When we talk about soil pollution we refer to the action that certain chemicals have on Earth, contaminating it and making it infertile and even toxic. The final consequence of soil pollution is that both ecosystem supervenience and the health of beings that inhabit it are endangered.
But what causes this pollution? What materials contribute to the destruction of ecosystems? ¿What are the contaminating agents of the soil? In the following ecology article, we will explain it in depth.
Causes of soil pollution
Before talking about what are the contaminating agents of the soil, it is worth stopping to talk first about what are the activities that favor this pollution and how is this pollution. In general, this is due to disastrous planning, as well as bad practices of human beings. The Soil pollution processes They could be summarized in the following:
Erosion
It is when I know They drag life forms and particles That there is on the ground, either by force of water as the force of air. Although it can also be given naturally, the reality is that great erosions occur for human action, either because of a bad irrigation technique, felling, burning or extraction of materials. In the following article we explain widely what is the erosion of the soil: causes and consequences.
Pollution
Although all we explain are types of pollution, in a specific way we can also talk about pollution when we refer to Pour of waste and chemical substances on the ground. These can be domestic or industrial, in the same way, they can be liquid or solid. Anyway, change the chemical composition on the soil and has very pernicious effects.
Compaction
When we talk to compaction we refer to the effect of people, animals, vehicles or the weight of buildings on Earth. This does that porosity disappears and small holes on the ground, causing the microflora and microfauna to be lost there.
Urban expansion
How could it be otherwise, urban growth and Increased soil built It ends with the soils. One of the ways of alleviating this damage would be strengthening construction at height.
What are the contaminating agents of the soil
At the time we deposit on the ground, either in an accidentally or voluntary way, waste such as plastic, glass, fecal or organic matter, radioactive, chemical or pesticide substances, we are directly affecting the characteristics of the soil, causing harmful effects both in the soil itself and in the living beings that inhabit it. Then we explain What are the contaminating agents of the soil:
Pesticides
In recent decades the world’s population has increased excessively. This demographic growth has forced to change the way we treat our resources, for example, using the soil more intensively. To do this, different Chemicals to control pests and increase agricultural production that, according to their composition, can cause great damage to the soil and the environment.
Among the different pesticides We could distinguish between:
- Insecticides: As the name implies, they are used to end insect pests, but not everyone acts the same. Some act on adult insects, others in larvae, eggs or at all at once. One of the clearest examples is DDT, which has a very fast performance and is widely used. However, this insecticide does not break down and can remain on the ground for more than 10 years. On the other hand, they can be introduced into the food chain and end in the human body.
- Herbicides: These chemical compounds are able to end the vegetation, preventing the growth of young plants and killing the old ones.
- Fungicides: This type of pesticide is used to end fungi and, most of the time, they are composed of sulfur and copper.
Mining activity
Through the relaxation waters, mining activity is another of which causes soil pollution. So, Elements accumulate such as cadmium, mercury, copper, lead or arsenic. Some of the effects that these elements have on our body are renal and nerve alterations, altering the character of an adult, and in the case of children causing an intellectual deficit.
Garbage accumulation
Although cities are the places where the ground is most contaminated, the reality is that any place where waste is launched are prone to be contaminated.
When the garbage is piled up, either in legal or illegal landfillsand remains there for a long time, the fermentation of organic products is given, emitting toxic gases and filtering in the soil. Thus, the soil and surface or underground waters that could be there is contaminated by bacteria, fungi and pathogens.
Soil contamination examples
The soil pollution It can be given to many levels, then we leave you a List of examples:
- Inefficient or defective garbage collection and removal systems.
- Incorrect industrial waste storage systems.
- Illegal waste of waste.
- Traffic accidents during merchandise transport.
- Waste leaks in tanks.
- Illegal wastewater spills.
- Use of harmful pesticides.
- Old or poor condition sewerage systems.
- Waste buried for years.
- Toxic effects of mining activity.
- Throw diapers and other waste in the trash.
- Atomic tests.
Effects of soil pollution
The effects of soil pollution not only cause that soil to cease to be fertile, but can cause numerous health problems and ecological disasters. Here are some of the Effects of soil pollution:
- It can contaminate surface waters, such as rivers and lakes.
- It can contaminate groundwater of wells and aquifers.
- You can contaminate river sediments.
- Volatile compounds evaporate and pass into the air.
- Contaminated water can pass to supply for irrigation and consumption.
- The contaminated land can affect what is grown in it.
- If excavated it can be dangerous.
- Animals and crops can contaminate and move on to the food chain.
If you want to read more articles similar to What are the contaminating agents of the soilwe recommend that you enter our pollution category.
