Land pollution, Degradable and non-degradable pollutants and control of soil pollution

Land pollution

           Land gets polluted by dumping of municipal wastes, industrial wastes and hospital wastes. Industrial wastes are the major sources of land pollution. The land pollutants are distinguished into degradable and non- degradable pollutants.

Degradable pollutants 

      Domestic sewage is a degradable pollutant. It can be rapidly decomposed by the natural process. Domestic waste is decomposed by bacteria. Large amount of carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulphide gas is released into the atmosphere from sewers.     

Non-degradable pollutants

        Ceramics, PVC pipe, plastic bags, polythene covers and pesticides are some examples for non-degradable pollutants. There is no treatment mechanism available to decompose these pollutants. Hence make use of cloth and gunny bags for shopping purposes and avoid the usage of polythene covers and plastic bags.

             Decomposing garbage emits methane and open sewers emit hydrogen sulphide. Exposed garbage and sewers are the breeding grounds for mosquitoes, flies, germs and bacteria.

           Mining operations completely devastate the topsoil and contaminate the area with toxic metals and chemicals.

             Discharge of more and more detergents on land will affect the fertility of the soil. Use of insecticides, pesticides and detergents denatures the chemical composition and texture of the soil.

Control of soil pollution

1. Control measures for soil pollution involve the management of solid wastes. It includes the following three steps.

a) Collection and categorisation of wastes. 

b) Recovery of resources for recycling and reuse.

c) Safe disposal with minimum environmental hazards.

2. The non-degradable industrial wastes, poisonous chemicals and hospital wastes may be used as bedding materials for road construction.

3. The industrial solid wastes may be decomposed by pyrolysis.

4. The municipal solid wastes can be transformed into organic manure for agriculture. 

5. Closed type of sewers may be used to reduce the production of mosquitoes and files.