Unit IV
Soil pollution
Soil pollution refers to the contamination of soil with anomalous concentrations of toxic
substances. It is a serious environmental concern since it harbours many health hazards. For
example, exposure to soil containing high concentrations of benzene increases the risk of
contracting leukaemia.
The root cause of soil pollution is often one of the following:
• Agriculture (excessive/improper use of pesticides)
• Excessive industrial activity
• Poor management or inefficient disposal of waste
SOURCES OF SOIL POLLUTION
Various sources of soil pollution are
1. Industrial wastes: There are two types of wastes produced from industrial
activities i.e, unused chemicals and unwanted industrial garbage.
2. Urban waste: Urban wastes comprise is of both commercial and domestic wastes,
consisting of dried sludge and sewage. Urban waste should be separately disposed of
from industrial waste because it is not easily degraded.
3. Biological agents: soil gets a large amount of human, animal and bird excreta
which constitute a major source of land pollution by biological agents.
4. Agricultural practices: Modern agricultural practices the soil to a large extent.
With the advancing agro-technology, huge quantities of fertilizers pollute, pesticides,
herbicides and weedicides are added to increase the crop yield.
5. Radioactive pollutants: Radioactive substances resulting from explosions of
nuclear testing laboratories and industries give rise to nuclear dust radioactive wastes,
penetrate the soil, and accumulate giving rise to land/soil pollution.
Radioactive contamination is defined as the deposition or introduction of
radioactive substances into the environment, where their presence is unintended, or
the levels of radioactivity are undesirable. Such type of pollution is harmful to life due
to the emission of ionizing radiation. This type of radiation is potent enough to cause
damage to tissues and DNA in genes.
Radioactive pollution occurs as a result of radioactive decay of radioactive elements during:
• nuclear explosions and testing
• disposal of nuclear waste
• mining radioactive ores
• accidents at nuclear power plants
, At very high doses, radiation can impair the functioning of tissues and organs and
produce acute effects such as nausea and vomiting, skin redness, hair loss, acute
radiation syndrome, local radiation injuries (also known as radiation burns), or even
death.
6. Plastic:
Plastic bags are non-biodegradable in nature. It remains in the soil for a long
period of time without getting decomposed. It prevents seeping of water into the soil
and thus prevents the growth of plants. Thus, plastic bags pollute the soil and are
considered bad for the soil.
The buildup of plastic waste in agricultural areas can have detrimental effects
on biodiversity, soil health, and ecosystem function. Plastic waste can pollute the soil
in agricultural areas, which will prevent plants from properly absorbing nutrients and
thereby impede their growth.
Plastic pollution is a global problem. Every year 19-23 million tonnes of
plastic waste leaks into aquatic ecosystems, polluting lakes, rivers and seas.
7. Heavy metals:
Sources of heavy metals include mining, industrial production (foundries, smelters,
oil refineries, petrochemical plants, pesticide production, chemical
industry), untreated sewage sludge and diffuse sources such as metal piping, traffic
and combustion by-products from coal-burning power stations.
Heavy metal poisoning (toxicity) is the result of exposure to heavy metals like
lead, mercury and arsenic. Heavy metals bind to parts of your cells that prevent your
organs from doing their job. Symptoms of heavy metal poisoning can be life
threatening and they can cause irreversible damage.
The ecosystem is being ruined to the fact that the heavy metals are entering the
food chain. Heavy metals also affect the biodegradability of organic pollutants,
making them less degradable and thus causing double the effect of polluting the
environment.
POISONING BY HEAVY METALS
Heavy metal poisoning is caused by the accumulation of certain metals in the body due to
exposure through food, water, industrial chemicals, or other sources.
While your body needs small amounts of some heavy metals to function normally — such
as zinc, copper, chromium, iron, and manganese — toxic amounts are harmful.
If your body’s soft tissues accumulate too much of these substances, the resulting poisoning
can cause serious health problems.
Heavy metal poisoning is caused by the accumulation of certain metals in the body due to
exposure through food, water, industrial chemicals, or other sources.
While your body needs small amounts of some heavy metals to function normally — such
as zinc, copper, chromium, iron, and manganese — toxic amounts are harmful.
If your body’s soft tissues accumulate too much of these substances, the resulting poisoning
can cause serious health problems.
