Land Pollution Causes & Effects PDF

**What is Land Pollution?** Land pollution refers to the deterioration of the earth's land surfaces at and below ground level. It is caused by the accumulation of solid and liquid waste materials that contaminate groundwater and soil. These waste materials are often referred to as municipal solid w...

**What is Land Pollution?** Land pollution refers to the deterioration of the earth's land surfaces at and below ground level. It is caused by the accumulation of solid and liquid waste materials that contaminate groundwater and soil. These waste materials are often referred to as municipal solid waste (MSW), which includes both hazardous and non-hazardous waste. As different waste materials and pollutants like heavy metals, pesticides, plastic, litter and pharmaceuticals sit on top of and leach into our soil, they change and degrade its natural composition. Over time, some pollutants can also go through a chemical transformation, creating secondary pollutants like fumaric and phthalic acids. The permeability of the soil formations below the waste can increase or reduce the risk of land pollution. The higher the permeability of the soil, the more likely that land pollution will occur. Meanwhile, extreme weather events like hurricanes and floods can exacerbate the effects of land pollution as they disperse or concentrate certain pollutants.  **The Main Causes of Land Pollution** While there are many causes of land pollution, the main contributors include litter, waste, urbanization, construction, mining, extraction and agriculture. Let's dive into how these different issues lead to increased land pollution. **1. Litter and Waste** **Litter** Littering, the improper disposal of waste products, is unfortunately common. According to a study by Litter in America, litter clean-up costs the U.S. more than an estimated [[\$11.5 billion]](https://kab.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/LitterinAmerica_FactSheet_CostsofLittering.pdf) each year. Every cigarette butt tossed on the ground or food wrapper tossed out of a car window is a small contribution to a monumental issue. According to the [[2020 Keep America Beautiful study]](https://kab.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Litter-Study-Summary-Report-May-2021_final_05172021.pdf), there is an estimated 50 billion pieces of litter along U.S. roadways and waterways. Not all litter, however, is intentional. A large volume of litter also comes from unsecured items that fall off the back of vehicles or out of trash receptacles.  Illegal dumping also contributes to land pollution. Oftentimes people will dump waste illegally in places such as forests, open fields and ditches rather than in approved dumping areas. Common types of illegally dumped waste include asbestos waste, cars and waste that can be recycled or reused. All litter, whether intentional or not, causes pollution by releasing chemicals and microparticles as it degrades. **Waste** Even if you throw your trash into the can and take it out to be picked up by the garbage truck, its journey is not complete. Your trash has to go somewhere and where it typically goes is a landfill. When not managed properly, your waste can also contribute to land pollution.   For example, it wasn't until the mid-20th century that solid wastes were collected with the environment in mind. Prior to that, waste was typically left on top of the ground, which resulted in rats, mosquitoes and other disease infestations, as well as foul smells and windblown debris.  There are now significantly safer practices for disposing of waste, including the recovery and use of landfill gas for electricity. 2\. **Urbanization and Construction** Large quantities of people living close together, producing trash and littering in a dense area does inevitably lead to land pollution. To accommodate our increasing population, construction activities also occur, which result in large waste materials, such as metal, plastic, wood and bricks.  When these materials are not properly disposed of, it contributes to the land pollution of that area. To help reduce the environmental impact of construction sites, it's important to work with partners that offer comprehensive solutions to achieve cost-effective construction recycling and waste disposal plans.  **3. Mining and Extraction** Mining is the extraction of minerals and other geological materials from the ground, which are then used for a wide range of purposes including but not limited to producing gasoline for automobiles, generating electricity and selling materials such as gold and silver.  This extraction and the methods used, however, deplete the earth of its natural resources and cause damage and land pollution in its wake. It also frequently damages the surrounding area's natural ecosystems, altering the landscape, destroying natural habitats for wildlife and ultimately reducing biodiversity. For example, coal mining often uses acid mine drainage (AMD) to help extract coal from its surroundings. When the runoff of acid used in this method finds its way into local natural water supplies and sources, it has a chemical reaction with the surrounding rocks and sand and creates sulfuric acid. Sulfuric acid is toxic not only to humans but to most other plants and wildlife as well.  