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Soil Pollution Essay

Essay on Soil Pollution

Soil is also called Earth, ground or dirt, which is formed by the accumulation of Organic and Inorganic matter as a bedrock through several years of physical weathering. And, Soil Pollution is the imbalance in the composition of this Organic matter which naturally decomposes and Inorganic matter which may be integrated with harmful chemicals that don’t decompose easily and degrade the quality of the Soil causing Soil Pollution. In this Soil Pollution essay, we will understand the cause and effects of Soil Pollution.

Soil is a thin layer that consists of both Organic and Inorganic components. These materials cover the Earth's rocky surfaces. Also included is the organic part, which is made up of decomposed animal and plant material. While rock bits make up the inorganic portion. This section was created through the chemical and physical weathering of bedrock over a thousand years. Soils that are productive are important for agriculture in order to meet the world's food needs. As a result, the essay on Soil Pollution focuses on the reasons that cause Soil contamination as well as the negative consequences of Soil Pollution.

Short Essay on Soil Pollution

Human-made chemicals are the leading cause of Soil Pollution as it alters the natural Soil Environment. And the ingestion of chemicals is at a big-time high due to industrialization and increase in population. This Soil Pollution essay in English will emphasize on the fact that there are millions of chemicals naturally present in the Soil. But when there is an increase in the concentration of a few harmful chemicals, it becomes a threat to living beings as it leads to serious health hazards.

The main contributors to Soil Pollution are the frequent use of chemical pesticides, fertilizers with higher concentrations of chemicals then decrease the natural fertility of the Earth, uncontrolled disposal of sewage, careless industrial waste spillage like of oils and solid matter from concrete matter used in making buildings and medical waste from hospitals and pharmaceutical labs and poor waste management.

All of the aforementioned causes lead to serious health conditions at all levels of the ecosystem. The plant growth is stunted when grown on such harmful grounds, the humans who are exposed to food yielded from such an environment can experience short term consequences like fatigue, weakness, headache, skin conditions or long term problems like depression, nervous system damage and animals including aquatic life suffers a great deal from this damage as they live on the polluted water seeped from the polluted Soil.

All of this can be resolved when people are consciously reducing the disposal of such harmful wastes into the natural bodies and a proper waste management system is followed.

Long Essay on Soil Pollution

Soil like all other forms of Pollution in nature is a growing sense of dread due to its deadly consequences in all living beings in the Ecosystem. Man-made materials are the leading cause of Soil Pollution. When any matter is present in quantities larger than the needed amount, then that becomes a potent threat. In trying to grow at a greater pace they are harming the Environment. The biggest threat to this problem is the irresponsibility displayed while disposing of any waste as the disposal of chemicals are not naturally present in the Soil so this causes contamination and as the levels increase leads to Pollution. In this essay on Soil Pollution, let’s understand the causes, effects and possible solutions.

What Causes Soil Pollution?

Soil Pollution is characterized as chemicals, salts, poisonous compounds, and radioactive contaminants that stay in the Soil and have negative impacts on animal health and plant growth. Pollution of Soils can occur in a variety of ways. These are the following:

Industrial garbage is dumped on the Earth's surface.

A landfill seeps water.

Underground storage tanks are bursting.

Contaminated water seeps into the ground.

Seepage of solid waste.

Heavy metals, petroleum hydrocarbons, solvents, and insecticides are examples of chemicals.

Soil Pollution Causes

A Soil pollutant is a factor that causes Soil to deteriorate owing to a reduction in the texture, mineral, or quality content of the Soil. This also disrupts the biological equilibrium of Soil-dependent organisms. Furthermore, Soil Pollution has negative consequences for plant growth. Soil contamination is usually produced by man-made applications such as contaminated surface water percolation, pesticides, fuel dumping, oil dumping, and so on.

Other operations include the leaching of pollutants from landfills, the direct dumping of industrial wastes into the Soil, and so on. Solvents, petroleum hydrocarbons, lead, pesticides, and various heavy metals are among the most prevalent compounds implicated. As a result, the occurrence of the phenomenon is highly correlated with the intensities and industrialisation of chemical use.

The following are some of the most common sources of Soil Pollution:

Fertilizer usage is increasing.

Insecticides, herbicides, and pesticides are used indiscriminately.

Solid waste disposal

Deforestation

Effects of Soil Pollution

As we go about our lives, we disregard the devastating effects of Soil Pollution on the Ecosystem and inevitably our health.

When we consume the food grown on such polluted Soil the crop absorbs it and then is passed on to us and leads to fatal diseases overtime.

Soil loses its fertility and stunts the growth of the plants and when they are harvested the contaminated Soil becomes futile as it is no longer useful for further cultivation as such lands become incompetent to support life and are deserted leaving more space to dump such harmful waste this cyclical nature of cause and effect is deadly.

The food that is produced from such lands also lacks good nutrients and thus creates another generation of malnourished children which hinders their natural growth physically and mentally.

The underground Soil water when it meets the natural aquatic bodies, it does a great deal of damage to aquatic life, both plants that grow underwater and animals.

Soil Pollution's Consequences

Some radioactive pollutants from nuclear reactors, explosions, hospitals, science labs, and other sources penetrate deeply into the Soil, where they linger for a long time and pollute the Soil.

False agricultural practices involving advanced agro-technology entail the use of massive volumes of harmful fertilisers such as herbicides, weedicides, insecticides, and other chemicals, which improve Soil fertility while gradually reducing Soil physio-chemical and biological qualities. Other forms of Soil Pollution include municipal rubbish, food processing waste, mining practices, and many others.

Soil Pollution is extremely detrimental to one's health since poisonous substances enter the body through the food chain and disrupt the entire inner body system. Individuals, particularly industrialists, should adopt all effective control measures, including environmental protection regulations, in order to reduce and minimise Soil Pollution. People should encourage the recycling and reuse of solid waste, as well as the planting of as many trees as possible.

Ways to Curb Soil Pollution

The most important step in starting to solve this problem is by creating awareness and informing people about the dire consequences, and how their contribution can do good to the ecosystem and human nature. The possible solutions to these problems are-

No excess use of fertilizers, and other chemicals used. As these are useful only in required quantities and when overdone leads to the damage so one can avoid overuse of the harmful substances containing chemicals.

Encouraging afforestation i.e. the planting of trees as the more trees planted the Erosion of Soil will be less and this will help in retaining the useful chemicals in the Soil and hence increasing the fertility of the Soil as well.

Recycling and reusing of waste materials will help a great deal and lessen the harm to a greater degree.

As the saying goes Prevention is better than cure, it is better to take steps in creating a safer environment instead of regretting later. India being Agricultural Land, we can take steps to organize programs and educate the farmers and other locals to use natural manure, and make them aware of the problems caused by chemicals used.

FAQs on Soil Pollution Essay

1. How can we Control Soil Pollution?

On an individual level, we have to take it upon ourselves to reduce the amount of waste produced due to our regular activities on a daily basis. We should also plant more trees and encourage nearby ones to do the same. The effect is more impactful when individuals take accountability for their duty to give back to nature. Students can learn how to control Soil Pollution and educate their elders for the same.

2. What are the different types of Soil Pollution?

There are two types of Soil Pollution, the one caused by natural disasters like floods which also erodes the Soil, this can be in a specific region or can be widespread. The other one is man-made or called anthropogenic type which is the major cause of the problem. We cannot control the natural one but the man-made one. By taking to certain protocols and following the code of conduct, we will be able to control the Soil Pollution caused by the people.

3. How to curb Soil Pollution?

There are three ways to curb Soil Pollution. One way is to not use excess fertilisers and chemicals on the ground. The fertilisers can cause degradation of the Soil and kill the organic microorganisms that help to promote Soil fertility. The second way is by recycling and reusing man-made products. We should ban plastic and opt for products that can be reused and recycled. Trees should be planted and deforestation should be in control. For every tree cut, there should be twice the plantation.

4. How can chemicals affect biodiversity?

The fertilisers used as chemicals in the Soil can affect crop growth. It kills the macronutrients that are essential and causes toxic effects to the crop. These when taken up by humans or animals can promote biomagnification and increase toxicity at every level in the food chain. Even when we water the crops, the water can contain toxic chemicals and affect aquatic marine life. Hence the chemicals can affect biodiversity to a broad level.

5. Is an Essay on Soil Pollution for Students in English helpful?

Yes, the Essay on Soil Pollution for Students in English is very helpful. Firstly it helps the student to know about Soil Pollution and its prevention. Secondly, students will be able to write a well-composed essay on the topic of Soil Pollution. It is important to get environmental knowledge and write it properly in English medium. Regular practice and learning can help students to compose a good essay on diverse topics. Learn and read to get a better grip on essay writing.

Essay on Soil Pollution for Students and Children

500+ words essay on soil pollution.

Soil is a thin layer made up of organic as well as inorganic materials. These materials cover the rocky surfaces of Earth. Also, the organic portion, which is derived from the decayed remains of animals and plants. While the inorganic portion is made up of rock fragments. This portion was formed over a thousand years of chemical and physical weathering of bedrock. Productive soils are useful for agriculture in order to supply the world with the required food. So, the essay on soil pollution is guided to factors causing soil pollution and the adverse effects of soil pollution.

How does Soil Get Polluted?

Soil pollution can be defined as persistent of chemicals, salts, toxic compounds, radioactive materials, that have adverse effects on animal health and plant growth. There are many ways through which soils can get polluted. These are:

Discharge of industrial waste into the Earth surfaces.
Seepage through a landfill.
Underground storage tanks getting ruptured.
Formation of contaminated water into the soil.
Solid waste seepage.
Chemicals like heavy metals, petroleum hydrocarbons, solvents, and pesticides.

Causes of Soil Pollution

A soil pollutant is a factor that is used for deterioration of soil due to texture, mineral, or quality content of soil being reduced. Also, this disturbs the biological balance of the organisms dependant on the soil. Additionally, there are adverse effects of soil pollution on the growth of plants. Usually, soil pollution is caused due to the presence of man-made applications like percolation of contaminated surface water, pesticides, fuel dumping, oil dumping, etc.

Additionally, there are other activities like leaching of wastes from landfills, direct discharge of industrial wastes into the soil, etc. Also, the most common chemicals involved here are solvents, petroleum hydrocarbons, lead, pesticides, and various heavy metals. So, the phenomena occurring has a high correlation with the intensities and industrialization of chemical usage.

Some of the main causes of soil pollution are:

Increasing use of fertilizers
Indiscriminate use of insecticides, herbicides, and pesticides
Dumping of solid wastes
Deforestation

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Effects of Soil Pollution

Some radioactive pollutants from sources such as nuclear reactors, explosions, hospitals, science labs, etc. go very deep into the soil, stay there for a long time and cause soil pollution.

False agricultural practices using advanced agro-technology mean the use of enormous amounts of toxic fertilizers including herbicides, weedicides, pesticides, etc. increases soil fertility but gradually decreases soil physio-chemical and biological properties. Municipal trash heap, food processing waste, mining methods, and many more are other sources of soil pollution.

