Environmental Crisis due to Nuclear Power Plants

Abstract

This paper discusses the role of nuclear power plants in the area of the total energy produced by this. It tells us about the hazardousness at every stage of the complete process. It solves the  maze of corporate and governing bodies involved in the process starting from establishing the plant, arranging investments and modifying rules and regulations to ease in doing business.

Further it also explains the worldwide protests and resistance shown by the people against this inhuman act of establishing nuclear power plants in the name of development. The hazardous and destructive impact of previous nuclear power plant's accidents are also discussed in this paper.

Finally this paper argues and establishes a conversation to any human being with a courageous heart and witty mind to feel and think the need for alternative system and resources of unexplored sources of energy.

Introduction

Nuclear power plant works on the principle of nuclear fission. In which elements with very heavy atomic mass and property of radioactivity are used. Presently 92U235 are used as main source of energy (fuel) in the nuclear power plants. Apart from fuel; coolant, moderator, control rods and steam generator are other components.

Nuclear energy is a boon in a controlled manner but it can prove worst when we leave us controlled on it.

Working Principle

The basic working principle of a nuclear power plant is based on obtaining heat energy through the nuclear fission of radioactive atoms. This heat energy is further used to make the steam and which is used to rotate the turbine so as to get electrical energy with the help of a generator. Nuclear reactors made of uranium-235 are used as a fuel for this purpose. Uranium-235 is a highly radioactive element which has a potential of great disaster in any accidental situation.

The Negative Impact of the Nuclear Power Plant at Every Step

There are mainly following four steps in the whole working process of nuclear power plant:

A. Mining of Uranium

B. Fuel Enrichment

C. Power Generation

D. Waste Management

Now, let's discuss all of the above one by one.

A) Mining of Uranium

Uranium is the working fuel for all nuclear power plants, which is the most harmful substance on earth. It is obtained from the earth in the form of ore. Underground uranium mines have a high concentration of Radon gas. It produces as a result of Uranium decay and therefore as harmful as Uranium. It causes lung cancer and many fatal diseases on long exposure to this gas. Researches show that most of the mining workers and local peoples are affected by this gas.

Bad effect of mining can be understood by taking the example of Kazakhstan, the world's biggest uranium mining country. It contributes around 37% of total uranium extraction. Here diseases related to the nervous system, respiratory disease, and cardiovascular diseases are three times greater as of normal rate. Radon gas contaminated most of the water resources in the region of uranium ore.

B) Fuel Enrichment

There are many isotopes of uranium found in ore out of which only 0.7 % contain U235 which is used as fuel in nuclear reactors. This process mainly makes uranium available as fuel or raw material for nuclear weapons. These processes are very complex in nature. It is very costly in terms of the process and up keeping of processed uranium due to more concentration of radioactivity, now. Protection of people involved and waste produced between fuel enrichment process always need great care.

C) Power Generation

In this step enriched fuel is placed for controlled nuclear fission reaction with the help of a moderator, coolant and other parts of the power plant. Here a stream of water if superheated for the very fast movement of the turbine. Which arose the problem of cooling of water used before discharging it to water source otherwise it will end the marine life affected by this warm water.

Nuclear fission raises the overall temperature of the core of power plant, cooling of which is a necessity otherwise nuclear explosion will take place. Next problem with this is any repairing needed a very good nuclear scientist at the current time which is very tedious to arrange as well as expensive in nature. For example, if any problem occurred in Koodankulam power plant, we have to call scientist from countries like Japan, America, and others, which is a very expensive and time taking task. Here delay leads to an unexpected accident in the form of a nuclear explosion.

D. Waste management

An intrinsic feature of the nuclear power plant is that fuel can be only used for 7 or 8 years after that it is not suitable for power generation purpose. But the fuel continues to radiate and last in thousands of years. Hence there is a great problem of protection of the environment from its deadly radiation. And so far all the tools and techniques used are incompatible to reduce its effect. Therefore, it is a major problem not only for the present generation but also for the future generations.

Major past accidents in nuclear power plants

The history of nuclear power plants disaster is as long as its foundation. From 'Chernobyl' to 'Fukushima Daiichi' of Japan. Its history is stained with blood. 

Chernobyl event on 26 April 1986  is considered the worst nuclear disaster in history. The main reason for the accident was the failure of the cooling system which gradually caused overheating of the nuclear reactor core. Which resulted in the uncontrolled nuclear chain reaction and an explosion. Airborne radioactively contaminated spread all over  the region.

An estimate suggests that the deadly effect of this can be seen from its main centre Chernobyl to Italy and France including mainly Belarus and Ukraine with the rest of the republics. Around 220,000 people were relocated just because of this event. The vicinity of losses can be seen by the fact that only liquidators cost 18 billion Soviet Rubbles. Fatalities with newborn babies have seen after many years.

Fukushima Daiichi was another black spot on the nuclear power plant's journey, which was caused by the Tsunami. This Tsunami was a result of the earthquake on 11 march 2011. Three Mile Island and many more...

