land pollution

LAND POLLUTION

external image land-pollution.jpg

Land pollution is causes by dumping urban waste indiscriminately, industrial waste, mineral exploitation, and misusing the soil by harmful agricultural practices such as chemicals in pesticides and herbicides.

Land Pollution Comprises: Solid Waste and Soil Pollution
Solid waste
Solid matters that are created by human or animal activities, and which are disposed because they are useless are known as solid waste. Most of them are not biodegradable, which means they do not get broken down through inorganic or organic processes. Some of the sources of solid waste that cause land pollution are waste from agricultural, mining, industry, Solids from Sewage Treatment, ashes, garbage.

Soil Pollution
Soil pollution is chiefly caused by chemicals in pesticides and herbicides. Soil pollution results from:

• Unhealthy methods of soil management.
• Harmful practices of irrigation methods.

What are the Consequences of Land Pollution?
Land pollution can affect wildlife, plants, and humans in a number of ways, such as:

• 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:

1. Coming into contact with the skin
2. Being washed into water sources like reservoirs and rivers
3. Eating fruits and vegetables that have been grown in polluted soil
4. Breathing in polluted dust or particles

How can Land Pollution be prevented?

• 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