Introduction of pollutant

Question 1

Pollution

Answer 1

‘An addition or excessive addition of certain
materials to the physical environment (water, air and lands), making it less fit or unfit for life’.

Question 2

Contamination

Answer 2

Situations when pollutant is present in the environment but not causing any harm.

Question 3

Quantitative pollutant

Answer 3

These occur in nature and become pollutant when their concentration reaches beyond a threshold level. E.g. carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide.

Question 4

Qualitative pollutant

Answer 4

These do not occur in nature and are man-made. E.g. fungicides, herbicides, DDT etc.

Question 5

Dissolved phase constituents

Answer 5

Inorganic substances that are abundant dissolved ions in soil moisture, ground water and surface water and which make up the major part of the total dissolved solids.

Question 6

Radionuclides

Answer 6

Radionuclides are elements having an unstable nucleus which spontaneously disintegrates, thereby emitting ionizing radiation.

Question 7

Organic pollutant

Answer 7

Organic pollutants are substances made up of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and some other elements.

Question 8

Background concentration

Answer 8

A substance’s natural concentration (without human interference) in soil or water is called is called the back ground concentration.

Question 9

Point source

Answer 9

Direct releases of pollutants from a single location/ pointy source.

Question 10

Air pollution

Answer 10

The presence in the atmosphere of one or more contaminants in such quality and for such duration as it is injurious, or tends to be injurious, to human health or welfare, animal or plant life.’

Question 11

Carbon monoxide CO

Answer 11

It is a colorless, odorless gas that is produced by the incomplete burning of carbon-based fuels including petrol, diesel, and wood.

Question 12

Suspended Particulate matters

Answer 12

It consists of solids in the air in the form of smoke, dust, and vapor that can remain suspended for extended periods and is also the main source of haze which reduces visibility.

Question 13

Smog tidbit

Answer 13

The term smog was first used (1905) by Dr. H A Des Voeux.

Question 14

Indoor air pollution

Answer 14

It refers to the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of air in the indoor environment within a home, or an institution or commercial facility.