Nuclear power plants in India

Before Indo-US deal(till 2010)            

Narora, Uttar Pradesh
Rawatbhata, Rajasthan
Kakrapar, Gujarat
Tarapur, Maharashtra
Kaiga, Karnataka
Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu

After Indo-US deal (Projected or Working)

Kumhariya, Haryana
Mithi Virdi, Gujarat
Bargi, Madhya Pradesh
Haripur, West Bengal
Jaitapur, Maharashtra
Kovvada, Andhra Pradesh
Koodankulam, Tamil Nadu

Keeping all the above processes in mind and issues related at each and every step, the most important question arises is Why has India chosen Nuclear power plants as a source of electricity generation?

• A large amount of money in this which facilitate only to very big economic players.
• The problem of waste management of countries with the big nuclear power plant is solved. Those countries dumped their waste in India. They earn a huge amount of money also. 

Some other fact to include 

• Only 7 % of the energy produced by nuclear power plants which are even less than energy produced by windmills.
• They prefer nuclear energy saying it carbon-free, renewable sources of energy like the solar system and other.

We are saying this because we have an ample amount of these energy sources.

-- Presented by Naina

Dreadful Effect of Air Pollution On Children

Abstract

Through this paper, I discussed the worldwide problem of air pollution and its negative impact on the health and behaviour of children. The paper consists of Stanford University’s report which has been recently published in ‘NATURE’ journal. The report reveals the shocking truth about air pollution worldwide in previous years. This paper also covers the reason behind the same. And various researches show that the increasing quantity of PM2.5 in the air is a major factor for air pollution. And finally, the paper reveals some general conclusion related to the topic.

1. Introduction

Air plays a very vital role in the existence of all living beings on earth. But due to human activities, this life-giving air becomes lethal now. Nowadays air pollution is one of the major problems on earth which can’t be ignored. Air pollution refers to the introduction of excessive foreign particles including gasses and microbiological particles into the earth’s atmosphere. Those are harmful to live organisms as well as for land and crops. They cause various respiratory diseases, allergies, behavioral change and even death to humans.

2. Current situation of air pollution

In June 2018, Stanford University publishes his journal on ‘Air Pollution’ in ‘Nature’. Research-based on different surveys taken generally in African countries. The reports tell that only in the year 2015, about 4lakhs children below the age of 5 years are dead in sub-Saharan Africa due to the exposure to particulate matter. The researchers found that from 2011 to 2015 high particulate matter concentration was responsible for 22% of infant deaths. The dirty air has led to the premature deaths of seven lakhs and twelve thousand African's every year.  Various health-related problems are noticed in the research, it shows that air pollution can stunt brain development, trigger asthma and cause heart strokes and even cancer.  This is not the case of Africa only, air pollution is now a global threat. In Europe, the average lifespan of peoples is reducing by 2 years due to the same reason. More or less this is the present situation of all places on earth.

3. Role of PM2.5 to contribute air Pollution

PM2.5 refers to atmospheric particulate matter such as a mixture of solid particles and liquid droplets that has a diameter of fewer than 2.5 micrometers. It is so small that can only be detected with an electron microscope. It travels up to very long distances as it is smaller and lighter.

Due to its very small size, it cannot be stopped in the nasal cavity it gets deep into the lungs and even enters into the bloodstream.   Due to which it thickens the arteries which are the main cause of heart failure and strokes. Children are the most affected by these particles. The area where the quantity of PM2.5 is high has a large number of children are suffering from asthma, decreased lung function, coughing or difficulty in breathing. The behavioral changes in the children are also detected in the research, in India nearly 2.5 crores children are suffering from such diseases in which Autism is very common. Remember that Autism is a very serious developmental disorder that affects the emotional, social and physical health of the affected individual. The “Harvard six cities study”, published in 1996, revealed that PM2.5 was one of the causative factors of human non-accidental death.

PM2.5 form in the atmosphere as a result of complex reactions of chemicals such as sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, which are pollutants, mainly emitted from nuclear power plants, heavy industries, and automobiles companies. Apart from PM2.5 nitrogen oxide is the most poisonous and a cause of various lethal diseases in the world. This gas is emitted into the environment as a result of diesel combustion in automobiles. This gas is very harmful to a pregnant woman and even it affects her unborn child. It also reduces the mental development of a newborn.

It is clear that the major cause of air pollution is due to a huge gap between the exploitation of natural resources and repayment of those resources' value.

--Aakansha Panwar, Student

Melting of 'OK' glacier : A message of impending crisis

Abstract

Ashutosh Dubey Presenting Paper in Seminar

This paper contains a study of 'OK' glacier which recently melts down. Within last 2 to 3 decades, there are several glaciers which are on the same path as of OK glacier including The Great Himalayan Ranges, hence the information about the all is also a part of this paper. later on, the paper discussed the impact of worldwide phenomena of melting glaciers, how it is harmful to mankind as well as for nature, the scarcity of freshwater is the major problem would be faced by the world as a result of same. And finally, we discussed the cause of this disaster and try to conclude for a solution.

1. Introduction

Okjokull (ok) is one of 400 ancient glaciers of Iceland. But unfortunately, this Glacier had died in 2014. At the sight of this dead glacier, a Plaque is set up, which is titled as, A letter to the future, incarnated as "Ok is the first Icelandic glacier to lose its status as a glacier. In the next 200 years, all our glaciers are expected to follow the same path. this monument is to acknowledge that we know what is happening and what needs to be done. only you know if we did it" August 2019.

