These fertilisers and pesticides are loaded with toxic chemicals that seep into the soil and contaminate it. We humans have been long fighting to protect and save our planet. Each second, an area of treesequivalent to a football field is chopped down by loggers in the Amazon forest.This removal of trees and plant life has led to the decrease in wildlife inthat area and also the decrease in habitat for those animal species. Forest are cut down because people want more settlement space and also for farming purposes. LAND POLLUTION: The contamination of and with different kinds of wastes is called land pollution. You have probably seen garbage on the streets that are not cleaned very often. Land pollution. The web has been broken when the biodiversity that enables life has been destroyed. Land pollution often contributes to water pollution as nutrients and substances from polluted sites seep into the groundwater or run off into lakes and rivers before reaching the oceans. The broad range of substances that spill on the land is the primary cause of land pollution. Landfill liners are not foolproof and the liquid that leaches from them is toxic. One of the largest causes of land pollution is mining activities As the demand for goods increases along with the growing population, the demand for raw materials also increases. The runoff is not only continuing, unabated, but is expected to increase as the demand for corn to feed cattle and as a biofuel increases [15]. Often, cleared land is not used in its entirety, leaving “wasted land” in its wake. The truth is that nobody can see the future, however with the ever increasing human population, there is one major problem that has been getting worse over time: land pollution. Mining also further degrades the land by disturbing its soil structure. Because the materials are buried and not visible, a recent investigation to find hazardous waste dumps looked at the effect of an increase in the number of roads on specific health outcomes of people living nearby, in particular: infant mortality, hemoglobin level and severe anemia of children under five years old [25]. Which cause of land pollution is the most urgent depends to some extent upon who you are and where you are. Too, many developing countries have little or no enforced regulation. And a problem when the reclamation is attempted is that the land has become so degraded it often cannot support newly seeded growth. Many species cannot adapt to these severe changes in temperature and many species do not survive the destruction of their habitats [10]. The balance of mining is done underground, where pillars support the earth while work is performed underground and at the end, removed or simply left to collapse. The construction of landfills is generally overseen by a governmental agency responsible for solid waste disposal and involve compliance with regulations to safeguard the leaching of their contents into the soil. So without further ado, here are the top 10 cause of land pollution… In no particular order. Many times, it is directly and indirectly caused by human activities and abuse of land resources. Urbanization and Agriculture are simultaneously responsible for … It is the unnecessary materials that contaminate and damage our land. Such deforestation in itself causes severe land pollution. Deforestation is another serious cause of land pollution. Construction sites can always found to be littered with metal, wood, bricks, plastic etc. All the while, dust particles and other chemicals keep escaping out into the environment and polluting it. Furthermore, it occurs mainly due to the indirect and direct effects of human activities. The ash and particles from burning fell to the earth and were absorbed by the soil. The toxic chemicals absorbed via ingestion or skin absorption make their way up the food chain as they are stored in the tissue of the marine life and magnified as larger fish eat more of the tinier prey, so that the meal can be quite toxic by the time the fish makes it to our dinner plate. Such kind of pollution is caused either due to natural events such as soil erosion or due to excessive soil contamination. Agricultural activities are one of the major sources of land pollution. Overpopulation and excessive industrial activities lead to a lot of sewage waste being generated. Such roads tend to erode, and once the erosion begins, the road and land begin to deteriorate rapidly. The world population increase and increased demand for a food supply is causing forests and grasslands to be converted to farmland. A recent study of the effects on the soil of dumping cassava showed many deleterious effects to the previously arable land. Say the effects of land pollution . While most developed countries now regulate land dumping and emissions, the regulations balance the costs to industry and do not necessarily adequately safeguard the integrity of our biosphere or more specifically, human health. However, the clay or plastic liners often fail over time or of course, when compromised by construction breaking through them. The school board built a school and playground above the dump and sold surrounding property to private developers and homeowners. Soil that is contaminated becomes less productive and this reduces the value of land. The source of industrial waste ranges from factories, oil refineries, energy plants, pharmaceuticals etc., while the type of garbage these industries generate include metals, plastics, paints and many