presentation about land pollution

Land Pollution: Causes, Effects, And Solutions For The Future

• May 15, 2018
• ConservationInstitute Team

Land pollution is a serious problem that impacts humans, animals, and the earth. Without taking measures now to reduce pollution levels, permanent changes to the land can occur. The adverse changes to the environment due to land pollution are subtle, but the problem is much bigger than it appears.

Even though most people have a general understanding of pollution , they may not realize the significance of land pollution. Here is a look at land pollution, its causes, its impact, and solutions to the problem.

What Is Land Pollution?

The basic definition of land pollution is the destruction and contamination of the land through the direct and indirect actions of humans. The pollution results in changes to the land, such as soil erosion. Some of the changes are irreversible, while others are not.

The effects of land pollution do not necessarily appear overnight. It is the result of long-term destruction from human activities. For instance, the damage from chemicals from an oil spill can take months or even years to be fully realized.

Causes of Land Pollution

There are several known causes of land pollution. Of those, there are six factors that contribute more than others.

1. Deforestation and soil erosion

When forests are cleared for development and to meet the demand for wood supply, the soil is loosened in the process. Without the protection of the trees, the land becomes barren over time and starts to erode.

2. Agricultural chemicals

Part of the farming process often involves the use of harmful pesticides and insecticides to protect crops. However, the chemicals can cause the land to become barren. The once-fertile soil is then more susceptible to environmental elements, such as the wind.

3. Industrialization

The Industrial Revolution may have resulted in significant positive changes to the economy and society, but it also led to significant pollution of the land. Through unsafe disposal practices for chemicals used in manufacturing, poor regulation, and the overwhelming number of industries and factories that are polluting the land daily, industrialization has become one of the main contributors to the pollution problem.

The mining process can lead to the creation of large open spaces beneath the surface of the earth. This can result in the land caving in, which compromises the integrity of the land. Mining also results in harmful chemicals, such as uranium, being disturbed and released into the environment.

5. Landfills

The garbage found at landfills is filled with toxins that eventually seep into the earth. During rains, the toxins are washed into other areas and the pollution is spread. As the population grows, the amount of garbage filling landfills also grows.

6. Human sewage

Untreated human waste can produce toxic gases that can seep into the ground. As with air pollution, the soil quality is negatively impacted, and land nearby can be contaminated. In addition to this, the probability of human illnesses occurring increases.

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• National Center for Biotechnology Information - PubMed Central - Soil Pollution and Remediation
• European Environment Agency - Land and soil pollution — widespread, harmful and growing

land pollution , the deposition of solid or liquid waste materials on land or underground in a manner that can contaminate the soil and groundwater , threaten public health , and cause unsightly conditions and nuisances.

The waste materials that cause land pollution are broadly classified as municipal solid waste (MSW, also called municipal refuse), construction and demolition (C&D) waste or debris, and hazardous waste . MSW includes nonhazardous garbage, rubbish, and trash from homes, institutions (e.g., schools), commercial establishments, and industrial facilities. Garbage contains moist and decomposable (biodegradable) food wastes (e.g., meat and vegetable scraps); rubbish comprises mostly dry materials such as paper , glass , textile s, and plastic objects; and trash includes bulky waste materials and objects that are not collected routinely for disposal (e.g., discarded mattresses, appliances, pieces of furniture). C&D waste (or debris) includes wood and metal objects, wallboard, concrete rubble, asphalt , and other inert materials produced when structures are built, renovated, or demolished. Hazardous wastes include harmful and dangerous substances generated primarily as liquids but also as solids, sludges, or gases by various chemical manufacturing companies, petroleum refineries , paper mills, smelters, machine shops, dry cleaners , automobile repair shops, and many other industries or commercial facilities. In addition to improper disposal of MSW, C&D waste, and hazardous waste, contaminated effluent from subsurface sewage disposal (e.g., from septic tanks ) can also be a cause of land pollution.

The permeability of soil formations underlying a waste-disposal site is of great importance with regard to land pollution. The greater the permeability, the greater the risks from land pollution. Soil consists of a mixture of unconsolidated mineral and rock fragments ( gravel , sand , silt , and clay ) formed from natural weathering processes. Gravel and sand formations are porous and permeable, allowing the free flow of water through the pores or spaces between the particles. Silt is much less permeable than sand or gravel, because of its small particle and pore sizes, while clay is virtually impermeable to the flow of water, because of its platelike shape and molecular forces.

Until the mid-20th century, solid wastes were generally collected and placed on top of the ground in uncontrolled “open dumps,” which often became breeding grounds for rats , mosquitoes , flies , and other disease carriers and were sources of unpleasant odours, windblown debris, and other nuisances. Dumps can contaminate groundwater as well as pollute nearby streams and lakes. A highly contaminated liquid called leachate is generated from decomposition of garbage and precipitation that infiltrates and percolates downward through the volume of waste material. When leachate reaches and mixes with groundwater or seeps into nearby bodies of surface water, public health and environmental quality are jeopardized. Methane , a poisonous and explosive gas that easily flows through soil, is an eventual by-product of the anaerobic (in the absence of oxygen) decomposition of putrescible solid waste material. Open dumping of solid waste is no longer allowed in many countries. Nevertheless, leachate and methane from old dumps continue to cause land pollution problems in some areas.

A modern technique for land disposal of solid waste involves construction and daily operation and control of so-called sanitary landfills . Sanitary landfills are not dumps; they are carefully planned and engineered facilities designed to control leachate and methane and minimize the risk of land pollution from solid-waste disposal. Sanitary landfill sites are carefully selected and prepared with impermeable bottom liners to collect leachate and prevent contamination of groundwater. Bottom liners typically consist of flexible plastic membranes and a layer of compacted clay. The waste material—MSW and C&D debris—is spread out, compacted with heavy machinery, and covered each day with a layer of compacted soil. Leachate is collected in a network of perforated pipes at the bottom of the landfill and pumped to an on-site treatment plant or nearby public sewerage system . Methane is also collected in the landfill and safely vented to the atmosphere or recovered for use as a fuel known as biogas , or landfill gas. Groundwater-monitoring wells must be placed around the landfill and sampled periodically to ensure proper landfill operation. Completed landfills are capped with a layer of clay or an impermeable membrane to prevent water from entering. A layer of topsoil and various forms of vegetation are placed as a final cover. Completed landfills are often used as public parks or playgrounds.