Because toxic chemicals enter the body through the food chain and disturb the entire inner body system, soil pollution is very dangerous to health. In order to decrease and limit soil pollution, the individuals particularly industrialists should follow all efficient control measures including environmental protection laws. People should promote the recycling and reuse of solid waste and maximum feasible tree plantation.

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What Is Soil Pollution? Environmental Impacts and Mitigation

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Climate Crisis
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Transportation

Causes of Soil Pollution

Environmental impacts, where soil pollution occurs.

Soil pollution refers to the dangerously high concentrations of contaminants in soil. While contaminants such as metals, inorganic ions, salts, and organic compounds naturally occur in soils, these can exceed natural levels and qualify as pollution.

Soil pollution can have far-reaching consequences; it is often detrimental to plant growth, disrupting food chains and entire ecosystems. In turn, it has a direct impact on food security . Here, we'll review the causes of soil pollution, its widespread environmental impacts, and how to improve soil conditions.

As with other types of pollution, the causes of soil pollution often come back to humans.

Industrial Pollutants

Industrial pollutants are among the most common causes of soil pollution. Chemicals are released from industrial facilities in both liquid and solid form. Industrial activities emit large amounts of arsenic fluorides and sulfur dioxide, which raise soil acidity and impact vegetation. Accidental spills and leaks during storage, transport, and usage contribute to soil pollution.

Agricultural Activities

There are several sources of soil pollution in industrial agriculture. Many fertilizers, for example, contain substantial amounts of heavy metals, such as calcium, nitrate, and potassium chloride that can disrupt regular growing seasons. Sewage and other liquid waste from domestic water use, agricultural effluents from animal husbandry, and urban runoff also pollute soils.

Another cause is deforestation; the clearing of trees results in increased soil erosion, which lessens the soil’s ability to support vegetation.

Soil has a finite capacity to cope with pollutants; when this is surpassed, contaminants will impact other parts of the environment, such as the food chain. As a result, soil pollution also affects food security as it reduces crop yields and quality.

Soil pollution contributes to air pollution as it releases volatile compounds into the atmosphere. Furthermore, air pollution created by the burning of fossil fuels can cause acid rain which produces an acidic environment in the soils . This harms micro-organisms, which improve the soil structure by breaking down organic material and helping water flow.

Chemicals within soils can also be leached into groundwater, which can then reach streams, lakes, and oceans. Also, soils with high levels of nitrogen and phosphorus can leach into waterways, causing algal blooms , which decrease the oxygen available for aquatic life. Likewise, soil erosion can lead to pollution and sedimentation in waterways.

Soil pollution can be found all over the world, but particularly in areas in Europe and North America.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, there are approximately 2.8 million potentially polluted sites in Europe, and 19% need remediation or risk-reduction measures. Actions from industrial, commercial, production, waste disposal, and treatment activities have been the main source of point-source soil pollution in Europe. Mining has been a significant contributor to soil pollution in Cyprus, Slovakia, and North Macedonia.

Although there have been improvements in waste management and legislation has become stricter, recent assessments in countries such as Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, and Turkey, indicate that soil pollution is still a significant problem.

North America

There are thousands of polluted sites in both the U.S. and Canada. There are approximately 23,000 abandoned mines in the state of Colorado alone, which contribute to soil pollution. Additionally, coal combustion from provinces in Canada such as Alberta, Saskatchewan, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia produces coal ash. Also, lakes and rivers in Alberta and Saskatchewan are currently experiencing very high levels of acid pollution which threatens aquatic ecosystems.

To counter soil pollution on the agricultural level, the EPA has recommended that farmers adopt sustainable practices:

Nutrient management techniques
Drainage practices that conserve resources
Year-round ground covering
Field buffers
Conservation tillage
Access to streams for livestock.

Additionally, Congress passed the Pollution Prevention Act , which has led to the creation of programs and strategies that aims to reduce or eliminate pollution at the source.

Strategies that focus on the mining industry include improving the management of mining waste, restoring the landscape, and conserving topsoil. Urban planning and wastewater treatment are also effective in decreasing urban sources of soil pollution, such as sewage.

Ashraf, Muhammad, Maah, Mohd., Yusoff, Ismail. "Soil Contamination, Risk Assessment and Remediation". Environmental Risk Assessment of Soil Contamination, edited by Maria Hernandez-Soriano, IntechOpen, 2014. 10.5772/57287.

FAO and UNEP. 2021. Global assessment of soil pollution: Report. Rome. https://doi.org/10.4060/cb4894en

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Essay on Soil Pollution

Soil is one of the essential natural resources. It is the basis of food production, and it supports a wide variety of plant and animal life. Soil pollution is the contamination of soil with substances that would not usually be naturally found in a place. It can be caused by many factors, such as fertilisers and pesticides from farms, construction sites that discard dirt, and the improper disposal of household chemicals. BYJU’S essay on soil pollution teaches us the causes, effects and ways to prevent soil pollution.

Besides the factors mentioned above, the substances responsible for soil pollution can come from various sources, such as industrial wastes, sewage disposal, and pesticides. These substances can impact humans and other organisms in the soil to die. They also contaminate water sources. Moreover, soil pollution causes groundwater contamination, making it dangerous for people to drink without boiling first because it could contain germs and chemicals. The chemical substances that result in soil pollution can also cause air pollution . Now, let us learn the reasons for soil pollution by reading the soil pollution introduction essay.

Causes of Soil Pollution

Soil pollution essay in English helps understand its reasons and impact. It can occur from various sources, but the most common sources are agricultural and industrial activities. As the careless use of these chemicals affects soil quality, it will eventually lead to a shortage in food production.

Waste disposal sites or factories near rivers or streams also often cause soil pollution because they release pollutants into the surface and water, which leads to water pollution . Another common cause of soil pollution is dumping trash. This can include anything from household garbage to industrial and medical waste. The toxins in these materials can leach into the soil and contaminate it; this means that any plants grown in that soil will also be tainted. Some chemicals are even known to cause cancer or other diseases. Pollution from toxic waste, such as metal smelting, chemical manufacturing, and oil refining, can also harm soil quality.

Effects of Soil Pollution

After understanding the causes of soil pollution, let us know the adverse effects by reading the soil pollution essay . Harmful substances disposed of in water can leach into the soil and contaminate nearby water sources. One of the negative effects of soil pollution is that it can be challenging to grow plants in areas where the soil is contaminated.

Soil pollution has detrimental effects on our environment, but it is hard to see the accumulation of pollutants and how severe the damage is. Soil can act as a sink that soaks up contaminants such as pesticides and heavy metals. However, soil can take in only a limited amount of these substances, at which point they are no longer absorbed into the ground and start to build up in the atmosphere. This will eventually lead to the contamination of air, water, and food supplies.

How to Prevent Soil Pollution?

Soil pollution is a global issue and is a problem that affects everyone. The most important things to do are to stop using pesticides and herbicides, use organic fertilisers and compost, avoid spreading trash or hazardous materials in the park , and limit chemical fertilisers. Sewage from cities and factory waste can contaminate the soil. One way to reduce this is to use a two-chamber septic tank, which effectively reduces soil pollution.

The effects of soil pollution are a significant concern, and hence, we must learn how to prevent soil pollution by reading BYJU’S how to prevent soil pollution essay.

To conclude, we must join hands in preventing soil pollution for a better future. For more kids learning activities like GK questions and worksheets , visit BYJU’S website.

Frequently Asked Questions on Soil Pollution

Do chemical fertilisers harm the soil.

Yes. Chemical fertilisers harm the soil.

What are the three significant causes of soil pollution?

Three significant causes of soil pollution are careless waste disposal, oil spills and industrial activities.

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Soil Pollution Essay

Soil is an important part of the resources that Mother Nature provides. The stability of life is unimaginable without the presence of soil; from infrastructure to agriculture, we are totally dependent on soil. But because of some of our actions, the soil we depend on is getting polluted. Here are some essays on the topic ‘soil pollution’.

100 Words Essay On Soil Pollution

One of the vital natural resources that form the cornerstone of human existence on this planet is soil. It provides us with almost everything: the house we live in, the metals we use, minerals, and even those scenic beauties that everybody loves.

But today, this important resource of ours is getting polluted due to some of our actions. Soil pollution is the leading cause of harm to our environment. Overuse of pesticides and herbicides and the release of chemical waste by industries should be immediately banned to prevent soil pollution. Every person, on an individual level, must take responsibility for protecting this important resource.

200 Words Essay On Soil Pollution

The soil is one of the most significant natural resources. It serves as the foundation for food production and provides a variety of habitats for both plants and animals. The relationship between people and the soil goes beyond just their need for food. However, for personal gain, we have allowed improper actions to lead to contamination. Today, soil pollution is the leading cause of disturbance in our lifestyle and our environment.

We have polluted it with chemicals and other unnatural substances, such as the use of urea and other chemicals in agriculture and industries such as tanning and dyeing, which release chemical residue into open water sources and later settle down and pollute the soil. As a result, the quality of the food and water we consume has suffered.

The government should impose strict regulations on various industries. It is important to educate people about the dangers of soil pollution. Biofertilizers should be used by farmers in place of chemical fertilisers. Plastic and other non-biodegradable materials should be banned. In order to reduce soil erosion and stop soil pollution, more trees should be planted.

It's better to take action to make the world a safer place than to wish for it. As a result, we must do our part to reduce soil pollution and make the planet a better and safer place to live.

500 Words Essay On Soil Pollution

It is a well-known fact that the soil is important for us in every way; we depend on it for food, and it provides grazing fields for animals. It is the substratum of every monument that humanity has ever built. Although, because of some of our actions, this important resource of ours is getting polluted, which is harmful not only for us but will also affect other lifeforms.

Soil is a thin layer made up of organic as well as inorganic materials. Earth's rocky surfaces are covered in these substances. There is also the organic component, which comes from the decomposed remains of plants and animals whereas rock fragments make up the inorganic component. Over the course of a thousand years, bedrock underwent chemical and physical weathering, resulting in the formation of this section. In order to provide the world with the necessary food, productive soils are important for agriculture.

Soil is essential for healthy plant growth, human nutrition, and water filtration. A landscape supported by healthy soil is more resistant to the effects of drought, flood, or fire. Soil stores more carbon than all of the world's forests combined, and soil helps to regulate global climate. We cannot survive without healthy soils.

Soil Pollution And Why Is It A Problem

Soil pollution is the process by which toxic chemicals and other pollutants contaminate the soil in high concentrations, affecting the ecosystem. The soil's top layer is disturbed by metals, ions, salts, and organic compounds created by microbial activity and organism decomposition. This slowly seeps into groundwater and then into bodies of water. Pesticides and insecticides used on crops, as well as large-scale radioactive production by humans, pollute the soil.

