ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE REVIEWER  Items that cannot be recycled become a part of

landfills that hamper the beauty of the city and

cause land pollution.
Land Pollution
5. Industrialization
 The deterioration of Earth’s land features and  Due to an increased demand for food, shelter, and
soil,directly or indirectly. house, more goods are produced.
 It is often caused by human activities and  This resulted in the creation of more waste that
themisuse of land resources which could lead to needs to be disposed of.
undesirable changes in land, like soil erosion.  To meet the demand of the growing population,
 It also refers to an activity that lessens the quality more industries were developed, which lead to
and/or productivity of the land as an ideal place deforestation.
for agriculture, forestation, construction, etc.  Research and development paved the way for
modern fertilizers and chemicals that were highly
toxic and led to soil contamination.
Various Causes of Land Pollution
6. Urbanization
1. Deforestation and Soil Erosion
 Many of us may not classify human settlements as
 Deforestation carried out to create drylands is one
“land pollution;” however, urbanization marks a
of the major concerns.
significant change to the landscape that can cause
 Land that is once converted into dry or barren
land pollution in a variety of subtle and not- so-
land can never be made fertile again, whatever
subtle ways.
the magnitude of measures to redeem it is.
 Land conversion, meaning the alteration or
7. Construction Activities
modification of original properties of land to make
 Due to urbanization, a large number of
it use-worthy for a specific purpose, is another
construction activities are taking place, which has
major cause.
resulted in huge waste articles like wood, metal,
 Also, there is a constant waste of land. Unused
bricks, and plastic that can be seen by naked eyes
available land over the years turns barren; this
outside any building or office which is under
land then cannot be used.
construction.
 So, in search of more land, potent land is hunted,
and its indigenous state is compromised.
8. Nuclear Waste
 The leftover radioactive material contains harmful
2. Agricultural Activities
and toxic chemicals that can affect human health.
 Farmers often use toxic fertilizers and pesticides
 They are dumped beneath the earth to avoid any
to get rid of insects, fungi, and bacteria from their
casualty.
crops.
 However, with the overuse of these chemicals,
9. Sewage Treatment
they result in contamination and poisoning of soil.
 A large amount of solid waste is leftover once the
sewage has been treated.
3. Mining Activities
 The leftover material is then sent to the landfill
 During extraction and mining activities, several
site, which ends up polluting the environment.
land spaces are created beneath the surface.
 We constantly hear about land caving in, which is
10. Littering
nothing but nature’s way of filling the spaces left
 People just throw their garbage on the ground
out after mining or extraction activity.
without caring about the adverse effects on the
environment.
4. Overcrowded Landfills
 A common instance is that people just throw their
 Garbage like aluminum, plastic, paper, cloth,
cigarette butt on the ground every time.
wood, is collected and sent to the local recycling
unit.
Disastrous Effects of Land Pollution
7. Causes Air Pollution
1. Soil Pollution
 Landfills across the city keep on growing due to an
 Soil pollution is another form of land pollution,
increase in waste and are later burned, which
where the upper layer of soil or the topsoil’s
leads to air pollution.
composition is damaged or altered.
 They become home for rodents, mice, etc., which
 This is caused by the overuse of chemical
in turn transmit diseases.
fertilizers, soil erosion triggered by running water
and other pest control measures, leading to loss
8. Distraction for Tourists
of fertile land for agriculture, forest cover, fodder
 The city loses its attraction as a tourist destination
patches for grazing, etc.
as landfills do not look good when you move
around the city.
2. Groundwater Poisoning
 It leads to a loss of revenue for the state
 When harmful substances from industrial
government.
processes like chemicals are improperly disposed
on the land or in illegal landfills or storages, the
9. Effect on Wildlife
chemicals and other substances could end up in
 They face a serious threat with regards to the loss
the groundwater system.
of habitat and natural environment.
 The constant human activity on land is leaving it
3. Drinking Water Problem
polluted, forcing these species to move further
 Drinking water is highly affected by land pollution.
away and adapt to new regions or die trying to
 Nearly 50% of the world’s population does not
adjust.
have access to safe drinking water, and each year
 Several species are also pushed to the verge
water-based diseases cause up to 10 million
extinction, due to no homeland.
deaths.
10. Water Nutrient Enrichment
4. Change in Climate Patterns
 Chemicals that are frequently used on agricultural
 The effects of land pollution are very hazardous
farms, such as nitrogen, end up benefitting the
and can lead to the loss of ecosystems.
crops only in a small proportion.
 When land is polluted, it directly or indirectly
 The rest ends up in water populated by fish, algae,
affects the climate pattern.
and other lifeforms.

