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Pollution of Air and Water Class 8 Notes NCERT and MCQs

The chapter discusses about air and water pollution and their effects on human lives. It also discusses about the importance of clean air and water for living beings. Greenhouse effect is also covered in this section along with measures to reduce pollution.

Air Pollution

Air is very important for human survival. Air is a mixture of gases comprising Nitrogen (78% by volume), Oxygen (21%), Carbon dioxide, Argon, Methane, Ozone, and Water vapour in small quantities.

When clean air is contaminated due to the presence of unwanted substances causing harmful effects on both the living and non-living components, then it is termed air pollution .

The unwanted substances that contaminate the air are called air pollutants . Some of the air pollutants are Carbon Monoxide, Nitrogen oxides, Carbon dioxide, Smoke, CFCs, etc.

How does Air gets Polluted?

There are various causes of air pollution. Some of them are listed below:

• Natural Sources: Smoke and Dust arising from forest fires, volcanic eruptions, etc.
• Man made Sources: Factories, Power Plants, Automobile exhausts, Burning of firewood and dung cakes.

Effects of Air Pollution

Air Pollution can lead to many respiratory problems in humans. Incomplete combustion of fuels like petrol and diesel produces carbon monoxide which is a poisonous gas. Carbon Monoxide reduces the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood.

Smog is made up of smoke and fog. The smoke may contain oxides of nitrogen that combine with other pollutants and fog to form smog. Smog leads to asthma, cough and wheezing in children.

Many gaseous pollutants like Sulphur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide are released from petroleum refineries and thermal power plants. These pollutants can cause respiratory problems and can even damage the lungs permanently.

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) used in refrigerators, air conditioners and aerosol sprays damage the ozone layer which protects us from harmful UV rays of the Sun .

Tiny particles released from the automobile exhaust and steel making and mining industries remain suspended in the air for a long duration. These are called suspended particulate matter . They reduce visibility and cause diseases if inhaled.

Case Study of Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal in Agra, one of the famous tourist destinations in India, has become a matter of concern. The white marble has discolored due to the presence of air pollutants. This shows that not only living organisms but non-living things are also affected due to air pollution.

The pollutants released by the industries located in and around Agra such as rubber processing, automobile, chemicals and Mathura oil refinery in particular have resulted in corrosion of the marble of the monument. Pollutants like Sulphur Dioxide and Nitrogen Dioxide react with the water vapour to form sulphuric acid and nitric acid. These acids drop down with rain. This is called acid rain . Acid rain destroys the marble of the monument. The phenomenon is called “marble cancer”. The suspended particulate matter has led to the yellowing of the marble.

In order to protect the monument, the Supreme Court ordered industries to move towards cleaner fuels like CNG, LPG, etc. The automobiles were ordered to switch over to unleaded petrol in the Taj zone.

Greenhouse Effect and Global Warming

The sun’s rays reaching the earth's surface are partially absorbed and partially reflected back into space. A part of the reflected radiation is trapped by the atmosphere which further warms the earth. This is called greenhouse effect as it is similar to the greenhouse in a nursery where the sun’s heat is allowed to get in but is not allowed to go out and the trapped heat warms the greenhouse. Greenhouse effect is an essential process as without it life would not have been possible on the earth. But due to the presence of gases like Carbon Dioxide, Methane, Nitrous oxide and Water vapour in excess in the air, this process has become life-threatening. These gases are called greenhouse gases .

Carbon Dioxide is continuously being released due to human activities. Plants use CO 2 for photosynthesis thereby reducing the amount of CO 2 in the atmosphere. But, due to deforestation, the area under forests is decreasing and the amount of CO 2 is increasing in the air. The accumulation of CO 2 in the atmosphere is leading to more trapping of heat. As a result, the average temperature of the earth’s atmosphere is gradually increasing. This is called global warming .

Impact of global warming

Global warming has become a major concern for everyone. Climate change is one of the major impacts of global warming. It can cause sea levels to rise suddenly. Coastal areas have already been flooded. It has wide ranging effects on Agriculture, Forests, Plants and Animals.

Kyoto Protocol was signed in 1997 to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases. It came into force on 16 February 2005.

