What is Land Pollution? | Types, Definition, Structure, Function & Facts

What is Land Pollution?

When we think of pollution, we often think of roadside waste. This type of pollution is called land pollution. Soil pollution is anything that damages or contaminates the land.

Causes of Land Pollution

There are many causes of soil pollution, from the garbage we dump in our homes to the garbage produced in giant factories. Sometimes the chemicals in the waste can contaminate the soil and possibly the groundwater we need to drink.

Garbage – The average person in the United States generates about 4 1/2 pounds of waste every day! That’s a lot of trash. Some of this waste is recycled, but much of it ends up in landfills or on the ground.

Mining – Mining can directly destroy the earth, creating large holes in the ground and causing erosion. It can also release harmful chemicals into the air and soil.

Farming – We all need farms to eat, but farming has destroyed many ecosystems and animal habitats. Agriculture also generates a lot of pollution in the form of chemicals such as pesticides and herbicides. Animal manure from livestock can also contaminate soil and possibly water supplies.

Factories – Many factories produce a significant amount of garbage and waste. Some of this waste is in the form of toxic chemicals. There are regulations in some countries that prevent the direct dumping of hazardous chemicals onto the ground, but this is not the case in many countries.

Effects on the Environment

Land pollution can be one of the most visible types of pollution. You see garbage outside buildings or on the side of the road. You may see a large dump or dump. This type of soil pollution not only harms animals and their habitats, but also worsens and destroys the beauty of nature.

Effects on Health

Different types of land pollution are known to have adverse effects on human and animal health. Toxic chemicals that get into soil and water can cause cancer, deformities and skin problems.

Landfills

A landfill is an area where garbage is deposited on the ground. Modern landfills in developed countries are designed to prevent harmful chemicals from polluting the water. Some newer landfills even attempt to capture the escaping methane and use it to generate energy. In the United States, there are many laws and regulations that try to prevent landfills from harming the environment.

What is Biodegradable?

Waste consists of organic matter that will eventually decompose and become part of the environment. This type of waste is said to be biodegradable. Different types of materials take different times to decompose. Paper can decompose in about a month, but it takes more than 20 years for a plastic bag to decompose. Scientists predict that it will take about 1 million years for a glass bottle to biodegrade and some materials, such as polystyrene, will never biodegrade.

What can you do to help?

Here are four things people can do to reduce land pollution:

Recycling – About 33% of trash in the United States is recycled. When you recycle, you pollute the soil less.

Generate less waste – Some ways to reduce waste include not using napkins or tissues unless you absolutely need to, drinking water from cups instead of plastic bottles, and making sure you dispose of hazardous waste like batteries and computer equipment properly.

Garbage Picker – Don’t be a litterer! In addition, you can help by picking up trash when you see them lying around. Children should ask their parents for help before picking up strange trash.

Composting – Contact your parents or school and start a compost pile. Composting involves collecting organic waste and storing it to decompose for use as fertilizer.

Facts About Land Pollution