Green computing project

FY.BSC.IT POLLUTION ON ECOSYSTEM
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CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION
An ecosystemis a community of living organisms in conjunction with the nonliving components of their
environment (things like air, water and mineral soil), interacting as a system. These biotic and abiotic
components are regarded as linked together through nutrient cycles and energy flows. As ecosystems are
defined by the network of interactions among organisms, and between organisms and their
environment, they can be of any size but usually encompass specific, limited spaces (although some
scientists say that the entire planet is an ecosystem). Energy, water, nitrogen and soil minerals are other
essential abiotic components of an ecosystem. The energy that flows through ecosystems is obtained
primarily from the sun. It generally enters the system through photosynthesis, a process that also
captures carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. By feeding on plants and on one another, animals play an
important role in the movement of matter and energy through the system. They also influence the quantity
of plant and microbial biomass present. By breaking down dead organic matter, decomposers release
carbon back to the atmosphere and facilitate nutrient cycling by converting nutrients stored in dead
biomass back to a form that can be readily used by plants and other microbes. Ecosystems are controlled
both by external and internal factors. External factors such as climate, the parent material that forms the
soil, and topography control the overall structure of an ecosystem and the way things work within it, but
are not themselves influenced by the ecosystem. Other external factors include time and potential biota.
Ecosystems are dynamic entities—invariably, they are subject to periodic disturbances and are in the
process of recovering from some past disturbance. Ecosystems in similar environments that are located in
different parts of the world can have very different characteristics simply because they contain different
species. The introduction of non-native species can cause substantial shifts in ecosystem function. Internal
factors not only control ecosystem processes but are also controlled by them and are often subject
to feedback loops. While the resource inputs are generally controlled by external processes like climate
and parent material, the availability of these resources within the ecosystem is controlled by internal
factors like decomposition, root competition or shading. Other internal factors include disturbance,
succession and the types of species present. Although humans exist and operate within ecosystems, their
cumulative effects are large enough to influence external factors like climate.
Biodiversity affects ecosystem function, as do the processes of disturbance and succession. Ecosystems
provide a variety of goods and services upon which people depend; the principles of ecosystem

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management suggest that rather than managing individual species, natural resources should be managed
at the level of the ecosystem itself. Classifying ecosystems into ecologically homogeneous units is an
important step towards effective ecosystem management, but there is no single, agreed-upon way to do
this.
An ecosystem is a self-contained, dynamic system made of a population of species in its physical
environment. This concept is used to study the complex interactions between the organisms - plants,
animals, bacteria, and fungi - that make up the community. There are many different ways in which the
community of organisms interacts.
There is the food chain where each organism is in a producer, consumer, predator, and prey relationship;
there is the oxygen cycle and the water cycle that sustains the organisms. When an ecosystem gets
polluted, the natural balance in the system is disturbed and this affects the organisms in different ways. It
is important to know how a simple act like introducing sewage water or toxic waste into a lake can threaten
several life species and plants in the area.
Pollution effects are indeed many and wide-ranging. There is no doubt that excessive levels of pollution
are causing a lot of damage to human & animal health, tropical rainforests, as well as the wider
environment.
An ecosystem, a term very often used in biology, is a community of plants and animals interacting with
each other in a given area, and also with their non-living environments. The non-living environments
include weather, earth, sun, soil, climate and atmosphere. The ecosystem relates to the way that all these
different organisms live in close proximity to each other and how they interact with each other. For
instance, in an ecosystem where there are both rabbits and foxes, these two creatures are in a relationship
where the fox eats the rabbit in order to survive. This relationship has a knock on effect with the other
creatures and plants that live in the same or similar areas. For instance, the more rabbits that foxes eat, the
more the plants may start to thrive because there are fewer rabbits to eat them.
“An ecosystem is a community of living organisms in conjunction with the nonliving components of their
environment (things like air, water and mineral soil), interacting as a system. These biotic and abiotic
components are regarded as linked together through nutrient cycles and energy flows. As ecosystems are
Defined by the network of interactions among organisms, and between organisms and their environment,
they can be of any size but usually encompass specific, limited spaces (although some scientists say that
the entire planet is an ecosystem).” An ecosystem can be destroyed by a stranger. The stranger could be
rise in temperature or rise in sea level or climate change. The stranger can affect the natural balance and