Hazardous waste differs from MSW and C&D debris in both form and behaviour. Its disposal requires special attention because it can cause serious illnesses or injuries and can pose immediate and significant threats to environmental quality. The main characteristics of hazardous waste include toxicity, reactivity, ignitability, and corrosivity. In addition, waste products that may be infectious or are radioactive are also classified as hazardous waste. Although land disposal of hazardous waste is not always the best option, solid or containerized hazardous wastes can be disposed of by burial in “ secure landfills ,” while liquid hazardous waste can be disposed of underground in deep-well injection systems if the geologic conditions are suitable. Some hazardous wastes such as dioxins , PCBs , cyanides , halogenated organics , and strong acid s are banned from land disposal in the United States , unless they are first treated or stabilized or meet certain concentration limits. Secure landfills must have at least 3 metres (10 feet) of soil between the bottom of the landfill and underlying bedrock or groundwater table (twice that required for municipal solid-waste landfills), a final impermeable cover when completed, and a double impervious bottom liner for increased safety. Underground injection wells (into which liquid waste is pumped under high pressure) must deposit the liquid in a permeable layer of rock that is sandwiched between impervious layers of rock or clay. The wells must also be encased and sealed in three concentric pipes and be at least 400 metres (0.25 mile) from any drinking-water supplies for added safety.

Before modern techniques for disposing of hazardous wastes were legislated and put into practice, the wastes were generally disposed of or stored in surface piles, lagoons, ponds, or unlined landfills. Thousands of those waste sites still exist, now old and abandoned. Also, the illegal but frequent practice of “midnight dumping” of hazardous wastes, as well as accidental spills, has contaminated thousands of industrial land parcels and continues to pose serious threats to public health and environmental quality. Efforts to remediate or clean up such sites will continue for years to come. In 1980 the United States Congress created the Superfund program and authorized billions of dollars toward site remediation; today there are still about 1,300 sites on the Superfund list requiring remediation. The first listed Superfund site— Love Canal , located in Niagara Falls, N.Y.—was not removed from the list until 2004.

See also solid-waste management , hazardous-waste management .

Texas Disposal Systems > Our Blog > Sustainability > Land Pollution: Causes, Effects and Prevention

February 05, 2024

Land Pollution: Causes, Effects and Prevention

Land pollution — or the degradation of our soil by outside contaminants — is largely the result of unsustainable agricultural practices, the improper disposal of waste (both hazardous and non-hazardous), mining (often called “mineral extraction”), illegal dumping and littering . 

In the 21st century, there isn’t a single surface or space on Earth that hasn’t in some way been impacted by pollution. The consequences are far-reaching for both the environment and human health. 

While the prevention of land pollution on a large scale will require changes in policy and regulation, there are steps that individuals can take in their daily lives to help prevent land pollution.

What is Land Pollution?

Land pollution refers to the deterioration of the earth’s land surfaces at and below ground level. It is caused by the accumulation of solid and liquid waste materials that contaminate groundwater and soil. These waste materials are often referred to as municipal solid waste (MSW), which includes both hazardous and non-hazardous waste.

As different waste materials and pollutants like heavy metals, pesticides, plastic, litter and pharmaceuticals sit on top of and leach into our soil, they change and degrade its natural composition. Over time, some pollutants can also go through a chemical transformation, creating secondary pollutants like fumaric and phthalic acids.

The permeability of the soil formations below the waste can increase or reduce the risk of land pollution. The higher the permeability of the soil, the more likely that land pollution will occur. Meanwhile, extreme weather events like hurricanes and floods can exacerbate the effects of land pollution as they disperse or concentrate certain pollutants. 

The Main Causes of Land Pollution

While there are many causes of land pollution, the main contributors include litter, waste, urbanization, construction, mining, extraction and agriculture. Let’s dive into how these different issues lead to increased land pollution.

1. Litter and Waste

Littering, the improper disposal of waste products, is unfortunately common. According to a study by Litter in America, litter cleanup costs the U.S. more than an estimated $11.5 billion each year. Every cigarette butt tossed on the ground or food wrapper tossed out of a car window is a small contribution to a monumental issue. According to the 2020 Keep America Beautiful study , there is an estimated 50 billion pieces of litter along U.S. roadways and waterways. Not all litter, however, is intentional. A large volume of litter also comes from unsecured items that fall off the back of vehicles or out of trash receptacles. 

Illegal dumping also contributes to land pollution. Oftentimes people will dump waste illegally in places such as forests, open fields and ditches rather than in approved dumping areas. Common types of illegally dumped waste include asbestos waste, cars and waste that can be recycled or reused.

All litter, whether intentional or not, causes pollution by releasing chemicals and microparticles as it degrades.

Even if you throw your trash into the can and take it out to be picked up by the garbage truck, its journey is not complete. Your trash has to go somewhere and where it typically goes is a landfill. When not managed properly, your waste can also contribute to land pollution.  

For example, it wasn’t until the mid-20th century that solid wastes were collected with the environment in mind. Prior to that, waste was typically left on top of the ground, which resulted in rats, mosquitoes and other disease infestations, as well as foul smells and windblown debris. 

There are now significantly safer practices for disposing of waste, including the recovery and use of landfill gas for electricity.

The Texas Disposal Systems Landfill , located just outside of Austin, Texas, is unique by design and combines natural and manmade barriers to meet stringent environmental protection regulations. The landfill structure features a performance-based linear system with a leachate collection system and thick re-compacted clay sidewall liners. The liner system easily meets the standards of the performance-based landfill liner system currently required by both the EPA and the TCEQ .

2. Urbanization and Construction

Large quantities of people living close together, producing trash and littering in a dense area does inevitably lead to land pollution. To accommodate our increasing population, construction activities also occur, which result in large waste materials, such as metal, plastic, wood and bricks. 

When these materials are not properly disposed of, it contributes to the land pollution of that area. To help reduce the environmental impact of construction sites, it’s important to work with partners that offer comprehensive solutions to achieve cost-effective construction recycling and waste disposal plans. 

TDS offers a variety of builder solution services aimed at helping builders achieve easy and cost-effective construction recycling and waste disposal plans. Our services ensure builders remain in compliance with both city ordinances and a project’s plan and include roll-off dumpsters , concrete recycling , scrap metal recycling and more.

3. Mining and Extraction

Mining is the extraction of minerals and other geological materials from the ground, which are then used for a wide range of purposes including but not limited to producing gasoline for automobiles, generating electricity and selling materials such as gold and silver. 

This extraction and the methods used, however, deplete the earth of its natural resources and cause damage and land pollution in its wake. It also frequently damages the surrounding area’s natural ecosystems, altering the landscape, destroying natural habitats for wildlife and ultimately reducing biodiversity.

For example, coal mining often uses acid mine drainage (AMD) to help extract coal from its surroundings. When the runoff of acid used in this method finds its way into local natural water supplies and sources, it has a chemical reaction with the surrounding rocks and sand and creates sulfuric acid. Sulfuric acid is toxic not only to humans but to most other plants and wildlife as well. 

