Selina Textbook Solutions: Effects of Pollution | Geography Class 9 ICSE PDF Download

 Page 1


Effects of Pollution 
Exercises 
I. Short Answer Questions. 
Question 1. 
How does noise pollution affect animals ? 
Answer: 
Noise from industries, railways, crackers, explosions and commotion in the cities and 
aircraft, affect animals, birds, mice, fishes and domestic animals. Birds avoid migrating 
to places where noise level is above 100 dB. The noise emissions caused by 
supersonic aircraft and railways may cause miscarriage in mammals and fishes as well. 
Some of the birds have been found to have stopped laying eggs due to noise pollution 
Question 2. 
What major harm is done to the human beings by air pollution ? 
Answer: 
It causes irritation in eyes, nose, throat, asthma etc, headache, slurring of speech, lung 
cancer, damage to nerves, brain fiver and kidneys. 
Question 3. 
How are the animals affected by air pollution ? 
Answer: 
Polluted grass is eaten by the animals cause arsenic poisoning. Lead poisoning results 
in bronchitis and lack of appetite in pet animals. 
Question 4. 
What is the effect of oil spills on marine life ? 
Answer: 
Sea water polluted with oil leakage causes oil spills which contaminate sea water and 
lead to the death of marine organisms. 
Question 5. 
What causes waterborne diseases ? Name two waterborn diseases. 
Answer: 
Phosphates and Nitrates from fertilizers, industrial effluents e.g. Arsenic, Mercury, 
Cadmium, Lead etc. Gastrointestinal problems, typhoid etc. 
Question 6. 
In what way does soil pollution affect human beings? 
Answer: 
Human beings are affected through food chains e.g. Nitrogenous fertilizers produce 
Page 2


Effects of Pollution 
Exercises 
I. Short Answer Questions. 
Question 1. 
How does noise pollution affect animals ? 
Answer: 
Noise from industries, railways, crackers, explosions and commotion in the cities and 
aircraft, affect animals, birds, mice, fishes and domestic animals. Birds avoid migrating 
to places where noise level is above 100 dB. The noise emissions caused by 
supersonic aircraft and railways may cause miscarriage in mammals and fishes as well. 
Some of the birds have been found to have stopped laying eggs due to noise pollution 
Question 2. 
What major harm is done to the human beings by air pollution ? 
Answer: 
It causes irritation in eyes, nose, throat, asthma etc, headache, slurring of speech, lung 
cancer, damage to nerves, brain fiver and kidneys. 
Question 3. 
How are the animals affected by air pollution ? 
Answer: 
Polluted grass is eaten by the animals cause arsenic poisoning. Lead poisoning results 
in bronchitis and lack of appetite in pet animals. 
Question 4. 
What is the effect of oil spills on marine life ? 
Answer: 
Sea water polluted with oil leakage causes oil spills which contaminate sea water and 
lead to the death of marine organisms. 
Question 5. 
What causes waterborne diseases ? Name two waterborn diseases. 
Answer: 
Phosphates and Nitrates from fertilizers, industrial effluents e.g. Arsenic, Mercury, 
Cadmium, Lead etc. Gastrointestinal problems, typhoid etc. 
Question 6. 
In what way does soil pollution affect human beings? 
Answer: 
Human beings are affected through food chains e.g. Nitrogenous fertilizers produce 
toxic concentration of nitrate and nitrite in the leaves through soil, pollution of soil by 
underground water polluted by industrial wastes. Eutrophication causes pollution of 
water and soil making it infertile and unsuitable for plant growth. 
Question 7. 
Give the impact of radiations on the human body. 
Answer: 
Damage is caused to the offsprings and organs of the body. Several diseases are 
caused e.g., breast cancer, thyroid cancer, lung cancer, brain cancer and defective eye 
sight. 
Question 8. 
Why are nuclear radiations more dangerous than other forms of pollution ? 
Answer: 
Nuclear radiations survive for a long period upto hundred years resulting in widespread 
effects to pollute the natural environment. 
Question 9. 
What caused the Bhopal gas tragedy ? 
Answer: 
This was the worst industrial accident on December 3 1984, when about 40 tons of 
methyl isocyanate (MIC) leaked into the atmosphere from Union Carbides pesticide 
factory in Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh. 
Question 10. 
What caused the Chernobyl disaster ? 
Answer: 
This was a radioactive accident in 1986 in Chernobyl in Ukraine on April 26. When a 
reactor of nuclear power complex at Chernobyl exploded. A massive steam explosion, 
the core of the reactor combined with water to produce hydrogen exploded blowing toxic 
radioactive gases into the air. 
Question 11. 
What were the after-effects of the Bhopal gas tragedy? 
Answer: 
The tragic after effects were blinding people, choking their breathing and suffocating 
them, damaged the eyes, lungs and nervous system, upset the urine system and loss of 
unborn babies, different plant species were also damaged. 
 
