Land PollutionBy roll no.1236 to1240First year batch no.b2 Land pollution=soil

pollution

Land pollution is the addition of undesirable matter to the land that damage the terrestrial

organisms, reduce the uses of the land by man for agricultural, residential, recreational

or other purposes or increase the risk of health hazards to man.

Land Pollution Overview

Historically, land is a dumping ground for waste

6 billion tons of waste produced each year Agricultural Commercial Industrial Domestic

Normally, not a problem if disposed of properly

If Improperly Disposed of:

Household wastes – breeding ground for rats, flies, mosquitoes One quart used motor oil – contaminates 100,000’s gallons of

drinking water Leachate – liquid that results when water moves through any non-

water media and collects contaminants

Soils

Land = earth = soil Soil is critical to life

Plants get nutrients from soil Animals get nutrients from plants

Soil

Four major components Mineral particles (rocks and clays) Organic matter Water Air

Soils vary in different aspects Color Thickness Layers Amount of clay, salt, & organic matter

Soil

Factors affecting how fast pollutants move through soil Soil composition Soil structure Pore sizes Amount of organic matter

All = Soil profile

Image: www.lee-county.com

O Horizon – Organic matter

A Horizon – Top soil

B Horizon – Subsoil

C Horizon – Parent Material

Land Usage Land use- Land use- is the human use of land. Land use and land is the human use of land. Land use and land management practices have a big impact on natural management practices have a big impact on natural resources such as water,soil,nutrients, plants and animals. resources such as water,soil,nutrients, plants and animals. 

Land Pollution

• plastic bottles/containers, cans, and gas powered vehicles are bad for the environment.

• landfills are the worst for the environment because they are holes in the ground where the waste is placed.

How Do We Use Our Land Today?We use our land today for several things such as:Farming, Mining, Recreation, Highways, Building Cities.

- When land is being used for houses, industries, roads, and businesses it is known as urban land. - Rural land is an area of few people and large open spaces of land. When land is being used for graze livestock and wildlife, it is known as range land.  - We use land in three major ways; woods in forests, crops in farm, and mineral resources! Weather people live in rural or urban cities, we all depend on resources that are being produced in the rural areas.

-Resources being produced by natural andartificial ecosystems is known as ecosystem services.  -Ecosystem Services:      -aesthetic beauty    - purification of water & air      -regulation of climate   -prevention of flood/drought       -movement and cycling of nutrients       -maintenance of biodiversity  -detox wastes      -decompose wastes

Primary Land-Use

- Rangeland- land used to graze livestock and wildlife- Forestland- land used for harvesting wood, wildlife, fish, nuts, and other resources- Cropand- land used to grow plants for food and fiber- Parks and Preserves- land used for recreation and scenic enjoyment and for preserving native animal and plant communities and ecosystems- Wetlands, mountains, deserts etc- land that is difficult to use for human purpose- Urbanland-  land used for houses, businesses, industry and roads.

The issue with land pollution

• The issue with landa pollution is that chemicals for the waste is getting into the ground 

• When that happens the ground water gets contaminated

• The pollution then gets into the soil and eventually gets in to the air.

• If waste gets in the water it will make it unsafe to use or drink, and if consumed there could be possible health problems. 

•  When the air gets polluted it is also a bad issue because it can turn into something called acid rain, acid rain is rain that is very acidic due to pollutants in cloud water.

Renewable Resources   To cut back on the use of fossil fuels,several renewable resources can be utilized, such as: • Wind power, which is collected by large turbines that

spin from the wind and create electricity that can power homes and businesses. This has the added benefit of producing nearly zero emissions.

• Solar power, which is collected by photovoltaic panels, or pv panels for short.

• Hydroelectric power, which collects energy from running water or waves. This is arguably the best clean energy, because a relatively small contraption can produce a large energy output.

 Cons to Raenewable Resources    Despite being cleaner than collecting coal or other nonrenewable resources, there are some cons to consider when building a clean energy site.• Wind power: In order to collect enough power for commercial

use, the turbines used have to be several hundred feet tall, and have massive spinning blades, which use a lot of space. These can pose a problem for flying animals.