Paris Agreement is a legally binding international treaty on climate change that was adopted at COP 21 in Paris on 12 December 2015. The countries commit to reduce their emissions so as to limit global warming to below 2°C.

Measures to reduce Air Pollution

• Switching towards cleaner fuels like Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)
• Prefer public transport like metro, train, bus, or carpooling.
• Say no to crackers
• Regular monitoring of air quality at various locations
• Creating awareness among the people about the ill-effects of air pollution
• Switching over to alternative fuels instead of fossil fuels to meet energy demands
• Promoting renewable sources of energy like Solar energy, hydropower and wind energy
• Planting more and more trees
• Avoid burning of solid wastes

Water Pollution

Water is another precious resource for the existence of life on the earth. Due to the increase in population, industries and agricultural activities, water is becoming scarce. When harmful substances like toxic chemicals, silt, sewage, etc, contaminate water, it is termed water pollution . The substances that pollute water are called water pollutants .

What causes Water Pollution?

People wash clothes, bathe and even defecate in the river. Also, flowers, idols of gods and goddesses and non-biodegradable substances like plastics and polythene bags are thrown into the river. Industrial wastes, washed away fertilisers and pesticides, and toxic chemicals like arsenic, lead and fluorides are directly discharged into the river.

Apart from this, hot water discharged from the power plants and industries into the river raises the temperature of the waterbody, adversely affecting marine life.

Case Study of Ganga

Ganga is one of the major rivers of India. Most of the northern, central and eastern population of India depends on the river Ganga for their daily requirements. But, human activities like littering garbage, untreated sewage, and dead bodies directly into the river have led to the degradation of quality of water in river Ganga. A study by WWF found that Ganga is among the ten most endangered rivers in the world.

Ganga Action Plan was launched by the government in 1985 to reduce the pollution levels and conserve the river. Rising population and industrialization have damaged the Ganga river beyond repair. Ganga at Kanpur in UP is one of the most polluted stretches of the river.

Impact of Water Pollution

Chemicals are directly released by oil refineries, textile and sugar mills, and chemical factories into the river. These chemicals lead to toxicity in plants and animals.

Polluted water causes changes in the acidity of soil, growth of worms, etc. The chemical fertilisers and pesticides used for the protection of crops dissolve in water and seep into the ground and pollute the ground water.

The excessive quantities of chemicals in water act as nutrients for algae leading to algal bloom. When these algae die, they act as food for decomposers like bacteria which leads to the consumption of a lot of oxygen, thereby reducing the oxygen level which may kill aquatic organisms.

Untreated sewage discharged into the water may contain bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites which cause diseases like cholera, typhoid, jaundice, etc.

Potable Water

Water that is suitable for drinking purposes is called potable water. Water can be made safe for drinking by the following methods:

1. Physical method: Take a plastic bottle and cut it into 2 halves at the centre. Use the upper half as a funnel by putting it upside down in the lower half. Make layers in it with paper napkin or a fine cloth followed by, cotton, sand and then gravel. Now pour dirty water through the filter and after some time you will get filtered water.

2. Boiling method: Boiling impure water kills the germs present in the water.

3. Chemical method: Chlorination is a widely used method for purifying water. Chlorine tablets or bleaching powder is added to the impure water in specified quantity.

Measures to reduce Water Pollution

• Strict implementation of laws for industrial units regarding treating of waste before discharging into rivers.
• Installation of water treatment plants in all industrial areas.
• Installation of Sewage Treatment Plants
• Judicious use of water- Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. Water used for washing vegetables can be used to water plants in the garden.
• Regular monitoring of water quality at various locations
• Creating awareness among the people about the ill effects of water pollution

MCQs based on NCERT Class 8 Science Chapter 18:Pollution of Air and Water

1. Which of the following is NOT a greenhouse gas?

a. Carbon dioxide

b. Sulphur dioxide

d. Nitrogen

Explanation:

The gases that lead to the phenomenon of greenhouse effect are called greenhouse gases. Examples: Carbon Dioxide, Sulphur Dioxide, Methane, Water Vapour, etc.