 
Page 3


Effects of Pollution 
Exercises 
I. Short Answer Questions. 
Question 1. 
How does noise pollution affect animals ? 
Answer: 
Noise from industries, railways, crackers, explosions and commotion in the cities and 
aircraft, affect animals, birds, mice, fishes and domestic animals. Birds avoid migrating 
to places where noise level is above 100 dB. The noise emissions caused by 
supersonic aircraft and railways may cause miscarriage in mammals and fishes as well. 
Some of the birds have been found to have stopped laying eggs due to noise pollution 
Question 2. 
What major harm is done to the human beings by air pollution ? 
Answer: 
It causes irritation in eyes, nose, throat, asthma etc, headache, slurring of speech, lung 
cancer, damage to nerves, brain fiver and kidneys. 
Question 3. 
How are the animals affected by air pollution ? 
Answer: 
Polluted grass is eaten by the animals cause arsenic poisoning. Lead poisoning results 
in bronchitis and lack of appetite in pet animals. 
Question 4. 
What is the effect of oil spills on marine life ? 
Answer: 
Sea water polluted with oil leakage causes oil spills which contaminate sea water and 
lead to the death of marine organisms. 
Question 5. 
What causes waterborne diseases ? Name two waterborn diseases. 
Answer: 
Phosphates and Nitrates from fertilizers, industrial effluents e.g. Arsenic, Mercury, 
Cadmium, Lead etc. Gastrointestinal problems, typhoid etc. 
Question 6. 
In what way does soil pollution affect human beings? 
Answer: 
Human beings are affected through food chains e.g. Nitrogenous fertilizers produce 
toxic concentration of nitrate and nitrite in the leaves through soil, pollution of soil by 
underground water polluted by industrial wastes. Eutrophication causes pollution of 
water and soil making it infertile and unsuitable for plant growth. 
Question 7. 
Give the impact of radiations on the human body. 
Answer: 
Damage is caused to the offsprings and organs of the body. Several diseases are 
caused e.g., breast cancer, thyroid cancer, lung cancer, brain cancer and defective eye 
sight. 
Question 8. 
Why are nuclear radiations more dangerous than other forms of pollution ? 
Answer: 
Nuclear radiations survive for a long period upto hundred years resulting in widespread 
effects to pollute the natural environment. 
Question 9. 
What caused the Bhopal gas tragedy ? 
Answer: 
This was the worst industrial accident on December 3 1984, when about 40 tons of 
methyl isocyanate (MIC) leaked into the atmosphere from Union Carbides pesticide 
factory in Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh. 
Question 10. 
What caused the Chernobyl disaster ? 
Answer: 
This was a radioactive accident in 1986 in Chernobyl in Ukraine on April 26. When a 
reactor of nuclear power complex at Chernobyl exploded. A massive steam explosion, 
the core of the reactor combined with water to produce hydrogen exploded blowing toxic 
radioactive gases into the air. 
Question 11. 
What were the after-effects of the Bhopal gas tragedy? 
Answer: 
The tragic after effects were blinding people, choking their breathing and suffocating 
them, damaged the eyes, lungs and nervous system, upset the urine system and loss of 
unborn babies, different plant species were also damaged. 
 