Other types of extraction, such as drilling for oil, have also caused massive damage to local ecosystems when operations go wrong and are a major contributor to ocean pollution . Cases like these are why finding alternatives for energy (think solar and wind power) that aren’t mined from the earth’s surface is such a vital part of efforts to reduce land pollution moving forward.

4. Agriculture 

Agriculture is foundational for both everyday life, as well as the economy as a whole. It also, however, can have profound effects on the planet. Agricultural pollution occurs when contamination created as a by-product of raising livestock and growing food crops is released into the environment and the contamination is vast. Major contributors to agricultural-related land pollution include run-off from pesticides, herbicides, fertilizer and animal waste. 

Unsustainable farming practices such as intensive cultivation and overgrazing can also strip the land of its natural nutrients, leaving it no longer viable for future crops unless it is restored.

Effects of Land Pollution

Land pollution touches essentially every area of the living world, including:

• Contamination of drinking water
• Polluted soil, which leads to a loss of fertile land for agriculture and a reduction in the availability of food
• Climate change, which causes an onslaught of disastrous problems, including flash floods and irregular rainfalls 
• The endangerment and extinction of species in wildlife
• Habitat destruction, where animals and plants wiped out in certain areas
• Habitat shifting, where animals are forced to flee where they live in order to survive
• An increase in wildfires due to polluted areas often becoming very dry
• Increased air pollution, which burning waste contributes to
• Increased soil pollutants can enter the body through the food chain and cause health issues
• Increased human health issues, including cancer, respiratory illnesses and congenital disabilities, caused by exposure to harmful chemicals 

How to Prevent Land Pollution

Given the disastrous effects of land pollution, taking preventive measures to reduce its impact moving forward is important. Finding solutions to land pollution is not a matter of discovering a silver bullet — it will require efforts on multiple fronts. 

Sustainable Agricultural Practices

Given that the use of pesticides and chemicals in farming and agriculture greatly contributes to land pollution, finding alternatives will help to reduce the environmental impact. Farmers, for instance, can use natural ingredients by switching from bio-fertilizers to manure or enrolling in programs that provide education and resources regarding sustainable farming.

On the individual level, supporting environmentally-conscious, local farmers at your closest farmer’s market or local grocery store can help to build up business for farmers with more sustainable farming practices. Another option is to contribute to or volunteer in an urban garden in your neighborhood.

Reforestation

Reforestation involves replanting an area with trees. This can be needed for areas that have experienced wildfires, for instance, or where trees have been chopped down and milled. This process helps to bind the soil, which helps to protect it from land pollution and prevents soil erosion and flooding.

Solid Waste Treatments

When solid waste is not properly treated it can increase the level of toxic chemicals and hazardous substances in soil. Chemical treatment methods under a controlled environment can help reduce land pollution. This solid waste treatment method includes neutralization. This treatment alters the pH level of waste before it gets dumped into landfills.

Reduce, Reuse and Recycle 

At the individual level, there are many things we can do to reduce our contribution to land pollution. One of the simplest ways to do this is to reuse or recycle items so that you aren’t creating waste out of a material or item that still has a purpose. With the growing awareness around what can be recycled and an increase in recycling carts in many cities, it has never been easier to recycle. 

Another way to reduce land pollution is through composting . According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, food scraps and yard waste together currently make up more than 30% of what we throw away and could be composted instead. Minimizing and repurposing waste helps preserve the environment. 

Where Can I Find More Land Pollution Information?

There is a constantly growing body of literature on the causes and effects of land pollution, as well as preventative and restorative measures being taken. Here is a starter list of both classic and new educational resources. 

Actionable Resources for Land Pollution:

• Learn what is recyclable (for Central Texas residents in particular)
• Discover how to be an environmental steward
• Read our guide to how to reduce waste during the holidays
• Research types of composting and how to compost at home
• Teach your kids how to recycle
• Learn how to recycle styrofoam and how to recycle plastic bags
• Learn what waste items go where in the TDS Waste Wizard available in the Apple App Store and Google Play

Reports on Land Pollution:

• The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) Land Degradation and Restoration Assessment Report (2018).
• The EPA’s National Overview: Facts and Figures on Materials, Wastes, and Recycling and Report on the Environment: Contaminated Land
• The Food & Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Global Assessment of Soil Pollution (2021). 
• The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Special Report on Climate Change & Land Ch. 4: Land Degradation (2019).

Books on Land Pollution:

Buy locally or used to reduce your environmental impact.

• Silent Spring by Rachel Carson: Published in 1962, Silent Spring altered public awareness about the then-common pesticide DDT and sparked revolutionary policy changes that protected natural resources.
• A Sand County Almanac by Aldo Leopold: Part natural history, part personal essay, The Sand County Almanac follows Leopold as he explores the natural ecosystem of his native Wisconsin as well as other areas. Another classic, it was published in 1949 and helped spur the modern environmentalist movement. 
• The Sixth Extinction by Elizabeth Kolbert: If you’re tired of hearing about the “next mass extinction” without really knowing what it’s about, Kolbert’s book is a data-backed look at previous mass extinctions as a way of teaching us about our current mass extinction.
• The Worst Hard Time by Timothy Egan: Egan shares the stories of individuals who survived The Dust Bowl, a period of severe dust storms that ravaged the prairies during the 1930s. The dust storms were caused primarily by unsustainable agricultural practices
• The Story of Stuff by Annie Leonard: An in-depth look at the impact of overconsumption, The Story of Stuff follows “stuff” from its creation in factories to its final resting place in a landfill in an attempt to promote awareness and sustainable practices.

Dispose of Waste the Safe, Smart Way with TDS

At Texas Disposal Systems (TDS), we recognize that we are in a unique position to help reduce land pollution for Texans. With over 2,000 acres of land and the state’s first totally integrated facility, we are one of the largest independently owned solid waste collection, processing and disposal companies in the nation. And we are dedicated to helping the Texas environment thrive.

Our efforts to reduce the impact of air pollution, water pollution and land pollution are extensive and include: 

• Best practices in terms of landfill management 
• Diverting reusable and recyclable materials from our landfill via our Material Recovery Facilities (approximately 441,400 tons per year!)
• Use of recycled materials in the construction of roads, buildings and topsoil initiatives across our facilities
• Large-scale, on-site composting
• Recycling and sales outlet facilities 
• Working toward a closed-loop energy solution using the methane emitted from our landfill
• The planting of trees and shrubs throughout our facilities
• Supporting environmentally sound construction through our building services, including concrete recycling, scrap metal processing and more
• Working with local businesses, including the Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Conservation District, H-E-B, Austin Bergstrom International Airport, Keep Austin Beautiful, Habitat for Humanity
• And so much more… 

With an eye to the present and future health of Texans, TDS strives to give Texas residents and businesses access to more holistic waste disposal solutions. We are more than just a waste service provider. 

Ready to get started? Learn more about our residential and commercial waste collection solutions today.

