1. Chapter 19 Land Pollution

2. Section 19.1 – Solid Wastes
Solid wastes – all garbage and sludge products from agriculture, forestry, mining, and municipalities.
Includes: garbage, trash, junk, scrap and sewage.
Garbage Disposal in the Past.
People disposed of garbage in the streets.
1892 – outbreaks of typhoid fever (bacterial disease) and cholera (intestinal bacterial infection) forced NY officials to establish better sanitary condition's.

3. Section 19.1 – Solid Wastes
1900 – Garbage collected from the streets, loaded into barges and dumped into the ocean.
Landfills were established to solve the problem of the polluted waters.
Landfill – a site where wastes are disposed of by burying them.
About 70% of today’s garbage is dumped in landfills.

4. Section 19.1 – Solid Wastes Problems with landfills.
Space
Odor
Disease
Pests
Rainfall carries pollutants to
soli and water. Also known as leaching.
Sanitary Landfills
Cover waste with layers of soil.
Produces methane gas (combustible)
Leaching of toxic substances.
To prevent need impermeable liners.

5. Section 19.2 – Hazardous Wastes
Effects of Hazardous Materials
Hazardous wastes – solid, liquid, or gaseous wastes that are potentially harmful to humans and the environment, even in low concentrations.
Problems
Containers leak, wastes enters land and water. Gases (known as oxides) are released into the atmosphere.

6. Accidents Involving Hazardous Waste
Location
Year
Nature of Damage
Minamata, Japan
1959
By 1983, 300 people killed from mercury discharged into waterways
Detroit, Michigan
1966
Nuclear breeder core meltdown
Flixborough, UK
1974
22 dead in chemical plant explosion
Seveso, Italy
1976
190 injured in dioxin (gas) leak
Love Canal, NY
1970s
Toxic waste dump responsible for birth defects and illnesses
Elizabeth, NJ
1979
30 people injured when explosion produced toxic smoke over city
3 Mile Island, near Harrisburg, PA
Partial nuclear core meltdown and release of radioactive gas and water
Woburn, Massachusetts
15 dead from leukemia associated with nearby toxic waste dump
Chernobyl, Ukraine
1986
Explosion and fire released huge amounts of radiation
Hagersville, Ontario
1990
Tire fire lasting 17 days produced toxic smoke over city

7. Section 19.2 – Hazardous Wastes
Classification of Hazardous Materials 1. Reactive wastes – can explode. Sodium – Metal comes in contact with water 2. Corrosive wastes – can eat through steel and many other materials. Battery acid and lye (drain-cleaning products).

8. Section 19.2 – Hazardous Wastes
Ignitable wastes – Can burst into flames at relatively low temperatures.
- Immediate danger to smoke and fire and fumes.
Toxic wastes – chemicals that are poisonous to people
Can cause birth defects, cancer and health problems.

9. Section 19.2 – Hazardous Wastes
Radioactive wastes – radiation that can harm people and other organisms.
Nuclear power plants, medical and scientific research
Medical Wastes – Old medicines, medicine containers, lab equipment, lab specimens, used syringes, blood vials, and tissue samples.

10. Section 19.2 – Hazardous Wastes
Hazardous Home Wastes
Ammonia
Bleach
Toilet-bowl cleaners
Drain cleaners
Oven cleaners
Disinfectants
Furniture polish
Medicines
Paints
Oil
Pesticides

11. Section 19.3 – Topsoil erosion
Erosion – natural forces that carry away soil.
Major causes are wind and running water.
Activities such as overgrazing, cultivation, deforestation and poor irrigation causes soil loss and desertification.
About 30% of earth’s land has undergone desertification
In the U.S., parts of AZ, CO, CA and TX are at risk.

12. Section 19.3 – Topsoil erosion
The Grand Canyon

13. Section 19.3 – Topsoil erosion
Soil Conservation and Land Management 1. Strip-Cropping – Farmland is plowed so that plowed trips are separated by planted strips. - Having at least part of the land covered by vegetation reduces topsoil loss. 2. Shelter Belts – Rows of trees are planted along the edges of a field. - Also known as windbreaks. - They slow down the wind to prevent soil loss.

14. Section 19.4 – Controlling Pollution on Land
Reducing the Volume of Waste
Disposable items make up about ¼ of all wastes placed in landfills.
Reusable items can eliminate that fraction.
50% of waste by communities is paper products
Recycling can also eliminate that number.
Don’t trash biodegradable products.
Biodegradable – substances decompose easily and enrich the soil.
Can be used to make a compost pile.
Plant waste and certain food waste are used.