But the question is how a very large ice body disappears only in three decades? Firstly we have to understand how the glaciers work. The sum of accumulation and the ablation is known as glacier`s mass balance, which may fluctuate naturally from year to year and over decades. But now the problem is that the ablation is much more than that of accumulation which results in rapidly disappearing of glaciers.

2. Melting Glacier: a Global Phenomena

While OK was the first sign of climate change in Iceland, but probably won`t be last. Iceland`s glaciers are losing about 10 billion tons of ice every year and it is estimated that all 400 glaciers of that region will likely to be dead up to 2200. Since the mid-1990s rapidly thinning of glaciers has been a universal trend. An overwhelming majority of Iceland`s glaciers are decreasing in volume almost every year. According to the National Snow and Ice data center (NSIDC) , "Over 90% of the measured Alpine glaciers in the world are retreating in almost every major glaciated region. The cause of this widespread retreat are varied but the underlying primary causes are a warming climate due to the increased industrial activities..."

Satellite images show that glaciers in the US and Canada are shrinking four times faster than in the previous decade. The list is very long, Mount Hunter in Denali national park, is seeing 60 times more snowmelt than it did in the last 150 years. Satellite data showed Antarctica lost as much as sea ice in four years as the Arctic lost in last 34 years.

The most catastrophic phenomena are the melting of Himalayan glaciers. Studies show that their melting rate is dramatically accelerated since the start of the 21st century.  40 years of satellite observations across India, China, Nepal, and Bhutan indicates that glaciers have been losing its ice as double as from 1975 to 200. The study indicates that climate change is eating the Himalayas` glaciers. Temperature varies from place to place, but from 2000-2016 it is averaged 1-degree centigrade higher than those from 1975 to 2000.

3. Impact of Melting Glaciers

There are several impacts of melting glaciers on the environment and on mankind. This affects both presents as well as the future generation. This is the question of survival on the planet Earth. The following effects are directly seen as a result of melting glaciers:-

a)  Glaciers are the main source of freshwater, if they are depleted by the current rate then there is a great scarcity of water will be seen in the near future. Almost 800 million people depend in part on seasonal runoff from Himalayan glaciers for irrigation, hydropower and most importantly for drinking water. A scientist said that the situation will be worst within decades. with shrinking glaciers, less water will be available for nearby river systems in the condition of low rainfall and therefore millions of people could lose their primary water supplies which rise to a problem of survival for millions of peoples. It is estimated that averagely 8 billion tons of water lost every year.

West Antarctica is lost its ice very fast. A complete loss of the West Antarctica ice sheet would be expected to increase global sea level by about 5 meters, means coastal cities around the world would be submerged.

b)  the list of projected consequences also includes isostasy, it is a process whereby reduced ice removes weight from the earth`s crust, causing the land to slowly rise. over a whole century, this rise is a meter or even several meters around Vatnajokull, a place of highest melting of glaciers. This is a great consequence for local people.

c) Melting of glaciers can also lead to increased volcanic activities as when the weight of ice is reduced, there is a change in the melting point of magma in the upper mantle, which somewhat increase in the production of magma and hence volcanic eruptions.

4. Reason Behind the Melting Glaciers

In the fifth Assessment report by NASA, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a group of one thousand three hundred independent scientific experts from all over the world concluded that there is a more than 95 % probability that limitless exploitation of natural resources such as the burning of fossil fuel, emission of harmful gases by giant industries, etc  over the last fifty years have warmed our planet and pace of this exploitation is increasing.

Responsible for these damages, like giant petrochemical companies, carbon dioxide, and CFCs gas emitters mislead by the wrong fact that these are solely due to the cycle process of the sun's energy output. Studies show that it played a major role in past climate changes but plenty of pieces of evidence show that the current global warming can't be explained by changes in energy from the sun. Due to the following reasons :

• Since 1750 the average amount of energy coming from the sun remains constant.

• If the warming is due to the increasing sun's energy then scientists would expect to see warmer temperatures in all layers of the atmosphere but they observed that there is a cooling in the upper atmosphere and a warming at the surface and in the lower parts of the atmosphere. That's because greenhouse gases are trapping heat in the lower atmosphere.

Apart from all these false consciousness we have to identify the real culprits with scientific reasons behind all these.

-- Ashutosh Dubey (Teacher at Golden Bell School, Meerut) and Mukul Sharma (Teacher at JPIS, Meerut)

Vehicle Emissions and Their Effects on Natural Environment

1. INTRODUCTION

Inamul Hoque, Assam Union, Meerut

Transportation sector alone utilizes most of the fossil fuels such as petrol, diesel, kerosene and methanol. Considering all major anthropogenic source categories, with the exception of agriculture, the transportation sector of our economy releases about one-third of the total emissions of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and lead (Pb) and more than two-thirds of the carbon monoxide (CO).

The problems of traffic pollution are particularly acute in a number of major cities, especially in cities where a traffic jam is a common experience as a considerable amount of fuel is used while cars are trapped in traffic congestion. As congestion in towns and cities increases and traffic slows down, emissions are increasing much faster than the actual growth in vehicle numbers. Also, research carried out by Bull (1991) on emissions from different types of motor vehicle and fuel type reveals that older vehicles and those that are incorrectly maintained contribute a disproportionate amount to aerial pollution.

