Social Science — CBSE Class 10 board question

Role of Industries in Increasing Air Pollution:

Industries cause air pollution by releasing high proportions of undesirable gases such as sulphur dioxide and carbon monoxide. Smoke emitted by chemical and paper factories, brick kilns, refineries, and smelting plants, along with burning of fossil fuels in factories, adds airborne particulate matter — dust, mist, sprays, and smoke — to the atmosphere. Toxic gas leaks (e.g., Bhopal Gas Tragedy) can be extremely hazardous. Air pollution adversely affects human health, animals, plants, buildings, and the atmosphere as a whole.

Measures to Control Air Pollution:

1. Fitting smoke stacks with electrostatic precipitators, fabric filters, scrubbers, and inertial separators to reduce particulate matter.
2. Using oil or gas instead of coal in factories to reduce smoke.
3. Industries should strictly follow pollution norms and not burn fossil fuels carelessly.
4. Redesigning machinery to increase energy efficiency and reduce emissions.
5. Promoting sustainable development by integrating economic growth with environmental concerns.

Source: Manufacturing Industries, Chapter 6 — Industrial Pollution and Environmental Degradation; Control of Environmental Degradation

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• The question is split 2 marks (causes) + 3 marks (measures), so write ~2 points on causes and ~4–5 points on measures.
• Examiners look for specific gases (SO₂, CO), specific industries (brick kilns, refineries), and specific control measures (electrostatic precipitators, fuel substitution) — vague answers lose marks.
• Mention the Bhopal Gas Tragedy as an example; it signals you've read the chapter.
• For measures, the textbook focuses on precipitators, scrubbers, and fuel change — these exact terms score marks.