The Effects of Land Pollution on Health

Land pollution comes from many sources, mainly human.

Agriculture, mining and human garbage cause land pollution. Pesticide and industrial chemical runoff as well as heavy metals from batteries cause soil contamination. Poisons in water leach toxins into the land and airborne pollutants taint soil with effects on public health. In 2010, among ongoing studies by government agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency, the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, continued research defines the effects of land pollution on health.

Lead

Lead in high doses is dangerous for children's health, bleistift image by sk_design from Fotolia.com

Leaded gasoline (mostly in third world countries) and industrial lead production as well as lead-based paint continue to deposit lead in soils. Long-term exposure to this non-biodegradable substance affects the health of fetuses and children equally. The element's poisonous biochemical effect induces problems in how blood chemically combines in the kidneys, gastrointestinal zone and reproductive system. Acute and constant damage to the nervous system arises with prolonged exposure to lead.

Nickel

Pollutants in the soil contain nickel found in batteries. six volt battery image by bluefern from Fotolia.com

The human body uses small amounts of nickel for producing red blood cells. However, in excessive amounts, nickel produces skin irritation in the form of blisters; damages the heart and liver; and causes weight loss.

Mercury

Called a bioaccumulative (biologically accumulating) substance, mercury has no known function in the human body. The effects of this toxin on human health depend on the individual and the amount found in the body. A high level of mercury induces tremors, gum disease and psychological disorders. In pregnant women, high levels of mercury produce spontaneous abortion and nonhereditary malformations in offspring.

Cadmium

The chemical similarity of cadmium to zinc produces its poisonous properties. Once absorbed by humans, cadmium remains in humans for decades before the body eliminates it. Long-term exposure produces renal or kidney malfunctions. Higher levels of exposure may cause respiratory disease and even lung cancer. Bone defects such as osteoporosis and osteomalacia (softening of the bones) occur with too-high levels of this metal in the body.

Copper

Large amounts of copper in the body damage internal organs. copper balls image by Aleksandr Lukin from Fotolia.com

Copper pollution in soil comes from water polluted by additives designed to control algae growth. Like nickel, copper is essential to human health; however, too much leads to anemia, stomach and intestinal irritation and kidney and liver damage. Patients with Wilson's disease (an inherited disease in which copper accumulates in the liver, brain and other major organs) risk greater health issues with too much exposure to copper.

Pesticides

Unregulated pesticides containing carbamates and organophosphates affect the nervous system. Some pesticides cause cancer, others affect the endocrine system (hormone production) and most irritate the skin and eyes.

Selenium

Agricultural irrigation produces health risks selenium deposits in soil. acequia1 image by Jaume Felipe from Fotolia.com

Soil pollution by selenium comes from irrigated agriculture. Though humans need small amounts of selenium, a lifetime of exposure accumulates large amounts in tissues, causing hair and fingernail loss and damage to the kidneys and liver, and circulatory tissue, and severe injury to the nervous system.

References

• Center for Disease Control
• Lenntech
• E Medicine from WebMed
• Environmental Protection Agency