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Question 15 Marks
Give 5 examples of each of domestic waste, biological waste and agricultural waste and write in your own words about soil pollution due to those wastes.
Answer
Domestic waste:

  1. Empty containers of medicines, papers, bottles, etc.
  2. Plastic
  3. Glass pieces
  4. Old utensils, clothes
  5. Tins and cartons of used items, the discarded household items.

Biological waste:

  1. Dead corpse of animals.
  2. Urine and faeces
  3. Peels of fruits, stalks of vegetables and fruits.
  4. Food waste
  5. Garlands and old bouquets.

Agricultural waste:

  1. The stubs of crops after the grains are removed.
  2. Cattle dung and urine
  3. Some persistent amount of insecticides
  4. Some amount of fertilizers
  5. Empty containers, bags, cartons of insecticide, chemical fertilizers, seeds, gunny bags, etc.
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Question 25 Marks
Whether the vehicles with two- stroke engine cause more pollution than four stroke engine?
Answer
Yes, they do. Scooters and motor cycles are more dominant source of air pollution as they emit soot and organic particles. In urban areas this proportion is high. These particles are toxic and they create heavy air pollution.

The two-wheelers have two-stroke engines. Such engines are far less efficient in burning the fuel that is used in the vehicles. The exhaust systems are also less effective at removing pollutants. On the contrary most of the four-wheelers have catalytic converters. Therefore, the exhaust fumes from scooters contain higher levels of the chemicals found in the fuel and oil they use.

The vehicles with two-stroke engine such as two wheelers emit significantly more primary organic aerosols and volatile organic compounds from incomplete burning of the fuel. They also produce significant secondary organic aerosols as gases released from the exhaust react with the air and microscopic particles of soot.

These pollutants increase the risk of heart and lung disease. Older two-stroke vehicles produced reactive oxygen molecules that are known to be potentially harmful for lung health. In recent times there is excessive use of two-wheelers which is deteriorating the air quality to great extent.

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Question 35 Marks
What are the reasons other than those mentioned on the textbook page no. 55 mentioned responsible for air pollution?
Answer
1. The automobile vehicles like two-wheelers and four-wheelers are increasing tremendously in numbers. This uncontrolled number of vehicles and their heavy traffic is causing air pollution to very high level in megacities.
2. Construction industries, demolition of the old buildings, digging the roads, are such activities which are adding to the particulate air pollution of the cities.
3. The bursting of firecrackers on the occasion of festivals and ceremonies, the spread of gulal during processions are also actions which result into unwanted air pollution.
4. Aeroplane traffic, rocket launching, industrial farming are the modern sources of air pollution.
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Question 45 Marks
If natural materials are pollutants, why do we not perceive their adverse effects during their use? When such materials are referred as pollutants?
Answer
The natural pollutants are active only for a short duration. Due to natural reasons their activity is limited, and they are lost after a specific time. Their sources are not continuous and their spread too is not regular as in case of man-made pollutants which are emitted steadily.

Thus, we can avoid these substances. We also use them in limited quantity. Therefore, the natural substances, though may be polluting in nature, we are unable to perceive its toxicity. However, if we use them in abundance and create an imbalance, then its effect can be experienced as a great hazard.

