Complete Unit Flash Cards
Tap any card to flip it and reveal the answer.
Flash Card Index
- Unit 1: Air Pollution and Control — 10 cards
- Unit 2: Noise and Radiation Pollution — 10 cards
- Unit 3: Water Pollution — 10 cards
- Unit 4: Soil and its Degradation — 10 cards
- Unit 5: Solid and Hazardous Waste Management — 10 cards
- Unit 6: Biodiversity Management — 10 cards
- Unit 7: Global Environmental Issues — 10 cards
- Unit 8: Regional and Local Environmental Issues — 10 cards
- Unit 9: Sustainable Development — 10 cards
- Unit 10: Environmental Legislation and International Conventions — 10 cards
Unit 1: Air Pollution and Control
What is air pollution?
Tap / click to reveal answerThe presence of harmful solid, liquid or gaseous substances in air at levels that damage health, property or the environment.
Tap / click to returnName two natural sources of air pollution.
Tap / click to reveal answerVolcanic eruptions and forest fires. Other examples: dust storms, pollen and decomposition.
Tap / click to returnWhat are primary pollutants?
Tap / click to reveal answerPollutants released directly into the atmosphere, such as CO, SO₂, NO and dust.
Tap / click to returnWhat are secondary pollutants?
Tap / click to reveal answerPollutants formed in the atmosphere through chemical reactions, such as ground-level ozone and photochemical smog.
Tap / click to returnName important criteria pollutants.
Tap / click to reveal answerParticulate matter, carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, ozone and lead.
Tap / click to returnWhat are the effects of air pollution?
Tap / click to reveal answerRespiratory disease, plant damage, acid rain, climate change, reduced visibility and damage to buildings.
Tap / click to returnWhat is indoor air pollution?
Tap / click to reveal answerPollution inside homes or buildings due to smoke, biomass fuel, tobacco, chemicals, mould and poor ventilation.
Tap / click to returnHow can indoor air pollution be controlled?
Tap / click to reveal answerUse clean fuel, proper ventilation, chimneys, smoke-free rooms and low-emission products.
Tap / click to returnHow are particulate pollutants controlled?
Tap / click to reveal answerBy settling chambers, cyclones, scrubbers, electrostatic precipitators and bag filters.
Tap / click to returnHow are gaseous pollutants controlled?
Tap / click to reveal answerBy absorption, adsorption, condensation, catalytic conversion and cleaner fuels.
Tap / click to returnWhat is noise pollution? Unwanted or excessive sound that disturbs life and harms health. Name major sources of noise pollution. Traffic, industries, construction, aircraft, loudspeakers, generators and horns. Write four health effects of noise. Hearing loss, stress, sleep disturbance, headache, high blood pressure and poor concentration. How can noise pollution be controlled? Maintain machines, use silencers, sound barriers, green belts, silence zones and ear protection. What is radiation pollution? Harmful exposure to ionising radiation above safe limits. Name sources of radioactive pollution. Nuclear plants, accidents, radioactive waste, medical equipment, mining and nuclear testing. What are the effects of radiation? DNA damage, cancer, burns, radiation sickness, mutations and reproductive problems. What is the radiation safety principle? Reduce exposure time, increase distance and use proper shielding. How can radioactive pollution be controlled? Safe storage, secure transport, monitoring, shielding, emergency planning and proper waste disposal. What is ionising radiation? Radiation with enough energy to remove electrons from atoms, such as alpha, beta, gamma rays and X-rays. What is water pollution? The addition of harmful substances to water that reduces its quality and makes it unsafe. Name sources of water pollution. Sewage, industrial effluents, fertilisers, pesticides, oil spills, mining and solid waste. How does groundwater become polluted? Chemicals, sewage, pesticides and landfill leachate pass through soil into underground water. What is eutrophication? Excessive growth of algae and aquatic plants due to high nutrient levels, mainly nitrates and phosphates. What are the effects of eutrophication? Algal blooms, reduced sunlight, oxygen depletion and fish death. What is biomagnification? Increase in concentration of persistent toxic substances at higher trophic levels of a food chain. What is marine pollution? Entry of harmful substances such as plastics, sewage, oil and chemicals into seas and oceans. What is primary sewage treatment? Physical treatment using screening, grit removal and sedimentation. What is secondary sewage treatment? Biological treatment in which microorganisms decompose organic matter and reduce BOD. What is tertiary sewage treatment? Advanced treatment that removes nutrients, pathogens, salts and remaining pollutants. What is soil? The upper loose layer of land containing minerals, organic matter, air, water and organisms. Name the main soil horizons. O, A, B, C and R horizons. Which horizon is called topsoil? The A horizon, generally rich in humus and biological activity. Name major Indian soil types. Alluvial, black, red and yellow, laterite, desert/arid and mountain/forest soils. What is soil pollution? Addition of harmful chemicals or wastes to soil that reduces its quality and fertility. Name causes of soil pollution. Pesticides, fertilisers, industrial waste, mining, plastics, sewage and chemical dumping. What is soil erosion? Removal of fertile topsoil by water, wind or human activities. Name methods to control soil erosion. Contour ploughing, terrace farming, strip cropping, shelter belts, afforestation and check dams. What is desertification? Land degradation in dry areas caused by climatic variations and human activities. How can desertification be controlled? Water harvesting, afforestation, controlled grazing, drought-resistant crops