Humans and other living things are extremely vulnerable to the health effects of soil pollution. When we consume food that was grown in contaminated soil, the crop absorbs the chemicals, which are then ingested by us and can have a serious negative impact on our health. Because of soil pollution, crops can no longer be grown on the soil because it is no longer useful. The plants and animals that inhabit natural water bodies suffer significant harm when soil-derived water seeps through the surface and enters them. It can also be responsible for causing soil erosion. Dirty soil contributes to the worsening of acid rain.

The most crucial action we can take is to stop using pesticides and herbicides in favour of compost and organic fertilisers, refrain from throwing trash or hazardous materials in parks, and use fewer chemical fertilisers. Plastic products should be banned, and anyone found in violation must pay a hefty fine. Before disseminating chemicals into the environment, industries must refine their releases. In order to improve soil quality and stop soil erosion, reforestation is a useful strategy. In order to accomplish that, we must plant as many trees as we can.

Being a country with a sizable amount of agricultural land, we can take action to organise programmes that inform farmers and other locals about the benefits of using natural manure and the harm caused by the use of chemicals.

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A career as radio jockey has a lot to offer to deserving candidates. If you want to know more about a career as radio jockey, and how to become a radio jockey then continue reading the article.

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Copy Writer

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Corporate Executive

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Quality Controller

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A quality controller records detailed information about products with defects and sends it to the supervisor or plant manager to take necessary actions to improve the production process.

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Soil contaminants

What are soil contaminants?

As you’ve learned from other pages of our website, soil is a complex mixture of minerals, organic material, water, and various lifeforms. In its original state, soil was an uncontaminated substance covering the earth. But humans have intentionally and accidentally poured harmful products onto it in some areas. The waste can hurt the soil and possibly human, plant, and animal health. This section covers the most common soil contaminants, how they got there, and how they can pose problems for human health.

By definition, any substance in the soil that exceeds naturally-occurring levels and poses human health risks is a soil contaminant. As a quick example, arsenic naturally occurs in some soils. But if a person sprays certain pesticides on their yard, that could cause soil contamination. Lead is also very dangerous but occurs naturally in some soils. It was used in gasoline until 1989 and can still be found contaminating soils today.

The biggest risks for soil contamination are in urban areas and former industrial sites. If you are unsure about the condition of the soil near your home or property, it’s best to have a soil test done to be sure about its safety. Of course, most soil is perfectly safe for play, gardening, and recreation, but it’s best to be safe.

Common contaminants in urban soils include pesticides, petroleum products, radon, asbestos, lead, chromated copper arsenate and creosote. In urban areas, soil contamination is largely caused by human activities. Some examples are manufacturing, industrial dumping, land development, local waste disposal, and excessive pesticide or fertilizer use. Heavy car and truck traffic can contaminate soil, and so can a single car: Have you ever noticed a shiny puddle under your car in the driveway? That’s oil–a petroleum product–and when it rains, that oil will end up in the soil!

When soil is contaminated with these substances, it can hurt the native environment. Many of these substances are just as toxic to plants as they are to humans. In addition, since soil is the “ earth’s kidney ,” contaminants can trickle through the soil and get to our water supply. You can see why soil contamination is such an important topic!

Where and how much contamination is added to soils will largely determine how that contamination spreads throughout an area. The type of soil will also play a role in its distribution. For example, certain contaminants may reach groundwater sources more easily in sand than clay. This is because of faster infiltration rates of coarse-grained sandy soil types. Fine-grained clay soils or organic material in surface soils can hold contaminants tightly, which means the contaminants will accumulate if left undisturbed (that is, no excavation or tillage).

Some human activities may occur at the same time. For example, some new housing areas are built on old industrial sites. Those soil may have buried soil contaminants that are brought to the surface when the houses – or roads to support them – are put in. Newly resurfaced contaminants may then be redistributed throughout the urban environment by wind (as dust) and water erosion. Contaminants may also be retained at a site, which poses on-site risk of exposure if food is grown in the contaminated soil or children play in the soil.

How are people exposed to soil contaminants?

There are several ways humans can be exposed to soil contaminants. The most common are:

1. Ingesting soil

Though it might seem odd to eat soil, contaminants can be ingested in a variety of ways. Young children may be particularly susceptible as they play in bare soil. Children might breathe in dust particles that naturally disperse during play. They may also be curious and try eating soil. If soil is not contaminated, this causes no problem to the children. You can have your yard’s soil tested for lead and other substances for peace of mind.

Contaminated soil dust may also affect our food supply. For example, contaminated soil could be present on produce. If an item like lettuce is grown in soil with contaminants, the leaves could be covered. Washing lettuce is very important. Root crops like carrots and potatoes usually have soil on them in the store. If they come from contaminated soil, it’s important to wash them well, too.

The biggest risk of ingesting soil happens when the soil is left bare. Covering soil with grass or other plants and mulching well reduces the risk of contamination. If people are eating outdoors near windy soil on a windy day, airborne contaminants may land on food before it is eaten.

2. Breathing volatiles and dust

When soils are uncovered, small particles can become airborne with wind or other disturbance. Construction or demolition work, mining operations, or poor landscaping efforts can make soil dust. Breathing in contaminated dust may cause physical or chemical damage to humans. For example, asbestos fibers can puncture the lungs. Chemicals such as lead can hurt the nervous system, including the brain.

3. Absorbing through skin

Contaminants may also be absorbed through the skin. Creosote is a common material used to preserve wood in the United States. This complex mixture of chemicals can leach out of treated wood and contaminate the soil. If creosote-contaminated soils are touched, then over time the skin may blister, peel or severely redden.

4. Eating food grown in contaminated soil

Before you put a lot of work into your home or community garden, you want to make sure the soil is safe from contamination! If you grow food in contaminated soil , there is a risk that your food will also be contaminated.

Some housing developments and community garden are established in areas that served a different purpose historically. If the site was an industrial/manufacturing area or site of a demolished building, contaminants may be present. There are ways to “fix” contaminated soil, but you should test your soil first. (Read about one neighborhood's efforts here.)

Many vegetables and herbs can absorb contaminants as they grow. That puts you at risk if you eat them. Also, vegetables and herbs can have soil dust on them. Without proper washing, contaminants remain.

Some garden beds may also be lined with chemically-treated wood. If you did not build your garden beds yourself, it’s best to test your soil because the chemicals can leach into the garden soil.

Finally, gardens or farms may be located on uncontaminated soils near a site with contamination. In this case, dust may blow from the contaminated site and pollute the once uncontaminated soil. In these cases, it’s best to know how your neighboring land is used.

Sites of special concern

Industrial and manufacturing sites

Industrial and manufacturing sites often have a range of contaminants polluting their soils. The type of contaminant will depend on what the factory was producing. Contamination can occur when chemicals leak out onto the soil from buildings or trucks. Other times, the factory may have a waste stockpile or holding area that was once considered safe but now known to be a pollution problem. Industrial sites can also be quite large. This makes full-site soil remediation an expensive and challenging, but necessary, task.

Landfills, junkyards and waste disposal sites

Landfills, junkyards and waste disposal sites pose high risk of soil contamination, much like industrial sites.These areas often contain a large mix of contaminant types like lead, arsenic, and petroleum products. All are dangerous to human safety on their own. When combined, they may react with each other to create even more toxic compounds. Containment and remediation of these areas are costly, technically complex, and logistically challenging.

Highway corridors, parking lots, areas of heavy traffic

Vehicles are ubiquitous in the urban landscape. We see thousands of cars and trucks spread along highway corridors, crammed into parking lots, and packed onto major roads with heavy traffic. Our vehicles get us from point A to point B; we are often very dependent upon them. Though they may help us in getting around, areas with high concentrations of vehicles pose a lot of contaminant risks, both from emissions and fluid leaks. For example, presence of lead can be high in areas with heavy traffic emissions, and petroleum or oil leaks on roads or parking lots can be washed onto nearby soils.

Household sites

Household sites may not be an obvious site for soil contamination. But soils can get contaminated during housing construction. Petroleum products from the construction vehicles can leak. Paint may spill. Fibers from roofing products can blow down and disrupt life in soil. These are just a few examples of construction contamination of soils on home sites.

Additionally, homeowners may also inadvertently contaminate their soil. Overuse of pesticides or herbicides is the primary culprit. Sometimes chemically treated wood is used in landscaping. If not used properly, this can contaminate the soil as well as the plant and microbial life it sustains. Also, overuse of winter salt can harm your soils.

Former farmland with build-up of contaminants

In the United States, many pesticides were composed of lead-arsenate between 1910 and 1950. At the time researchers and farmers didn’t know that lead caused health problems. As a result, lead is found in the soil of remnant farms today. In addition, there has been extensive development and production of herbicides since the 1950s. These chemicals need to be used properly; improper use can harm the soil, plant, and even human health. The use of high-load fertilizer applications may leave contamination in soils, depending on the crop and fertilizer type used.

Information about specific soil contaminants

Our soil scientists have written further information about specific soil contaminants listed below.

Chromated copper arsenate and creosote

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Essay on Soil Pollution for Students in English | 500 Words Essay

December 20, 2020 by Sandeep

Essay on Soil Pollution: The process by which soil gets contaminated by toxic chemicals and pollutants in rich concentrations, thereby affecting the ecosystem is called soil pollution. Metals, ions, salts, organic compounds formed through microbial activity and organism decomposition disturbs surface layer of soil. This slowly enters groundwater and then into water bodies. Humans infest crops with pesticides and insecticides and produce industrial land radioactive substances due to which soil gets polluted.

Essay on Soil Pollution 500 Words in English

Below we have provided Soil Pollution Essay in English, written in easy and simple words for class 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 school students.

Soil is a combination of organic matter, minerals, chemicals, liquids and organisms that sustain life together. Soil pollution is the presence of toxic components in the soil that affect the soil and the environment at large. It is usually caused by industrial production, agricultural products, or unsuitable waste disposal. Due to its impact on plant life, the problem of soil contamination typically comes to light.Soil pollution can arise from the use of pesticides, non-biodegradable materials, manufacturing effluents, and artificial fertilizers.

Soil pollution contributes to other forms of contamination if, for example, soil pollutants are transferred to water or air. Agriculture is highly soil-dependent, and its pollution harms agricultural activities. The soil is the gift of nature that we work on, walk around, find the food source, produce food, etc. However, something done inappropriately is becoming biologically toxic. Carefree use of soil has caused an increased rate of soil pollution which will inevitably make the soil unusable and unrecyclable.

Types of Soil Pollution

The soil contains two types of pollutants, namely natural pollutants and added pollutants due to human activities. Natural pollutants include organic compounds and inorganic particles that are the result of human activities such as animal and plant decay. Such pollutants are not a cause of concern though, and in fact, they replenish their nutrient soil. The other group of pollutants are human-made. Human-made pollutants include toxic chemical waste, oil and fuel disposal, radioactive waste, landfills and unregulated disposal, coal ash and other such waste that originates from human activity and is dumped into the soil without treatment.

