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The soil contamination It is produced by the accumulation of substances to levels that negatively affect the survival and development of the living beings. In other words, they can affect the life of plants, animals and even man.
Pollution is the presence of harmful agents in any sector of the ecosystems. Pollutants can be both organic and inorganic. There is naturally a multiplicity of substances that could be pollutants in other contexts, but which are not so in the soil. For example, organic waste of living beings could contaminate a water source, but their presence is not contaminating in soils.
The Polluting substances they are first absorbed and accumulated by the vegetation. In other words, they are found in higher concentrations in plants than on earth and thus are consumed by animals or humans. The process of transmission of substances (both nutritious and polluting) through the food chain is called food chain.
On the other hand, substances that pollute the soil can also pass into groundwater.
Currently, the main sources of pollution are associated with socio-economic activities that generate polluting waste. However, it is important to note that there are also natural polluting factors. For example, metals contained in rocks or the ashes produced by the volcanic pollution. They are not in the list of examples as they are not the main soil pollutants.
See also: Examples of Pollution in the City
Pollutants from nature are called endogenous, and those from human activity are called exogenous or anthropogenic.
The incidence of each substance in the soil contamination depends on various factors:
- The type of substance: The degree of concentration, the physical and chemical characteristics of the substance, its level of toxicity, the degree of biodegradability and its residence time in the soil.
- Climatic factors: Some substances that are partially biodegradable accelerate their degradation in the rainy season. However, the presence of humidity also favors the transfer of pollutants from the soil to the water.
- Soil characteristics: Soils least vulnerable to contamination are those with the highest content of organic matter and clay minerals, because they allow ionic absorption of new substances, causing its decomposition into different atoms. They also have more organisms with the ability to degrade polluting substances.
Main soil pollutants
Heavy metals: They are toxic even in low concentrations. These pollutants are due to industrial spills and landfills.
Pathogenic microorganisms: They are biological pollutants that can come from large concentrations of animals, for example in livestock establishments, or from landfills.
Hydrocarbons: They are compounds formed by carbon and hydrogen atoms, which are present in the Petroleum. They also contain nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur. Hydrocarbon contamination occurs from spills in transport and loading and unloading operations, leaks from pipelines or industrial facilities, accidents.
The hydrocarbon spill affects the structure of the soil, increases its water retention capacity in the surface layer and therefore affects its water potential. In addition, hydrocarbons they lower the pH of the soil, making it acidic and therefore less suitable for cultivation or the growth of wild plants. Also increases the manganese, iron and phosphorus available.
See also: Main Water Contaminants
Pesticides: They are the substances that are used to destroy, combat or repel pests. They can be used during production, storage, transport or food processing. If they are used to prevent the presence of insects, they are called insecticides. If they are used to avoid the presence of unwanted herbs. Pesticides pollute the soil when applied on plantations.
More than 98% of insecticides reach places other than those sought. The same happens with 95% of herbicides. This is due, on the one hand, to the fact that the wind carries pesticides to other areas, contaminating not only the soil but also Water and the airatmospheric pollution).
On the other hand, herbicides are absorbed by herbs that, before dying, can be eaten by birds as food. Fungicides are the class of pesticides that are used to combat mushrooms. They contain sulfur and copper, which are polluting substances.
See also: The Main Air Pollutants
Trash: The waste created by large urban concentrations, as well as by different industries, are one of the main soil pollutants. The organic trashIn addition to polluting the soil, it generates toxic gases that pollute the air.
Acids: Pollutant acids in the soil come mainly from industrial activities. The acids discharges are sulfuric, nitric, phosphoric, acetic, citric and carbonic acid. They can cause salinization of soils, preventing the growth of vegetables.
Mining: The environmental impact of mining affects water, air and even destroys the landscape due to the enormous movement of earth it requires. Tailings water (the water used to dispose of mining waste) deposits mercury, arsenic, lead, cadmium, copper and other polluting substances on the ground.
They can serve you:
- Main Air Pollutants
- Examples of Environmental Problems
- Examples of Soil Contamination
- Examples of Water Pollution
- Examples of Air Pollution
- Examples of Pollution in Cities