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can harm or destroy the ecosystem. Its a bit unfortunate but ecosystems have been destroyed and vanished
by man-made activities like deforestation, urbanization and natural activities like floods, storms, fires or
volcanic eruptions.
1.1 ECOSYSTEM STRUCTURE
At a basic functional level, ecosystem generally contains primary producers (plants) capable of harvesting
energy from the sun through the process called photosynthesis. This energy then flows through the food
chain. Next come consumers. Consumers could be primary consumers (herbivores) or secondary
consumers (carnivores). These consumers feed on the captured energy. Decomposers work at the bottom
of the food chain. Dead tissues and waste products are produced at all levels. Scavengers, detritivores and
decomposers not only feed on this energy but also break organic matter back into its organic constituents.
It is the microbes that finish the job of decomposition and produce organic constituents that can again be
used by producers.
Energy that flows through the food chain i.e. from producers to consumers to decomposers is always
inefficient. That means less energy is available at secondary consumers level than at primary producers
level. It’s not surprising but amount of energy produced from place to place varies a lot due to amount of
solar radiation and the availability of nutrients and water.
1.2 TYPES OF ECOSYSTEMS
An ecosystem is a collection of plants and animals in a particular geographic area, where climate and
landscape directly affect the habitats and interactions of species. Each type of ecosystem can house a wide
variety of habitats and thus accounts for the diversity of plants and animals on planet Earth. There are very
many types of ecosystems out there, but the three major classes of ecosystems, sometimes referred to as
‘biomes’.
Which are relatively contained, are the following:
 Freshwater Ecosystems
 Terrestrial Ecosystems
 Ocean Ecosystems

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1.2.1 FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS
These can then be broken up into smaller ecosystems. For instance, in the freshwater ecosystems we find:
 Pond Ecosystems – These are usually relatively small and contained. Most of the time they include
various types of plants, amphibians and insects. Sometimes they include fish, but as these cannot
move around as easily as amphibians and insects, it is less likely, and most of the time fish are
artificially introduced to these environments by humans.
 River Ecosystems – Because rivers always link to the sea, they are more likely to contain fish
alongside the usual plants, amphibians and insects.
These sorts of ecosystems can also include birds because birds often hunt in and around water for small
fish or insects.
As is clear from the title, freshwater ecosystems are those that are contained to freshwater environments.
This includes, but is not limited to, ponds, rivers and other waterways that are not the sea (which is, of
course, saltwater and cannot support freshwater creatures for very long). Freshwater ecosystems are
actually the smallest of the three major classes of ecosystems, accounting for just 1.8% of the total of the
Earth’s surface. The ecosystems of freshwater systems include relatively small fish (bigger fish are usually
found in the sea), amphibians (such as frogs, toads and newts), insects of various sorts and, of course,
plants. The absolutely smallest living part of the food web of these sorts of ecosystems is plankton, a small
organism that is often eaten by fish and other small creatures.
1.2.2 OCEAN ECOSYSTEMS
Ocean ecosystems are relatively contained, although they, like freshwater ecosystems, also include certain
birds that hunt for fish and insects close to the ocean’s surface. There are different sorts of ocean
ecosystems:
 Shallow water – Some tiny fish and coral only live in the shallow waters close to land.
 Deepwater – Big and even gigantic creatures can live deep in the waters of the oceans. Some
of the strangest creatures in the world live right at the bottom of the sea.

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 Warm water – Warmer waters, such as those of the Pacific Ocean, contain some of the most
impressive and intricate ecosystems in the world.
 Cold water – Less diverse, cold waters still support relatively complex ecosystems. Plankton
usually form the base of the food chain, following by small fish that are either eaten by bigger
fish or by other creatures such as seals or penguins.
Ocean ecosystems are amongst some of the most interesting in the world, especially in warm waters
such as those of the Pacific Ocean. This is not least because around 75% of the Earth is covered by
the sea, which means that there is lots of space for all sorts of different creatures to live and thrive.
There are actually three different types of oceanic ecosystems: shallow waters, deep waters and the
deep ocean surface. In two of these the very base of the food chain is plankton, just as it is in freshwater
ecosystems.
These plankton and other plants that grow in the ocean close to the surface are responsible for 40% of
all photosynthesis that occurs on Earth. From this there are herbivorous creatures that eat the plankton,
such as shrimp, that are then themselves usually eaten by bigger creatures, particularly fish.
Interesting, in the deep ocean, plankton cannot exist because photosynthesis cannot occur since light
cannot penetrate that far into the ocean’s depths. Down in the deepest depths of the ocean, therefore,
creatures have adapted very strangely and are amongst some of the most fascination and the most
terrifying and intriguing living creatures on Earth.
1.2.3 TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS
Terrestrial ecosystems are many because there are so many different sorts of places on Earth. Some of the
most common terrestrial ecosystems that are found are the following:
 Rainforests – Rainforests usually have extremely dense ecosystems because there are so many
different types of animals all living in a very small area.
 Tundra – As mentioned above, tundra usually have relatively simple ecosystems because of the
limited amount of life that can be supported in these harsh conditions.

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 Deserts – Quite the opposite of tundra in many ways, but still harsh, more animals live in the
extreme heat than live in the extreme cold of Antarctica, for instance.
 Savannas – These differ from deserts because of the amount of rain that they get each year.
Whereas deserts get only a tiny amount of precipitation every tea, savannas tend to be a bit wetter
which is better for supporting more life.
 Forests – There are many different types of forests all over the world including deciduous forests
and coniferous forests. These can support a lot of life and can have very complex ecosystems.
 Grasslands – Grasslands support a wide variety of life and can have very complex and involved
ecosystems.
Since there are so many different types of terrestrial ecosystems, it can be difficult to make generalizations
that cover them all.
Because terrestrial ecosystems are so diverse, it is difficult to make generalizations about them. However,
a few things are true almost all of the time. For instance, most contain herbivores that eat plants (that get
their sustenance from the sun and the soil) and all have carnivores that eat herbivores and other carnivores.
Some places, such the poles, contain mainly carnivores because not plant life grows. A lot of animals and
plants that grow and live in terrestrial ecosystems also interact with freshwater and sometimes even ocean
ecosystems.

