28th Ambassadorship, Month 2, Report 2

Month: April

Thematic report

Topic: Soil Pollution

Soil pollution pertains to the contamination of the soil due to man-made chemicals such as hydrocarbons, heavy metals, solvents, etc. It is typically caused by industrial activity, agricultural chemicals, and improper disposal of waste. All the waste does not make soil pollution. While science has progressed significantly in civilization, it is still a stretch to assert that something man-made is not 'natural', how would we define what is and isn't? As a result, the line between normal 'waste' and actual 'pollution' in any particular set of cycles is blurry. It's more about how concentrated it is and where it ends up in relation to the soil's ability to absorb it back into natural absorption processes as well as what role humans played in moving it around or dumping it somewhere. As a result, waste like banana peels or bat guano, as well as ash from fires and even a lot of human feces, does not have to become 'pollution.'

Soil pollution sources include:

 Hazardous waste and sewage spills

 Non-sustainable farming practices, such as the heavy use of inorganic pesticides

 Strip mining, deforestation, and other destructive practices

 Household dumping and littering

Soil contamination can lead to poor growth and reduced crop yields, loss of wildlife habitat, water and visual pollution, soil erosion, and desertification.

The presence of "xenobiotics," such as human-made chemicals or changes in the natural soil environment, causes soil pollution or contamination. Industrial activities, agricultural chemicals, and inappropriate waste disposal are the most common causes. Petroleum hydrocarbons, solvents, minerals, lead, and other heavy metals are the most prevalent compounds involved. Contamination is strongly linked to the degree of industrialization and the chemical substance's strength.

There are several examples of the "presence in the soil of a chemical or substance out of place and/or present at a greater than normal concentration that has harmful effects on any non-targeted organism" in every region of the world. Soil contamination is becoming a major source of public concern, and policymakers at all levels are increasingly aware that it must be tackled immediately.

Soil Pollution's Consequences

Soil pollution's direct impacts have a negative impact on the entire social and natural environment. Because hazardous substances in the soil interfere with plant growth, plants growing in polluted soil may produce reduced yields. Animals who ingest contaminated soil particles or plants may also grow slower or succumb to sickness. Human health is also affected, the chemical that enters the body can poison people who inhale polluted soil particles or eat contaminated plants and animals. Lead, for example, is a common pollutant in regions where there is a lot of industrial activity, and people can get lead poisoning. Other chemicals can induce rashes and allergies, as well as compromising the immune system. Soil contamination has ramifications that extend beyond soil and its biota, affecting every part of the environment and every organism from earthworms to humans. The ramifications for society can be severe as soils around the world become more contaminated. Farm yields are becoming increasingly poor, resulting in food shortages. Some substances may have a negative impact on the overall health of a large portion of the human population, resulting in higher mortality and medical costs. When allergies become more frequent, many people's quality of life suffers, and persons with weakened immune systems may be more vulnerable to infectious disease outbreaks.

A healthy ecosystem and an environmentally sound social structure require healthy, productive, and pure soil. People will have to strive toward finding remedies and restoring pure soils wherever possible once the extent, impacts, and consequences of soil pollution are publicly understood. The following are some of the negative consequences:

a) Human well-being

Because we rely on the land for our sustenance, contamination from the soil finds its way to us in this way. Toxic bioaccumulation happens in human bodies, resulting in chronic poisoning and a variety of disorders. Reproductive health, birth and developmental problems, neurologic impacts, malnutrition, and cancer-causing mutations in bodily cells are all on the rise nowadays.

b) Plant development

Plants will be unable to adjust to soil changes that occur suddenly. Due to chemical changes, fungi and bacteria prevalent in soils are unable to bond the soil, resulting in soil erosion. Large swaths of land become desolate, unable to sustain life. The toxins will be absorbed by the plants that do flourish on these grounds and passed on to the food chain.

References:

https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-540-70777-6_7

https://www.toppr.com/guides/chemistry/environmental-chemistry/soil-pollution/

https://www.interfaithsustain.com/soil-pollution/

https://gcwgandhinagar.com/econtent/document/15876181510EVSAECC01_soil%20pollution.pdf

https://sciencing.com/solutions-for-soil-pollution-13406884.html