TOPIC 5

Human Activities Affecting Soil and Water

OBJECTIVES
At the end of this module, you will be achieving the following objectives:
 explain how different activities affect the quality and availability of water for
human use; (S11ES-Ig-16)
 identify human activities, such as farming, construction of structures, and waste
disposal, that affect the quality
and quantity of soil; (S11ES-Ig-17)
 identify common materials or substances associated with each type of waste. For
example, plastics for solid
waste, wastewater for liquid waste, and emissions for gaseous waste;
 define and differentiate between various waste types, including solid waste,
liquid waste, and gaseous waste,
understanding their distinct characteristics and properties;
 take personal responsibility for reducing waste in their daily lives, reflecting
a sense of duty towards preserving
the environment, and
 encourage students to consider their responsibility as stewards of the
environment and the importance of
protecting natural resources for future generations.

Lasallian Core Value/s in Focus

 May transform their learning into practical use for the betterment of society and
educate the uneducated.
 Possess the skills and competencies needed to contribute to the common good.
 Discern with others the immediate and underlying causes as well as short- and
long-term effects of socioenvironmental problems.
WEEK 6-7 : HUMAN ACTIVITIES AFFECTING SOIL AND WATER
ENGANGE: The 7 Environmental Principles (10pts.)
ELABORATE: LEARN 2.1: Impacts of Waste on Health and Environment
(5pts.)
EVALUATE: Test Yourself (30pts.)
What is
POLLUTION?
Pollution is the introduction of harmful materials into the
environment. These harmful materials are called pollutants.
Pollutants can be natural, such as volcanic ash. They can also
be created by human activity, such as trash or runoff produced
by factories. Pollutants damage the quality of air, water, and
land.
What is SOIL?
 It is a loose surface material
that covers most land. It
consists of inorganic particles
and organic matter. Soil
provides the structural support
to plants used in agriculture
and is also their source of
water and nutrients.
(Agriculture Victoria, 2021)
Why SOIL matters?
 Soil provides a host of crucial services for both people
and the planet.
 Soil puts food on our plates, purifies our water, protects us
against flooding and combats drought.
 It's also key to tackling climate change as it captures and
stores vast amounts of carbon.
 There is no food security without healthy soils.
What is SOIL POLLUTION?
 Land that is arid and can no
longer be cultivated can be one
of the characteristics of
polluted land. Here are some
causes of soil pollution:
a. Acid compounds
b. Excess pesticides
c. Chemical fertilizers
d. Industrial, factory and also
nuclear waste
e. Household waste such as
detergent.
HUMAN ACTIVITIES AFFECTING THE QUALITY
AND QUANTITY OF SOIL
 Since soil is so vital to human
life, humans have to move and
manipulate it in order to utilize it.
This, however, can lead to
environmental problems, soil
loss, and degradation. Soil
degradation is a humaninduced or natural process
which impairs the capacity of
soil to function.
EROSION
 Erosion - occurs when soil particles are
detached, transported, and deposited.
Erosion is a natural geologic process,
however, humans can accelerate the
process by removing cover. Accelerated
erosion occurs at 10-1000 times the
natural rate. Erosion can happen in all of
the biomes on earth, and can be caused
by removing trees or grasses. Removing
the soils generally leads to other types of
degradation and reduced food production.
Soil can be eroded by wind or water.
DESERTIFICATION
 Desertification - is the extreme
degradation of productive land in arid and
semi-arid areas. This is most common in
the tropical savannah and prairies. This
can create poor quality vegetation, and the
spreading of deserts to areas that weren't
deserts before. (Increasing droughts can
eventually turn an area into a desert.)
DEFORESTATION
 Deforestation - is a very severe problem. Deforestation or forest clearance is
the
removal of a forest or stand of trees from land that is then converted to non-
forest use.
Deforestation can involve conversion of forest land to farms, ranches, or urban
use.
MINING
 Mining - Surface mining can drastically
change the landscape. When the
materials are gone, soil science becomes
very important to the reclamation process,
which aims to restore the landscape and
plants to pre-mining conditions.
URBANIZATION
Urbanization - refers to the population
shift from rural to urban areas, the
corresponding decrease in the
proportion of people living in rural
areas, and the ways in which societies
adapt to this change.
WASTE DISPOSAL
 Waste disposal - since the waste
was disposed directly onto surface of
soil, a number of contaminants
including heavy metals readily
penetrate and eventually they
contaminate the soil and affect
vegetation abundance of the area.
What is WATER?