 
II. Long Answer Questions  
Question 1. 
Noise pollution is detrimental to human health and environment. Discuss. 
Answer: 
Noise pollution has ill effects not only on the human beings but also on the environment. 
Human Health 
1. Effect on hearing or Deafness : Continuous exposure to noise levels above 100 
dB has an adverse effect on hearing ability within a fairly short time. Many workers 
who are exposed to the noise of jet aircraft or very noisy workshops for even 
moderate periods soon develop detectable hearing defects. 
2. Effect on Communication : External sounds can interfere with conversation and 
use of the telephone, as well as the enjoyment of radio and television 
programmes. 
3. Repeated interference with sleep : Different people have different depths of 
sleep and they can adjust to natural sounds. However, noisy conditions near 
residential areas at night causes difficulties in sleeping. 
4. Mental or Physiological Effects : Many people complain that noise makes them 
mentally ill. Experiments have been performed to attempt to confirm or disprove 
these claims. Doctors and scientists have now medically confirmed that *noise 
disturbs the biological organisms and their respective functions. 
5. Effects on Physical health and Psychological problems : Noise has little 
physical effect on the biological performance provided that the noise level is below 
about 90 dB. Damage to the inner ear may result if continuous noise levels 
exceed about 100 dB and can lead to physical illness. Psychiatrists and 
psychologists have in recent researches made observations that noise has certain 
relation with physical health causing tension resulting in problems such as speech 
interference, annoyance, fatigue, sleep interference and emotional distress. 
Effects on Environment : The noise booms cause cracks in national and 
archaeological monuments Very high levels of noise are the cause of cracks in 
hills. High intensity explosions can break glass panes and vibrations in the 
buildings. 
Question 2. 
How does air pollution affect human beings and environment 
Answer: 
Air pollution affects human health in various harmful diseases e.g. irritation in eyes, 
headache, vomiting, respiratory disease, cancer, damage to liver and 
kidneys. SO 2 causes harm to plants by yellowing the leaves, NO 2 causes suppressed 
growth of plants. Animals eating the polluted grass are affected with arsenic poisoning. 
Soot, dust and fumes discolour the fabrics arid buildings. The Taj Mahal has suffered 
damage caused by SO 2 in the air by getting discoloured and 
corroded. SO 2 and H 2SO 4 causes corrosion of metals like steel, copper and zinc. 
Page 4


Effects of Pollution 
Exercises 
I. Short Answer Questions. 
Question 1. 
How does noise pollution affect animals ? 
Answer: 
Noise from industries, railways, crackers, explosions and commotion in the cities and 
aircraft, affect animals, birds, mice, fishes and domestic animals. Birds avoid migrating 
to places where noise level is above 100 dB. The noise emissions caused by 
supersonic aircraft and railways may cause miscarriage in mammals and fishes as well. 
Some of the birds have been found to have stopped laying eggs due to noise pollution 
Question 2. 
What major harm is done to the human beings by air pollution ? 
Answer: 
It causes irritation in eyes, nose, throat, asthma etc, headache, slurring of speech, lung 
cancer, damage to nerves, brain fiver and kidneys. 
Question 3. 
How are the animals affected by air pollution ? 
Answer: 
Polluted grass is eaten by the animals cause arsenic poisoning. Lead poisoning results 
in bronchitis and lack of appetite in pet animals. 
Question 4. 
What is the effect of oil spills on marine life ? 
Answer: 
Sea water polluted with oil leakage causes oil spills which contaminate sea water and 
lead to the death of marine organisms. 
Question 5. 
What causes waterborne diseases ? Name two waterborn diseases. 
Answer: 
Phosphates and Nitrates from fertilizers, industrial effluents e.g. Arsenic, Mercury, 
Cadmium, Lead etc. Gastrointestinal problems, typhoid etc. 
Question 6. 
In what way does soil pollution affect human beings? 
Answer: 
Human beings are affected through food chains e.g. Nitrogenous fertilizers produce 
toxic concentration of nitrate and nitrite in the leaves through soil, pollution of soil by 
underground water polluted by industrial wastes. Eutrophication causes pollution of 
water and soil making it infertile and unsuitable for plant growth. 
Question 7. 
Give the impact of radiations on the human body. 
Answer: 
Damage is caused to the offsprings and organs of the body. Several diseases are 
caused e.g., breast cancer, thyroid cancer, lung cancer, brain cancer and defective eye 
sight. 
Question 8. 
Why are nuclear radiations more dangerous than other forms of pollution ? 
Answer: 
Nuclear radiations survive for a long period upto hundred years resulting in widespread 
effects to pollute the natural environment. 
Question 9. 
What caused the Bhopal gas tragedy ? 
Answer: 
This was the worst industrial accident on December 3 1984, when about 40 tons of 
methyl isocyanate (MIC) leaked into the atmosphere from Union Carbides pesticide 
factory in Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh. 
Question 10. 
What caused the Chernobyl disaster ? 
Answer: 
This was a radioactive accident in 1986 in Chernobyl in Ukraine on April 26. When a 
reactor of nuclear power complex at Chernobyl exploded. A massive steam explosion, 
the core of the reactor combined with water to produce hydrogen exploded blowing toxic 
radioactive gases into the air. 
Question 11. 
What were the after-effects of the Bhopal gas tragedy? 
Answer: 
The tragic after effects were blinding people, choking their breathing and suffocating 
them, damaged the eyes, lungs and nervous system, upset the urine system and loss of 
unborn babies, different plant species were also damaged. 
 
