by Simona Ghenea
Copyright © 2019
Soil pollution
- Joined Dec 2018
- Published Books 12
Copyright © 2019
SOIL POLLUTION
Colegiul Național ”Elena Cuza”,Craiova
4 grade
Romania
Ghenea Simona
Soil pollution is defined as the presence of toxic chemicals (pollutants or contaminants) in soil, in high enough concentrations to pose a risk to human health and/or the ecosystem. In the case of contaminants which occur naturally in soil, even when their levels are not high enough to pose a risk, soil pollution is still said to occur if the levels of the contaminants in soil exceed the levels that should naturally be present.
The Effects of Soil Pollution
Soil pollution affects plants, animals and humans alike. While anyone is susceptible to soil pollution, soil pollution effects may vary based on age, general health status and other factors, such as the type of pollutant or contaminant inhaled or ingested. However, children are usually more susceptible to exposure to contaminants, because they come in close contact with the soil by playing in the ground; combined with lower thresholds for disease, this triggers higher risks than for adults. Therefore, it is always important to test the soil before allowing your kids to play there, especially if you live in a highly industrialized area.
Diseases Caused by Soil Pollution
Humans can be affected by soil pollution through the inhalation of gases emitted from soils moving upward, or through the inhalation of matter that is disturbed and transported by the wind because of the various human activities on the ground.
Soil pollution may cause a variety of health problems, starting with headaches, nausea, fatigue, skin rash, eye irritation and potentially resulting in more serious conditions like neuromuscular blockage, kidney and liver damage and various forms of cancer.
Soil Pollution Facts
Soil acts as a natural sink for contaminants, by accumulating and sometimes concentrating contaminants which end up in soil from various sources. Pollution of the soil and – depending on the environmental conditions (including soil types) and the degradability of the released contaminant – can reach high levels and pollute the soil. If the soil is contaminated, home-grown vegetables and fruits may become polluted too. This happens because most of the soil pollutants present in the soil are extracted by the plants along with water every time they feed. Thus, it is always prudent to test the soil before starting to grow anything edible. This is especially important if your garden is located near an industrial or mining area, or within 1 mile of a main airport, harbor, landfill, or foundry.
Published: Apr 14, 2019
Latest Revision: Apr 14, 2019
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