Soil contamination

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1. Soil contamination - types, causes and prevention of soil contamination

2. causes of soil contamination Soil contamination is caused by all chemical compounds, radioactive elements and microorganisms present in the soil in increased amounts, which change its characteristics and prevent its normal use. Soil contamination comes from, among others, from gases and dust emitted from industrial plants (chemical, petrochemical, cement plants, steel mills, power plants, etc.), from solid and liquid industrial and municipal waste, from substances used in agriculture (fertilizers, plant protection chemicals) and from emissions of means of transport. Causes:   1. Salinity, inappropriate reaction (alkalization or acidification), accompanied by washing down the profile of nutrients, especially potassium. 2. Deterioration of the soil structure - overdrying or siltation. 3. Decrease in soil fertility as a result of changes in its physical, chemical and microbiological properties. 4. Negative impact of soil pollution on the development of plants and organisms at higher levels of the trophic chain (on animals and humans

3. Types and sources of soil contamination The factors that degrade and devastate the soil are natural phenomena - earthquakes, erosion, drought, fires and phenomena caused by human activity. Soil erosion is the process of washing up or spreading the surface layer of soil and can be caused, among others, by deforestation and burning, intensive grazing of animals, incorrect cultivation of the land. Excessive deforestation, intensive farming and water exploitation can also lead to the stepping effect of soil.

4. Effects of soil contamination Contamination changes the composition and condition of the soil chemically, physically and biologically. Excessive use of artificial fertilizers and the use of plant protection products disrupt the course of plant vegetation and degrade soil structure. Chemical soil pollutants from industrial activities can penetrate crops and then enter the organisms of animals and humans. They can also directly affect the contamination of surface and groundwater as a result of leaching harmful substances from soils.

5. Soil contamination Soils, like the entire natural environment, can become contaminated. Due to their sorption properties, soils absorb many chemicals that enter them in the form of: • solid - ashes, plastics; • liquid - sewage discharged into water reservoirs and getting into the soil with water; • gaseous - harmful gases absorbed by the soil or first dissolved by water and then released into the soil with it. Soil is contaminated when chemical substances are present in the soil in excess of their normal content and cause changes in soil properties that do not allow for normal soil use. Main sources of human-induced soil contamination: • industrial - mining, energy, metallurgical, chemical, construction industries; • agricultural - too intensive fertilization, excessive use of pesticides; • municipal - sewage and solid waste; • communication - toxic substances and heavy metals contained in exhaust fumes, salt which is sprinkled on icy road surfaces

6. Effects of soil contamination 1. Salinity, inappropriate reaction (alkalization or acidification), accompanied by washing down the profile of nutrients, especially potassium. 2. Deterioration of the soil structure - over drying or situation. 3. Decrease in soil fertility as a result of changes in its physical, chemical and microbiological properties. 4. Negative impact of soil pollution on the development of plants and organisms at higher levels of the trophic chain (on animals and humans).

7. The main activities undertaken to protect soils include 1. Proper farming with the use of mainly natural fertilizers, rational use of artificial fertilizers and plant protection products. 2. Preventing erosion - melioration activities, mid-field forest cover, a forestation of wastelands. 3. Preventing soil contamination from municipal sources - reducing the amount of waste and proper management (waste segregation, composting, collection of hazardous waste) and wastewater treatment. 4. Limiting industrial sources of soil pollution - the use of modern environmentally friendly technologies and proper management of post-production waste. 5. Purification of soil from toxic substances and deacidification of acidified soils

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