Soil pollution occurs due to the presence of toxic chemicals in the soil that can adversely affect the natural soil environment. Soil pollution is said to occur when the levels of contaminants in the soil exceed the levels that should naturally be present. What causes soil pollution?
Soil pollution can be caused by man-made pollutants and natural pollutant. Man-made soil pollution usually caused by agricultural activities, construction activities, mining activities and waste disposal. Nowadays, a large amount of insecticides, pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers are used in agricultural activities. They are full of chemicals which cannot be broken down. They diffuse into the soil and absorbing the nitrogen compounds in the soil, reducing
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The chemicals spread through the air easily due to its smaller particle size. The accumulation of construction contaminants in the soil can persists over longer periods of time such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). In addition, mining activities are the other causes of soil pollution. Mining activities are the extraction of minerals from the Earth. It involves the crushing and processing of raw materials such as heavy metals which emit toxic substances. As a result, the toxic substances will linger in the soil surface for a long period of time and making it unsuitable to use. Besides that, improper waste disposal is also one of the causes of man-made soil pollution. The industrial wastes which produced by industrial activities are discharged to the soil directly without disposing them in a …show more content…
It may alters plant metabolism and reducing crop yields as the natural nutrients present in it are losing from the soil, reducing the ability of the plants to take up nutrients and undergo photosynthesis. As a result, since the plants unable to grow properly, they cannot hold the soil which leading to soil erosion. If certain crops manage to grow under these conditions, they would be poisonous enough to cause serious health problems in people consuming them. Besides, trees and plants also may absorb the soil contaminants and pass them up to the food
Manure and chemical filled lagoons are a common component of industrial farming. A colossal amount of waste is produced from COFAs, therefore it has to go somewhere. That somewhere would be the prior mentioned lagoons which are then sprayed or leaked into the soil. Contaminated soil can affect both ground and surface water. The runoff can go in two directions; either absorbed into the ground or washed into rivers or lakes in the surrounding area.
The roots of the plant leave behind better quality soil, which in return reduces the need for unnatural fertilizers, thereby drastically reducing chemical runoff. “50% of all pesticides used in the country are associated
The dust from the minerals being mined can cause health issues not only with the people in the community but the
Overview Fertilizers and pesticides both have definite pros and cons associated with their use. Both types of chemical tend to increase yields, and thus make a significant difference in food production, particularly in countries that struggle periodically with famines. On the other hand, they both can cause water pollution when erosion carries the chemicals off of farms along with eroded soils after each rainfall. There is also concern by some authorities that pesticides pose a risk, not only to nontarget animal and plant species, but to humans as well. Positive Effects of Fertilizers
The u.s relies on agriculture farms to produce their craving for meat and dairy, but the more animals there are, the more manure gets produced and the more water is polluted. Ammonia, a toxic form of Nitrogen, when released in gas form during waste disposal, can spread through 300 miles through the air before being dumped back into the ground or water. Once it is dumped, it causes algae blooms that kill thousands of
But on the other hand effects of sulfide mining is known to leach into the soil changing its pH level. What this does is prevents plants from getting vital nutrients they need to survive through a process known a liming (Nkongolo, K.,2013). To further understand the situation I also looked at other instances both internationally and nation wide were there might have been a similar situation to this. What a found was an instance at Yellowstone National Park. A company named Crown Mines proposed sulfide mining near this national park and more importantly the Yellowstone River.
It assists with soil health and supports the natural cover crop and its ability to recover, causing the soil to be replenished with sufficient nutrients. The reduction of crop land and rebuilding of habitats encourages the growth of wildlife and restores them back to their original population before the removal or destroying of their original habitat. Lastly, the prevention of erosion on cropland and pasture aids in the quality and quantity of the product being produced. This also has a positive effect on water quality, helping not only the surrounding farms or ranches, but also the natural wildlife in the
Various types of hazardous waste such as synthetic resin waste, oil and sludge were generated by factories as a result of active production . Most of which was discarded without proper treatment into rivers. Also, due to demand of modern architecture there was a lot of construction waste (soil and debris) generated in large amount, and was left unattended or dumped in vacant lots. Many people used products made of plastic and burned them after use. Which caused acidic gases to be released into the atmosphere causing air pollution.
In “The Hidden Life of Garbage,” Heather Rogers writes about the waste disposal in the United States and how dangerous is getting. Land dumping has been the main disposal method for many years because of the low cost. She writes how landfill is a designed construction in which the trash is far away from the environment. Therefore, isolation is accomplished with a bottom liner and a daily covering of soil. She also says that a sanitary landfill uses a clay liner to isolate the trash from the environment.
The environment is being polluted because of all the manure. First, the idea of what factory farming is going to be addressed. What really is a factory farm? Factory farming is an operation where over 99% of farm animals are raised, so that we can eat meat. Factory farms consist of 500 head of beef cattle, 500 dairy cows, 1,000 hogs (pigs), and 100,000 egg laying chickens.("What's Wrong With Factory Farms?"
Good Soil Discussion Jesus Christ, an expert teacher, who used parables to reveal the truth to some and conceal it from others. In taking into consideration the audience Jesus was speaking to, one must understand the background and customs of that day. The scene takes place in the area of Palestine and among the people were shepherds, farmers, Pharisees and scribes. It was common in that day for seed to be sown on different types of ground. Some sowed seeds on ground that had not been plowed, and consisted of rocks and weeds.
However, people do not pay attention to soil erosion when the weather is moderate. Although it seems unnoticeable, the amount of soil lost could be damaging. The impact caused by soil erosion on crops disables the soil to store water and nutrients and creates a higher chance of runoff.
Fertilizers remove the nutrients of the soil damaging the soil and the local environment and after being mixed with the soil, gradually reduce the fertility of the soil. In the study of (Southland) using fertilizers consists of substances and chemicals like methane, carbon dioxide, ammonia, and nitrogen, the emission of which has contributed to a great extent in the quantity of greenhouse gases present in the environment. These facts are alarming and a serious step needs to be taken as soon as possible to avoid more severe consequences. This in turn is leading to global warming and weather changes. The use of fertilizers for growth and cultivation is keeping our stomach filled for now, but then if things keep on progressing the way they are, it won’t take long to see the times where there is lack of food, water, and health.
• Pollution: Pollution of air, water and soil require millions of years to recoup. Industry and motor vehicles exhaust are the number one pollutants. Heavy Metals, nitrates and plastic are toxins for pollution. While water pollution is caused by oil spill, acid rain, urban runoff; air pollution is caused by various gases and toxins
Nowadays, environmental degradation has become an important issue. This is because environmental degradation is one of the largest threats that is being looked at in the world today. This is because of the depletion of important resources such as air, water, and soil; the destruction of ecosystems; habitat destruction; the extinction of wildlife; and pollution. To limit the impact of these situations, it is important to know the possible side-effects of environmental degradation. Therefore, there are several causes and negative effects of environmental degradation provided in this essay with some recommendations to prevent it.