 
II. Long Answer Questions  
Question 1. 
Noise pollution is detrimental to human health and environment. Discuss. 
Answer: 
Noise pollution has ill effects not only on the human beings but also on the environment. 
Human Health 
1. Effect on hearing or Deafness : Continuous exposure to noise levels above 100 
dB has an adverse effect on hearing ability within a fairly short time. Many workers 
who are exposed to the noise of jet aircraft or very noisy workshops for even 
moderate periods soon develop detectable hearing defects. 
2. Effect on Communication : External sounds can interfere with conversation and 
use of the telephone, as well as the enjoyment of radio and television 
programmes. 
3. Repeated interference with sleep : Different people have different depths of 
sleep and they can adjust to natural sounds. However, noisy conditions near 
residential areas at night causes difficulties in sleeping. 
4. Mental or Physiological Effects : Many people complain that noise makes them 
mentally ill. Experiments have been performed to attempt to confirm or disprove 
these claims. Doctors and scientists have now medically confirmed that *noise 
disturbs the biological organisms and their respective functions. 
5. Effects on Physical health and Psychological problems : Noise has little 
physical effect on the biological performance provided that the noise level is below 
about 90 dB. Damage to the inner ear may result if continuous noise levels 
exceed about 100 dB and can lead to physical illness. Psychiatrists and 
psychologists have in recent researches made observations that noise has certain 
relation with physical health causing tension resulting in problems such as speech 
interference, annoyance, fatigue, sleep interference and emotional distress. 
Effects on Environment : The noise booms cause cracks in national and 
archaeological monuments Very high levels of noise are the cause of cracks in 
hills. High intensity explosions can break glass panes and vibrations in the 
buildings. 
Question 2. 
How does air pollution affect human beings and environment 
Answer: 
Air pollution affects human health in various harmful diseases e.g. irritation in eyes, 
headache, vomiting, respiratory disease, cancer, damage to liver and 
kidneys. SO 2 causes harm to plants by yellowing the leaves, NO 2 causes suppressed 
growth of plants. Animals eating the polluted grass are affected with arsenic poisoning. 
Soot, dust and fumes discolour the fabrics arid buildings. The Taj Mahal has suffered 
damage caused by SO 2 in the air by getting discoloured and 
corroded. SO 2 and H 2SO 4 causes corrosion of metals like steel, copper and zinc. 
Question 3. 
Explain how the accumulation of nutrients and chemicals in the water prove fatal for the 
marine organisms. 
Answer: 
Eutrophication causes in growth of phytoplankton and algae which reduce the 
penetration of oxygen, light and heat into the water bodies, so, the marine organisms 
suffer greatly and mostly die. 
Question 4. 
Explain with the help of a diagram how the accumulation of toxic substances increases 
as we move up the food chain. 
Answer: 
Nitrogenous fertilizers produce toxic concentration of nitrate and nitrite in the leaves, 
which are eaten by animals and as ; vegetables by men, which is very harmful for 
health. Eutrophication is dangerous to marine life and the secondary consumers eating 
fish etc. are also adversely affected through complicated diseases. Harmful pathogens 
are transferred to human through vegetables and fruits. 
 
