Environment

Definition: Biomass is renewable organic material that comes from plants and animals. Use: Biomass is used for facility heating, electric power generation, and combined heat and power. Methods  Combustion of Biomass Material: The most common is direct combustion of biomass … Continue reading →

Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act of 1974 and Amendment, 1988 The Act gives State Pollution Control Boards regulatory authority to set and enforce effluent regulations for factories. A Central Pollution Control Board fulfils the same tasks for Union … Continue reading →

What is it? An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a crucial process used to identify and evaluate the potential environmental impacts of a proposed project or development.  It’s essentially a risk assessment for the environment, aiming to predict and minimise … Continue reading →

Features Persistence: POPs resist degradation in the environment, remaining active for years or even decades. Bioaccumulation: They accumulate in the fatty tissues of living organisms, increasing in concentration as they move up the food chain. This process, known as biomagnification, … Continue reading →

Solid Waste  It includes garbage, construction debris, sludge from waste treatment plants and other discarded solid materials coming from industrial, commercial, mining, and agricultural operations and from household and public activities. Issues Waste Segregation at Source: Limited awareness and lack … Continue reading →

Sources Single-use plastics: Plastic bags, straws, cutlery, cups, and packaging materials are excessively used and often discarded irresponsibly. Sachets: The widespread use of sachets for packaging various products like shampoos, condiments, and even drinking water contributes significantly to plastic waste. … Continue reading →

Reasons Traffic: Congested roads, honking vehicles, and two-wheelers are significant contributors to noise pollution in Indian cities. Construction Activities: Construction sites with heavy machinery, drilling, and blasting generate substantial noise, especially in urban areas. Industries: Factories and industrial processes can … Continue reading →

Measuring Pollution Load in Water Dissolved oxygen (DO): Refers to the level of free oxygen present in water. Optimum DO content in water is important for the survival of aquatic organisms Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD): It represents the amount of … Continue reading →

Definition – Acid rain is a type of precipitation that contains high levels of sulfuric acid and nitric acid, which are formed when sulphur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) released into the atmosphere from human activities such as burning … Continue reading →

Types of Air Pollutants  Primary Pollutants: Persistent in the form in which they are added to the environment, E.g. DDT etc. Secondary Pollutants: Formed by interaction among the primary pollutants. E.g. Peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN) is formed by the interaction of … Continue reading →