`

TYPES OF WASTE, AND ITS EFFECTS

TO PEOPLE’S HEALTH AND
ENVIRONMENT
for Earth Science/ Grade 11
Quarter 1 / Week 8

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 FOREWORD

Pollution is a familiar word that we hear these days. But what

does it exactly mean? Look around. What do you see? Does it
happen in your place? Yes, pollution touches all parts of the
planet. It has harmful materials that can affect the environment
and destroys our mother Earth, the place we live in as well as to
other organisms like plants, animals and even microorganisms.
These materials can damage the quality of air, water, and land
or soil.

This Self Learning Kit (SLK) in EARTH SCEINCE provides an insight

on Earth Materials and Resources specifically that can pollute or
contaminate the soil (Soil Pollution). In addition, it will also discuss
the nature of soil, its degradation, its effects and most
importantly mitigation methods to combat soil pollution.

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OBJECTIVES

At the end of the lesson, you should be able to:

K - discuss why soil is an important Earth resource;

S - describe the different textures and components of soil;
- name the different types of waste that can affect the quality
of the soil;
A - internalize that waste can be reduced, reuse, and recycle;
and
- apply the knowledge to everyday living especially during
planting or farming.

LEARNING COMPETENCIES

- Describe how people generate different types of waste (solid,

liquid, and gaseous) as they make use of various materials
and resources in everyday life (S11/12ES-Ii-19)

- Explain how different types of waste affect people’s health

and the environment (S11/12ES-Ii-j-20)

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I. WHAT HAPPENED

PRE-ACTIVITIES/PRE-TEST

I. Arrange the jumbled words and write your answer in the

notebook.

1. OILS = __ __ __ __
2. SOUDRAZAH ATESW = __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
3. MIERALNS = __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
4. OERIOSN = __ __ __ __ __ __ __
5. EACHLING = __ __ __ __ __ __ __

II. Answer the following questions in your notebook.

1. What do you call the process in plants that produces oxygen

and glucose? ________________________
2. What is the main energy source of plants and other
photosynthetic organism? ______________________
3. What gas is produced from photosynthetic organism that
is needed by animal for respiration? ______________________
4. It is the upper layer of the earth that may be dug or plowed
and in which plants grow. _______________________
5. These are substances that cause pollution.
______________________

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II. WHAT I NEED TO KNOW

DISCUSSION:

Plants are producers that serve as food for humans and

other animals. The process of producing food (in a form glucose)
in plants is called photosynthesis, by which plants use sunlight to
synthesize foods from carbon dioxide and water. Photosynthesis
in plants generally involves the green pigment chlorophyll and
generates oxygen as a byproduct.

Figure 1: Chemical Reaction in Photosynthesis

Aside from carbon dioxide, water, and sunlight; plants need

soil for them to grow. Soils are complex
mixtures of minerals, water, air, organic
matter, and countless organisms that are
the decaying remains of once-living
things. The soil is important to human and
all living things on earth because it is the
source of four essential ‘living’ factors, Figure 2: A Soil Particle
namely, food, clothes, shelter, and Source:
https://www.nature.com/scitable/knowledge/li
medicine, all of which are either directly brary/what -are-soils-67647639/
or indirectly coming from the soil. For
plants, the soil is very important to their growth and yield because
for plants to be able to grow and bear flowers or fruits they rely on
the soil as the base for their roots can adhere so that their trunks
can stand strongly and firmly, not to fall easily. The soil is the source
of nutrients necessary for the plants to use in various productive
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 processes to create flowers, leaves and fruits. Soil is a material
composed of five ingredients — minerals, soil organic matter,
living organisms, gas, and water. Soil minerals are divided into
three size classes — clay, silt, and sand; the percentages of
particles in these size classes is called soil texture. Soil organic
matter is plant, animal, and microbial residues in various states of
decomposition; it is a critical ingredient — in fact the percentage
of organic matter in a soil is among the best indicators of
agricultural soil quality (http://soils.usda.gov/sqi/). Currently, soil
quality faces not just from alternation in the natural soil
environment but accelerated by the presence of xenobiotics
(human-made) chemicals in a form of waste.

