Ideas to Reduce Soil contamination
Soil contamination may seem like a big business problem, but there are many things you and your family can do to help prevent soil contamination in your community. Incorporating the following habits into your lifestyle will help make a change.
Buy from Environmentally Friendly Companies
Did you know that by supporting environmentally friendly companies you can help decrease soil pollution? Many of the products we buy are made in factories that heavily pollute our soil through chemical run off and fallout from smokestacks. Some companies, in an attempt to combat this problem, have changed the way they manufacture their products in order to decrease pollution. Many also create products that are either biodegradable, recyclable, and/or use less packaging--decreasing the overall environmental impact. Buying from these companies not only reduces your soil contamination footprint, but also sends a message to other companies that it's time to make a change. Find environmentally friendly companies here.
As an added bonus, when you buy household items, such as cleaners and paper products, from environmentally friendly companies that produce green cleaning products you not only support cleaner manufacturing practices but also reduce the damage that cleaning product run off can have in your community. Find out where your cleaning products rate here.
Photo Source: http://i.livescience.com/images/i/000/024/027/i02/green-plant-company.jpg?1327945458
Soil contamination may seem like a big business problem, but there are many things you and your family can do to help prevent soil contamination in your community. Incorporating the following habits into your lifestyle will help make a change.
Buy from Environmentally Friendly Companies
Did you know that by supporting environmentally friendly companies you can help decrease soil pollution? Many of the products we buy are made in factories that heavily pollute our soil through chemical run off and fallout from smokestacks. Some companies, in an attempt to combat this problem, have changed the way they manufacture their products in order to decrease pollution. Many also create products that are either biodegradable, recyclable, and/or use less packaging--decreasing the overall environmental impact. Buying from these companies not only reduces your soil contamination footprint, but also sends a message to other companies that it's time to make a change. Find environmentally friendly companies here.
As an added bonus, when you buy household items, such as cleaners and paper products, from environmentally friendly companies that produce green cleaning products you not only support cleaner manufacturing practices but also reduce the damage that cleaning product run off can have in your community. Find out where your cleaning products rate here.
Photo Source: http://i.livescience.com/images/i/000/024/027/i02/green-plant-company.jpg?1327945458
Eat Locally Grown Organic Produce
Many farms use harmful synthetic pesticides and fertilizers that contaminate our soil with harmful chemicals. These chemicals not only affect the chemical makeup of our soil but also build up in the plants as they grow and harm them in the long run. Buying organic produce not only supports better farming practices--keeping our soil clean at the same time--but it is also better for our health to ingest fewer harmful chemicals in our food.
Because passing along environmentally friendly habits is just as important as adopting them ourselves, a fun family idea can be a trip to your local farmer’s market. Get your children involved in eating organically by introducing them to farmers, learning about their practices, and trying some great food grown by your community. As an added bonus, buying from local farms decreases the pollution caused by long distance transport of produce. Find your local farmers’ markets here.
Photo Source: http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7426/9560822781_9ae6d69ba5.jpg
Many farms use harmful synthetic pesticides and fertilizers that contaminate our soil with harmful chemicals. These chemicals not only affect the chemical makeup of our soil but also build up in the plants as they grow and harm them in the long run. Buying organic produce not only supports better farming practices--keeping our soil clean at the same time--but it is also better for our health to ingest fewer harmful chemicals in our food.
Because passing along environmentally friendly habits is just as important as adopting them ourselves, a fun family idea can be a trip to your local farmer’s market. Get your children involved in eating organically by introducing them to farmers, learning about their practices, and trying some great food grown by your community. As an added bonus, buying from local farms decreases the pollution caused by long distance transport of produce. Find your local farmers’ markets here.
Photo Source: http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7426/9560822781_9ae6d69ba5.jpg
Use Pesticides and Fertilizer Responsibly
Did you know that incorrectly using pesticides and fertilizers in your yard or garden can lead to soil contamination? Improper use can also have negative health effects on your family and pets. The good news is that it is easy to keep your soil healthy and prevent contamination by following a few simple steps.
