Summary Degrading natural environments, depleting natural resources, pollution, vulnerability to large scale environmental changes and hazards are the core Environmental issues of today. Air pollution by fossil fuel burning and other anthropological activities like industrialization is reaching alarming levels and affecting human health and testing the survival of sensitive species. Domestic and industrial sewage, and agricultural run-off are the most common reasons for pollution of water bodies, resulting in reduced dissolved oxygen and increased Biochemical Oxygen demand of water bodies. Eutrophication and algal blooms are regular occurrences today.
Industrial wastewaters are often rich in toxic chemicals, heavy metals and organic compounds which harm living organisms and may even result in death of aquatic life. Noise pollution is a threat to human and other animals. It can affect health and disturb peaceful habitats. Agrochemicals and its usages cause many ill effects in human beings, other organisms and soil.
Agrochemicals can also cause biomagnification. The solution is to revert to non-chemical farming (use of biofertilisers, biopesticides, protect pollinators) practices. Generation of municipal wastes and their safe disposal are major issues faced by communities today. Solid wastes create environmental problems and must be disposed-off in safe ways.
Disposal of solid wastes, radioactive wastes and e-wastes requires further efforts and research. Solid wastes like plastic can be combated by practicing the 4R - refuse, reduce, reuse and recycle. Ecosan toilets are some of the universally accepted eco-friendly practices. XII Std Biology-Zoology Chapter- XII Std Biology-Zoology Chapter- Environmental Issues .
Excess of fluoride in drinking water causes: a) Lung disease b) Intestinal infection c) Fluorosis d) None of the above . Expand (i) CFC (ii) AQI (iii) PAN . What is SMOG and how it is harmful for us? .
List all the wastes that you generate, at home, school or during your trips to other places. Could you very easily reduce the generation of these wastes? Which would be difficult or rather impossible to reduce? .
Write notes on the following: a. Eutrophication b. Algal Bloom . What effect can fertilizer runoff have on an aquatic ecosystem?
. How can we control eutrophication? . Discuss the role of an individual to reduce environmental pollution.
. How does recycling help reduce pollution? . Discuss briefly the following : a.
Catalytic converter b. Ecosan toilets . What are some solutions to toxic dumping in our oceans? .
Define BOD. . What is referred to as biomagnification? .
What are the effects of noise pollution? XII Std Biology-Zoology Chapter- XII Std Biology-Zoology Chapter- Glossary