Introduction to soil contaminants

Question 1

What is soil pollution?

Answer 1

“Polluted site is an area, where human actions have led to release of harmful substances in such quantities that they cause significant risk to the environment or health”

Question 2

Where does the pollution come from?

Answer 2

• Human activities
– Waste
– Agriculture
– Accidents
– Land use

• Natural sources
– Oils
– Atmospheric deposition
– Especially inorganic pollutants

Question 3

High risk pollution sites:

Answer 3

– Manufacturing
– Industrial sites
– Industrial dumping
– Local waste disposal
– Agricultural sites
– Heavy traffic!
– Fuel distribution

Question 4

Finland’s situation of polluted areas in %:

Answer 4

20 % -> No need for cleaning or already cleaned
36 % -> Land is still being contaminated, active site
36 % -> Passive site, needs to be evaluated
8 % -> Need of cleaning!

Question 5

What are organic pollutants?

Answer 5

Made by human activities!!! (anthropogenic source)
– pesticides
– biocides
– pharmaceuticals
– surfactants
– PAH (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons)
– PCB (polychlorinated biphenyls)
– and many others

Question 6

Organic pollutants are not typically of natural origin, however, natural processes can affect them with:

Answer 6

– Drought
– Floods
– Rain
– Erosion
– etc.

Climate change may increase these extreme events
– Soil is considered a reservoir for organic contaminants

Question 7

What are persistent organic pollutants?

Answer 7

POP – persistent organic pollutants
– low concentration
– long lived
• bioaccumulation
• biomagnification
-> Even low concentration can be harmful!

Question 8

What are inorganic pollutants?

Answer 8

• Metals, metalloids, potential toxic elements
  – Nitrates and nitrites
  – Minerals?
  – Radioactive substances

Question 9

Potential toxic elements consists of:

Answer 9

– Arsenic
– Cadmium
– Chromium
– Cobalt
– Copper
– Mercury
– Nickel
– Lead
– Zinc

Question 10

Are inorganic pollutants manmade?

Answer 10

No.
They are naturally occurring elements.
– Some (link zinc and copper) are even essential for life!
– Background concentrations

Question 11

What human activities can boost the presence of inorganic pollutants?

Answer 11

– Mining
– Burning fossil fuels
– Smelting
– Steel industry
– Municipal waste
– Fertilizers