Introduction

Soil pollution is characterized by the presence of toxic chemicals (pollutants or contaminants) in soil high concentration enough to harm human health and/or the environment. Agriculture (excessive/improper use of pesticides), Excessive industrial activity, Poor management or inefficient disposal of waste are major causes of soil pollution. Heavy metals are particularly persistent in nature because they are non-biodegradable which build up to toxic levels quickly. Rapid industrial development development has resulted in significant soil contamination and become serious environmental issue particularly in developing nations. Industrial processes, fertilizers, pesticides, solid waste disposal, wastewater irrigation, sludge application, and vehicle emissions causes release of heavy metals into environment.

Microplastic pollution in soil

Plastic is an essential component of modern human life. Despite the fact that a part of used plastics is recycled or incinerated as an energy source, a large quantity of used plastics is landfi llled or discharged directly to the aquatic and terrestrial habitats around the world. Plastic particles less than 5mm are referred as microplastics. They have attracted increasing concern worldwide over the last decade.. Microplastics soil contamination have adverse impact on soil biodiversity and functions. . Although the recycling rate of plastic products is increasing, most of plastic are still released into the environment.

If existing waste production, consumption, and management practices are not corrected then the problem of plastic become worse. Thus, plastic waste penetrates the soil surface, reaching deeper layers of soil either through plants or through living organisms' feeding activities. Plastic is extremely resistant to degradation, and once it has entered into the soil, plastic particles remain for a long time which cause soil contamination. Microplastics in soil can be ingested by soil organisms mostly through their feeding activity. Sources of micro pollution in soils include landfill and illegal dumping of municipal solid waste (MSW), atmospheric deposition, irrigation with wastewater and flooding, tire wear, surface runoff, and plastic fragmentation.

Remediation of soil pollution

Remediation is the process of removing contaminants and pollutants from a resource.Soil  must be cleaned and purified in order to improve their quality and fertility of . Soil remediation is the process of cleaning and replenishing the soil. Ex situ and in situ method are 2 ways of remediation. Ex situ methods involve extracting contaminated soils and treating them at the surface, whereas in situ methods intend to treat the contamination without removing the soils.