Land pollution is the deterioration (destruction) of the earth’s land
surfaces, often directly or indirectly as a result of man’s activities and
their misuse of land resources.
or
Soil, or land pollution, is contamination of
the soil that prevents natural growth and balance in the land whether it is
used for cultivation, habitation, or a wildlife preserve. Some soil pollution,
such as the creation of landfills, is deliberate, while much more is accidental
and can have widespread effects.
It occurs when waste is not disposed off properly, or can occur when humans
throw chemicals unto the soil in the form of pesticides, insecticides and
fertilizers during agricultural practices. Exploitation of minerals (mining
activities) has also contributed to the destruction of the earth’s surface.
Since the Industrial Revolution, natural
habitats have been destroyed, and environments have been polluted, causing
diseases in both humans and many other species of animals.
Human actions have also caused many large
areas of land to lose or reduce their capacity to support life forms and
ecosystems. This is know as land degradation. Note that land degradation can
result from many factors, and land pollution is only one of them.
In the lesson, we shall see the more about
Land and Environmental Pollution, the
sources of the pollution, its consequences and a few things we can do to
prevent further pollution and protect our environment