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CHAPTER 2: COMPONENTS OF ECOSYSTEM
The components of the ecosystem are categorized into abiotic or non-living and biotic or living
components. Both the components of ecosystem and environment are same.
An ecosystem has two basic components
1. Abiotic components
2. Biotic components
The relationship between the abiotic components and the biotic components of the ecosystem is termed
‘holocoenosis’.
2.1 ABIOTIC COMPONENTS
"Abiotic Components. The way in which plants and animals grow and carry out their different activities
is a result of several abiotic factors. These factors are light, temperature, water, atmospheric gases, wind
as well as soil (edaphic) and physiographic (nature of land surface) factors."
 ABIOTIC STRUCTURE:
1. It includes climatic factors, edaphic (soil) factors, geographical factors, energy, nutrients and toxic
substances.
2. Basically, physical and chemical components of an ecosystem constitute its abiotic structure.
 FACTORS OF ABIOTIC COMPONENTS
2.1.1 LIGHT
Light energy (sunlight) is the primary source of energy in nearly all ecosystems. It is the energy that is
used by green plants (which contain chlorophyll) during the process of photosynthesis; a process during
which plants manufacture organic substances by combining inorganic substances. Visible light is of the
greatest importance to plants because it is necessary for photosynthesis. Factors such as quality of light,
intensity of light and the length of the light period (day length) play an important part in an ecosystem.

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 Quality of light (wavelength or colour):
Plants absorb blue and red light during photosynthesis. In terrestrial ecosystems the quality of light does
not change much. In aquatic ecosystems, the quality of light can be a limiting factor. Both blue and red
light are absorbed and as a result do not penetrate deeply into the water. To compensate for this, some
algae have additional pigments which are able to absorb other colors as well.
 Light intensity ("strength" of light)
The intensity of the light that reaches the earth varies according to the latitude and season of the year. The
southern hemisphere receives less than 12 hours of sunlight during the period between the 21st March and
the 23rd of September, but receives more than 12 hours of sunlight during the following six months.
2.1.2. TEMPERATURE
The distribution of plants and animals is greatly influenced by extremes in temperature for instance the
warm season. The occurrence or non-occurrence of frost is a particularly important determinant of plant
distribution since many plants cannot prevent their tissues from freezing or survive the freezing and
thawing processes. The following are examples of temperature effects with ecosystems:
The opening of the flowers of various plants during the day and night is often due to temperature difference
between the day and night.
The seed of some plants (biennials) normally germinate in the spring or summer; this phenomenon is well
observed in carrots and is called vernalization.
Some fruit trees such as the peach require a cold period each year so that it can blossom in the spring;
Deciduous trees lose their leaves in winter and enter into a state of dormancy, where the buds are covered
for protection against the cold;
the seeds of many plants, e.g. peach and plum, must be exposed to a cold period before they germinate;
this chilling ensures that seeds don't germinate during autumn, but after winter, when the seedlings have
better chances to survive;

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In animals, a distinction is made between ectothermic ("cold-blooded" or poikilothermic) animals and
endothermic ("warm-blooded" or homothermic) animals although the difference is not clear cut;
In desert conditions are a greater temperature variation between day and night and organisms have distinct
periods of activity, for e.g. many cacti flower at night and are pollinated by nocturnal insects;
seasonal changes have also a great influence on animal life in an ecosystem; torpor in winter is common
in reptiles and some mammals in South Africa, but a winter sleep occurs in bears of the northern
hemisphere; some animals collect fat or other resources during favorable periods (often summer and
autumn) and become dormant (this is called hibernation), there are also animals that are dormant during
warm and dry conditions and this is known as aestivation; examples of such animals are snails and the
African lung-fish;
Seasonal movements occur in some animals; this phenomenon is called seasonal migration, examples of
such animals are migratory locusts, butterflies and various marine animals like whales, penguins and
marine turtles.
2.1.3. WATER
Plant and animal habitats vary from entirely aquatic environments to very dry deserts. Water is essential
for life and all organisms depend on it to survive in especially desert areas.
Water requirements of plants. Plants can be classified into 3 groups according to their water requirements:
 Hydrophytes
Hydrophytes are plants which grow in water e.g. water-lilies and rushes.
A hydrophyte is an aquatic plant, and while having many similarities to 'regular' plants, there are several
key differences that make aquatic plants unique.

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(LILY)
 Mesophytes
Mesophytes are plants with average water requirements e.g. roses, sweet peas.
(ROSES)
 Xerophytes
Xerophytes are plants which grow in dry environments where they often experience a shortage of water
e.g. cacti and often succulents.

