Read the following passage and answer the question followed:
When plastic waste is burnt, a complex weave of toxic chemicals is released. Breaking
down polyvinyl chloride (PVC) - used for packaging, toys, and coating electrical wires -
produces dioxin, an organochlorine that belongs to the family of Persistent Organic
Pollutants (POPs). A recent Dioxin Assessment Report brought out by the United States
Environment Protection Agency (USEPA) says the risk of getting cancer from dioxin is
ten times higher than reported by the agency in 1994.
Yet the Delhi government is giving the green signal to a gasification project which will
convert the garbage into energy without removing plastic waste. Former transport
minister Rajendra Gupta, the promoter of this project, says this is not necessary.
He claims no air pollution will be caused and that the ash produced can be used as
manure. An earlier waste-to-energy project set up in Timarpur failed. The new one, built
with Australian assistance, will cost ₹ 200 crores. It will generate 25 megawatts of power
and gobble 1,000 tonnes of garbage every day.
"Technologies like gasification are a form of incineration", ' says Madhumita Dutta, a
central coordinator with Toxics Link, New Delhi. Incineration merely transfers hazardous
waste from a solid form to air, water, and ash, she points out.
Toxins produced during incineration include acidic gases, heavy metals as well as dioxins
and furans. The manure' will be hazardous and a problem to dispose of says, Dutta.
Municipal solid waste contains a mix of plastics. Breaking down this waste emits
hydrochloric acid which attacks the respiratory system, skin, and eyes, resulting in
coughing, vomiting, and nausea.
Polyethene generates volatile compounds like formaldehyde and acetaldehyde, both
suspected carcinogenic. Breathing styrene from polystyrene can cause leukaemia.
Polyurethane is associated with asthma. Dioxin released by PVC is a powerful hormone
disrupter and causes birth defects. There is no threshold dose to prevent it and our
bodies have no defence against it. "Even the best run incinerators in the world have to
deal with stringent norms, apart from contaminated filters and ash, making them hugely
expensive to operate," says Dutta. In Germany, air pollution devices accounted for two-
thirds of the cost of incineration. Despite such efforts, the European Dioxin Inventory
noted that the input of dioxin into the atmosphere was the highest from incineration.
"India does not have the facility to test dioxin and the cost of setting one up is
prohibitively expensive," says Dutta.
Besides, Indian garbage has a low calorific content of about 800 cal/kg, since it has high
moisture and requires additional fuel to burn. Toxics link calculates that the electricity
generated from such technology will cost between ₹ 5-7 per unit, which is six times
higher than conventional energy. India has chosen a dioxin preventive route and the
burning of chlorinated plastics is prohibited under Municipal Solid Waste and
Biomedical Rules.
Nearly 80 percent of Indian garbage is recyclable or compostable. Resident associations,
the informal sector, and the municipal corporation can make Delhi's garbage disappear
in a sustainable manner. "Instead, the government promotes the end of pipeline
solutions," says Dutta.On the basis of your understanding of the above passage, answer ANY EIGHT
questions from the nine given below. (8X1=8)
i. Dioxin causes
A. cancer
B. heart attack
C. sickness
D. hypertension
ii. The gasification process transforms
A. energy into the garbage
B. garbage into energy
C. water into energy
D. none of the above
iii. Garbage can be converted into energy by
A. gasification
B. gratification
C. a chemical process
D. incinerators
iv. Indian garbage contains
A. low moisture
B. high moisture
C. no moisture
D. none of these
v. The toxic chemical released on burning plastic waste is as harmful as:
A. It is an organochlorine
B. It belongs to the family of POP’s
C. It can cause cancer
D. It is assessed by USEPA
vi. What happens during incineration?
A. Gasification is a form of incineration
B. Changes risky waste from solid form to air, water, and ash
C. Acidic Gases, Dioxins, and Furans are released
D. Manure will be hazardous and a problem to dispose
vii. How will burning plastic adversely impact the health of citizens?
A. Polyurethane is linked with asthma
B. Breathing styrene can cause leukaemia
C. Dioxin disrupts hormones
D. Hydrochloric Acid attacks the respiratory system
I. Only A
II. Only A and B
III. Only A, C and DIV. All A, B, C and D
viii. What argument is advanced against the use of incinerators?
