinity of the soil or the soil
pH. It adversely affects the health of microorganisms and other organisms in the soil.
• Plastic waste like bottles, bags, etc., thrown on land and sea pollutes the water and destroys the flora and fauna.
• Dangerous gases (chlorofluorocarbons or CFCs, methane, carbon dioxide, etc.) released into the air.
The various types of pollution are summarised in Table.
Types of Pollution
Factors Land Pollution Water Pollution Air Pollution
What it is? • Damage to the land • Adding harmful substances • Addition of harmful
because of harmful and disease causing gases and particles
substances is known as bacteria and other in air results in air
land pollution. microorganisms to rivers, pollution.
lakes, and oceans results in
water pollution.
What happens because • Diseases, such as • Diseases, such as • Heart and breathing
of this pollution? dysentery, cholera and dysentery, diarrhoea, problems and cancers
typhoid jaundice, typhoid, etc. • Climate change
• Less land is available for • Local earnings, like
use of forests, farms or tourism, fishing etc. are
homes adversely affected
• Less drinking water
Why does it happen? • Cutting down forests • Throwing waste in water • Burning of fuels
• Harmful pesticides and • Leakage from sewer lines • Smoke from traffic
fertilisers • Release of waste water • Burning waste and
• Mining and heavy from houses, farms and remains of crops
construction factories • Pesticides and
• Release of sewage, • Accidental oil leakage from fertilisers
toilet waste, waste from ships • Smoke from factories
houses/factories, and • Dust from construction
chemical waste
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