Environmental Networking Platform for Children and Youth by SAMSUNG E&A
Stay connected with Eco-generation :
| Share 
| 
- Home >
- Our Actions >
- Ambassador report
2
Comments
Plastic Contamination of Soil. |
|---|
|
by Vivian Nabisere | 17-04-2022 15:41
|
|
Plastic Contamination of Soil.
Plastic waste is a major hazard to the environment due to the contamination marks it leaves on the environment. Plastic is any synthetic or semisynthetic organic polymer, which is often non biodegradable and can pollute air, water and soil. In soil pollution, the adversity of plastic is especially seen in agriculture where plastic materials like agricultural films are used. When added and left to soil, the materials breakdown into microplastics due to exposure to different environmental factors. Currently, the rate of decomposition of microplastics is unknown and it is assumed that they are persistent and accumulate ( Rilig, 2012) in the ecosystems. Microplastics affect soil microorganisms such as earthworms which further causes changes in aeration. The microplastics also alter soil properties such as water holding capacity and bulk density which further affect crop yield, often negatively, for example, residual plastic in soil destroys the soil structure and changes the normal transportation and distribution of water and nutrient. (Yuanqiao, Li et al.) This reduces the crop yield and subsequently reduces food available for consumption and causes food insecurity in a region. References Yuanqiao L, Caixia Z, Changrong Y, Lili M, Qi L, Zhen L, Wenqing H. Effects of agricultural plastic film residues on transportation and distribution of water and nitrate in soil. Chemosphere. 2020 Mar;242:125131. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.125131. Epub 2019 Oct 16. PMID: 31654807. Rillig MC. 2012. Microplastic in terrestrial ecosystems and the soil? Environmental Science & Technology 46: 6453– 6454. |
|
|
|
|
Previous : [March Theme Report] Water Pol...
2 Comments
Hello Vivian, this is your mentor Joon.
Plastic, micro plastic especially, is quite troublesome in different fields. Due to the convenience the plastic provides, we cannot easily give up using it. However, we need to know there are clear side effect on using it. By keeping the fact in our mind, and having proper awareness, one may reduce the usage of plastic eliminating the cause of pollution. There are different studies going on to develop bio degradable plastic-like substance. Hope the research suceeds.
Well read your article, and let's keep up!
Best,
Joon
Posted 19-04-2022 21:08
Hello Vivian, this is your mentor Chelwoon.
Plastic has various advantages. It is used in many different forms and can be adapted to different purposes. Although I believe that the creation of plastic is one of the best discoveries in the world, we can never ignore the fact that our mother nature suffers the adverse effects caused by it. Large amounts of wastes are being dumped into the ground, and most of them are plastic wastes, which are non biodegradable materials. We should keep in mind the fact that animals are also affected by the plastic contamination of soil.
Thank you for the article!
Regards,
Chelwoon
Posted 18-04-2022 19:11