Soil Pollution Flashcards
Soil pollution
Soil is a thin layer of organic and inorganic materials covering the soil’s rocky surface
Soil pollution is an addition of substances to soil which adversely affects the physical, chemical and biological properties of soil and reduces its productivity
Soil pollutant is any factor that deteriorates the quality, texture and mineral content of soil or which disturbs biological balance of organisms in soil
Causes:
Agriculture (excessive or improper use of pesticides)
Excessive industrial activity
Poor management or inefficient disposal of waste
Indiscriminate use of fertilizers, pesticides, insecticides, herbicides
Dumping of large quantities of solid waste
Deforestation and soil erosion
Pollution due to urbanisation
Sources:
1. Industrial wastes (chemicals like mercury, lead, copper zinc, cadmium cynides, thiocyanates, chromates, acids, alkalies, organic substances etc.)
2. Pesticides (chemicals like insecticides, fungicides, algicides, rodenticides, wedicides to improve productivity of agriculture, forestry and horticulture)
3. Fertilizers and manures (chemical fertilizers added to soil for increasing crop yield, excessive use reduces population of soil organism and crumb structure of soil, productivity of soil and increases the salt content of soil)
4. Discarded materials like concrete, asphalt, rungs, leather, can, plastic, glass, discarded food, paper and carcasses, etc
5. Radioactive waste like elements from mining and nuclear power plants find the way into water and then into the soil
6. Other pollutants (including air pollutants like acid rain and water pollutants ultimately become a part of soil and the soil receives some toxic chemicals during weathering of certain rocks)
Soil degradation:
It is the decline in soil condition caused by its improper use and poor management
It is the physical, chemical and biological decline in soil quantity
It can be the loss of organic matter, decline in fertility and structural condition
It can involve water erosion, wind erosion, salinity, loss of organic matter, decline in fertility, soil acidity, soil contamination etc
Types of soil pollution
Agricultural soil pollution
Pollution due to industrial effluents and solid waste
Pollution due to urban activities (occurs when the pollutants causing the pollution reduce the quality of the soil and converts the soil inhabitable for microorganisms and macro organisms living in the soil. It can occur either because of human activities or because of natural processes. It can also occur due to the presence of chemicals like pesticides, herbicides, ammonia, petroleum hydrocarbons, lead, nitrate, Mercury, naphthalene etc in an excessive amount).
Effects of soil pollution
On agriculture (reduced soil fertility, reduced nitrogen fixation, increased erosion, loss of soil and nutrients, reduced crop yield, increased salinity)
On health (dangerous chemicals entering underground water, biomagnification, release of pollutant gases, release of radioactive rays causing health problems)
On Environment (reduced vegetation, ecological imbalance, imbalance in flora and fauna of soil)
On urban areas (clogging of drains, inundation of areas, foul smell and release of gases, waste management problems)
Soil pollution control measures
Reducing chemical fertilizer and pesticide use
Use of bio pesticides and bio fertilizers
Organic farming
4 R’s (refuse, reduce, reuse and recycle)
Afforestation and reforestation
Solid waste treatment
Reduction of waste from construction areas
Promote soil health card scheme for promoted sustainable farming
Eating sustainable food, recycling batteries properly, producing homemade compost and disposal of drugs in places authorised for this purpose
Encouragement on eco-friendly model for industry, farming and stock breeding among other economic activities
Improvement of urban planning and transport planning and waste water treatment
Improvement of the management of mining waste, Restoration of landscape and conservation of topsoil
Involvement of local communities and indigenous peoples in the design implementation and assessment of sustainable land and soil management
