Soil pollution and Water pollution

ERASMUS+ For Healthy Europe

What is soil pollution

• Definition Soil pollution is defined as the presence of toxic chemicals (pollutants or contaminants) in soil, in high enough concentrations to pose a risk to human health and/or the ecosystem.

• In the case of contaminants which occur naturally in soil, even when their levels are not high enough to pose a risk, soil pollution is still said to occur if the levels of the contaminants in soil exceed the levels that should naturally be present.

Types of soil pollution

• Agriculture soil pollution is caused due to the excessive use of pesticides and insecticides.
• Soil Pollution by industrial discharges of chemicals from mining and manufacturing of goods.
• Solid waste soil pollution/ Poor management or inefficient disposal of waste.
• Soil Pollution due to urban activities. etc

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What is water pollution

• Water pollution is the release of substances into bodies of water that makes water unsafe for human use and disrupts aquatic ecosystems.

• Water pollution can be caused by a plethora of different contaminants, including toxic waste, petroleum, and disease-causing microorganisms.

Types and sources of water pollutants

• Water bodies can be polluted by a wide variety of substances, including pathogenic microorganisms, putrescible organic waste, fertilizers and plant nutrients, toxic chemicals, sediments, heat, petroleum (oil), and radioactive substances.

• Several types of water pollutants are considered below. (For a discussion of the handling of sewage and other forms of waste produced by human activities, see waste disposal and solid-waste management.)