 
Page 5


Effects of Pollution 
Exercises 
I. Short Answer Questions. 
Question 1. 
How does noise pollution affect animals ? 
Answer: 
Noise from industries, railways, crackers, explosions and commotion in the cities and 
aircraft, affect animals, birds, mice, fishes and domestic animals. Birds avoid migrating 
to places where noise level is above 100 dB. The noise emissions caused by 
supersonic aircraft and railways may cause miscarriage in mammals and fishes as well. 
Some of the birds have been found to have stopped laying eggs due to noise pollution 
Question 2. 
What major harm is done to the human beings by air pollution ? 
Answer: 
It causes irritation in eyes, nose, throat, asthma etc, headache, slurring of speech, lung 
cancer, damage to nerves, brain fiver and kidneys. 
Question 3. 
How are the animals affected by air pollution ? 
Answer: 
Polluted grass is eaten by the animals cause arsenic poisoning. Lead poisoning results 
in bronchitis and lack of appetite in pet animals. 
Question 4. 
What is the effect of oil spills on marine life ? 
Answer: 
Sea water polluted with oil leakage causes oil spills which contaminate sea water and 
lead to the death of marine organisms. 
Question 5. 
What causes waterborne diseases ? Name two waterborn diseases. 
Answer: 
Phosphates and Nitrates from fertilizers, industrial effluents e.g. Arsenic, Mercury, 
Cadmium, Lead etc. Gastrointestinal problems, typhoid etc. 
Question 6. 
In what way does soil pollution affect human beings? 
Answer: 
Human beings are affected through food chains e.g. Nitrogenous fertilizers produce 
toxic concentration of nitrate and nitrite in the leaves through soil, pollution of soil by 
underground water polluted by industrial wastes. Eutrophication causes pollution of 
water and soil making it infertile and unsuitable for plant growth. 
Question 7. 
Give the impact of radiations on the human body. 
Answer: 
Damage is caused to the offsprings and organs of the body. Several diseases are 
caused e.g., breast cancer, thyroid cancer, lung cancer, brain cancer and defective eye 
sight. 
Question 8. 
Why are nuclear radiations more dangerous than other forms of pollution ? 
Answer: 
Nuclear radiations survive for a long period upto hundred years resulting in widespread 
effects to pollute the natural environment. 
Question 9. 
What caused the Bhopal gas tragedy ? 
Answer: 
This was the worst industrial accident on December 3 1984, when about 40 tons of 
methyl isocyanate (MIC) leaked into the atmosphere from Union Carbides pesticide 
factory in Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh. 
Question 10. 
What caused the Chernobyl disaster ? 
Answer: 
This was a radioactive accident in 1986 in Chernobyl in Ukraine on April 26. When a 
reactor of nuclear power complex at Chernobyl exploded. A massive steam explosion, 
the core of the reactor combined with water to produce hydrogen exploded blowing toxic 
radioactive gases into the air. 
Question 11. 
What were the after-effects of the Bhopal gas tragedy? 
Answer: 
The tragic after effects were blinding people, choking their breathing and suffocating 
them, damaged the eyes, lungs and nervous system, upset the urine system and loss of 
unborn babies, different plant species were also damaged. 
 