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(ALOES)
Adaptations of plants to survive without water include reversed stomata rhythms, sunken stomata, thick
cuticles, small leaves (or the absence of leaves) and the presence of water-storage tissues.
Terrestrial animals are also exposed to desiccation and just a few interesting adaptations are mentioned
here:
the body covering limits water loss e.g. the chitinous body covering of insects, the scales of reptiles, the
feathers of birds and the hair of mammals;
CANNERIS
Some mammals have few or no sweat glands and use other cooling devices, less dependent or independent
of evaporative cooling;

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Springbok
The tissues of animals may be tolerant to water loss e.g. a camel can live without water for long periods
because its body tissues have this adaptation;
there are also known cases where insects are able to absorb water in the form of water vapor directly from
the atmosphere for example the dew from the coastal fog is an important source of moisture for insects of
the Namib.
 THE WATER CYCLE IN NATURE
Water cycles through the biosphere in the manner is described in the figure below. Freshwater is distilled
from salt water. The sun's rays cause fresh water to evaporate from sea water and the salts are left behind.
Vaporized fresh water rises into the atmosphere, cools and falls as rain over the oceans and the land. A
smaller amount of water also evaporates from bodies of fresh water. Since land dies above sea level,
gravity eventually returns all fresh water to the sea, but in the meantime, it is contained within the standing
water bodies such as lakes and ponds, flowing water (streams and rivers) and groundwater.
When rain falls, some of the water sinks or percolates into the ground and saturates the earth to a certain
level. The top of the saturation level is called the groundwater table or simply the water table. Ground
water is also sometimes located in a porous layer, called an aquifer that lies between two sloping layers
of impervious rock. Wells can be used to extract some of this water for human consumption.

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Atmospheric gases
The most important gases used by plants and animals are oxygen, carbon dioxide and nitrogen.
 Oxygen
Oxygen is used by all living organisms during respiration.
 Carbon Dioxide
Carbon dioxide is used by green plants during photosynthesis.
 Nitrogen
Nitrogen is made available to plants by certain bacteria and through the action of lightning.
2.1.4. WIND
Winds or air currents arise on a world-wide scale as a result of a complex interaction between hot air
expanding and rising (convection) in the mid-latitudes. This has various effects on the rotation of the earth
and results in a centrifugal force which tends to lift the air at the equator. This force is known as the

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Coriolis force and tends to deflect winds to their left of the southern hemisphere and to the right in the
northern hemisphere. Winds carry water vapor which may condense and fall in the form of rain, snow or
hail. Wind plays a role in pollination and seed dispersal of some plants, as well as the dispersal of some
animals, such as insects. Wind erosion can remove and redistribute topsoil, especially where vegetation
has been reduced. Warm bergwinds results in desiccation which creates a fire hazard. If plants are exposed
to strong prevailing winds are they usually smaller than those in less windy conditions.
2.1.5. SOIL (EDAPHIC FACTORS)
These factors include soil texture, soil air, soil temperature, soil water, soil solution and pH, together with
soil organisms and decaying matter.
The main Soil Factors:
 Soil texture
The size of soil particles varies from microscopic
particles called clay to larger particles called sand.
Loam soil is a mixture of sand and clay particles. Sandy
soils are suitable for growing plants because they are
well aerated, excess water drains away quickly, they
warm up quickly during the day and is easy to cultivate.
Sandy soils is unsuitable because they do not retain
much water and
soon dry out and contain few soil nutrients required for
plant growth. Clay soils are suitable for plant growth
because they hold large quantities of water and are rich in mineral nutrients. They are unsuitable
in that they are badly aerated, soon becomes waterlogged and is difficult to cultivate; it also cold
during winter. Loam soils possess desirable properties of both sand and clay - it has a high water
retaining capacity, good aeration, and good nutrient content and is easily cultivated.

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 Soil air
Soil air is found in those spaces between the soil particles that are not filled with soil water. The
amount of air in a soil depends on how firmly the soil is compacted. In well-aerated soil at least 20%
of its volume is made up of air.
 Soil temperature
Soil temperature is an important ecological factor. It has been found that the temperature of soil below
a depth of about 30cm is almost constant during the day but seasonal temperature differences do occur.
At low temperature there is little decay by decay-causing micro-Organisms.
 Soil water
Soil water can be classified into three types, namely hygroscopic, capillary and gravitational water.
Hygroscopic water occurs as a thin film of water around each soil particle. Capillary water is that
water held in the small spaces between the soil particles and gravitational water is the water which
drains downwards through the soil.
 Soil solution
Soil solution is the decaying remains of plants and animals, together with animal excretory products
and faces, form humus. This increases the fertility of the soil.
 pH
Acidity or alkalinity of soil (the pH of the soil) influences the biological activity in soil and the
availability of certain minerals. Thus the pH of soil has a greater influence on the growth and
development of plants. Some plants e.g. Azaleas, Erica’s, ferns and many protea species grow best in
acid soils ( soils with a pH below 7), while lucerne and many xerophytes grow better in alkaline soils
(soils with a pH above 7)
 PHYSIOGRAPHIC FACTORS
These factors are those associated with the physical nature of the area, such as altitude, slope of land and
the position of the area in relation to the sun or rain-bearing winds. Altitude plays a role in vegetations
zones. Slopes are important when considering the temperature of the soil surface on land with a northern
slope, on level and on land with south facing slopes. In South Africa the south-eastern slopes face the rain-
bearing winds and in some areas are covered with forest, whilst the slopes on the leeward side are in a

