Soil contamination refers to the alteration caused by the incorporation of foreign elements into the biosphere, a product of human activities. Unfortunately, economic growth has become synonymous with the destruction of nature and therefore of its soils, this can occur for different reasons, as the years go by the pollution of the planet worsens and the damage is increasing if not necessary measures are taken.

What is soil pollution

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Since the appearance of man, he has used the soil as a source of raw material for food and development in search of a better quality of life

Soil pollution is the degradation caused to the earth's surface by chemical substances that harm soil organisms, generating consequences that have turned the planet into a polluted environment. This alteration causes serious health problems, affecting flora, fauna and human health.

When the soil is contaminated it cannot be exploited or cultivated by man for the activities essential for his subsistence, this due to the spread of harmful substances such as pesticides, the filtration of sewage and the accumulation of chemical substances.

Soil contamination is very risky for human health as polluting factors can reach groundwater used for consumption. If you grow edible plants in soil contaminated with toxic substances, when people consume the fruits, vegetables or vegetables produced in that soil, they can be poisoned.

Causes of soil contamination

The main causes of soil contamination are:

• Sewage drains.
• Industrial waste.
• Storage of industrial waste in inappropriate places.
• Misuse of fertilizers and pesticides.
• Bad condition of the sewers.
• Urban garbage dumps.
• Lack of recycling.
• Erosion and deforestation of soils.
• Construction waste.
• Nuclear waste.

Consequences of soil contamination

This type of contamination represents great consequences that can devalue the quality of a land and make it impossible to build, cultivate or house a healthy ecosystem.

Among the main consequences are:

• Loss of the variety of flora and its good development.
• Few possibilities for the development of agriculture.
• A deteriorated and gray landscape.
• Loss of fauna.
• An impoverished ecosystem.

Soil, water and air pollution is produced by different pollutants such as biological, chemical and physical.

In the more developed countries, water pollution occurs due to worrying amounts of waste produced by agriculture (pesticides and fertilizers), industries (hydrocarbons, heavy metal, chemicals and oils) and large cities (organic waste, garbage, dust), despite the fact that the waters are treated and subject to strict legislative regulations.

But the problem is greater in developing countries, where water, in addition to transporting chemical and industrial elements, contains the derivatives of untreated wastewater, an added factor that leads to hygienic and sanitary problems.

In the case of air pollution, one of the main causes of this type of pollution is related to the burning of fuels such as oil, gas and coal, this produces a toxic layer or cloud in the skies of the great cities of the world.

There are studies related to the subject, where they express that in the last 150 years the same amount of toxic substances has been sent into the atmosphere as those sent during hundreds of thousands of previous years.

Soil contamination by garbage causes global damage to the environment, affecting soil, water and air. Garbage is usually deposited in inappropriate places and is composed of both solid and liquid waste.

Garbage causes negative impacts on the environment and inescapable consequences on the activities of man and the environment where he lives, this type of pollution contributes to the spread of diseases.

Consequences of garbage pollution

• They produce bad odors.
• They pollute the water and soils.
• It spreads diseases.

Examples of soil contamination

1. By pesticides. It is customary to apply insecticides, fungicides and herbicides to soils, this with the intention of controlling and avoiding insects, pests, fungi and bacteria. The residues of these toxins remain in the soil and with the rain they penetrate and contaminate both the surface and underground layers.
2. Faulty systems and garbage dumps in urban or residential areas.
3. Burying toxic materials or garbage, in any of its states, liquid, solid or gaseous.
4. Throwing plastic bottles and disposable or disposable diapers, these elements do not decompose easily, they must be subjected to treatments.
5. Atomic experiments, when this type of activity is carried out, the soils take thousands of years to be fertile again.
6. Mining activities produce toxic consequences, altering the stability of the ecosystem.

On the web the results of the search for soil contamination pdf, includes many documents written by both experts and students, who explain from their point of view the problem that this type of contamination represents, as well as the ways in which we can all collaborate to reduce the impact it is causing on the planet.

Frequently Asked Questions about Soil Pollution

What is soil pollution about?

It is an alteration generated by elements external to the biosphere, in fact, it is the result of all human activities, including industrial ones.

Why does soil contamination occur?

Due to the degradation generated by chemicals and other wastes of the human species, for example, lack of recycling, deforestation, drainage, etc.

What can we do to avoid soil contamination?

The best thing to do is to start recycling paper and plastic. Arguably avoiding waste, but large industries will continue to do so in order to manufacture.

How does soil pollution affect?

In agriculture (pollution reduces the possibility of harvests) in the reproduction of life and in the extinction of species.

How to explain soil pollution to children?

For children, the pollution comes from the garbage on the streets. To explain its breadth, it is necessary to talk about all human waste and what that entails.