• Solar power: The cells that make up the panel are relatively fragile, and must be protected with a glass covering. Another problem for the average consumer is that they are very expensive.

•  Hydroelectric power: May be quite noisy, and the parts that enter the water may be hazardous for fish.

Solutions for Land Pollution• Disposing waste correctly.• We can separate household waste at home.• Recycling, Re-use and Reduce.• Organic waste can be recycled by composting.• Do not litter.•  Use biodegradable items•  Organic Gardens can help lower the amount of

waste sent to landfills.•  Set up household systems to help separate their

waste products. 

CAUSES OF SOIL DEGRADATION

• Soil erosion/degradation is the loss of top soil erodes fertility of soil & reduces its water-holding capacity.

• Excessive farming, construction, overgrazing, burning of grass cover and deforestation

• Excess salts and water (Salinization)• Excessive use of fertilizers & pesticides• Solid waste

:

First effect of pollutants

Washed away: might accumulates somewhere Evaporate: can be a source of air pollution Infiltrate through the unsaturated soil to the groundwater

• DDT: fat soluble, stored in fatty tissues Interferes with calcium metabolism Results in thin egg shells in birds

• Agent orange: code name for one of the herbicides and defoliants (results in leaf fall) used by the U.S. military as part of its herbicidal warfare program, During the Vietnam War, between 1962 and 1971, the United States military sprayed 20,000,000 US gallons (80,000,000 L) of chemical herbicides and defoliants in Vietnam

anti fertility, skin problems, cancer

Control of soil pollution

• Use of pesticides and fertilizers should be minimized.• Cropping techniques should be improved to prevent

growth of weeds.• Special pits should be selected for dumping wastes. • Controlled grazing and forest management. • Wind breaks and wind shield in areas exposed to wind

erosion • Afforestation and reforestation. 3 Rs: reduce, reuse, recycle

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Information needed to clean up materials added to soilKind of material-organic or inorganic- is the material biodegradable/ dangerous to animals & humans How much material was added to the soil, will it overload the organisms in the soilC:N ratio of the pollutant material Nature of soil: will the soil be able to handle the material before groundwater is contaminatedGrowing conditions for the soil organisms: - is it too cold, too wet etc.How long the material has been on site: is there evidence of environmental problems, is it undergoing decomposition.Immediate danger to people & environment: Urgency of the situation.

Bioremediation

The use of naturally occuring microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi & plants to break down or degrade toxic chemical compounds that have accumulated in the environment

• It is a method that treats the soils and renders them non-hazardous, thus eliminating any future liability that may result from landfill problems or violations.

Types of In Bioremediation Biostimulation: To stimulate the activity of microorganisms

by adding nutrients and electron acceptors (e.g. O2) Bioventing: Injecting air through soil to stimulate microbe

growth in unsaturated zone Biosparging: Injection of air/nutrients into unsaturated and

saturated zones Bioaugmentation: inoculation of soil with microbes or

adding exogenous microbes to the subsurface

Types of In Bioremediation Biostimulation: To stimulate the activity of microorganisms

by adding nutrients and electron acceptors (e.g. O2) Bioventing: Injecting air through soil to stimulate microbe

growth in unsaturated zone Biosparging: Injection of air/nutrients into unsaturated and

saturated zones Bioaugmentation: inoculation of soil with microbes or

adding exogenous microbes to the subsurface

Leakages from sanitary sewage. Acid rains, when fumes released from industries get mixed with rains. Fuel leakages from automobiles, that get washed away due to rain and

seep into the nearby soil. Unhealthy waste management techniques, which are characterized by release of sewage into the large dumping grounds and nearby streams or rivers.

Soil pollution is a result of many activities and experiments done by mankind and some of the leading soil pollution causes are discussed below.

Industrial wastes, such as harmful gases and chemicals, agricultural pesticides , fertilizers and insecticides are the most important causes of soil pollution.

Ignorance towards soil management and related systems. Unfavorable and harmful irrigation practices.

