Land Pollution

Soil is an important part in supporting life on earth. As we know the food chain begins with plants. Human, animal, plant life. Indeed, there are plants and animals that live in the sea, but most of our food comes from the ground. Therefore, it is our obligation to preserve the land so that it remains able to support life on earth. However, as well as air and water pollution, soil contamination was a result of human activity as well. 

Soil contamination is a state in which man-made chemicals enter and modify the natural soil environment. This contamination usually occurs because: leakage of liquid waste or industrial chemicals or commercial facilities; pesticide use; influx of contaminated ground water into the sub-surface layer; accidents of vehicles carrying oil, chemicals, or waste, water waste from landfills and industrial wastes are directly discharged into the ground are not eligible (illegal dumping). 

Contaminated soil 
a famous Indonesian land. Up in the history of Indonesia ever. Fertility that has invited the foreign invaders to exploit. Another phenomenon now. Most Indonesian soil contaminated by pollution caused by public disorder. This makes the soil contamination is damaged and lost a, contain high acidity. Foul smelling, dry, containing heavy metals, and so on. If it were so then the ground will be difficult to be utilized. 
From the above statement, it can be deduced that polluted soil characteristics are: 
1. Infertile soil 
2. pH below 6 (acidic soil) or pH above 8 (alkaline soils) 
3. Stink 
4. Dry 
5. Contain heavy metals 
6. Containing inorganic waste 

Uncontaminated soil 
Uncontaminated soil is that still meet the basic elements of the soil. It does not contain harmful substances. Uncontaminated soil is fertile, do not stink, normal acidity. The main thing is do not contain heavy metals. Uncontaminated soil great potential for the benefit of mankind tools. With good agricultural land can bring in profits doubled. 
From the above statement, it can be concluded that the characteristics of the soil is not contaminated is: 
1. The soil is fertile 
2. Route minimal pH 6, maximum 8 
3. Do not stink 
4. Not dry, has a normal level of friability 
5. Contains no heavy metals 
6. Does not contain inorganic waste 

a) Causes of Soil Pollution 
Sources of soil pollution, soil pollution is not much different or can be said to have a close relationship with air pollution and water pollution, the sources of air pollutants and sources of water pollution in general are also a source of soil contaminants. For example, carbon oxide gases, nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides into the air pollutants that dissolve in rain water and fell to the ground can cause acid rain causing pollution in the soil. 

Surface soil containing pollutants such as contaminated radioactive substances, heavy metals in industrial waste, household waste, hospital waste, the remnants of fertilizers and pesticides from agricultural areas, waste detergent, eventually also can cause pollution in the area of ​​land where surface water ground or water surface area through which the contaminated soil. Then ground source pollutants can be grouped also be a source of pollutants coming from, household waste, market waste, hospital waste, erupting volcano / motor vehicle and industrial waste. In general, soil contamination can be caused by domestic waste, industrial waste, and agricultural waste. 

1. Domestic waste 
Domestic waste can come from areas: residential; perdagang-an/pasar/tempat hotel businesses and others; institutions such as government offices and private, and tourism, can be solid and liquid wastes. 

a. Solid waste in the form of inorganic compounds that can not be destroyed or broken down by microorganisms such as plastics, fibers, ceramics, tins and used building materials, causing the soil becomes less fertile. The pollutants will remain intact up to 300 years to come. Wrap plastic waste to the environment that we will still be there and may be found by our children and grandchildren after hundreds of years later. Ter-inorganic waste is not biodegradable, causing soil layer can not be penetrated by plant roots and is impermeable to water so that the absorption of water and minerals to nourish the soil is lost and the number of microorganisms in the will be reduced consequently difficult plant to grow even die because they do not obtain food for developed. 

b. Liquid waste such as inks, detergents, oil, paint, if absorbed into the ground will damage the soil water content can even kill micro-organisms in the soil. 

2. Industrial waste 
Industrial waste comes from the remnants of industrial production. Wastewater treatment is the result of a production process, such as industrial processing scraps of metal plating and other chemical industries. Copper, lead, silver, chromium, arsenic and boron are substances resulting from industrial processes such as metal plating Hg, Zn, Pb, Cd can contaminate the soil. A substance that is toxic to microorganisms. If soak into the ground will result in death for microorganisms which have a very important function of the soil fertility. 

