CE6531 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING NOV/DEC 2015

PART A

1. Define food web.

Inter locking pattern of several interlinked food chains is termed as food
web.
2. List some of the hot spots of biodiversity in India.
 Indo –Burma
 The western Ghats
3. Give the hazards caused by marine pollution.
 Effect of toxic wastes on marine animals: The long term effect on
marine life can include cancer, failure in the reproductive system,
behavioral changes and even death.
 Disruption to the Cycle of Coral Reefs: Oil spill floats on the surface of
water and prevents sunlight from reaching to marine plants and
effects in the process of photosynthesis. Skin irritation, eye irritation,
lung and liver problems can impact marine life over the long period
of time.
 Depletes Oxygen Content In Water: When oxygen levels go down,
the chances of survival of marine animals like turtles, sharks,
dolphins, penguins for long time also go down.
 Failure in the Reproductive System of Sea Animals: Chemicals from
pesticides can accumulate in the fatty tissue of animals, leading to
failure in their reproductive system.
 Effect on Food Chain; Chemicals used in industries and agriculture get
washed into the rivers and from their they are carried into the rivers.
 Affects Human Health: Animals from impacted food chain are then
eaten by human which affects their health as toxins from these
contaminated animals gets deposited in the tissues of people and can
lead to cancer, birth effects or long term health problems.
4. Define BOD5.
The amount of dissolved oxygen consumed in five days by bacteria that
perform biological degradation of organic matter.
5. Give any two problems associated with chemical fertilizer usage.
 Micro nutrient imbalance: Chemical fertilizers have nitrogen, phosphorus
and potassium which are essential macronutrients. Excessive use of
fertilizers cause micronutrient imbalance. For example excessive fertilizer
use in Punjab and Haryana has caused deficiency of the micronutrient zinc
in the soil which is affecting the productivity of the soil.
Nitrate Pollution: Nitrogenous fertilizers applied in the fields often leach
deep into the soil and ultimately contaminate the ground water. The
nitrates get concentrated in the water and when their concentration
exceeds 25 mg/l, they become the cause of a serious health hazard called “
Blue Baby Syndrome” methaemoglobimia. This disease affects the infants to
the maximum extent causing even death.
6. Define eutrophication.
A large proportion of nitrogen and phosphorus used in crop fields is washed
off along with runoff water and reach the water bodies causing over
nourishment of the lakes is eutrophication.
7. What is acid rain?
Acid rain is rain that has been acidic by certain pollutants in the air. Acid rain
is a form of deposition, which can appear in many forms. Wet deposition is
rain, sleet, snow or fog that has become more acidic than normal. Dry
deposition is another form of acid deposition and this is when gases and
dust particles become acidic.
8. What is sustainability in context to environment ?
Astate in which the demands placed on the environment can be met
without reducing its capacity to allow all people to live well, now and in the
future.
9. Expand HIV.
HIV is a virus that gradually attacks the immune system, which is our body’s
natural defense against illness. If a person becomes infected with HIV, they
will find it harder to fight off infections and diseases. The virus destroys a
type of white blood cell called a T- helper cell and makes copies of it inside
them, T- helper cells are also referred to as CD4 cells.
10.List out any four environmental protection acts.
The water act 1974
The air act 1981
 Wild life protection act 1972
The forest act 1980
The environment act 1986

PART B

11 a) Describe the structure and function of fresh water ecosystem.

or

b) Explain the various threats to biodiversity along with means to conserve

them.

12 a) Explain the health effects and control measures of air pollution.

Or

b) (i) Explain about the global health effects of nuclear war.

(ii) Give in detail the role of an individual to prevent and control the
municipal solid waste generation.

13 a) Describe the problems associated with the over population of forest

resources.

b) (i) What is Chipco movement?

(ii) Describe about renewable resources and their advantages and

disadvantages.

14 (a) Write short notes on :

(i) Wild life protection act

(ii) Role of central and state control boards
(iii) Rain water harvesting
Or

(b) What is water shed? Critically discuss the objectives and practices of water
shed management.
 15 (a) Describe the role of information technology In environment and human
health.

Or

(b) Write short notes on

(i) Write short notes on population explosion.

(ii) Role of an individual in conservation of natural resources.

CE6531 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING APRIL/MAY 2015

1. What are food chains?

A food chain may be described as the transfer of energy and nutrients
through a series of organisms with repeated process of eating and being
eaten.
2. Define bio diversity.

Bio diversity is the variety and differences among living organisms from all
sources including terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the
ecological complexes of which they are a part.

3. What do you meant by noise pollution?

Noise pollution is defined as the unwanted , unpleasant or disagreeable sound

that causes discomfort for all living beings.

4. What is cyclone?
Cyclone is a meteorological process, intense depressions forming over the
open oceans and moving towards the land.
5. What are non- renewable and renewable energy resources?

Renewable resources are those which can be generated.

Example: Solar energy, wind energy, tidal energy, geo thermal energy,
biomass etc.
 Non renewable resources are those which cannot be regenerated once they
are exhausted.

Examples: Mineral elements, coal, oil and natural gas.