2. Which of the following air pollutant reduces the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood?

a. Carbon monoxide

b. Carbon dioxide

c. Nitrogen dioxide

d. Sulphur dioxide

Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas that reduces the oxygen carrying capacity of the blood.

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Case Study Questions Class 8 Science Pollution of Air and Water

Case study questions class 8 science chapter 18 pollution of air and water.

CBSE Class 8 Case Study Questions Science Pollution of Air and Water. Important Case Study Questions for Class 8 Board Exam Students. Here we have arranged some Important Case Base Questions for students who are searching for Paragraph Based Questions Pollution of Air and Water.

CBSE Case Study Questions Class 8 Science Pollution of Air and Water

Case study 1.

Que. 1) Which among the following air pollutants reduces the oxygen carrying capacity of the blood?

(b) Carbon monoxide

(a) Nitrogen dioxide

Que. 2) (d) Chlorofluorocarbons

Que. 3) (b) Smog

Case study 2

Que. 1) The phenomenon of acid rain corroding the monuments made up of marbles is known as ……………………………………………………………………………………… .

(c) Marble cancer

(a) Carbon dioxide

(b) Methane

Case study 3

Que. 1) Majority of people living in regions which are threatened by global warming are in ……………………………………………………………………………………………… .

(d) Antarctica

Que. 3) To reduce the drastic effects of air pollution we should ……………………………………………………………………………………… .

Que. 4) What is “Van Mahotsav”?

Que. 4) Answer: Van Mahotsav is celebrated in the month of July every year, when lakhs of trees are planted. Planting large amounts of trees can help reduce the amount of carbon dioxide from the environment.

Case study 4

Que. 1) Government of India launched which of the following initiative in 2016 for the purpose of cleaning river ganga?

(d) Zooplanktons

(c) Industries should stop working.

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Pollution of Air and Water

Case study the taj mahal.

Over the past 2 decades, India’s most famous tourist attraction. Taj Mahal located In Agra. has become a matter of concern. Experts have warned that pollutants In air are discolouring Its white marble. So. It Is not only living organisms that get affected by polluted air but non-living things like buildings, monuments and statues also get affected.

The Industries located in and around Agra like rubber processing, automobile, chemicals and especially the Mathura oil refinery, have been responsible for producing pollutants like sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide. These gases react with the water vapour present In the atmosphere to form sulphuric acid and nitric acid.

The adds drop down with rain, making the rain acidic. This Is called acid rain. Acid rain corrodes the marble of the monument. The phenomenon Is also called “Marble cancer”. Suspended particulate matter, such as the soot particles emitted by Mathura oil refinery, has contributed towards yellowing of the marble.

The Supreme Court has taken several steps to save the Taj. It has ordered the industries to switch to cleaner fuels like CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) and LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas). Moreover, the automobiles should switch over to unleaded petrol in the Taj zone. Discuss with your elders and see what they have to say about the condition of the Taj. 20 or 30 years ago! Try to procure a picture of the Taj Mahal for your scrap book.

The domed monument was built by the Mogul Emperor Shah Jahan between 1632 and 1654 for his wife, Mumtaz Mahal. It houses their graves and a mosque, as well as several other graves of Mogul royalty. Around 30 lakh tourists visit the site every year. The landmark was erected in the 1600s as ordered by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan to honor the memory of Mumtaz Mahal, his wife. The Taj Mahal has a marble dome that is 115 feet high, with minarets that are 130 feet high. The Taj Mahal has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983, attracting millions of visitors per year.

To cut back on pollution, cars and buses are not permitted to drive to the Taj Mahal but must be parked at a lot about 2km away, where visitors can take battery-run buses or horse-drawn carriages.

Researchers from the United States and India reported that dust and carbon particles that are airborne are causing discoloration on the marble dome and minarets of the Taj Mahal, turning the white color of the Indian landmark to brown. The Georgia Institute of Technology, the University of Wisconsin, the Indian Institute of Technology at Kanpur and the Archaeological Survey of India all collaborated in the study that analyzed the effects of pollution on the Taj Mahal. The pollutants discoloring the Taj Mahal are particulate matter: carbon from burning biomass and refuse, fossil fuels, and dust - possibly from agriculture and road traffic.