It is important to know that not all fertilizers and pesticides are equal. Some have more toxic effects on the environment when improperly used. When purchasing these products remember that there are synthetic and organic versions. While organic is ideal, the proper use of synthetic can still be safe.
First things first: When using any type of fertilizer remember to test your soil first to see what is needed and in what quantity (learn more about that here). When using pesticides, only use them in areas where it is absolutely needed. When used improperly (such as over watering the area), pesticides can harm more insects and animals than intended; they can also kill soil microorganism that are important to healthy soil.
Simple guidelines to follow when using fertilizer:
· Use sparingly and only when absolutely necessary.
· Follow watering instructions on the label in order to prevent excessive run off (instructions should include when and how much to water).
· Consider using compost in your garden instead of commercial fertilizer.
Simple guidelines to follow when using pesticides:
· Make sure you know what pests are the problem.
· Use only on spots where needed.
· Consider alternatives to pesticides such as companion planting, beneficial insects, or trap plants.
Photo Source: http://www.yardcare.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/mt_fertilizer1.jpg
Did you know that incorrectly using pesticides and fertilizers in your yard or garden can lead to soil contamination? Improper use can also have negative health effects on your family and pets. The good news is that it is easy to keep your soil healthy and prevent contamination by following a few simple steps.
It is important to know that not all fertilizers and pesticides are equal. Some have more toxic effects on the environment when improperly used. When purchasing these products remember that there are synthetic and organic versions. While organic is ideal, the proper use of synthetic can still be safe.
First things first: When using any type of fertilizer remember to test your soil first to see what is needed and in what quantity (learn more about that here). When using pesticides, only use them in areas where it is absolutely needed. When used improperly (such as over watering the area), pesticides can harm more insects and animals than intended; they can also kill soil microorganism that are important to healthy soil.
Simple guidelines to follow when using fertilizer:
· Use sparingly and only when absolutely necessary.
· Follow watering instructions on the label in order to prevent excessive run off (instructions should include when and how much to water).
· Consider using compost in your garden instead of commercial fertilizer.
Simple guidelines to follow when using pesticides:
· Make sure you know what pests are the problem.
· Use only on spots where needed.
· Consider alternatives to pesticides such as companion planting, beneficial insects, or trap plants.
Photo Source: http://www.yardcare.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/mt_fertilizer1.jpg
Reduce, Reuse, & Recycle
I don’t know about you, but soil contamination seems almost a little unfathomable. That is, when we’ve spent a good part of our lives focusing on water and air pollution, it’s almost weird to think that anything else could possibly be polluted. It is very easy to forget that the entire world is connected and that pollution has the ability to damage everything is touches. An oil spill may originate in an ocean or river, but that water can quickly wash over land and contaminate the soil. That soil becomes unusable and anything living or depending on it will suffer. Air pollution may occur far above our heads, but there is always chemical fallout that drifts back to Earth and contaminates the soil. In one way or another, everything is connected.
However, pollution doesn’t always happen on such a large scale—quite frequently, it happens in our own backyards. Fortunately, finding ways to combat pollution (which happens on a large scale) and contamination (which happens on a smaller one) is easy. It requires a simple strategy: Reduce, reuse, and recycle.
To combat soil contamination, we can reduce the amount of pesticides that we spray on our yards, cut down on the amount of chemicals we dump down the drain, and prevent how much litter we leave behind. We can reuse old glass bottles to store everything and anything, donate used motor oil to be repurposed, and turn old food scraps into composts that help our gardens flourish. Most importantly: We can recycle anything that would otherwise end up damaging the environment and teach our children to do the same. It may seem foolish to believe that the world can be changed a soda bottle at a time, but if everybody is recycling their soda bottles it seems a whole lot more possible.
Photo Source: http://eco-logix.ca/wp-content/themes/EL/assets/People_recycling.jpg
I don’t know about you, but soil contamination seems almost a little unfathomable. That is, when we’ve spent a good part of our lives focusing on water and air pollution, it’s almost weird to think that anything else could possibly be polluted. It is very easy to forget that the entire world is connected and that pollution has the ability to damage everything is touches. An oil spill may originate in an ocean or river, but that water can quickly wash over land and contaminate the soil. That soil becomes unusable and anything living or depending on it will suffer. Air pollution may occur far above our heads, but there is always chemical fallout that drifts back to Earth and contaminates the soil. In one way or another, everything is connected.
