SSC CGL - Detailed Guide 2025

Self-Paced Course

Environmental Chemistry

Reference: Lucent GK, NCERT Class 6–12

Pollution: The undesirable change in the physical, chemical, or biological characteristics of air, water, or soil.

Type of Pollution	Key Pollutants	Sources	Effects
Air Pollution	CO, SO₂, NOx, CO₂, Particulate matter	Vehicles, factories, burning fossil fuels	Respiratory diseases, acid rain, smog, global warming
Water Pollution	Sewage, heavy metals, detergents, nitrates	Industrial waste, domestic discharge	Waterborne diseases, aquatic death, bioaccumulation
Soil Pollution	Pesticides, plastic, heavy metals	Chemical fertilizers, industrial dumping	Loss of fertility, food contamination, disruption of soil microbes

BOD (Biological Oxygen Demand) is a key indicator of water pollution — higher BOD = higher pollution.

Aspect	Details
Definition	Trapping of heat in Earth's atmosphere due to greenhouse gases
Major Gases	CO₂, CH₄ (methane), N₂O, CFCs, Water vapor
Positive Role	Maintains Earth’s temperature for life
Problem	Excess greenhouse gases → Global warming → climate change
Effects	Melting glaciers, sea-level rise, desertification, erratic weather

Measures: Afforestation, renewable energy, reduced emissions

Feature	Description
Location	Stratosphere (~10–50 km above Earth)
Function	Absorbs harmful UV-B and UV-C rays from Sun
Ozone Depletion	Caused by chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), halons
Effect	Skin cancer, cataracts, immune suppression, damage to plants/marine life
Global Effort	Montreal Protocol (1987) to ban ozone-depleting substances

Chemical/Process	Effect on Environment
Acid Rain	SO₂ + NOx + Water → H₂SO₄/HNO₃ → Corrosion, soil damage, aquatic harm
Pesticides & Fertilizers	Soil and water pollution, biomagnification in food chain
E-waste	Toxic metals (Pb, Hg, Cd) → soil and groundwater contamination
Plastic Pollution	Non-biodegradable, blocks drainage, harms marine animals
Heavy Metals (e.g., Pb)	Neurological disorders, water pollution

Biomagnification: Accumulation of toxic substances through food chain (e.g., mercury in fish)
Key Preventive Measures:
- Reduce – Reuse – Recycle (3Rs)
- Clean energy (solar, wind)
- Proper waste segregation and treatment
- Awareness and strict environmental laws (e.g., Environment Protection Act, 1986)

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