• Confusion
Soil pollution
Soil pollution refers to the contamination of soil with anomalous concentrations of toxic
substances. It is a serious environmental concern since it harbours many health hazards. For
example, exposure to soil containing high concentrations of benzene increases the risk of
contracting leukaemia.
The root cause of soil pollution is often one of the following:
• Agriculture (excessive/improper use of pesticides)
• Excessive industrial activity
• Poor management or inefficient disposal of waste
SOURCES OF SOIL POLLUTION
Various sources of soil pollution are
1. Industrial wastes: There are two types of wastes produced from industrial
activities i.e, unused chemicals and unwanted industrial garbage.
2. Urban waste: Urban wastes comprise is of both commercial and domestic wastes,
consisting of dried sludge and sewage. Urban waste should be separately disposed of
from industrial waste because it is not easily degraded.
3. Biological agents: soil gets a large amount of human, animal and bird excreta
which constitute a major source of land pollution by biological agents.
4. Agricultural practices: Modern agricultural practices the soil to a large extent.
With the advancing agro-technology, huge quantities of fertilizers pollute, pesticides,
herbicides and weedicides are added to increase the crop yield.
5. Radioactive pollutants: Radioactive substances resulting from explosions of
nuclear testing laboratories and industries give rise to nuclear dust radioactive wastes,
penetrate the soil, and accumulate giving rise to land/soil pollution.
Radioactive contamination is defined as the deposition or introduction of
radioactive substances into the environment, where their presence is unintended, or
the levels of radioactivity are undesirable. Such type of pollution is harmful to life due
to the emission of ionizing radiation. This type of radiation is potent enough to cause
damage to tissues and DNA in genes.
Radioactive pollution occurs as a result of radioactive decay of radioactive elements during:
• nuclear explosions and testing
• disposal of nuclear waste
• mining radioactive ores
• accidents at nuclear power plants
, At very high doses, radiation can impair the functioning of tissues and organs and
produce acute effects such as nausea and vomiting, skin redness, hair loss, acute
radiation syndrome, local radiation injuries (also known as radiation burns), or even
death.
6. Plastic:
Plastic bags are non-biodegradable in nature. It remains in the soil for a long
period of time without getting decomposed. It prevents seeping of water into the soil
and thus prevents the growth of plants. Thus, plastic bags pollute the soil and are
considered bad for the soil.
The buildup of plastic waste in agricultural areas can have detrimental effects
on biodiversity, soil health, and ecosystem function. Plastic waste can pollute the soil
in agricultural areas, which will prevent plants from properly absorbing nutrients and
thereby impede their growth.
Plastic pollution is a global problem. Every year 19-23 million tonnes of
plastic waste leaks into aquatic ecosystems, polluting lakes, rivers and seas.
7. Heavy metals:
Sources of heavy metals include mining, industrial production (foundries, smelters,
oil refineries, petrochemical plants, pesticide production, chemical
industry), untreated sewage sludge and diffuse sources such as metal piping, traffic
and combustion by-products from coal-burning power stations.
Heavy metal poisoning (toxicity) is the result of exposure to heavy metals like
lead, mercury and arsenic. Heavy metals bind to parts of your cells that prevent your
organs from doing their job. Symptoms of heavy metal poisoning can be life
threatening and they can cause irreversible damage.
The ecosystem is being ruined to the fact that the heavy metals are entering the
food chain. Heavy metals also affect the biodegradability of organic pollutants,
making them less degradable and thus causing double the effect of polluting the
environment.
POISONING BY HEAVY METALS
Heavy metal poisoning is caused by the accumulation of certain metals in the body due to
exposure through food, water, industrial chemicals, or other sources.
While your body needs small amounts of some heavy metals to function normally — such
as zinc, copper, chromium, iron, and manganese — toxic amounts are harmful.
If your body’s soft tissues accumulate too much of these substances, the resulting poisoning
can cause serious health problems.
Heavy metal poisoning is caused by the accumulation of certain metals in the body due to
exposure through food, water, industrial chemicals, or other sources.
While your body needs small amounts of some heavy metals to function normally — such
as zinc, copper, chromium, iron, and manganese — toxic amounts are harmful.
If your body’s soft tissues accumulate too much of these substances, the resulting poisoning
can cause serious health problems.
• Confusion
