Compilation of soil pollution journals and impacts for humans and the

environment
Soil pollution is defined as the presence of toxic chemicals (pollutants or contaminants) in soil,
in high enough concentrations to pose a risk to human health and/or the ecosystem. In the case of
contaminants which occur naturally in soil, even when their levels are not high enough to pose a
risk, soil pollution is still said to occur if the levels of the contaminants in soil exceed the levels
that should naturally be present.

ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
ISSN: 0269-7491

Environmental Pollution is an international journal that seeks to publish papers that report results
from original, novel research that addresses significant environmental pollution issues and
problems and contribute new knowledge to science.

The editors welcome high quality papers where the pollutants are clearly defined and measured
and can be directly related to biological, ecological, and human health effects. This includes air,
water, and soil pollution and climate change. New techniques for the study and measurement of
pollutants and their effects are also encouraged as well as papers on new types of environmental
challenges such as pollution/antibiotic resistances of organisms. Emerging pollutions are of
eminent interest, such as microplastics, electronic wastes, light or noise pollution as long as they
can clearly be related to the biological effects mentioned above. Papers must be process-
orientated and/or hypotheses-based to be considered for population. Papers based on field studies
are given priority for publication over micro/meso cosmos studies.

Papers, such as meta analyses, that report findings from re-examination and interpretation of
existing data are welcome. Modeling papers are welcome only to a certain extent, i.e., they must
be related to a specific pollution issue or process that is potentially of ecological and/or human
health implications. Critical review papers and commentaries are also of high interest as are
letters to the editor.

The editors do not wish to publish papers that describe results from routine surveys and
monitoring programs that are primarily of local or regional interest. Descriptions of well-known
pollutants, such as legacy pollutants, in yet another location are not of interest. Papers about
sewage, waste and wastewater treatment and management as well as standard techniques in
agronomy, remediation, biomonitoring, bioremediation and phytoremediation are not acceptable.
However, papers on innovative techniques to combat regional or global problems are welcome;
however, technical studies must show their field applicability.
Furthermore, the editors discourage submission of papers which describe analytical methods,
laboratory experiments, food science studies, screening of new plant/animal/microorganism
species for effect assessments and testing known pollution and chemicals in another setting.
Eutrophication studies and secondary pollution by eutrophication are not covered by
Environmental Pollution. In the same line, papers on ocean enrichment by CO2 will not be
accepted.

The abstract (up to 300 words), highlights and conclusions of papers in this journal must contain
clear and concise statements. A graphical abstract is mandatory. A cover letter must be
accompanied with each submission, containing clear and concise statements as to why the study
was done and how readers will benefit from the results.

Articles submitted for publication in Environmental Pollution should establish connections

among research findings with implications for environmental quality, ecological health, and/or
human health. The cover letter must explicitly express how the submission fits the Aims and
Scope of Environmental Pollution. Failure to include the paragraph will result in returning the
paper to the author.

EFFECTS OF HEAVY METALS ON HUMAN HEALTH

INTRODUCTION

Metallic elements are intrinsic components of the environment. Their presence is considered
unique in the sense that it is difficult to remove them completely from the environment once they
enter in it. Metal constitute an important class of toxic substance which are encountered in
numerous occupational and environmental circumstances. The impact of these toxic agents on
human health is currently an area of intense interest due to the ubiquity of exposure.

With the increasing use of a wide verity of metals in industry and in our daily life, problems
arising from toxic metal pollution of the environment have assumed serious dimensions.

SOURCES AND EMISSIONS

Toxic metals, to a large extent, are dispersed in the environment through industrial effluents,
organic wastes, refuse burning, and transport and power generation. They can be carried to
places many miles away from the sources by wind, depending upon whether they are in gaseous
form or as particulates. Metallic pollutants are ultimately washed out of the air into land or the
surface of water ways. Thus air is also a route for the pollution of environment.
Metal containing industrial effluents constitute a major source of metallic pollution of
hydrosphere. Another means of dispersal is the movement of drainage water from catchment
areas

TOXIC EFFECTS

In general the toxicity of metal ions to mammalians systems is due to chemical reactivity of the
ions with cellular structural proteins, enzymes and membrane system. The target organs of
specific metal toxicities are usually those organs that accumulate the highest concentrations of
the metal in vivo. This is often dependent on the route of exposure and the chemical compound
of the metal i.e. its valiancy state, volatility, lipid solubility etc.

