Sources of soil pollution: examples and characteristics of the main dangers

Wrong and irresponsible use of natural resources leads to water, air and soil pollution. Toxic elements gradually accumulate in the earth, making it unsuitable for agriculture. Sources of soil pollution are chemical plants, pesticides, uncontrolled use in the fields, household waste and exhaust gases. The consequences of such pollution are soil erosion and chronic diseases.

Main sources of soil pollution

Technological progress makes people's lives more comfortable, but at the same time, it negatively affects the environment.As a result of the work of factories, not only the air is polluted, but also the soil. However, not only emissions from industrial enterprises are sources of soil pollution. Mismanagement of agriculture with the use of a large amount of pesticides, and the growing number of vehicles, and the disposal of household waste with violations of technology are making their contribution to this.

Industrial waste and emissions

It is difficult to imagine the life of a modern person without industrial enterprises. However, in addition to the undoubted benefits, they also harm, first of all, the environment. It is industrial enterprises that are considered the main sources of air, water and soil pollution. This is due to the fact that during the operation of any plant or factory a large amount of waste is generated, which is toxic to the soil.

Anthropogenic pollution of the earth depends on what exactly the production is doing:

• metallurgical plants - their activities are invariably accompanied by the release of s alts of heavy metals that settle in the soil, accumulating in it to a concentration dangerous to humans;
• machine-building enterprises - in the process of operation, waste is generated in the form of arsenic and beryllium compounds, as well as cyanides;
• Plastic factories are hazardous with waste containing benzene and phenol;
• Synthetic rubber production pollutes the environment with hazardous substances such as catalyst waste, which settle both on the ground and on the crops growing in it.

The most dangerous for humans are three metals - cadmium, mercury and lead. Their effects are subtle at first, but over time they accumulate in the body and lead to serious he alth problems.Production waste has a negative impact not only on humans, but also on beneficial microorganisms that inhabit the soil, as a result, the soil loses its characteristics, and it will no longer be possible to grow rich crops on it.

Heat power companies

Enterprises of the fuel and energy complex, the principle of which is based on combustion processes, are considered the main sources of environmental pollution, including soil. Due to the chemical interaction of the components used at thermal power plants, new, even more dangerous for humans, ingredients are synthesized. They end up in the ground, where fruit crops are subsequently grown.

Vehicle exhaust

Every year the number of vehicles is growing, especially in big cities. Exhaust gases pollute not only the atmosphere, but also the soil, getting into them along with precipitation.Of particular danger are nitrogen oxides, hydrocarbons and lead. Penetrating into the upper layer of the soil, these chemical elements enter the cycle, which is associated with food chains, and as a result, penetrate into the human body.

In addition, the growing number of vehicles leads to a reduction in the area of agricultural land, on the site of which autobahns and roads are being built. Due to the impact of exhaust gases, the process of soil erosion is accelerating, and it will take about a hundred years to restore a fertile layer of 1 cm suitable for growing crops.

Household waste

Great harm to the environment is caused by household waste when disposed of improperly. Utilities in some cases surpass both vehicles and industrial enterprises in their negative impact on the soil. Thousands of tons of household waste are produced each year in densely populated cities, which are dumped in landfills rather than recycling plants.

Such landfills with tons of garbage poison not only the soil, but also the air and water. An even greater danger is the burning of municipal solid waste, in this case, with particles of ash, toxic components spread for many kilometers around. Today, there are very few recycling plants that can solve this problem, and they cannot cope with large volumes of garbage.

Waste of polyethylene, plastic, household appliances pose a great danger to the environment. Decaying, they penetrate the soil to a great depth and not only infect the soil with harmful substances, but also destroy the fertile layer, which is necessary for growing plants.

Fertilizers and pesticides used in agriculture

Chemical mineral fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides, on the one hand, help to grow high yields of agricultural plants.However, on the other hand, if the dosages of such agents are exceeded, they begin to accumulate in the soil, and already, instead of being useful, they cause harm. Since 1980, the UN has classified agriculture as one of the four most dangerous pollutants of land and groundwater.

