Geography [4 Mark Question Answer]

Toxic Compounds :

• Mercury, Methyl mercury
• Heavy metals, Cadmium
• Arsenic
• Fluoride

Impact on Human beings :

• ‘Minamata’ disease in Japan.
• ‘ltai-itai’ disease in Japan.
• Cancer, ulcers, kidney failure.
• ‘Fluorosis’ discolouring of teeth.

Radiations emitting from radioactive materials and the disposal of radioactive wastes cause pollution and damage the environment. The high-level products of nuclear wastes remain in the environment for several hundred years. Radioactive threats to the environment are the accidents connected with the activities of nuclear reactors, nuclear-powered vessels and satellites, etc. On human being it causes genetic variations, and somatic variation i.e. damage to body organs, breast cancer, thyroid cancer, lung cancer, brain cancer and defective eyesight

Noise pollution has ill effects not only on human beings but also on the environment. Human Health

1. Effect on hearing or Deafness: Continuous exposure to noise levels above 100 dB has an adverse effect on hearing ability within a fairly short time. Many workers who are exposed to the noise of jet aircraft or very noisy workshops for even moderate periods soon develop detectable hearing defects.
2. Effect on Communication: External sounds can interfere with conversation and use of the telephone, as well as the enjoyment of radio and television programmes.
3. Repeated interference with sleep: Different people have different depths of sleep and they can adjust to natural sounds. However, noisy conditions near residential areas at night causes difficulties in sleeping.
4. Mental or Physiological Effects: Many people complain that noise makes them mentally ill. Experiments have been performed to attempt to confirm or disprove these claims. Doctors and scientists have now medically confirmed that *noise disturbs the biological organisms and their respective functions.
5. Effects on Physical Health and Psychological problems: Noise has a little physical effect on the biological performance provided that the noise level is below about 90 dB. Damage to the inner ear may result if continuous noise levels exceed about 100 dB and can lead to physical illness. Psychiatrists and psychologists have in recent researches made observations that noise has a certain relation with physical health causing tension resulting in problems such as speech interference, annoyance, fatigue, sleep interference, and emotional distress.
   Effects on Environment: The noise booms cause cracks in national and archaeological monuments Very high levels of noise are the cause of cracks in hills. High-intensity explosions can break glass panes and vibrations in the buildings.