Garbage is material that is no longer used, resulting from daily human activities, both individually and in groups. Garbage is a serious problem that is often considered trivial, therefore many people throw it carelessly.
In fact, the problem with waste is quite serious, such as its volume is getting higher and some of its types have a low recycling rate.
If these activities continue, they can have a long-term negative impact on humans themselves and threaten planet Earth.
Here are 10 impacts of littering that you should know:
1. flood
Garbage that is disposed of carelessly can cause natural disasters such as floods. Floods are caused by garbage thrown into rivers by unscrupulous humans on this Earth.
If allowed to continue, the river flow will be blocked by piles of garbage, causing a flood disaster.
Even around where we live, when the ditch or irrigation is clogged with garbage. So when it rains, water can flood the streets and disrupt activities.
2. Soil and Water Pollution
a. Soil Pollution
Disposing of garbage indiscriminately can cause soil pollution. Chemical substances contained in waste can be very dangerous for the stability of the soil elements in our environment.
For example, battery waste containing mercury and cadmium is an example of household waste that is often dumped on the ground.
If waste containing hazardous substances is disposed of and then touches the ground, the soil can absorb the chemicals contained in the waste, so that the soil is eventually polluted.
In addition to polluting the soil, these hazardous substances can also contaminate groundwater that is commonly consumed by humans.
b. Water pollution
Another impact of littering is water pollution. If waste is disposed of carelessly into waterways such as rivers, then the water in the river will be polluted by substances contained in the garbage. In fact, groundwater will also be polluted, because the soil at the bottom of the river will absorb the substances contained in the waste.
3. Becoming Animal Consumption
Garbage dumped in various places such as forests, beaches, seas and rivers, is likely to be consumed by a number of animals.
If this incident continues to repeat, it will cause digestive disorders in the animal. Long-term impact, animals can experience health problems and even death.
Quoted from theforagedlife.com, millions of animals are killed as a result of consuming plastic very year. Starting from fish, birds, to other marine organisms. Nearly 700 species and other endangered species, have been affected by this plastic.
When plastic waste is broken down into microplastic and nanoplastic particles, then it is consumed by fish that humans usually eat. So actually, humans themselves are eating or consuming plastic earlier.
Very ironic isn't it? Therefore, it is important to build awareness not to throw garbage, especially plastic indiscriminately, it is useful for the safety of all creatures that live on this Earth.
4. Contaminated Plants
It was mentioned earlier, that the substances contained in the waste can be absorbed by the soil. The hazardous substances in the waste will then be embedded in the ground.
Hazardous substances in the soil have the potential to be absorbed by plants. Worse still, the plants we eat everyday can absorb these harmful substances.
5. Become a Nest of Disease
Garbage that is disposed of carelessly can be a breeding ground for a number of bacteria and viruses that cause disease. These diseases can attack plants, animals and humans, either directly or indirectly.
For example, litter that is disposed of carelessly can become a nest for rat colonies. Dirt or urine from mice can cause serious diseases such as leptospirosis (a bacterial disease spread through the urine of infected animals, ed).
In addition, garbage that is disposed of carelessly can become a breeding ground for mosquitoes. These mosquitoes can cause dengue fever, malaria, chikungunya and elephantiasis in humans.
6. Injury
Have you ever been digging in the ground, then accidentally hit your hand with glass shards embedded in the ground? Garbage that is thrown carelessly can be buried in the ground. Of course this is dangerous, it could be that the garbage is accidentally stepped on and held so that it can eventually cause injury or injury.
Wounds caused by Garbage have the potential to cause bacterial infection, especially if the Garbage is rusty iron, if it injures the skin it can potentially cause Tetanus (a serious bacterial infection that causes painful muscle spasms, which can lead to death, ed).
7. Social Costs
Garbage that is thrown carelessly, of course, requires us to ask the cleaning staff to clean up the trash around us.
If we want to do it ourselves, of course no problem. However, if the garbage that is thrown carelessly is of high volume, we will most likely ask the cleaning staff to clean it up. In the end, we have to pay for the cleaning activities.
8. Social Tensions
Disposing of garbage indiscriminately can also be a cause of conflict between neighbors. How did it happen? Quoted from environmental-conscience.com, one of the causes of humans littering is the feeling of laziness.
Sometimes, someone who is lazy and irresponsible will throw his garbage carelessly in the vacant land or garden belonging to his neighbor. As a result, there is a conflict in society caused by littering activities earlier.
9. Global Warming dan Climate Change
Disposing of waste carelessly, especially plastic waste can contribute to increasing Global Warming (global warming) and Climate Change (climate change).
Reporting from wwf.org.au, plastic is one of the most persistent pollutants on Earth. Plastic takes about 400 years to decompose. In addition, plastic waste creates greenhouse gas emissions which also contribute to Global Warming.
10. Reduce Quality of Life
Garbage that is disposed of carelessly can indirectly reduce the quality of human life. Of course this can have an impact on human physical and psychological health factors.
For example, for pregnant women, if they accidentally consume fish that has been contaminated with mercury, it can affect the health of the baby in the womb and interfere with the baby's brain development.
In addition, garbage that is disposed of carelessly can give off a bad smell. Especially if the trash is close to where we live, it will certainly disturb our comfort.
Lead image from unsplash
Quite informative 2-3 things were there which I have not been aware of before. And, I just become conscious if my wife consumes fish during pregnancy.