Land pollution, the deposition of solid or liquid wastematerials on land or underground in a

manner that can contaminate the soil and groundwater, threaten public health, and cause
unsightly conditions and nuisances.

Hazardous waste is any liquid, solid or sludge wastethat contain properties that are dangerous
of potentially harmful to human health or the environment.

By 2050, about 70% of the world's population is expected to live in urban areas. Over 60% of the
land projected to become urban by 2030 is yet to be built. Half of the population of Asia is
expected to live in urban areas by 2020, while Africa is likely to reach a 50% urbanization rate
only in 2035.
Some facts on urbanization
www.un.org/en/ecosoc/integration/pdf/fact_sheet.pdf
Land Pollution
Leakage from the fuel and energy industries, as well as industries involving
hazardous materials, are the main causes of land contamination in Israel. Examples
of soil pollution sources are oil refineries and pipelines transporting gas, oil depots,
gas stations, garages, metal treatment and coating factories, chemical plants, dry
cleaning businesses, printing businesses, the textile industry, and sites where
hazardous materials are stored.

Soil contamination is caused by direct exposure to the pollutant, leakage of toxic

gases into buildings, and groundwater pollution. The properties of soil result in
pollutants remaining in the soil long after the pollution incident.
o Examples of requirements/guidelines included on a business
license: proper sealing of surfaces and of storage of hazardous materials and fuels;
placing of containers holding contaminants away from an established spill; guidelines
to dealing with tanks and underground piping - installation instructions, leakage
testing, methods of protection (cathodic protection) and monitoring (physometer);
obligation to report a suspicion that a particular land is contaminated; guidelines for
detection and demarcation of contamination.