This paper presents a review of the emissions of pollutants from vehicles and their transformation and impact on the environment. The options for control and management of vehicular emissions have also been discussed.

2. VEHICLE EMISSIONS

Since the 1950‟s it has been recognized that transportation engines in developed countries are the major source of air pollution (Milton, 1995), while it is apparent that the proportions to be attributed to various causes vary both in time and from place to place, typical USA, figures are shown in Table 1. It can be seen that transportation is responsible for the biggest share of CO, HC, and NOx in the atmosphere as well as a large proportion of the particulate matter

Table 1: Proportion of atmospheric pollutants from various sources:-

  

2.1 Sources of Pollutants (Emissions) from Vehicles

Petrol and diesel engines, both internal combustion engines, are the only engines in wide use in the world‟s automotive transportation systems. And they are the major source of urban air pollution (John, 1998). Table 2 gives a list of common engine types, fuels, and associated emissions. Petrol is a readily volatilized fuel and in the fuel tank, the pressure build-up which would result from this evaporation is obviated by the introduction of a „breather‟ vent or pipe into the tank. This still permits evaporation of the fuel.

Table 2: Vehicle types and pollutant for emissions for common engines and fuel combinations:-

Evaporation of the raw fuel also occurs in the carburetor at all times except when running at high speed. Some unburned fuel (mixed with air) plus escaping exhaust gases from around ill-fitting pistons leaves the car as crankcase blow-by which is a further hydrocarbon loss. Exhaust emissions are more variable in nature and hence more difficult to control. The composition depends on several variables e.g. air/fuel ratio, speed and engine condition. Driving conditions play a major role with exhaust emissions high in CO and HC at low and idling speeds, and NOx high at high engine speeds. At low speeds, especially when cold and the fuel mixture is fuel-rich, incomplete combustion is common resulting in the formulation of more carbon monoxide. Similarly, unburned hydrocarbons can be part of the exhaust. Table 3 shows emissions from petrol engine under various operating conditions

Table 3: Emissions from petrol engine under various operating conditions :-

2.2 Types of Emission and Pollutants

2.2.1 Hydrocarbons

Emissions of hydrocarbons indicate low combustion efficiency in internal combustion engines and they arise when vaporised unburned fuel or partially burned fuel products, leave the combustion region and are emitted with the exhaust. Unburned hydrocarbon emissions are independent of air/fuel ratio.

2.2.2 Oxides of nitrogen (NOx)

Motor vehicles are the principal source of NO and of its oxidation product NO2. Nitric Oxide (NO) and Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) are usually grouped together as Nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions. Nitric oxide is the predominant oxide of nitrogen produced inside the engine cylinder. The principal source of NO is the oxidation of atmospheric (molecular) nitrogen. However, if the fuel contains significant nitrogen the oxidation of the fuel nitrogen-containing compounds is an additional source of NO.

2.2.3 Carbon Monoxide (CO)

Most of the CO in the ambient air comes from vehicle exhaust. Internal combustion engines do not burn the fuel completely to CO2 and water; some unburned fuel will always be exhausted, with CO as a component. For rich air/fuel mixtures, CO concentration in the exhaust is high, since the amount of excess fuel (unburned fuel) will be high. While for weak air/fuel mixtures, CO emissions are very low, therefore, they are not considered as important. According to John (1998), the levels of CO observed in spark-ignition engine exhaust gases are lower than the value measured within the combustion chamber. Therefore, some of the CO that formed in the combustion process is oxidized to CO2 before they are discharged into the atmosphere.

2.2.4 Carbon dioxide (CO2)

Combustion of petrol takes place in the internal part of the engine of a vehicle.  The fuel consists of organic molecules, which are mostly hydrocarbon. When such compounds are burnt in automobile engines they yield carbon dioxide and water. Carbon dioxide also contributes to the acidity of rainfall, but more important, CO2 is transparent to short- wavelength radiation from the sun but opaque to longer wavelengths radiated back to space from the earth. Therefore, increased concentrations of CO2 may result in a heating of the earth‟s atmosphere and global warming.

2.2.5 Photochemical smog

The Components of automobile exhaust are particularly important in the formation of atmospheric ozone and are primary contributors to smog. Smog is a mixture of ozone, aldehydes, oxides of nitrogen and hydrocarbon. It results from the reaction of these compounds in the atmosphere through a complex chain mechanism requiring photolysis due to the action of sunlight. The amount of smog depends on the concentration of reactants, their reactivity, and the temperature and light intensity. Photochemical smog causes severe irritation of the eyes, throat and respiratory system. In addition to this, it causes damage to some materials and is, therefore, a major problem especially when it is held down in the local atmosphere of major cities by a temperature inversion.

2.2.6 Lead emissions

The combustion of gasoline containing lead (Pb) additives gives rise to large amounts of lead particulates, which are deposited downwind of highways. High lead levels from automobile exhaust are controlled by elimination or phasing out of lead from gasoline i.e by using unleaded gasoline.

