The soil is the common home for a large part of bacterial biodiversity and other microscopic and macroscopic living organisms. Soil Pollution has gradually become a huge threat that we need to overcome for establishing a healthy environment . Weathering of the earth’s crusts by different processes leads to the formation of soil that accumulates over the centuries and as a result of which the pollution of the soil starts, the increase in the acidity and alkalinity in the soil leads to the soil pollution. Soil pollution refers to anything that causes contamination of soil and degrades the quality of soil. It occurs when the pollutants causing the pollution disturbs the quality of the soil and convert the soil inhabitable for microorganisms and macro organisms living in the soil. Soil contamination or soil pollution can occur either due to the human activities or because of natural processes. However, mostly it is due to human activities. The soil contamination can also occur due to the presence of chemicals such as pesticides, herbicides, ammonia, petroleum hydrocarbons, lead, nitrate, mercury, naphthalene, etc in an excess amount.

 

Types of Soil Pollutants

·         Heavy metals (such as lead and mercury, at excessively high amounts) in the soil can make it very poisonous to humans.

·         PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) are a class of organic chemicals where only carbon and hydrogen atoms are present.

·         Coke (coal) production, automobile emissions, cigarette smoke, and shale oil extraction are all sources of PAHs in the soil.

·         Industrial Waste Soil contamination can come from the dumping of industrial waste into soils.

·         Pesticides are chemicals (or chemical mixes) that are used to kill or prevent pests from reproducing.

 

Causes of Soil Pollution:

• Industrial waste
• Deforestation
• Excessive use of fertilizers and pesticides
• Garbage pollution
• Climate change
• Loss of soil fertility
• Impact on human health
• Reforestation

 

CONSEQUENCES OF SOIL POLLUTION

• Damage to health.
• Poorer harvests.
• Climate change.
• Water and air pollution.
• Population displacement.
• Species extinction.
• Desertification.
• Economic impact.

 

 

Solutions for Soil Pollution:

·         Get a better understanding of the soil environment quality baseline

·         Develop necessary legislation on soil pollution control

·         Proper management of agricultural land and the practice of organic farming

·         Proper Solid Waste Treatment

·         Ensure proper investigation of reclaimed land

·         Strictly control the pollution of new soil.