4.30 Fill up the blanks:
Some of the impediments to development are:
Lack of skill, Rigid administrative system ., Impatience for rapid development .;
And premature politicization.
CHAPTER-6 ENVORONMENT
• Give most suitable definitions of "environment" and "environmental pollution". What is a pollutant as defined by the Government of India in its Environmental Protection Act (1986)?
Ans :
Earth is the only planet where other living beings have evolved because of the availability of all the ingredients such as air, water, food, energy, etc., which are essential for life. These together constitute the environment . The environment can be defined as one's surroundings
Environmental pollution may be broadly defined as "adding to the environment a potentially hazardous substance or source of energy faster than the rate at which the environment can accommodate it". Alternately, environmental pollution may also be defined as:
"An undesirable change in physical, chemical or biological
characteristics of air, water and land that may be or will be
harmful to human life and other living organisms, living
conditions, industrial progress and cultural assets and will
deteriorate raw material resources".
In brief, one may define the environmental pollution as "an unfavourable alteration of environment largely as a result of human activities".
A pollutant is a substance that affects adversely or alters the environment by changing the growth rate of species, interferes with the food chain, health, comfort and amenities of the people and is toxic. In the Environment Protection Act (1986), passed by the Government of India, an environmental pollutant is defined as :
"Any solid, liquid or gaseous substance present in such con-
centration as may be or tends to be injurious to the environment
and the environmental pollution means the presence in the
environment of any environmental pollutant".
• Write brief notes on atmosphere, hydrosphere and lithosphere.
Ans :
The global environment consists of atmosphere, hydrosphere and lithosphere in which the life-sustaining resources of the earth are contained. The atmosphere , which is a mixture of various gases (mainly nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide and water vapour) extending outward from the surface of the earth, evolved from the elements of the earth that were gasified during its formation. The hydrosphere consists of oceans, lakes and streams and shallow ground water bodies. The lithosphere , on the other hand, is the soil mantle that wraps the core of the earth. (The biosphere, a thin layer that encapsulates (enclose in) the earth, is made up of atmosphere and lithosphere adjacent to the surface of the earth, together with hydrosphere It is within the biosphere that all the life-forms of earth live. Life-sustaining materials in solid, liquid and gaseous forms are cycled through biosphere, giving sustenance to all the living organisms. Life-sustaining resources, air, water and food, are withdrawn from the biosphere.
• State air pollution as defined by the W.H.O. List the major causes of air pollution.
Ans :
The World Health Organization (WHO) has defined air pollution as "the presence of materials in the air in such concentration which are harmful to man and his environment". In addition to industries, there are various other sources of air pollution in India, e.g., domestic combustion of low-grade fuels, fine dusts contributed by the deserts and other open and dry fields and human activities causing heavy pollution of the urban air (with suspended particulate matters and exhaust from motor vehicles). The main pollutants of air are carbon monoxide sulphur dioxide,oxides of nitrogen,carbon dioxide and particulates. Air pollution affects growth,living and life of humans, plants, organisms and all other living beings.
• What are the major sources of water pollution ? Explain in brief.
Ans :
Water pollution may be defined as "the addition of substances (organic, inorganic, biological or radiological) or factors (e.g., heat) which degrade the quality of water so that either it becomes a health hazard or unfit for use”
The major sources of water pollution are:
(1) Domestic.
(2) Industrial wastes.
(3) agricultural chemical
(4) Excess heat (from nuclear power plants, for example) -
(5) Oil spills (from tankers or coastal oil wells).
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