LAND POLLUTION

Land pollution is the degradation of the earth’s land

through human misuse of the soil. Human influences
such as poor agricultural practices, the digging up of im-
portant resources, industrial waste dumping, and care-
less disposal of trash continue to pollute the land rapidly.
Human impact on the land plays an important role in the
cleanliness and prosperity of our earth’s future.

Soil Misuse
Soil erosion is when the top soil is stripped
of essential nutrients needed for plant and
vegetative growth. When the soil erodes, the
rich top layer called humus is removed.

Solutions…
Solutions to the problems of land
pollution have become increasingly
recognized over the years. The most
common and convenient method of
waste disposal is by the sanitary
landfill. The sanitary landfill is a
legal replacement for the open
dumps that once were present. Sani-
tary landfills are the most popular
for cleanliness, however, often
times industrial waste of unknown
contents are commingled with do-
mestic wastes.
Recycling
Recycling is practical to some extent for
much municipal and some industrial
wastes, and a small but growing propor-
tion of solid waste are being recycled.
When wastes are commingled, however,
recovery becomes difficult and expen-
sive. New processes of sorting ferrous
and non- ferrous metals, paper, glass and
plastics have been developed, and many
communities with recycling programmes
now require re- use separation. Crucial
issues in recycling are devising better
processing methods, inventing new prod-
ucts for the recycling materials and find-
ing new materials for them.
 What happens after soil erosion?

The result of soil erosion over a long period of time

includes the decaying of vegetation and negative mi-
crobial effects. This man-made disaster leaves large
parcels of land destroyed and unfit for re-growth for
many years, and thus, thousands of acres of land are
wasted each year. Furthermore, the increase of the
earth’s population also increases land pollution cover-
ing good humus with more apartment buildings and
businesses.

Deforestation, especially of Again, this process alters the environ-

the rain forest, can kill off
species of plants, animals,
and bacteria never known to
man. Disease cures and
medicines could be wiped
out without ever being in-
troduced to humans.
ment of the animals and their habitats
in the area, leading to a change in the
ecosystem.
Humans must find a way to work
around nature and it’s living crea-
tures.

Incarnation
This is another method of disposing
solid wastes. Wastes must be burned at
very high temperatures and incinerator
exhausts must be equipped with So-
phisticated scrubbers and other devices Composting
for removing dioxin and other toxic Another alternative to this dangerous
pollutants. Problems remain, however: problem. This is using degradable foods
incinerator ash contains high ratios of from your household as manure/ fertilizer
heavy metals becoming a hazardous for the earth.
waste in itself.