Soil Degradation/Soil pollution

Soil degradation or soil pollution is the physical, chemical,
and biological decline in soil quality. It can be the loss of organic
matter, decline in soil fertility, physicochemical condition, erosion,
changes in salinity, acidity or alkalinity, and the effects of toxic
chemicals, pollutants, or excessive flooding. This is typically
caused by waste from agricultural, municipal, or domestic, and
industrial sources, which can in the form either solid, liquid, or gas.

Agricultural Source Municipal/domestic Source Industrial Source

Figure 3: Causes of Soil Degradation

Soil pollution is a global threat. According to the Food and

Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO) both intense
and even moderate degradation is already affecting one third of

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 the world's soil. Additionally, the FAO distinguishes between two
types of soil pollution: specific and widespread pollution.
Specific pollution is accounted for by particular causes
occurring in small areas. The reasons for which can be easily
identified. This can be found in cities, old factory sites, around
roadways, illegal dumps, and sewage treatment stations.
Widespread pollution covers extensive areas and has several
causes. The reasons for which are difficult to identify. Cases such
as these involve the spreading of pollutants by air-ground-water
systems and seriously affect human health and the environment.

Wastes that Pollute

What are wastes? These are unwanted or unusable materials
which are discarded after primary use, or it is worthless, defective
and of no use. According to the Basel Convention on the Control
of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their
Disposal of 1989, Art. 2(1), "'Wastes' are substance or objects,
which are disposed of or are intended to be disposed of or are
required to be disposed of by the provisions of national law".
Waste can be classified depending on how it breaks or
disintegrate in the environment - these are biodegradable and
non-biodegradable waste. Biodegradable waste can be
degraded such as paper, wood, fruits, and others. Non-
biodegradable waste cannot be degraded like plastics, bottles,
old machines, cans, etc.
In addition, it can also be classified depending on its
potency to contaminate the environment - these are hazardous
and non-hazardous waste. Hazardous wastes are substances
unsafe to use commercially, industrially, agriculturally, or
economically and have any of the following properties -
ignitability, corrosivity, reactivity & toxicity. Non-hazardous
substances are safe to use commercially, industrially,
agriculturally, or economically and do not have any of those
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 properties mentioned above. These substances usually create
disposal problems.
Moreover, waste can be classified according to their source
which includes municipal/domestic, industrial, agricultural, fishery,
radioactive, electronic, and bio-medical wastes.
Municipal/domestic wastes include household garbage, rubbish,
construction & demolition debris, sanitation residues, packaging
materials, trade refuges etc. are managed by any municipality.
Industrial wastes are generated by manufacturing & processing
units of various industries like chemical, petroleum, coal, metal
gas, sanitary & paper etc. Agricultural wastes are generated from
farming activities. These substances are mostly biodegradable.
Fishery wastes are generated due to fishery activities like fish
farming. In addition, excess agricultural fertilizer and feeds used in
fish farm not just degrade the soil quality but can also affect
bodies of water known as eutrophication. Eutrophication is the
increase in algal population in bodies of water, as a result the
biological oxygen demand of the water will decrease. This will
have profound effect to freshwater and marine organism that
needs dissolved oxygen to live. Radioactive wastes contain
radioactive materials form from nuclear processes and sometimes
industries that may also produce some radioactive wastes.
Electronic wastes are discarded electrical or electronic devices
some may contain Pb, Cd, Be or brominated flame retardants.
Bio-medical wastes are generated by the containers,
intermediate or end products generated during diagnosis,
treatment & research activities of medical sciences.

Effects of Soil Pollution

According to the Food and Agricultural Organization of the
United Nations (FAO) that soil degradation or pollution can
damage the environment, health to plants and animals, poorer
plant harvest, climate change, water and air pollution, species
extinction, desertification, and economic impact. If soil pollutants
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enter the soil eventually to the food chain, it causes illnesses not
just to plants that directly absorb to it but to animals consume
these plants. This will also lead to poor plant harvest, species
extinction, displaces human population due to hunger and
unfortunate economic consequences. In addition, poor soil
quality leads to contamination of groundwater, loss of topsoil,
water nutrient enrichment and increased risk of wildfires can lead
to desertification. Based on studies soil degradation release
between 3.6 and 4.4 billion tons of CO 2 into the atmosphere not
to mention its role in air (as contributor to increase particulate
matter) and water pollution (such as eutrophication).

