The soil is an important habitat and is the house of different types of microorganisms, animals, reptiles, mammals, birds, and insects. The most common causes of soil pollution include industrial waste or by-products. Soil pollution (also called soil contamination) can be defined as the occurrence of toxic chemicals in the soil. The pollution affects the ecosystem and brings negative changes. Since cigarettes contain many harmful substances, the soil is contaminated by this behavior since through rainfalls, these chemicals are washed into the ground and will even eventually reach our groundwater. Causes of soil pollution. The problem is even more severe if the leaking transport vehicle carries very dangerous chemicals like nuclear waste. Such soil becomes highly toxic, as many pathogens can multiply in the polluted soil and eventually enter the human body through the consumption of plants grown in the affected area. Pollution refers to the level of contaminants which exceeds the natural concentration of these substances. By consuming these farm animals at a later stage, we will be contaminated as well. The conquest of utilizing land and soil resources and conducting experiments on it for our benefits is one major reason for soil pollution. Soil pollution differs slightly from land pollution because while they are affected in some of the same ways by the same contaminates, soil pollution focuses solely on the soil. However, people usually do not care about the environment too much. There are many other leading reasons causes of soil pollution too. By-products of the production processes are often dumped nearby and thus contaminate the soil. Such kind of pollution is caused either due to natural events such as soil erosion or due to excessive soil contamination. If they get in contact with the ground, the soil can be contaminated by heavy metals and other harmful substances. We have seen almost every human activity lead to some sort of pollution in one way or another. Through the over-exploitation of the soil, it often loses its fertility. Farmers can contribute to a reduction in soil pollution if they get aware of the problem and thus reduce the use of these substances. Transportation, either by private persons or for industrial purposes, contribute heavily to the issue of soil pollution. Causes Of Soil Pollution. Moreover, the FAO distinguishes between two types of soil pollution: If the soil is contaminated, the plants cultivated on this soil are also contaminated. Moreover, industries have to be stopped from excessive emission of harmful gases which in turn leads to acid rain. A further step to mitigate soil pollution can be accomplished by organic gardening. Soil pollution (also called soil contamination) can be defined as the occurrence of toxic chemicals in the soil. The alarming situation of the state of soil pollution has forced the scientific community to develop innovative, reproducible strategies/technologies (in situ or ex situ) for treating polluted soils. For example, if the soil is contaminated and the pH-level changes because of this, plants will usually suffer since they are quite sensitive to changes in pH-levels and crop yields are therefore likely to drop due to this issue. The grain grown in these soils is often polluted with heavy metals. They cause pollution of the air as well as the water. Land pollution refers to all forms of pollution affecting any type of soil: agricultural, forestry, urban, etc. Many chemicals used in farming are harmful to the health of human, animals and plant life. Soil pollution can cause an imbalance of the ecosystem of the soil. This method solves the problem for a short period of time, however, in the long run, the affected areas will be contaminated for a very long period of time and thus we will not be able to use them for future settlement or agricultural activities. A farmer’s productive capacity is directly related to the health of his or her soil.”. This problem gets even worse when it comes to nuclear waste. People often just throw away their garbage and do not care if it is disposed of properly. Pesticides protect plants and crops to be eaten by animals or insects. Following are some of the causes of soil pollution: Cause: Detail: Accidental spills & Industrial accidents: Industrial accidents (such as the Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster) can contaminate the soil with toxins or other substances (such as radiation). Littering has become a serious contributor to the soil pollution problem. Soil pollution is defined as the contamination of soil of a particular region. Causes, Effects and Solutions of Agricultural Pollution on Our Environment - Conserve Energy Future. Leaks in sewage lines can lead to the contamination of soil. The primary cause of soil pollution is a lack of awareness in general people. Please note that all the information I provide on this website is to my best knowledge. Causes of Soil Pollution . Industrialization: More and more, population growth requires the production of more goods, resulting in more industrial waste. 