Improper septic system and management and maintenance of the same. Leakages from sanitary sewage.

Acid rains, when fumes released from industries get mixed with rains. Fuel leakages from automobiles, that get washed away due to rain and

seep into the nearby soil. Unhealthy waste management techniques, which are characterized by release of sewage into the large dumping grounds and nearby streams or rivers.

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. Industrial wastes, such as harmful gases and chemicals, agricultural pesticides , fertilizers and insecticides are the most important causes of soil pollution.

Ignorance towards soil management and related systems. Unfavorable and harmful irrigation practices.

Improper septic system and management and maintenance of the same.

The effects of pollution on soil are quite alarming and can cause huge disturbances in the ecological balance and health of living creatures on earth.

Some of the most serious soil pollution effects are mentioned below. Decrease in soil fertility and therefore decrease in the soil yield. Definitely

, how can one expect a contaminated soil to produce healthy crops? Loss of soil and natural nutrients present in it. Plants also would not thrive in such a soil, which would further result in soil erosion.

Disturbance in the balance of flora and fauna residing in the soil. Increase in salinity of the soil, which therefore makes it unfit for vegetation,

thus making it useless and barren. Generally crops cannot grow and flourish in a polluted soil. Yet if some crops

manage to grow, then those would be poisonous enough to cause serious health problems in people consuming them.

Creation of toxic dust leading is another potential effect of soil pollution. Foul smell due to industrial chemicals and gases might result in headaches

fatigue, nausea, etc. in many people. Soil pollutants would bring in alteration in the soil structure, which would lead

to death of many essential organisms in it. This would also affect the larger predators and compel them to move to other places, once they lose their

food supply.

Soil pollution has many sources, from agriculture to industry to human activity. Polluted soils affect harm life and, in turn,

wildlife. Depending upon the polluting agent, pollutants can persist in the environment. Solutions, therefore, involve not just removing a source of pollution but also cleaning up and restoring the polluted area. Adding to the complexity of soil

pollution is nonpoint source pollution (NSP), which enters the environment through runoff. Take any action at your disposal

to reduce soil pollution, as you may not always find a clearly defined source.

Reduce WasteConsider the amount of needlessly generated waste.According to the Clean Air Council, almost one-third of the waste in the U.S. comes from packaging, with an additional five million tons generated during the

holiday season. Chemicals used in paper manufacturing can end up in the soil. Choose wisely

when shopping; avoid purchasing products withexcessive packaging. Reuse holiday wrap, or cut

down on the amount you use.

Agriculture Best PracticesThe EPA has identified agricultural runoff as the

primary source of water pollution. Runoff contains pesticides, fertilizers, and agricultural waste that

can have harmful effects on soils. Excessive amounts of phosphates, phosphorus and nitrogen

found in fertilizers can cause fish and plant kill, resulting in contaminated soils. Use organic

herbicides when gardening, or none at all. Plant native plants, which thrive in local conditions,

often making pesticide use unnecessary

Wetland RestorationHelp restore polluted wetlands. A single acre of wetlands can hold more than of one and a half million gallons of water, which runoff can taint, eventually leading to soil pollution. Work to restore wetlands and reduce NSP.

Support local conservation efforts by donating to or volunteering with organizations such as The Nature

Conservancy that purchase land for restoration.

Reduction of Human ImpactFinally, simply reduce your negative impact on the

environment. Despite educational efforts, the average American generates more than four pounds of trash

daily, more than seventy percent of which ends up in landfills, where toxins leach into the soil. Recycle

whenever possible to help ease soil pollution. Use cloth bags instead of paper or plastic at the grocery store, and substitute polycarbonate bottles for plastic

water bottles.

Reduction of Acid RainSulfur dioxide emissions can cause acid rain and forest destruction. Fortunately, the introduction of scrubbers on smokestacks of coal-burning power plants has produced some progress in this arena. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

reports a 71 percent decrease in sulfur dioxide concentrations from 1980 to 2008. Help solve the problem by contacting your legislators and asking them to encourage development of alternative fuel

sources..