Soil Pollution

We usually term water as life and attribute air to our health. However, we less recognize soil yet it’s the mother of them all. The quality of soil determines the quality of food, water and the air we consume. With most foods directly or indirectly produced from the soil, If the soil is contaminated then production will be low leading to famine in most instances.

In other words, pure soils are the reason for increased food production, healthy water and air required by living Organisms for survival. Notably, being a finite resource, its loss is never recoverable within a human’s lifespan.

Functions of soil

• ·       Water filtration
• ·       Improve flood resilience
• ·       Food production

Major cause of soil pollution

• ·       Oil spillage
• ·       Litters thrown anyhow especially the non-biodegradable materials
• ·       Heavy metals

Effects of soil pollution

• ·       Reduces soil organic matter
• ·       Contaminates ground water
• ·       Alters soil biodiversity
• ·       Causes imbalance in soil nutrients

Note: The effects of soil pollution affect all forms of life as they are interdependent. That is, contaminated soil will be released into the ground water which further enters plant tissues. Such plants will later be fed on by animals consumed by human beings. The contamination can therefore be said to contribute to a food chain effect.

Mitigating soil pollution

With human beings the major cause of soil pollution, it is therefore us to change our behavior to the better so as to prevent it. If we are too ignorant then at least for the sake of the food we eat, lets protect our soil! Also, take into consideration the facts below before deciding to be a major contributor of soil pollution:

• ·       Polluting the soil pollutes everything
• ·       Soil pollution put any living Organism’s life at risk
• ·       This form of pollution is invisible
• ·       Soil pollution directly affects our food security
• ·       Soil pollution means more contaminants into our food chain

References

https://www.fao.org/fao-stories/article/en/c/1126974/