Biodegradable Pollutants

A pollutant is a substance or energy introduced into the environment that has undesirable effects, or adversely affects the usefulness of a resource. The various types of pollutants present in environment which have negative effect on environment. Some types of pollutants are : water pollutants (chemical, pesticides,sewage lines,etc), soil pollutants (pesticides,lead,solid waste, etc), air pollutants(fossil fuels), light pollutants (excess light), noise pollutants (loudspeakers).

It is of two types: biodegradable and non - biodegradable pollutants.

Non-biodegradable Pollutants : Those waste materials which cannot be broken down into non poisonous or harmless substance in nature by bacteria, such waste materials are called as non-biodegradable wastes. Few non-biodegradable wastes are:- Aluminium cans, Aluminium foils,Silver foils, Plastics, DDT, Radio Active waste, Rubber, Polythene bags, Computer floppy and Certain chemicals, etc.

Biodegradable Pollutants : Those waste materials that can be broken down into non-poisonous substances in nature due to action of bacteria and other microbes (organisms), in due course of time are called biodegradable wastes. Biological wastes include dead plants and animals, animal bones, animal excreta, cow-dung, urine, paper, wood, grains, cloth, leather goods, cardboard, cotton, plant fibres, newspaper, wool, etc.

The wastes that are poisonous before degradation or break down, after the break-down they get converted into non-poisonous substances and therefore, they do not disturb the ecological balance. Serious problems arise only when these start accumulating as a result of more deposition and slow decomposition.

Indoor Air Pollution : Most of us are ignorant about the presence of indoor air pollution. It is caused by the items of daily use in our homes. It may be caused by the use of paints, aerosols, acids for cleaning toilets, sprays and deodorants, carpet cleaners (chemical used for cleaning carpets), objects made from plastics, smoking tobacco and many more things. Therefore, we should also be very careful about the causes and prevention of indoor air pollution.

Sample Questions

(More Questions for each concept available in Login)

Question : 1

Which of the following are correct ? (a) Chemical, pesticides,sewage lines,etc are examples of water pollutants (b) Pesticides,lead,solid waste, etc are example of air pollutants. (c) Waste materials that can be broken down into non-poisonous substances in nature due to action of bacteria and other microbes are called biodegradable wastes.
A. Only (a) and (b) is correct .	B. Only (b) and (c) is correct .	C. Only (a) and (c) is correct .	D. All of these .
Right Option : C
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Question : 2

Which of the following are correct ? (a) Those waste materials that can be broken down into non-poisonous substances in nature due to action of bacteria and other microbes (organisms), in due course of time are called biodegradable wastes. (b) Those waste materials which cannot be broken down into non poisonous or harmless substance in nature by bacteria, such waste materials are called as non-biodegradable wastes. (c) Biodegradable wastes are:- Aluminium cans, Aluminium foils,Silver foils, Plastics, DDT, Radio Active waste, Rubber, Polythene bags, Computer floppy and Certain chemicals, etc.
A. Only (a) and (b) is correct .	B. Only (b) and (c) is correct .	C. Only (a) and (c) is correct .	D. All of these .
Right Option : A
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Question : 3

Some of the examples of _______________ wastes are Aluminium cans, Aluminium foils,Silver foils, Plastics, DDT, Radio Active waste, Rubber, Polythene bags.
A. Noise pollutants	B. Non-biodegradable Pollutants	C. Biodegradable Pollutants	D. None of these .
Right Option : B
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