What Is Soil Pollution ?

Soil pollution is defined as the build-up in soils of persistent toxic compounds, chemicals, salts, radioactive materials, or disease causing agents, which have adverse effects on plant growth and animal health.

Sponsored Links :

Soil pollution can occur due to chemicals in pesticides & dumping of  litter  in public places. Another reason for this is the waste that we throw & which accumulates near residences. The most common toxic soil pollutants include metals and their compounds, organic chemicals, oils and tars, pesticides, explosive and toxic gases, radioactive materials, biologically active materials, combustible materials, asbestos and other hazardous materials. As described earlier These substances commonly arise from the disposal of industrial and domestic waste.
.

Let us understand how soil pollution occurs

• Wind & rain can cause erosion.
• Soil loses its top layer and it reaches ponds, tanks and lakes. This is a natural process of degradation.
• Whereas man-made pollution, indiscriminate deforestation makes soil lose its protection from sun, wind and water. When the topsoil is lost the area loses its precious nutrition that is developed over centuries.
• The topsoil acts like a sponge. It absorbs and retains water. When it cannot hold the water any longer, the water sinks deeper into the soil, leaving only the toxins in the

top layer of soil.

• Effluents have cancer-causing properties. When it reaches subsoil it is difficult to eliminate such toxins.
• The sewage waste can carry harmful bacteria that may pollute both water and soil.

Then there are products like plastics and unwanted solid wastes as well as Plastic is non-bio-degradable and survives in soil for years.

The effects of soil pollution are: Not enough oxygen in the soil, acidic soils, which can  effects plants growth, this pollution can act as a contaminant for water. 

 

The following measures can be used to control land pollution:

• anti-litter campaigns can educate people against littering;
• organic waste can be dumped in places far from residential areas;
• inorganic materials such as metals, glass and plastic, but also paper, can be reclaimed and recycled.

 

More Articles :

• Cause Of Soil Pollution
• Information Soil Pollution
• Soil Pollution In The World
• What Is Soil Pollution ?

Sponsored Links :