3. DISTURBANCE OF NATURAL ENVIRONMENT

3.1 Thermal Air Pollution

This type of pollution is applied generally to the discharge of heat into the air environment from the combustion of fuels. The increase in the temperature of any place at a given time above its normal ambient air temperature is evidence that thermal air pollution has occurred in that place. The mean temperature of our planet is fixed by a steady-state balance between the energy received from the sun and the quantity of heat energy radiated back into space by the earth. Disturbance in either incoming or outgoing energy would upset this balance, and the average temperature of the earth‟s surface would drift off to a different steady-state value.

3.2 Greenhouse Effect

The greenhouse effect takes its name from the warmth of greenhouses, a warmth stemming in part from the ease with which warming sunlight enters through the glass panes, and the difficulty encountered by infrared radiation in escaping off through the same panes with the greenhouse heat. This means that the glass panes act in much the same way as the atmosphere, which allows the free passage of incoming radiation but interferes with outgoing radiant energy. The outgoing radiant energy is absorbed by H2O and CO2. With energy escape hindered, the earth becomes warmer than it otherwise would be. Any addition of H2O and CO2 would cause an additional greenhouse effect.

3.3 Effects on Agriculture

Optimum plant growth requires adequate light, heat, moisture, nutrients and appropriate soil conditions. An imbalance in any of these results in stress to the plant, which may result in restricted growth or foliage markings. Pollution provides extra undesirable stress. If this stress is too high, then the plant will die, despite the relatively complex biological defense mechanisms (e.g. the rebuilding of damaged tissue).

3.4 Health Effects of Air Pollution

Air pollution has serious economic repercussions. Human health itself has an economic component by virtue of medical costs and work-days lost. Damage to health occurs as pollutant molecules interact unfavorably with the intricate molecules and fluids of the human body. Living systems are so complex that the detailed chemistry of these interactions is unclear in all but a few exceptional cases

3.5.1 Effects of Carbon (II) Oxides, CO

The one activity of CO in the human body that gives it notoriety is its strong inclination to combine with the haemoglobin of blood. Research has shown that CO has a much greater affinity for Hb than O2. So when both are present in an equal concentration, CO ties up about 220 times more Hb than does O2, leading to almost complete O2 starvation and sure death. With 220-fold advantage, low level of CO in the lungs can immobilize enough Hb to cause a dangerous shortage of oxygen. As much as 100 mg/l CO can kill quickly and 250 mg/l CO will cause loss of consciousness (Henderson-Sellers, 1984). The upper limit for industrial exposure to health workers is 100 mg/l. At this level, many people experience dizziness, headache, and lassitude (Ademoroti, 1996)

3.5.2 Effects of NO and NO2

The compound NO is moderately toxic. Like CO, NO can combine with haemoglobin (Hb) forming methemoglobin and thus reducing oxygen transport. In contrast to NO, NO2 is set at 5 ppm, rabbits exposed to concentrations as low as 1 ppm over a period of one hour have suffered protein changes (Henderson-Sellers, 1984).

3.5.3 Effects Particulate Matter

Inhaled particles greater than 10 μm are lodged in the nostril no protective mucous blanket exists. Some of these particles may be retained in the lungs. It has been suggested that particles enhance the damage to lungs caused by SO2 because they carry SO2 to deep regions of the lung that are not otherwise reached (Waller, 1983).

4. CONTROL OF VEHICLE EMISSIONS

The carbon monoxide (CO) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are products of inefficient combustion, which would be eliminated by burning the fuel to carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O) in the engine of the vehicle to produce power if possible. Most of the VOC emissions are from the tailpipe. These are controlled using catalytic reactors and by injecting air at the exhaust ports of the engine to burn emitted hydrocarbons in this high-temperature zone. Neither process recovers useful energy, so efforts to modify engine design have been intense. However, more than 20% of the uncontrolled vehicle engine VOC emissions are from the crankcase vent (blow-by and evaporating oil) and from the carburetor vent to the atmosphere. These emissions are controlled using a crankcase vent pipe to the engine intake duct (requiring a pollution control value or PCV) and a “carbon canister” absorption unit for evaporative losses. Fuel injection systems, with their advantage of providing much more precise metering of fuel to the cylinders significantly reduces pollutant emissions, including further reduction of evaporative losses.

5. CONCLUSION

The dramatic increase in public awareness and concern about the state of the global and local environments, which has occurred in recent decades, has been accompanied and partly prompted by an ever-growing body of evidence on the extent to which pollution has caused severe environmental degradation. Considering all major anthropogenic source categories, with the exception of agriculture, the transportation sector of our economy accounts for the major part of atmospheric pollution.

The vehicle exhaust emits volatile organic compounds, nitrogen oxides, leads, and carbon monoxides into the atmosphere. These emissions are discussed in this paper. The introduction of vehicle pollutants into the environment has been shown to have many adverse effects on human health, agricultural productivity, and natural ecosystems. It has also been shown that the highest emissions occur in vehicle deceleration on a volumetric basis, which is due to low air-fuel ratio and low exhaust flow. Thermal air pollution, greenhouse effect, ozone depletion and other pollution resulting in disturbance of natural environment are discussed. Several methods of effective control of automobile emissions to meet current and future environmental demands are also analysed.

