Which of the following pollutants is biodegradable?

Which of the following pollutants is biodegradable? Correct Answer Domestic sewage water

Concept:

• Any substance that pollutes the environment in any way is called a pollutant.
• Wastes or pollutants can be divided into two distinct categories biodegradable and non-biodegradable.

Explanation:

• Those materials that have decayed or decomposed are considered biodegradable materials.
• Biodegradable pollutants are those substances made of organic matter.
• These substances can be easily broken down by nature.
• Examples of biodegradable pollutants are vegetable peels, kitchen waste, vegetables, fruits, tea leaves, paper, wood, domestic sewage water, etc.

Important Points

Municipal Sewage: 

• Municipal sewage is that sewage that is produced by a community of people. 
• Municipal wastewater is mainly comprised of water with 99.99% of water and contains a relatively smaller concentration of suspended and dissolved organic and inorganic solids.
• Due to the high organic content, it is biodegradable in nature.
• It can be treated by biodegradation techniques such as composting or with the help of microorganisms.
• Sewage can be decomposed into simpler substances by the action of microorganisms that are naturally biodegradable in nature.
• Domestic sewage water can be purified with the help of a sewage water treatment plant.

Thus, domestic sewage water is a biodegradable pollutant.

Additional Information

•  Non-biodegradable materials are those materials, which cannot be broken down easily by nature.
• These substances retain their form for a long period of time.
• Examples of non-biodegradable pollutants are metals, tin, glass, plastics, etc.