Land Pollution 3h6l6p

Land Pollution Land pollution is the degradation as well as contamination of the earth’s surface through a numerous variety of human activities. It i.e. land pollution is quite common as it is one of the most fought against dilemmas in Guyana. However despite the many warning and laws aimed at preventing land pollution it still remains one of the most prominent issues governing the quality of our living environment. Research conducted on this environmental concern has revealed several factors as the major contributors to land pollution in Guyana. These factors include: recent increased urbanization; thoughtless disposal or to be more correct dumping of urban waste matter both organic and inorganic in nature; dumping of industrial waste, mining and mineral exploitation and misuse of soil and improper removal of agricultural waste.

In Guyana, the government is aiming to help persons own their own homes. While this is beneficial to the individual who want the opportunity to own their own homes the environment is paying the price. Persons wanting to own their homes would either build houses or buy their own. This leads to urbanization which can only occur via deforestation and land clearing. Here not only are trees removed but top and sub soils rich in essential inorganic mineral necessary for plant growth Not to mention that these developing urban centers are further polluted by persons who are contracted to facilitate construction.

Both urban and agricultural waste would include organic and inorganic materials. The organic materials constituting the waste would usually in the case of urban materials include vegetable scraps as well as the dead leaves, etc. from house plants. While agriculture organic waste is made up of plant and animal byproducts. Materials such as paper, glass, metal and plastics comprise the inorganic waste. Agricultural systems of crop production tend to use inorganic commercial fertilizers such as nitrates for better crop yield. The side effect of this is if not used carefully istered along with the employment of the correct agricultural techniques the soil can be rendered unsuitable for plant growth.

Mining incorporates certain elements into soil that can have the same effect on soil as commercial fertilizers. Areas such as the interior savannah and highland region have reservoirs

of mining operations being conducted. These activities if not carried out in a certain manner can result in pollution of the soils with large amounts of elements which do not plant growth as well as sedimentation and pollution of vital water systems.

Industrial waste poses similar

effects as those of urban disposal, agriculture waste disposal and mining.

Land pollution is responsible for deforestation and destruction of the ecosystems of wild life. Deforestation in turn causes erosion of soil and lost of the available minerals in the rich sub and top soils. The spread of diseases such as leptospirosis, skin conditions as well as respiratory problems are also as a result of this major environmental issue. Birth defects are yet another consequence of land pollution.

Disease vectors such as flies, rats, cockroaches become particular active in areas where garbage disposal is not conducted in the right way. Children may become ill just by playing in infested area.

Guyana being below sea level has a tendency towards flooding when there is heavy rainfall. Notably so on the coastal regions. This problem is complicated further through blockage of drains which are responsible for irrigating the lands by plastic urban materials.

Using of a dump site is one way in which Guyana tries to avoid land pollution. However this is not without consequences-it attracted disease vectors and (2) if we are not careful we will have increased levels of methane and carbon dioxide gas released from decaying organic matter. This can be proven to be deadly. While it was for a while complained that there were not enough bins to prevent persons from polluting land with unsightly, undesirable materials an increase in the number of bin and even littering laws has been unable to curb land pollution.