Pollution Class 5 Notes SST

Introduction

• Human beings depend on the environment for resources and live alongside other living things.
• Over time, the way humans interact with the environment has changed a lot.
• Some reasons for this change include:
• 1. Increased comfort
  2. Modern lifestyles
  3. Industrialization (factories and machines)
  4. Growing population
• These changes have put a lot of pressure on the Earth.
• Now, humans are considered the main threat to the environment.
• Different types of pollution harm the Earth’s ecosystem, including:
  1. Air pollution (harmful gases in the air)
  2. Water pollution (dirty water)
  3. Soil contamination (damaged soil)
  4. Noise pollution (loud sounds)
  5. Light pollution (too much artificial light)

Pollution and its Types

• Pollution means making the environment dirty or harmful.
• It can cause problems for living things and the earth.
• Pollution happens when harmful substances mix with air, water, or land.

Major types of pollution are:

• Air Pollution: Dirty air from smoke, factories, or cars.
• Water Pollution: Dirty water from chemicals, waste, or oil spills.
• Soil Pollution: Harmful substances in the ground from waste or chemicals.
• Noise Pollution: Loud sounds that can be harmful to health.
• Light Pollution: Too much artificial light affects natural light.

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What is Air Pollution?

• Air pollution happens when harmful gases mix with the air.
• Natural causes like sandstorms, forest fires, volcanic eruptions, and pollen can also cause air pollution.
• However, most air pollution comes from human activities, like:
  1. Burning fuels in factories and vehicles.
  2. Burning garbage.
  3. Releasing smoke and harmful gases into the air.
• Air pollution can cause health problems like breathing difficulties, lung damage, and diseases.
• It also harms plants and animals, disrupting nature and the environment.

What is Water Pollution?

• Water pollution can happen due to natural causes and human activities.
• Natural causes like storms mix mud, soil, and harmful particles in water, making it unsafe to drink.
• Human activities that cause water pollution include:
  1. Factories and homes release waste into rivers and lakes.
  2. Washing clothes or bathing animals in rivers, especially in rural areas.
  3. Oil leaks from home tanks also pollute water.
• Drinking dirty water can lead to diseases like jaundice, typhoid, and stomach problems.
• Water pollution harms not only humans but also plants and animals.
• Animals living in polluted water get weak and may die.
• Polluted water makes it hard for plants to grow and produce food, and animals drinking this water can become sick.

What is Land or Soil Pollution?

• Land or soil pollution happens when waste like:
  1. Plastic bags
  2. Glass bottles
  3. Metal containers are thrown into the soil.
• This makes the soil infertile (unable to grow plants) and harms living organisms in it.
• Main causes of soil pollution:
  1. Overuse of pesticides and fertilizers
  2. Dumping of industrial and household waste
• Effects of soil pollution:
  1. Reduces soil fertility
  2. Harms organisms living in the soil
  3. Stops plants from growing well

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What is Noise Pollution?

• Noise pollution is when there are too many loud and unwanted sounds.
• It can cause problems in the environment and for people.
• Human ears can hear sounds as quiet as 20 decibels.
• Sounds louder than 90 decibels can hurt our ears.
• Causes of noise pollution include:
  1. Cars, airplanes, and buses
  2. Loudspeakers and televisions
  3. Music systems
  4. Factory machines
• Effects of noise pollution:
  1. Hearing loss or deafness
  2. Stress and irritation
  3. Headaches
  4. Trouble sleeping

What is Light Pollution?

Light pollution includes:

• Light trespass
• Over-illumination
• Astronomical interference
• It happens because of industrial development.

Common sources of light pollution are:

• Lights from buildings (inside and outside)
• Advertisements
• Commercial properties
• Offices and factories
• Streetlights

Effects of light pollution:

• Harms the environment
• Disturbs animal behaviour and ecosystems
• Makes it harder for scientists to study the stars
• Reduces our ability to enjoy the night sky.

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Conclusion

• Environmental pollution poses a severe threat to the Earth's ecosystem, primarily caused by human activities.
• Air pollution, water pollution, soil pollution, noise pollution, and light pollution each have distinct effects on the environment and human health. 
• Understanding the adverse consequences of pollution is essential for developing sustainable practices and mitigating the harmful impact on the Earth.
• By adopting responsible behaviours and implementing effective environmental regulations, society can work towards preserving and protecting the delicate balance of our planet's ecosystem.