Two categories of chemicals pose a danger to the soil - these are mineral fertilizers and pesticide preparations:

1. Mineral supplements are needed to replenish the nutrients that are annually washed out of the soil. Introduced in small quantities, they help increase yields, increase the size of fruits and extend the shelf life of vegetables and fruits. However, the uncontrolled use of chemical fertilizers and exceeding the recommended dosages leads to soil contamination. Moreover, nitrates from the soil get into the fruits, and from there - into the human body.
2. Pesticides help to destroy weeds, pathogens and insect pests. They contain strong chemicals that, in the recommended dosages, do not harm cultivated plants and soil.However, when the application rates of chemicals are systematically exceeded, they accumulate in the soil and have a negative impact on its fertility.

Wastewater used to irrigate fields

If a farmer uses wastewater to irrigate his fields, this leads to the accumulation of toxic components in the soil, which are contained in such a liquid. They contain industrial waste, including heavy metals.

Oil leak

Pollution by products of oil refineries occurs not only in places of its extraction, but also on the way of transportation, as well as during leakage. As a result of the anthropotechnogenic impact of oil products, the soil is saturated with toxic elements that penetrate into the grown plants, and from there into the human body. Pollution from accidents at pipelines and industrial processing plants is considered one of the most common.

Acid rain

An example of pollution is acid precipitation - rain, fog and snow. The leaching of nutrients from the soil and the release of toxic elements leads to the destruction of the fertile soil layer. Heavy metals accumulate in plants, causing damage, and from there they enter the human body and provoke the development of diseases.

Natural sources

One of the natural sources of soil contamination is human use of antibiotics. After their use, pathogenic bacteria are excreted from the body and spread in the environment, including getting into the ground. As a result of this migration, new forms of pathogens are emerging that are resistant to drugs.

Other reasons

The reasons for the accumulation of toxic elements in the earth are also the burning of plastic in fields and forests, the disposal of solutions of herbicides and insecticides and non-compliance with crop rotation.

Consequences of pollution

Soil pollution leads to irreversible consequences for the environment, and if the problem is not solved in time, the amount of land suitable for agriculture will be significantly reduced.

Congenital and chronic diseases

Soil pollution with exogenous substances leads to the development of dangerous diseases in humans. It can be both banal diarrhea and oncological pathologies, it all depends on which toxins have affected the body. Long-term exposure to hazardous substances on the body of a pregnant woman causes malformations in the development of the child and congenital diseases.

Effect on plants

Chemicals, accumulating in plants, damage their tissues and have a negative impact on the formation of fruits, reducing yields. Since the fertile soil layer is destroyed under the influence of toxins, the growth and development of crops slow down, and their appearance is deformed.

Soil erosion

Soil erosion, which is of technogenic origin, is especially dangerous, since the consequences of such an influence will have to be eliminated for more than one year. As a result, the quality characteristics of the soil are reduced, which affects the yield and quality of agricultural products.

Toxic fumes and gases

Toxic elements that accumulate in the soil, under the influence of wind and sun, turn into vapors that spread with air over long distances and enter the human respiratory tract.

Change in soil structure

Chemicals also have a negative impact on the structure of agricultural soil. The fact is that toxins destroy beneficial microorganisms that process the soil and make it more fertile.

Ways to solve the problem

There are several ways to prevent soil pollution, each has its own degree of effectiveness, pros and cons, so it is recommended to use an integrated approach to achieve the result.

Modern methods of recycling and waste disposal

Modern technologies make it possible to process waste into safe components, for this purpose granulators, magnetic separators, crushers, dryers and autoclaves are used. Since such equipment is not cheap, unscrupulous companies prefer to burn garbage rather than recycle it.

Cleansing the soil

Methods for cleaning soil from toxic substances are divided into three categories: chemical, physical and thermal. In the first case, the process of soil leaching is carried out, as well as the binding of pollutants into complex compounds by using certain chemicals. With the physical method, the top layer of the earth is removed and sent for disposal, and fertile soil is poured instead.The thermal method involves the use of pyrolysis and heating of the soil.

Land reclamation

Recultivation of land is carried out in two stages. The technical stage includes soil preparation for subsequent agricultural use, and the biological stage is aimed at restoring the fertility of the land.

Agricultural measures

To partially get rid of pollution, farmers sow fields with green manure plants. They can clear the soil of chemicals and toxins, but only with minor clogging.

Use of alternative energy sources

In order to reduce the harmful effects of thermal waste on the ground, alternative energy sources are used, including wind, water and sunlight.

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