Through bioremediation, the contaminated soil can be decontaminated in a natural way. A wide range of pesticides, insecticides, fertilizers, and herbicides are used in modern agriculture. There are many other leading reasons causes of soil pollution too. Since plants usually are quite sensitive to changes in their natural environmental conditions, soil contamination can lead to a decline in fertility of the affected plants. Industrial activity has been the biggest contributor to the problem in the last century,... 2. The restoration of wetlands can mitigate the soil pollution problem to a certain degree. Land pollution is a major problem around the world and is caused by a variety of factors. However, for these processes, heavy metals and other chemicals are often used which can contaminate the soil if they are not handled with great care. What are the causes of land pollution? Such pollutants can be derived from various sources, which are highlighted below. They also pollute the soil since these chemicals also can cause acid rain. Since cigarettes contain many harmful substances, the soil is contaminated by this behavior since through rainfalls, these chemicals are washed into the ground and will even eventually reach our groundwater. After finishing university, I traveled around the world. They contain hazardous chemicals which are absorbed by the soil and deliberately bring down the soil quality. As an associate, I may earn commissions from qualifying purchases from Amazon or other programs. Carbon Dioxide emissions increase air pollution. A farmer’s productive capacity is directly related to the health of his or her soil.”. The grain grown in these soils is often polluted with heavy metals. This chapter summarizes various aspects of soil pollution, its causes and consequences. 18 per ce… Agriculture is a big source of soil pollution. Soil Pollution: Definition, Causes, Effects and Solutions - Conserve Energy Future. The chemicals contained in paint chips can be hazardous to the environment. Moreover, these chemicals can also lead to changes in genetic structure and thus can cause severe health issues for future generations. Coughing, pain in the chest, and wheezing. Causes of soil pollution. Some of them are metals, inorganic ions, salts, compounds formed by soil microbial activity, and decomposition of organisms. eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'environmental_conscience_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_5',146,'0','0']));Landfills can be a great cause for soil contamination if they are not set up properly. In addition, the structure of the soil itself can change due to contamination with certain chemicals. Acid rain is mainly caused by air pollution. by mankind which contaminate the soil. Causes of Soil Pollution . Causes of soil pollution. Moreover, the fertility of plants is likely to be reduced due to the issue of soil pollution. As with many problems, we can make our daily contribution in order to mitigate soil pollution. It is typically caused by industrial activity, agricultural chemicals or improper disposal of waste. Another adverse effect of land pollution is the contamination of soil. Deforestation and Soil Erosion. Conventional products are usually much cheaper and thus consumers are quite eager to consume them. By consuming these farm animals at a later stage, we will be contaminated as well. Effects on growth of plants (ecological balance is affected, soil chemistry changes, fungi and bacteria found in soil decline, nitrogen fixing bacteria decline) All maps, graphics, flags, photos and original descriptions © 2020 worldatlas.com, USDA Soil Taxonomy: Soil Orders And Their Major Characteristics. Irritation of the skin and the eyes. Antropogenic – through human activity including: 1. The soil of Earth is no different. This means we should separate garbage in our daily life. Moreover, farm animals also consume these contaminated crops. Main Causes of Soil Pollution 1. Soil pollution is a disruptive element for many biological resources and ecosystems. Construction processes play an important role in the context of soil pollution since in construction, many chemicals and other harmful substances are used which can contaminate the ground. It mostly is accompanied by the water pollution and air pollution.. 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). Highly recommended pesticides are organic which are developed in laboratories. The most common causes of soil pollution include industrial waste or by-products. Some of this waste can literally take thousands of years to decompose! However, through the excessive use of pesticides, the level of contamination with harmful substances is usually much higher in conventional products than in organic products. A soil pollutant is a factor that is used for deterioration of soil due to texture, mineral, or quality content of soil being reduced. Illegal dumping is the biggest reason for soil pollution, which adversely affects the quality of soil and the health of people living on it. Causes of Soil Pollution. Moreover, it has to be assured that industries have proper waste disposal processes and do not dump their trash in nearby rivers, lakes or other storage spaces in nature. For the production of material goods, precious metals and other elements have to be extracted from the ground. Farmers are opposing more traditional organic methods of farming so as to remove the damage done to the land. What are the causes of land pollution? Soil pollution occurs when soil contains chemicals that are toxic or otherwise dangerous for humans and other living things 2. Many chemicals used in farming are harmful to the health of human, animals and plant life. 1. In fact, many of these chemicals have been linked to the development of cancer, kidney disorders, congenital diseases, and neurological disorders. Benzene has been found to cause leukemia in instances of too much exposure. Soil pollution is not only the problem in India but it is a global problem. causes and types of soil pollution Phenomena such as erosion, loss of organic carbon, increased salt content, compacting, acidification and chemical pollution are the major causes of current soil … Soil contamination or soil pollution as part of land degradation is caused by the presence of xenobiotics (human-made) chemicals or other alteration in the natural soil environment. Oil pollution is primarily a man-made pollution and is a result of human irresponsible activities. People just throw their garbage on the ground instead of using trash bins on a daily basis. If the soil is contaminated, the plants cultivated on this soil are also contaminated. In addition, the process of deforestation, especially in the area of tropical rainforests, has to be prohibited by local governments. However, this has serious adverse effects on soil quality. 