Climate Change & Environmental Crisis : Book Introduction

Paryavaran Lok Manch has brought this book to develop a holistic view on climate change. This book presents a correct perspective to understand the ongoing climate change and environmental crisis that is based on a class approach. An attempt has been made to identify the cause of the crisis and who is responsible for it.

Mother Earth and Human civilisation are in grave danger due to the cataclysmic effects of climate change.

Our planet, the Earth, is heating up continuously and rapidly. Its glaciers are melting and its sea levels are rising. Scientists believe that if this situation persists, from Bangladesh to Florida, villages, and homes of millions of people will be inundated. A rapidly-changing climate can also bring about the contamination of drinking water, heavy rainfall in some places and droughts in others, destruction of agriculture, extinction of animal species and desertification of forests. These are not but some of the problems that have already begun rearing their ugly head. In order to remedy this situation, it is imperative that action be taken immediately. Unfortunately, instead of taking quick measures, policy-makers around the world are adopting delay in order to serve their petty interests and satiate their hunger for profit. If they continue to tread on such a path, the crisis will worsen, rendering restoration of the environment close to impossible.

The developed capitalist countries are major contributors to climate change. Despite generating the most carbon dioxide emissions, they shy away from adopting concrete solutions to combat climate change. The price of this apathy subsequently is borne out by the poor across the world, with over 10 million children under the age of five succumbing to diseases wrought by environmental pollution, including diarrhea and respiratory diseases, which are the major outcomes of environmental pollution and the inhuman condition of the marginalised sections they are living in. The last two hundred years of industrial development have bought prosperity to a few but pushed millions into the trenches of dire poverty. The poor mainly depend on natural resources such as water, forests, and land for livelihood. Degradation of these resources thus spells doom for them.

Mother Earth does not discriminate among her children on the basis of developed or undeveloped, rich or poor. The rich however remain largely insulated from the effects of climate change. They have access to technology that helps them beat the heat, unlike the poor who often sweat it out in the sun to earn their bread. The helplessness of this population is heightened even more in the face of floods or droughts wrought by changes in climate. Negligence by governments adds to the misery. It is the women whose mobility is restricted by social norms who bear the maximum brunt of such calamities. Unlike their menfolk who travel from one place to another in search of work, they are pushed into a corner in the fight for survival. A grim example of this was seen in the year 2010 when women residing in drought-hit Bundelkhand were forced to enter the flesh trade to ensure food on the plate.

According to the World Health Organisation, climate change has left around 5.5 million people physically impaired in 2000. Of these, eighty-four percent belong to poor countries in sub-Saharan Africa, and Eastern and South Asia. With the arrival of the summer season, malaria and dengue start wreaking havoc in developing countries. Drought, flood, and depletion of groundwater level continue to ruin agriculture and with it the lives of farmers. While the government's anti-farmer policies add to the woes, starvation, and malnutrition are continuously increasing due to low production of food grains. Due to unhygienic habitation and malnutrition, the resistance to diseases is on the decline leaving the poor susceptible to diseases. In the midst of such crises, heartless market powers are only added to the sufferings of the poor people. Consequently, the economic and social structure is being upset.

In the past, natural calamities such as floods, droughts, storms, hail- storms and heat waves have destroyed several civilisations. Around 2300 B.C., the Mesopotamian civilisation, which extended from Turkey to the Gulf of Persia, was destroyed by a dreadful drought. Other civilisations have shared the same fate. In the year 1770, under the barbaric rule of the British, the famine that hit Bengal resulted in the death of ten million people, erasing one-third of the total population. From 1875 to 1900, around twenty-six million people lost their lives across the country due to natural calamities. The crippling economic policies of the British Government including exorbitant taxes, cess taxes on exports and imports, and the cultivation of cash crops like opium, rice, wheat, indigo, and cotton – magnified the intensity of the famine. But the rapid climate change that we see today is much more lethal. The relentless plunder of natural resources, by capitalist civilisation has invited this destruction, and its effect can be felt in all aspects of human life today.

There is a raging debate across the globe over the phenomenon of climate change. Different social sections in society, taking into account the nature, causes, and solution of the crises, have taken divergent stands according to their self-interest. There are some pertinent questions that arise in this debate. Is climate change an inevitable and normal phenomenon or a result of the sordid, uncontrolled plunder of the Earth by human beings? Who is responsible for this crisis and who should pay the price for it? What is the reason for the failure of world summits held on it? What is the view of different classes, communities, and organisations about climate change? What is the cause of negligence and irresponsibility towards these crises? Is this calamity really dangerous or is it an exaggerated truth? We have tried our best to answer these in this book. 

 Two important documents are provided as appendices in this booklet. The first is a speech by Fidel Castro made at the 1992 Earth summit, where he said: “An important biological species — humankind — is at risk of disappearing". In our view, this statement presents the environmental problem in an apt perspective, stressing the need to take serious action. The second document, 'World People's Conference on Climate Change and the Rights of Mother Earth; April 22nd, Cochabamba, Bolivia,' deals with the issue in its totality and proposes a realistic and permanent solution to this problem.

In the course of writing this book, articles by John Bellamy Foster, editor of the Monthly Review, and various other articles published in this prestigious journal have been used as references. We are very thankful to them. Two books by Foster, Vulnerable Planet and Ecology against Capitalism cite many important, facts and put forth precise data, and provide an ideologically exciting set of literature on the climate crisis. 