The target organs and clinical manifestations of chronic exposures to the metal are given in table
2 . Besides the general toxicities of metals, we are today also concerned with the potential
carcinogenicity of metal compounds. Certain metals such as chromium and nickel have been
linked with cancers in exposed human populations.

Metals have been shown to causes acute as well as chronic poisoning in man and other
experimental animals. Harmful effects of individual metals are presented briefly below.

Table 2: Clinical Aspects of Chronic Toxicities

Metal Target Organs Primary Sources Clinical effects
Arsenic Pulmonary Nervous Industrial Dusts, Perforation of Nasal Septum,
System, Skin Medicinal Uses Of Respiratory Cancer,
Polluted Water Peripheral Neuropathy:
Dermatomes, Skin, Cancer
Cadmium Renal, Skeletal Industrial Dust And Proteinuria, Glucosuria,
Pulmonary Fumes And Polluted Osteomalacia,
Water And Food Aminoaciduria, Emphysemia
Chromium Pulmonary Industrial Dust And Ulcer, Perforation of Nasal
Fumes And Polluted Septum, Respiratory Cancer
Food
Manganese Nervous System Industrial Dust And Central And Peripheral
Fumes Neuropathies
 Lead Nervous System,Industrial Dust And Encephalopathy, Peripheral
Hematopoietic Fumes And Polluted Neuropathy, Central Nervous
System, Renal Food Disorders, Anemia.
Nickel Pulmonary, Skin Industrial Dust, Cancer, Dramatis
Aerosols
Tin Nervous , Medicinal Uses, Central Nervous System
Pulmonary System Industrial Dusts Disorders, Visual Defects
And EEG Changes,
Pneumoconiosis.
Mercury Nervous System, Industrial Dust And Proteinuria
Renal Fumes And Polluted
Water And Food

All soils, whether polluted or unpolluted, contain a variety of compounds (contaminants) which
are naturally present. Such contaminants include metals, inorganic ions and salts (e.g.
phosphates, carbonates, sulfates, nitrates), and many organic compounds (such as lipids,
proteins, DNA, fatty acids, hydrocarbons, PAHs, alcohols, etc.). These compounds are mainly
formed through soil microbial activity and decomposition of organisms (e.g., plants and
animals). Additionally, various compounds get into the soil from the atmosphere, for instance
with precipitation water, as well as by wind activity or other types of soil disturbances, and from
surface water bodies and shallow groundwater flowing through the soil. When the amounts of
soil contaminants exceed natural levels (what is naturally present in various soils), pollution is
generated. There are two main causes through which soil pollution is generated: anthropogenic
(man-made) causes and natural causes.

Man Made Pollutan

Anthropogenic (man-made) soil pollution originates in several types of processes, some

deliberate (industrial) and some accidental. Human-caused soil pollution can work in conjunction
with natural processes to increase the toxic contamination levels in the soil.

Accidental spills and leaks during storage, transport or use of chemicals (e.g. leaks and
spills of gasoline and diesel at gas stations);
Foundry activities and manufacturing processes that involve furnaces or other processes
resulting in the possible dispersion of contaminants in the environment;
 Mining activities involving the crushing and processing of raw materials, for instance,
heavy metals, emitting toxic substances;
Construction activities (see below)
Agricultural activities involving the diffusion of herbicides, pesticides and/or
insecticides and fertilizers;
Transportation activities, releasing toxic vehicle emissions
Chemical waste dumping, whether accidental or deliberate such as illegal dumping;
The storage of waste in landfills, as the waste products may leak into groundwater or
generate polluted vapors
Cracked paint chips falling from building walls, especially lead-based paint.

Natural Pollutants

Apart from the rare cases when a natural accumulation of chemicals leads to soil pollution,
natural processes may also have an influence on the human released toxic chemicals into the soil,
overall decreasing or increasing the pollutant toxicity and/or the level of contamination of the
soil. This is possible due to the complex soil environment, involving the presence of other
chemicals and natural conditions which may interact with the released pollutants.

Natural processes leading to soil pollution:

Natural accumulation of compounds in soil due to imbalances between atmospheric

deposition and leaking away with precipitation water (e.g., concentration and
accumulation of perchlorate in soils in arid environments)
Natural production in soil under certain environmental conditions (e.g., natural
formation of perchlorate in soil in the presence of a chlorine source, metallic object and
using the energy generated by a thunderstorm)
Leaks from sewer lines into subsurface (e.g., adding chlorine which could generate
trihalomethanes such as chloroform).