However, pollution doesn’t always happen on such a large scale—quite frequently, it happens in our own backyards. Fortunately, finding ways to combat pollution (which happens on a large scale) and contamination (which happens on a smaller one) is easy. It requires a simple strategy: Reduce, reuse, and recycle.
To combat soil contamination, we can reduce the amount of pesticides that we spray on our yards, cut down on the amount of chemicals we dump down the drain, and prevent how much litter we leave behind. We can reuse old glass bottles to store everything and anything, donate used motor oil to be repurposed, and turn old food scraps into composts that help our gardens flourish. Most importantly: We can recycle anything that would otherwise end up damaging the environment and teach our children to do the same. It may seem foolish to believe that the world can be changed a soda bottle at a time, but if everybody is recycling their soda bottles it seems a whole lot more possible.
Photo Source: http://eco-logix.ca/wp-content/themes/EL/assets/People_recycling.jpg
Dispose of Motor Oil and Paint Thinner Properly
Some of the best ways to look out for the planet are also the easiest. Reducing, reusing, and recycling can make a really big difference, especially when it comes to the disposal of potentially harmful chemicals like motor oil, paint thinners, and other home cleaning supplies.
Motor Oil:
Did you know that the used motor oil from one car can contaminate a million gallons of water? That’s an entire year’s supply of water for fifty people (EPA). What you do with your leftover motor oil can have a less than perfectly positive impact upon the environment. For example, oil sticks to everything to dirt and dog—it wreaks havoc upon wildlife when it gets into the ocean and other water supplies. The worst part is that it doesn’t degrade easily.
There is some hope, however. The EPA estimates that on average, “about four million people reuse oil as a lubricant for other equipment or take it to a recycling facility” (EPA). Recycled oil can be reused to lubricate various machines and it can even be used as a raw material for the petroleum industry. So the next time you change your motor oil, consider saving it for reuse or dropping it off at a recycling center. It may be a small inconvenience to find a new use for it, but just imagine the inconvenience of a million gallons of contaminated water!
Paint Thinners:
If you’re into the arts or you’ve recently painted your house/room/living room, then there’s a good chance you’ve used paint thinner. It turns out that while there are many ways to handle it safely, it can cause harm to your health and that of the environment. The Healthcare Environmental Resource Center writes that, “low level exposure to pain may irritate or burn the eyes, nose, throat and skin and cause reactions such as headaches, dizziness or nausea” (HERC). Mild side-effects like these usually go away once immediate exposure has ended, but, “high levels of exposure to some of the elements in pain, even for a short period of time, can cause severe and lasting impacts, such as kidney or liver damage, or respiratory problems” (HERC). Unfortunately, it only gets worse. Toluene, a chemical used in, “making paints, paint thinners, fingernail polish, lacquers, adhesives, and rubber,” has its serious side-effects (ATSDR) . The Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry reports that when continuously exposed, “you can become dizzy, sleepy, or unconscious. You might even die. Toluene causes death by interfering with the way you breath and the way your heart beats…If you choose to repeatedly breathe in toluene from glue or paint thinner, you may permanently damage your brain” (ATSDR). It has been established that this chemical is bad for you, but it has also been established that it can affect animals the same way. It can also end up in the environment, “when toluene-containing products are placed in landfills or waste disposal sites, the toluene can enter the soil and water near the waste site” (ATSDR). It is broken down by microorganisms in the soil fairly quickly, but the same cannot be said for underground water. Therefore, it’s really important to make sure that when you do use things like paint thinners, you make sure to dispose of it in the safest way possible.