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Question 55 Marks
How do you protect soil from being polluted?
Answer
  1. We should not throw domestic waste and industrial waste indiscriminately on the land, so that it contaminates soil.
  2. Proper disposal of solid wastes and more importantly safe disposal of biomedical waste material should be practised.
  3. Instead of throwing non-biodegradable materials on the land, they should be properly recycled and reused.
  4. Biodegradable materials should be composted and converted into useful manure, rather than throwing them to cause pollution of the soil.
  5. Excessive use of fertilizers and pesticides should be avoided so that the soil does not get contaminated.
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Question 65 Marks
Describe the effects of soil pollution.
Answer
Effect of soil pollution:
  1. There are many pathogenic bacteria, viruses and parasitic intestinal worms in the sewage sludge. These are able to cause many diseases.
  2. Soil and vegetable crops are contaminated by manure made from human and animal excreta containing pathogens. This can lead to various diseases.
  3. There is loss of fertility and productivity of soil and land due to soil pollution.
  4. Soil pollution leads to water pollution, when toxic chemicals leach into the groundwater. Similarly, when contaminated soil enters into streams or lakes, it also causes water pollution.
  5. Radioactive materials and soil contaminants can travel through food chains. They move away from the soil into crops, livestock and human bodies.
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Question 75 Marks
Describe the effects of air pollution on the environment.
Answer
Air pollution can cause the following serious effects on the environment:
1. Deforestation and fuel consumption bring about rise in $CO _2$ concentration.
2. Excess $CO _2$ in air causes rise in atmospheric temperature of the earth.
3. The increased temperature is called global warming.
4. The global warming results into melting of glaciers, subsequently causing rise in the sea level.
5. There is a change in the climate and pattern of rainfall. This may indirectly affect the agricultural production.
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Question 85 Marks
What are the effects of water pollution on the ecosystem?
Answer
Biological effects:

  1. Plants in the ecosystem show retarded growth, resulting into species loss.
  2. Due to imbalance in the ecosystem, the food chain and food web is disturbed.
  3. Pollutants cause mortality in fish and other aquatic animals.
  4. Oil slick causes harmful impact on the marine birds.
  5. Useful bacterial fauna in the water is lost.

Abiotic effects:

  1. Pollutants cause changes in physical and chemical properties of water.
  2. Salinity of the water changes.
  3. Dissolved oxygen in the water is depleted, causing mortality of fishes.
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Question 95 Marks
What are the effects of water pollution on human beings?
Answer
The water-borne diseases that are caused by different bacteria and viruses cause infections to human beings through contaminated water. Some bacterial and viral diseases are spread through epidemics. Cholera, hepatitis, enteritis, diarrhoea, typhoid are such diseases that can cause severe infections to man. Polluted water also cause skin diseases and deformities of bones, Some pollutants accumulated in vital organs cause their ailments. Liver, kidneys, brain, etc. are affected in this way. Person may develop hypertension too due to pollutants.
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Question 105 Marks
What are man-made reasons for water pollution?
Answer
The effluents and other substances released by man into the surrounding water bodies together can be called man-made reasons for water pollution.
1. Domestic sewage: The excreta, urine and other domestic-use water is added to the water bodies in many cities and villages. In big metro-cities, the sewage is partially treated but these management practices are not enough.

2. Industrial effluent: Different industries and factories release effluents which may contain toxic and harmful components, such as various pigments, bleaching chemicals, leather pieces, fibres, mercury, lead, etc.

3. Oil pollution: Oil spillages are seen in the seas due to leakage of crude oil. The crude oil is hazardous as it contains cancer causing hydrocarbons.

4. Fertilizers and pesticides: These compounds when used in farm, may get washed off to nearby water body. The chemical fertilizer containing N, P, K cause water pollution. Pesticides such as endrin, chlorine, carbonate containing pesticides, etc. are mixed with water. They cause contamination of the aquatic animals.

5. The wrong behaviour of human beings causes water pollution. The addition of wastes, defecation near coasts, washing clothes, decomposing hemp and flax in water, disposal of ashes, floral offerings to god, dumping ashes all such activities result into water pollution.

6. The warm water released into the water body through thermal power plants cause thermal pollution.

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Question 115 Marks
Describe the effects of air pollution on animals and plants.
Answer
1. Effects of air pollution on animals:

  • Air pollutants affect breathing of the animals.
  • Particulate pollutants can cause problems to the wildlife.
  • Particulate matter containing heavy metals is accumulated in the bodies of animals. The accumulated heavy metals at high levels in the body tissues, can cause problems. ‘
  • Acid rain causes serious problems to animal life.