Pollution is the introduction of harmful materials into the environment. These harmful materials are called pollutants.

Biology, Ecology, Health, Earth Science, Geography

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Pollution is the introduction of harmful materials into the environment . These harmful materials are called pollutants . Pollutants can be natural, such as volcanic ash . They can also be created by human activity, such as trash or runoff produced by factories. Pollutants damage the quality of air, water, and land. Many things that are useful to people produce pollution. Cars spew pollutants from their exhaust pipes. Burning coal to create electricity pollutes the air. Industries and homes generate garbage and sewage that can pollute the land and water. Pesticides —chemical poisons used to kill weeds and insects— seep into waterways and harm wildlife . All living things—from one-celled microbes to blue whales—depend on Earth ’s supply of air and water. When these resources are polluted, all forms of life are threatened. Pollution is a global problem. Although urban areas are usually more polluted than the countryside, pollution can spread to remote places where no people live. For example, pesticides and other chemicals have been found in the Antarctic ice sheet . In the middle of the northern Pacific Ocean, a huge collection of microscopic plastic particles forms what is known as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch . Air and water currents carry pollution. Ocean currents and migrating fish carry marine pollutants far and wide. Winds can pick up radioactive material accidentally released from a nuclear reactor and scatter it around the world. Smoke from a factory in one country drifts into another country. In the past, visitors to Big Bend National Park in the U.S. state of Texas could see 290 kilometers (180 miles) across the vast landscape . Now, coal-burning power plants in Texas and the neighboring state of Chihuahua, Mexico have spewed so much pollution into the air that visitors to Big Bend can sometimes see only 50 kilometers (30 miles). The three major types of pollution are air pollution , water pollution , and land pollution . Air Pollution Sometimes, air pollution is visible . A person can see dark smoke pour from the exhaust pipes of large trucks or factories, for example. More often, however, air pollution is invisible . Polluted air can be dangerous, even if the pollutants are invisible. It can make people’s eyes burn and make them have difficulty breathing. It can also increase the risk of lung cancer . Sometimes, air pollution kills quickly. In 1984, an accident at a pesticide plant in Bhopal, India, released a deadly gas into the air. At least 8,000 people died within days. Hundreds of thou sands more were permanently injured. Natural disasters can also cause air pollution to increase quickly. When volcanoes erupt , they eject volcanic ash and gases into the atmosphere . Volcanic ash can discolor the sky for months. After the eruption of the Indonesian volcano of Krakatoa in 1883, ash darkened the sky around the world. The dimmer sky caused fewer crops to be harvested as far away as Europe and North America. For years, meteorologists tracked what was known as the “equatorial smoke stream .” In fact, this smoke stream was a jet stream , a wind high in Earth’s atmosphere that Krakatoa’s air pollution made visible. Volcanic gases , such as sulfur dioxide , can kill nearby residents and make the soil infertile for years. Mount Vesuvius, a volcano in Italy, famously erupted in 79, killing hundreds of residents of the nearby towns of Pompeii and Herculaneum. Most victims of Vesuvius were not killed by lava or landslides caused by the eruption. They were choked, or asphyxiated , by deadly volcanic gases. In 1986, a toxic cloud developed over Lake Nyos, Cameroon. Lake Nyos sits in the crater of a volcano. Though the volcano did not erupt, it did eject volcanic gases into the lake. The heated gases passed through the water of the lake and collected as a cloud that descended the slopes of the volcano and into nearby valleys . As the toxic cloud moved across the landscape, it killed birds and other organisms in their natural habitat . This air pollution also killed thousands of cattle and as many as 1,700 people. Most air pollution is not natural, however. It comes from burning fossil fuels —coal, oil , and natural gas . When gasoline is burned to power cars and trucks, it produces carbon monoxide , a colorless, odorless gas. The gas is harmful in high concentrations , or amounts. City traffic produces highly concentrated carbon monoxide. Cars and factories produce other common pollutants, including nitrogen oxide , sulfur dioxide, and hydrocarbons . These chemicals react with sunlight to produce smog , a thick fog or haze of air pollution. The smog is so thick in Linfen, China, that people can seldom see the sun. Smog can be brown or grayish blue, depending on which pollutants are in it. Smog makes breathing difficult, especially for children and older adults. Some cities that suffer from extreme smog issue air pollution warnings. The government of Hong Kong, for example, will warn people not to go outside or engage in strenuous physical activity (such as running or swimming) when smog is very thick.

When air pollutants such as nitrogen oxide and sulfur dioxide mix with moisture, they change into acids . They then fall back to earth as acid rain . Wind often carries acid rain far from the pollution source. Pollutants produced by factories and power plants in Spain can fall as acid rain in Norway. Acid rain can kill all the trees in a forest . It can also devastate lakes, streams, and other waterways. When lakes become acidic, fish can’t survive . In Sweden, acid rain created thousands of “ dead lakes ,” where fish no longer live. Acid rain also wears away marble and other kinds of stone . It has erased the words on gravestones and damaged many historic buildings and monuments . The Taj Mahal , in Agra, India, was once gleaming white. Years of exposure to acid rain has left it pale. Governments have tried to prevent acid rain by limiting the amount of pollutants released into the air. In Europe and North America, they have had some success, but acid rain remains a major problem in the developing world , especially Asia. Greenhouse gases are another source of air pollution. Greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane occur naturally in the atmosphere. In fact, they are necessary for life on Earth. They absorb sunlight reflected from Earth, preventing it from escaping into space. By trapping heat in the atmosphere, they keep Earth warm enough for people to live. This is called the greenhouse effect . But human activities such as burning fossil fuels and destroying forests have increased the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. This has increased the greenhouse effect, and average temperatures across the globe are rising. The decade that began in the year 2000 was the warmest on record. This increase in worldwide average temperatures, caused in part by human activity, is called global warming . Global warming is causing ice sheets and glaciers to melt. The melting ice is causing sea levels to rise at a rate of two millimeters (0.09 inches) per year. The rising seas will eventually flood low-lying coastal regions . Entire nations, such as the islands of Maldives, are threatened by this climate change . Global warming also contributes to the phenomenon of ocean acidification . Ocean acidification is the process of ocean waters absorbing more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Fewer organisms can survive in warmer, less salty waters. The ocean food web is threatened as plants and animals such as coral fail to adapt to more acidic oceans. Scientists have predicted that global warming will cause an increase in severe storms . It will also cause more droughts in some regions and more flooding in others. The change in average temperatures is already shrinking some habitats, the regions where plants and animals naturally live. Polar bears hunt seals from sea ice in the Arctic. The melting ice is forcing polar bears to travel farther to find food , and their numbers are shrinking. People and governments can respond quickly and effectively to reduce air pollution. Chemicals called chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are a dangerous form of air pollution that governments worked to reduce in the 1980s and 1990s. CFCs are found in gases that cool refrigerators, in foam products, and in aerosol cans . CFCs damage the ozone layer , a region in Earth’s upper atmosphere. The ozone layer protects Earth by absorbing much of the sun’s harmful ultraviolet radiation . When people are exposed to more ultraviolet radiation, they are more likely to develop skin cancer, eye diseases, and other illnesses. In the 1980s, scientists noticed that the ozone layer over Antarctica was thinning. This is often called the “ ozone hole .” No one lives permanently in Antarctica. But Australia, the home of more than 22 million people, lies at the edge of the hole. In the 1990s, the Australian government began an effort to warn people of the dangers of too much sun. Many countries, including the United States, now severely limit the production of CFCs. Water Pollution Some polluted water looks muddy, smells bad, and has garbage floating in it. Some polluted water looks clean, but is filled with harmful chemicals you can’t see or smell. Polluted water is unsafe for drinking and swimming. Some people who drink polluted water are exposed to hazardous chemicals that may make them sick years later. Others consume bacteria and other tiny aquatic organisms that cause disease. The United Nations estimates that 4,000 children die every day from drinking dirty water. Sometimes, polluted water harms people indirectly. They get sick because the fish that live in polluted water are unsafe to eat. They have too many pollutants in their flesh. There are some natural sources of water pollution. Oil and natural gas, for example, can leak into oceans and lakes from natural underground sources. These sites are called petroleum seeps . The world’s largest petroleum seep is the Coal Oil Point Seep, off the coast of the U.S. state of California. The Coal Oil Point Seep releases so much oil that tar balls wash up on nearby beaches . Tar balls are small, sticky pieces of pollution that eventually decompose in the ocean.

