Tag: environment and conservation

The Mathura Refinery situated close to the Taj Mahal is a threat to the marble of the Taj Mahal because the Refinery releases the air pollutants in the form of oxides of sulphur, oxides of nitrogen and oxides of carbon. These oxides then react with water and precipiate in the form of nitric acid and sulphuric acid called acid rains. Acid rains have resulted in the corrosion of the marble, making it to appear yellow. Hence, the correct answer is 'Air Pollutants from Mathura Refinery'.

Air pollution is responsible for various pulmonary or respiratory diseases like asthma, emphysema, bronchitis etc. 

In a thermal inversion, the cold air holds up the pollutants and prevents it from rising and scattering.

The heat island is a phenomenon where heat can no longer escape. The high temperature in urban areas as compared to rural areas can be called heat island effect. With the loss of vegetation and land surface in urban areas, heat gets trapped between buildings and dense areas which cause a warming effect. The air pollution due to greenhouse gases is responsible for this. Bigger cities have large heat island effects, the waste heat from energy use, seasonal changes, local weather also contribute to heat islands.

• Classical smog, also known as London smog or Sulphurous smog, is formed when there is high concentration of sulphur dioxide and particulate matter produced due to combustion of fuels. It occurs in cold and humid climate and has reducing nature.
• Photochemical smog, also known as Los Angeles smog, is formed when sunlight acts on the oxides of nitrogen and hydrocarbons produced from factories or by automobiles. It occurs in warm and dry climate and has oxidising nature.

• Classical smog, also known as London smog or Sulphurous smog, is formed when there is high concentration of sulphur dioxide and particulate matter produced due to combustion of fuels. It occurs in cold and humid climate and has reducing nature.
• Photochemical smog, also known as Los Angeles smog, is formed when sunlight acts on the oxides of nitrogen and hydrocarbons produced from factories or by automobiles. It occurs in warm and dry climate and has oxidising nature.

• Motor vehicle emissions are one of the causes of poor air quality. Other causes include wood-burning fires, fires on agricultural land, exhaust from diesel generators, dust from construction sites, burning garbage and illegal industrial activities in Delhi.
• Air pollution exposure can trigger new cases of asthma, exacerbate (worsen) a previously-existing respiratory illness, and provoke development or progression of chronic illnesses including lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and emphysema. If untreated result in death.
  
• An annual number of deaths in Delhi believed to be due to air pollution is 7500.
  
• So, the correct answer is '7500'.

There are a number of chemicals, which causes lung cancer and one of them is 3, 4- benzopyrene. Benzopyrene mutates three key positions in the p53 gene, which leads to lung cancer. Hence, the correct answer is option C.