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WHAT IS SOIL POLLUTION?

Soil pollution is defined as the presence of toxic chemicals (wastes or pollutants) in soil at concentrations high enough to pose a risk to human health and/or the ecosystem. If the levels of naturally occurring pollutants in the soil exceed the levels that should be naturally present, soil pollution can be discussed.

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CAUSES OF SOIL POLLUTION:

All types of soil, whether polluted or unpolluted, contain various compounds (pollutants). These pollutants include metals, inorganic ions and salts (e.g. phosphates, carbonates, sulfates, nitrates) and many organic compounds ( lipids , proteins, DNA, fatty acids, hydrocarbons, PAHs , alcohols, etc.). These compounds are formed primarily through microbial activity in the soil and decomposition of organisms (e.g. plants and animals). In addition, various compounds enter the atmosphere, precipitation water, wind activity, surface water bodies flowing through the soil, and shallow groundwater, which can cause other types of soil degradation. Pollution occurs when the amount of soil pollutants exceeds natural levels. There are two main causes of soil pollution: anthropogenic (man-made) agents and natural agents.

TYPES OF SOIL POLLUTANTS:

Soil pollution consists of pollutants and wastes. The main pollutants of soil are biological agents and some human activities. Human activities that pollute soil range from agricultural practices that infest plants with pesticide chemicals to urban or industrial wastes or radioactive emissions that pollute with various toxic substances.
Biological factor
Agricultural practices
Pollutants harmful to the environment
Urban waste
Industrial waste

EXAMPLES OF SOIL POLLUTANTS:

soil . Examples of the most common and problematic soil pollutants can be found below.
Lead ( Pb ), Mercury ( Hg ), Arsenic (As), Copper ( Cu ), Zinc ( Zn ), Nickel ( Ni ), Pah ( Polyaromatic Hydrocarbons), Herbicides / Insects

EFFECTS OF SOIL POLLUTION:

Soil pollution affects plants, animals, and humans. While everyone is susceptible to soil pollution, the effects of soil pollution can vary depending on age, general health, type of contaminant, and other factors such as inhalation or ingestion of contaminated substances. However, children are generally more susceptible to exposure to contaminants, as they come into close contact with soil while playing. This poses higher risks for children than adults, with lower thresholds for illness. Therefore, it is very important to have the soil tested before allowing your child to play there, especially if you live in a highly industrialized area.

DISEASES RELATED TO SOIL POLLUTION:

People can be affected by soil pollution by inhaling gases moving upward from soils or by inhaling material disturbed and carried by wind from various human activities on the ground. Soil pollution can cause health problems that include headaches, nausea, fatigue, skin rash, eye irritation, and more serious conditions such as neuromuscular blockage, kidney and liver damage, and various types of cancer .

SOIL POLLUTION FACTS:

Soil collects and sometimes concentrates contaminants that enter the soil from a variety of sources. Small amounts of contaminants accumulate and, depending on environmental conditions (including soil types) and the degradability of the contaminant released, can reach high levels and contaminate the soil. If the soil is contaminated, the vegetables and fruits grown there may also be contaminated. This is because most of the soil contaminants found in the soil are extracted by plants . Therefore, it is always prudent to have the soil tested before you start growing anything edible. If your garden is located near an industrial or mining area, or within 1 mile of a major airport, port, landfill, or foundry, it is even more important to be sensitive to soil contamination and take precautions.

PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS OF SOIL POLLUTION:

of Turkey is the problems that arise in soil resources. These problems generally occur in the form of problems caused by water and wind erosion, improper land use and soil contamination by physical and chemical factors or deterioration of quality, loss of production capacity. Researchers have determined that 19.7 million hectares of the total agricultural land, which is 27.7 million hectares, are under the risk of erosion at various levels. Approximately 2/3 of our agricultural lands are under the risk of erosion, which erodes and reduces our soil resources. According to another study, it has been determined that 500 million tons of soil are carried to the seas by rivers annually. In addition, if we consider that the soil carried by erosion is the upper parts of arable lands, it will be more clearly understood how big a problem agricultural lands face. Important factors affecting the formation and severity of erosion are various factors such as climate, topography, soil characteristics, vegetation, as well as the human being himself. Soil losses caused by not using soil tillage, sowing and planting methods to prevent erosion are significant.