Causes of Soil Pollution

The disposal of heavy metals, oil and gasoline pollution, industrial waste, accumulation of acids and hazardous chemicals contribute to soil pollution. Heavy use of inorganic nitrogen manures within the agricultural method is often related to soil pollution, in part through the nitrification process. The principal cause of soil pollution is improper irrigation technique. When you over water the ground, this results in an increased level of the water table, which results in higher capillary action.

Similarly, poor maintenance of irrigation waterways and channels can lead to water leakage within the adjacent agricultural land. Also, the lack of crop rotation and intensive farming may have a detrimental impact on the consistency of the soil after some time. Urban activities includes improper waste disposal and building construction which leads to soil pollution by inhibiting proper water drainage. Animal waste and human sewage may pollute the soil by altering its chemical composition.

Effects of Soil Pollution

Soil pollution has had a significant effect on crop quality as the crop roots are unable to absorb enough nutrients from the soil due to pollutants present. For certain parts of the world, this has made the soil less fertile, and efforts are on to replenish the soil of its nutrients. Another significant effect on human health from land pollution is the emergence of multiple diseases due to our interaction with the soil pollutants. For example, areas where soil pollution is high, along with skin infection and even skin cancer, there has been an increase in respiratory problems, particularly in children.

Soil pollution also contributes to higher rates of water pollution . It is because the pollutants of the soil near the rivers or other bodies of water allow the pollutants to be mixed with the flowing water of the rives and thereby pollute it. Soil pollution impacts the environment as a whole, as it also impacts certain species survival.

Preventative Measures for Soil Pollution

Since polluted soil is not safe to use, we need to find ways to prevent soil pollution from affecting our everyday lives. The toxicity of the industrial waste must be before it is disposed of in the soil. Farmers need to make sure they use bio-fertilizers rather than chemical fertilizers. The farmers must also opt for bio-pesticides and bio-fungicides. It can take a long time to respond, but it is suitable for both the crops and the soil. Planting more trees can help to avoid soil erosion.

Exploring pesticide replacements and organic fertilizers is an excellent solution to preventing soil emissions. Also, mixed and rotational farming should be encouraged more to avoid land pollution. Recycling the waste material, rather than storing it inside the landfill, would also eliminate soil pollution. Nobody will throw the electrical products and batteries into home dustbins to keep the soil clear of dangerous substances.

Essay on Soil Pollution for Children and Students

Table of Contents

Soil pollution is caused by a number of factors; however, most of them are human induced. In simple words soil pollution refers to the contamination of the soil when some unwanted external compound gets mixed with it. This compound could be in the form of soluble chemicals or non bio degradable compounds like plastic. Chemical fertilizers and pesticides used in farming are some of the causes of soil pollution. Harmful chemicals get mixed with the soil and make it infertile. Also, waste from the urban areas, if not disposed of properly, reaches the soil and pollutes it. There are several other factors causing soil pollution such as acid rain, industrial accidents, road debris, nuclear waste etc.

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Long and Short Essay on Soil Pollution in English

We have provided below short and long essay on soil pollution in English for your knowledge and information.

The essays have been written in simple yet effective English to let you know about the causes, effects and meaning of soil pollution.

After reading the essays you will know what soil pollution is, what causes soil pollution, what could be done to prevent soil pollution etc.

These soil pollution essay will be extremely helpful to you in your school and college assignment and speech giving and debate, essay writing competitions.

Essay on Soil Pollution 100 Words

Soil is the natural resource on the earth which directly supports the life of plants and indirectly of animals since the origin of life on the earth. It is very important complex substance available everywhere on the earth. Productive soil is a soil useful to grow crops. As a human being, we need to keep our land safe and secure and away from all the impurities. However, it is not possible because of the technological advancement.

Soil is getting polluted through the toxic substances released by the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, insecticides, industrial wastes, etc which are badly affecting the fertility of land. Soil pollution depletes the soil nutrients because of the availability of heavy concentration of undesirable foreign elements into soil through chemicalization.

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Essay on Soil Pollution 150 Words

Polluted soil is the low quality soil by various actions of man and natural processes which makes soil unfit for the crop production. Increasing human population and advancement of the human lives is causing soil pollution to a great extent. Main cause of the soil pollution are excessive soil erosion, forest fires, use of chemical fertilizers to improve crop production, pesticides (insecticides and herbicides), biocides (malathion, D.D.T., dieldrin, endrin, aldrin, lindane) to get control over insects, urban and industrial wastes, leaching, drought, untreated industrial water irrigation, water logging, over irrigation, deforestation, etc. It is increasing day by day at a faster rate in the rural and urban areas of the country.

According to the statistics, it is noted that consumption of chemical fertilizers by the farmers has been increased by 5.5 million tons from 1980-81 and by 18.07 million tons from 1999-2000 in order to increase crop production. Such toxic chemicals enter the human body through food chain and harm by causing physical deformities, neural tube defect in the new born babies.

Essay on Soil Pollution 200 Words

Soil pollution is the polluted soil because of the presence of toxic chemicals (also called pollutants or contaminants) in very high concentration to the soil of fertile land. Some of the contaminants occur naturally however most of them are due to the industrialization and human activities. Soil pollutants are generally of two types called as organic and inorganic whether released naturally and man-made. The main reasons of soil pollution are human activities including accidental leaks, spills, manufacturing processes, dumping, etc. Human released toxic chemicals are increasing the overall soil toxicity level.

Also Check: Soil Pollution Slogans

All the soil contaminants get mixed to the fertile land and causes variety of health disorders directly or indirectly such as respiratory illness, bronchitis, asthma, cancer, etc. Kids are more prone to the polluted soil than the adults as they play into it and gets attacked by many diseases especially respiratory disorders. Increasing human population need more grains thus in order to fulfill this requirement people use highly concentrated fertilizers to improve the crop production which ultimately affects health through the food chain. Soil pollution is the gradual process of soil poisoning of the toxic soil contaminants.

Essay on Soil Pollution 250 Words

Soil pollution is the contamination of the soil of fertile land which is gradually increasing day by day mainly because of the use of fertilizers and industrialization. Soil pollution has become a major challenge to the whole human fraternity in modern time. Soil is the most important natural resource highly required to maintain the healthy life here. It is the home for many small animals, it is the life of plants and used by the human beings to produce variety of crops to continue life cycle here. However, increasing human population increases the need of crops production and other technological resources to live life comfortably. There are many highly effective fertilizers available in the market proving their best to improve crop production however getting more toxic and polluting the whole fertile soil when sprinkled over crops.

Varieties of other pesticides (like insecticides, fungicides, etc) are also getting used by the farmers to save their crops from the insects and fungus. Such type of pesticides are also very toxic and spreading their side effects to the environment by polluting the land and air. Other ways of soil pollution are acidification, agrochemical pollution, salinization, and contamination by metalliferous wastes. Acidification is a common natural cause associated with long term leaching and microbial respiration which gradually decomposes the organic materials of soil (like humic and fulvic acids) which again stimulates leaching. Use of inorganic fertilizers on the fertile lands has increased the level of soil pollution by decreasing the soil fertility at a faster rate.

Also Check: Speech on Soil Pollution

Essay on Soil Pollution 300 Words

Soil pollution is the contamination of the fertile soil which reduces the productivity of soil because of various toxic pollutants. Toxic pollutants are very dangerous and adversely affect the physical, chemical and biological properties of the soil. Variety of pollutants such as pesticides, insecticides, fertilizers, chemicals, radioactive wastes, organic manure, discarded food, clothes, plastics, paper, leather goods, bottles, tins-cans, carcasses, etc gets mixed to the soil and cause soil pollution. Other released chemicals by various means like iron, mercury, lead, copper, cadmium, aluminium, zinc, industrial wastes, cyanides, acids, alkalies etc are the toxic chemicals causes soil pollution. Acid rain is a natural cause also affects soil fertility directly.

Earlier, the soil were very much fertile without the use of any fertilizers but now-a-days all the farmers have started using very strong fertilizers in order to increase crop production because of high demand of food by the increasing population. Improper, unnecessary and continuous use of variety of strong organic or inorganic insecticides (DDT, benzene hexa chloride, aldrin, etc), herbicides, fungicides, pesticides, etc in order to secure crops from insects, pests, fungus, etc are gradually toxifying the soil. All types of such chemicals have very dangerous effects directly on the plants growth (inhibits growth, reduces production and reduces size of fruit) and indirectly on the human health. Such chemicals slowly get absorbed by the soil and then plants which ultimately reaches to the animals and human beings body through the food chains.

Other radioactive wastes from the sources like mining and nuclear processes reach to the soil through water and affects the soil and ultimately to the plants, animals (through grazing) and human (through food, milk, meat etc). Eating such type of food causes growth retardation and abnormal growth of the animals and human. Increasing industrialization in the modern world creates huge heap of wastes on daily basis which directly or indirectly gets mixed to the soil and contaminate it.

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Essay on Soil Pollution 400 Words

Soil pollution is the contamination of fresh and fertile soil which adversely affects the health of crops, plants, animals, human beings and other organisms living in it. Addition of variety of unwanted substances and toxic chemicals from many sources to the soil in the odd proportion causes whole land pollution. Once the pollutants gets mixed to the soil remains in direct contact with soil for long period of time. Increasing industrialization and increasing consumption of various effective fertilizers in the fertile land is continuously changing the soil composition and complexion of earth strata which is very dangerous indication to the future of life on the earth.

All the fertile land on the earth is getting heavily polluted gradually day by day through the mixing of toxic materials released by the industries and domestic circles. Major sources of the soil pollution are industrial wastes, urban wastes, chemical pollutants, metallic pollutants, biological agents, radioactive pollutants, wrong agricultural practices, etc. Industrial wastes released by the industrial processes contain organic, inorganic and non-biodegradable materials which have ability to change physiochemical and biological characteristics of the soil. It totally disturbs the level of texture and mineral, bacterial and fungal colonies of the soil.

Urban wastes are solid wastes include commercial and domestic wastes which make a huge heap on the soil and contribute to the soil pollution. Chemical pollutants and metallic pollutants are the industrial wastes from the textile, soap, dyes, synthetic, detergents, metal, and drugs industries which are dumping their hazardous wastes continuously in the soil and water. It directly affects the living organisms of the soil and reduces fertility level of soil. Biological agents (such as bacteria, algae, fungi, protozoan and microorganisms like nematodes, millipedes, earthworms, snail, etc) also disturb the physio chemical and biological atmosphere of soil and cause soil pollution.

Some radioactive pollutants from the sources like nuclear reactors, explosions, hospitals, scientific laboratories, etc go very deep to the soil, remain there for long time and cause soil pollution. Wrong agricultural practices using advance agro-technology means use of huge quantities of toxic fertilizers including herbicides, weedicides, pesticides, etc enhances soil fertility however gradually declines the physio-chemical and biological property of the soil.