and sustainable farming. What is solid waste? Unwanted solid or semi-solid material generated by homes, industries, markets, agriculture and construction. Name the waste-management hierarchy. Refuse, reduce, reuse, repair, recycle, recover and dispose. Why is waste segregation important? It separates wet, dry and hazardous waste and makes treatment and recycling safer. What is composting? Biological decomposition of organic waste into compost. What is incineration? Controlled burning of waste at high temperature to reduce its volume. What is pyrolysis? Thermal breakdown of waste with little or no oxygen. What is a sanitary landfill? Engineered waste disposal using liners, leachate collection and gas control. What is e-waste? Discarded electrical and electronic equipment. What is hazardous waste? Waste that is toxic, corrosive, reactive, ignitable or otherwise dangerous to health or environment. Name hazardous-waste treatment methods. Deep well injection, plasma torch treatment, incineration and secure landfill. What is biodiversity? The variety of life at genetic, species and ecosystem levels. Name the three levels of biodiversity. Genetic diversity, species diversity and ecosystem diversity. Why is biodiversity important? It provides food, medicine, pollination, soil formation, climate regulation and ecological stability. Name major threats to biodiversity. Habitat loss, deforestation, overexploitation, pollution, invasive species and climate change. What is IUCN? International Union for Conservation of Nature. Which IUCN categories are called threatened? Vulnerable, Endangered and Critically Endangered. What is a biodiversity hotspot? A region with high endemism and serious loss of natural habitat. Name India-related biodiversity hotspots. Himalaya, Indo-Burma, Western Ghats–Sri Lanka and Sundaland. What is in-situ conservation? Conservation of species in their natural habitat, such as national parks and sanctuaries. What is ex-situ conservation? Conservation outside the natural habitat, such as zoos, seed banks and botanical gardens. What is global warming? Long-term increase in Earth’s average temperature mainly due to the enhanced greenhouse effect. What is climate change? Long-term change in temperature, rainfall, winds, sea level and extreme events. Name major causes of global warming. Fossil fuels, deforestation, industries, transport, agriculture and waste. Write effects of climate change. Glacier melting, sea-level rise, heat waves, changing rainfall, crop stress and biodiversity loss. What causes ozone depletion? CFCs, halons and other ozone-depleting substances. Why is the ozone layer important? It absorbs harmful ultraviolet radiation from the Sun. What is acid rain? Precipitation made acidic mainly by sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides. Write impacts of acid rain. Forest damage, lake acidification, soil nutrient loss, fish death and corrosion. What is smog? A polluted mixture of smoke, gases, fog and atmospheric pollutants. Differentiate classical and photochemical smog. Classical smog is linked with smoke and SO₂ in cool humid conditions; photochemical smog forms in sunlight from NOₓ and VOCs. What are regional and local environmental issues? Environmental problems affecting a particular area due to local industries, population, geography, tourism and land use. How do brick kilns affect the environment? They release smoke and particles, consume fuel, remove topsoil and create health risks. How do cement industries affect the environment? They generate dust, NOₓ, SO₂, CO₂, noise and mining-related damage. How can industrial pollution be controlled? Cleaner fuels, improved technology, dust filters, green belts, worker protection and monitoring. Why are lakes and wetlands degraded? Sewage, solid waste, encroachment, siltation, extraction, tourism and pollution. What are the effects of degrading springs? Reduced water quality, drying of springs, biodiversity loss and water scarcity. Write positive impacts of tourism. Employment, income, cultural exchange and support for conservation. Write negative impacts of tourism. Waste, traffic, water demand, noise, construction and habitat disturbance. What is sustainable tourism? Tourism that reduces environmental damage and supports local people and conservation. Name causes and controls of deforestation. Causes: farming, roads, mining and urbanisation. Controls: afforestation, agroforestry, protected areas and community participation. Define sustainable development. Development that meets present needs without reducing the ability of future generations to meet their needs. Which report popularised sustainable development? The Brundtland Report of 1987. When were the SDGs adopted? 2015, under the UN 2030 Agenda. How many Sustainable Development Goals are there? 17 SDGs. Name the four components in this syllabus. Society, environment, culture and economy. What is ecotourism? Responsible travel to natural areas that conserves nature and supports local communities. Write principles of ecotourism. Low impact, conservation education, local employment, cultural respect and limited resource use. What is EIA? Environmental Impact Assessment, a process to identify and evaluate environmental impacts before project approval. Name key elements of EIA. Screening, scoping, baseline data, impact prediction, alternatives, public consultation, EMP, decision and monitoring. Why is sustainable development important? It balances economic progress, social welfare, cultural protection and environmental conservation.Unit 2: Noise and Radiation Pollution
Unit 3: Water Pollution
Unit 4: Soil and its Degradation
Unit 5: Solid and Hazardous Waste Management
Unit 6: Biodiversity Management
Unit 7: Global Environmental Issues
Unit 8: Regional and Local Environmental Issues
Unit 9: Sustainable Development
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