The Effects of Soil Pollution

Soil pollution affects plants, animals and humans alike. While anyone is susceptible to soil
pollution, soil pollution effects may vary based on age, general health status and other factors,
such as the type of pollutant or contaminant inhaled or ingested. However, children are usually
more susceptible to exposure to contaminants, because they come in close contact with the soil
by playing in the ground; combined with lower thresholds for disease, this triggers higher risks
than for adults. Therefore, it is always important to test the soil before allowing your kids to play
there, especially if you live in a highly industrialized area.

Diseases Caused by Soil Pollution

Humans can be affected by soil pollution through the inhalation of gases emitted from soils
moving upward, or through the inhalation of matter that is disturbed and transported by the wind
because of the various human activities on the ground. Soil pollution may cause a variety of
health problems, starting with headaches, nausea, fatigue, skin rash, eye irritation and potentially
resulting in more serious conditions like neuromuscular blockage, kidney and liver damage and
various forms of cancer.

Soil Pollution Facts

Soil acts as a natural sink for contaminants, by accumulating and sometimes concentrating
contaminants which end up in soil from various sources. Tiny amounts of contaminants
accumulate in the soil and - depending on the environmental conditions (including soil types)
and the degradability of the released contaminant - can reach high levels and pollute the soil. If
the soil is contaminated, home-grown vegetables and fruits may become polluted too. This
happens because most of the soil pollutants present in the soil are extracted by the plants along
with water every time they feed. Thus, it is always prudent to test the soil before starting to grow
anything edible. This is especially important if your garden is located near an industrial or
mining area, or within 1 mile of a main airport, harbor, landfill, or foundry.

EJEAFChe, Electronic Journal Of Environmental,Agricultural And Food Chemistry

ISSN: 1573-4377
REMEDIATION AND BIOREMEDIATION OF URANIUM
CONTAMINATED SOILS
There is an increasing trend of uranium accumulating in soils due to a number of deliberate
or wrong practices. Public and political pressure to solve a problem situation of this nature
occurs when critical toxic levels are reached. As a consequence, there would be a risk for
ecosystems, agro-systems and health. It is suggested that knowledge of the mechanisms that
control the behaviour of such heavy metals must be improved and can be used for risk
assessment and proposition of remediation treatments (Berthelin and Leyval., 2000). Soil
remediation has to be considered when levels of toxic elements and substances present are
encountered. The choice of the most suitable treatment depends on the nature of
environmental hazards imposed by the presence of toxic substances in the soil, site
characteristics, concentration and types of pollutants to be removed. The selection of
treatment takes into account the risk assessment before, during, and after remediation, but
must also consider the cost of remediation and the designated use of the land.

SOLIDIFICATION/STABILIZATION
The purpose of solidification and stabilization is to treat contaminated soils so that the
contaminants are suitably immobilized from potential leaching into the environment.
Solidification is the binding of a waste/soil into a solid mass to reduce its contaminant
leaching potential, whereas stabilization is the reduction of the solubility and/or chemical
reactivity of a waste/soil. These technologies are applicable to a wide range of wastes / soils,
but are particularly well suited for metals and are typically limited to soils containing less
than 1% organics (HWC, 1996). Solidification/stabilization (S/S) can be done in situ or ex
situ on excavated materials by processing at a staging area either on site or off-site.
Solidification refers also to techniques that encapsulate hazardous waste into a solid material
of high structural integrity. Encapsulation involves either fine waste particles (micro
encapsulation) or a large block or container (macro encapsulation).
Solidification/stabilization (S/S) techniques can immobilize heavy metals, certain
radionuclides and selected organic compounds. The waste/soil is solidified by addition of
admixtures, which include Portand cement, lime, natural pozzolans (a siliceous fine-grained
material which forms hard lumps when mixed with slacked lime), fly ash (ash remaining
after burning of coal) and their mixtures.