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rain-shadow and thorn scrub is often found growing on these slopes. A very good example of this is the
South Eastern Wind blowing in Cape Town.
2.2 BIOTIC COMPONENTS
Biotic components are the living things that shape an ecosystem. Biotic components usually include:
 Producers, i.e. autotrophs: e.g. plants, convert the energy [from photosynthesis (the transfer of
sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide into energy), or other sources such as hydrothermal vents] into
food.
 Consumers, i.e. heterotrophs: e.g. animals, depend upon producers (occasionally other consumers)
for food.
 Decomposers, i.e. detritivores: e.g. fungi and bacteria, break down chemicals from producers and
consumers (usually not living) into simpler form which can be reused.
A biotic factor is any living component that affects the population of another organism, or the
environment. This includes animals that consume the organism, and the living food that the organism
consumes. Biotic factors also include human influence, pathogens, and disease outbreaks. Each biotic
factor needs energy to do work and food for proper growth.
All species are influenced by biotic factors in one way or another. For example, if the number of predators
will increase, the whole food web will be affected as the population number of organisms that are lower
in the food web will decrease due to predation. Similarly, when organisms have more food to eat, they
will grow quicker and will be more likely to reproduce, so the population size will increase. Pathogens
and disease outbreaks, however, are most likely to cause a decrease in population size. Humans make the
most sudden changes in an environment (e.g. building cities and factories, disposing of waste into the
water). These changes are most likely to cause a decrease in the population of any species due to the
sudden appearance of pollutants.
Biotic components are contrasted to abiotic components, which are non-living components that influence
population size and the environment. Examples of abiotic factors are: temperature, light intensity,
moisture and water levels, air currents, carbon dioxide levels and the pH of water and soil. An additional
abiotic factor include minerals as they are nonliving and make up the composition of the soil. [1]

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The factors mentioned above may either cause an increase or a decrease in population size, depending on
the organism. For example, rainfall may encourage the growth of new plants, but too much of it may cause
flooding, which may drastically decrease the population size.
 BIOTIC FACTORS
An ecosystem is a community of organisms that interact with each other and with the abiotic and biotic
factors in their environment.
The biotic factors in an ecosystem are the other organisms that exist in that ecosystem. How they affect
an individual organism depends on what type of organism it is. The other organisms (biotic factors) can
include predators, parasites, prey, symbioses, or competitors.
A predator regards the organism as a source of energy and matter to be recycled. A parasite is a type of
consumer organism. As a consumer, it does not make its own food. It gets its food (energy and matter to
be recycled) from its host. The organism's prey is a source of energy and matter. A symbiont is a factor
that does not provide energy to the organism, but somehow aids the organism in obtaining energy or matter
from the ecosystem. Finally, a competitor reduces the organism's ability to harvest energy or matter to be
recycled. The distribution and abundance of an organism will be affected by its interrelationships with the
biotic environment.
Humans are one of the few organisms that can control how the other biotic factors affect them. Humans
are omnivores, consuming both producers and other consumers. Humans can also adjust the length of the
food chain as needed. For example, humans who must deal with shortages of food resources usually alter
their eating habits to be closer to the energy source. This is sometimes called eating lower on the food
chain. Since approximately 90 percent of the energy available at each level of the food chain is lost to the
next higher level, shortening the food chain saves energy and uses food more efficiently.
2.3 BIOTIC AND ABIOTIC
Biotic and Abiotic are the factors of Ecosystem and have significant roles to shape the ecosystem. The
abiotic factors can be defined as non-living chemical and physical components in the ecosystem. While,

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the biotic factors are the living components of an ecosystem. Both, Biotic and Abiotic factors affect for
survival and reproduction.
Both components are related to each other, if one component or a factor is removed or changed will affect
the whole ecosystem.
 DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BIOTIC AND ABIOTIC FACTORS
Abiotic Factors Biotic Factors
Abiotic are non-living chemical and physical
factors of an ecosystem.
Biotic are living factors of an ecosystem
Few examples of abiotic factors are sunlight, air,
moisture minerals, soil and more.
All living things like animals, plans, fungi,
bacteria and more.
Affect the survival and reproduction of an
organism
Directly or indirectly affect organisms
Affect the individual species, community,
biosphere, population of species and ecosystem.
Affect the individual species, community,
biosphere, population of species and ecosystem.