We invite criticism and suggestions about the booklet from our readers and friends.

Contents
Preface
Time to Entangle the Question of Climate Change with 
the Goal of Radical Change in Social Relations
Multidimensional and All-pervading Effects of Climate Change 

• Global Warming
• Poisoning the Air
• Polluted Water
• Agriculture and Climate Change
• Disappearing Glaciers and Dying Rivers
• Climate Change and Diseases
• The Existence of Species under Threat
• The Extinction of Tribes
• Different Types of Pollution in Capitalist Society
• Gloabalisation and Plunder of Natural Resources

The Real Story Behind International Summits on Climate Change 

• Kyoto Protocol and its Failure
• Bali Map
• Copenhagen Summit
• Cancun Summit
• Why are Summits on Climate Change failing?
• Capitalism, the Automobile Industry, and Pollution     

Different Views on Climate Change

• The Attitude of Environmentalists and NGOs 
• The Attitude of the Government
• Attitude of Imperialist Countries and Their Scientists
• Illusions of Sustainable Development

The Roots of Climate Change Lie in the History of an Exploitative System

• Colonial Age
• Imperialist Age
• The Conflict over Petroleum in the Present Age of Globalization

Can Capitalism Solve the Environmental Crises?
What is the Alternative?
Appendixes

• Fidel Castro at Earth Summit
• People’s Agreement of Cochabamba
• Environmental Destruction Is a Result of the Capitalist System

One Day Seminar on Climate Change and Environmental Crisis

Prayavaran Lok Manch is going to organise a one-day seminar on “Climate Change & Environmental Crisis”. You all are cordially invited and expected to participate in this seminar.

We all know that today our country, as well as the planet itself, is suffering the consequences of environmental crisis. None of the aspects of human life is untouched by this phenomenon. The whole planet is continuously getting warmer every day due to global warming. The consequences are coming out with dreadful and dangerous face. Melting of glaciers, rising sea level and acidification of seas are still going on. This year Kerala, Karnataka, Uttarakhand, Assam, and the other North-eastern states have been badly affected by flood. The normalcy of life is in jeopardy in these areas. Many parts of our country are facing the consequences of drought and famine. Due to this, agriculture is the worst-hit part of national life.  Forests are shrinking and deserts are growing day by day. Newly emerging diseases due to rising pollution are taking tolls on human lives. Instead of clean water rivers are filled with contaminated factory waste which is causing life-taking diseases like cancer in their surroundings. 

River Hindan is Very Polluted.

To cop up with the economic crisis the rate of natural resource exploitation has spiked up. This has in turn been gradually making the environmental crisis bad to worse. Ignorance and irresponsibility on the part of government and administration, majority of population busy in just arranging daily necessities and careless attitude of the educated community have contributed to the lack of concrete initiative towards solving this problem. This seminar is being organised to make this problem as central to the debates among the majority of toiling masses and for enhancing our own understanding of various aspects of this problem so that a new change could be start off. 

We request all those who are interested in presenting papers in this seminar, to inform the organisers as soon as possible. The deadline for paper submission has been fixed as 3 days before the seminar. Papers can be presented in either Hindi or English. It should be typed or written clearly on A4 sheets. Word limit is 1000 to 2000. One can use PowerPoint Presentation at the seminar. Projector facility will be available there. One should prepare to wind up his/her presentation in 20 minutes and extra 10 minutes will be available for brief QA session with the audience. All those presenting paper in this seminar will be certified and all these papers will be published as an edited volume. 

Topics must be from or related to the following list –

1. Pollution due to pesticides in agriculture       

2. Air pollution due to industrialisation in India

3. Depletion of resources by the corporates       

4. Environmental crisis in hill due to tourism

5. Environmental crisis due to nuclear plants     

6. Soft drink and crisis of ground water

7. Air pollution and automobile                        

8. Recent IPCC report on the environmental crisis

9. Dreadful effect of pollution on children         

10. Waste management of nuclear waste

Time : 09:30 AM to 05:30 PM

Date  : September 8, 2019, Sunday

Venue : Amit Classes, First Floor,  

             Platinum Mall, Near Maliyana 

            Bridge, Baghpat Road, 

            Meerut.

Coordinator

Vikram Pratap,

7248447649

par.lok.manch@gmail.com

Program Coordinator

Abhishek Tiwari, 

8318123340

Polluted Water

Chemical Pollution

 Today toxic chemicals have transformed water bodies like rivers from life sources to toxic sources. Water released from the industries of Samalkha, Sonipat, and Panipat into the Yamuna increased the level of ammonia to such an extent that even the water purifying plant in Delhi many times ceased to function. A hundred millilitre of water used for non-drinking purposes, should not contain more than 500 dangerous fecal coliform micro-organisms. But in many places, more than 440,000 micro-organisms were found in Yamuna water. In such water, the percentage of dissolved oxygen is also very low. Currently, no purification method is good enough to make the Yamuna water fit for drinking. The condition of the river Ganga is the same. Even after imposing several restrictions, most of the industries from Haridwar to Mujaffar Nagar drain their toxic chemical waste into the Ganga, poisoning it. Many laws and acts have been passed to make the Ganga pollution free but these have remained confined to papers and files.