3. | Land Pollution | What is Land Pollution? The soil of Earth is no different. In soil pollution, the effects vary in proportion to the extent of the concentration of the pollutant. Soil pollution. By Oishimaya Sen Nag on September 27 2018 in Environment. Part of the fertilizer and the pesticides are not absorbed by the plants and thus contaminate the soil.eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'environmental_conscience_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_3',132,'0','0'])); Moreover, since the structure and composition of the soil are changed through the contamination with chemicals, soil pollution increases the likelihood of erosion by air or water. For example, when oil is transported through pipelines from oil fields to processing plants, oil might leak through holes in the pipe and contaminate the soil in the surrounding area. Various Causes of Land Pollution 1. What are the causes of land pollution? Soil Pollution: Definition, Causes, Effects and Solutions - Conserve Energy Future. Soil pollution also causes heavy economic losses. As a result, we extract large amounts of precious metals and other elements out of the ground. If there are no proper waste disposal processes, our waste can cause soil pollution in a severe way. In addition, the structure of the soil itself can change due to contamination with certain chemicals. Most of the causes of soil pollution are man-made, however, there are also a few natural contributors to the soil pollution problem. 1. ; Deforestation and soil erosion: Forests are home to more than 80% of terrestrial biodiversity and are a refuge for many animal and plant species.In this sense, deforestation is a catastrophe both for man and for other living beings. Effects of soil pollution. Oil pollution is mainly because of crude oil. Fossil fuels are used by industries as well as in our daily life, for example by the use of our cars. The most common causes of soil pollution include industrial waste or by-products. And some mix in soil through atmosphere and wind activity. Soil contamination or soil pollution as part of land degradation is caused by the presence of xenobiotics (human-made) chemicals or other alteration in the natural soil environment. Soil pollution is often associated with . Soil pollution can be said to be the mixing together of chemicals that are made by man (like agricultural chemicals, industrial wastes and various waste disposals that are harmful from factories, houses, etc.) This in turn can cause severe health conditions for humans. Through the aeration of soils, soil pollution may also contribute to an increase in air pollution. Soil pollution causes perilous effects on our environment and leads to several health hazards. For instance, this becomes quite clear if we look at how people dispose of their used cigarettes. It is typically caused by industrial activity, agricultural chemicals or improper disposal of waste. We can thus mitigate the soil contamination problem by avoiding the consumption of fossil fuels in our daily life. One of the most alarming situations for the mankind that has ever existed is Climate change and constant rise in the pollution levels. Share it! Coughing, pain in the chest, and wheezing. It results in harmful pesticides and insecticides, that brings about the decay in soil quality and results in making it contaminated. Along with air and water pollution, soil pollution is an equally serious issue that the modern-day world is confronted with. Deforestation carried out to create drylands is one of the major concerns.Land that is once converted into dry or barren land can never be made fertile again, whatever the magnitude of measures to redeem it is. They contain hazardous chemicals which are absorbed by the soil and deliberately bring down the soil quality. Certain microorganisms are used in order to degrade the target pollutants. However, the next step is to make sure that we convince others. The by-products of the production process have to be disposed of somehow. However, pesticides and fertilizers contain harmful elements which contribute to soil pollution. Causes of soil pollution. However, I will not take any responsibility for incorrect information and will not be liable for any negative consequences that might occur due to the reliance on this information. Some of them are metals, inorganic ions, salts, compounds formed by soil microbial activity, and decomposition of organisms. Through the food chain, this also has adverse effects on humans. The pH-level measures the acidity of an environment or a substance. These by-products are often dumped in storages in the ground. Accidental spills and leaks are common when chemicals are stored, transported, and used. This means a strict control on the operation of landfills to make sure that the soil is not contaminated. Thus, sea animals and plants will also be adversely affected by soil pollution. Land pollution is a major problem around the world and is caused by a variety of factors. This may be accomplished by higher fines and more controls. Or indirectly the extent of the soil on human lives, soil causes. 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