Ohh noooooooo!
It is not good…

Source: https://www.123rf.com/photo_20779974_illustration-of-waste-dump-in-a-
field.html

Figure 4: Dumped Wastes Polluting the Soil

Mitigating Soil pollution

Soil pollution can be mitigated and there are many ways to
do it. According to the Solar impulse Foundation, soil pollution can
be solved by environmental cleanup, green agriculture,
sustainable forest management, proper waste disposal, and
education through 3r’s rule. For environmental cleanup, one
solution is bioremediation (microbes) and phytoremediation
(plants) that converts soil pollutants into harmless products.
Sustainable agriculture is essential as it is meant to control the
impact on the cultivated environment, by minimizing the external

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contributions (phytosanitary products), by diversifying the cultures
and by using biological treatments. Sustainable forest
management means protection of tress which can hold the soil
to become dry and eroded. Another solution is efficient waste
disposal through waste segregation and following the 3 R’s rule.
The rule starts with the proper information dissemination and
education play a crucial rule. Reducing the use of non-
biodegradable products will lower plastic pollution and
eventually have an impact on land pollution. This is why it is very
important to reuse and recycle every possible item.

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 Always remember
the 3 R’s rule…

Source: https://www.vecteezy.com/vector-art/413518-recycle

Performance Task

Waste Sculpture

Now you know that wastes are introduced in the soil by different
human activities. List down at least 5 wastes that are produced in your
household, then gather. Create an art sculpture using those materials
gathered. The following rubrics are the basis for your work.

Wastes produced at home:

1. ____________________
2. ____________________
3. ____________________
4. ____________________
5. ____________________

Rubrics for artwork:

1 2 3 4
The invention The student
The student’s work The student
shows little or no demonstrates
Creativity lacked sincere demonstrates
evidence of unique level of
originality. originality.
original thought. originality.
The student The student
The student did finished the completed the The student gave
not finish the work project, but it lacks project in an above an effort beyond
Workmanship
in a satisfactory finishing touches or average manner, the requirements
manner. can be improved yet more could of the project.
with a little effort. have been done.
The student
The student The student The student showed
showed
Skill showed poor showed average above average
outstanding
craftsmanship. craftsmanship. craftsmanship.
craftsmanship.

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III. WHAT I HAVE LEARNED

EVALUATION/POST TEST:

A. Identify the following as hazardous and non-hazardous waste.

Answer in your notebook.

1. Metal scrap - ______________________

2. Banana peel - ______________________
3. Broken glass - _____________________
4. Saw dust - ________________________
5. Lead batteries - ______________________

B. True of false. Write true if the statement is correct and false if

the statement is incorrect. Answer in your notebook.
_______ 1. Soil act as a medium for plant growth.
_______ 2. The use of synthetic fertilizer in excess can pollute not
just the soil but also bodies of water.
_______ 3. Companies can help to reduce trash by using smaller
packaging on their product.
_______ 4. Biodegradables are trashes that eventually
decompose and become part of the environment.
_______ 5. Non-biodegradable wastes can be converted to
compost and serves as fertilizer to plants.

C. Choose the correct letter among the following choices that

answers the question. Answer in your notebook.
1. How can land pollution harm the environment?
a. It is ugly and can destroy the beauty of nature.
b. It can destroy the habitats of animals.
c. It can allow for harmful chemicals to enter the soil.
d. All of the above

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2. What is affected by soil pollution caused by chemicals such
as pesticides and herbicides?
a. Garbage c. Landfills
b. Mining d. Farming

3. The following are the properties of hazardous waste, except;

a. Ignitability c. Flammability
b. Corrosivity d. Reactivity

4. It is a natural environmental cleanup that uses plants to

converts soil pollutants into harmless products.
a. Phytoremediation c. Recycling
b. Meditation d. Farming

5. This is the effect of soil pollution that leads to land with sparse
or very small vegetation having a very warm climate
a. to poorer plant harvest c. climate change
b. desertification d. species extinction

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REFERENCES

“Download Recycle for free”. Vecteezy. https://www.vecteezy.com/vector-

art/413518-recycle.