IN SITU MOBILISATION
All in situ immobilization treatments in the long-term may have a positive effect. The order of
magnitude of the long term involved in the retention of pollutants after remediation is probably
close to the time scale involved in agronomic and pedologic processes. However, immobilization
of heavy metals by microorganisms, plants, or soil organic stays for a short time; since after the
death of the microorganisms and decomposition of organic matter, toxic elements may will be
mobile again. However, if heavy metals are incorporated in the mineral structures of soil, a
long-term fixation may be expected. Thus, the techniques considered to modify the
physicochemical state and the location of toxic materials in soil should take this parameter
into account, and only those which give long-term fixation should be used

CHEMICAL REDUCTION TREATMENTS

As with immobilization, contaminated soils can be treated in situ or ex situ to reduce the
pollutants and thereby their toxicity and mobility. The redox potential (Eh) depends on the
availability of oxygen in soils, water and sediments, and upon biochemical reactions by
which microorganisms extract oxygen for respiration. Redox conditions influence the
mobility of metals in two different ways. Firstly, the valence of certain metals changes. For
example, under reducing conditions, Fe
3+ is transformed to Fe
2+ and, similarly, the valence
of manganese and arsenic is subject to direct changes. Since the reduced ions are more
soluble, increased concentrations of these metals have been observed in reducing
environments such as groundwaters and sediment solutions. Under reducing conditions,
sulfate reduction will take place: for example, in sediments, lead sulfide with a low
solubility if formed. On the other hand, an increase in the redox potential will cause lead
sulfide to become unstable, with a subsequent rise in dissolved lead concentrations.

BIOREMEDIATION
The objective of bioremediation is to exploit the naturally occurring biodegradative
processes to clean up contaminated sites. There are several types of bioremediation: in situ
bioremediation is the in-place treatment of a contaminated site; ex situ bioremediation is the
treatment of contaminated soil or water that is removed from a contaminated site; and
intrinsic bioremediation is the indigenous level of condition biodegradation that occurs
without any stimulation or treatment. All of these types of bioremediation are receiving
increasing attention as viable remediation alternatives for several reasons. These include
generally good public acceptance and support, good success rates for some application, and
the comparatively low cost of bioremediation when it is successful. As with any technology,
there are also drawbacks. First, success can be unpredictable because biological systems are
themselves complex and unpredictable. A second consideration is that bioremediation rarely
restores an environment to its original condition. Often, the residual contamination left after
treatment is strongly sorbed and not available to microorganisms for degradation. Over a
long period of time (years), these residuals can be slowly released, generating addition
pollution. There is little research concerning the fate and potential toxicity of such released
residuals: therefore, both the public and regulatory agencies continue to be concerned about
the possible deleterious effects of residual contamination

PHYTOREMEDIATION
Phytoremediation takes advantage of plants nutrient processes to take in water and nutrient
through roots, transpire water through leaves (plants known for fast growth and high water
usage rates. These plants and their microbially-active rhizosphere will transform pollutants,
including the nutrient nitrogen, into valuable biomass and use up the remaining water via
evaporation and transpiration), and act as a transformation system to metabolize organic
compounds, such as oil and pesticides. Or they may absorb and bioaccumulate toxic trace
elements including the heavy metals, lead, cadmium, and selenium. In some case, plants
contain 1,000 times more metal than the soil in which they grow. Heavy metals are closely
relate to the elements plants use for growth. Progress has been made at the physiology and
molecular level regarding Zn and Ni uptake and translocation in some hyperaccumulators. It
is also known that natural hyperaccumulators do not use rhizosphere acidification to enhance
their metal uptake. Plants can accelerate bioremediation in surface soils by their ability to
stimulate soil microorganisms through the release of nutrients from and the transport of
oxygen to their roots. The zone of soil closely associated with the plant root, the rhizosphere,
has much higher numbers of metabolically active microorganisms than unplanted soil the
rhizosphere is a zone of increased microbial activity and biomass at the root-soil interface
that is under the interface of the plant root. It is this symbiotic relationship between soil
microbes that is responsible for accelerated degradation of soil contaminants. Recently, it
has been found that some natural hyper-accumulators (e.g. Thlaspi caerulescens) proliferate
their roots positively in patches of high metal availability. In contrast, non-accumulators
actively avoid these areas, and this is one of the mechanisms by which hyperaccumulators
absorb more metals when grown in the same soil. However, there are few studies on the
exudation and persistence of natural chelating compounds by these plants. It is thought that
rhizosphere microorganisms are not important for the hyperaccumulation of metals from
soil. McGrath et al., (2001) stated that applications of chelates have been shown to induce
large accumulations of metals like Pb, U and Au in the shoots of non-hyperaccumulators, by
increasing metal solubility and root to shoot translocation. The efficiency of metal uptake
does vary with soil properties, and a full understanding of the relative importance of mass
flow and diffusion in the presence and absence of artificial chelates is not available. To
successfully manipulate and optimize future phytoextraction technologies, it is argued that a
fully combined understanding of soil supply and plant uptake is needed.