However, starting in the 1970s, there have been observations of a brownish tone on the white marble of the structure. To clean this up, routine cleaning in the form of mud-pack therapy is used. The primary suspect for the discoloration of the marble is air pollution, but no studies have been previously done to confirm the claim until now.

Researchers utilized special equipment to take samples of the air surrounding the landmark from November 2011 to June 2012. In addition, small samples of fresh marble were placed on various points of the Taj Mahal. An analysis of the filters of the air sampling equipment and the samples of marble indicated that the Taj Mahal was exposed to dust, black carbon and brown organic carbon. The researchers believe that the dust came from agricultural activities in the region and from vehicular traffic, while the carbon came from several sources including vehicle exhaust and trash burning. To confirm their findings, the researchers applied the same particles to a piece of marble. The result compared favorably to the observations of brown color on the Taj Mahal.

Unless the issue is resolved, the Archaeological Survey of India said that it might have to do the mud-pack therapy on the Taj Mahal yearly, when it was only previously done once every five to six years. While the therapy is currently effective, the process takes days to complete, wherein the Taj Mahal is closed to visitors. In addition, repeated usage of the process could permanently remove the original color of the Taj Mahal.

Case Study: The Taj Mahal

Case study: the taj mahal: overview.

This Topic covers sub-topics such as Effect of Air Pollution on Taj Mahal and Marble Cancer

Important Questions on Case Study: The Taj Mahal

The _____ is the monument situated in Agra that is suffering from Marble Cancer.

Define marble cancer?

Cotyledons are also called-

Acid rain corrodes the marble of the monuments. This phenomenon is also called _____.

Pollutants like Sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide cause _____ rain.

Taj Mahal Marble cancer is caused by

Acid rain mainly contains

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Polluted Yamuna, not industrial emission, main reason behind Taj Mahal decay: study

• Yamuna pollution was identified as a threat to the Taj five years ago, blaming the formation of phosphorous in the river water for the breeding of insects whose excreta was leaving patches on the marbles.
• Now, a new study offers a different perspective, identifying hydrogen sulphide emitted from the polluted Yamuna as more corrosive than sulphur dioxide that comes from industrial pollution that has been largely blamed for the decay in the Taj’s marble.
• While this study to identify the principal corrosion agent was conducted on exposed metals in Taj premises over four years, the authors recommended similar experimentation on marbles for a 10-year-period for a definitive understanding.

Over the years, visitors to the Taj Mahal have been complaining of foul smell that’s ruining their experiences at the majestic 17th-century Mughal architecture listed as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. The gas responsible for the odour may in fact be doing greater harm – it is likely the culprit behind the discolouration of the Taj’s glorious white marbles.

The stink coming from the black waters of the Yamuna river that flows prompted a group of scientists to explore if the gas that was responsible for the odour – hydrogen sulphide (H 2 S) – also had corrosive effects. They found that H 2 S released from polluted Yamuna water had a more corrosive impact than sulphur dioxide (SO 2 ) released by industrial pollution in Agra city.

The findings assume significance, as initiatives around protecting the Taj from being affected by pollution have largely been concerned with tackling industrial and vehicular pollution, while Yamuna pollution has not got as much attention until five years ago.

For over three decades now , sulphur dioxide has been considered to be the main pollutant behind the decay in the glorious white marbles. Yamuna pollution was also blamed for the impact on the marble structure, in a 2016 report of the Archaeological Survey of India submitted before the Supreme Court of India, but from a different perspective – it highlighted the growth of the insect of the genus Goeldichironomus, in stagnant Yamuna water devoid of aquatic life and blamed the insect excreta for the green and brownish patches on the Taj marbles.

The recent study, however, indicates that the polluted Yamuna might be harming the Taj in more than one ways.

“We tried corrosion deformation studies using various air pollutants like SO 2 , NO 2 (nitrogen dioxide), NH 3 (ammonia), CO (Carbon monoxide), CO 2 (carbon dioxide) and H 2 S. Most interestingly, H 2 S was found to be the most problematic among all. Our preliminary investigation establishes that river Yamuna, which carries untreated wastewater of the entire Agra, was responsible for the generation of H 2 S,” Dipankar Saha , a former additional director of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and one of the co-authors of the paper, told Mongabay-India.

