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Soil Pollution

Soil pollution is defined as the buildup of persistent toxic substances in soil that harm plant and animal health. Soil is made up of organic matter from plant and animal decay along with inorganic rock fragments and is necessary for agriculture. Soil can become polluted through various means such as landfill seepage, industrial waste discharge, contaminated water percolation, storage tank ruptures, and overuse of pesticides and fertilizers. Common pollutants include petroleum, heavy metals, pesticides, and solvents. Agricultural soil pollution occurs at the surface and underground levels.

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15 views1 page

Soil Pollution

Soil pollution is defined as the buildup of persistent toxic substances in soil that harm plant and animal health. Soil is made up of organic matter from plant and animal decay along with inorganic rock fragments and is necessary for agriculture. Soil can become polluted through various means such as landfill seepage, industrial waste discharge, contaminated water percolation, storage tank ruptures, and overuse of pesticides and fertilizers. Common pollutants include petroleum, heavy metals, pesticides, and solvents. Agricultural soil pollution occurs at the surface and underground levels.

Uploaded by

Anshul Yadav
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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SOIL POLLUTION

Definition:
Soil pollution is defined as the build-up in soils of persistent toxic compounds, chemicals, salts,
radioactive materials, or disease causing agents, which have adverse effects on plant growth and animal
health.
Soil is the thin layer of organic and inorganic materials that covers the Earth's rocky surface.
The organic portion, which is derived from the decayed remains of plants and animals, is concentrated
in the dark uppermost topsoil. The inorganic portion made up of rock fragments, was formed over
thousands of years by physical and chemical weathering of bedrock. Productive soils are necessary for
agriculture to supply the world with sufficient food.

There are many different ways that soil can become polluted, such as:

Seepage from a landfill


Discharge of industrial waste into the soil
Percolation of contaminated water into the soil
Rupture of underground storage tanks
Excess application of pesticides, herbicides or fertilizer
Solid waste seepage

The most common chemicals involved in causing soil pollution are:

Petroleum hydrocarbons
Heavy metals
Pesticides
Solvents

Types of Soil Pollution


Agricultural Soil Pollution
i) pollution of surface soil
ii) pollution of underground soil

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