Soil contamination is one of the most overlooked aspects that has been negatively impacting the overall ecosystem for decades.
Wastage emitted from industrial setups, liquid waste from chemical factories, etc., are some of the prime reasons that contaminate the soil, affecting human lives and animal husbandry. Soil pollution has some negative consequences on crop health and groundwater quality.
We will give you an extensive insight into the fearful aftermath of soil pollution, mentioning ways to mitigate the chances of the contamination. So, let’s not waste any further time and dive straight into the project.
Adversative Reaction of Soil Contamination
Soil Contamination might not directly affect human life and animal husbandry but in a roundabout way. This mainly takes place in two different ways: First, by drinking or using underground water that has been contaminated due to soil contamination. Secondly, by consuming the food grown in the polluted soil. Take a quick look at all the negative consequences of soil pollution in the ecosystem:
1. Reduce Soil Fertility
The toxin elements released by plants and industrial establishments, including sulfur dioxide, mix with soil and increase its salinity. Contaminated soil loses its fertility, and becomes barren and unsuitable for cultivation.
In fact, the crops and plants that are grown in the contaminated soil are not suitable for consumption as it marks the presence of those toxic elements. When the soil becomes acidic, it kills microorganisms like worms that are actually helpful to decompose organic waste and enhance soil health.
2. Reduced plant growth
Soil contamination makes soil so unsuitable that even the local vegetation remains at risk. In fact, a lack of microorganisms in the soil leads to soil erosion, making it impossible for plants to survive or grow.
Polluted soil is worse than deserts; even deserts welcome native vegetation, but polluted soil becomes a completely barren land. Moreover, soil pollution can alter the metabolism of full-grown plants, limiting their ability to perform photosynthesis, and resulting in stunted growth.
3. Negative Impression on Human Health
The pollutants and toxic elements of the soil are generally passed on to the human body through veggies and fruits. This might sound daunting, but it’s absolutely true! The crops and fruits grown in the contaminated soil contain a large portion of the toxic elements in them. So, the green veggies you consume to supply your body with adequate nutrients and minerals might secretly affect the central nervous system of the human body.
Not to mention, some of the soil contamination is carcinogenic, and too much exposure leads to the threat of developing cancer. Even those who are at the lowest risk could suffer from headaches, nausea, skin rashes, eye irritation, fatigue, depression, etc.
4. Ground Water and Surrounding Air Contamination
A lot of communities solely rely on groundwater as the prime source of their drinking water.
Nevertheless, the unsafe elements present in the soil tend to seep into the groundwater and pollute it. Alongside the groundwater quality, the surrounding air quality is also on the verge of getting contaminated through volatile compounds spread from the contaminated soil.
Best-suited Methods to Treat Soil Contamination
There are a number of treatments that can bring back the fertile nature of the soil effectively. They include:
1. Bioremediation
Have you heard about Bioremediation? It’s a top-tier treatment for soil contamination, where fungi and bacteria are introduced to the contaminated soil. Those microorganisms eat up all the contaminations, improving soil health. This procedure is helpful to remove metals, nitrogen compounds, hydrocarbons, radionuclides, etc. Another alternative treatment that can restore the health and fertility of soil is through an extensive soil rewashing treatment.
2. Soil Stabilization
Another treatment for soil pollution that has wider use in urban areas is locking the pollutants in the soil. Before locking it, experts break down the contaminant in the soil and modify it to a less dangerous form. After that, they solidify the present contamination and bind it so that the contaminants cannot move or reach their nearest receptor.
3. Chemical Oxidation
Chemical oxidation is a popular form of soil remedial treatment that focuses on destroying contaminants. Through this oxidation procedure, pollutants such as PCBs, BTEX, TPH, etc. are eliminated easily. Chemical oxidation is especially helpful in treating soil where you are unable to address the location of the contaminants.
Wrapping Up
Addressing soil contamination and arranging its remedial is no doubt important to sustain a healthy ecosystem. But what is more essential is to avoid dumping toxin elements into the soil. By limiting the use of chemical fertilizers, keeping an eye on hazardous waste management, etc., you can keep the soil in its best-fit state!
Also, when seeking expert aid to detect the contamination type and level of the soil, always dig well into the market and choose someone reliable. Check their resources, and read reviews to opt for the best.