2. Effects of air pollution on plants:

  • Various parts of the plant show reduced growth after coming in contact with air pollutants.
  • The leaves show yellowing or chlorosis on exposure to air pollutants.
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Question 125 Marks
What do you mean by ozone layer depletion? What are the causes of ozone layer depletion?
Answer
1. The ozone layer is present at the top of the stratosphere. The stratosphere is the second layer of the atmosphere which is present 48 km above the earth’s surface.
2. Ozone layer is protective layer for living organisms of the earth, as it absorbs harmful UV rays from the sun. When this layer is reduced or destroyed, it is called ozone layer depletion.

3. Causes of the ozone layer depletion:

  1. The main cause of ozone depletion are CFC molecules.
  2. Chlorine atoms are present in chlorofluoro-carbons (CFC) molecules. They react with ozone and deplete it.
  3. CFCs are used as coolants in refrigerators, freezers and air conditioners manufactured before 1995.
  4. CFCs are also present in industrial solvents, dry cleaning agents and hospital sterilants (sterilizers), aerosols and foam. All the above materials release a lot of CFCs into the atmosphere.
  5. CFC molecules are broken down by ultraviolet radiations which result in release of chlorine and fluorine, which further reduce the ozone layer.
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Question 135 Marks
What is acid rain?
Answer
1. When rainwater contains harmful amounts of nitric and sulphuric acids, it is called acid rain.
2. Burning of fossil fuels such as coal, wood, petroleum, etc. releases nitrogen oxide and sulphur oxide into the atmospheric air.
3. Since these oxides are soluble in water, they dissolve in rainwater. Nitrogen and sulphur oxides dissolved in large quantities of water vapour form acids like nitric acid, nitrous acid, sulphurous acid and sulphuric acid.
4. These acids mix with mist, drops of rainwater and snow. They change their composition and fall back on the ground in the form of acid rain.
5. Effects of acid rain are as follows:
  • Increase in the acidity of soil and water bodies.
  • Damage to the trees.
  • Water becomes unsuitable for fish and wildlife.
  • Buildings, statues, sculptures, bridges, monuments and fences are corroded due to acid rain. Thus, acid rain damages our national assets.
  • Acid rain affects agriculture and crop lands.
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Question 145 Marks
Construct two slogans each on air, water and soil pollution.
Answer
Air pollution:

  1. Be a part of the solution and not part of pollution.
  2. Show your care, clean your air.

Water pollution:

  1. Water, water everywhere, Not a drop to drink. The pollution is making all the water stink.
  2. Save the fish and the little turtle. Don’t throw plastic or it will encircle.

Soil Pollution:

  1. Don’t be mean, keep environment clean.
  2. Let’s keep land clean, together only we can win.
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Question 155 Marks
Explain relation between greenhouse effect and global warming.
Answer
Because of greenhouse effect, there is increase in the global temperature. The heat on the earth remains trapped due to envelope of greenhouse gases. The percentage of carbon dioxide and methane is constantly increasing and hence there is increase in the temperature too. Thus the greenhouse effect is directly related to the global warming.
Effects of this relation between greenhouse effect and global warming are as follows:
  1. The polar ice caps and the glaciers at both the poles are melting due to increased temperature.
  2. The oceans’ water is rising due to this melted ice. The sea level rise is causing coastal land submergence. The islands at various regions are threatened of drowning.
  3. Many species of living organisms are already extinct due to global warming. The rest are also threatened.
  4. Wild animals are showing weird migrations. Polar bear is endangered.
  5. The increased temperature of the oceanic water is causing many changes in the tides and currents. This results into increased occurrence of cyclones, hurricanes and cloud bursting. The natural disasters are rising in last decade.
  6. The agricultural production is decreasing. The regions with less rainfall are facing draughts.
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Question 165 Marks
Suggest four preventive measures for air pollution.
Answer
The following methods are adopted to control air pollution from the industries:
  1. The source discharge is diluted by tall chimneys.
  2. There are source correction methods like changing the raw material, equipment modification, process modification, etc.
  3. Effective pollution controlling equipment like dust collectors, electrostatic precipitators, wet scrubbers, etc. should be used.
  4. There should be ban and control over atomic tests and chemical weapons on the international level.
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Question 175 Marks
What are natural reasons causes for water pollution?
Answer
The natural causes of the water pollution:
1. If organic pollutants are added to the water there is an overgrowth of weeds such as Eichhornia. The growth of algae also makes the water unsuitable for consumption. These aquatic plants release oxygen during daytime but by night they require oxygen thus depleting the dissolved oxygen level. The natural characters of water are then changed.