Luckily, paint thinners can be easily reused for future painting. This Old House offers some handy tips, pointing out that after painting you can, “allow the dirty solvent to sit overnight. The pain sludge and pigment solids will settle to the bottom of the jar, leaving a layer of clean thinner on top. Gently pour the clear thinner into a second clean jar and reseal it for future use” (This Old House) . You can continue to reuse the thinner, while adding to the jar of dirty solvent until it is full. Afterward, you can drop it off at a waste facility or if there aren’t any near you, it is recommended that you let the solvent dry—adding sawdust and other debris—before throwing it away.
Photo Source: http://lh4.ggpht.com/_ABDcrjwgq30/TPhXqDSb5fI/AAAAAAAAAP4/G_lCtbYX24A/s640/Reusing-Paint-Thinner-Mineral-Spirits%20003.JPG
Some of the best ways to look out for the planet are also the easiest. Reducing, reusing, and recycling can make a really big difference, especially when it comes to the disposal of potentially harmful chemicals like motor oil, paint thinners, and other home cleaning supplies.
Motor Oil:
Did you know that the used motor oil from one car can contaminate a million gallons of water? That’s an entire year’s supply of water for fifty people (EPA). What you do with your leftover motor oil can have a less than perfectly positive impact upon the environment. For example, oil sticks to everything to dirt and dog—it wreaks havoc upon wildlife when it gets into the ocean and other water supplies. The worst part is that it doesn’t degrade easily.
There is some hope, however. The EPA estimates that on average, “about four million people reuse oil as a lubricant for other equipment or take it to a recycling facility” (EPA). Recycled oil can be reused to lubricate various machines and it can even be used as a raw material for the petroleum industry. So the next time you change your motor oil, consider saving it for reuse or dropping it off at a recycling center. It may be a small inconvenience to find a new use for it, but just imagine the inconvenience of a million gallons of contaminated water!
Paint Thinners:
If you’re into the arts or you’ve recently painted your house/room/living room, then there’s a good chance you’ve used paint thinner. It turns out that while there are many ways to handle it safely, it can cause harm to your health and that of the environment. The Healthcare Environmental Resource Center writes that, “low level exposure to pain may irritate or burn the eyes, nose, throat and skin and cause reactions such as headaches, dizziness or nausea” (HERC). Mild side-effects like these usually go away once immediate exposure has ended, but, “high levels of exposure to some of the elements in pain, even for a short period of time, can cause severe and lasting impacts, such as kidney or liver damage, or respiratory problems” (HERC). Unfortunately, it only gets worse. Toluene, a chemical used in, “making paints, paint thinners, fingernail polish, lacquers, adhesives, and rubber,” has its serious side-effects (ATSDR) . The Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry reports that when continuously exposed, “you can become dizzy, sleepy, or unconscious. You might even die. Toluene causes death by interfering with the way you breath and the way your heart beats…If you choose to repeatedly breathe in toluene from glue or paint thinner, you may permanently damage your brain” (ATSDR). It has been established that this chemical is bad for you, but it has also been established that it can affect animals the same way. It can also end up in the environment, “when toluene-containing products are placed in landfills or waste disposal sites, the toluene can enter the soil and water near the waste site” (ATSDR). It is broken down by microorganisms in the soil fairly quickly, but the same cannot be said for underground water. Therefore, it’s really important to make sure that when you do use things like paint thinners, you make sure to dispose of it in the safest way possible.
Luckily, paint thinners can be easily reused for future painting. This Old House offers some handy tips, pointing out that after painting you can, “allow the dirty solvent to sit overnight. The pain sludge and pigment solids will settle to the bottom of the jar, leaving a layer of clean thinner on top. Gently pour the clear thinner into a second clean jar and reseal it for future use” (This Old House) . You can continue to reuse the thinner, while adding to the jar of dirty solvent until it is full. Afterward, you can drop it off at a waste facility or if there aren’t any near you, it is recommended that you let the solvent dry—adding sawdust and other debris—before throwing it away.
Photo Source: http://lh4.ggpht.com/_ABDcrjwgq30/TPhXqDSb5fI/AAAAAAAAAP4/G_lCtbYX24A/s640/Reusing-Paint-Thinner-Mineral-Spirits%20003.JPG