“H 2 S gas is acidic and corrosive therefore much attention is needed to clean river Yamuna,” added Saha, who had also served as head of the CPCB’s air laboratory for 12 years.

Published recently in the International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology , the study also noted, “The wind rose diagram developed during the period of the study suggests that the direction of the wind opposed the industrial pollutants moving towards the monument” and that “hydrogen sulphide emitted from the polluted Yamuna River… has a dominant role.”

The study titled Role of air pollutant for deterioration of Taj Mahal by identifying corrosion products on the surface of metals , is co-written by four others, apart from Saha – Achal Pandya, head of the conservation unit at Indira Gandhi National Center for Arts, New Delhi; and Jitendra Kumar Singh, Sharma Paswan and DDN Singh from the Corrosion and Surface Engineering Division of the National Metallurgical Laboratory, Jamshedpur.

Pandya told Mongabay-India that it was necessary, for the protection of the Taj from discolouration, that the Yamuna is cleaned and the city’s sewage is allowed into the river only after treatment. “It’s no longer a river, its water is unusable. But we should remember that the Yamuna included the original Taj Mahal landscape. The river was very much part of the planning of the entire premises.”

The corrosion deformation study was conducted on metals – samples of carbon steel, zinc and copper left exposed at the Taj Mahal premises – and the report concluded that “all evidence suggests that hydrogen sulphide emitted from the polluted Yamuna river flowing very close to the exposure site (the premise of Taj Mahal) has a dominant role on the corrosion rate of metals.”

“The finding of this study leads to the conclusion that the fading of white marbles of the Taj Mahal may be due to the corrosive effect of hydrogen sulphide emitted from the polluted Yamuna River,” the report said.

According to Agra-based environmentalist Sharad Gupta, the findings of the study are not surprising.

“The whole city’s sewage and industrial waste, including solid waste, flow into the Yamuna mostly untreated. There are 90 nullahs in Agra, of which the water of only 25 get treated by 4 plants but these plants do not function at night. The sewage of 65 other drains flows into Yamuna untreated. The materials include leather and synthetic leather waste from about 3,000 shoe factories and these leather wastes help form many gases,” he told Mongabay-India.

He added that acids used for washing in the imitation jewellery industry of Agra are also released into the drains untreated.

Not acid rain?

The impact of Yamuna pollution on the Taj has remained little discussed, though not entirely ignored. The focus of Taj-protection initiatives has mostly been on the industrial units, resulting in a series of measures since the 1980s to curb Agra’s industrial pollution, including the relocation and closure of some polluting industrial units.

The battle to save the Taj from the impact of pollution has been ongoing since the 1970s, and particularly since 1984 when environmentalist M. C. Mehta approached the Supreme Court of India, drawing its attention to the yellowing and blackening of the Taj marbles in several places, suspected to have been a result of ‘acid rains’ caused by sulphur dioxide emissions.

“It is inside the Taj that the decay is more apparent. Yellow pallor pervades the entire monument. In places the yellow hue is magnified by ugly brown and black spots. Fungal deterioration is worst in the inner chamber where the original graves of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal lie,” the petitioner told the court. This case resulted in the apex court’s landmark judgment of 1996 and many other orders over the next two and a half decades.

The recent paper on corrosion questioned the popular theory that blames sulphuric acid-induced “acid rain” – caused by the SO 2 emitted by the Mathura refinery and the local industries in and around Agra and Firozabad – for the corrosion on the gleaming white marbles. It cited a 2008 paper that revealed that the corrosion rate of steel exposed at Agra recorded an almost similar rate of corrosion as recorded at the other distant places considered to be free from industrial pollution and added, “Had the SO 2 evolved from refineries and foundries a dominant role, the steel exposed at Agra should have shown a much higher rate of corrosion than at the other locations having comparatively lower industrial pollution in the atmosphere.”

