Land Pollution

All types of land have their own value in the environment. People throw out wastes such as broken glasses, dirty things and other materials that are not useful to them. Some of these waste materials that are biodegradable decay after sometime and mixed with soil. Such waste materials do not pollute the environment. The other materials such as plastic, broken glasses, vehicles and machines are not degradable and remain on the land for longer period that pollutes the land. It reduces the fertility of land and also destroys physical and chemical properties of the land. Thus, deterioration of land due to accumulation of waste materials on it is called land pollution.

a. Causes of Land Pollution
Several factors pollute land. Some of the main factors are given below:
· Land is polluted due to the accumulation of biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste materials. Waste materials such as glasses, papers, plants and agricultural residues are degradable. They do not deteriorate land. However, accumulation of huge amount of degradable materials pollutes land.
· Non-degradable materials such as plastic, broken glasses and metals if they are thrown on the land they pollute it.
· Farmers use chemicals such as fertilizers and pesticides in their farm to increase production. However, it affects adversely land and water sources in and around there.

b. Effects of land Pollution
Among the several effects of land pollution some of the main ones are given below:
· Polluted land is the source of bad smell. Bad smell from there spread to the surroundings. It makes the settlement area unhealthy. Various types of diseases spread from such place.
· Land polluted due to chemical fertilliser and poisons like pesticide is harmful to plants, animals and other living-beings. In accordance to food cycle, such poisons are transferred to human being through the food they eat.
· Land pollution affects natural setting of land and cultural heritage such as religious place, monastery and other heritage sites.

c. Methods of Land Pollution Control
They are different types of methods to control land pollution. Some of them are given below:
· It is necessary to control solid and wastes to throw to open place and road. The use of plastic bag and other materials made from plastic should be reduced. Such materials should be re-used.
· Biodegradable materials such as residue of plants, vegetables and other wastes of plants should be used to make compost.
· Solid wastes and harmful chemicals released from industries, hospital and laboratories should be purified to some extent before discharging them to land and water sources.
· Legal provision should be made on the management of solid wastes. It forces the people to manage solid wastes properly that control land pollution.