Land and Soil Pollution Flashcards
It refers to the presence in the soil of a chemical or substance out of place and/or in higher than normal concentration that has adverse effects on any non-targeted organism.
Soil Pollution
Soil pollution often can not be directly assessed or visually perceived, making it a _____________
Hidden danger
Main Anthropogenic Sources of Soil Pollution
(CDLMAP)
- Chemicals used in or produced as byproducts of industrial activities
- Domestic,
- Livestock, and
- Municipal wastes (including wastewater)
- Agrochemicals
- Petroleum-derived products
instances/examples of chemicals released to the environment accidentally
from oil spills or leaching from landfills
instances/examples of chemicals released to the environment intentionally
use of fertilizers and pesticides, irrigation with untreated wastewater, or land application of sewage sludge
Soil pollution also results from (3):
- atmospheric deposition
- incomplete combustion of many substances
- radionuclide deposition
Instances/Examples of atmospheric deposition which results to soil pollution
smelting, transportation, spray drift from pesticide applications,
Instances/Examples of radionuclide deposition which results to soil pollution
from atmospheric weapons testing and nuclear accidents.
the upper layer of the Earth’s crust
Soil
the upper layer of the Earth’s crust transformed by ___and ___ and ___processes
weathering, physical/chemical and biological processes
a. Soil is composed of (5):
b. they are arranged in
a. MOWAL
Mineral particles
Organic matter
Water
Air
Living organisms
b. genetic soil horizons
an important aspect of nutrient management
SOIL COMPOSITION
hold and store nutrients
soil minerals and organic matter
readily provides nutrients for plant uptake
soil water
plays an integral role since many of the microorganisms that live in the soil need air to undergo biological processes that release additional nutrients into the soil
soil air
Basic component of Soil Percentage:
a. Mineral Particles
b. Organic Matter
b.1 Organisms
b.2 Roots
b.3 Humus
c. Water
d. Air
a. Mineral Particles – 45%
b. Organic Matter – 5%
b.1 Organisms – 10%
b.2 Roots – 10%
b.3 Humus – 80%
c. Water – 20-30%
d. Air – 20-30%
In reality, the soil is very __ and __
complex and dynamic
The composition of the soil can fluctuate on a daily basis, depending on numerous factors such as:
-Water Supply
-Cultivation Practices
-Soil Type
plays a vital role in soil fertility
Soil Minerals
mineral surfaces serve as potential sites for ___
nutrient storage
the principal process that acts upon the earth’s primary minerals
Weathering
smaller and finer particles formed by weathering
soil
Types of weathering (2):
- Physical weathering
- Chemical Weathering
a process that breaks up and disintegrates parent rock, or primary minerals, within the earth
Physical Weathering
In the tropics, physical weathering is caused by
WEAF
-wetting and drying of rocks
-Erosion
-Actions of plants and animals
-Falling, smashing, or breaking of rock materials into smaller pieces
is important in nutrient management since the resulting soil particles retain and supply nutrients
Chemical Weathering
when highly weathered, the soil loses much of its nutrients due to ___
excessive leaching
highly weathered soils tend to be __, while moderately weathered soils are generally more__
-infertile soils
-fertile
Once parent rock has broken down into smaller pieces, another process acts upon the rock. This process is ___
chemical weathering
involves the change, or transformation, of primary minerals into secondary minerals.
chemical weathering
To further distinguish particles based upon size, particles are separated into the two categories (2):
-Coarse Fraction
-Fine Earth Fraction
The coarse fraction of soil includes any soil particles __ (size)
greater than 2mm
Examples of coarse fraction
-Boulders
-Stones
-Gravels
-Coarse Sands
the fine earth fraction includes any particles __(__ inches)
less than 2.0mm (0.078 inches)
the fine earth fraction is divided into three classes of size:
-Sand
-Silt
-Clay
Sizes of
a. sand,
b. silt,
c. clay
a. 2.0mm - 0.05mm
b. 0.05mm - 0.002mm
c. < 0.002mm
Texture of
a. sand,
b. silt,
c. clay
a. gritty
b. buttery
c. sticky
Visible to the naked eye, consist of particles with low surface area, and permits excessive drainage
sand
not visible to the naked eye and increases the water holding capacity of soil
silt
has high surface are, high water holding capacity, many small pores, and possesses charged surfaces to attract and hold nutrients
clay
an important property that allows us to make distinctions among the different soil minerals.
particle size
not only stores nutrients in the soil, but is also a direct source of nutrients.
