Pollution is the addition to the ecosystem of something which has a detrimental effect on it.
One of the most important causes of pollution is the high rate of energy usage by modern,
growing populations.
Different kinds of pollution are found. In this section we will discuss:
1. Air Pollution.
2. Water Pollution.
3. Land Pollution.
Land Pollution
Land pollution is the degradation of the Earth's land surface through misuse of the soil by
poor agricultural practices, mineral exploitation, industrial waste dumping, and
indiscriminate disposal of urban wastes. It includes visible waste and litter as well as
pollution of the soil itself.
Examples of Land Pollution
Soil Pollution
Soil pollution is mainly due to chemicals in herbicides (weed killers) and pesticides (poisons
which kill insects and other invertebrate pests). Litter is waste material dumped in public
places such as streets, parks, picnic areas, at bus stops and near shops.
Waste Disposal
The accumulation of waste threatens the health of people in residential areas. Waste
decays, encourages household pests and turns urban areas into unsightly, dirty and
unhealthy places to live in.
Control Measures
The following measures can be used to control land pollution:
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anti-litter campaigns can educate people against littering;
organic waste can be dumped in places far from residential areas;
Inorganic materials such as metals, glass and plastic, but also paper, can be
reclaimed and recycled.
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The main cause of land pollution is the dumping of litter, unwanted materials. Cans,
bottles, papers, and plastics are a few examples of litter. Garbage, or leftover foods, is
also a land pollutant.
They not only make an area ugly, but they also may change the environment in which
organisms live. Plant growth may be affected by litter or garbage. This may upset the
food chains in the environment. Rats and insects may be attracted to garbage sites and the
areas may become unhealthy to live in. Though some materials may break down, many
factory made substances such as plastics, glass, and metals do not. Instead, they remain in
the environment, often poisoning it.
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People Recycling
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My Recycling and Energy Pages
Pollution is the process that introduces contaminants into the environment, which in turn causes
the instability of the ecosystem, including both the physical aspects and the living organisms.
There are three types of pollution namely land pollution, air pollution and water pollution. Land
pollution basically is about contaminating the land surface of the earth through dumping urban
waste matter indiscriminately, dumping of industrial waste, mineral exploitation, and misusing
the soil by harmful agricultural practices. Land pollution includes visible litter and waste along
with the soil itself being polluted. The soil gets polluted by the chemicals in pesticides and
herbicides used for agricultural purposes along with waste matter being littered in urban areas
such as roads, parks, and streets.
Land Pollution Comprises: Solid Waste and Soil Pollution
Solid Waste
Semisolid or solid matter that are created by human or animal activities, and which are disposed
because they are hazardous or useless are known as solid waste. Most of the solid wastes, like
paper, plastic containers, bottles, cans, and even used cars and electronic goods are not
biodegradable, which means they do not get broken down through inorganic or organic
processes. Thus, when they accumulate they pose a health threat to people, plus, decaying wastes
also attract household pests and result in urban areas becoming unhealthy, dirty, and unsightly
places to reside in. Moreover, it also causes damage to terrestrial organisms, while also reducing
the uses of the land for other, more useful purposes. Some of the sources of solid waste that
cause land pollution are:
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Wastes from Agriculture: This comprises waste matter produced by crop, animal manure,
and farm residues.
Wastes from Mining: Piles of coal refuse and heaps of slag.
Wastes from Industries: Industrial waste matter that can cause land pollution can include
paints, chemicals, and so on.
Solids from Sewage Treatment: Wastes that are left over after sewage has been treated,
biomass sludge, and settled solids.
Ashes: The residual matter that remains after solid fuels are burned.
Garbage: This comprises waste matter from food that are decomposable and other waste
matter that are not decomposable such as glass, metal, cloth, plastic, wood, paper, and so
on.
Soil Pollution
Soil pollution is chiefly caused by chemicals in pesticides, such as poisons that are used to kill
agricultural pests like insects and herbicides that are used to get rid of weeds. Hence, soil
pollution results from:
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Unhealthy methods of soil management.
Harmful practices of irrigation methods.
Land pollution is caused by farms because they allow manure to collect, which leaches into the
nearby land areas. Chemicals that are used for purposes like sheep dipping also cause serious
land pollution as do diesel oil spillages.
What are the Consequences of Land Pollution?
Land pollution can affect wildlife, plants, and humans in a number of ways, such as:
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Cause problems in the respiratory system
Cause problems on the skin
Lead to birth defects
Cause various kinds of cancers
The toxic materials that pollute the soil can get into the human body directly by:
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Coming into contact with the skin
Being washed into water sources like reservoirs and rivers
Eating fruits and vegetables that have been grown in polluted soil
Breathing in polluted dust or particles
How can Land Pollution be prevented?
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People should be educated and made aware about the harmful effects of littering
Items used for domestic purposes ought to be reused or recycled
Personal litter should be disposed properly
Organic waste matter should be disposed in areas that are far away from residential
places
Inorganic matter such as paper, plastic, glass and metals should be reclaimed and then
recycled
It has become the need of the hour to protect the earth from the harmful effects of pollution, so
that the generations to come will be able to a live a decently healthy life. Every individual will
have to take the onus on himself and work towards bettering the environment and keep the earth
green and healthy.