Land Pollution Problems

Pollution is defined as the introduction of toxic and potentially harmful substances into the environment. Pollution can outright harm or kill plant and animal species. For example, pesticides spilling into waterways can negatively impact fish. Pollution can also create instability and disruption of essential life cycles, such as a disruption of weather cycles due to air pollution from factories causing increased convection. Ignorance is deadly. A Cornell Study reports that 40 percent of human deaths worldwide are caused by pollution.

Significance

• Pollution affects all life forms to some degree. Consider pesticide use. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that 2.2 billion lbs. of pesticide are released into the environment each year. Of the 27 most common used ones, 15 are carcinogens. The frightening fact is that some use is unnecessary. The EPA reports that 41 percent of insecticides are used on corn of which crop rotation would accomplish the same goal, eliminating use of 81 percent of these toxins.

Types

• Land pollution takes many forms, the most deadly caused by industry. Chemicals spilled or leached into the environment accidentally or intentionally can impact waterways and groundwater. Soils can be contaminated by use of toxins in industrial practices, such as mining or pesticide application. Contaminants can be found in common household items, such as batteries, and released into the soil in landfills.

Effects

• The EPA estimated that there are more than 500,000 abandoned mines in the United States. Mines can present safety risks due to old buildings, air shafts and other structures. Chemicals used in mining include toxic materials, such as arsenic and cadmium, that can dissolve into the groundwater and surface water. An especially destructive effect of mining is the impact on aquatic habitats. Mine drainage can cause AMD or acid mine drainage. AMD impacts waterways by lowering pH levels to such low levels that life is unsustainable. Environmental recovery is costly and difficult.

Considerations

• While the immediate and aesthetic effects are causes for concern, the long-term effects can be equally alarming. Elevated levels of minerals, such as lead and zinc, used in hard rock mining have leeched into groundwater and surface water, making recovery impossible. In fact,more than 40 percent of United States rivers and 46 percent of American lakes are too polluted to sustain aquatic life.

Prevention/Solution

• The first step to recovery is awareness and education. A clean-up effort in 2008 by Keep America Beautiful (KAB) recovered more than 86 million lbs. of litter from parks and roadways. Despite awareness efforts, people still litter. Obviously, more education is needed to set the facts straight about pollution. Industry and businesses also need to be aware of the long-term effects of improper management and disposal. The cost of pollution in environmental damage and human life is too great.