Cause & Effect of Land Pollution
Land pollution is a combination of what people can see and what they cannot see. Trash and other solid waste is land pollution, as are the toxic wastes that are seeping into, or being dumped onto, the earth. Land pollution is part of a cycle that affects every aspect of the environment.
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Significance
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Trash is a huge source of land pollution. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in 2008, each American produced nearly five pounds of trash per day; only one-third of that was recycled. That leaves over three pounds of trash per person per day for nearly 300 million people that heads to landfills. Landfills are unsightly, create disagreeable odors, promote the growth of vermin and pathogens, and decrease neighboring property values.
Effects
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Much of the trash dumped in landfills contains toxic chemicals that poison our environment. E-waste, a name for technology-related trash such as computer parts, televisions and monitors, and cell phones, contains dangerous heavy metals that leach into the ground around dumpsites and poison the soil and the water in the area. Cadmium, lead, mercury, chromium and polyvinyl chlorides are just some of the toxins found in e-waste. These are in addition to the heavy metals in batteries, the chemicals in household cleaning products and the oil and toxins in garage and lawn-care waste. Many communities worldwide, particularly in China and India, have experienced severe health problems in residents and issues with their flora and fauna publicized in media reports like the one presented by CBS' "60 Minutes," entitled "Following the Trail of Toxic E-Waste."
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Considerations
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The chemicals and heavy metals that leach into the earth create soil pollution that can last for decades. Residual soil pollution poisons creatures that live in the area by breathing it in directly or through accidental ingestion. Plants growing in the area can absorb the toxins as well. This is of particular concern in agricultural areas, particularly if they ship their produce outside the area.
Additional Effects
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Runoff from landfills, along with seepage from landfills into groundwater sources, creates water pollution. Water pollution directly affects the ecosystem by destroying parts of the food chain that support higher life forms. Plants, microorganisms and aquatic life form the basis of the food chain, and these creatures are the first affected by water pollution. Mercury bioaccumulates in the tissues of animals up the food chain until it reaches toxic levels in large fish such as tuna and swordfish. Polyvinyl chlorides, cadmium, lead and chromium cause a wide range of health problems, including cancer.
Prevention / Solution
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In a 2008 report, the EPA stated that while Americans recycle more than they have in the past, the average American produces one pound more of trash than in 1980. Considering that 70 percent of American trash is recyclable, according to the an article on the science site Red Orbit, Americans are currently making more trash than ever, but recycling only half of what they are able to recycle. Many of the items that cause the most damage, such as e-waste, can be recycled and reused. More aggressive recycling can minimize the problems caused by land pollution.
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References
- Photo Credit birds at a landfill site in Extremadura/Spain image by Lars Lachmann from Fotolia.com
