SOIL POLLUTION

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SOIL
The word soil comes from the Latin word Solum meaning
earthy material on which plants grow.
It can also be defined as the weathered layer of the earths
crust with living organisms and their products of decay
intermingled.
Its importance lies in the fact that plants are dependent on it
for their nutrients,water,mineral supply and anchorage. It
also serves as the medium wherein many animals live.
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In fact soil of a nation is its most valuable material heritage.

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SOIL POLLUTION
In simple words, it can be defined as the build up in
soils of persistent toxic compounds, chemicals , salts,
radioactive materials, or disease causing agents which
have adverse effects on plant growth and animal
health.
Usually, if we speak about pollution we think of air or
water pollution but we should not forget that one of the
biggest resources is soil and soil pollution is definitely
becoming a drastic problem in the present scenario.

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SOURCES OF SOIL POLLUTION

Industrial wastes
Urban wastes
Radioactive pollutants
Agricultural practices
Chemical and metallic pollutants
Biological agents

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INDUSTRIAL WASTES
Discharges from pulp and paper mills, chemical industries, oil refineries, sugar
factories, tanneries and other industries.

Fly ash which is the unburnt brownish black substance, generated from
thermal, atomic and electric power plants.

Industrial sludge are even more dangerous than the solid wastes.
Affect chemical and biological properties of soil.

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URBAN WASTES
Commercial and domestic wastes consisting of dry sludge of sewage.
Contains garbage and rubbish materials like plastics ,glasses,
metallic cans,fibres,paper etc.
Leachates from dumping sites and disposal tanks of sewage mixed
wit industrial effluents and wastes.

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GARBAGE AND RUBBISH MATERIALS

CANS ,PLASTIC BOTTLES AND GLASSES

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LEAKAGE FROM SEWERAGE PIPE

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RADIOACTIVE POLLUTANTS
Radioactive substances
resulting from explosions
of nuclear devices,
atmospheric fallout
from nuclear dust
and radioactive wastes.
NUCLEAR EXPLOSION
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AGRICUTURAL PRACTICES
Use of excessive fertilizers results in eutrophication
Remnants of pesticides like DDT, BHC, Aldrin,Malathion etc. get absorbed
by soil particles contaminating root crops in soil.
Soil conditioners, fumigants, other chemical agents accumulate on soil
and introduce their chemicals in growing crops.
Wet slurry formed from the farm wastes may seep into ground water and
pollute it.
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AGRICULTURAL RETURN FLOWS

POLLUTING THE SURFACE WATER
SPRAYING OF
FERTILIZERS
AND PESTICIDES
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CHEMICALS AND METALLIC

POLLUTANTS
Synthetic chemicals ad fertilizers are a source of trace metals which
are added to the soil either deliberately or as an impurity.eg. Arsenic ,
lead, cadmium are common trace metals in rock phosphate.
Heavy metals contaminate 12 million tonnes of grain each year in
China leading to direct losses of more than 20 billion dollars (as
reported in THE CHINA DAILY,9th April 2007)

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BIOLOGICAL AGENTS
Pathogenic organisms occurring naturally in contaminated soil like
bacteria, fungi, algae, protozoans, actinomycetes etc.
Pathogenic organisms excreted by man such as enteric bacteria
and parasitic worms.
Pathogenic organisms excreted by animals. For instance, fungal
and bacterial spores carried by snails and slugs.

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DETRIMENTAL EFFECTS

Metallic contaminants destroy bacteria and other beneficial microorganisms in soil.

Severe agricultural crop damage.

Use of polluted groundwater damages crops and may also affect both man and animals.

Recent generous use of nitrate fertilizers leads to a fatal disease metemoglobinemaor blue baby
syndrome in young infants.

Pesticides adhere to soil particles causing harm to vegetation.

Various diseases such as anthrax, tetanus, leptospirosis, Q.fever etc. are directly or indirectly related to
soil pollution.

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CONTROL OF SOIL POLLUTION

COLLECTION OF WASTE: Though process is time consuming, the

process can be made more efficient if wastes is collected with the help
of pneumatic pipes.

DISPOSAL OF WASTE: landfill operation involves depositing of

refuse, compacting and covering it with soil.

RECOVERY OF RESOURCES: conversion of waste into biogas,

utilization of human as well as animal excreta for manure purposes.

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REMEDIAL MEASURES FOR SOIL

POLLUTION
Proper dumping of unwanted materials. Recycling and reused of wastes.
Production of natural fertilizers.
Use of soil microorganisms to increase crop fertility.
Maintenance of proper hygienic conditions.
Ban to toxic chemicals.
Plantation of trees.
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POPULARISATION
OF
ORGANIC FARMING
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CONCLUSION
Even though after having a thorough knowledge
about the various sources of soil pollution and its
effects, it is not possible to wipe out the causes
altogether.
So the best remedy would be to utilized the soil as
well as all the other natural resources in the most
efficient economical way possible.

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Bibliography
1) Textbook on environmental pollution and control
Dr.H.S.Bhatia
2) Environmental pollution-B.K.Sharma
3) www.terradaily.com
4) www.alabastercorp.com
5) www.paulchefurka.ca

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