2. The decomposing matter when added to the water make it polluted and stinking.

3. Due to deposition of sludge or eroded soil, the rivers change their path and divert from original flow. The currents are also changed. Deposition of sludge makes the water polluted.

4. Due to soil erosion, surrounding the water bodies, the microbes, bacteria, protozoans and the worms and larvae of nematodes enter the water causing severe biological pollution. Many inorganic pollutants are also added to the water. The fungand bacteria present in the water make it non-potable. Such water spreads water-borne diseases.

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Question 185 Marks
How does the pollution occur due to vehicles? Give the names of vehicles causing least pollution.
Answer
1. More than $50 \%$ of the air pollution is caused by vehicular traffic.
2. Particulate matter, unburnt hydrocarbons, CO, nitrogen oxides and carcinogenic hydrocarbons are present in the automobile exhausts.
3. Fossil fuels like petrol, diesel, natural gas, gasoline, etc. which are burnt to run the automobiles lead to the emission of $CO _2$ and other gases.
4. Therefore, vehicles are said to be the major contributors to air pollution.
5. The only vehicle which is non $\neg$ polluting is bicycle. The four-wheelers which are battery operated are also manufactured recently.These two types of vehicles are eco-friendly. The cars that run on C.N.G. are also said to be lesser polluting.
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Question 195 Marks
Give two examples of each of water, soil and air pollution from your residential area.
Answer
Air pollution:

  1. New buildings are constructed. Old structures are demolished. This is creating lots of dust pollution. The air is full of particulate matter.
  2. The number of vehicles on the road has tremendously increased. This causes smoky environment.

Water pollution:

  1. The sea shows lots of floating plastic and decaying flowers, etc. When beaches are visited it is a common sight.
  2. Many fishes are seen dying in great numbers and are washed off to the shore.

Soil pollution :

  1. Everywhere garbage heaps are seen. In that plastic bags, needles, old medicine vials and cartons are seen in abundance.
  2. The sludge brought by rainwater is spread everywhere and that causes stink.
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Question 205 Marks
Read the passage and identify the sentences expressing types of pollution.

Nilesh is a student of Std. VII and lives in urban area. It takes about an hour to go to the school by bus. He faces the heavy traffic of two wheelers, four wheelers, rickshaws, buses while going to school. He is facing the problem of asthma since last few days, Doctors recommended him to stay away from urban area. Since then, his mother sent him to the village of his maternal uncle, Nilesh saw the heaps of garbage at many places in village. Foul smell of human and animal wastes was present at many places. Blackish water with foul smell was flowing in a stream. He developed some abdominal disease within few days.

Answer
  1. It takes about an hour to go to the school. (Due to traffic jam, Nilesh is spending more time in polluted, contaminated air.)
  2. He faces the heavy traffic. (Large scale combustion of fossil fuel.)
  3. He is facing the problem of asthma. (Air pollution – Harmful to human health.)
  4. The heaps of garbage at many places. (Solid waste – Land pollution.)
  5. Foul smell of human and animal wastes. (Biological pollution, air pollution.)
  6. Blackish water with foul smell was flowing in a stream. (Improper sewage management – Water pollution.)
  7. He developed some abdominal disease within few days. (Water pollution – Effect on human health.)
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