3. Agricultural waste 
Agricultural waste may be the remnants of synthetic fertilizers to enrich the soil or plants, such as urea fertilizer and pesticides for pest eradication. Continuous use of fertilizers in agriculture will damage the soil structure, which led to reduced soil fertility and can not be planted with certain crops due to soil nutrient decreases. And the use of pesticides not only kill pests of plants but also useful microorganisms in the soil. Though soil fertility depends on the number of organisms in it. In addition the use of pesticides will result in continuous crop pests resistant to pesticides. 

b) Impact of Soil Pollution 
1. Impact On Health 
The impact of pollution on health ground dependent, pathway into the body and the vulnerability of the affected population. Chromium, a wide range of pesticides and herbicides are carcinogenic materials for all populations. Lead is particularly dangerous in children, because it can cause brain damage, and kidney damage. Chronic exposure (continuous) to benzene at a certain concentration can increase the chances of developing leukemia. 

Mercury (mercury) and siklodiena known to cause kidney damage, and may not be treated, PCB and related siklodiena on liver toxicity, Organophosphate and causes the neuromuscular disorder. There are several kinds of health effects such as headaches, dizziness, fatigue, eye irritation and skin rashes to exposure to chemicals mentioned above. What is clear, in large doses, can cause soil contamination Death .. 

2. Or Environmental Impact On Ecosystems 
Impacts on agriculture, especially plant metabolic changes that could eventually lead to declining crop yields. This can lead to further impacts on the conservation of plants where the plant is not able to hold the layers of soil erosion. Some of these pollutants has a long half-life and in other cases derivative chemicals are formed from the main soil pollutants. 

Soil pollution can also have an impact on the ecosystem. Radical changes in soil chemical that can arise from the presence of toxic chemicals / hazardous even at low doses though. These changes can lead to changes in the metabolism of endemic microorganisms and arthropods that live in the soil environment. As a result, it can even destroy some of the primary species food chain, which can give a great result against predators or other levels of the food chain. 

Impacts on agriculture, especially plant metabolic changes that could eventually lead to declining crop yields. This can lead to further impacts on the conservation of plants where the plant is not able to hold the layers of soil erosion. Some of these pollutants has a long half-life and in other cases derivative chemicals are formed from the main soil pollutants. 

c) Efforts To Do 
Domestic waste so much waste reduction this is by separating organic waste or garbage can or easily decomposed by soil, and inorganic waste or garbage that will break down the soil but it takes a very long time to decompose by land. Organic waste are easily decomposed by soil, for example be used as backfill, all we then cover with soil so that the soil surface there that we can use again, and special composted manure and biogas can be made other, while inorganic waste that can not be decomposed by microorganisms. The best way of handling the waste recycling into items that may be used or can also be used as wall hangings. Industrial waste, ways to overcome that is by treating the wastewater before discharge to the river or sea. 

Agricultural waste that is by reducing the use of synthetic fertilizers and other chemicals such as pesticides for pest control is replaced with the use of compost. As for the handling of land clearing, namely: 
1. Remediation 
Remediation is an activity to clean up contaminated soil surface. There are two types of soil remediation, ie in-situ (or on-site) and ex-situ (or off-site). Cleaning is a cleaning on-site at the location. This cleaning is cheaper and easier, consisting of cleaning, venting (injection), and bioremediation. 

Cleaning off-site includes excavation of contaminated soil and then taken to a safe area. After it in a safe area, the land was cleared of contaminants. The trick is, the land is kept in the tub / watertight tank, then pumped into a tub of cleaning agents / the tank. Furthermore pollutants pumped out of the basin which is then processed by the wastewater treatment facility. Off-site cleaning is far more expensive and complicated. 

2. Bioremediation 
Bioremediation is the process of cleaning the soil contamination using microorganisms (fungi, bacteria). Bioremediation aims to break down or degrade contaminants into less toxic materials or non-toxic (carbon dioxide and water). 

Precautions and countermeasures against pollution can be done in various ways according to the kinds of contaminants that need to be tackled. Preventive measures and countermeasures against pollution, among others, can be done as follows: 
Preventive measures 
In general, prevention is, in principle, is trying not to cause pollution, for example to prevent / reduce the occurrence of pollutants, among others: 
a) The organic waste that can rot / described by micro-organisms, among others, can be done by measuring the waste in closed and open land, then can be processed as compost / fertilizer.

b) Waste organic compounds or inorganic compounds that can not be destroyed by micro-organisms can be done by burning the rubbish that can burn such as plastics and fibers, both individually and collected in a place far from home, so it does not pollute the air settlements .Waste that can not be burned to ground / cut into small particles, and then buried. 

c) Treatment of the industrial waste containing heavy metals that contaminate the soil, before being discharged into the river or into exile in order to do the process of purification. 

d) The use of fertilizers, pesticides are not used arbitrarily, but in accordance with the rules and not to excess. 

e) Try to get rid of and put detergent in the form of organic compounds that can be destroyed / broken down by microorganisms.