Human activity also contributes to water pollution. Chemicals and oils from factories are sometimes dumped or seep into waterways. These chemicals are called runoff. Chemicals in runoff can create a toxic environment for aquatic life. Runoff can also help create a fertile environment for cyanobacteria , also called blue-green algae . Cyanobacteria reproduce rapidly, creating a harmful algal bloom (HAB) . Harmful algal blooms prevent organisms such as plants and fish from living in the ocean. They are associated with “ dead zones ” in the world’s lakes and rivers, places where little life exists below surface water. Mining and drilling can also contribute to water pollution. Acid mine drainage (AMD) is a major contributor to pollution of rivers and streams near coal mines . Acid helps miners remove coal from the surrounding rocks . The acid is washed into streams and rivers, where it reacts with rocks and sand. It releases chemical sulfur from the rocks and sand, creating a river rich in sulfuric acid . Sulfuric acid is toxic to plants, fish, and other aquatic organisms. Sulfuric acid is also toxic to people, making rivers polluted by AMD dangerous sources of water for drinking and hygiene . Oil spills are another source of water pollution. In April 2010, the Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded in the Gulf of Mexico, causing oil to gush from the ocean floor. In the following months, hundreds of millions of gallons of oil spewed into the gulf waters. The spill produced large plumes of oil under the sea and an oil slick on the surface as large as 24,000 square kilometers (9,100 square miles). The oil slick coated wetlands in the U.S. states of Louisiana and Mississippi, killing marsh plants and aquatic organisms such as crabs and fish. Birds, such as pelicans , became coated in oil and were unable to fly or access food. More than two million animals died as a result of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Buried chemical waste can also pollute water supplies. For many years, people disposed of chemical wastes carelessly, not realizing its dangers. In the 1970s, people living in the Love Canal area in Niagara Falls, New York, suffered from extremely high rates of cancer and birth defects . It was discovered that a chemical waste dump had poisoned the area’s water. In 1978, 800 families living in Love Canal had to a bandon their homes. If not disposed of properly, radioactive waste from nuclear power plants can escape into the environment. Radioactive waste can harm living things and pollute the water. Sewage that has not been properly treated is a common source of water pollution. Many cities around the world have poor sewage systems and sewage treatment plants. Delhi, the capital of India, is home to more than 21 million people. More than half the sewage and other waste produced in the city are dumped into the Yamuna River. This pollution makes the river dangerous to use as a source of water for drinking or hygiene. It also reduces the river’s fishery , resulting in less food for the local community. A major source of water pollution is fertilizer used in agriculture . Fertilizer is material added to soil to make plants grow larger and faster. Fertilizers usually contain large amounts of the elements nitrogen and phosphorus , which help plants grow. Rainwater washes fertilizer into streams and lakes. There, the nitrogen and phosphorus cause cyanobacteria to form harmful algal blooms. Rain washes other pollutants into streams and lakes. It picks up animal waste from cattle ranches. Cars drip oil onto the street, and rain carries it into storm drains , which lead to waterways such as rivers and seas. Rain sometimes washes chemical pesticides off of plants and into streams. Pesticides can also seep into groundwater , the water beneath the surface of the Earth. Heat can pollute water. Power plants, for example, produce a huge amount of heat. Power plants are often located on rivers so they can use the water as a coolant . Cool water circulates through the plant, absorbing heat. The heated water is then returned to the river. Aquatic creatures are sensitive to changes in temperature. Some fish, for example, can only live in cold water. Warmer river temperatures prevent fish eggs from hatching. Warmer river water also contributes to harmful algal blooms. Another type of water pollution is simple garbage. The Citarum River in Indonesia, for example, has so much garbage floating in it that you cannot see the water. Floating trash makes the river difficult to fish in. Aquatic animals such as fish and turtles mistake trash, such as plastic bags, for food. Plastic bags and twine can kill many ocean creatures. Chemical pollutants in trash can also pollute the water, making it toxic for fish and people who use the river as a source of drinking water. The fish that are caught in a polluted river often have high levels of chemical toxins in their flesh. People absorb these toxins as they eat the fish. Garbage also fouls the ocean. Many plastic bottles and other pieces of trash are thrown overboard from boats. The wind blows trash out to sea. Ocean currents carry plastics and other floating trash to certain places on the globe, where it cannot escape. The largest of these areas, called the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, is in a remote part of the Pacific Ocean. According to some estimates, this garbage patch is the size of Texas. The trash is a threat to fish and seabirds, which mistake the plastic for food. Many of the plastics are covered with chemical pollutants. Land Pollution Many of the same pollutants that foul the water also harm the land. Mining sometimes leaves the soil contaminated with dangerous chemicals. Pesticides and fertilizers from agricultural fields are blown by the wind. They can harm plants, animals, and sometimes people. Some fruits and vegetables absorb the pesticides that help them grow. When people consume the fruits and vegetables, the pesticides enter their bodies. Some pesticides can cause cancer and other diseases. A pesticide called DDT (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane) was once commonly used to kill insects, especially mosquitoes. In many parts of the world, mosquitoes carry a disease called malaria , which kills a million people every year. Swiss chemist Paul Hermann Muller was awarded the Nobel Prize for his understanding of how DDT can control insects and other pests. DDT is responsible for reducing malaria in places such as Taiwan and Sri Lanka. In 1962, American biologist Rachel Carson wrote a book called Silent Spring , which discussed the dangers of DDT. She argued that it could contribute to cancer in humans. She also explained how it was destroying bird eggs, which caused the number of bald eagles, brown pelicans, and ospreys to drop. In 1972, the United States banned the use of DDT. Many other countries also banned it. But DDT didn’t disappear entirely. Today, many governments support the use of DDT because it remains the most effective way to combat malaria. Trash is another form of land pollution. Around the world, paper, cans, glass jars, plastic products, and junked cars and appliances mar the landscape. Litter makes it difficult for plants and other producers in the food web to create nutrients . Animals can die if they mistakenly eat plastic. Garbage often contains dangerous pollutants such as oils, chemicals, and ink. These pollutants can leech into the soil and harm plants, animals, and people. Inefficient garbage collection systems contribute to land pollution. Often, the garbage is picked up and brought to a dump, or landfill . Garbage is buried in landfills. Sometimes, communities produce so much garbage that their landfills are filling up. They are running out of places to dump their trash. A massive landfill near Quezon City, Philippines, was the site of a land pollution tragedy in 2000. Hundreds of people lived on the slopes of the Quezon City landfill. These people made their living from recycling and selling items found in the landfill. However, the landfill was not secure. Heavy rains caused a trash landslide, killing 218 people. Sometimes, landfills are not completely sealed off from the land around them. Pollutants from the landfill leak into the earth in which they are buried. Plants that grow in the earth may be contaminated, and the herbivores that eat the plants also become contaminated. So do the predators that consume the herbivores. This process, where a chemical builds up in each level of the food web, is called bioaccumulation . Pollutants leaked from landfills also leak into local groundwater supplies. There, the aquatic food web (from microscopic algae to fish to predators such as sharks or eagles) can suffer from bioaccumulation of toxic chemicals. Some communities do not have adequate garbage collection systems, and trash lines the side of roads. In other places, garbage washes up on beaches. Kamilo Beach, in the U.S. state of Hawai'i, is littered with plastic bags and bottles carried in by the tide . The trash is dangerous to ocean life and reduces economic activity in the area. Tourism is Hawai'i’s largest industry . Polluted beaches discourage tourists from investing in the area’s hotels, restaurants, and recreational activities. Some cities incinerate , or burn, their garbage. Incinerating trash gets rid of it, but it can release dangerous heavy metals and chemicals into the air. So while trash incinerators can help with the problem of land pollution, they sometimes add to the problem of air pollution. Reducing Pollution Around the world, people and governments are making efforts to combat pollution. Recycling, for instance, is becoming more common. In recycling, trash is processed so its useful materials can be used again. Glass, aluminum cans, and many types of plastic can be melted and reused . Paper can be broken down and turned into new paper. Recycling reduces the amount of garbage that ends up in landfills, incinerators, and waterways. Austria and Switzerland have the highest recycling rates. These nations recycle between 50 and 60 percent of their garbage. The United States recycles about 30 percent of its garbage. Governments can combat pollution by passing laws that limit the amount and types of chemicals factories and agribusinesses are allowed to use. The smoke from coal-burning power plants can be filtered. People and businesses that illegally dump pollutants into the land, water, and air can be fined for millions of dollars. Some government programs, such as the Superfund program in the United States, can force polluters to clean up the sites they polluted. International agreements can also reduce pollution. The Kyoto Protocol , a United Nations agreement to limit the emission of greenhouse gases, has been signed by 191 countries. The United States, the world’s second-largest producer of greenhouse gases, did not sign the agreement. Other countries, such as China, the world’s largest producer of greenhouse gases, have not met their goals. Still, many gains have been made. In 1969, the Cuyahoga River, in the U.S. state of Ohio, was so clogged with oil and trash that it caught on fire. The fire helped spur the Clean Water Act of 1972. This law limited what pollutants could be released into water and set standards for how clean water should be. Today, the Cuyahoga River is much cleaner. Fish have returned to regions of the river where they once could not survive. But even as some rivers are becoming cleaner, others are becoming more polluted. As countries around the world become wealthier, some forms of pollution increase. Countries with growing economies usually need more power plants, which produce more pollutants. Reducing pollution requires environmental, political, and economic leadership. Developed nations must work to reduce and recycle their materials, while developing nations must work to strengthen their economies without destroying the environment. Developed and developing countries must work together toward the common goal of protecting the environment for future use.

