Threatening Effects of Garbage on Environment

Health is a major concern for every human being. We have to maintain the social hygienic standards to achieve good health. For this we need a neat and pure environment. But, garbage pollution is limiting us to get a healthy environment. It’s being a global concern today, threatening our land, water, and air. Even if we properly discard the trash, it still remains in landfills, ditches, roadsides, and rivers. This poses a serious threat to our mother nature. Improper garbage disposal keeps on affecting our entire ecosystem.

 Impact on Land:

Soil contamination is the biggest threat to the environment. Most of the soil pollutants result from industrial sources. It consist solid particles as well as liquid particles. Insidious soil pollutants thrashed from industries include lead, PCBs, and asbestos. Industrial products contain chemicals which are highly toxic. These harmful pollutants affect humans, plants, and animals. These chemicals enter the soil and then contaminate local plants and animals. The improper disposal of electronic items release lead, mercury, and other chemicals into landfills. These toxic chemicals do not break down easily in the soil. They are exposed to humans and other living creatures causing serious health hazards. Number of health problem occurs including birth defects and brain or liver damage. So, it is important to know the basics of recycling the garbage. Recycling, composting, hazardous material disposal, and incineration are some great methods to keep our environment healthy. Recycling is the most useful and cost-effective way of disposing waste items. You can recycle plastics, metals, papers, and glass at your local recycling center. Once recycled, the items can be reused by the consumers. Hazardous material disposal is another effective way to get rid of garbage. Some certain facilities are specially designed to dispose this kind of dangerous materials. These hazardous materials include used paint canes, used oils, syringes, and chemical based items such as bleach. These materials should be properly disposed, or else they will contaminate the land if put into a landfill. Newspapers or paper containing ink can be toxic to the soil. If not properly dumped or contained in a landfill, it will contaminate the surrounding ground.

Impact on Water Resource:

Water is one of the most essential natural resources for life. Humans and animals need clean drinking water to survive healthy. Unfortunately, this precious resource is easily contaminated due to construction sites or factories, oil spills, sewage spills, and the accumulation of trash. Chemicals that enter the soil can easily run into water systems. Humans are not the only victim. Improper garbage dumping and discharge of untreated raw sewage threatens the marine life. Regular disposing of waste into water forms a cluster or algal bloom. It contaminates sea bottom habitats such as coral and fish. Old fishing lures, plastic bottles, rope, Styrofoam, cigarette butts, and fishing lines affects the marine life a lot. People also suffer from health issues when they consume these contaminated fishes. Water pollution can cause long term health problems for humans as well as animals.

Impact on Air:

Burning of fossil fuels, such as vehicle and factory emissions is the common source of air pollution. These emissions create smog which is a mass of particulate matter that hangs like a cloud in the sky. Acid rain is also a harmful effect of air pollution. It is formed when sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide in the air combine with oxygen, water and other chemicals. This poisonous rain is a deadly threat for living creatures. It can kill birds, fish, and trees. Statues, monuments and buildings are also damaged due to it. Improper disposal of garbage also release methane gas. This gas can destroy the earth’s ozone layer and increase global warming. Garbage containing harmful chemicals such as bleach, acid, or oil should be correctly disposed in approved containers. Burning papers, plastics, and other materials contaminate the air. The released chemicals build up in the ozone layer. It also releases a toxic chemical called dioxin that causes public health risk.

In conclusion, discard of garbage is a huge problem for the earth's environment. It includes harmful contaminants into air, water or soil. It can have dire effects on entire ecosystems. Humans, animals, plants, and marine creatures become the innocent victim. However, proper awareness and correct garbage dumping can limit the threatening effects of garbage. You should avoid plastic packaging, plastic disposables, and choose aluminum, tin, or paper. Do everything that will keep your environment pollution-free.