 
II. Long Answer Questions  
Question 1. 
Noise pollution is detrimental to human health and environment. Discuss. 
Answer: 
Noise pollution has ill effects not only on the human beings but also on the environment. 
Human Health 
1. Effect on hearing or Deafness : Continuous exposure to noise levels above 100 
dB has an adverse effect on hearing ability within a fairly short time. Many workers 
who are exposed to the noise of jet aircraft or very noisy workshops for even 
moderate periods soon develop detectable hearing defects. 
2. Effect on Communication : External sounds can interfere with conversation and 
use of the telephone, as well as the enjoyment of radio and television 
programmes. 
3. Repeated interference with sleep : Different people have different depths of 
sleep and they can adjust to natural sounds. However, noisy conditions near 
residential areas at night causes difficulties in sleeping. 
4. Mental or Physiological Effects : Many people complain that noise makes them 
mentally ill. Experiments have been performed to attempt to confirm or disprove 
these claims. Doctors and scientists have now medically confirmed that *noise 
disturbs the biological organisms and their respective functions. 
5. Effects on Physical health and Psychological problems : Noise has little 
physical effect on the biological performance provided that the noise level is below 
about 90 dB. Damage to the inner ear may result if continuous noise levels 
exceed about 100 dB and can lead to physical illness. Psychiatrists and 
psychologists have in recent researches made observations that noise has certain 
relation with physical health causing tension resulting in problems such as speech 
interference, annoyance, fatigue, sleep interference and emotional distress. 
Effects on Environment : The noise booms cause cracks in national and 
archaeological monuments Very high levels of noise are the cause of cracks in 
hills. High intensity explosions can break glass panes and vibrations in the 
buildings. 
Question 2. 
How does air pollution affect human beings and environment 
Answer: 
Air pollution affects human health in various harmful diseases e.g. irritation in eyes, 
headache, vomiting, respiratory disease, cancer, damage to liver and 
kidneys. SO 2 causes harm to plants by yellowing the leaves, NO 2 causes suppressed 
growth of plants. Animals eating the polluted grass are affected with arsenic poisoning. 
Soot, dust and fumes discolour the fabrics arid buildings. The Taj Mahal has suffered 
damage caused by SO 2 in the air by getting discoloured and 
corroded. SO 2 and H 2SO 4 causes corrosion of metals like steel, copper and zinc. 
Question 3. 
Explain how the accumulation of nutrients and chemicals in the water prove fatal for the 
marine organisms. 
Answer: 
Eutrophication causes in growth of phytoplankton and algae which reduce the 
penetration of oxygen, light and heat into the water bodies, so, the marine organisms 
suffer greatly and mostly die. 
Question 4. 
Explain with the help of a diagram how the accumulation of toxic substances increases 
as we move up the food chain. 
Answer: 
Nitrogenous fertilizers produce toxic concentration of nitrate and nitrite in the leaves, 
which are eaten by animals and as ; vegetables by men, which is very harmful for 
health. Eutrophication is dangerous to marine life and the secondary consumers eating 
fish etc. are also adversely affected through complicated diseases. Harmful pathogens 
are transferred to human through vegetables and fruits. 
 
 
Question 5. 
Explain the effects of soil pollution on human beings and environment. 
Answer: 
Soil pollution causes contamination of plants which may affect the human health and 
the scarcity of oxygen disturbs the natural composition of air and air pollution promotes 
unwanted diseases. 
Question 6. 
Explain with examples the effects of radiations on the environment and on humans. 
Answer: 
Radiations emitting from radioactive materials and the disposal of radioactive wastes 
cause pollution and damage the environment. The high level products of nuclear wastes 
remain in the environment for several hundred years. Radioactive threats to the 
environment are the accidents connected with the activities of nuclear reactors, nuclear-
powered vessels and satellites, etc. On human being it causes genetic variations, and 
somatic variation i.e. damage to body organs, breast cancer, thyroid cancer, lung 
cancer, brain cancer and defective eyesight. 
Question 7. 
What was the immediate and long term effects of the leakage of MIC gas from the 
Union Carbide’s pesticide factory in Bhopal ? 
Answer: 
This accident killed 3500 people and 40,000 people were affected in an area of 100 sq. 
km. Gas leakage did the people blind, loss of body control, loss of unborn babies, 
damage to brain, kidney, lungs, intestinal diseases, damaging the reproductive ability 
and plant species. 
Question 8. 
What harm did radioactive pollution do in the Chernobyl disaster ? 
Answer: 
After the disaster, four square kilometres of pine forest near the reactor turned reddish-
brown and died. Horses also died 6 km. away by thyroid damage whole of western 
USSR and other European countries are contaminated by gamma emitters deposited 
on the soil. Meat and dairy products were contaminated with Caesium-137. About 
7,00,000 people became exposed to Chernobyl radiation, expecting bad health 
problems. 
Question 9. 
What Is the impact of toxic compounds on human beings ? 
Answer: 
Toxic Compounds : 
? Mercury, Methyl mercury 
? Heavy metals, Cadmium