CBSE
Class 10 Class 12
Everything that surrounds us is the environment.
Environmental science can be defined as the study of organisms in relation to their surrounding.
Living organisms live in different surroundings. Some plants and animals completely live in water and some others live on land.
Plants, animals, human beings survive with the interaction between them and the non-living things like air, water and land.
Human beings depend on the resources of nature. These resources include soil, water, coal, electricity, oil, gas, etc. These resources improve the lifestyle of human beings.
Human activities related to livelihood and welfare generate waste. All wastes are pollutants and they create pollution in one way or another. Air, land and water surroundings are affected due to improper disposal of wastes which create an imbalance in the environment.
Pollution: Any undesirable change in the physical, chemical or biological characteristics of air, land and water that affect human life adversely is called pollution.
Pollutant: A substance released into the environment due to the natural or human activity which affects adversely the environment is called pollutant. e.g. Sulphur-di-oxide, carbon monoxide, lead, mercury, etc.
Classification of waste
Biodegradable: Substances that are broken down by biological process of biological or microbial action are called bio-degradable waste. e.g. wood, paper and leather.
Non - biodegradable: Substances that are not broken down by biological or microbial action are called non-bio-degradable wastes. e.g. Plastic substances and mineral wastes.
