Pollution is defined as ____.

An undesirable change in the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of air, water, land and soil.

True or False: The Environment Protection Act was passed in 1986 to enhance the quality of our environment.

True

Fill in the blank: Air pollution can be caused by ____ from thermal power plants.

Smoke stacks

What are the harmful effects of carbon monoxide (CO) on health?

Carbon monoxide causes giddiness, headache, cardiovascular malfunction, and asphyxia.

True or False: Garbage decomposition does not contribute to air pollution.

False. Garbage decomposition releases unwanted gases into the air, contributing to air pollution.

Fill in the blank: The excessive use of ____ by automobiles and industries releases particulate and air pollutants.

Fossil fuels

List two types of sources that contribute to air pollution.

Thermal power plants and volcanic eruptions.

Hydrogen sulphide (H2S) is known to cause ___ and ___ in humans.

Nausea and eye and throat irritation

True or False: Sulphur dioxide (SO2) contributes to respiratory diseases such as asthma and bronchitis.

True

Fine particulates released by industries lead to ___ and ___ problems in the respiratory system.

Breathing and respiratory

What is the primary function of an Electrostatic Precipitator (ESP) in controlling air pollution?

To remove particulate matter from the exhaust of thermal power plants.

Electrostatic Precipitators (ESP) can remove about ___% of particulate matter from emissions.

99

True or False: Reduced growth and yield in plants due to air pollution can lead to premature death of the plants.

True

Fill in the blank: The electrode wires in an ESP produce a corona that releases ___ when provided with an electric current.

Electrons

What are the health impacts of fine particulates on the lungs?

They cause inflammation and damage to the lungs.

Electrostatic precipitators work by charging dust particles negatively through ___ and then attracting them to ___ plates.

Discharged corona and grounded

True or False: Electrostatic precipitators can effectively remove particulate matter of size 2.5 micrometers or less (PM 2.5).

False. Electrostatic precipitators cannot effectively remove particulate matter of size 2.5 micrometers or less.

What is the primary function of a scrubber in industrial exhaust systems?

To remove harmful gases like sulfur dioxide from the exhaust.

Fill in the blank: The reaction of lime with sulfur dioxide in a scrubber results in the formation of a precipitate of ___ and ___ .

Calcium sulfate and calcium sulfide

Explain the importance of maintaining a low velocity of air between the collecting plates in an electrostatic precipitator.

A low velocity of air allows dust particles sufficient time to fall onto the collecting plates, enhancing the efficiency of dust collection.

Catalytic converters are primarily used in automobiles to reduce emissions of ___ and ___.

NO (nitric oxide) and CO (carbon monoxide)

True or False: Catalytic converters can be used with leaded petrol without affecting their function.

False; leaded petrol inactivates the catalyst in catalytic converters.

What are the benefits of using Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) over petrol or diesel in vehicles?

CNG burns most efficiently, leaves no unburnt remains, is cheaper, and cannot be siphoned off or adulterated like petrol or diesel.

Fill in the blank: The Supreme Court directive led to the conversion of all buses in Delhi to run on ___ by the end of 2002.

Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)

What are some measures to reduce vehicular pollution in Delhi?

Phasing out old vehicles and using unleaded petrol.