Most people are probably well aware of the causes and effects of air or water pollution. However, many may not be as familiar with another important and prominent form of pollution: soil pollution. Therefore, this report will go over general information about soil pollution, and more importantly, the actions we can take to prevent it. 

The definition of soil pollution is toxic contaminants in an area of soil. An area is considered to have soil pollution if either the amount of toxic contaminants is more than the amount that naturally occurs in that area or the amount of toxic contaminants is large enough to potentially cause harm to the ecosystem or the health of humans. Soil pollution is usually caused by man-made processes, although natural processes have also been occasionally recorded to cause soil pollution. Man-made causes of soil pollution, according to Environmental Pollution Centers, include but are not limited to, “Accidental spills and leaks,” “Foundry activities,” “Mining activities,” “Agricultural activities,” and “Chemical Waste dumping,” and natural causes of soil pollution include “Natural accumulation,” “Natural production,” and “Leaks from sewer lines” (4).

So, what are possible ways to reduce soil pollution? First, we can use fewer chemical fertilizers. Fertilizers are used to make the soil more suitable for growing crops. However, our prevalent use of these fertilizers and other agricultural chemicals actually causes much harm to the soil and is one of the main causes of soil pollution. Instead, organic fertilizers such as natural manure should be used. Studies like that of researcher Yan Wang should continue to be conducted in order to discover how to incentivize farmers to make the switch (1).

Another method is by taking action against deforestation. According to Conserve Energy Future, “One of the major causes of soil pollution is soil erosion that is caused due to deforestation” (5). Therefore, if deforestation is reduced, soil pollution would also be reduced in frequency. There are many ways we can take action against deforestation, and they include “[planting] a tree,” “[going] paperless,” “[Buying] recycled products and then [recycling] them again,” etc. (6). Recycling products can also reduce soil pollution more directly by minimizing the chance of the waste being thrown away from contaminating the soil. For more methods, you can visit (https://www.theworldcounts.com/stories/how-can-we-stop-deforestation). 

The final method that I’m going to introduce is involving the locals. If the people who live in soil-polluting areas don’t know about how they are subconsciously contributing to the soil pollution, the other methods of reducing soil pollution that we can follow are insignificant. Therefore, as Conserve Energy Future suggests, “Awareness programs could be designed so that people understand soil pollution better. If people are aware, they will help even subconsciously” (5).

Through these methods, we should all try our best to contribute to the effort of reducing the prominent soil pollution, which can come back to harm us by being a serious detriment to our health.

Sources:

1. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S09596526wang1832211X

2. https://www.iberdrola.com/sustainability/soil-pollution-causes-effects-solutions

3. https://www.environmentalpollutioncenters.org/soil/

4. https://www.environmentalpollutioncenters.org/soil/causes/

5. https://www.conserve-energy-future.com/causes-and-effects-of-soil-pollution.php

6. https://www.theworldcounts.com/stories/how-can-we-stop-deforestation