The analysis presented in the paper is based on a study conducted at the Taj Mahal site between 2006 and 2010 and, subsequently, an analysis of the retrieved samples was performed at the National Metallurgical Laboratory, Jamshedpur.

The corrosion products on the metals were analysed using Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction and oxides and sulphides were found to be the main constituents. The researchers argued that reaction with acid rain would have formed sulphates and nitrates, but not sulphides. Agra’s climatic data for the period was also taken into consideration.

The authors, however, said the study needed to be further extended, “Exposing the samples of marble having similar composition, structure and porosity as used for the erection of the monument at the premise of the Taj Mahal.” Since the process of the formation of tarnished patina on the surface of marbles is very slow, it is recommended that the duration of exposure should be long enough – about 10 years – to have meaningful findings and reach a definitive conclusion.

Study co-author Pandya said that since the Taj Mahal is quite tall (73 metres), metallic samples should also be placed at a higher elevation while conducting further studies to estimate the impact of the gas at different heights.

“If a scientific study claims Yamuna pollution is affecting the Taj Mahal, then it’s a serious claim and this needs to be thoroughly investigated with further studies,” said Anurag Sharma of water conservation group, Jaladhikar Foundation, Agra.

While answering a question in the Lok Sabha in February 2021, Prahlad Singh Patel, who at that time was the Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Culture and Tourism, said  that the ASI’s recommendations for ending the insect menace included scientific cleaning and preservation of the monument fabric, de-silting of Yamuna river, increase the water flow, prevent stagnation of the water and cleaning and removal of vegetation growth from the river banks.

Read more: [Video] Rampant sand mining damaging Yamuna’s ecology

Banner image: The Yamuna river flowing next to the Taj Mahal.  Photo by David Castor/Wikimedia Commons.

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Chapter Chosen

Book chosen, subject chosen, previous year papers, pollution of air and water.

What is ozone hole or depletion of ozone layer?

Ozone depletion is the thining of the ozone layer due to the chemicals like CFCs.The layer is completely depleted and holes are created  in some regions like the Antarctic.  These holes are called ozone holes.

What are the harmful effects of air pollution?

Air pollution has harmful effects on living as well as non-living beings. It causes many diseases in human beings like respiratory diseases. It causes harm to our building and monuments. It reduces visibility as smog which may lead to many serious accidents. The smog causes respiratory, skin and eye infections. 

How is the Taj being affected by air pollution?

The Taj Mahal is one of the seven wonders of the world. The white marble is turning yellow, due to the deposition of the soot particles emitted from the industries. The release of gases like sulphur dioxide and nitogen dioxide leads to formation of acid rain. Acid rain corrodes the marble of the monument and causes marble cancer. The discolouring and corrosion of marble is decreasing the beauty of the Taj Mahal. 

How is acid rain caused?

The reaction of gases like sulphur dioxide and nitogen dioxide with the water vapour in the atmosphere forms sulphuric acid and nitric acid. These acids precipitate along with the rain forming acid rain. 

What is ozone? How is it helpful for our environment?

Ozone is a gas which forms a protective layer around earth. It protects the earth from the harmful ultraviolet radiations of the sun. It does not allow the ultraviolet rays of the sun from reaching the earth. U.V. radiations can cause great damage to our earth and life forms. Thus, ozone is helpful in protecting the earth from the harmful effects of U.V. radiations.

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Write a note on the pollution of the Taj mahal.

The taj mahal: being one of the seven wonders of the world, the beauty and magnificence of the taj mahal attract tourists from all over the land. however, in recent years there had been a significant diminish in the appearance of this masterpiece. pollution of the taj mahal: the expulsion of sulfuric dioxide( so 2 ) and nitrogen dioxide( no 2 ) from the road traffic and nearby factories has been the cause of acid rain. acid rain with the formation of sulfuric acid( h 2 so 4 ) and nitric acid( hno 3 ) had degraded the morphology of the taj mahal by tarnishing its color to yellow and further eroding the structure. the polluted yamuna river flowing next to the taj mahal had been the cause of algae proliferation and various other insects like mosquitoes( the chironomids). the green droppings of these mosquitoes and the colouration due to algae had contributed to the brown color of the monument..