Preventive Measures

carbon dioxide

Reason — Climate change is mainly caused by the increasing emission of carbon dioxide (CO₂), a greenhouse gas that traps the Earth's heat in the atmosphere, leading to global warming and long-term changes in climate.

carbon monoxide

Reason — Vehicles account for most of the carbon monoxide (CO) found in the atmosphere in major urban areas. They contribute only a large share of the hydrocarbons (HC), nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulates, but not most of them.

carpooling

Reason — Carpooling refers to the sharing of car journeys by persons travelling on the same route. It helps to save money spent on fuel and on the maintenance of cars, apart from reducing traffic congestion.

It increases traffic congestion

Reason — Carpooling reduces traffic congestion on the roads and thereby prevents traffic jams, reduces fuel consumption, commuting time and the cost of road repairs. Hence, increasing traffic congestion is not an advantage of carpooling.

It causes more noise

Reason — Public transport causes less noise, no air pollution and is an eco-friendly transport system. Hence, causing more noise is not an advantage of public transport.

Passive smokers

Reason — Smoking harms not only the smoker but also the people nearby, who breathe in the smoke exhaled by the smokers. Such non-smokers are called passive smokers.

Fossil Fuel

Reason — Fossil fuels refer to buried, combustible deposits of organic materials, formed from decayed plants and animals that have been converted to crude oil, coal and natural gas by exposure to heat and pressure in the earth’s crust over hundreds of millions of years.

20

Reason — Coal provides about 28 per cent of all commercial energy in the world, whereas natural gas accounts for 20 per cent of the commercial energy used in the world.

Air Pollution

Reason — Fossil fuels cause air pollution, global warming and acid rain. Air pollution is their major disadvantage, as burning fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide (CO₂), the main greenhouse gas responsible for global warming.

Organic Farming

Reason — Organic farming is a holistic system of farming that keeps the soil healthy by using organic wastes, biofertilisers and beneficial microbes to ensure sustainable crop production in an eco-friendly, pollution-free environment.

Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.

Explanation — Pollution affects the air we breathe, the water we drink and the soil in which we grow our crops. Therefore, a comprehensive set of preventive measures are required to check the growing menace of pollution.

Two negative effects of vehicular emissions are-

1. Global climate change
2. Air pollution and its negative health repercussions

Two gases emitted by vehicular emissions are-

1. Nitrogen oxide
2. Carbon monoxide

Carpooling refers to the sharing of car journeys by people travelling on the same route.

Three modes of public transport used in India are-

1. City buses
2. Passenger trains
3. Metro rail

A 'No Smoking Zone' is an area where smoking is prohibited.

Under the Prohibition of Smoking in Public Places Rules, 2008, smoking in public places is banned. A person caught smoking in a public place or a 'No Smoking Zone' is liable to pay a fine.

Fossil fuels refer to buried, combustible deposits of organic materials, formed from decayed plants and animals that have been converted to crude oil, coal, and natural gas by exposure to heat and pressure in the earth's crust over hundreds of millions of years.

Two fossil fuels are coal and petroleum.

We should use fossil fuels judiciously because these resources are non-renewable and take millions of years to form. These resources also cause pollution and changes in the climate caused by Global warming.

Three measures to save energy are-

1. Use extra blankets and sweaters instead of using room heaters. Likewise, in summer, dress in light, cotton clothes to save on air conditioning costs and energy.
2. Use a low flow shower-head, to reduce water consumption and energy usage to heat the water.
3. Turn off equipment and lights at night and unplug appliances when they are not in use.

Organic farming is a holistic system of farming that aims to cultivate the land and raise crops in a way that keeps the soil alive and healthy by using organic wastes, other biological materials, and beneficial microbes (biofertilisers) to release nutrients for sustainable crop production in an eco-friendly, pollution-free environment.

Vehicles cause air pollution in the following ways-

1. Vehicle exhaust releases pollutants such as carbon monoxide (CO), unburnt hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides (NOₓ), and suspended particulate matter into the atmosphere.
2. Nitrogen oxides released from vehicles react with water vapour to form nitric acid, contributing to acid rain.
3. Hydrocarbons react with nitrogen oxides in the presence of sunlight to form photochemical smog, which is harmful to living organisms.
4. Vehicular emissions are a major cause of air pollution in large cities, leading to poor air quality and health hazards.

Two advantages of carpooling are-

1. It reduces air pollution by reducing the number of vehicles on the road and thereby, cutting down the vehicular emissions.
2. It helps to save money in buying fuel and maintenance cost of cars.

The increasing use of private vehicles has resulted in more vehicles on the roads, leading to higher fuel consumption, increased vehicular emissions, and greater air pollution.

An efficient public transport system encourages people to use buses, trains and other public transport instead of private vehicles. This helps reduce traffic congestion, fuel consumption, vehicular emissions and air pollution, thereby improving air quality and protecting the environment.

Passive smokers are those who do not smoke themselves, but unavoidably breath in second-hand tobacco smoke exhaled by the smokers at public places.

Smoking harms passive smokers as they have an increased chance of many health problems such as lung cancer, asthma, bronchitis and sudden infant death syndrome in children.

Two legal provisions meant to deter smoking are-

1. A mandatory specific statutory health warning on cigarette packs was introduced in 1975.
2. Prohibition of Smoking in Public Places Rules 2008, which prohibits smoking in public places and creating 'No Smoking Zone' in public places.

Two advantages of having a 'No Smoking Zone' are-

1. It reduces the possibility of second-hand tobacco smoke being inhaled by non-smokers.
2. It reduces health care costs by reducing the chances of diseases caused by smoking.