Soil Organic Matter
includes all organic (or carbon-containing) substances within the soil
Soil Organic Matter
Soil Organic Matter includes (4):
- Living Organisms (soil biomass)
- Remains of microorganisms that once inhabited the soil
- Remains of plants and animals
- Organic Compounds
Organic Compounds that have been decomposed within the soil and, over thousands of years, reduced to complex and relatively stable substances commonly called___
humus
In nutrient management, a proper balance between __and __ is critical
soil water and soil air
both __ and __ are required by most processes that release nutrients into the soil.
water and air
importance of soil water in nutrient manage:
provides a pool of dissolved nutrients that are readily available for plant uptake.
Soil Water is important for three (3) special reasons:
- The presence of water is essential for all life on Earth
- Water is necessary for the weathering of soil
- Soil water is the medium from which all plant nutrients are assimilated by plants.
Soil water, sometimes referred to as __
soil solution
dissolved nutrients transported by soil water to the plant roots for absorption (4)
- Nitrogen
- Phosphorus
- Potassium
- Calcium
water is held within the __ of the soil
pores
water holding capacity depends on the __ and ___ that exist between the soil particles
capillary action & size of the pores
depends on the capillary action & size of the pores that exist between the soil particles
water holding capacity
do not have great ability to hold water
large pore
have small particles and small pores, tend to have a high water holding capacity
clayey soils
have a greater ability to hold water
small pores
In nutrient management, __influences the availability of many nutrients.
soil aeration
is needed by many of the microorganisms that release plant nutrients to the soil.
Soil air
Soil air is very different than the __. A significant difference is between the ___. Since the soil contains high amounts of __, __may be limited.
- above-ground atmosphere
- levels of carbon dioxide
- carbon dioxide
- oxygen levels
Comparison between soil air and atmospheric composition:
(N2, O2, CO2)
- N2 - 79.2%, 79.0%
- O2 - 20.6%, 20.9%
- CO2 - 0.25%, 0.03%
the topmost layer of the Earth’s crust
soil
the topmost layer of the Earth’s crust mainly composed __ and __
organic minerals and rock particles that support life
a vertical cross-section of the soil, made of layers running parallel to the surface
soil profile
layers of the soil are known as
soil horizons
The soil is arranged in __or __during its formation
layer or horizons
the vertical section of the soil is exposed by a __
soil pit
The layers of soil can easily be identified by the (2):
-Soil color
-Size of soil particles
Different layers of soil are (3):
-Topsoil
-Subsoil
-Parent rock
composed of a series of horizons or layers of soil stacked on top of the other.
soil profile
The layers or horizons are represented by letters:
O, A, E, B, C, and R.
the upper layer of the topsoil which is mainly composed of organic materials
The O-Horizon
organic materials in o-horizon:
DGDSTSO
-Dried leaves
-Grasses
-Dead leaves
-Small rocks
-Twigs
-Surface organisms
-Other decomposed organic matter
color of O-horizon mainly because of the presence of organic content.
black brown or dark brown
his layer consists of organic matter and other decomposed materials
The A-Horizon or Topsoil
The A-Horizon or Topsoil is rich in organic material and is known as the __
humus layer
The topsoil is __ & __ to hold enough air and water
soft & porous
In this layer, the seed germination takes place
A-horizon or topsoil
a process that takes place in the topsoil in which new roots are produced which grow into a new plant
seed germination
Topsoil consists of microorganisms such as:
-Earthworms
-Fungi
-Bacteria, etc
This layer is composed of nutrients leached from the O and A horizons.
The E-Horizon
This layer is common in forested areas and has lower clay content.