“Illustration of waste dump in a field”.123RF.

https://www.123rf.com/photo_20779974_illustration-
of-waste-dump-in-a-field.html.

Needelman, Brian. “What Are Soils? | Learn Science at Scitable”. 2013.

Nature.com.https://www.nature.com/scitable/knowledge/library/what
-are-soils-67647639/.

“Soil Pollution a Risk to Our Health and Food Security.” 2020. UN Environment.
December 4, 2020. https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/soil-
pollution-risk-our-health-and-food-security.

"What Is Soil Pollution: Environmental Pollution Centers." What Is Soil Pollution

| Environmental Pollution Centers. Accessed July 17, 2021.

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 DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
SCHOOLS DIVISION OF NEGROS ORIENTAL
SENEN PRISCILLO P. PAULIN, CESO V
Schools Division Superintendent

JOELYZA M. ARCILLA EdD

OIC - Assistant Schools Division Superintendent

MARCELO K. PALISPIS EdD

OIC - Assistant Schools Division Superintendent

NILITA L. RAGAY EdD

OIC - Assistant Schools Division Superintendent / CID Chief

ROSELA R. ABIERA
Education Program Supervisor – (LRMS)

ARNOLD R. JUNGCO
PSDS – Division Science Coordinator

MARICEL S. RASID
Librarian II (LRMDS)

ELMAR L. CABRERA
PDO II (LRMDS)
EUFRATES G. ANSOK JR.
Writer

NOELYN E. SIAPNO
Lay-out Artists
_________________________________
ALPHA QA TEAM
LIEZEL A. AGOR
MARY JOYCEN A. ALAM-ALAM
EUFRATES G. ANSOK
JOAN Y. BUBULI
MA. OFELIA BUSCATO
LIELIN A. DE LA ZERNA
DEXTER D. PAIRA
THOMAS JOGIE U. TOLEDO

BETA QA TEAM
ZENAIDA A. ACADEMIA LIEZEL A. BESAS
DORIN FAYE D. CADAYDAY LIELIN A. DE LA ZERNA
MERCY G. DAGOY PETER PAUL A. PATRON
RANJEL D. ESTIMAR THOMAS JOGIE U. TOLEDO
MARIA SALOME B. GOMEZ JOAN Y. VALENCIA
JUSTIN PAUL ARSENIO C. KINAMOT

DISCLAIMER

The information, activities and assessments used in this material are designed to provide accessible
learning modality to the teachers and learners of the Division of Negros Oriental. The contents of this module are
carefully researched, chosen, and evaluated to comply with the set learning competencies. The writers and
evaluator were clearly instructed to give credits to information and illustrations used to substantiate this material. All
content is subject to copyright and may not be reproduced in any form without expressed written consent from the
division.

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SYNOPSIS 5. b
4. a

This Self-Learning Kit tackles on the

3. c
2. d

soil and its importance on Earth. In

C. 1. d
5. False

addition, it discusses on its properties, 4. True

3. True
its degradation, and possible 2. True
B. 1. True
mitigations. 5. Hazardous
4. Non-hazardous,

Learners are expected to learn

3. Hazardous,
2. Non-hazardous,

and develop their knowledge about

A. 1. Hazardous,
Evaluation/Post-test

the properties of soil and display 5. water

appreciation especially the role

4. soil
3. O2

played especially on crop production

2. sunlight
II. 1. Photosynthesis

that is essential for food production.

5. LEACHING
4. EROSION
3. MINERALS
2. HAZARDOUS WASTE
I. 1. SOIL
Pre-activity/Pre-test
ANSWER KEY

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

EUFRATES G. ANSOK JR. is a licensed chemist and a
licensed teacher. He took his BS Chemistry at NORSU
and BS Secondary Education – Crash Program at
Foundation University. In addition, he is master
degree holder of Master of Chemistry at USC with
PhD units in Education major in Chemistry at UP-OU.
Currently teaching fulltime at Siaton Science High
School Senior High Department at the same time a
part-time faculty member of the Chemistry
Department at NORSU.

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