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2.4 STUDY THE EFFECT OF POLLUTION ON AN ECOSYSTEM
To understand how pollution impacts an ecosystem, select an ecosystem in your neighborhood. It could
be a lake, a river or a sea shoreline. You will need to understand what the different organisms in the
ecosystem are and how each organism is related to the other; which level are they in the food chain; how
do they adapt to their environment.
Make your project more focused by choosing one or two major organisms in the ecosystems. You will
need to track their behavior, food habits, life cycle, breeding habits and how they are coping with the
changes in the ecosystem. Though these changes are usually slow, you can track them over a period of
time, say 6 months or one year. Note all your observations and findings, taking care to note down
specific details of each species that you are studying.
For the display of the results you can create presentation slides on chart paper or on the computer. Use
pictures of the ecosystem and the species you have studied when you discuss each point. You should be
able to draw a comparison of the status of the ecosystem before such pollution and its status after the
study. You can collect facts about the population of species and migration of other species etc. from
your local authorities.
The main features that you should cover in your presentation are:
 Name of the pollutants
 Possible source of the pollutants
 Level of pollution
 Effects on the species being studied- food habits, health
 Effects on food chain
 Effects on oxygen cycle
 Effects on water cycle

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CHAPTER 3: EFFECT OF ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
3.1 TYPES OF ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
Pollution is the introduction of damaging or poisonous materials into the natural environment. Equally,
pollution means the presence of undesirable
materials in the natural environment or the
state of the natural environment being
contaminated with potentially harmful
substances as an outcome of human
activities. The pollutants are jointly termed
as contaminants because they contaminate
and alter the natural environments. The
presence of unusually high concentrations of
harmful substances in the environment is
known as pollution. This means that when there are substances that can be harmful to the health of
living organisms in the environment more than the amount they can tolerate, we say that the
environment is polluted. The most common pollution causing health hazard today are the air, water
and soil pollution. In particular, the natural environments subject to pollution largely include water,
air, and land. Presence of substances such as (liquid, gas, solid) or energy such as (heat, light, radiation,
noise) whose qualities directly or indirectly changes the natural environmental process in part or in
whole, and has the potential to cause or can cause damage to the health or well-being of humans,
animals, or plants defines pollution. Any unwanted or harmful substance which pollutes the
environment is called a pollutant. Normally harmful substances can be present in the environment.
Carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide are usually present in the air in small quantities
and they are not harmful to us. However when present in quantities more than which we can tolerate,
they become pollutants.

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3.1.1. AIR POLLUTION
Air pollution is the introduction of harmful substances in the air that results in detrimental impacts to
the environmental and humanity. Air pollution simply makes the air unclean or contaminated. It occurs
when harmful substances such as
foreign gases, dust, or fumes are
released in the air at levels that can
harm the comfort or health of animals
and humans, or even destroy plant life.
Examples of air pollutants (substances
that pollute the air) include
hydrocarbons, organic compounds,
dust particles, carbon monoxide, sulfur
oxides, and nitrogen oxides. Air
pollution results from both human and natural activities. Emissions from power plants present a perfect
example of human activities contributing to air pollution whereas volcanic eruptions and forest fires
are some of the natural aspects.
3.1.2. WATER POLLUTION
Water pollution is the act of contaminating water bodies including rivers, oceans, lakes, streams,
aquifers, and groundwater. It occurs when foreign harmful materials like chemicals, waste matter, or
contaminated substances are directly or indirectly discharged into water bodies. Any alterations in the
chemical, physical, or biological water
properties qualify as water pollution. Very
often, the primary contributors to water
pollution are human activities since they
introduce substances that contaminate the
water with harmful chemicals and toxic
materials. Water pollution is categorized into

23
point source, non-point source, and groundwater.
Point source water pollution occurs when the contaminants enter a water body from a single
identifiable source while non-point source occurs as a result of cumulative effects of different amounts
of contaminants. Groundwater pollution occurs through infiltration and affects groundwater sources
such as wells or aquifers. Water is the considered the second most polluted environmental resource
after air pollution.
3.1.3. LAND POLLUTION
Land pollution is the destruction or decline in quality of the earth’s land surfaces in term of use,
landscape and ability to support life forms. Many
times, it is directly and indirectly caused by human
activities and abuse of land resources.
Land pollution takes place when waste and garbage
is not disposed off in the right manner thus,
introducing toxins and chemicals on land. It also
occurs when people dump chemical products to
soils in the form of herbicides, fertilizers,
pesticides, or any other form of the consumer by-
products. Mineral exploitation equally leads to the
decline in quality of the earth’s land surfaces.
As such, it has grave consequences for human health, plant life, and soil quality. Acid rain,
construction sites, solid waste, mineral exploitation, and agricultural chemicals are the primary causes
of land pollution.
3.1.4. SOIL POLLUTION
Soil pollution takes place when chemical pollutants contaminate the soil or degraded by acts such as
mining, clearance of vegetation cover, or topsoil erosion. Usually, it happens when human activities

