E.1. Introduction
- Pollution is described as the introduction—or excessive introduction—of specific substances into the physical environment (air, water, or land), rendering it less suitable or completely unsuitable for sustaining life.
- The agents responsible for this degradation, known as pollutants, are materials or factors that negatively impact the natural state of any environmental component.
[Types of Pollution]
Classifications of Environmental Pollution |
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According to the form in which they persist after release into the environment. |
(i) Primary Pollutants: These are substances that remain in the same chemical form as when they were initially released into the environment.Examples: Plastics, DDT. |
According to their existence in nature. |
(i) Quantitative Pollutants: These occur in nature and become pollutant when their concentration reaches beyond a threshold level. Example: carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide. |
According to their nature of disposal. |
(i) Biodegradable Pollutants: Waste products, which are degraded by microbial action. Example: sewage. |
According to origin |
(i) Natural |