Other sources of the soil pollution are municipal garbage heap, food processing wastes, mining practices, and many more. Soil pollution is very hazardous to the health because toxic chemicals enter to the body through food chain and disturbs whole internal body system. In order to reduce and restrict the soil pollution, all the effective control measures including environment protection laws should be followed by the people especially industrialist. Recycling and reuse of the solid wastes and maximum possible tree plantation should be promoted among people.

More Informative Resources on Pollution

Essay on Soil Pollution FAQs

What is soil pollution short note.

Soil pollution happens when harmful substances contaminate the soil, affecting its quality and harming plants, animals, and humans.

What is the short line of soil pollution?

Soil pollution occurs when harmful chemicals or waste spoil the earth's natural balance, making it unfit for healthy growth.

How is soil polluted Class 10?

Soil gets polluted by chemicals from pesticides, industrial waste, improper disposal of garbage, and oil spills, harming its fertility and health.

What is pollution causes and effects?

Pollution is caused by human activities releasing harmful substances into the environment, leading to various detrimental effects on nature, animals, and human health.

What are 10 ways to reduce pollution?

Use public transport, recycle and reuse, conserve energy, plant trees, limit plastic use, proper waste disposal, reduce water wastage, use eco-friendly products, support clean energy, spread awareness.

What is the problem of pollution?

Pollution disrupts the natural balance of the environment, harming ecosystems, endangering wildlife, and impacting human health.

What are the 5 effects of air pollution?

Breathing problems, increased health risks, environmental damage, reduced visibility, climate change.

A General Essay on Bioremediation of Contaminated Soil

Dana L. Donlan and J.W. Bauder, Professor, Montana State University-Bozeman MSSE Graduate Student and Professor, respectively

Bioremediation is defined as use of biological processes to degrade, break down, transform, and/or essentially remove contaminants or impairments of quality from soil and water. Bioremediation is a natural process which relies on bacteria, fungi, and plants to alter contaminants as these organisms carry out their normal life functions. Metabolic processes of these organisms are capable of using chemical contaminants as an energy source, rendering the contaminants harmless or less toxic products in most cases. This paper summarizes the general processes of bioremediation within the soil environment, focusing on biodegradation of petroleum hydrocarbons. The effect of soil conditions on rate of biodegradation of hydrocarbons is addressed. Further, limitations and potential of both ex situ and in situ bioremediation as viable alternatives to conventional remediation are explained and addressed.

Many substances known to have toxic properties have been introduced into the environment through human activity. These substances range in degree of toxicity and danger to human health. Many of these substances either immediately or ultimately come in contact with and are sequestered by soil. Conventional methods to remove, reduce, or mitigate toxic substances introduced into soil or ground water via anthropogenic activities and processes include pump and treat systems, soil vapor extraction, incineration, and containment. Utility of each of these conventional methods of treatment of contaminated soil and/or water suffers from recognizable drawbacks and may involve some level of risk.

The emerging science and technology of bioremediation offers an alternative method to detoxify contaminants. Bioremediation has been demonstrated and is being used as an effective means of mitigating:

hydrocarbons
halogenated organic solvents
halogenated organic compounds
non-chlorinated pesticides and herbicides
nitrogen compounds
metals (lead, mercury, chromium)
radionuclides

Bioremediation technology exploits various naturally occurring mitigation processes: natural attenuation, biostimulation , and bioaugmentation . Bioremediation which occurs without human intervention other than monitoring is often called natural attenuation . This natural attenuation relies on natural conditions and behavior of soil microorganisms that are indigenous to soil. Biostimulation also utilizes indigenous microbial populations to remediate contaminated soils. Biostimulation consists of adding nutrients and other substances to soil to catalyze natural attenuation processes. Bioaugmentation involves introduction of exogenic microorganisms (sourced from outside the soil environment) capable of detoxifying a particular contaminant, sometimes employing genetically altered microorganisms (Biobasics, 2006).

During bioremediation, microbes utilize chemical contaminants in the soil as an energy source and, through oxidation-reduction reactions, metabolize the target contaminant into useable energy for microbes. By-products (metabolites) released back into the environment are typically in a less toxic form than the parent contaminants. For example, petroleum hydrocarbons can be degraded by microorganisms in the presence of oxygen through aerobic respiration. The hydrocarbon loses electrons and is oxidized while oxygen gains electrons and is reduced. The result is formation of carbon dioxide and water (Nester et al., 2001). When oxygen is limited in supply or absent, as in saturated or anaerobic soils or lake sediment, anaerobic (without oxygen) respiration prevails. Generally, inorganic compounds such as nitrate, sulfate, ferric iron, manganese, or carbon dioxide serve as terminal electron acceptors to facilitate biodegradation (State of Mississippi, Department of Environmental Quality, 1998).

Three primary ingredients for bioremediation are: 1) presence of a contaminant, 2) an electron acceptor, and 3) presence of microorganisms that are capable of degrading the specific contaminant. Generally, a contaminant is more easily and quickly degraded if it is a naturally occurring compound in the environment, or chemically similar to a naturally occurring compound, because microorganisms capable of its biodegradation are more likely to have evolved (State of Mississippi, Department of Environmental Quality, 1998). Petroleum hydrocarbons are naturally occurring chemicals; therefore, microorganisms which are capable of attenuating or degrading hydrocarbons exist in the environment. Development of biodegradation technologies of synthetic chemicals such DDT is dependent on outcomes of research that searches for natural or genetically improved strains of microorganisms to degrade such contaminants into less toxic forms.

Microorganisms have limits of tolerance for particular environmental conditions, as well as optimal conditions for pinnacle performance. Factors that affect success and rate of microbial biodegradation are nutrient availability, moisture content, pH, and temperature of the soil matrix. Inorganic nutrients including, but not limited to, nitrogen, and phosphorus are necessary for microbial activity and cell growth. It has been shown that “treating petroleum-contaminated soil with nitrogen can increase cell growth rate, decrease the microbial lag phase, help to maintain microbial populations at high activity levels, and increase the rate of hydrocarbon degradation” (Walworth et al., 2005). However, it has also been shown that excessive amounts of nitrogen in soil cause microbial inhibition. Walworth et al. (2005) suggest maintaining nitrogen levels below 1800 mg nitrogen/kg H 2 O for optimal biodegradation of petroleum hydrocarbons. Addition of phosphorus has benefits similar to that of nitrogen, but also results in similar limitations when applied in excess (State of Mississippi, Department of Environmental Quality, 1998).

All soil microorganisms require moisture for cell growth and function. Availability of water affects diffusion of water and soluble nutrients into and out of microorganism cells. However, excess moisture, such as in saturated soil, is undesirable because it reduces the amount of available oxygen for aerobic respiration. Anaerobic respiration, which produces less energy for microorganisms (than aerobic respiration) and slows the rate of biodegradation, becomes the predominant process. Soil moisture content “between 45 and 85 percent of the water-holding capacity (field capacity) of the soil or about 12 percent to 30 percent by weight” is optimal for petroleum hydrocarbon degradation (US EPA, 2006, “Landfarming”).

Soil pH is important because most microbial species can survive only within a certain pH range. Furthermore, soil pH can affect availability of nutrients. Biodegradation of petroleum hydrocarbons is optimal at a pH 7 (neutral); the acceptable range is pH 6 – 8 (US EPA, 2006, “Landfarming”; State of Mississippi, Department of Environmental Quality, 1998).

Temperature influences rate of biodegradation by controlling rate of enzymatic reactions within microorganisms. Generally, “speed of enzymatic reactions in the cell approximately doubles for each 10 oC rise in temperature” (Nester et al., 2001). There is an upper limit to the temperature that microorganisms can withstand. Most bacteria found in soil, including many bacteria that degrade petroleum hydrocarbons, are mesophiles which have an optimum temperature ranging from 25 degree C to 45 degree C (Nester et al., 2001). Thermophilic bacteria (those which survive and thrive at relatively high temperatures) which are normally found in hot springs and compost heaps exist indigenously in cool soil environments and can be activated to degrade hydrocarbons with an increase in temperature to 60 degree C. This finding “suggested an intrinsic potential for natural attenuation in cool soils through thermally enhanced bioremediation techniques” (Perfumo et al., 2007).

Contaminants can adsorb to soil particles, rendering some contaminants unavailable to microorganisms for biodegradation. Thus, in some circumstances, bioavailability of contaminants depends not only on the nature of the contaminant but also on soil type. Hydrophobic contaminants, like petroleum hydrocarbons, have low solubility in water and tend to adsorb strongly in soil with high organic matter content. In such cases, surfactants are utilized as part of the bioremediation process to increase solubility and mobility of these contaminants (State of Mississippi, Department of Environmental Quality, 1998). Additional research findings of the existence of thermophilic bacteria in cool soil also suggest that high temperatures enhance the rate of biodegradation by increasing the bioavailability of contaminants. It is suggested that contaminants adsorbed to soil particles are mobilized and their solubility increased by high temperatures (Perfumo et al., 2007).

Soil type is an important consideration when determining the best suited bioremediation approach to a particular situation. In situ bioremediation refers to treatment of soil in place. In situ biostimulation treatments usually involve bioventing, in which oxygen and/or nutrients are pumped through injection wells into the soil. It is imperative that oxygen and nutrients are distributed evenly throughout the contaminated soil. Soil texture directly affects the utility of bioventing, in as much as permeability of soil to air and water is a function of soil texture. Fine-textured soils like clays have low permeability, which prevents biovented oxygen and nutrients from dispersing throughout the soil. It is also difficult to control moisture content in fine textured soils because their smaller pores and high surface area allow it to retain water. Fine textured soils are slow to drain from water-saturated soil conditions, thus preventing oxygen from reaching soil microbes throughout the contaminated area (US EPA, 2006, “Bioventing”). Bioventing is well-suited for well-drained, medium, and coarse-textured soils.

In situ bioremediation causes minimal disturbance to the environment at the contamination site. In addition, it incurs less cost than conventional soil remediation or removal and replacement treatments because there is no transport of contaminated materials for off-site treatment. However, in situ bioremediation has some limitations: 1) it is not suitable for all soils, 2) complete degradation is difficult to achieve, and 3) natural conditions (i.e. temperature) are hard to control for optimal biodegradation. Ex situ bioremediation, in which contaminated soil is excavated and treated elsewhere, is an alternative.

Ex situ bioremediation approaches include use of bioreactors, landfarming, and biopiles. In the use of a bioreactor, contaminated soil is mixed with water and nutrients and the mixture is agitated by a mechanical bioreactor to stimulate action of microorganisms. This method is better-suited to clay soils than other methods and is generally a quick process (US EPA, 2006, “Guide”).

Landfarming involves spreading contaminated soil over a collection system and stimulating microbial activity by allowing good aeration and by monitoring nutrient availability (US EPA, 2006, “Landfarming”).

Biopiles are mounds of contaminated soils that are kept aerated by pumping air into piles of soil through an injection system (US EPA, 2006, “Biopiles”).

