Today we are leading our life amidst concrete Today we are leading our life amidst concrete forest{buildings}, carbon dioxide expelling industries forest{buildings}, carbon dioxide expelling industries and vehicles, polluted river, and shortage of nutrient and vehicles, polluted river, and shortage of nutrient food and pure air. Without protecting the food and pure air. Without protecting the environment, progress cannot be achieved. environment, progress cannot be achieved. “Environmental pollution” and “Social development” “Environmental pollution” and “Social development” have proved to be two faces of the same coin.have proved to be two faces of the same coin.

On the basis of composition and characteristics, On the basis of composition and characteristics, environment may be divided into two types. ! environment may be divided into two types. ! Physical OR natural environment : It includes Physical OR natural environment : It includes 1)Earth’s location , 1)Earth’s location , 2) Earth’s structure, 2) Earth’s structure, 3) Climate, 4)Soil and, 3) Climate, 4)Soil and, 5)Natural vegetation. 5)Natural vegetation.

! Cultural OR man made environment : It Cultural OR man made environment : It includes includes 1)Industries, 1)Industries, 2)Transport and communication, 2)Transport and communication, 3)Population, 3)Population, 4)Traditions, 4)Traditions, 5)Political situations etc…5)Political situations etc…

It is an important part of environment and It is an important part of environment and includes many factors. Environment of the includes many factors. Environment of the country depends on its location,structure of the country depends on its location,structure of the lithosphere, topography, climate, soil,natural lithosphere, topography, climate, soil,natural vegetation etc. Fertile plains, costal regions and vegetation etc. Fertile plains, costal regions and river side regions can be developed through river side regions can be developed through there are some exceptions. Thick forests, there are some exceptions. Thick forests, mountains, deserts, and ice covered regions mountains, deserts, and ice covered regions usually remains under-developed. usually remains under-developed.

Cultural environment includes all that is created Cultural environment includes all that is created by man. Industries, population, transport and by man. Industries, population, transport and communication, traditions, political situations etc., are communication, traditions, political situations etc., are the factors forming the cultural environment.It is more the factors forming the cultural environment.It is more dynamic in nature. Today the dynamic in nature. Today the over all development of countries depends on both over all development of countries depends on both physical and cultural environment. physical and cultural environment.

Several direct and indirect activities of man damaging Several direct and indirect activities of man damaging our environment. It is known as environmental our environment. It is known as environmental pollution. Normally urbanization, industrialization, pollution. Normally urbanization, industrialization, transportation, mining, volcanic eruptions, wastages transportation, mining, volcanic eruptions, wastages thrown out by man etc., are the main causes for thrown out by man etc., are the main causes for pollution. There are four main types of environmental pollution. There are four main types of environmental pollution, namely:1)Air pollution, 2)water pollution, pollution, namely:1)Air pollution, 2)water pollution, 3)soil pollution, and 4)sound pollution. 3)soil pollution, and 4)sound pollution.

The gases required by man for breathing are The gases required by man for breathing are being polluted. It makes man a victim of many being polluted. It makes man a victim of many diseases. Usually volcanic eruption, industries, diseases. Usually volcanic eruption, industries, vehicles, atomic explosion etc., are the causes of air vehicles, atomic explosion etc., are the causes of air pollution. As a result of air pollution a lot of carbon pollution. As a result of air pollution a lot of carbon dioxide is released into air and it is very harmful to dioxide is released into air and it is very harmful to human beings and results in many diseases and even human beings and results in many diseases and even causes death. Bhopal gas tragedy is an example. causes death. Bhopal gas tragedy is an example.

Water is also being polluted due to Water is also being polluted due to many human activities. Decomposition many human activities. Decomposition of wastes that are let out from of wastes that are let out from industries, unscientific agricultural industries, unscientific agricultural methods, urban settlements, unplanned methods, urban settlements, unplanned drainage patterns etc., are the main drainage patterns etc., are the main causes of water pollution.causes of water pollution.

Soil pollution is taking place due to many causes. Soil pollution is taking place due to many causes. The main causes are soil erosion, using more The main causes are soil erosion, using more pesticides, unnecessary burning of forests, surplus pesticides, unnecessary burning of forests, surplus use of water, unscientific land use etc.,use of water, unscientific land use etc.,

To-day sound pollution is common. The main To-day sound pollution is common. The main causes for it are heavy disturbances in densely causes for it are heavy disturbances in densely populated areas, such as the noise of vehicles, populated areas, such as the noise of vehicles, loud speaker, etc. According to World Health loud speaker, etc. According to World Health Organization (WHO) , no sound should exceed Organization (WHO) , no sound should exceed more than 45 decibels.more than 45 decibels.