Railway Science (Environment – Pollution)

Coliform bacteria - made up a large group of bacteria found in soils, on plants, and in surface water. Coliform bacteria, such as fecal coliform, live in the intestines of humans. Their presence in a water supply suggests possible pollution with disease-causing organisms.
The total Coliform Bacteria test - Used as an indicator of the bacterial safety of our drinking water. Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a type of fecal coliform bacteria commonly found in the intestines of animals and humans.

Substances that contaminate the air are called air pollutants. They can be solid particles such as particulate matter, liquid droplets such as acid rain, or gasses such as carbon monoxide (CO), and sulphur dioxide (SO₂).
Naturally occurring pollutants include ash, soot, sulphur dioxide, salt spray, volcanic, combustion gasses, etc. These pollutants are released during volcanic eruptions, forest fires, and grass fires.

Carbon monoxide (CO) is odorless, colorless gas which is soluble in water, ethanol, benzene, acetic acid, chloroform, ethyl acetate, ammonia solution. Carbon dioxide (CO₂) - Heat trapping/ Greenhouse gas, Uses - as a refrigerant, in fire extinguishers, foaming rubber and plastics. Sulphur dioxide (SO₂) - colourless gas with a rotten egg odor, highly soluble in water. Uses - to manufacture sulfuric acid, paper, and food preservatives.

Coal is the most abundant fossil fuel on the planet, and widely used as the source of energy in thermal power stations and is a relatively cheap fuel. Petroleum is not used for this purpose. Other three options are true about both of them. Coal accounts for 55% of India's energy needs.

Non- Biodegradable WasteIt is defined as a substance that cannot be decomposed or dissolved naturally and acts as a source of pollution. Decrease in non-biodegradable wastes: Recycling, Use of Jute bags, Reuse, etc. Biodegradable Waste- Any organic waste that can be degraded by microorganisms into simpler compounds.

Slag is the glass-like by-product left over after the desired metal has been separated (i.e., smelted) from its raw ore.
Sludge is a semi-solid slurry that is produced from a range of industrial processes, from water treatment, wastewater treatment, or on-site sanitation systems. Slurry is a watery mixture or suspension of insoluble matter.
In the manufacture of Portland cement, a mixture of the raw materials with water is called a slurry. Ore is a deposit in Earth's crust of one or more valuable minerals.

Central Pollution Control Board: It is a statutory organization under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Headquarters in New Delhi. Important Acts Related to the Environment are: 1. Water (Prevention And Control Of Pollution) Act, 1974. 2.
Air (Prevention And Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, 3. Forest Conservation Act, 1980, 4. Environmental Protection Act, 1986, 5. Public Liability Insurance Act 1991, 6. Biological Diversity Act, 2002, 7. Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. 8. The Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, 9. The Indian Forest Act, 1927.

Thermal power production consists of using steam power created by burning oil, liquid natural gas (LNG), coal, and other substances to rotate generators and generate electricity. During this process, carbon atoms in the fuel combine with oxygen in the air to produce CO₂ as a byproduct.

Particulate matter - It is a mixture of solid particles and liquid droplets found in the air. Some harmful pollutants include: Carbon monoxide (CO), Lead (Pb), Nitrogen oxide (NO), Sulphur dioxide (SO₂) and ozone (O₃).
Soot - A deep black powdery or flaky substance consisting largely of amorphous carbon. It is produced by incomplete burning of organic matter.