In each of these methods, conditions need to be monitored and adjusted regularly for optimal biodegradation. Use of landfarming and biopiles also present the issue of monitoring and containing volatilization of contaminants. Like in situ methods, ex situ bioremediation techniques generally cost less than conventional techniques and apply natural methods. However, they can require a large amount of land and, similar to in situ bioremediation, complete degradation is difficult to achieve, and evaporation of volatile components is a concern (US EPA, 2006, “Landfarming”; US EPA, 2006, “Biopiles”).

If the challenges of bioremediation, particularly of in situ techniques, can be overcome, bioremediation has potential to provide a low cost, non-intrusive, natural method to render toxic substances in soil less harmful or harmless over time. Currently, research is being conducted to improve and overcome limitations that hinder bioremediation of petroleum hydrocarbons. On a broader scope, much research has been and continues to be developed enhance understanding of the essence of microbial behavior as microbes interact with various toxic contaminants. Additional research continues to evaluate conditions for successful introduction of exogenic and genetically engineered microbes into a contaminated environment, and how to translate success in the laboratory to success in the field (US DOE, 2006).

Biobasics: The Science and the Issues. 9 Feb 2006. 24 Nov 2006 http://www.biobasics.gc.ca/english/View.asp?x=741

Nester, Eugene W., Denise G. Anderson, C. Evans Roberts Jr., Nancy N. Pearsall, and Martha T. Nester. 2001. Microbiology: A Human Perspective. 3 rd ed. New York: McGraw-Hill.

Perfumo, Amedea, Ibrahim M. Banat, Roger Marchant, and Luigi Vezzulli. 2007. “Thermally Enhanced Approaches for Bioremediation of Hydrocarbon-Contaminated Soils.” Chemosphere 66: 179-184.

State of Mississippi. Department of Environmental Quality. 1998. Fundamental Principles of Bioremediation. April 1998. 27 Nov 2006 <http://www.deq.state.ms.us/MDEQ.nsf/pdf/ GARD_Bioremediation/$File/Bioremediation.pdf? Verified 12/15/2006.

United States. Department of Energy, Office of Science. 2006. Bioremediation Research Needs. 2 January 2002. 1 December 2006 http://www.er.doe.gov/production/ober/nabir/needs.html . Verified 12/15/2006.

United States. Environmental Protection Agency. 2006. A Citizen’s Guide to Bioremediation. April 1996. 24 Nov 2006 http://www.epa.gov/tio/download/citizens/a_citizens_guide_to_bioremediation.pdf . Verified 06/29/2006.

United States . Environmental Protection Agency. Biopiles. 9 March 2006 . 24 Nov 2006 http://www.epa.gov/oust/cat/biopiles.htm . Verified 06/26/2015.

United States . Environmental Protection Agency. Bioventing. 9 March 2006 . 24 Nov 2006 http://www.epa.gov/oust/cat/biovent.htm . Verified 06/26/2015.

United States . Environmental Protection Agency. Landfarming. 9 March 2006 . 24 Nov 2006 http://www.epa.gov/oust/cat/landfarm.htm . Verified 06/26/2015.

Walworth, James, Andrew Pond, Ian Snape, John Rayner, Susan Ferguson, and Paul Harvey. 2005. “Fine Tuning Soil Nitrogen to Maximize Petroleum Bioremediation.” ARCSACC (2005): 251-257.

MSU Extension Water Quality Program

Montana State University P.O. Box 173120 Bozeman, MT 59717-3120

Tel: (406) 994-7381 Fax: (406) 994-3933 E-mail: [email protected] Location: Marsh Labs, Room 2

Private Well Testing:

[email protected]

Water Quality Specialist:

W. Adam Sigler

Student Employees:

Meghan Robinson

Affiliates:

Kyle Johnson

James Bauder

Prevention of Soil Pollution: What You Should Know

Looking after the earth’s precious soils is not only vital, but it’s everyone’s responsibility.

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The prevention of soil pollution is vital for human health, food production, and healthy ecosystems. Land contamination is a huge problem globally – an estimated 16% of all soil in China is polluted, and the EPA reports that there are up to 1.3 million sites classified as “contaminated lands” in the USA – so we must take immediate action.

17 actionable ways to prevent soil pollution (and keep it clean)

Human activities are causing various kinds of soil contamination, with major culprits including fertilizers and pesticides used in agriculture, the mining industry, waste disposal , and the improper handling of hazardous chemicals.

This has a range of implications for people and the planet, from risks to human and animal health to threatening our food supply, destroying forests and other habitats, and contributing to climate change.

If you want to learn more about soil pollution, its causes, and its impacts, take a look at our comprehensive guide here .

Thankfully, there are plenty of things we can do to prevent soil pollution on an individual, community, and political level. Let’s start with the big-picture policies and approaches, then look at actionable and easy steps you can take to make a difference.

1. Involve local communities in land and soil management

As with virtually all kinds of conservation, soil management is most effective when it involves governments, companies, and the local community. Protecting our precious land resources demands dedicated efforts and buy-in from all levels of society.

Therefore, it is essential to educate individuals and groups about the importance of soil conservation and what they should do to prevent land pollution . Equally, governments must listen to the voices of the local community and take the time to hear their concerns and ideas about land management.

People often have unique on-the-ground insights that can be invaluable for legislators and help them to create better laws and guidelines. Additionally, communities will be more likely to comply with the rules if they are created with their needs in mind.

2. Improve legislation on soil pollution control and prevention

Unfortunately, there need to be stronger laws in the US and elsewhere to prevent soil pollution. While companies, organizations, and communities are responsible for protecting the natural environment, the best way to ensure that they do this is through strict legislation.

Given the diverse causes of soil pollution, preventing it requires a range of laws and guidelines across various areas and at the state, federal, and international level.

These areas could include:

Tighter controls on the transport, storage, and use of hazardous substances
Permanent solutions for safe, long-term storage of nuclear waste
Restrictions on the use of chemical pesticides and agriculture
Incentives for organic farmers
Bans on mining practices that release toxic dust or liquids into the environment
Encouraging vertical cities to limit urban sprawl
Laws to avoid food wastage, such as incentivizing companies to donate unneeded food through tax breaks
A price on carbon to encourage industry to move away from fossil fuels and towards renewables

3. Adopt waste-to-energy practices

Waste-to-energy (WtE) is, in essence, turning trash into power. More specifically, it involves using waste treatment processes to generate energy, whether in the form of electricity, steam, heat, or fuels like diesel.

Industry can adopt WtE to power their facilities and municipalities can use it to run power stations that feed the grid 24 hours a day, just like a normal power plant, but completely clean, with no greenhouse gas emissions.

Many different types of waste can be used as fuel, including municipal solid waste (MSW), semi-solid effluents from industry, liquids such as domestic sewage, and gasses like refinery exhaust fumes.

The most common type of waste used in WtE is MSW, which represents an abundant and continual supply of fuel. Furthermore, it helps to prevent soil pollution by diverting solid waste from landfills, where it could disperse contaminants into the environment.

4. Conduct research on the soil environment quality baseline

In order to protect the health of the soil environment, it’s important to know where we stand. Therefore, one of the key steps in preventing soil pollution is to conduct research to get a clear picture of the current condition and quality of the soil.

Ground quality surveys give us a baseline that we can use to identify changes as early as possible and take the necessary action. This also means conducting regular surveys to monitor the situation and address any issues.

This work could be commissioned by local authorities, non-government organizations, or by establishing community-based monitoring networks of the quality of the soil environment. Strong networks with a suitable data-sharing process will make it easier to develop quick and effective solutions when problems emerge.

5. Implement soil remediation

Prevention is always better than cure, but when soil has been polluted, the responsible party should address this through remediation. If the company or person responsible isn’t willing or able to do so, local authorities should step in to repair the damage.

There are three methods that can be used to resolve soil contamination:

Thermal remediation: This process uses heat to remove contaminants from the soil and groundwater. As the subsurface heats up, certain organic compounds mobilize, making it easy to remove these particles.
Bioremediation: As the name suggests, bioremediation uses living organisms such as bacteria and other microbes. The microorganisms digest organic contaminants like solvents, phosphates, and hydrocarbons, converting them into carbon dioxide and water.
Mycoremediation: This type of remediation uses fungi which remove contaminants like heavy metals by absorbing and metabolizing them.

6. Control mining and industrial pollution

Another essential part of preventing soil pollution is keeping a close eye on major polluters, such as mining, agriculture, and industry. Rather than introducing laws and leaving companies to get on with things, governments need to ensure that they’re following the rules.

This should involve formal monitoring, with detailed plans for supervision built into legislation to ensure key actors are complying with all rules and guidelines.

It could also be a good idea to conduct regular checks of the soil environment to make sure it is not contaminated – this could be done by the company and reported to the government or, better yet, by an independent expert.

Furthermore, as the carrot to this stick approach, governments can offer incentives to companies that implement eco- and soil-friendly practices. There are a wide range of ways to do this: examples include subsidies for organic producers and tax breaks for companies that install solar panels and other renewable energy systems.

7. Be strict when approving new uses of land

Soil pollution prevention is closely linked to how land is approved for new uses. It’s essential that governments carefully consider each application for land use, whether for construction, agriculture, mining, and industry, and weigh it up against possible environmental impacts, including implications for soil health.

Even residential construction can have a range of negative impacts on the soil, so it’s important for authorities to critically assess this use and whether it could lead to soil pollution. Furthermore, before giving approval, authorities should conduct detailed surveys on the current soil condition, and use this to set appropriate guidelines for management and control if the new land use does go ahead.

These surveys will also show if the soil is already contaminated, so that authorities can order a stop to any planned construction or use of the land until the situation is addressed and any risks eliminated.

8. Make companies pay for polluting

It’s not enough to simply have laws and guidelines in place that aim to avoid soil pollution. For these to be effective, there need to be consequences for anyone who breaks the rules.

Furthermore, these consequences should be harsh enough to be a true deterrent to wealthy companies. This could include steep financial penalties and even jail time for activities like illegal dumping, dispersing pollutants into the environment, use of prohibited chemicals, or unauthorized land use.

Another effective approach is having polluters pay the costs of treating and remediating contaminated land. This is a great way to directly hold companies responsible for the damage they cause and discourage repeat offenders, though is most effective if governments retain responsibility for creating plans for remediation and monitoring the results.

9. Promote research and development

Although we know a fair amount about the causes of soil pollution and how we can prevent it, more research is needed. Further research and development will allow us to develop better processes and more effective solutions to not only remediate contaminated soil but also stop it from being damaged in the first place.

This could include research into detecting soil contamination, new soil remediation techniques, and alternatives to pollutants like chemical fertilizers and pesticides, as well as the soil environment more generally and the impacts of soil pollution.

Unfortunately, research dollars are all too often spent on areas of commercial or military priority, rather than concepts and technologies that could benefit the environment.

