Land Pollution

In the UK the legacy of our industrial past has left a great deal of land polluted or contaminated and unsuitable for it's current or future use. It is estimated that in Wales alone approximately 10,000 acres of land requires remediation. These sites range from former lead mines to sites more commonly associated with the industrial centers of the South and North East. Land contamination results directly from the practices that are carried out within its boundaries and indirectly from water or airborne pollutants carried to it from other areas. Of the three media, air, water and land, pollution or contamination of the latter tends to give less cause for public concern. We inhale air and drink water but generally do not ingest soil. It is perhaps also often easier, (unless we consider mining), to see the effects of water and air pollution. Smog and foul smelling lakes with dead fish are obvious tell-tale signs that something is amiss, however, a patch soil with less green growth or even bare soil will not generally register concern. However soil is basic to life, it is the primary means of food production and its contamination can damage wildlife and prove hazardous to local human inhabitants, (as the unfortunate residents of the "Love Canal", New York found out to their cost http://www.globalserve.net/~spinc/atomcc/history.htm. In addition soil overlays natural ground water resources and thus land contamination can find its way to the water table and drinking water. Landfill sites are also a form of land pollution, old landfills unlike the more modern variety were not lined and thus as rubbish breaks down toxic materials can leach into surrounding soils. With the addition of rainwater percolating through the land movement of the pollution is enhanced and can become more widespread. Table 3 (on the next page) indicates some common contaminant materials from a number of industrial processes.