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What is land pollution?

Land pollution is the deterioration (destruction) of the earths land surfaces, often
directly or indirectly as a result of mans activities and their misuse of land resources.
It occurs when waste is not disposed off properly, or can occur when humans throw chemicals unto
the soil in the form of pesticides, insecticides and fertilizers during agricultural practices.
Exploitation of minerals (mining activities) has also contributed to the destruction of the earths
surface.
ince the Industrial !evolution, natural habitats have been destroyed, and environments have been
polluted, causing diseases in both humans and many other species of animals.
"uman actions have also caused many large areas of land to lose or reduce their capacity to
support life forms and ecosystems. #his is $now as land degradation. %ote that land degradation
can result from many factors, and land pollution is only one of them.
In the lesson, we shall see the more about &and and Environmental 'ollution, the sources of the
pollution, its conse(uences and a few things we can do to prevent further pollution and protect our
environment.
Types of land pollution.
#here are different types of land pollution. )any publications group them differently. &et us see
these four main types*
Solid Waste
#hese include all the various $inds of rubbish we ma$e at home, school, hospitals, mar$et and
wor$ places. #hings li$e paper, plastic containers, bottles, cans, food and even used cars and
bro$en electronic goods, bro$en furniture and hospital waste are all examples of solid waste. ome
of these are biodegradable (meaning they easily rot or decay into organic matter). Examples
include food droppings, paper products as well as vegetation (li$e grass and twigs). +thers are not
biodegradable, and they include plastics, metals and aluminum cans, bro$en computer and car
parts.
,ecause these do not easily decay, they pile up in landfills (a place where all the citys rubbish are
sent), where they stay for thousands of years. #hese bring great harm to the land and people
around it. See the complete lesson on WASTE here.
Pesticides and Fertiliers
)any farming activities engage in the application of fertilizers, pesticides and insecticides for higher
crop yield. #his is good because we get more food, but can you thin$ of what happens to the
chemicals that end up on the crops and soils- ometimes, insects and small animals are $illed and
bigger animals that eat tiny animals (as in food chains) are also harmed. .inally, the chemicals may
be washed down as it rains and over time, they end up in the water table below (causes water
pollution).
!hemicals
/hemical and nuclear power plants produce waste materials that have to be stored somewhere.
.ertilizer, insecticides, pesticides, pharmaceuticals manufacturers also produce lots of solid and
li(uid waste. In many cases they are stored in an environmentally safe way, but there are some
that find their way into landfills and other less safe storage facilities. ometimes they also find their
way into lea$ing pipes and gutters. #hey end up polluting soils and ma$ing crops harmful to our
health.
"eforestation
"umans depend on trees for many things including life. #rees absorb carbon dioxide (a green
house gas) from the air and enrich the air with +xygen, which is needed for life. #rees provide
wood for humans and a habitat to many land animals, insects and birds. #rees also, help replenish
soils and help retain nutrients being washed away. 0nfortunately, we have cut down millions of
acres of tree for wood, construction, farming and mining purposes, and never planted new trees
bac$. #his is a type of land pollution.
Sources of land pollution.
,elow are some sources of solid and semi1solid pollutants*
#$ricultural sources%
#hese include waste matter produced by crop, animal manure, and farm residues. #hey also
include the chemical left over of all pesticides, fertilisers and insecticides used for agricultural
activities.
#shes% #he residual matter that remains after solid fuels are burned. 2hen waste is burned in
incinerators, two types of ashes are produced. &ottom ash is the debris from burnt metal and
glass waste. ,ottom ash are not bio1degradable. #he second type of ash is called fly ash. #his is
the ash that is trapped by filters in the chimney of the incinerators. It is $now to be very toxic
(poisonous). Every four truc$s of waste burnt produces about one truc$ of ashes that end up in the
landfill too. 3shes easily lea$ into the soil and water tables causing land and water pollution.
'inin$ sources% #his includes piles of coal refuse and heaps of slag and underground debris.