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. The conquest of utilizing land and soil resources and conducting experiments on it for our benefits is one major reason for soil pollution. By-products of the production processes are often dumped nearby and thus contaminate the soil. However, the by-products of nuclear energy production are highly toxic to the environment. Another measure to mitigate the soil pollution problem is reforestation. This in turn can cause severe health conditions for humans. Explore more on the causes of soil pollution or other related topics only on BYJU’S. Through the contamination of soil with heavy metals and other harmful substances, these microorganisms are often not able to adjust to the new circumstances appropriately and thus will die off. Leaching of toxins occurs in landfills. The causes of pollution are not just limited to fossil fuels and carbons emissions. In order to mitigate this problem, everyone of us can make his or her contribution. Soil Pollution. Natural causes. Since fertilizers contain substances that support the growth of algae, when these chemicals eventually end up in rivers and lakes, these water environments will face an increased production of algae. Agriculture is a big source of soil pollution. In order to reduce the problem of soil pollutions, governments around the world have to take measures and introduce strict regulations. Soil pollution also leads to a change in pH-levels. Some of main causes of soil pollution include deforestation and consequent erosion, agriculture, industry, mining, landfills and illegal dumping of waste as well as urbanization and construction [8]. Moreover, construction sites often also emit large amounts of toxic dust, which settles in the nearby areas and thus contaminates the air and also the soil. Soil pollution often is caused by an excessive use of fertilizers and pesticides, however, there are many other reasons. Additionally, there are adverse effects of soil pollution … The primary cause of soil pollution is a lack of awareness in general people. Causes of soil pollution. Transportation, either by private persons or for industrial purposes, contribute heavily to the issue of soil pollution. This problem seems to be quite easy to fix, however, littering is still a big problem. 3. If there are no proper waste disposal processes, our waste can cause soil pollution in a severe way. 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. This causes serious problems including the harming and killing of sea creatures, which ultimately affects humans. As paint on building walls and facades grow old, it can develop cracks and create paint chips that get into the soil. The problem is even more severe if the leaking transport vehicle carries very dangerous chemicals like nuclear waste. Vehicles release toxic gases that contaminate the ground and also the air. 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. They cause pollution of the air as well as the water. With the help of natural processes, microorganisms in the wetlands can degrade part of the contaminants and thus improve the soil quality. Soil pollution often is caused by excessive use of fertilizers and pesticides, however, there are many other reasons. Soil pollution often is caused by an excessive use of fertilizers and pesticides, however, there are many other reasons. Soil Pollution Causes and Effects That are Seriously Eye-opening. Pollution refers to the level of contaminants which exceeds the natural concentration of these substances. This can lead to an increased probability of erosion and may also harm fertility of the soil. Another crucial step for a reduction in soil pollution is a reduction in the use of fertilizers and pesticides. Another adverse effect of land pollution is the contamination of soil. If landfills are used, we have to make sure that the materials disposed of in these landfills do not touch the soil. We have to also assure that our waste is disposed of properly. If trees or whole forests are cleared, the soil is now exposed to wind and water and thus the likelihood for soil erosion increases dramatically. Along with air and water pollution, soil pollution is an equally serious issue that the modern-day world is confronted with. Construction work often releases harmful chemicals into the environment and is one of the leading causes of soil pollution in urban areas. Leaks and spills of all sorts can contaminate the soil. Aquatic life is indirectly affected by soil pollution. If a leak occurs in this kind of transports, the soil in this area can be contaminated for a very long time. However, if the soil and therefore also the crops are contaminated, the animals eating the crops and plants get contaminated as well. This problem gets even worse when it comes to nuclear waste. Before going towards – what are the causes of soil pollution, its effects along side with the prevention of soil pollution we will discuss the meaning of it: Pollution is basically contamination which we human-beings spread intentionally or unintentionally in the environment. Industrial production is a great source of soil pollution, especially since the industrial revolution. Share it! The chemicals may be foreign to the area, or they may be naturally occurring materials that pollute the soil by being present in dangerously high amounts. In soil pollution, the effects vary in proportion to the extent of the concentration of the pollutant. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soil_contamination, https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/what-causes-soil-pollution.html, https://www.britannica.com/science/soil/Soil-pollution. However, I will not take any responsibility for incorrect information and will not be liable for any negative consequences that might occur due to the reliance on this information. The most common causes of soil pollution include industrial waste or by-products. Soil pollution is caused by man-made, harmful chemicals penetrating the earth and causing deterioration. Want to support my blog? An increase in acidity will lead to soil pollution and affect the vegetation in an adverse way. Unlike air pollution, which has a direct affect on human lives, soil pollution causes an indirect damage to humans and other animals. Hey kids, in this video, Dr Binocs will explain, Soil Pollution | What Is Soil Pollution? This means a strict control on the operation of landfills to make sure that the soil is not contaminated. Soil pollution is also likely to lead to a reduction in crop yields. 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