Information About Land Pollution

Unsightly land pollution can have serious consequences.

Land pollution is caused by toxic chemicals, pest control substances, construction and human waste. Its effects are often visible--for example, when trees may die off--but the consequences are even greater when harmful substances reach into groundwater sources and kill off vital animal and plant species.

Poisons

Herbicides, pesticides and insecticides harm more than their targeted nuisances and can penetrate into groundwater, harming other plant and animal life and even reaching human drinking water sources.

Burial

Both human and animal burials cause erosion, through digging, and disease as bodies decompose and release gases and fluids. This is why disease outbreaks sometimes lead to investigations of nearby burial grounds.

Construction Waste

Land pollution from construction is exacerbated by soil dumping, which interferes with natural processes in rivers and bays, and with the release of oils, paints and chemicals that are dumped or that run off.

Implications

Land pollution impacts surrounding environments by killing off animal and aquatic life habitats. This throws out of balance ecosystems that provide humans with food, clean air and water, and other means for survival.

Solutions

Land pollution can be mitigated by disposing of certain items, such as refrigerators, with special agencies, and by separating paper, glass and metal products for waste-collection authorities to recycle.

References

• Scipeeps.com
• Earthplatform.com

Resources

• GreenstudentU - Pollution