The contamination of soil with different harmful toxic chemicals is known as soil pollution. One of the gravest problems we are facing today. World Soil Day is annually held on December 5 to highlight soil's importance on Earth. All Rights Reserved . Following are some of the causes of soil pollution: Cause: Detail: Accidental spills & Industrial accidents: Industrial accidents (such as the Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster) can contaminate the soil with toxins or other substances (such as radiation). Oceanography vs Marine Biology (Are They Same or Different), Can Squirrels Eat Bread? Watch this video. Plastic waste and chemicals contaminate our waters. Particularly, it is because of the amount and rate of manufacturing processes that rapidly increased as consumer demands also increased. It causes harmful effects on the soil and the environment at large. Earth Eclipse. The chemicals can leach into the groundwater further widening the cycle of pollution. There are a couple of natural causes of soil pollution. Moreover, the presence of excess chemicals will increase the alkalinity or acidity of soil thus degrading the soil quality. This type of infectivity characteristically arises from the rupture of alternative storage links, application of pesticides, and percolation of contaminated surface water to subsurface strata, oil and fuel throwing away, leakage of wastes from landfills or nonstop … Soil is the prime and valuable property obtained through nature. When harmful chemical and toxic elements are released into the soil, it can turn to be extremely dangerous for human beings. Soil contamination refers to the destruction of land that could be used constructively by human activities, either directly or indirectly. Industrialization: More and more, population growth requires the production of more goods, resulting in more industrial waste. In most urban areas, wastes and chemicals handled at construction sites can pollute the soil. Mining activities cumulatively leave the topsoil destroyed and exposes the soil to erosion. Pinpointing at one particular cause is … Soil pollution is caused by man-made, harmful chemicals penetrating the earth and causing deterioration. Causes of soil pollution Farming. We need soil for basic survival - food and energy. Thus, due to many different human activities such as overuse of pesticides the soil will lose its fertility. The fundamental need to improved crop productivity and attaining food security has been a significant promotional agent for utilization of modern chemical pesticides, fertilizer, and herbicides. In many places, solid and material wastes are left to heap up in landfills. Underground tanks containing potentially poisonous liquids can also leak and contaminate the soil. Effects of Soil Pollution – Soil pollution is not only a problem in our country but it is a global problem. Illegal dumping is the major reason for soil pollution which affects the quality of the soil and the health of people living on it. Under certain environment conditions and natural processes, perchlorate is formed in the soil. Also, cases of illegal dumping of chemicals have witnessed disposal of highly poisonous materials in landfills. Your IP: 172.105.57.189 The end products of the sewer also end up in landfills. Soil pollution is the removal of useful substances from the soil or the addition of harmful substances to it. Another way to prevent getting this page in the future is to use Privacy Pass. They usually take the form of solids, gases, and liquids. The contamination of soil will decrease the agricultural output of a land. Soil Pollution, Land Pollution Causes, Effects Essay, Speech, Article. These compounds are mainly formed through soil microbial activit… © 2021 . Hey kids, in this video, Dr Binocs will explain, Soil Pollution | What Is Soil Pollution? Soil pollution is caused due to various household wastes and chemical fertilizers used in farming, besides chemicals and wastes generated in the industries. • Most of these wastes contain residues of toxic inorganic and organic chemicals, which are extremely harmful. Accumulation of salt compounds happens because of the natural imbalances between atmospheric depositions and leaching caused by rain water. What is Land Pollution “Land pollution is the Contamination of undesirable substances that makes Soil or Land dirty and unhealthy which is harmful to the lives of the earth.Land pollution occurs when solid or liquid waste materials deposits on land or underground that can contaminate the soil and groundwater“. Once on the ground, it penetrates into the soil and alters the soil chemistry, biology, and structure. The soil of Earth is no different. Causes of Land pollution. The water which is present below the ground will become contaminated and the serious degradation of land will take place as a result of these landfills. (And Can They Choke on Raisins), Can Squirrels