How Long Does It Last? Different materials decompose at different rates. How long does it take for these common types of trash to break down?

• Paper: 2-4 weeks
• Orange peel: 6 months
• Milk carton: 5 years
• Plastic bag: 15 years
• Tin can: 100 years
• Plastic bottle: 450 years
• Glass bottle: 500 years
• Styrofoam: Never

Indoor Air Pollution The air inside your house can be polluted. Air and carpet cleaners, insect sprays, and cigarettes are all sources of indoor air pollution.

Light Pollution Light pollution is the excess amount of light in the night sky. Light pollution, also called photopollution, is almost always found in urban areas. Light pollution can disrupt ecosystems by confusing the distinction between night and day. Nocturnal animals, those that are active at night, may venture out during the day, while diurnal animals, which are active during daylight hours, may remain active well into the night. Feeding and sleep patterns may be confused. Light pollution also indicates an excess use of energy. The dark-sky movement is a campaign by people to reduce light pollution. This would reduce energy use, allow ecosystems to function more normally, and allow scientists and stargazers to observe the atmosphere.

Noise Pollution Noise pollution is the constant presence of loud, disruptive noises in an area. Usually, noise pollution is caused by construction or nearby transportation facilities, such as airports. Noise pollution is unpleasant, and can be dangerous. Some songbirds, such as robins, are unable to communicate or find food in the presence of heavy noise pollution. The sound waves produced by some noise pollutants can disrupt the sonar used by marine animals to communicate or locate food.

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LAND POLLUTION www.ustudy.in.

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Land Pollution PPT and PDF for Free Download

Land Pollution PPT Presentation

Also See: Water Pollution PPT

Pollution, whenever we talk about pollution then the major things we get in our mind is water pollution and air pollution. Our reactions on these parameters are also very strong because we see the damages and changes occurred by them in our daily lives with very clear and it is a common nature of human beings in believing the things which they see and observe. But it does mean that we are not having many damages due to land pollution, in fact, this land pollution and its damages are not less than a night mare to all of us.