The E-Horizon
It is the subsurface horizon, present just below the topsoil and above the bedrock
The B-Horizon or Subsoil
It is comparatively harder and compact than topsoil.
The B-Horizon or Subsoil
It contains less humus, soluble minerals, and organic matter.
The B-Horizon or Subsoil
It is a site of deposition of certain minerals and metal salts such as iron oxide
The B-Horizon or Subsoil
Color of subsoil and its cause
lighter brown, because of the presence of clay soil
This layer is devoid of any organic matter and is made up of broken bedrock
The C-Horizon
C-horizon is also known as
Saprolite
The geological material present in this zone (C-horizon) is __
cemented
It is a compacted and cemented layer
The R-Horizon
Different types of rocks in C-horizon:
-Granite
-Basalt
-Limestone
Soil classification according to pH value:
- 6.5 to 7.5 = neutral
- Over 7.5 = alkaline
- Less than 6.5 = acidic
- Less than 5.5 = strongly acidic
10 Types and sources of land pollutants
DAMOIUCNSL
1. Deforestation and Soil Erosion
2. Agricultural Activities
3. Mining Activities
4. Overcrowded Landfills
5. Industrialization
6. Urbanization
7. Construction Activities
8. Nuclear Waste
9. Sewage Treatment
10. Littering
Land that is once converted into __ or __ can never be made fertile again, whatever the magnitude of measures to redeem it is
dry or barren land
The alteration or modification of the original properties of the land to make it use-worthy for specific purposes, is another major cause. It hampers the land immensely
Deforestation and Soil Erosion
With the growing human population, the demand for food has increased considerably. Farmers often use highly toxic fertilizers and pesticides to get rid of insects, fungi, and bacteria from their crops. However, with the overuse of these chemicals, they result in contamination and poisoning soil.
Agricultural Activities
During extraction and mining activities, several __ are created beneath the surface.
land spaces
nature’s way of filling the spaces left out after mining or extraction activity
land caving in
During extraction and mining activities, several land spaces are created beneath the surface. We constantly hear about land caving in, which is nothing but nature’s way of filling the spaces left out after mining or extraction activity.
Mining Activities
Each household produces tonnes of garbage each year. Garbage like aluminum, plastic, paper, cloth, wood is collected and sent to the ___
(LRU)
local recycling unit
Items that can not be recycled become __ that hamper the beauty of the city and cause land pollution.
part of the landfills
Each household produces tonnes of garbage each year. Garbage like aluminum, plastic, paper, cloth, wood is collected and sent to the local recycling unit. Items that can not be recycled become part of the landfills that hamper the beauty of the city and cause land pollution.
Overcrowded Landfills
To meet the demand of the growing population, more industries were developed which led to ___
deforestation
__ and __ paved the way for modern fertilizers and chemicals that were highly toxic and let to soil contamination
Research and development
Due to an increase in demand for food, shelter, and house, more goods are produced. This resulted in the creation of more waste that needs to be disposed of.
Industrialization
We humans have been making permanent settlements for at least the past 10,000 years. Most of the cities and towns, and the infrastructures created, will remain with us for thousands of more years into the future.
Urbanization
Many of us may not classify __ as land pollution, however, __ marks a significant change to the landscape that can cause land pollution in a variety of subtle and not-so-subtle ways
-human settlements
-urbanization
resulted in huge waste articles like wood, metal, bricks, plastic that can be seen by naked eyes outside any building or office which is under construction
Construction Activities
Nuclear plants can produce a huge amount of energy through__ and __
nuclear fission and fusion.
The leftover radioactive material contains harmful and toxic chemicals that can affect human health. They are dumped beneath the earth to avoid any casualty.
Nuclear Waste
A large amount of solid waste is leftover once the sewage has been treated. The leftover material is then sent to the landfill site, which ends up polluting the environment.
Sewage Treatment
a common problem, no matter if it is a city or a rural region. People just throw their garbage on the ground without caring about the adverse effects on the environment.