)ining and forestry activities that clear the land surfaces (clearcutting) and use 4s$id trails4 often
leave leave the land unrestored. #he surface is exposed to erosion which destroys the (uality of the
land. 3dditionally, iron and other chemicals such as copper, mercury and lead from mining practices
leach into the soil, polluting it and leaving it exposed to water bodies as well.
(ndustrial sources% #hese include paints, chemicals, metals and aluminum, plastics and so on
that are produces in the process of manufacturing goods.
Se)a$e Treatment% 2astes that are left over after sewage has been treated, biomass sludge,
and settled solids. ome of these are sent directly to landfills whiles other treatment plants burn
them to generate electricity. ,oth end up polluting the environment.
*ar+a$e or )aste% #hese include household or municipal waste such as glass, metal, cloth,
plastic, wood, paper, and so on. ome of these can decay and others cannot. #hey are usually
collected and sent to landfills where the pollution action begins.
!onstruction sources% #hese include waste li$e debris, wood, metals and plastics that are
produced from construction activities.
"eforestation% #his is when trees are cut down for economic purposes, mining, farming and
construction. In forests areas, trees absord and reflect about 567 of the intense heat from the
sun, protecting and preserving its surface soils. /utting down trees mean that the land is exposed
to direct sunlight and rain, resulting in soil erosions, desertification and land degradation
!hemical #nd ,uclear Plants% #hese include chemical waste from chemical industries that
are disposed off into landfills.
-il .efineries% 2hen crude oil is refined into usable petro, gas or diesel, there are by products
that end up as waste.
/ffects of land pollution.
#here can be catastrophic conse(uences of land pollution in relation to humans, animals, water and
soils. #he effects are even worse if the garbage is not separated into organic, re1usable and
recyclable waste.
/ontaminated lands and environments can*
/ause problems in the human respiratory system.
/ause problems on the s$in.
/ause various $inds of cancers.
#he toxic materials that pollute the soil can get
into the human body directly by*
/oming into contact with the s$in.
,eing washed into water sources li$e reservoirs and rivers.
Eating fruits and vegetables that have been grown in polluted soil.
,reathing in polluted dust or particles.
8ump sites and landfills also come with serious problems li$e
9ery bad smell and odour in the town.
&andfills breed rodents li$e rats, mice and insects, who in1turn transmit diseases.
&andfills in towns do not attract tourists to the town. #he town will loose revenue.
)any landfills are always burning and they cause further air pollution.
0o) to prevent land pollution
&i$e many other challenges, the best best way to solve problems is to understand it. #his means
learning about it (li$e what you are doing now) is the greatest step forward.
"ere are a few other tips on how you can help reduce land pollution*
'eople should be educated and made aware about the harmful effects of littering. 8iscuss with
friends and family and tal$ about it.
!euse any items that you can. Items li$e clothing, bottles, wrapping paper and shopping bags
can be used over and over again, rather than buying new things.
#he greatest prevention to land pollution is in the three :!4s ;
.educe Waste, .e1use things and
.ecycle things. #his is true even for governments. #hey can also use the three :! rule to minimize
the amount of waste that ends up in landfills. 3fter the three 4!4s, remember to turn the rest of the
garbge into compost.
'ersonal litter should be disposed properly. 2e can separate household waste at home for
recycling. )ore than half of our household waste could be recycled or re1used but once it is mixed
up, it becomes more difficult to separate different components for recycling. #his is also true for
waste we ma$e at school or hospitals.
,uy biodegradable products.
tore all li(uid chemicals and waste in spill1proof containers.
Eat organic foods that are grown without pesticides. &oo$ out for fertilizer or pesticide free
products when you go to the mar$et.
8ont use pesticides if you can.
0se a drip tray to collect engine oil.
,uy products that have little pac$aging.
8ont dump motor oil on the ground.
<overnments can also ensure that there are incentives for people to recycle and re1use things.

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