Types of land pollution

Learn about the types, causes and effects of land pollution in this article. Land pollution is the action of environmental contamination with man-made waste on land. Americans generate five pounds of solid waste every day, furthermore creating one ton of solid waste each year. Land pollution usually comes from people that throw trash, don't recycle and, we run out of landfills. We lose over 15 million acres of land every single year! Land pollution is characterised by the contamination of Earth's surface, where humans and other creatures live. One of the major causes of land pollution is human activities.

Land pollution, Massive deforestation, and industrial pollution. Poverty leads to overgrazing of arable land making agriculture production disastrous. Land pollution is very serious problem in the area surrounding Rietvlei dam nature reserve. This includes biodegradable, combustible and non-combustible waste. Land pollution facts tell us that burning hazardous waste can leave entire regions contaminated and uninhabitable for decades or centuries.

Land pollution is mostly caused by littering. Littering is one of the biggest problems that cause land pollution. Land pollution deals with dumps or other harmful substances. Strip mining, digging, and irrigation are types of land pollution also. Land pollution, deforestation and the extinction of animals and plants are serious problems which are endangering Earth. We need to do something as soon as possible to save our planet from destruction.

Land pollution is caused by release of nuclear waste on open land. Land is also adversely affected by soil erosion agents like wind, water etc.

Wasted energy from lighting, heating, and processing equipment . Waste is anything that is being discarded or can no longer be used for its original purpose. Something may be a waste if it no longer has a dollar value or if it is used carelessly, spilled, burned, buried or poured down the drain.

Soil erosion makes the soil unfit for cultivation and also increases the occurrence of floods. It would affect the food production over a period of time. Soils containing metals and pesticides are usually best handled with off site disposal. If the soils contain large amounts of buried construction and demolition debris the use of a power screener may be warranted.

Contaminated Land is defined by section 78A(2) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, this was retrospectively inserted by the Environment Act 1995. This relates solely to sites that have been investigated by the Council in accordance the Contaminated Land (England) Regulations 2006. Contaminated land, pollution of water and waste management offences are all subject to stringent legislation and potentially big fines. Directors and senior managers of companies, surveyors and land agents can all be held personally liable for non-compliance with environmental law.

Causes and effects of land pollution

Contaminated drinking water may contain carcinogens and cause cancer. Other health risks include: damage to the nervous system, brain damage, birth defects, stunted growth, reproductive failure, diminished sperm count, smaller penises, endometriosis (a painful disease of menstrual tissues), ectopic (tubal) pregnancies, damage to the immune system, loss of muscle tone, weakened reflexes, impaired short-term memory, decreased ability to pay attention, lower IQs, and violent behavior.

Contaminated land is land that contains substances that could be damaging to human health or to the environment. Land contamination can occur as a result of poor environmental management and waste disposal practices or accidental spills in industrial or commercial activities.

Road traffic is the main source, accounting for approximately 50% of all European emissions. Therefore, concentrations tend to be highest in urban environments with high traffic levels. Roads cause visual, noise, light, air , and water pollution, as well as using up land. The visual and noise areas are obvious, however light pollution is becoming more widely recognized as a problem.

Industrial activities also contribute to land pollution. For example, in open cast mining, enormous holes are dug in the ground and these form dangerously deep mining pools. Industrialized areas generate an array of wastes in significant quantities. These include a variety of chemicals from specific industries, lubricating oils, water treatment wastes, solid wastes, and cooling water, which may result in elevated water temperatures in the sea areas where it is discharged.