Other types of extraction, such as drilling for oil, have also caused [[massive damage to local ecosystems]](https://www.biologicaldiversity.org/programs/public_lands/energy/dirty_energy_development/oil_and_gas/gulf_oil_spill/a_deadly_toll.html) when operations go wrong and are a major contributor to [[ocean pollution]](https://www.texasdisposal.com/blog/ocean-pollution-causes-effects-and-prevention/). Cases like these are why finding alternatives for energy (think solar and wind power) that aren't mined from the earth's surface is such a vital part of efforts to reduce land pollution moving forward. **4. Agriculture ** Agriculture is foundational for both everyday life, as well as the economy as a whole. It also, however, can have profound effects on the planet. Agricultural pollution occurs when contamination created as a by-product of raising livestock and growing food crops is released into the environment and the contamination is vast. Major contributors to agricultural-related land pollution include run-off from pesticides, herbicides, fertilizer and animal waste.  Unsustainable farming practices such as intensive cultivation and overgrazing can also strip the land of its natural nutrients, leaving it no longer viable for future crops unless it is restored. **Effects of Land Pollution** Land pollution touches essentially every area of the living world, including: - Contamination of drinking water - Polluted soil, which leads to a loss of fertile land for agriculture and a reduction in the availability of food - Climate change, which causes an onslaught of disastrous problems, including flash floods and irregular rainfalls  - The endangerment and extinction of species in wildlife - Habitat destruction, where animals and plants wiped out in certain areas - Habitat shifting, where animals are forced to flee where they live in order to survive - An increase in wildfires due to polluted areas often becoming very dry - Increased air pollution, which burning waste contributes to - Increased soil pollutants can enter the body through the food chain and cause health issues - Increased human health issues, including cancer, respiratory illnesses and congenital disabilities, caused by exposure to harmful chemicals  **How to Prevent Land Pollution** Given the disastrous effects of land pollution, taking preventive measures to reduce its impact moving forward is important. Finding solutions to land pollution is not a matter of discovering a silver bullet --- it will require efforts on multiple fronts.  Sustainable Agricultural Practices Given that the use of pesticides and chemicals in farming and agriculture greatly contributes to land pollution, finding alternatives will help to reduce the environmental impact. Farmers, for instance, can use natural ingredients by switching from bio-fertilizers to manure or enrolling in programs that provide education and resources regarding sustainable farming. On the individual level, supporting environmentally-conscious, local farmers at your closest farmer's market or local grocery store can help to build up business for farmers with more sustainable farming practices. Another option is to contribute to or volunteer in an urban garden in your neighborhood. **Reforestation** Reforestation involves replanting an area with trees. This can be needed for areas that have experienced wildfires, for instance, or where trees have been chopped down and milled. This process helps to bind the soil, which helps to protect it from land pollution and prevents soil erosion and flooding. **Solid Waste Treatments** When solid waste is not properly treated it can increase the level of toxic chemicals and hazardous substances in soil. Chemical treatment methods under a controlled environment can help reduce land pollution. This solid waste treatment method includes neutralization. This treatment alters the pH level of waste before it gets dumped into landfills. **Reduce, Reuse and Recycle ** At the individual level, there are many things we can do to reduce our contribution to land pollution. One of the simplest ways to do this is to reuse or recycle items so that you aren't creating waste out of a material or item that still has a purpose. With the growing awareness around what can be recycled and an increase in recycling carts in many cities, it has never been easier to recycle.  **Composting** Another way to reduce land pollution is through [[composting]](https://www.texasdisposal.com/processing/composting/). According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, food scraps and yard waste together currently make up more than [[30%]](https://www.epa.gov/recycle/composting-home) of what we throw away and could be composted instead. Minimizing and repurposing waste helps preserve the environment.