Also See: Marine Pollution PPT and PDF

If we talk about a present situation then land pollution has become a very serious problem that it won’t be solved until we don’t fight against it. Land pollution, in other words, is nothing but degradation, damage to the surface of the earth and its soil because of human activities. This difficulty became a serious issue due to all of us because we neglected it and realized after many decades. There is an enhancement of barren land lot and decrement in forest cover area.

The increase in a number of cities and towns due to enhancement in a population are also the reasons for land pollution. Reclamations are being planned and executed; along with it landfills are also being planned and executed to meet the demand of land. A land gets polluted even due to lack of green cover on land which results in soil erosion.

Also See: Pollution PPT

Causes of Land Pollution:   

Below explained are few causes of land pollution:

• Deforestation and soil erosion
• Mining activities
• Agricultural activities
• Overcrowded landfills
• Construction activities
• Industrialization
• Nuclear waste
• Sewage treatment
• Deforestation and soil erosion: Deforestation which makes dry land is one of the major reasons of land pollution. In this, we need to observe that once a land becomes dry or barren then it cannot be regained i.e. it will be very difficult to regain its fertility.
• Mining activities: At the time of mining activities and extraction activities, many land spaces are made under the surface.
• Agricultural activities: With the increase in human population there is an increase in demand for food also. Farmers use toxic pesticides and chemicals to get rid of distinct types of insects and these types of practices result in poisoning of soil.
• Overcrowded landfills: Every household produces garbage and the garbage which cannot be recycled come under landfills and this damage beauty of a city and town and at the same time results inland pollution.
• Construction activities: Because of urbanization these days, construction activities are at a high rate and these activities generates waste particles at a high amount.
• Industrialization: There is an increase in population which results in an increase in food, shelter, and other required things. This requirement gave rise to industries and these industries require raw materials which lead to deforestation and also they produce a large amount of waste which has to be disposed of.
• Nuclear waste: Nuclear waste from a nuclear plant is dumped beneath surface of the earth for avoiding causality.
• Sewage treatment: After the treatment of sewage, huge amount of solid waste goes into landfills which lead to pollution of the environment.

Below diagrams explain about some more parameters that cause land pollution:

Fig1: Causes of Land Pollution

Also See: Noise Pollution PPT

Effects of Land Pollution:

Some effects of land pollution are explained below:

• Change in climate patterns
• Pollution of soil
• Impact of environment
• Effect on human health
• Cause air pollution
• Effect on wild life
• Distraction of tourist

Also See: Thermal Pollution PDF and PPT

Solutions for Land Pollution:

We can decrease pollution of land by practicing the following:

• We have to reduce or decrease the use of fertilizers and pesticides in activities of agriculture.
• We should make people aware about things like reduce, recycle, and reuse.
• We have to decrease buying package items because they result in waste products and end up in sites of landfills.
• We have to increase buying biodegradable products.
• We have to properly dispose of garbage.
• We have to encourage organic gardening.
• We have to make dumping away from areas of residence.

Hierarchy of Pollution Prevention:

Below diagram is about preventing pollution in a hierarchy order:

Fig2: Pollution Prevention Hierarchy

Also See: Air Pollution PPT

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• What is Land Pollution?

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2 comments already.

wow fantastic information !!!!!!this is what i wanted……. thank you so much

Still we have time to leave safe environment to our forthcoming generation.Only thing we need to do is no factories instead of that like Cuba we should do organic agriculture without spoiling forest.Whether we will have leader like The honorable Fedel Castro to India. When the redemption will come to our country.We should think and implement immediately to save our motherland from natural disaster and depletion of resources.

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Land pollution

Mar 26, 2019

640 likes | 843 Views

Land pollution. Introduction.

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• -clinical waste -animal carcasses
• domestic wastes
• radioactive waste
• slaughterhouses
• clinical waste producers

Presentation Transcript

Introduction Solid waste is classified into five main types by making reference to the sources of waste andthe institutional arrangements for waste collection and disposal. These five types of solid waste are municipal solid waste, construction & demolition (C&D) waste, chemical waste, special waste and other solid waste. The detailed interpretations of some commonly used terms are described below.

Municipal solid waste It includes domestic waste, commercial waste and industrial waste.

Domestic waste It refers to household waste, waste generated from daily activities in institutional premises and refuse collected from public cleansing services. Public cleansing waste includes dirt and litter collected by the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD), marine refuse collected by the Marine Department and waste from country parks collected by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department.

The TWO major domestic wastes are plastic and metal cans.

Plastic Bacteria can decompose some types of the plastics. These are called biodegradable materials, and will not cause serious pollution problem after decomposition. However, non-biodegradable plastics, which cannot be decomposed, will lead to serious pollution problems.

Metal can Metal cans are not biodegradable. When they are thrown into the environment, they cause land or water pollution. Besides, these natural resources are wasted.

Commercial waste It is waste arising from commercial activities taking place in shops, restaurants, hotels, offices, markets in private housing estates, etc. It is collected mainly by private waste collectors. However, some commercial waste is mixed with domestic waste and collected by the FEHD. Some not mixed is also collected by the FEHD for historical reasons.

Industrial waste It is waste arising from industrial activities and does not include C&D waste and chemical waste. It is usually collected by private waste collectors. However, some industries may deliver their industrial waste directly to landfills for disposal

Current situation Household and other municipal waste loads have risen steadily, in line with the growth in population and wealth of the community. There is no sign of a let-up because another two million people are expected to live in the SAR by 2016.

Effect The most important of land pollution is effect on hygiene. Bacteria, and give off bad smells may decay some of the materials in the garbage. The decayed materials will create problem of hygiene. Pathogenic bacteria and other pests may also grow on the decayed materials and diseases may then be spread.

What will happen to the landfills?

The three strategic landfills will run out of space in 10 to 15 years. Without waste reduction measures and sufficient public filling areas, SENT landfill might run out as early as 2005.

Recycling Hong Kong recycled about 35 percent of its municipal waste (mostly commercial and industrial waste) and the government wants to increase this to about 60 per cent by 2007. A number of initiatives were undertaken in 2000 with significant support from the green groups.

Some of the highlights were: • newspaper vendors were encouraged to stop distributing papers in plastic bags • the number of housing estates with waste separation bins doubled to more than 700 • the number of items recycled by hotels and the airport were increased • more recycled products were added to the government's purchasing guidelines • four new temporary sites were allocated for use by the re-cycling industry

Special waste -Clinical waste -Animal carcasses -Radioactive waste

Clinical waste Source -being produced in hospitals and government clinics E.g. contaminated sharps, infectious waste and human tissues

Deal -Segregating from ordinary refuse and being collected separately for proper disposal. -Most clinical waste will be disinfected as far as practicable and disposed at designated landfills. -Human tissues and body parts from operating theatres shall be disposed of by incineration as far as practicable

Animal carcasses Source: • Slaughterhouses • Street collections • Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals • Hong Kong Jockey Club Ocean Park

Deal -Land filling of animal carcasses may generate health hazards. Some animal Carcasses are infectious and spread diseases. -It is proposed to build animal carcass treatment facilities (ACTF) for proper disposal of animal carcasses to prevent the spread of diseases.