 It's found everywhere on Earth, from the polar ice

caps to steamy geysers, and wherever water flows
on this planet, you can be sure to find life.
Why WATER is
important?
 Water is vital for life. Clean fresh water is
necessary for drinking and sanitation, providing
for our crops, livestock and industry, and creating
and sustaining the ecosystems on which all life
depends.
What is WATER POLLUTION?
 Water pollution occurs when
harmful substances—often
chemicals or microorganisms—
contaminate a stream, river, lake,
ocean, aquifer, or other body of
water, degrading water quality and
rendering it toxic to humans or the
environment.
Human Activities Affecting Quality and Availability of
Water for Human Use
AGRICULTURE
 Agriculture - is a huge contributor to
water pollution, from fertilizers used for
row crops to the manure created by
large-scale animal agriculture.
FOSSIL FUEL PRODUCTION
 Fossil fuel production - Sulfue dioxide (SO2),
Nitrogen oxides (NOx), and Carbon dioxide
(CO2) react with water vapor, oxygen, and
other chemicals to form acid rain. Acid rain can
contaminate fresh water sources, resulting in
harmful algal blooms that reduce water oxygen
levels and harmful fish populations and other
wildfire.
CLIMATE CHANGE
 Climate change refers to long-term shifts in
temperatures and weather patterns. These
shifts may be natural, but since the 1800s,
human activities have been the main driver of
climate change, primarily due to the burning of
fossil fuels (like coal, oil and gas), which
produces heat-trapping gases.
 cons (disadvantages):
 Climate change has been linked to an
increased risk of the formation of harmful algal
blooms in water. These toxic blooms are
causing environmental degradation in our lakes,
rivers, streams, and coasts. These toxic blooms
develop when nitrogen and other nutrients are
washed off land surfaces into waterways from
storms.
 Droughts are slow-onset disasters caused by
climate change and water shortage.
SEWAGE
 In some places, population growth has
strained wastewater treatment plants to
the point where they cannot handle the
amount of sewage that is produced by
the city or town.
QUESTION?
CLARIFICATIONS?
What are the techniques that can both protect and conserve our soil and
water resources?
Types of
POLLUTION
QUESTIONS TO POUNDER
How can solid, liquid, and gas wastes impact the
health of living organisms?
How can solid, liquid, and gas wastes impact the
environment?
SOLID WASTE
Impact on Human Health
Improper disposal of solid waste can
lead to the proliferation of disease
vectors like rats and mosquitoes,
contributing to the spread of diseases
such as dengue fever and cholera.
The burning of solid waste can release
harmful air pollutants linked to
respiratory diseases.
Impact on Environment
 Landfills leach hazardous chemicals
into the soil and groundwater,
contaminating ecosystems.
 The production and disposal of nonbiodegradable plastics contribute to
environmental degradation plastics
pollution coalition.
LIQUID WASTE
Impact on Human Health
Discharging untreated liquid waste
water into water bodies can contamintae
drinking water sources, leading to
waterborne diseases such as diarrhea
and cholera.
Exposue to toxic chemicals in liquid
waste can cause long-term health
problems.
Impact on Environment
 Liquid waste can disrupt aquatic
ecosystems by depleting oxygen
levels and affecting aquatic life.
 It can also result in eutrophication,
where excessive nutrient levels lead
to harmful algal blooms.
GASEOUS WASTE
Impact on Human Health
Gaseous waste emission, such as air
pollutants from industrial processses
and vehicles can worsen respiratory
conditions, including asthma and
bronchitis.
Long term exposure to air pollution is
linked to cardiovascular diseases.
Impact on Environment
 Gaseous waste, particularly
greenhouse gases like carbon
dioxide (CO2) contribute to climate
change leading to rising global
temperatures and associated
environmental disruptions.
IT’S TIME TO
SHARE!
As a Lasallian Student...
Reflect on the concept of leaving a
positive legacy for the planet. How
important is it for you to contribute to a
healthier environment for future
generations?
QUESTION?
CLARIFICATIONS?