Tag: environmental pollution and industries

Lead is the major heavy metal pollutant released by the vehicular exhausts. It persists in the air and precipitates with the rains. In reaches the human body when consumed through water or inhaled as suspended particle. At the concentration of 30μg/100ml in blood, it is considered poisoning as it can cause aplastic anaemia, tumour and cancer.

In foggy and hazy environment, the visible spectrum of the sun is not able to penetrate and so, humans find it difficult to visualize. However, the UV-A can penetrate through the fog, which cannot be detected by human eyes as t falls behind the visible spectrum of VIBGYOR. Birds are capable of recognizing more colors than the humans, they can detect the UV rays as well that allows them to navigate in the foggy and hazy conditions as well. These also allow the birds to track their migratory routes.

Photochemical smog is composed mainly of ozone (O$ _3$), Peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN) and NOx. It is often called brown air where solar radiation is intense. In areas or seasons of lesser solar radiation smog formation is incomplete and the air is referred to as grey air.

Anthracosis is the clinical disorders of the respiratory tract that is caused due to deposition of the coal dust due to inhalation of polluted air. It is a form of pneumoconiosis. Due to this, the lungs are rendered black in colour. It is also called the Miner's disease as the coal mine workers are worst affected by it. It affects the bronchi and alveoli surface area. This illness can be seen in smokers as well. Pulmonary emphysema and chronic bronchitis are the severe effects of anthracosis. 

Aerosols are minute particles suspended in the atmosphere and are known to reduce primary productivity on earth. scattering and absorption of sunlight by anthropogenic aerosols reduce photosynthetically active radiation, (PAR) incident upon the Earth’s surface, but increase the fraction of the PAR that is diffuse.

Hydrogen cyanide stops the transport of oxygen around the body and may also cause sudden loss of consciousness, weakness, headache, confusion, nausea, vomiting, irritation and eye infections. People with sensitive kidneys, respiratory tract (air passages and lungs), skin or thyroid are more prone to hydrogen cyanide poisoning. Part of the reason why hydrogen cyanide is considered potentially more dangerous is that some individuals are unable to detect it by smell which creates damage to neurons.

When there is temperature difference between the land and the atmosphere, and the land is also having low temperature, then the condensation of the water droplets/water vapours can begin near the surface. The condensation process occurs around the dust particles present in the air, so the dust particles provide nucleation for fog formation. Smoke and dust forms the haze. Smoke, dust and water droplets form the mist. Hence, the correct answer is ‘Condensation of water vapours over dust particles’.

Substances that are not broken down by microorganisms are non-biodegradable. Non-biodegradable substances affect the soil. Biodegradable substances are broken down by organisms and are not harmful to environment. Hence, non-biodegradable and industrial wastes are considered as soil pollutants. They may enter the food chain and harm the organisms in the higher trophic levels.