Essay on Soil Pollution

Soil pollution is the state of the soil when it is contaminated with the presence of harmful substances which can pose a threat to the various forms of life on the earth. All soils, regardless of whether contaminated or unpolluted, contain some amount of contaminants which are normally present. Such contaminants include metals, inorganic particles and salts such as phosphates, carbonates, sulphates, nitrates etc., and numerous natural compounds such as lipids, proteins, DNA, unsaturated fats, hydrocarbons, PAHs, alcohols, and so on.

The decay of creatures including plants and animals and soil microbial action usually result in the formation of these contaminants. Furthermore, different contaminants get into the soil from the environment, for example with precipitation water, and by wind movement or different sorts of soil unsettling influences, and from surface water bodies and shallow groundwater moving through the dirt. At the point when the measures of soil contaminants surpass commonly accepted dimensions as compared to what is normally present in different soil, we term it as soil pollution.

Types of Soil Pollution:

There are two types of pollutants in the soil, namely natural pollutants and pollutants added due to human activities. Natural Pollutants include organic compounds and inorganic particles resulting from natural activities such as the decay of animals and plants. However, these pollutants are not a cause of worry and in fact, they replenish the soil of their nutrients. The other category is man-made pollutants. Man-made pollutants include chemical waste from the industries, oil and fuel dumping, nuclear waste, landfills and illegal dumping, coal ash and other such wastes that originate from human activities and are discharged in the soil without being treated. The most common sources of these pollutants are pesticides, heavy metals and petroleum hydrocarbons.

Causes of Soil Pollution:

Man-made pollutants are the major cause of soil pollution. Such pollutants come from various sources such as agriculture, industries and casual approach of humans towards the importance of soil. Some of the pollutants are spread in large volumes and hence are a cause of concern. For instance, there is rampant use of pesticides in agriculture today. However, that was not the case until a few years ago. Prior to World War II, the synthetic nicotine concoction present in the tobacco plants was utilized as the bug controlling substance in horticultural practices.

In any case, DDT was observed to be helpful for jungle fever control and as a nuisance controller of numerous creepy crawlies during World War II. Along these lines, it was utilized for controlling numerous illnesses. Subsequently, post-war, individuals began utilizing it as a nuisance controller in agribusiness for executing rodents, weeds, creepy crawlies, and so forth and for maintaining a strategic distance from the harms because of these vermin. However, slowly people recognised the harmful effects it has on the soil and hence it has been banned in many countries as on today’s date including India. But, the damage to the soil has already been done.

Similarly, the erroneous method for disposal of industrial waste from various sorts of industries causes soil pollution. Human exercises like this have prompted pollution of soil because of the transfer of mechanical waste, substantial metals, poisonous synthetic concoctions, dumping oil and fuel, and so on.

Additionally, dispersal of solid waste in the soil is another major cause of soil pollution. Transfer of plastics, jars, and other strong waste along with the transfer of electrical products, for example, batteries causes an antagonistic impact on the soil because of the harmful chemicals present in them.

Effects of Soil Pollution:

Soil pollution is a global problem and is not just restricted to India. The contamination of soil has had a severe impact on the quality of crops as the roots of the crops are not able to absorb proper nutrients from the soil due to the presence of contaminants. This has made the soil less productive in many parts of the country and efforts are on to replenish the soil of its nutrients.

Another direct impact of soil pollution on human health is the onset of various diseases due to our contact with the pollutants of the soil. For instance, the areas where soil pollution is high have recorded an increase in respiratory problems especially in children along with skin infection and even skin cancer.

Soil pollution leads to an increase in water pollution levels as well. This is because the contaminants of the soil near the rivers or other water bodies lead to the contaminants being mixed with the flowing water of rives, thereby polluting it. Soil pollution affects the ecosystem at large as it affects the survival of other species as well.

Initiatives by the Government:

The control of soil pollution should be a serious concern for all. Some efforts have been initiated by the Government of India in order to educate people on the importance of cleanliness which in its own terms is vital to reduce soil pollution. Swachh Bharat Abhiyan is one such mission through which the Government has been educating people not to contaminate the soil by throwing solid waste and keep the surroundings clean for a healthy life for all. A regular sprinkling of water on roads is done in order to prevent soil erosion.

The Solution Ahead:

It is not the duty of the government alone to initiate steps to reduce soil pollution. Each one of us can do our bit to support the government in this project. For instance, we must ensure that we throw garbage on the designated spots only and not on roads. Similarly, industries should ensure proper disposal of their waste in accordance with the laws of the country.

Increased use of renewable energy sources such as solar energy is another step which can help in reducing soil pollution. We must ensure that we have more plants and trees around us and should nourish them regularly with water and manure. Trees are very important to bind the soil and hence prevent soil erosion. Last, but not the least, educating people on the ill effects of soil pollution and encouraging them to change their habits for the betterment of the ecosystem as well as of our country, is the best method to reduce soil pollution.