It is being growingly emphasized that vehicular pollution is one of the main sources of air pollution in cities. The government is making many efforts to check this pollution. Designs of vehicles, compulsory checking of vehicles are being emphasized.
Emission standards have been prescribed for phased implementation; - The State Governments have been advised to make necessary changes in
the design of vehicles Rules for enforcement of the emission standards;
Industrial pollution is yet another source of pollution. That is the reason why pollution control certification is needed for all new industries. However, the responsibility lies with the industries and policy makers. According to available figures, prosecutions have been launched against 1200 units for violation of water and air pollution control requirements. There are many problems in effective implementation of Pollution Control Programme; some of these are inadequate resources with the Pollution Control Boards in terms of trained manpower, funds and infra-structural facilities. The decision makers need to take necessary action in this regard. Weakness in the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution Act, 1974 and Air Prevention & Control of Pollution Act, 1981) in terms of penalties and delay in legal procedures for violation of the Acts needs to be looked into. The acts are to be amended to give some powers to the pollution Control Boards. The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 which has recently been enacted as umbrella legislation is to ensure stringent measures for pollution control from various sources. Because of rising population density around the industrially developed areas, some unhygienic habits of the residents of these areas, and improper planning by Municipalities and urban authorities, air, water and noise pollution is increasing day by day. Survey has shown that air pollution is a major cause of tuberculosis and various respiratory ailments. In Kanpur, various types of respiratory ailments are apparently much more than other areas. "Acid rain" is an international issue today. Vast stretches
of forest and lakes in Europe and North America have been or are being
destroyed by this killer rain. In Sweden alone, 15,000 lakes have been
acidified as have thousands in Norway, U.S. and Canada. Acidity kills,
fish, bacteria and algae, and thus the aquatic ecosystem collapse into
sterility leaving a crystal-clear but ultimately dead lake. According to expert's acid rains is a boundless threat to the environment. Acidification of the soil changes its biology and chemistry which might have long standing effect in the micro environment of soil and water. Untreated/partially treated domestic sewage contributes more than 75 per cent of the total quantity (by volume) of pollution in our rivers. Fortunately, due to self-purification capacity of the rivers, a good amount of pollution load from domestic sewage is rendered harmless. But, this is not the case with industrial effluents which of ten contain toxic and persistent chemicals. Stretches of our rivers particularly those located downstream of cities and industrial centres are polluted in varying degrees. Many of our cities are not having sewage treatment facilities and even the existing facilities are not properly maintained. The municipal and local authorities do not have the necessary resources, infrastructure and often organizational capability. As far as control of industrial effluents are concerned, out of 4054 polluting industries (major and medium) only 2076 units have installed effluent treatment plants. While some control (more than 50 per cent) has been achieved in case of major and medium industries, the small scale industries continue to operate without any control. Tanneries, electroplating, pesticide formulation and such other small scale chemical industries of polluting and hazardous nature are located in various parts of the country (often in non-conforming areas and without license). These are of- three kinds. Most common is pollution with non-toxic organic wastes, human sewage being the most usual pollutant, with wastes mills also contributing, as well as intensive agricultural systems. Such pollution greatly increases the biochemical oxygen demand of the polluted water systems leading to depletion of oxygen levels in the water and, resultant death of a large proportion of the organisms especially fish.
Water pollution is due to many reasons including industrial activities. Water pollution problem consists of thermal pollution where hot water, for example, from an electricity generating facility, is discharged into the river. As the oxygen content of water decreases with increasing temperature, the most common effect of thermal pollution is oxygen depletion. Water pollution may also arise from a very wide range of toxic pollutants, most likely to result from industrial activity. In general terms, organic pollution is more often a factor of urbanization whereas thermal and toxic substance pollution results from industrial activity. Many of our rivers are severely polluted by industrial wastes and municipal drains. People from far and near use this water for various purposes. By using this water, polluted with excreta, detergent powders, acids and chemical wastes, people living downstream invariably suffer from a variety of health disorders.
The rivers: A two-tier water quality monitoring programme for the major and medium rivers has been taken up under (i) United Nations Global Environmental Monitoring System (GEMS) and (ii) Monitoring Indian National Aquatic Resources (MINARS) programme. A network of 164 monitoring stations has already been established. The network is proposed to be expanded progressively to 329 stations. To provide water quality management, use based zoning and classification of various stretches of the 14 major rivers have been made.
As compared to water and air pollution, noise pollution is of a different kind with localized impact. Nevertheless, it could also cause serious problems ranging from nuisance to health hazards. Factories, aircrafts, vehicular traffic and loudspeakers are the sources of noise pollution. With the increasing traffic densities, some areas of our cities are experiencing high levels of noise. Indiscriminate use of loudspeakers is yet another menace. Solutions to such problems are not beyond our control and public awareness is necessary for this purpose.
Marine Pollution derives mainly from two sources, from river run-off and from direct dumping in the sea. In the former case, the major problem areas are semi-enclosed seas adjacent to heavily populated or intensively industrialized countries, the North Sea being the prime example together with the Mediterranean. Marine dumping may be deliberate or accidental, but either way rep-resents a pollution problem which is continuing to increase in severity.
Pollution of the land may result from the fall-out of atmospheric pollution and may even occur many kilometres away from the pollution source. Dumping of solid or liquid toxic waste is commonly considered the prime cause. In the terms of area affected, land is far more commonly rendered derelict as a result of physical resource extraction or the abandonment of industrial facilities through resource depletion or general economic recession. Sometimes land is so damaged by human activity that is incapable of use without treatment. In some other countries, about 300,000 acres of land falls within this category, most of it potentially useful agricultural land is reported. This represents about 1.0% of the acreage of good agricultural land but the socio-economic effects of this type of land on the local population probably far outweigh the economic effects of the land lost to food production. Thus an area with a high proportion of derelict land is likely to experience a high outward migration, especially of young people, and difficulties in attracting new economic activities into the area. Derelict land may take the form of tips arising either from pre- or post-extraction soil, the latter often being toxic to living organisms, or pits, these mostly originating from open-cast workings but also from subsidence of subsurface workings. This type land may frequently result from abandoned industrial activities, taking the form of ruins. Leaving aside the more traditional aspects of environmental impacts it is appropriate to mention direct human impacts. Important among these is noise pollution, originating from motor vehicles, aircraft and machinery, and most commonly a health hazard with industrial complexes. A more general but important increase in the number of accidents to humans, both at work and during travel, this being primarily a function of increasing use of rapidly moving facilities, whether they be lathes, drills or motor vehicles.
Toxic Chemicals and Hazardous wastes are yet another concern for Toxicologists in the Assessment of Risk, Chronic Toxicity, Methods of Waste Disposal, Selection of Disposal Options, Sources of Disposable Waste, are important in this regard. Health Effects of Hazardous Wastes also need to be looked into for Risk Assessment. Environmentally Sound Management of Toxic Chemicals is inevitable.
The Treatment of Hazardous Wastes, and Managing Hazardous Waste, towards a safer Future through Waste Disposal, Radioactive Waste Disposal need greater care and responsibility of the decision makers. Effects on the Environment of the Dumping of Nuclear Wastes, Health Effects of Hazardous Wastes need greater attention.
The Bhopal tragedy and a series of gas leakage that followed have shown
the lethal impacts of toxic and hazardous substances if the basic safety
measures are not followed.' Storage, manufacture, transportation and disposal
of toxic and hazardous substances like phosgene and such other chemicals
require special precautionary measures which are not unfortunately being
followed in many cases.
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