Pollution and Human Impact

Water pollution is the contamination of water bodies (e.g. lakes, rivers, oceans, aquifers and groundwater). This form of environmental degradation occurs when pollutants are directly or indirectly discharged into water bodies without adequate treatment to remove harmful compounds.

Environment forms the surroundings on which life depends. It is very much essential to protect our environment. One among many is by conserving metals. Metals pollute environment and if we conservatively use metals it prevents environmental pollution and also reduces waste disposal.

Rapid urbanization during the Industrial Revolution led to severe infrastructure failures, including lack of clean water, poor housing, and inadequate sewage systems.

Acid deposition is the broad term for the process by which acidic components from the atmosphere fall to the Earth's surface in wet or dry forms.

Burning fossil fuels like coal and oil releases sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, which react with water vapor to form acid rain, damaging forests and aquatic life.

Sulfur dioxide (SO$ _2$) and nitrogen oxides (NO$ _2$) are emitted into the atmosphere and transported by the wind and air currents. The SO$ _2$ and NO$ _2$ react with water, oxygen, and other chemicals to form sulfuric and nitric acids. These then mix with water and other materials before falling to the ground in the form of acid rain. When this acid deposits on land or water it results in acidity harming organisms. It also causes corrosion of building materials and paints. Thus the correct answer is option D.

Forests cover about a third of the earth’s land area and are essential to the health of our environment. For example, trees and forests absorb and store much of the carbon dioxide that otherwise would be contributing to climate change. Forests are home to about $80$ percent of remaining terrestrial biodiversity. Forests also regulate water cycles, maintain soil quality, and reduce the risks of natural disasters such as floods.Forest ecosystems are sources of wood and timber, of edible products including mushrooms and other fungi, meat (from wildlife), forage for livestock, fruit or honey. Some forest species have medicinal values.

Industrial production has grown in India by more than $50-$fold over the past century. Cement, Thermal power plants, sugars and oil refiners are all considered as heavily polluting industries. These  contribute to the environment in terms of suspended particulate matter, gases and effluents. About $77$ per cent of the industries contribute to water pollution while $15$ per cent to air pollution and the remaining eight per cent to both air and water pollution. 

Pollution abatement is the measure to reduce pollution by controlling the elimination of pollutants in the environment. It can be technological methods like catalytic converters, scrubber and electrostatic precipitator or they may be regulatory, like laws limiting the amount of solid waste a sewage management facility can release into a waterway. Greater use of compost (organic matter) instead of chemical fertilizers and judicious use of pesticides helps in controlling pollution. Thus, the correct answer is option B.

Greater use of compost (organic matter) instead of chemical fertilisers and judicious use of pesticides.

Overexploitation of resources is disturbing environment in many ways. Wasting water has far-reaching consequences, which include the destruction of aquatic environments, lack of agricultural productivity and scarcity of safe drinking water.  Wastage of water leads to water scarcity. Unplanned exploitation of environmental resources has caused a lot of havoc to man and his environment on one hand. Air pollution, pollution of water, dumping of waste etc are some of the results of an unplanned exploitation of environmental resources. Desertification at the global level is the reduction in biodiversity, as it contributes to the destruction of the habitats of animal and vegetal species and micro-organisms.

Solar radiation is absorbed in the Earth's surface and emitted as thermal energy that can be re-absorbed by greenhouse gases. Greenhouse gases include water vapor, carbon dioxide, ozone, and methane; the major components of atmospheric gas nitrogen, oxygen, and argon are transparent to infrared radiation. The greenhouse effect insulates the earth's surface, making it hospitable to life; however, human activities have increased the concentration of these gases, causing global warming.

Checking atomic blasts will reduce radioactive pollution. Sewage pollution can be prevented by treating sewage before passing into water course, in sewage treatment plant or effluent treatment plant (ETP). Electrically operated vehicles will control automobile exhaust and improve the air quality in cities.

While natural events can affect water quality, the vast majority of water pollution is caused by human activities such as industrial discharge, agricultural runoff, and improper sewage disposal.