Eat Popcorn? It is linked with the United Nations' (UN) Year of Soil. There are numerous causes of soil pollution that occur every day or even every minute. The most common causes of soil pollution include industrial waste or by-products. Causes of Soil Pollution. As we have read above that land pollution … Soil degradation occurs as a result of over-grazing or over-farming. The alarming situation of the state of soil pollution has forced the scientific community to develop innovative, reproducible strategies/technologies (in situ or ex situ) for treating polluted soils. These perceived beneficial crop productivity products are full of unnatural chemicals thereby making it difficult for them to decompose. LANDFILLS – Landfills are one of the causes of soil pollution, as we produce more and more disposable stuff, the lands are overflowing with garbage all over the world. The soil is the mixture of organic and non-organic composite materials; it is the surface of the earth where trees strengthen their roots and grow in the nourishing environment also it’s a home for tiny microbe’s organisms essential for agriculture purposes. These can severely impact the ecosystem and human health. It results mainly from human activities, including the application of pesticides such as atrazine, a very common herbicide, … It alters the soil in the sense that the acid rain reverses the soil pH, denatures enzymes for the soil microbes, and leaches away crucial nutrients and minerals. Oil leaks happen during transportation and storage of petroleum products. It is a major contribution to the life of … Accumulation of salt compounds happens because of the natural imbalances between atmospheric depositions and leaching caused by rain water. (And Do They Mate With Other Species). Medical expenditure, the rising cost of dwindling stock of food, famine are all realities to be faced. The natural sources of soil pollution include volcanic eruptions, landslides and rainfall, whereas human causes include use industrial waste, urban garbage, excessive mining and reckless use of chemicals and insecticides in agriculture.. Want to know the tiniest details about soil pollution? The handling of various hazardous building materials like lead paints is the cause of soil pollution. The challenges faced in soil remediation (decontamination of soil) are closely related to the extent of soil pollution. Her passion for science education drove her to start EarthEclipse with the sole objective of finding and sharing fun and interesting science facts. They include the natural production of minerals and the accumulation of salt compounds in the soil. Land pollution is common, and it is important for us all to know about its crippling effects. Much research and technological progress is helping to control soil pollution. Leaking sewers, for instance, can breed trihalomethanes such as chloroform in the soil. A large number of consumer waste products such as broken electronics, metals, plastics, and diapers are directly dumped into landfills. The same goes for the other industrialized nations which are the worst hit. 15/03/2020 23/01/2021 / By Priyanki Baruah / Environment / 6 minutes of reading. How do Rainbows Form? The soil is the skin of the earth, a mantle full of scars, thousand-year-old wrinkles and more recent injuries caused both by man and nature itself. phosphates, carbonates, sulfates, nitrates), and many organic compounds (such as lipids, proteins, DNA, fatty acids, hydrocarbons, PAHs, alcohols, etc.). You may need to download version 2.0 now from the Chrome Web Store. The herbicides and pesticides are also absorbed by the plants that later release the chemicals into the soil when they decompose. Causes of soil pollution. As population is increasing at a very high pace, farmers try to grow particular crops that give them more profit and less time to cultivate. Soil pollution is caused by the existence of man-made chemicals or additional variation in the usual soil environment. Acid rain is created when pollutants in the air chemically react with water and oxygen to form weak nitric and sulfuric acids which fall back to the ground as precipitation. An example is the accumulation of perchlorate in the soils in arid environs. It’s a common thing at gas stations. Some of the causes of soil pollution are given bel… Construction activities are considered to be urban soil pollutants because of their presence in almost every place in urban areas. (Any Why They Do Not Get Sick), Causes and Effects of Marine Habitat Loss, 35+ Outstanding Facts About the Planet Earth, Advantages and Importance of Reforestation, Five Different Atmospheric Layers of the Earth, Causes and Effects of Ozone Layer Depletion, Extraordinary Ways to Protect Coral Reefs, Causes and Effects to Environmental Pollution, Causes and Effects of Ocean Acidification. Garbage, cotton clothes, newspapers, trees waste, are the causes of soil