toxic chemicals and byproducts. Read Types Of Water Pollution to learn more. The removal of plants has led t… Leave a comment. A lot of this debris is also left behind even after the construction has been completed. Such a land loses productivity and is neither suitable for agriculture, nor is it good enough to support the local flora and fauna. Such deforestation in itself causes severe land pollution. Obviously, a rain forest gets a lot of rain, heavy rain and without a forest canopy to buffer the downpours and without ground cover to hold the soil intact, the rich soil of the forest floor is easily washed away. In most cases, one can easily draw a direct line between the degeneration of soil, and the human activities such as construction, mining, waste dumping etc. This can be caused by several factors. The most worrisome of this is plastic, and especially single-use plastic, which is of such low quality that it gets discarded after just one use. Left untreated, a lot of sewage waste tends to leak out of underground pipes, polluting the surrounding soul. Much of this agricultural land is required to grow crops for animal feed, primarily cattle for the beef industry. It can also simply be degradation from transforming the land by clearing it so that beneficial organisms can no longer provide services supporting growth and protect it from further erosion. Land pollution, whether it is a barren space where nothing can grow but a few weeds or a site that harbors garbage and debris, like old tires, gas cans and plastic bags is an aesthetic drain. For humans to cause species to become extinct and to destroy the biological diversity of God’s creation, for humans to degrade the integrity of the earth by causing changes in its climate, by stripping the earth of its natural forests, or destroying its wetlands, for humans to contaminate the earth’s waters, its land, its air and its life with poisonous substances, these are sins. In the Amazon rain forest in Brazil, an area the size of a football field is clear-cut by loggers every second [9]. The toxic chemicals can lodge in the ground sediment of the stream, adversely affecting the aquatic life that sustains itself by sheltering and feeding there. Ever since the birth of the industrial age, development has been trying to catch up to the ever growing population and its demands. It is primarily because of our irresponsible behaviour of consuming in excess that leads us here to this stage, that we must now fight to protect the planet. Land pollution is common, and it is important for us all to know about its crippling effects. Behavioural objectives : At the end of lesson, pupils should be able to: Define pollution land pollution; List common causes of land pollution . Plastic continuously breaks down, and while doing so, leaches out deadly toxins such as BPA, which is linked to cancer. Not as obvious are the oils, paints and other hazardous household wastes disposed of along roads because they are not accepted by most household waste collectors. The second type of land pollution occurs when the original soil structure is disturbed to such an extent that it loses its life-giving capability. What is not sprayed or directly drift on to the land, enters the soil through the plant’s roots and via the carcasses of the target insects and organisms and debris of the dead weeds. Causes of Land … Continue reading "Land Pollution" It is a global issue that needs to be fixed immediately. For these reasons, nuclear waste is usually dumped deep beneath the ground. The expansion of housing developments, businesses, industry, infrastructure and agriculture all necessitated by an unprecedented population explosion over recent years accounts for humans modifying over 50 percent of the earth’s topsoil [2]. Greentumble is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Let us know if you liked this article. Some, such as huge landfills or quarries, are very obvious; others, such as atmospheric deposition (where land becomes contaminated when air pollution falls onto it) are much less apparent. Some of main causes of soil pollution include deforestation and consequent erosion, agriculture, industry, mining, landfills and illegal dumping of waste as well as urbanization and construction. It appears that the double-shelled tanks storing radioactive waste have sprung leaks. The bottom line is that we along with all the life on this planet depend on this land to sustain us. The high cost of filtering agricultural chemicals in wastewater treatment plants is ultimately absorbed by the drinking water consumer and one must question whether that is a fair allocation of expenses or whether the agriculture specialist responsible for the pollution should bear the cost, resulting in a better likelihood of more responsible decision-making. Even the EPA has concluded that any liner will begin to leak eventually [21]. Underground coal fires, a significant problem in many countries can burn for centuries, emitting toxic gases, among them mercury, arsenic, fluorine and selenium, as well as emitting fly ash through its vents and fissures which then settle on the land. On the other hand, sewage treatment still leaves behind the waste matter that needs to be disposed of, and straight off they go sit in a landfill, only to continue polluting the land! We behaved similarly with another essential resource required for our survival – water! The cause is the accumulation of solid and liquid waste materials that contaminate