Land pollution is an often overlooked form of pollution. It doesn’t get as much attention as air or water pollution, but the effects can be just as devastating. 

In this article, we’re going to answer some of your questions, including:

• What is land pollution?
• How does land pollution affect the environment?
• What are common sources of land pollution?

What is Land Pollution?

Land pollution is the destruction and misuse of land which contaminates the soil and nearby bodies of water. Although land pollution centers on the dumping of waste on otherwise healthy landscapes, it can take many forms:

• Dumping of toxic/municipal waste
• Littering
• Sewage dumping
• Mountaintop removal
• Open-pit mining

These activities degrade the landscape and have a wide range of effects both above and below the surface. 

How Does Land Pollution Affect the Environment?

At first glance, land pollution can seem localized, but the effects are systemic in nature. Places used as waste dumps for factories, construction sites, and municipalities accumulate contaminants and toxins. These chemicals destroy ecosystems in the immediate area, permeate the soil and water, and kill off local flora and fauna.

Wind and rain can carry these pollutants far from the original site, contaminating faraway ecosystems and making their way up the food chain. Toxic chemicals can bioaccumalate in plants and animals, and end up in our food supply.

Land pollution often becomes water pollution over long timescales. Chemicals that build up in these waste dumps percolate through the soil, poisoning groundwater supplies. If these dumps are near oceans and rivers, then trash can be carried away by the current. Toxic waste can cause algae blooms, and animals may mistake floating debris for food.

Waste dumps are also unsightly, emit foul odors, and are breeding grounds for diseases. If uncontrolled, trash buildup can go for miles, taking up the entire landscape. Rotting foods and debris attracts flies and rats, which bring diseases like cholera, dysentery, and listeria. 

Mining operations destroy large areas of land to extract material from the ground. They may use dynamite to blast away hillsides to easily reach minerals deep within the Earth. This practice is called mountain-top removal. Hundreds of acres of natural habitats can be destroyed in these operations, forcing animals to flee. The shockwaves from the explosions can also kill birds and other sensitive creatures. 

Open-pit mining removes huge portions of the Earth to extract valuable materials. Like mountain top removal, open pit mining removes large portions of land, but on a much larger scale. Habitats are destroyed in the process, and the toxic byproducts from mining tend to pool at the bottom of the pit.

Sources of Land Pollution

Land Pollution can come from natural and man-made sources. Although natural sources of land pollution are a concern, they can be mitigated by natural cycles. Man-made land pollution can cause lasting damage to ecosystems if left unregulated.

Natural Land Pollution

Land pollution can come from a variety of natural sources. 

• Volcanoes
• Poisonous Plants
• Forest Fires

Natural sources of land pollution may cause short-term damage, but the Earth is well-equipped to mitigate any long-term effects. Forest fires, in particular, are usually part of a natural cycle and are necessary for the preservation of certain environments. So while these events may cause some damage, the impact is minimized in healthy ecosystems, and the effects aren’t sustained over long periods of time. 

Anthropogenic Land Pollution

Anthropogenic, or human-caused, land pollution is primarily caused by illegal or unregulated waste dumps. Several industries and entities engage in the practice, including:

• Municipalities
• Garbage companies
• Factories
• Food processing plants
• Construction companies
• Mining

There are three categories of waste that cause land pollution; municipal solid waste (MSW), construction and demolition (C&D), and hazardous waste. 

Municipal solid wastes often contain household and commercial waste which includes old foods, paper and plastic materials, and discarded furniture. Rotting food can add extra nutrients into the environment as it breaks down, and attract pests. Household cleaners and paints can also introduce toxic chemicals into the environment.

Construction and demolition waste can include pieces of wood, scrap metal, concrete rubble, and asphalt. Though these materials are usually inert, they can restrict access to certain habitats. Sharp objects might also be present in the waste, which can injure or maim wildlife.

Hazardous waste consists of liquid and solid wastes like raw sewage and industrial waste. Hazardous waste contains toxic chemicals that can percolate into the soil and water. Contaminants like lead, arsenic, and mercury are often present. 

If allowed to remain unregulated, these companies will continue to dump their waste wherever they see fit. Illegal waste dumps can grow to encompass hundreds of acres. Land pollution from illegal waste dumping is an especially large concern in developing countries and communities of color, where laws are hardly enforced.

Agbobloshie in Ghana is an example of this. Called a “digital dumping ground”, it’s estimated that a half million of tons of e-waste are dumped in the area yearly. E-waste consists of old computers, laptops, televisions, and other electronics. They contain highly toxic materials which seep out from the discarded devices and pollute the surrounding area. Levels of lead, mercury, and dioxins in Agbobloshie are said to be hundreds of times higher than safe limits.

Conclusion

Land pollution is an often overlooked form of pollution, but its just as disasterous as any other. Toxic waste dumps and open pit mines are the largest sources of land pollution. The problem is magnified in developing countries where regulations are lax, or hardly enforced. Land pollution in these areas is closely linked to other forms of pollution, like water pollution. Heavy rain and strong currents can wash land-borne debris and contaminants into rivers and oceans, carrying them thousands of miles away from the original source.