- The environment contains both living (Biotic) and non-living things (Abiotic).
- Living components are Animals and Plants
- Non-living things are mainly Air, Water and Soil.
[Definition: Pollution - It is the introduction of harmful substances to the environment known as pollutants.]
Soil Pollution
Some of the major soil pollutants are:
Farm chemicals such as fertilizers and herbicides
Domestic and industrial waste
Poor disposal of metal, plastics and other non-decomposing materials such as polyethene and rubber
Oil Spillage
Dumping of raw sewage and industrial waste
Burning of vegetation
Effects of Soil Pollution?
Use of chemicals, burning vegetation and harmful disposal of domestic and industrial waste kills micro organisms in the soil
Oil spillage interferes with the circulation of air in the soil
Plastics and other non-decomposing materials interfere with plants' root development
Conservation of the Soil
Avoid burning of vegetation
Use organic fertilizers other than non-organic ones
Conserve soil moisture through mulching
Take measures to control soil erosion such as afforestation, contour farming and more
Adopt good measures to dispose both industrial and domestic waste
Avoid excessive use of farm chemicals
Air Pollution
Some of the major air pollutants are:
Cigarette smoking as it produces harmful carbon monoxide
Burning of plastics and rubber
Vehicle exhausts
Farm chemicals such as pesticides and herbicides
Aerosol sprays such as insecticides
Industrial gases produced as waste such as sulphur
Dust
Effects of Air Pollution
Carbon monoxide from cigarettes, burning charcoal and vehicle exhausts can cause death through suffocation
Tar from cigarettes causes lung cancer
Dust leads to respiratory problems such as asthma and in plants it covers leaves interfering with a plant's respiratory system, photosynthesis and transpiration
Industrial waste gases from acid rain which destroys roofs
Aerosol sprays destroy the ozone layer leading to global warming
Controlling Air pollution
Public cigarette smoking should be discouraged
Plastics and rubber should not be openly burned
Vehicles should use unleaded fuel and be maintained
Use of farm chemicals should be reduced
Industrial waste gases should be treated before being released into the air.