6. What is desertification?
Desertification is the process of progressive destruction or degradation of
arid or semi arid lands to desert. It leads to the conversion of range lands or
irrigated croplands to desert. Desertification is characterized by
devegetation, depletion of ground water, salination and soil erosion.
7. What is consumerism?
Consumerism is related to the constant purchasing of new goods, with little
attention to their true need, durability, product origin or the environmental
consequences of their manufacture and disposal.
8. What do you mean by disaster management?
Disaster management can be defined as the organization and management
of resources and responsibilities for dealing with all humanitarian aspects of
emergencies, in particular preparedness, response and recovery I order to
lessen the impact of disasters.
9. Define population explosion.
Population explosion means the rapid population growth which is
unexpected and unimaginable. The graph of recent population growth is
referred to as a”J” curve as it follows the shape of that letter, starting out
low and skyrocketing straight up.
10. List out the advantages of family planning.
 Awareness of one or more methods of contraception.
 Fertility low among educated women
 Fertility low among higher income groups.
 Creating wide spread awareness of family planning through
television, radio, newspapers, puppet shows etc.
 Knowledge of female sterilization.
PART B

11 a) (i) Describe the types , characteristic features, structure and functions of

aquatic ecosystems.
 (ii) What are the major causes of man-wild conflicts? Discuss the remedial
steps that can curb the conflict.

Or

b) (i) Explain the following: Ecological succession and Ecological pyramid

(ii) Explain the major factors that are responsible for the loss of bipdiversity.

12a) (i) Explain causes, effects and control measures of air pollution.

(ii) Explain the control and prevention measures of municipal solid wastes.

Or

b) (i) Write briefly about the hazards caused by the nuclear wastes.

(ii) Explain in detail the role of an individual in pollution prevention.

13a) (i) What are the effects of deforestation? Is deforestation justified?

Comment.

(ii) Discuss the impact of mining on environment and human health.

Or

b) (i) Write notes on : Food resources and mineral resources

(ii) With the help of a neat diagram explain the production of bio gas.

14a) (i) Explain the effect of nuclear accidents with two case studies.

(ii) Discuss various measures for wasteland reclamation.

Or

b) (i) What is rain water harvesting? What are the purposes served by it?

(ii) Name the laws that have been framed for environmental protection and
mention the objectives of each act.
15a) (i) What is AIDS? What are the sources and mode of transmission of HIV
infection?

(ii) What are the objectives and elements of value education? How can the same
be achieved?

Or

b) (i) Write informative notes on : Human rights and Women and child welfare.

(ii) Describe the role of information technology in environment and human

health with case studies.

CE6531 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING NOV/DEC 2014

PART A

1. What is an abiotic environment?

The abiotic environment includes all the non-living, physical and chemical
factors and processes in an ecosystem. Sunlight, soil, water and pollution
for example are all important abiotic factors of an environment that effect
life.
2. What are called endangered species?
A plant or animal species existing in such small numbers that it is in danger
of becoming extinct, especially such a species placed in jeopardy as a result
of human activity.
3. Mention the effects of ozone on plants.
Ozone depletion would result in an increase of UV-B radiation reaching the
Earth’s surface. It may lead to a loss of plant species and reduce global food
supply. Any change in the balance of plant species can have serious effects,
since all life is interconnected. Plants form the basis of the terrestrial food
web, prevent soil erosion and water loss and are the primary producers of
oxygen and a primary sink for carbon- dioxide, a green house gas.
4. List the sources of marine pollution.
Industry: Heat or chemicals may be discharged into the sea.
Electrical power generation: Radioactive wastes may be discharged into the
sea.
 Sewage: Human wastes after treatment are discharged into the sea.
Recreation: Motor boat stirs the sediments at the bottom.
Construction: Off shore oil rigs.
5. What are renewable sources?
Renewable sources are those which can be regenerated.
Example: Solar energy, wind energy, tidal energy, geothermal energy and
biomass etc.
6. Define the term land slide.
The movement of earthy materials like rock, mud, soil and debris from
higher to lower region to gravitational pull is called landslides.
7. What is rain water harvesting?
It is a technique of capturing and storing of rain water for further utilization.
8. What are the objectives of water act ?
 Prevention and control of water pollution
 Maintaining and restoring the wholesomeness of water.
 Establishment of boards for the prevention and control of water
pollution.
9. Define the term nuclear energy.
Nuclear energy is the energy that holds the nucleus of an atom. It can be
obtained through reactions of fission and fusion of an atomic nucleus.
10.What are the sources of HIV infection?
 Unprotected sex with infected person.
 Using needles or syringes from HIV positive person.
 Blood transmission during accident and pregnancy.
 During pregnancy, breast feeding HIV transmits from mother to
infants.
PART B

11 a (i) Define ecosystem. Give an account of structure and function s of grass

land ecosystem.

(ii) What is bio diversity? Discuss the values and significance of

biodiversity.

Or

b) (i) With a neat sketch discuss the Nitrogen cycle.

 (ii) What do you mean by conservation of biodiversity? State and explain the
basic approaches to wild life conservation.

12a)(i)Describe the various chemical and photochemical reactions in the

atmosphere.

(ii) Explain the sources, effects and control measures of noise pollution.

Or

b)(i) Write information notes on water treatment processes.

(ii) Describe the role of individual in the prevention of pollution.

13a) (i) Describe the causes and effects of deforestation.

(ii) What is land degradation? Mention the factors responsible for land
degradation.

Or

b) (i) What are the changes caused by overgrazing and agriculture?

(ii) Discuss the production of bio gas. Mention its uses.

14a) (i) What are the objectives of water conservation? How is it carried out?

(ii) What is an earth quake? Enumerate its effects. What measures should be
taken to mitigate this disaster.

Or

b) (i) Discuss the resettlement and rehabilitation of people, its problems and
concerns.

(ii) Briefly discuss the salient features of wild life protection act.

15a) (i) Discuss the variation of population among nations.

(ii) Write the methods and strategies of imparting value education.

 Or

b) (i) Write explanatory notes on women and child welfare.

(ii) Explain the role of information technology in environment and human

health.