Soil Pollution Essay

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SOIL POLLUTION Definition: Soil pollution is defined as the build-up in soils of persistent toxic compounds, chemicals, salts, radioactive materials, or disease causing agents, which have adverse effects on plant growth and animal health. Soil is the thin layer of organic and inorganic materials that covers the Earth's rocky surface. The organic portion, which is derived from the decayed remains of plants and animals, is concentrated in the dark uppermost topsoil. The inorganic portion made up of rock fragments, was formed over thousands of years by physical and chemical weathering of bedrock. Productive soils are necessary for agriculture to supply the world with sufficient food. There are many different ways that soil can become polluted, such as: • • • • • • • • • • Seepage from a landfill Discharge of industrial waste into the soil Percolation of contaminated water into the soil Rupture of underground storage tanks Excess application of pesticides, herbicides or fertilizer Solid waste seepage Petroleum hydrocarbons Heavy metals Pesticides Solvents The most common chemicals involved in causing soil pollution are: Types of Soil Pollution • Agricultural Soil Pollution i) pollution of surface soil ii) pollution of underground soil • Soil pollution by industrial effluents and solid wastes i) pollution of surface soil ii) disturbances in soil profile • Pollution due to urban activities i) pollution of surface soil ii) pollution of underground soil Causes of Soil Pollution Soil pollution is caused by the presence of man-made chemicals or other alteration in the natural soil environment. This type of contamination typically arises from the rupture of underground storage links, application of pesticides, percolation of contaminated surface water to subsurface strata, oil and fuel dumping, leaching of wastes from landfills or direct discharge of
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