24
directly or indirectly introduce destructive chemicals, substances, or objects into the soil in a way that
causes damage to the immediate earthly environment.
As a consequence, soil losses its value of natural
minerals and nutrients compositions. Soil
degradation also contributes to soil pollution, and it
occurs as a result of over-grazing, over-farming, or
mining activities. The notable causes of soil
pollution include agricultural farming activities,
waste dumping on land, industrial activities,
mining, and acid rain.
3.1.5. NOISE POLLUTION
Noise pollution is mostly an undesirable sound or sound which generates horrible discomfort on the
ears. Noise pollution is defined as unpleasant and undesirable sound levels that cause serious
discomfort to all living things. It is measured in
decibels (dB).
Sound levels beyond 100 dB can cause
permanent hearing loss, and noise of around 90
dB causes auditory weakness. The industrial
sound limit according to the World Health
Organization (WHO) is 75 dBs In the
contemporary society, noise has become a
permanent aspect owing to the daily activities such as transportation, industrial manufacturing, and
technology. In contrast to the other types of pollution, noise pollution lacks the element of
accumulation in the environment.
It merely occurs when sounds waves of intense pressure reach the human ears and may even affect the
body muscles due to sound vibrations. Noise pollution similarly affects marine and wildlife animals
in the same manner it affects humans, and can even cause their death.

25
3.1.6. THERMAL POLLUTION
Thermal pollution occurs when water bodies are degraded in terms of altering their temperatures.
Commonly, it happens when people or industries undertake activities that suddenly decrease or
increase the temperature of a natural
water body which may include lakes,
rivers, oceans or ponds.
In the current era, thermal pollution is a
huge menace and is mainly influenced by
power plants and industrial
manufacturers that use water as a
coolant. Urban storm water runoff from
parking lots and roads also discharges
water of elevated temperatures into adjacent
water bodies. When water is either used as a coolant, discharged from storm water runoff at elevated
temperatures, or released from reservoirs with unnaturally cold temperatures, it changes the natural
temperature of water bodies.
Therefore, thermal pollution is one aspect of the wider subject of water pollution. The alterations of
natural water resource temperatures can have dire consequences on aquatic life and the local
ecosystems.
3.1.7 INDUSTRIAL POLLUTION
Industrial pollution is the release of wastes and pollutants generated by industrial activities into the
natural environment including air, water, and land. The pollutants and wastes from industries
encompass air emissions, deposit of used water into water resources, landfill disposal, and injection
of toxic materials underground. Industrial pollution can adversely damage plants, kill animals, cause
ecosystem imbalance, and degrade the quality of life.

26
Leading industries such as power plants, steel mills,
sewage treatment plants, heating plants, and glass
smelting among other production, processing and
manufacturing companies are the contributors to
industrial pollution. They release smoke, effluents,
material wastes, toxic byproducts, contaminated
residues, and chemical consumer products that
eventually end up in the environment thereby causing
pollution.
3.1.8. LIGHT POLLUTION
Light pollution occurs due to
lengthened and excessive use of
artificial lights, such that it results in
the brightening of the skies at night.
As a consequence, it upsets the
activities and natural cycles of
wildlife and also affects the welfare
of humans. Whenever artificial lights
are used where they are not intended,
it causes a nuisance.
For instance, too much outdoor light intruding into neighbor’s bedrooms cindoor light has implications
on the health of the inhabitants of that room. Light pollution is also referred to as luminous pollution
or photo pollution. The types of light pollution include glare, light trespass, and sky glow.
3.2 ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION EFFECTS ON HUMANS
We know that pollution causes not only physical disabilities but also psychological and behavioral
disorders in people.

27
We are discussing the effects of air pollution and specific air pollutants in more detail in our Air Pollution
Effects article.
The following pollution effects on humans have been reported:
 AIR POLLUTION EFFECTS
 Reduced lung functioning
 Irritation of eyes, nose, mouth and
throat
 Asthma attacks
 Respiratory symptoms such as
coughing and wheezing
 Increased respiratory disease such as
bronchitis
 Reduced energy levels
 Headaches and dizziness
 Disruption of endocrine, reproductive
and immune systems
 Neurobehavioral disorders
 Cardiovascular problems
 Cancer
 Premature death
 WATER POLLUTION EFFECTS
Waterborne diseases caused by polluted drinking water:
 Typhoid
 Amoebiasis
 Giardiasis
 Ascariasis
 Hookworm

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Waterborne diseases caused by polluted beach water:
 Rashes, ear ache, pink eye
 Respiratory infections
 Hepatitis, encephalitis, gastroenteritis, vomiting, and stomach aches
Conditions related to water polluted by chemicals (such as pesticides, hydrocarbons, persistent organic
pollutants, heavy metals etc.):
 Cancer, incl. prostate cancer and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
 Hormonal problems that can disrupt reproductive and developmental processes
 Damage to the nervous system
 Liver and kidney damage
 Damage to the DNA
 SOIL POLLUTION EFFECTS
 Causes cancers including leukemia
 Lead in soil is especially hazardous for young children causing developmental damage to the brain
 Mercury can increase the risk of kidney damage; cyclodienes can lead to liver toxicity
 Causes neuromuscular blockage as well as depression of the central nervous system
 Also causes headaches, nausea, fatigue, eye irritation and skin rash.
3.3 ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION EFFECTS ON ANIMALS
 AIR POLLUTION
 Acid rain (formed in the air) destroys fish life in lakes and streams
 Excessive ultraviolet radiation coming from the sun through the ozone layer in the upper
atmosphere which is eroded by some air pollutants, may cause skin cancer in wildlife.
 Ozone in the lower atmosphere may damage lung tissues of animals