groundwater and soil. In many developed countries, regulations now require land reclamation when the project is over. The farmers could be educated by local extension agencies in sustainable practices like conservation tillage, cover crops, crop rotation and adding crop residuals to increase the fertility of their soil instead of fertilizers that cause greenhouse gas emissions, and land, water and air pollution. For example, large areas of the Amazonian rainforest are burned down intentionally by farmers in order to get more land for farming. Insisting on organic food would be a very big start to reducing the adverse effects of agriculture on land. Gravel & Dust From Unpaved Roads One of the most unnoticed of all the major causes of land pollution are the millions of miles of unpaved roads around the world. A 2007 Cornell University study estimated that pollution causes 40 percent of all deaths worldwide each year 4. One cause of land pollution can be mining. And it is our actions that inevitably pollutes the land, which causes the planet the most harm. This applies too to regulations governing mining and industrial waste and disposal of solid and hazardous waste. Land that is once converted into dry or barren land can never be made fertile again, whatever the magnitude of measures to redeem it is. The land is considered to be polluted the minute it no longer grows or becomes hard to grow crops or plants and is hazardous work in it. Heavy rains and construction breaching the landfill clay container walls caused release of drums of toxic chemicals the children played in and toxic chemicals leaching into the water table, nearby yards and basements and sewer system, the latter recycling through the treatment plants for drinking water. Deforestation carried out to create drylands is one of the major concerns. Overgrazing also causes loss of natural vegetation and compaction of the soil, disrupting the balance of natural microorganisms and often promoting the growth of harmful bacteria as well as contributing to the problems caused by erosion [17]. Land pollution, the deposition of solid or liquid waste materials on land or underground in a manner that can contaminate the soil and groundwater, threaten public health, and cause unsightly conditions and nuisances. Effluents from factories, industries and residential areas, when not properly segregated and managed, find their ways into the soil, depositing tonnes of chemical waste into the earth. These non-biodegradable waste can take hundreds to millions of years to decompose completely. A Miracle or a Curse: What is Single Use Plastic? Causes of land Pollution. It is estimated that eighty percent of land animals and plants live in forests. The spreading of plant protection products such as pesticides and herbicides, as well as the emissions of livestock buildings and farms are at the origin of soil pollution, in particular by nitrogen and phosphates. The world’s population needs to be educated in the health hazards of these pollutants to create an awareness of what is happening and the importance of being involved. Such a soil harms both the plants that grow on it and other animals that may come to feed on it. Following in on the heels of the industrial age, was the wave of urbanisation, that like a tsunami, just kept rising, leading to a vast scale of construction activities. That being said, the same number of people will eat the same amount of food wherever they live and require the same amount of other resources, maybe even less when it comes to housing and given the more plentiful options for public transportation, it may well be that their CO2 emissions are lower and their environmental footprint smaller. The liquid that leaks from landfills is known as leachate, often a. highly toxic liquid containing many chemicals resistant to ordinary wastewater treatment. Land pollution is a major problem around the world and is caused by a variety of factors. If you can’t skip it, then reuse! For mining purposes, large areas of land have to be processed. Land Pollution. The rising construction of building takes away the trees that takes away the homes of the animals living there. The US Department of Agriculture sets the cost of wastewater treatment to remove these nitrates at $1.7 billion a year. Governments could put money into researching higher yielding varieties of tropical crops and then develop policies like subsidized seeds to encourage their use. Likewise, these substances have diverse sources of origin. Economic incentives need to be put in place for farmers at the frontier of forests so that they intensify their production without expanding their land by cutting down the forests [27]. The removal of trees to make way for urbanization hasaffected the environment significantly. land pollution is a major problem in the world. A possibility is bringing religious leaders into the picture to help educate their followers. just a basic video on its causes, effects, and solutions Land that once enjoyed forest cover is now exposed, compacted by heavy machinery and otherwise paved. Deforestation leaves the land exposed, which leads to rapid soil erosion. Polluted land consequences into farther pollution of workss and land H2O resources which finally leads to fouling full web of nutrient concatenation in the ecosystem. 