5. Environmental Impact
11. Wildfires
 When deforestation is committed, the tree cover
 When land areas are polluted, they usually
is compromised.
become quiet dry. The dry conditions created by
 This leads to a steep imbalance in the rain cycle. A
pollutants in the soil create the perfect
disturbed brain cycle affects a lot of factors.
environment for wildfires and increases the
 Most importantly, the green cover is reduced.
probability of wildfires dramatically.
Trees and plants help balance the atmosphere;
 The fires can grow quickly because of the dry
without them, we are subjected to various
conditions and widening area of polluted land,
concerns like Global warming, the greenhouse
thereby harming the whole environment and
effect, irregular rainfall and flashfloods, among
killing plants, animals, and even humans.
other imbalances.
Solid Waste
6. Effect on Human Health
 Solid wastes are all the wastes arising from human
 The land, when contaminated with toxic chemicals
and animal activities that are normally solid and
and pesticides, lead to potentially fatal problems
are discarded as useless or unwanted.
like skin cancer and the human respiratory
ailments in particular.
 The toxic chemicals can reach our body through
foods and vegetables that we eat as they are
grown in polluted soil. Types of Solid Waste
Industrial Waste – produced by mines, farms or
agriculture, and industries that supply people with goods
and services
Municipal Solid Waste – often called garbage or trash,
which consists of the combined solid waste produced by
homes, institutions, small businesses, and workplaces
other than factories.
Sources of Solid Waste
1. Residential
 Wastes that are generated from living households,
generally contain non-hazardous solid wastes;
kitchen waste, found usually at home.
2. Agricultural
 These are solid wastes due to agricultural
activities: food residues, animal dung, crop
residues, etc.
3. Commercial
 Wastes generated from business establishments:
food establishments, shops, etc., that generate
generally non-hazardous waste such as paper,
cardboard, wood, metals and plastic.
4. Industrial Wastes
 It is from various types of industrial processes. The
nature of the waste depends on the type of
industry and kind of raw material involved. There
may be toxic and hazardous wastes that have
adverse effects to the environment.
5. Institutional Solid Waste
 Generated from public and government
institutions: offices, religious institutes, schools,
universities, etc.; generally, not hazardous.
6. Hospital Solid Waste
 Discarded, unwanted solid wastes from hospitals.
It consists of both non-hazardous and hazardous
waste.
HOW CAN WE DEAL WITH THE DIFFERENT SOLID WASTE?
Solid Waste Disposal
1. Open Dumping
 Generally, solid waste is spread over a large area,
providing sources of food and shelter for flies, rats
and other vermin.
 Considerations in selection and locating sites for
open dumping
 Sources of water supply and distance from it
 Direction of wind
 Distance from nearest residents, nearby farm
areas and main land.
 Distance that flies can travel from disposal site to
living quarters as well as the distance that the
rodents can travel from disposal areas and living
quarters
2. Controlled Tipping/Burial Sanitary Landfill
System
 It differs in ordinary dumping in that the
material are placed in a trench or other
prepared area, adequately compacted, and
covered with earth at the end of the working
day.
Steps in Controlled Tipping
 Choosing a suitable site, usually wasteland, to
be reclaimed within reasonable distance from
habitation.
 Transporting the generated wastes to the site
by appropriately designed vehicles.
 Laying the wastes in appropriate heap to a
predetermined height
 Compacting the layer mechanically.
 Covering the compacted layer with a thin
layer of earth 22 cm depth at the end of each
work day. The same steps are repeated for
each work period
3. Incineration
 Incineration is a process of burning the
combustible components of garbage at
temperatures high enough to destroy
contaminants. It reduces volume of waste by
20-30% of original volume.
Mining
  Is the extraction of valuable minerals or  DESCRIPTION
geological materials from the surface or under - perhaps the most commonly known mining
the surface of the Earth. method
 Mining products usually have high economic - This is done by removing (stripping) surface
value and are particularly useful to mankind. plants, dirt, and, if necessary, layers of
 Examples of these products are metals like bedrock in order to reach buried ore deposits.
copper, gold, and zinc as well as gems like - Examples of surface mining techniques are
rubies, sapphires, and diamonds. open-pit mining (quarrying), strip mining, and
mountaintop removal
Importance of Mining
Underground Mining
 The mining industry supplies materials that are
used for a wide variety of applications.  PRODUCTS OBTAINED
 Metals are used to construct roads and Hard Rock
establishments, build automobiles and houses, - Gold
and make computers and satellites. - Silver
 The mined metals can also be used to generate - Iron
electricity and serve as components of the - Copper
gadgets that we use a lot. - Zinc
 Gems have high economic value and are regarded - Nickel
as status symbols for the wealthy - Tin
 In addition to these, mining is also an - Lead
economically important industry to regions and - Diamonds
countries that serve as reservoirs of mining - Rubies
products. - Gemstones
 The Philippines, in particular, is the fifth most Soft Rock
mineral-rich country in the world for gold, nickel,
copper, and chromite. - Coal
- Oil shale
- Potash
TYPES OF MINING  DESCRIPTION
- Also called sub-surface mining
There are four types of mining. The method used in mining - A mining method used to excavate minerals
depends on three factors: that are found in the deeper parts of Earth's
crust
 type of mineral resource to be mined
- It may be used to excavate hard minerals
 location (if at or beneath the surface)
(hard rock mining) containing metals or gems
 economic value of the mineral resource
or mine for geological materials from
Surface Mining sedimentary ("soft") rocks (soft rock mining).