Low-level Radioactive waste Source -Industry and medical and educational institutions Americium-241Smoke detector sources Promethium-147Luminous watch dials & contaminated articles Radium-226Lightning conductors and luminous watch dials Thorium-232 Rayon mantles for kerosene lanterns

Deal The wastes are properly packaged in new stainless steel standard containers

Chemical Waste

Definition • Chemical wastes are liquid, semi-solid and solid wastes which are dangerous in nature or cause a risk of pollution to the environment

Problems • Indiscriminate disposal of chemical waste • Release into coastal waters causes damage to local marine life and accumulation of toxins in seafood • Uncontrolled disposal of municipal waste facilities and into sewerage systems and sewage treatment facilities resulting in costly repairs and replacement of these facilities

Solutions • The chemical Waste Treatment Center-CWTC • Handle with 100,000 tones chemical waste per year

Main Activities of CWTC • Chemical Waste Collecting • Waste Profile Analysis • Chemical Waste Treatment • Physical/Chemical Treatment • Incinerator • The Ancillary System are designed to support the treatment processes. They are Waste Container Handling, Storage Tank Farm, Laboratory Computer System

The Waste Disposal Ordinance on Waste Management • Waste Disposal Ordinance 1987 Prohibit livestock keeping in urban areas Controls of discharge or deposit of livestock waste in control areas • Waste Disposal Ordinance 1991 Controls of chemical waste about packaging, labeling, storage, collection, disposal, import and export activities

Waste Disposal Ordinance 1994 Introduce a heavy penalty for illegal damping of waste and make it an offence to breach of the license conditions of the waste collection and disposal licenses • Waste Disposal Ordinance 1995 Control import and export of hazardous and other waste in accordance with the requirement • Waste Disposal Ordinance 1998 Expands the regulations making powers for implementation of the various waste disposal charging schemes

Development of New Waste Legislation • Control for the arrangement of clinical waste and improves control of waste import and export and illegal dumping of waste • Specifies the requirement of clinical waste producers, collectors and disposal facility operatorsAmend the schedules and prescribes fees for clinical waste collection licenses • Gives effect to the new charging scheme for clinical waste through amendment of the regulation

Gives effect to the new charging scheme for clinical waste through amendment of the regulation • Amends the schedules and clarities the definition of chemical waste in light of amendment to the Dangerous Goods Ordinance –DGO • Gives effect to the revised landfill charging scheme

Composition of domestics waste disposed of at waste facilities (% by weight)

Solutions to pollution problem of plastics • By using degradable plastics instead of the non-degradable one • Recycling plastics wastes ( remold the plastic)

Development of degradable plastics Plastics normally undergo extremely slow degradation because the enzymes in micro-organism tend to attract only the ends of the polymer chains Example????????

1.Biopolymers It is made by living micro-organism such as paracoccus, bacillus and spirullum. Poly(hydroxybutyrate) PHB, is a natural polyester made by bacteria

Advantage and disadvantage???? Advantage: Micro-organisms found in soil and natural water sources are able to break down the polymer completely within 9 months. Disadvantage: Very expensive (15 times more expensive that polyethene)

2.Photodegradable plastics As polymer consist of long chain Therefore, light sensitive functional group –c=o are incorporated in the polymer chains. As a result, the long polymer chains will be broken down into shorter fragment which will facilitate the process of biodegradation under sunlight

3.Synthetic biodegradable process By incorporating starch or cellulose into the polymer during production.

Advantage Since micro-organisms digest starch or cellulose the plastic is broken down into tiny pieces. --larger surface area for the biodegradable --speed up process

Disadvantage The products of biodegradation may cause water pollution and the rate of biodegradation is still too slow for the large quantity of plastic wastes generated.

B. Recycling of plastics • Direct recycling -----This applies only to thermoplastics. The remolded into plastic items. • Recycling of energy -----This applies to most plastics. The plastic wastes are burned in the incinerators. The calorific values contained in plastics are quite high.

Advantages: • Reduces air pollution due to the incineration of plastic • Less dumping area is required. • Reduces the use of petroleum

Disadvantages: • The regenerated plastics usually have deteriorated properties due to repeated thermal and mechanical processing and can only be used for articles which are not subjected to high stress. • It is not very economical to separate the plastic items from the other wastes at present. Moreover, plastic products may contain dyes, politicizes and fillers so that it is very difficult to classify them by observation.

2. Recycling of energy -----This applies to most plastics. The plastic wastes are burned Advantages: a.The energy obtained from burning plastic waste can be used for heating or generation of electricity b.It is not necessary to separate the plastics c.Less dumping area is required Disadvantages: Burning plastics produces toxic gases e.g. PVC will give HCl. Expensive scrubber systems have to be used to remove them.

3. Recycling of chemicals by pyrolysis------for all plastics Similar to cracking, the plastic wastes can be pyrolyzed (decomposed at high temperature in the absence of air) at 600-900 to give useful small molecules similar to those obtained from the fractional distillation of crude oil. These small molecules (mainly hydrocarbons) are separated by fractional distillation. Some of the small molecules can be used directly as fuels. Other larger molecules may be employed as raw materials in plastic production.

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Environmental Science Chapter 19 Pages 304-317. Land Pollution. Humans produce lots of solid waste. Disposing waste has been a problem since ancient Greece. Solid waste thrown into streets caused outbreaks of deadly diseases (cholera, typhoid).

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Environmental Pollution and Waste: Air, Water, and Land Media

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Acid Rain may cause air, land and water pollution

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pollution. Water pollution. P0llution of water. By people By animals By factories. Water pollution. How to prevent water pollution. By people By animals By factories. Not throwing waste in the water Not letting animals go near Do not throw waste.

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Land Pollution. Air Pollution. Water Pollution. Noise Pollution. If we still make the land dirty, we won’t have any clean place to live in. If we still make so much smoke, we won’t have fresh air to breathe.

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Biology Project— Land Pollution in Hong Kong

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Soil and Land Pollution RAD Guide (Ch.18-19)

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Ecological problems Land pollution Littering

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Chapter 19 Land Pollution. Section 19.1 – Solid Wastes. Solid wastes – all garbage and sludge products from agriculture, forestry, mining, and municipalities. Includes: garbage, trash, junk, scrap and sewage. Garbage Disposal in the Past. People disposed of garbage in the streets .

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By Angela Fang. Land Pollution. Every year one American produces over 3285 pounds of hazardous waste Every day Americans throw away 1 million bushels of litter out their car window In an average day in the United States, people throw out 200,000 tons of edible food

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