Soil
Pollution
Soil
is a thin layer of organic and inorganic material that covers the earth’s rocky
surface. Soil constitutes the upper crust of the earth, which supports land,
plants and animals.
Soil pollution is defined as the buildup of persistent toxic compounds, radioactive materials, chemical salts and disease causing agents in soils which have harmful effects on plant growth and animal health.
Soil
pollution affects the structure and fertility of soil, groundwater quality and
food chain in biological ecosystem.
The
major sources of which pollute the soil are discussed below
Soil
nutrients are useful for growth of plants. Plants obtains carbon, hydrogen and
oxygen from air or water, whereas other essential nutrients like nitrogen,
phosphorous, potassium, calcium, magnesium, sulphur are being absorbed from
soil. To remove the deficiency of nutrients in soil, farmers add artificial
fertilizers. Increased use of phosphate fertilizers or excess use of artificial
fertilizers like NPK in soil, results in reduced yield in that soil.
Pesticides
are the chemicals that are used to kill or stop the growth of unwanted
organisms. But these pesticides can affect the health of human beings.
These
are further classified as
Insecticides
like DDT ,BHC ,aldrin etc. can stay in soil for long period of time and are
absorbed by soil . They contaminate root crops like carrot, raddish, etc.
Organo
mercury compounds are used as most common fungicide. They dissociate in soil to
produce mercury which is highly toxic.
Herbicides
are the chemical compounds used to control unwanted plants. They are otherwise
known as weed killers. Example sodium chlorate (NaClO3) and sodium
arsenite (Na3 as O3). Most of the herbicides are toxic to
mammals.
Industrial
activities have been the biggest contributor to the soil pollution especially
the mining and manufacturing activities.
Large
number of toxic wastes are released from industries. Industrial wastes include
cyanides, chromates, acids, alkalis, and metals like mercury, copper, zinc,
cadmium and lead etc. These industrial wastes in the soil surface lie for a
long time and make it unsuitable for use.
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