 PRODUCTS OBTAINED Placer Mining

- Coal
 PRODUCTS OBTAINED
- Lignite (brown coal)
- Gold
- Bitumen (asphalt)
- Tin
- Copper
- Platinum
- Iron
- Diamond
- Gold
- Some gemstones
- Silver
 DESCRIPTION
- Nickel
- Placers are unconsolidated deposits with
- Gravel
detrital material containing valuable minerals.
- Diamonds
They are often formed from weathering
- Limestone
- Phosphate
 processes due to natural forces like water and
wind.
In-Situ Mining
 PRODUCTS OBTAINED
- Uranium
- Copper
- Potash
- Soluble salts
 DESCRIPTION
- In-situ (Latin meaning "on site") leaching
involves using boreholes that are drilled into a
deposit. Chemicals are pumped through the
boreholes to dissolve that minerals in a
solvent and siphon it onto the surface.
- The leaching solution used is often either an
acid or carbonate.
Environmental Impacts
 The environmental impacts of mining on the
environment are often huge.
 It can drastically alter the conditions in a particular
area in just a short period of time, especially if the
sustainability measures are not observed.
Some of the environmental impacts of mining include:
 Soil erosion
 Sinkholes
 Loss of biodiversity
 Contamination of soil, groundwater, and surface
water
 Increase in carbon emissions
Laws Governing the Mining Industry
Republic Act No. 7942
 Also known as the Philippine Mining Act of 1995,
this law aims to promote proper exploration,
development, utilization, and conservation of our
mineral resources through the combined efforts of
the government and the private sector.
 The Philippines, being the fifth most mineral-rich
countries in the world have a huge potential to be
developed if our mineral resources are conserved
and utilized properly.
 It is worth noting that the law recognizes the
rights of indigenous people (IP) to their ancestral
domains, mandating royalty payments to the IP
communities should be given for the minerals in
their areas were to be utilized.
Laws Governing the Mining Industry
Republic Act No. 7076
 This act is also known as the People's Small-scale
Mining Act of 1991.
 Its main objective is to promote small-scale mining
activities and give access and more opportunities
for small-scale miners to partake in the land's
natural resources.
Possible Solutions to Land Pollution
Make people aware of the concept of 4Rs.
Refuse: Don’t use it. Refuse disposable plastic whenever
and wherever possible. Choose items that are not
packaged in plastic, and carry your own bags, containers
and utensils. Say 'no straw, please.'
Reduce: Use less. Reduce your plastic footprint. Cut down
on your consumption of goods that contain excessive
plastic packaging and parts. If it will leave behind plastic
trash, don't buy it.
Reuse: Use it over and over. Reuse durable, non-toxic
straws, utensils, to go containers, bottles, bags, and other
everyday items. Choose glass, paper, stainless steel, wood,
ceramic and bamboo over plastic.
Recycle: Convert it to useful items and buy products made
from recycled materials. Recycle what you can’t refuse,
reduce or reuse. Pay attention to the entire life cycle of
items you bring into your life, from source to
manufacturing to distribution to disposal.
Possible Solutions to Land Pollution
 Reduce the use of pesticides and fertilizers in
agricultural activities.
 Buy Biodegradable products
 Create dumping ground away from residential
areas.
 Education is the key to mitigate the land pollution
problem.