25% of the world’s pesticides come from cotton fields that’s why our iBan Plastic Reusable Shopping Bags are made of 100% organic cotton. Natural causes like volcanic eruptions, hurricanes, or tornadoes can pollute the land but since they are natural causes, we are very helpless about it. Such activities not only expose the land to soil erosion but also lead to the commonly heard cases of land caving in at mining sites. Strip mines obviously remove the topsoil and contribute to erosion. This waste often becomes toxic when exposed to air and water. They were disposed of not only in landfills, but through illegal dumping and by burning. Over time a lot of dust, sediments etc. These waste materials are often referred to as municipal solid waste (MSW), which includes both hazardous and non-hazardous waste. So let us first define what exactly it is, and understand the primary causes of land pollution. Land pollution is defined as a degradation or even destruction of the earth’s surface and soil as a result of human activities. Although the word ‘pollution’ has become common knowledge, ‘land pollution’ should not be taken lightly at all. Causes of Land Pollution Land pollution can be caused by several different factors, many of them related to human behavior. The land is said to be polluted when the soil’s original natural composition is disturbed, due to the addition of foreign elements, to such an extent that it can no longer sustain the ecosystem that depended on it. Deforestation and Soil Erosion. Effects of land pollution on the environment, Why Is Biodiversity Important to Ecosystems, many species do not survive the destruction of their habitats, easy runoff of fertilizers and other applied chemicals, apply highly toxic fertilizers, pesticides, fungicides, herbicides and insecticides, Urbanization contributes to land degradation. Requiring sustainable practices that help land regenerate and reestablish a community of beneficial organisms between crops would be helpful. Land Pollution Causes There are different causes which contribute to this pollution. When it rains, a soil without plants to hold it in place will erode and the chemicals it contains on its surface and within the soil itself will runoff and pollute rivers and streams the water empties into, or bays and oceans, either directly or via tributaries. It was later conveyed by the chemical company owners to the local school district for $1 with full disclosure of the chemicals then buried underground, in consideration for a release of liability in perpetuity. Populations eating less beef would go a long way to reducing the need for animal feed and land for grazing. UPES UG Apply Now. Forty percent of the world’s mines are strip mines. Effects of land Pollution. Another effect on land pollution are coal fires. Explain the possible solution to land pollution The effects of agricultural, healthcare, and chemical wastes are the principal land pollution aspects causing soil pollution. that took place over the now polluted land. Such kind of pollution is caused either due to natural events such as soil erosion or due to excessive soil contamination. During mining, many of these chemicals leak out into the soil, leading to soil contamination. Land pollution is the destruction of land as a result of human’s activities and the misuse of land resources. Industrial pollution causes land pollution: What can we do to prevent land pollution? Human activities have gradually destroyed and degraded the land, causing diseases to humans and animals, reducing the ability to support the surrounding ecosystems and their numerous species. UPES PG Apply Now. 10 Most Plastic-Polluted Rivers Ravaging the Oceans, theloudspeaker.org@gmail.com , rahul@theloudspeaker.org. All of these non-biodegradable waste mostly ends up in a landfill where they will sit for decades or even centuries, continually poisoning the land and the groundwater. blow off or get washed into nearby rivers and streams, leading to the water levels rising and flooding during rains. Hope we can work together to fight pollution from our planet! Sources of soil pollution can be direct, for example, from dumping toxic chemicals directly on to a site, or indirect, for example where toxic chemicals leach through the soil from particulates that have settled from air pollution from a nearby lead smelter [1]. A loss of minerals and fertility can make the land less valuable. What is Land Pollution Land pollution is a worldwide issue in these days. The significance of land pollution is a function of the harm it causes. The damage wrought from fertilizer runoff from agriculture is well-documented. First, reduce consumption. The Love Canal incident was a major impetus for passage of the Superfund Act, a law imposing strict liability, that is responsibility that cannot be bargained away from injury and damages arising from exposure to the spilled toxic contents. Courses After 12th. And studies support evidence of their carcinogenic effects as well as various other negative immune, reproductive, neurological and endocrine effects [7]. The change in chemical composition of streams and rivers from this chemical runoff upsets the natural balance of life causing other, often foreseeable but unanticipated problems. The herbicide atrazine mentioned above has been found to cause changes in the reproductive systems in frogs, turning male frogs female.. The major causes of land pollution are construction, domestic waste , industrial waste and agriculture. Fertilizers, pesticides, insecticides, and herbicides are used with good intentions but have negative side effects. 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