pollution. Some of them are metals, inorganic ions, salts, compounds formed by soil microbial activity, and decomposition of organisms. In simple terms, mining degrades the soil quality. Soil pollution also spreads to polluted water that absorbs by the soil. These are a threat to the ecosystem and the health of humans. Such contaminants include metals, inorganic ions and salts (e.g. We have seen almost every human activity lead to some sort of pollution in one way or another. Presently, 300,000 ha of UK land is thought to be contaminated by toxic elements such as lead and arsenic. Every cause is linked with another. This addition is mostly by human activities such as mining, modern practices in agriculture, deforestation, indiscriminate dumping of human generated trash and unregulated disposal of untreated wastes of various industries The disposal of manure and other associated waste material from animal farms are also a reason for soil pollution. 35 Astonishing Facts About the Planet Venus That Will Stir Your Curiosity, 7 Terrible Effects of Industrial Pollution, soil is contaminated by chemical pollutants, Industries utilize a variety of raw materials, Why Do White Rabbits Have Red Eyes? Carbon Dioxide emissions increase air pollution. Waste disposal is a mounting cause for worry regarding how it is done. There are several primary causes of soil contamination and degradation. The primary cause of soil pollution is a lack of awareness in general people. Here are some of the elements resulting in soil pollution. They include the natural production of minerals and the accumulation of salt compounds in the soil. Poor management or inefficient disposal of waste. There are a couple of natural causes of soil pollution. All soils, whether polluted or unpolluted, contain a variety of compounds (contaminants) which are naturally present. Please enable Cookies and reload the page. When these contaminants exceed the natural level, it starts polluting. Soil pollution occurs due to untreated disposal of industrial wastes into soil; it has high toxic contaminants, which leads to soil pollution. Every soil type contains different elements and components, and some natural contaminants as well. Man-Made Pollutants. • It leads to many consequ… It happens when human activities directly or indirectly introduce destructive chemicals, substances, or objects into the soil in a way that causes damage to the immediate earthly environment. Other chemicals present in the products can destroy the soil composition and readily makes it vulnerable to soil erosion. | Land Pollution | What is Land Pollution? How Does Photosynthesis Take Place in Desert Plants? There are mainly 2 causes of pollution. Mining activities involve extraction of materials and mineral ores from beneath the earth surface. Agriculture; Excessive use of fertilizers and pesticides; Industrial processes; Deforestation; Spills and leaks; Littering; Waste disposal; Mining; Construction; Transportation; Landfills; Chemical waste; Nuclear waste; Acid … She loves writing on topics related to space, environment, chemistry, biology, geology and geography. Soil Pollution is defined as the presence of pollutants, contaminants, and toxic chemicals in the soil in high concentrations. Foundry and manufacturing activities are perceived to be the prevalent causal factor for soil pollution in the past century. Soil pollution is defined as the presence of poisonous chemicals in the soil. Sonia Madaan is a writer and founding editor of science education blog EarthEclipse. And some mix in soil through atmosphere and wind activity. Completing the CAPTCHA proves you are a human and gives you temporary access to the web property. Accordingly, they leach into the ground after mixing with water and gradually diminish the fertility and biological activities of the soil. As such, the chemicals and toxic materials present in the wastes pollute the soil. Soil pollution takes place when the soil is contaminated by chemical pollutants or degraded. If you are at an office or shared network, you can ask the network administrator to run a scan across the network looking for misconfigured or infected devices. They cause pollution of th… (And Which Foods Do They Actually Like), How Do Birds Mate? Along with air and water pollution, soil pollution is an equally serious issue that the modern-day world is confronted with. Plastic, glasses, metal objects, are also caused by soil pollution (And Process of Formation), How Were the Himalayas Formed? The conquest of utilizing land and soil resources and conducting experiments on it for our benefits is one major reason for soil pollution. (And Are They Still Growing), LEED Certification: Why Do You Need it and Process to Apply For it, How Can Animals Drink Dirty Water? Chemical used in agriculture work, litter […] Today, we have brought you the causes and effects of it. (Albinism), Can Squirrels Eat Almonds? In such