Envirnment and Its Problems
Environment and its Problems
Introduction
Environment is defined as the surroundings in which the organism lives. The environment may be the physical environment, the chemical environment or the biological environment. Thus, the environment has two components - abiotic and biotic.
Classification of Natural Resources The things that man derives from the environment are called natural resources. Natural resources are thus stores of supplies that are needed by man. The resources include the energy, air, soil, water, minerals, microbes, other organisms, etc.
Renewable and Non-renewable Resources The resources that can be replenished by the environment are called the renewable resources. These are also called the inexhaustible resources. These resources are constantly recycled in the environment like water. This also includes resources like the solar energy, air, plants, animals, microbes and some minerals like nitrogen. The rates at which these resources are returned to the environment are different for different resources. The rate at which man uses them also varies.
Pollution and Pollutants Pollution is defined as an 'undesirable change in the physical, chemical or biological characteristics of air, water and land brought about by man's activities that may harmfully affect living organisms and other resources'.
Sources of Air Pollution The major problem that the atmosphere is being subjected to is pollution. In India, about 100 million tons of pollutants are being added to the atmosphere annually. This figure is likely to go up in future. Polluted air is harmful to man and the biosphere on the whole, as well. This problem needs to be tackled urgently. Since all of us contribute to it directly or indirectly, we must study air pollution in detail and discuss the means of controlling and preventing it.
Major Sources of Water Pollution Water pollution is a major problem associated with the developing countries. It severely
Introduction
Environment is defined as the surroundings in which the organism lives. The environment may be the physical environment, the chemical environment or the biological environment. Thus, the environment has two components - abiotic and biotic.
Classification of Natural Resources The things that man derives from the environment are called natural resources. Natural resources are thus stores of supplies that are needed by man. The resources include the energy, air, soil, water, minerals, microbes, other organisms, etc.
Renewable and Non-renewable Resources The resources that can be replenished by the environment are called the renewable resources. These are also called the inexhaustible resources. These resources are constantly recycled in the environment like water. This also includes resources like the solar energy, air, plants, animals, microbes and some minerals like nitrogen. The rates at which these resources are returned to the environment are different for different resources. The rate at which man uses them also varies.
Pollution and Pollutants Pollution is defined as an 'undesirable change in the physical, chemical or biological characteristics of air, water and land brought about by man's activities that may harmfully affect living organisms and other resources'.
Sources of Air Pollution The major problem that the atmosphere is being subjected to is pollution. In India, about 100 million tons of pollutants are being added to the atmosphere annually. This figure is likely to go up in future. Polluted air is harmful to man and the biosphere on the whole, as well. This problem needs to be tackled urgently. Since all of us contribute to it directly or indirectly, we must study air pollution in detail and discuss the means of controlling and preventing it.
Major Sources of Water Pollution Water pollution is a major problem associated with the developing countries. It severely