A. Exorbitantly expensive to operate
B. Release of Dioxin is lowest from incinerators
C. Both of t
Answers
Answer:
Read the following passage and answer the question followed:
When plastic waste is burnt, a complex weave of toxic chemicals is released. Breaking
down polyvinyl chloride (PVC) - used for packaging, toys, and coating electrical wires -
produces dioxin, an organochlorine that belongs to the family of Persistent Organic
Pollutants (POPs). A recent Dioxin Assessment Report brought out by the United States
Environment Protection Agency (USEPA) says the risk of getting cancer from dioxin is
ten times higher than reported by the agency in 1994.
Yet the Delhi government is giving the green signal to a gasification project which will
convert the garbage into energy without removing plastic waste. Former transport
minister Rajendra Gupta, the promoter of this project, says this is not necessary.
He claims no air pollution will be caused and that the ash produced can be used as
manure. An earlier waste-to-energy project set up in Timarpur failed. The new one, built
with Australian assistance, will cost ₹ 200 crores. It will generate 25 megawatts of power
and gobble 1,000 tonnes of garbage every day.
"Technologies like gasification are a form of incineration", ' says Madhumita Dutta, a
central coordinator with Toxics Link, New Delhi. Incineration merely transfers hazardous
waste from a solid form to air, water, and ash, she points out.
Toxins produced during incineration include acidic gases, heavy metals as well as dioxins
and furans. The manure' will be hazardous and a problem to dispose of says, Dutta.
Municipal solid waste contains a mix of plastics. Breaking down this waste emits
hydrochloric acid which attacks the respiratory system, skin, and eyes, resulting in
coughing, vomiting, and nausea.
Polyethene generates volatile compounds like formaldehyde and acetaldehyde, both
suspected carcinogenic. Breathing styrene from polystyrene can cause leukaemia.
Polyurethane is associated with asthma. Dioxin released by PVC is a powerful hormone
disrupter and causes birth defects. There is no threshold dose to prevent it and our
bodies have no defence against it. "Even the best run incinerators in the world have to
deal with stringent norms, apart from contaminated filters and ash, making them hugely
expensive to operate," says Dutta. In Germany, air pollution devices accounted for two-
thirds of the cost of incineration. Despite such efforts, the European Dioxin Inventory
noted that the input of dioxin into the atmosphere was the highest from incineration.
"India does not have the facility to test dioxin and the cost of setting one up is
prohibitively expensive," says Dutta.
Besides, Indian garbage has a low calorific content of about 800 cal/kg, since it has high
moisture and requires additional fuel to burn. Toxics link calculates that the electricity
generated from such technology will cost between ₹ 5-7 per unit, which is six times
higher than conventional energy. India has chosen a dioxin preventive route and the
burning of chlorinated plastics is prohibited under Municipal Solid Waste and
Biomedical Rules.
Nearly 80 percent of Indian garbage is recyclable or compostable. Resident associations,
the informal sector, and the municipal corporation can make Delhi's garbage disappear
in a sustainable manner. "Instead, the government promotes the end of pipeline
solutions," says Dutta.On the basis of your understanding of the above passage, answer ANY EIGHT
questions from the nine given below. (8X1=8)
i. Dioxin causes
A. cancer
B. heart attack
C. sickness
D. hypertension
ii. The gasification process transforms
A. energy into the garbage
B. garbage into energy
C. water into energy
D. none of the above
iii. Garbage can be converted into energy by
A. gasification
B. gratification
C. a chemical process
D. incinerators
iv. Indian garbage contains
A. low moisture
B. high moisture
C. no moisture
D. none of these
v. The toxic chemical released on burning plastic waste is as harmful as:
A. It is an organochlorine
B. It belongs to the family of POP’s
C. It can cause cancer
D. It is assessed by USEPA
vi. What happens during incineration?
A. Gasification is a form of incineration
B. Changes risky waste from solid form to air, water, and ash
C. Acidic Gases, Dioxins, and Furans are released
D. Manure will be hazardous and a problem to dispose
vii. How will burning plastic adversely impact the health of citizens?
A. Polyurethane is linked with asthma
B. Breathing styrene can cause leukaemia
C. Dioxin disrupts hormones
D. Hydrochloric Acid attacks the respiratory system
I. Only A
II. Only A and B
III. Only A, C and DIV. All A, B, C and D
viii. What argument is advanced against the use of incinerators?
A. Exorbitantly expensive to operate
B. Release of Dioxin is lowest from incinerators
C. Both of t
Answer.
1 = A
2= B
3= A
4=B
5=C
6=C
7=B(only A and b)
8=A