Governments and companies alike should take a farsighted approach instead, and support research that promotes sustainability . After all, the long-term health of the planet is essential for the economy, human health, and all aspects of life as we know it.

10. Go organic

Conventional agriculture is one of the biggest causes of soil pollution through the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, and insecticides which contaminate the soil with a range of toxic components. Modern farming also typically involves the use of heavy machinery that can damage the earth.

Finally, overgrazing is all too common: in seeking higher and higher profits, producers pack farm too many animals on each piece of grazing land. The large concentration of animals strips the plants and nutrients from the soil, causing permanent damage over the long term.

Organic farming is all about returning to more traditional and eco-friendly practices that are kinder to the soil and the environment in general, as well as being safer for human health.

Organic producers do not use any of the following:

synthetic fertilizers and pesticides
genetically modified organisms (GMOs)
artificial preservatives
artificial flavors or coloring.

Instead, they rely on natural fertilizers like manure and compost , natural methods to control pests , and keep weeds under control through crop rotation, mulching, tilling, and hand weeding.

Organic farmers also only feed animals only organic food, don’t give them antibiotics or hormones, and keep them in an environment that is suitable to their natural behaviors, instead of being confined in small areas. You can be confident that a product is truly organic if it carries a recognized, independent certification such as USDA , NSF , and GOTS .

Buying sustainable food is one of the best things you can do as a consumer to prevent soil pollution. Not only to you avoid products that directly contribute to ground contamination, but by supporting organic brands you’re sending a message to other producers.

If enough people shop organic, the industry will shift towards organic methods to meet consumer demand. You could even grow your own organic herbs and veggies at home with an Aerogarden or vertical farm .

Buying organic products isn’t just limited to food: there are a range of textiles, personal care products, and cosmetics that contain materials or ingredients that can damage the soil, depending on how they’re produced.

To prevent soil pollution, shop organic when it comes to:

All foodstuffs, but notably fruits, vegetables, meat, grains, seafood, and animal products
Cosmetics such as face masks , cleaners, and makeup
Shampoo, body wash, bubble bath , and other personal care products
Natural textiles like cotton , wool , bamboo, and hemp (many bamboo and hemp products are organic, but it’s good to check)
Furniture , rugs , and home décor products made from natural materials such as cane and bamboo

Equally, if you choose to buy wooden furniture or anything else made from wood or tree products, check that it’s sustainably sourced. This ensures you’re not supporting deforestation and that the plantations the wood comes from are handled responsibly to avoid polluting the soil.

11. Dispose of solid waste properly

Solid waste is a major cause of soil pollution. When virtually any type of waste isn’t disposed of correctly, it can disperse pollutants into the environment: as it breaks down, the material may give off harmful gasses, leach toxins into the soil, or particles can wash into waterways.

Even if these contaminants aren’t directly released into the soil, they may make their way there eventually, whether carried by rivers, absorbed through the atmosphere, or traveling through groundwater.

For this reason, it’s important to responsibly dispose of all of your waste, especially potentially-hazardous materials, such as batteries, light bulbs , metal items , propane tanks , and pharmaceuticals.

At a government level, authorities can encourage practices to treat both solid waste and wastewater to avoid it leading to pollution. This includes practices such as neutralizing acidic and alkaline waste, and separating biodegradable trash to break it down in a controlled environment.

12. Slash the waste you produce

Responsibly disposing of your waste is important, but an even better solution is to reduce the amount of waste you produce in the first place. Even when you send it to landfill , regular household waste can produce a range of pollutants that can contaminate the soil and groundwater .

Recycling is a good place to start. In 2018, US households collectively produced nearly 300 million tons of solid waste , of which only 70 million tons were recycled.

Make sure you recycle everything you possibly can and prep it properly first, such as rinsing out bottles and food containers. Failing to do this can mean the entire load of recyclable items are sent to landfill – so check the rules with your local sanitation department.

Many materials are recyclable, including plenty that you probably didn’t realize you could recycle. Check out our guides to recycling things like broken glass , food containers , and aluminum foil to learn how.

Another great approach is to buy zero-waste products, from toilet paper and shampoo to deodorants and toothpaste . These items are free from plastic, from the materials they’re made from to their packaging, instead using materials that can be recycled, composted, or reused.

Additionally, try to repair items as much as possible rather than replacing them: darn that small hole in your socks, sew in a new zipper, or put a patch on your jeans. Take your electronics and home appliances to a licensed repair shop, or have a cobbler resole your shoes or repair your damaged purse.

Finally, you can reduce your waste by taking action at the beginning of the cycle. Buying fewer things will ultimately mean you produce less waste. Carefully consider whether you really need something before you purchase it and develop a capsule wardrobe of eight to 10 pieces per season – we really don’t need so much stuff in our lives!

13. Get composting

Even organic waste can produce contaminants when it decomposes in landfill. On the other hand, when you compost your food scraps and other organic waste, it breaks down with minimal impact, turning into excellent organic fertilizer perfect for nourishing your garden plants.

Organic matter can’t decompose normally in landfill because it doesn’t have enough oxygen, so it rots anaerobically, releasing large amounts of methane. In compost, it breaks down aerobically, as nature intended, releasing smaller amounts of carbon dioxide – although this is also a greenhouse gas, methane’s global warming potential (GWP) is significantly higher .

In this way, composting at home can help avoid pollutants being released from landfills and potentially contaminating the soil. You can compost even if you don’t have a big yard: learn about composting in an apartment here .

While composting is an excellent way to deal with your organic trash, it’s critical to limit the amount of waste you produce in the first place, especially when it comes to food. Wastage represents a staggering 30 to 40% of the US’ food supply .

This means acres and acres of land used to grow unneeded food, potentially polluting the soil in the process. Be careful to only buy as much food as you need, check your fridge and pantry daily and use items that are about to expire, and freeze things that you won’t eat immediately.

14. Minimize chemical use

The modern American household is full of chemicals, from cleaning products and air fresheners to motor oil and laundry detergent.

Simply using these products can pollute the environment: when you spray aerosols, fine particles dissipate into the atmosphere. Similarly, washing cleaning products, body wash, or shampoo down the drain can send a host of toxins and even microplastics into the sewage system.

These particles can eventually make their way into the soil, whether absorbed from the air, groundwater, or through waterways.

In the US, waste-water treatment only removes some chemicals from sewage: around half of all pharmaceuticals and “newly emerging contaminants” remain after treatment to be released into waterways, according to Scientific American .

Instead of using chemical-based cleaners and other household products, opt for alternatives made from natural, non-toxic ingredients. For example, take a look at these chemical-free laundry detergents .

If you can’t avoid using certain chemicals, be sure to handle them carefully and dispose of them responsibly. Never throw hazardous materials or pharmaceuticals in the trash our pour liquids down the drain, instead, contact your local sanitation department and ask how to dispose of them responsibly.

15. Spread the word

Taking a few steps yourself and changing your habits can go a long way to help prevent soil contamination. However, you can multiply your impact exponentially by educating others about the causes and impacts of this type of pollution, as well as what they can do about.

Start by learning all you can about the issue: check out websites like World Soil Information , Science Direct , and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization , or read books such as Earth Detox , The World We Need , and The Monsanto Papers . There are also some great documentaries and movies that educate and inspire, such as The 11 th Hour, Home , Michael Clayton, and Erin Brockovich.

From there, spread the word among your networks. Talk to your friends and family, share posts on social media (you can start with this one!), and teach your children eco-friendly behaviors.

You could even volunteer with local organizations that educate the community about soil pollution or related issues.

16. Lobby your representatives

Even if you aren’t in a position to implement new legislation or policies, you can use the democratic system to drive change. Get in touch with your elected representatives at all levels – local, state, and federal – and tell them how important soil pollution prevention is to you.

Pressure them to introduce laws that protect the soil environment, as well as mechanisms to ensure that everyone complies with these rules. You can also encourage them to be tougher on companies and groups who cause soil pollution, and to fund research and development that will promote better soil environments.

17. Join campaigns

If you really care about soil pollution, why not get involved? Many groups and organizations are working on protecting the soil environment and associated issues, from groundwater safety to protecting forests and other wilderness areas.

The organizations working on these issues include:

World Wildlife Fund
Groundwater Foundation
The Nature Conservancy
The Land Institute
Asia Soil Conservation Network
African Forest Landscape Restoration Initiative
Kiss the Ground

There are loads of ways you can get involved in these campaigns, depending on the amount of time and energy you’re able to give. It could be something as simple as signing a petition or sharing a campaign on social media, or you may want to become a volunteer and advocate for the cause.

How to do your part to prevent soil pollution

The prevention of soil pollution is everyone’s responsibility. This is a critical issue that can have a wide range of negative impacts on people, animals, and the environment, from posing a risk to human health to threatening natural habitats and even the global food supply.

Therefore, it’s essential that we take action to remediate already contaminated areas and prevent further pollution, as individuals, companies, and responsible authorities. At a political level, essential actions include introducing legislation to prevent soil pollution and hold polluters accountable, funding research, involving local communities, and improving waste management systems, including incorporating waste-to-energy approaches.

As individuals, living more sustainable lifestyles, from better managing our waste to avoiding chemicals and buying organic products, will go a long way to prevent all kinds of further damage to the environment, including soil pollution. We can also educate others and advocate for change, whether lobbying our politicians, joining campaigns, or both!

For more pointers on how to live an eco-friendly lifestyle, check out our introduction to zero-waste or our post on solar panels to power your home with renewable energy.

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Microplastic Soil Contamination Proposal

Introduction, identified problem and previous research, research plan.

Microplastic contamination of soil and water is a global environmental issue that has not yet been thoroughly addressed. There are no standardized methods of data collection and evaluation, as well as comprehensive sample databases. In recent studies, infrared scanning has been used to identify plastic particles in soil without extraction and was proved to be an effective way of solving the sample collection problem. In the research by Ng et al., a convolutional neural network (CNN) was suggested as a method of measuring and classifying the levels of contamination. This proposal aims to continue the research of microplastics contamination using infrared scanning and the CNN model by creating an extensive database of samples and expanding the spectral library.

Microplastic contamination is one of the most serious current environmental concerns. Microplastics are plastic pieces less than 5 millimeters in size used to manufacture consumer products, such as synthetic fabrics, toothpaste, and skincare items. Being washed down the drain, they are not removed by wastewater treatment and get into the soil and water. There are concerns that microplastics produce a negative effect on the environment as they absorb toxic chemicals that build up over time and can affect human health.

The current research on microplastics pollution focuses on the development of the methods of microplastic identification and extraction, the study of the main sources of pollution, and its effect on the environment and human health. The presence of microplastics in water sources has been studied in more detail, while its impact on soil remains largely unexplored. No standardized methods have yet been developed for identification and measurement. Is it still not established how much microplastics can exist within the soil and what can be regarded as the maximum concentration limit. The inconsistency of sampling methods results in various sampling units, such as abundance per surface area, abundance to depth, volume in cubic meters, and weight ratios. Different extraction techniques are used that affect the measurements of the collected plastic contaminants. Along with the development of detection, identification, and quantification methods, the current research objectives include the analysis of ecological risks, impact on health, pollution characteristics, and remediation strategies.

