It’s Not Easy Keeping the City Clean

It’s Not Easy Keeping the City clean

Pollution is the contamination of the environment by human actions which can be very harmful, poisonous or fatal on any living organism (Nagle 2009). The discharge of hazardous pollutants from various sources can contaminate our land or soil, water and atmosphere. Pollution is activated by our daily human activities, industrial and chemical waste, agricultural practices, modes of transportation and energy sources.

Stores disposing of their Waste in High Street San Fernando

Land Pollution is the contamination of the Earth’s natural land by human related activities(Conserve Energy Future 2014). Land pollution is caused by industrial, commercial, domestic and agricultural practices. The daily sources of land pollution in the city includes visible litter and waste materials in urban areas disposed by stores along streets, parks and roads.

 

Garbage bags and cardboard boxes 
along High Street San Fernando  

In the city of San Fernando in the hub of activities, commerce and trade, there are visible signs of trash, litter and rotting garbage lining the streets and roadsides. The stench of the foul air and the scape of unsightly dirty pavements, abandoned business sites, dilapidated building and billboards are eyesores of the city. One can just imagine shopping on the polluted streets of San Fernando looking for the finest outfit? After a busy day of sales and profit making store owners dump their trash along the street which acts as bins for their waste disposal. This unpleasant sight of garbage and other waste material adorn our urban streets creating a polluted city that displeases many passersby.  The urban land pollution creates a breeding ground for rats, cockroaches and flies.  It is almost as natural to visit urban areas especially the shopping hubs and see scores of rates, and stray dogs tearing and digging into garbage alongside the streets.   

Plastic, Garbage bags and Food Containers 

along High Street San Fernando 

The most common vectors of human diseases associated with solid waste are rats and flies. It is said that the fly is a prolific breeder and a carrier of many diseases. This can cause a proliferation of diseases that can affect our health as a result of land pollution in the city. According to Hall and Barrett 2012, cites are threats to the environment and major sources of global environmental problems. It is estimated that cities contains more than half of the world’s population (World Urbanization Prospects 2011) and generates a majority of the world’s waste and pollution (Blowers and Pain 1999). This population growth also increases the environmental demands of the city as city dwellers are likely to generate large amounts of waste per day (Haughton and Hunter 1994). Therefore, land pollution in the city is expected to manifest over the years as a result of urban population growth.

Land pollution prevention is vital so reduction, reuse and recycle are necessary measures that are needed to control land pollution in urban areas. We can protect human health, strengthen our economic well-being and preserve the environment in urban areas by proper disposal of garbage, and adopting environmentally sustainable methods. 

For further information additional reading can be done:

• Studies conducted by the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) highlights the link between environmental pollution and health of individual in urban areas. Over the years, improper disposal of waste in urban areas has led to the contamination of food and water sources, air, land and vegetation posing significant challenges to the health and well-being of city dwellers.
• http://www.unep.org/urban_environment/pdfs/dandorawastedump-reportsummary.pdf

•  A famous urban pollutant "plastic bags" are menace to our ecosystem. Approximately 400 plastic bags are used per second and disposed. Plastic bags a major marine pollutant has  dangerous effects on sea turtles, fishes and other marine life when consumed and is often fatal. National Agencies are calling on citizens to reduce the use of plastic bags and recycle.
• http://www.cawrecycles.org/issues/plastic_campaign/plastic_bags/problem

References

Hall, Tim. and  Heather Barrett. (2012). Urban Geography 4^th edition. London and New York:Routledge.

World Urbanization Prospects The 2011 Review. (2011). Department of Economics and Social Affairs. Accessed February 17, 2014. 
http://esa.un.org/unup/pdf/FINAL-FINAL_REPORT%20WUP2011_Annextables_01Aug2012_Final.pdf

Nagle, John Copeland. 2009. "The Idea of Pollution". University of California, Davis School of Law. Vol.43: 1. Accessed February 17, 2014. http://lawreview.law.ucdavis.edu/issues/43/1/articles/43-1_Nagle.pdf

Conserve Energy Future. 2014. "What is Land Pollution?" Accessed February 17, 2014.  http://www.conserve-energy-future.com/causes-effects-solutions-of-land-pollution.php

Blowers, A. and Pain, R. (1999). "The unsustainable city". cited in Hall, Tim. and  Heather Barrett. (2012). Urban Geography 4^th edition. London and New York:Routledge.

Haughton, G. and Hunter, C. (1994). "Sustainable Cities". London Regional Studies Association.