 Kali Nadi, which emerges from Antawada in Muzaffarnagar and merges with the Ganga near Kannauj, has become synonymous with cancer. The table given below shows the number of chemicals drained into the “Kali Nadi."

Along with these pollutants, BHC, heptachlor and other banned pesticides are also found in this river. The same toxic water, mixed with groundwater, is then drawn through pumps for domestic use, causing cancer and skin diseases. In Meerut, there are 250 families within the range of a single block who have fallen prey to these diseases. Residents have repeatedly approached the government, administrative bodies, and the pollution control board, but have not been heard. Out of desperation, they have even held government officers captive.

Pollution in “Kali Nadi"

Pollution of Kali River 

In western Uttar Pradesh, the presence of TDS chemicals in groundwater is leading to painful health problems in the form of renal stones. The saga is endless. The Hindon River which flows by Delhi is so polluted that families dither from marrying off their girls in villages near the river. 

Why should the upper class and their government bother about such problems if they can afford water filters and mineral water? Mineral water companies are also taking advantage of these conditions and making tremendous profit. Doctors are also profiting due to diseases caused by polluted water.

Polluted Ganga

The environmental crisis has also lowered the groundwater level. Water suction with the help of tube wells in several parts of western U.P. has reduced water levels substantially and many wells have stopped working. Even expensive submersible pumps are unable to draw a sufficient amount of water. In 2007, the water level in the Ganga canal had reduced significantly. A weaker monsoon dried-up ponds, and over-exploitation of groundwater are mainly responsible for lowering of the water level. The dumping of garbage has also lowered water levels, making the river shallow. The government’s negligence in preventing erosion of embankments has escalated the problems. In 2010, the shallow river bed of the Yamuna was unable to contain even rain-water and thus broke weak embankments, causing floods in rural Haryana.

The same situation more or less prevails in other countries also. Between 2000 and 2004, the people of South Asia were severely affected by acute flood situations resulting in their death and/or displacement.

Other parts of the country are also facing a severe water crisis. Sambhar Salt Lake, which is spread over 230 km, is on the verge of drying up. Even after the extraction of up to 290,000 tons of salt per year from this lake, people of the region remain very poor. Overexploitation of groundwater in this region has caused drinking water problems in nearby regions. The market price of salt is 10 rupees per kg, but only 40 paise is given to the workers, and the rest is swallowed by industrialists and traders. Several small and large scale industries have mushroomed in the nearby region, out of which 74 percent are illegal. Working 9-10 hours daily under severe conditions, the ill-paid labourers have blisters and wrinkles on their faces. This has spoiled the life of a complete generation of labourers. They die before the age of 45. A more or less similar situation is prevailing for the workers employed in salt manufacturing industries in coastal areas in India.

Around 300 industries in Valsad district of Gujarat, producing chemicals, fertilizers, pesticides, and pharmaceutical products, drain the chemical waste through long pipelines in coastal areas, making it a toxic, foul and marshy region. As per regulations, the chemical waste should be treated in the plant before discharge into the sea, and the quality of filtered effluents should be tested twice a day before draining. But industries blatantly ignore such laws. Leakage in pipelines pollutes the drinking water, which has caused skin, digestive and respiratory diseases in around 60 percent of the people in the locality. Moreover, agriculture and cattle are affected significantly.

According to the standard of the Gujarat pollution control board, a pure sample of water is that in which fish can survive for 90 days. But in the sample, seawater sent for examination, the fish died within merely 5 minutes of examination. This explains why sea birds, tattlers, and cranes that depend on fish, crab, and shrimp for survival are a rare sight today.

Villagers are not even informed let alone consulted about the untreated discharge of industrial toxic residues that contaminate their environment. This is how the government is “for the people, by the people and of the people” functions! It appears sadly to be a paralysed democracy dominated by a handful of capitalists. In the management of companies, neither villagers and nor their representatives are involved. People opposing the contamination, find their leaders either assassinated or bribed by management.

The situation is worse in Gujarat, where the Gujarat Pollution Control Board and Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation officials themselves flout the rules. On the basis of data, videos and scientific reports, the villagers, filed a writ petition but did not get respite. Their protests got trapped in a labyrinth of legal tactics.

Taking advantage of legal loopholes, industrialists carry on their crimes as usual. Industries do not hesitate to tear apart Pollution Control Board standards and Supreme Court directions. The condition of other industrial sectors is the same, be it breaking of old ships at Alang (Gujarat) or textile industries in Tamil Nadu. Even a historical heritage building like Tajmahal is not untouched by the acidic smoke emitted by the factories of Agra. These factories adamantly ignored the notice sent by the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board and the court. A myth is floated by capitalists that, if factories are closed down then the workers will be unemployed. Hence, they aim to show that what they are doing is for the greater good. But what they are actually worried about is their profit. The employers continue to brutally exploit workers by paying low wages and salaries and even oppress their demands by hiring local goons and sometimes even calling for the help of the police, all in the name of the ‘greater good’. When national and international environmental organisations mount pressure on the government, some reforms on paper and speeches are made, but the same saga of exploitation continues. Who cares for the plight of the masses when private profit is involved?