The most recent strategy for microplastics identification in the soil is infrared screening. The research conducted by Ng et al. used visible-near-infrared (vis-NIR) spectroscopy and a convolutional neural network (CNN) model to detect microplastics and measure their concentration. Vis-NIR scanning was proved to be feasible in predicting microplastics in the soil, while the CNN model allowed the researchers to classify various degrees of contamination based on concentration. The methods turned out to be efficient for the identification and quantification of microplastics and have the potential for further development and implementation. The proposed research is based on the results of the previous studies and aims to expand the spectra library to include more plastic types and collect a larger database of samples. It is intended to contribute to environmental protection initiatives and can become an important step towards the development of a strategy of addressing the problem of microplastics contamination.

The expansion of the spectral library for infrared scanning and the collection of an extensive sample database will help to effectively classify types of plastic and the quantity of soil contamination using the CNN model.

Expansion of the spectral library for infrared scanning, particularly accounting for the various colors and plastic polymers.
Collection of an extensive sample database to ensure more accurate results of further research.
Determining the effectiveness of the CNN model for contamination measurement.

The proposal suggests using infrared spectroscopy for soil microplastic contamination screening in different spectra to put together a database for further research and analysis. The primary suggested model of screening is vis-NIR spectroscopy. Each plastic polymers exhibit unique infrared spectral signatures, and the Vis-NIR spectra can be used to predict various physical and chemical properties of soil samples and quantify microplastics in soil. A Vis-NIR spectrometer measures the amount of light that is reflected from a surface within the wavelength range of 350 to 2500nm, giving a reflected percentage for each wavelength. Each sample should be scanned several times at different spots to ensure that its heterogeneity is captured. The scanning results are correlated with the chemical structure of the sample and used to predict the composition of new sample sets.

The vis-NIR scanning provides several benefits compared to other methods of sample analysis. It circumvents the need for microplastic extraction and allows researchers to measure bulk soil samples, which helps to avoid extensive sample preparation. By reducing the number of required manipulations, makes overall analytical time shorter and diminishes biases caused by human handling. Overall, it helps to solve one of the main problems in microplastics detection related to sample preparation difficulties.

To evaluate the level of microplastic contamination, a screening model instead of a regression model is proposed because of the physical characteristics of plastics and the minimal surface contact area with the Vis-NIR probe. For this research, a CNN model was chosen that provides an alternative to classical neural image analysis based on deep learning methods. It is a tool that extracts features directly from the image and, then, takes actions to obtain the final result and make a classification. The CNN model was determined to be effective in predicting various soil properties using spectral data, with the model trained from scratch performing better than the transfer learning model. However, due to a relatively small sample size used in the previous research, the hypothesis of the superiority of the first type of model is yet to be proved. The collection of a more extensive sample database and the expansion of the spectral library within the proposed research can help either verify or reject this assumption. It will also help improve the CNN model’s accuracy and establish it as a reliable method for evaluating the level of contamination.

The development of an extensive spectral library is a challenging task, and careful preparation and planning are required. The library should be expanded to include plastic particles representing a diversity of polymer types, colors, and morphologies. They should be collected across a range of metrics, geographies, and time and include samples containing a range of additives and pigments. It will help to enhance data quality, accuracy, and consistency and avoid color-related noise by taking into account different colors and dyes. A comprehensive library should be built progressively and include samples obtained by different research groups in different regions. It is necessary to collect samples from various types of soils and areas to achieve better representation.

The proposed research is expected to provide both qualitative and quantitative contributions to the studies of microplastics contamination. The quantitative contribution includes the expansion of the sample database, and the quality of further research will be facilitated by the development of a comprehensive spectral library and using the CNN model for evaluation. The research is intended to become an important step towards achieving standardization in the identification and measurement of soil contamination by microplastics. Monitoring the pollution level within the soil is vital for assessing soil condition and health and understanding the risks related to exposure to microplastics for both the environment and human health.

The proposed research is based on the already tried-out methods of measuring and evaluating the level of soil contamination by microplastics. It intends to use infrared scanning for identification and the CNN model for the classification of microplastics in the soil and focus on the expansion of the spectral library and sample database. The database should be built to include samples collected across a range of metrics, areas, and time, and include plastic particles representing a diversity of polymer types and colors. The study also aims to prove that the CNN model is a reliable classification tool that can be used in further research. Both qualitative and quantitative contributions are expected that will facilitate environmental management.

Corradini, F. et al., ‘Predicting Soil Microplastic Concentration Using Vis-NIR Spectroscopy ’, Science of the Total Environment, vol. 650, no. 1, 2019, pp. 922-932, Web.

He, D. et al., ‘Microplastics in Soils: Analytical Methods, Pollution Characteristics, and Ecological Risks’ , TrAC Trends in Analytical Chemistry, vol. 109, 2018, pp. 163-172, Web.

Ng, W., Minasny, B., and McBratney, A., ‘Convolutional Neural Network for Soil Microplastic Contamination Screening Using Infrared Spectroscopy’ , Science of the Total Environment, vol. 702, 2019, p. 134723, Web.

Tox Town, Microplastics [website], Web.

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IvyPanda. (2022, February 24). Microplastic Soil Contamination. https://ivypanda.com/essays/microplastic-soil-contamination/

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IvyPanda . (2022) 'Microplastic Soil Contamination'. 24 February.

IvyPanda . 2022. "Microplastic Soil Contamination." February 24, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/microplastic-soil-contamination/.

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Soil health: Parliament sets out measures to achieve healthy soils by 2050

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Around 60-70% of European soils are estimated to be unhealthy, which costs the EU at least €50 billion per year
Public list of all contaminated and potentially contaminated soils in all EU countries
Polluters must pay for cleaning up contaminated sites

To improve the health of EU soils, MEPs support efforts to monitor and improve the soil ecological status in the EU.

Parliament on Wednesday adopted its position on the Commission proposal for a Soil Monitoring Law, the first-ever dedicated piece of EU legislation on soils, with 336 votes to 242 and 33 abstentions.

MEPs support the overall aim to have healthy soils by 2050, in line with the EU Zero Pollution ambition and the need for a harmonised definition of soil health as well as a comprehensive and coherent monitoring framework to foster sustainable soil management and remediate contaminated sites.

The new law will oblige EU countries to first monitor and then assess the health of all soils on their territory. National authorities may apply the soil descriptors that best illustrate the soil characteristics of each soil type at national level.

MEPs propose a five-level classification to assess soil health (high, good, moderate ecological status, degraded, and critically degraded soils). Soils with either good or high ecological status would be considered healthy.

Contaminated soils

According to the Commission, there are an estimated 2.8 million potentially contaminated sites in the EU. MEPs support the requirement to draw up a public list of such sites in all EU countries at the latest four years after entry into force of this Directive.

EU countries will also have to investigate, assess and clean up contaminated sites to address unacceptable risks to human health and the environment due to soil contamination. Costs must be paid by polluters in line with the ‘polluter pays' principle.

After the vote, rapporteur Martin HOJSÍK (Renew, SK) said: “We are finally close to achieving a common European framework to protect our soils from degradation. Without healthy soils, there will be no life on this planet. Farmers’ livelihoods and the food on our table depend on this non-renewable resource. That is why it is our responsibility to adopt the first piece of EU-wide legislation to monitor and improve soil health."

Parliament has now adopted its position at first reading. The file will be followed up by the new Parliament after the European elections on 6-9 June.

Around 60-70% of European soils are estimated to be in an unhealthy state due to issues such as urban expansion, low land recycling rates, intensification of agriculture, and climate change. Degraded soils are major drivers of the climate and biodiversity crises and reduce the provision of key ecosystem services costing the EU at least €50 billion per year, according to the Commission .

This legislation responds to citizens' expectations to protect and restore biodiversity, the landscape and oceans, and eliminate pollution as expressed in proposals 2(1), 2(3), 2(5) of the conclusions of the Conference on the Future of Europe .

Contacts:

Thomas haahr .

Phone number: (+32) 2 28 42976 (BXL)
Phone number: (+33) 3 881 72033 (STR)
Mobile number: (+32) 470 88 09 87
E-mail: [email protected]

Further information

Adopted text (10.04.2024)
Procedure file
EP Research: “Soil monitoring and resilience directive” (8.4.2024)
EP press: “MEPs call for EU common legal framework for the protection of soil” (28.04.2021)
Free photos, videos and audio material
Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety

Product information

Trend analysis of machine learning application in the study of soil and sediment contamination

Published: 15 April 2024

Cite this article

M. R. Sabour ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-3606-3762 1 ,
P. Sakhaie 1 &
F. Sharifian 1

In recent decades, the application of machine learning methods as a powerful tool supporting accurate and representative models has become common in various fields, including pollution assessment in soil and sediment. Widespread contamination in these areas, causing severe impacts on ecosystems and living beings, has resulted in the development of numerous models based on machine learning techniques. These models have been used to detect, trace, and predict the extent of contamination levels and create specified management plans. This paper provides a bibliometric analysis of the evaluation of soil and sediment contamination and treatment strategies using machine learning studies from 1986 to 2022. Meaningful analysis has been done on research trends, publishing activity of journals, most active countries, subject areas, top authors, and author keywords. The research showed that China with the highest number of publications has made extensive investments and has put a special focus on this area. The most studied contaminants are heavy metals, followed by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and persistent organic pollutants. The artificial neural network followed by cluster analysis and principal component analysis are the most widely used methods.

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Sabour, M.R., Sakhaie, P. & Sharifian, F. Trend analysis of machine learning application in the study of soil and sediment contamination. Int. J. Environ. Sci. Technol. (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-024-05575-y

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Soil pollution is the process by which toxic chemicals and other pollutants contaminate the soil in high concentrations, affecting the ecosystem. The soil's top layer is disturbed by metals, ions, salts, and organic compounds created by microbial activity and organism decomposition. This slowly seeps into groundwater and then into bodies of water.
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Conclusion of Essay on Soil Pollution. In conclusion, soil pollution is a silent threat that affects us all. It harms our environment, endangers our health, and burdens our economies. However, by understanding the issue, listening to experts, and taking action in our daily lives, we can work together to prevent further soil pollution and ...
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For kids, this detailed essay on soil pollution will help them understand the basics of soil pollution, its cause, and the measures to prevent it. For both parents and teachers, this essay will help them to explain what harms the soil and how to prevent soil pollution. Besides, soil pollution, in general, is a delicate yet critical subject that ...
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Soil Pollution Essay. This essay sample was donated by a student to help the academic community. Papers provided by EduBirdie writers usually outdo students' samples. the dirt is a perplexing blend of minerals, trademark material, water, and differing living things. In its exceptional express, the dirt was an uncontaminated substance covering ...
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