29
 WATER POLLUTION
Nutrient pollution (nitrogen, phosphates etc.) causes
overgrowth of toxic algae eaten by other aquatic
animals, and may cause death; nutrient pollution can
also cause outbreaks of fish diseases
 Chemical contamination can cause declines
in frog biodiversity and tadpole mass
 Oil pollution (as part of chemical
contamination) can negatively affect development of marine organisms, increase susceptibility to
disease and affect reproductive processes; can also cause gastrointestinal irritation, liver and
kidney damage, and damage to the nervous system
 Mercury in water can cause abnormal behavior, slower growth and development, reduced
reproduction, and death
 Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) may cause declines, deformities and death of fish life
 Too much sodium chloride (ordinary salt) in water may kill animals
 SOIL POLLUTION
Can alter metabolism of microorganisms and arthropods in a given soil environment; this may destroy
some layers of the primary food chain, and thus have a negative effect on predator animal species
 Small life forms may consume harmful chemicals which may then be passed up the food chain to
larger animals; this may lead to increased mortality rates and even animal extinction
3.4 ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION EFFECTS ON TREES AND PLANTS
 AIR POLLUTION
 Acid rain can kill trees, destroy the leaves of plants, can infiltrate soil by making it unsuitable for
purposes of nutrition and habitation

30
 Ozone holes in the upper atmosphere can allow excessive ultraviolet radiation from the sun to enter
the Earth causing damage to trees and
plants
 Ozone in the lower atmosphere can prevent
plant respiration by blocking stomata
(openings in leaves) and negatively
affecting plants’ photosynthesis rates
which will stunt plant growth; ozone can
also decay plant cells directly by entering
stomata
 WATER POLLUTION
 May disrupt photosynthesis in aquatic plants and thus affecting ecosystems that depend on these
plants.
 Terrestrial and aquatic plants may absorb pollutants from water (as their main nutrient source) and
pass them up the food chain to consumer animals and humans
 Plants may be killed by too much sodium chloride (ordinary slat) in water
 Plants may be killed by mud from construction sites as well as bits of wood and leaves, clay and
other similar materials
 Plants may be killed by herbicides in water; herbicides are chemicals which are most harmful to
plants.
 SOIL POLLUTION
 May alter plant metabolism and reduce crop yields
 Trees and plants may absorb soil contaminants and pass them up the food chain

31
CONCLUSION
 Presence of dangerous unnatural ingredients causing imbalance in the ecosystems and health
hazards to human beings and animals is called pollution.
 Pollution is mainly found in air, water, soil, food and sound.
 Major human activities like industries, agriculture, health care, transport, dwelling and energy
generation are the causes of pollution.
 Many industries like textile, paper, steel, sugar, petroleum, food, chemical and cement industries
cause air pollution, water pollution and soil pollution.
 Industrial pollutants include gases like methane, cyanides, carbon tetrachloride, carbon
disulphides, carbon monoxide, hydrogen disulphides, hydrochloric acids, ammonia, and sulphur
dioxide as well as multiples of liquid / solid compounds.
 Modern agriculture - encouraging the large scale of fertilizers and pesticides - is primary cause of
drinking water pollution.
 Transport has been the main reason for air pollution in most cities. Vehicular traffic releasing
carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide has caused large scale air pollution in cities.
 Pollution of air is the major cause human health problems such as respiratory problems, lung /
throat, cancer etc. Pollution of water is also the main cause of health problems like gastro - enteritis
formation of ulcers, tumors.
 Health problems due to pollution range from simple vomiting and skin irritations to intestinal
cancer, brain tumors, from simple fever to fatal hepatitis, from throat irritation to deadly heart
diseases.
 Foods that we eat are polluted because of use of pesticides, use of polluted water or microbial
activities. Many persistent pesticides enter food chains and accumulate in bodies at a larger
concentrations.

32
 Soil pollution by various solids and liquids has created imbalances in soil ecosystems besides
creating number of ecological hazards in cities and villages.
 Control of pollution has been a formidable challenge to human civilization. As the pollution grows
with the civilization and growing population, the control of pollution is more challenging.
 Several measures have been adopted, suggested imposed in industries, in agriculture and urban
dwellings to control the pollution.

33
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https://crudata.uea.ac.uk/cru/pubs/thesis/2007-mcsweeney/8.Conclusions_Recommendations.pdf
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pollution-conclusion.php

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