We need to reduce our dependency on fossil fuels because of the following reasons-

1. They are non-renewable and take a long time to form.
2. They cause pollution.

The following measures can help reduce energy consumption and create a cleaner environment:

1. Wear suitable clothes according to the season to reduce the use of heaters and air conditioners.
2. Turn off lights, fans and electrical appliances when not in use, and unplug devices to avoid wastage of electricity.
3. Ensure proper insulation of houses by sealing doors and windows to reduce heating and cooling needs.
4. Use energy-efficient appliances with Energy Star labels and replace incandescent bulbs with CFL or LED lights.
5. Use natural light during the day by opening blinds and painting walls in light colours to reduce the need for artificial lighting.
6. Maintain air conditioners, heaters and other appliances regularly to improve their efficiency.
7. Save paper by reusing it, printing on both sides and using electronic communication wherever possible.
8. Use public transport, carpool, walk or cycle whenever possible to reduce fuel consumption and air pollution.

Organic farming is so called because it relies on organic wastes, biological materials, and beneficial microbes to maintain soil fertility and crop productivity instead of using synthetic fertilisers and pesticides.

It aims to keep the soil alive and healthy through natural methods, ensuring sustainable production in an eco-friendly, pollution-free environment.

Two principles of Organic Farming are-

1. Organic farming should sustain and enhance the health of soil, plants, animals and humans as one and indivisible.
2. Organic farming should be based on living ecological systems and cycles, work with them, emulate them and help sustain them.

The main characteristics of Organic Farming are-

1. Maintaining the long-term fertility of the soil by increasing organic matter and promoting biological activity.
2. Supplying nutrients through organic sources and the action of soil microorganisms.
3. Maintaining nitrogen levels by using legumes, biological nitrogen fixation, crop residues and animal manures.
4. Controlling weeds, pests and diseases through crop rotation, natural predators, resistant varieties and organic manures instead of synthetic chemicals.
5. Ensuring proper care and welfare of livestock through suitable nutrition, housing and management.
6. Conserving the environment by protecting wildlife and natural habitats.

Organic farming is gaining popularity because people have become more aware of its health and environmental benefits.

1. Organic foods are grown without chemical fertilisers and pesticides, using natural manure, compost and biological methods.
2. Children are more susceptible to diseases caused by chemical pesticide residues, so many parents prefer organic foods.
3. Organic foods do not contain growth hormones or antibiotic residues, as the use of these substances is prohibited in organic farming.
4. Animals in organic farming are reared in natural surroundings, making organic animal products healthier and safer for consumers.

(i) The given picture depicts the scene of a Traffic Jam, indicating towards Vehicular Air Pollution. It can be reduced in the following ways:

1. Carpooling helps in reducing traffic jams and decreasing fuel consumption, resulting in lesser emissions.
2. Promotion of Public Transport — Reduces number of private vehicles on the road.
3. Use of CNG and LPG instead of petrol and diesel as they are cleaner fuels compared to the latter.
4. Regular vehicle maintenance to ensure emission levels are at acceptable levels.
5. Short distances can be covered by walking or by bicycle.
6. Use of electric vehicles to cut down exhaust emissions.

(ii) The given picture shows industrial water pollution caused by untreated or poorly treated wastewater being discharged from a factory into a nearby water body. It can be reduced in the following ways:

1. Industries must install and properly operate Effluent Treatment Plants (ETPs) to treat wastewater before releasing it into natural water bodies.
2. Government authorities must regularly monitor factory emissions and enforce pollution control norms.
3. Factories should adopt methods to reuse treated water in their own processes to reduce waste discharge.
4. Planting trees and creating vegetation buffers around industrial sites can help absorb pollutants and reduce runoff.
5. Use of cleaner, eco-friendly production techniques reduces pollutant generation at the source.

(i) The given picture (i) shows solar panels, and they reduce energy consumption.

Solar panels use renewable solar energy to generate electricity. This reduces dependence on fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas, which consume non-renewable resources and pollute the environment. Solar energy is clean, sustainable, and reduces both energy consumption and pollution.

(ii) The given picture (ii) shows people burning firewood. No, firewood does not reduce energy consumption, rather it substitutes one form of energy with another.

Firewood is burnt to produce heat, where chemical energy stored in wood is consumed to produce heat and light. Although it doesn't use electricity or fossil fuels directly, it still requires energy input (biomass) and therefore does not contribute to energy conservation.

I think the following measures can be taken to check the menace of pollution before it is too late:

1. Enforce environmental laws strictly and impose heavy penalties on polluters.
2. Promote the use of clean and renewable sources of energy instead of fossil fuels.
3. Encourage the use of public transport, carpooling and electric vehicles to reduce vehicular pollution.
4. Treat industrial effluents and sewage before discharging them into water bodies.
5. Adopt proper waste management practices, including recycling and reducing the use of plastics.
6. Promote afforestation and protect forests to improve air quality.
7. Create public awareness about pollution and encourage people to adopt eco-friendly practices.
8. Encourage organic farming and reduce the excessive use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides.

Even in a busy daily life, preventive measures to check pollution can be implemented by:

1. Creating public awareness through schools, media and social campaigns so that people adopt eco-friendly habits.
2. Strict enforcement of environmental laws to ensure industries and individuals follow pollution-control measures.
3. Using public transport, carpooling and cleaner fuels to reduce vehicular pollution.
4. Practising proper waste management, including reducing, reusing and recycling waste, and avoiding single-use plastics.
5. Conserving energy and water by switching off electrical appliances when not in use and using energy-efficient products.
6. Planting more trees and protecting green spaces to improve air quality and maintain ecological balance.