Littering
directly affects human health through direct contact with soil or via inhalation of soil contaminants which have vaporized
Contaminated or polluted soil
Potentially greater threats are posed by the __ used for human consumption
infiltration of soil contaminants into groundwater aquifers
can be carcinogenic, can cause Congenital Disorders, or can cause other Health Conditions
Chronic exposure to
(CLOMPS)
-chromium
-lead
-other metals
-many pesticides and herbicide formulations
-petroleum
-solvents
Industrial or manmade concentrations of naturally occurring substances such as __ and __associated with livestock manure from agricultural operations have also been identified as health hazards in soil and groundwater
nitrate and ammonia
Chronic exposure to __ at sufficient concentrations is known to be associated with higher incidence of leukemia
benzene
Chronic exposure to benzene at sufficient concentrations is known to be associated with higher incidence of __
leukemia
__ and __ are known to induce higher incidences of kidney damage, some irreversible.
Mercury and cyclodienes
Mercury and cyclodienes are known to induce higher incidences of __, some irreversible.
kidney damage
Linked to PCBs and cyclodienes
Liver Toxicity
Liver Toxicity is linked to __ and __
PCBs and cyclodienes
__ and __ can induce a chain of responses leading to neuromuscular blockage
Organophosphates and carbamates
Organophosphates and carbamates can induce a chain of responses leading to __
neuromuscular blockage
Many chlorinated solvents induce (3)
-Kidney changes
-Liver changes
-Depression of the central nervous system
At sufficient dosages, a large number of soil contaminants can cause death by exposure via (3):
-Direct contact
-Inhalation
-Ingestion of contaminants in groundwater contaminated through soil
The land when contaminated with toxic chemicals and pesticides lead to problems of __ and __
skin cancer and human respiratory system
(Skin Cancer and Respiratory Diseases)
__can be perhaps the most noticeable kinds of contamination.
Land contamination
Different kinds of land contamination like __, __, and __ can consider unsafe synthetic compounds to go into the soil and water
mining, cultivating, and manufacturing plants
These chemicals can make creatures and plants to die, disrupting the food chain.
unsafe synthetic compounds
It is a concept regarding the waste management and it acts as a base for developing the various waste management strategies.
Waste Management Hierarchy
The _________ is a vital tool used in decision making. It ranks waste management options according to what has the best outcome for the environment.
Waste Hierarchy
It includes using less hazardous materials that could be harmful to humans or the environment.
Prevention
This first stage of waste hierarchy encompasses using less material.
Prevention
It means cutting down the amount of waste we generate
Waste prevention and reduction
The principle of __________ is simple: the less waste you generate, the less resources you consume and the less materials end up in landfills.
Waste prevention
Source reduction can:
Save natural resources
Conserve energy
Reduce pollution
Reduce the toxicity of our waste, and;
Save money for consumers and businesses alike
Preparation for ________ encourages the checking, cleaning, repairing, refurbishing and where possible prolonging of whole items or spare parts.
Re-use
With _________, something is used again either for its original purpose or for a different function.
Re-use
In ________, items are broken down to provide raw materials for the manufacture of new products.
Recycling
It is the most popular stage of waste management hierarchy
Recycle
It is the process that takes used materials and reprocesses them into substances, materials or new products.The new materials may be of the original or other purposes.
Recycling
It is also considered as recycling.
Composting of biodegradable waste
Benefits of recycling include:
- Preventing the emission of many greenhouse gases and water pollutants.
- Saving energy
- Supplying valuable raw materials to industry
- Creating jobs
- Stimulating the development of greener technologies
- Conserving resources for our children’s future
- Reducing the need for new landfills and combustors
Main objectives of _______ are to conserve natural resources and to reduce the amount of waste generated.
Recovery
It may refer as well to the selective extraction of disposed materials for a specific next use, such as recycling and composting.
Waste recovery
It refers to the process of delivering waste to its final destination.
Disposal of waste
It is the least preferred waste management option since it does not prevent emissions and depletion of natural resources.
Waste disposal
It refers to the degradation of the land due to human activities, such as the exploitation of minerals, poor disposal of waste and improper utilization of soil.
Land pollution