conditions, perchlorate is created in the presence of metallic mineral components and chlorine by utilizing the energy produced by thunderstorms. Construction work often releases harmful chemicals into the environment and is one of the leading causes of soil pollution in urban areas. (And Which Foods to Avoid), Can Squirrels Eat Raisins? When she is not writing, she loves watching sci-fi movies on Netflix. The leftovers such as petroleum byproducts, heavy metals, toxic material parts, chemical residues, and liquid contaminant wastes in one way or the other find a way into the landfills or may be buried in ways not considered safe in some free land somewhere. Anthropogenic (man-made) soil pollution originates in several types of processes, some deliberate and some accidental. If you are on a personal connection, like at home, you can run an anti-virus scan on your device to make sure it is not infected with malware. Soil pollution is mostly caused by chemical substances produced by human activity. Mining activities like mining coal is associated with deposition of mercury impurities as it naturally occurs in the ores. This chapter summarizes various aspects of soil pollution, its causes … Industries utilize a variety of raw materials that generates tons of chemical residues and toxic end products. Cloudflare Ray ID: 61dfaf3ee99731f9 Because these wastes contain toxins and a mix of chemicals, they majorly seep into the land and causes soil pollution. Soil pollution takes many forms and is equally a serious matter in the contemporary society. (And Almond Butter), 8 Various Types of Environmental Pollution, How is Ethanol Made and Advantages and Disadvantages of Ethanol Fuel. This will in turn cause soil erosion. Pipelines may also burst or crack due to rusting or natural underground rock movements. What is Soil Conservation and What are Various Ways To Conserve Soil? Soil pollution causes perilous effects on our environment and leads to several health hazards. With the amount of waste human continue to produce, with the addition of many other factors, soil pollution is a serious and growing problem. As a consequence, soil losses its value regarding natural chemical and nutrients compositions. Performance & security by Cloudflare, Please complete the security check to access. Soil pollution also causes heavy economic losses. Underground sewer systems at times leak when they crack. Significance of Soil. Main Causes of Soil Pollution Soil pollution is a complex phenomenon, and it can be triggered by a variety of things and activities, from the littering of cigarette butts to excess use of chemical fertilizers. Dust generated at sites covers the soil or pollutes the air, and the demolition of old buildings often leads to the release of toxic chemicals like asbestos that can poison the soil. Causes Of Soil Pollution. Soil pollution! The prime reason for soil pollution is the addition of harmful chemicals artificially, especially while farming. Soil pollution is the addition of chemicals to the soil in quantities that are toxic to the environment and its residents. Nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and carbon dioxide are some gases produced by industrial activities that indirectly cause soil … This undoubtedly helps them to reap benefits easily but it affects the soil quality. Consumer wastes and sewerage are some of the main waste materials causing soil pollution. During transportation, oil spill may also accidentally occur. These aspects qualify as some of the natural causes of soil pollution. Soil Pollution Causes and Effects That are Seriously Eye-opening. Diseases caused by Soil Pollution – Soil pollution is characterized by the continuous accumulation of toxic products, salts, radioactive materials, chemicals or disease-causing agents, which are harmful to humans and the environment. As an outcome, the contaminant and poisonous wastes from the industries remain on the soil surface for thousands of years and make it unfit for any other use. When this happens, the chemical and toxic contents are discharged into the adjacent soils leading to its pollution. Human-caused soil pollution … Altogether, the leaks and spills lead to the discharge of the petroleum oil chemicals into the soil causing the deterioration of soil quality and make it unfit for cultivation. Learn more about its causes, effects and solutions. Deforestation and soil erosion: Forests are home to more than 80% of terrestrial biodiversity and are a refuge for many animal and plant species. The activities expose the soil to chemical contaminants and heavy metals that destroy the soil quality. Farmers are opposing more traditional organic methods of farming so as to remove the damage done to the land. The root cause of soil pollution is often one of the following: Agriculture (excessive/improper use of pesticides) Excessive industrial activity. 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