Effects of Soil Pollution

Soil pollution is frequently caused by the uncontrolled disposal of sewage and other liquid wastes resulting from domestic water use, industrial wastes containing a variety of pollutants, agricultural effluents from the animal husbandry and the irrigation water drainage, and urban runoff. Irrigation with sewage water causes significant changes in the irrigated soils. Physical changes such as leaching, changes in humus content, and porosity, among others, are brought about in the soil by sewage irrigation, as are chemical changes such as soil reaction, base exchange status, salinity, quantity and availability of nutrients such as nitrogen, potash, and phosphorus, among others. Sewage sludges pollute the soil by causing metals such as lead, nickel, zinc, cadmium, and others to accumulate. This could result in plant phytotoxicity.

What is Soil Pollution?

Soil pollution has gradually become a major issue that must be addressed in order to establish a healthy environment. Weathering of the earth’s crusts by various processes results in the formation of soil that accumulates over time. A large portion of bacterial biodiversity, as well as other microscopic and macroscopic living organisms, lives in soil. Let us take a look at our own country, India. Agriculture is the backbone of the Indian economy. As a result, we Indians place a high value on the development of agriculture, fisheries, and livestock. As a result, it is critical for surplus production to protect crops from any type of damage caused by insects, weeds, rodents, and other crop diseases.

Effects of Soil Pollution

Soil has an impact on almost every aspect of our daily lives. We don’t always understand it. As a result, we sometimes fail to recognise the impact of soil pollution on our daily lives. Polluted soil can result in stunted crops or even a toxic underground water table. The following are some of the most serious effect of soil pollution

1. Effect on Health of Humans

Given that soil is the reason we can sustain ourselves, its contamination has serious consequences for our health. Crops and plants grown in polluted soil absorb a large portion of the pollution and pass it on to us. This could account for the sudden increase in minor and terminal illnesses. Long-term exposure to such soil can change the genetic make-up of the body, resulting in congenital illnesses and chronic health problems that are difficult to treat. In fact, it can sicken livestock to a significant extent and cause food poisoning over time. Soil pollution can even cause widespread famines if plants cannot grow in it.

2. Effect on Growth of Plants

The widespread contamination of the soil has an impact on the ecological balance of any system. When the chemistry of the soil changes so dramatically in such a short period of time, most plants are unable to adapt. Fungi and bacteria found in soil that bind it together begin to decline, adding to the problem of soil erosion. The fertility of the soil gradually declines, rendering the land unsuitable for agriculture and the survival of any local vegetation. Large areas of land have become hazardous to human health as a result of soil pollution. Unlike deserts, which can support native vegetation, such land is unsuitable for most forms of life.

3. Decreased Soil Fertility

Toxic chemicals in the soil can reduce soil fertility, resulting in a decrease in soil yield. The contaminated soil is then used to grow fruits and vegetables that are deficient in nutrients and may contain a poisonous substance that causes serious health problems in those who consume them.

4. Toxic Dust

The release of toxic and foul gases from landfills pollutes the environment and has serious consequences for some people’s health. Furthermore, the unpleasant odour causes inconvenience to others.

5. Changes in Soil Structure

The death of many soil organisms (for example, earthworms) in the soil can cause changes in soil structure. Aside from that, it could force other predators to relocate in search of food. A number of solutions have been proposed to reduce the current rate of pollution. Such As are the efforts to clean up the environment necessitate a significant investment of time and the resources. Industries have been given regulations for the disposal of hazardous waste, with the goal of reducing the amount of polluted land. Organic farming methods are being promoted, which avoid the use of chemical-laden pesticides and fertilisers. Plants that can remove pollutants from the soil are being encouraged to be used. The road ahead, however, is quite long, and preventing soil pollution will take many more years.

Conclusion

Soil pollution is frequently caused by the uncontrolled disposal of sewage and other liquid wastes resulting from domestic water use, industrial wastes containing a variety of pollutants, agricultural effluents from the animal husbandry and the irrigation water drainage, and urban runoff. As a result, we sometimes fail to recognise the impact of soil pollution on our daily lives. The widespread contamination of the soil has an impact on the ecological balance of any system. When the chemistry of the soil changes so dramatically in such a short period of time, most plants are unable to adapt. The fertility of the soil gradually declines, rendering the land unsuitable for agriculture and the survival of any local vegetation. The death of many soil organisms in the soil can cause changes in soil structure. Such As are the efforts to clean up the environment necessitate a significant investment of time and the resources.