Soil is a vital component of the environment that supports life on our planet but with the increase in industrial activities, agricultural practices, and improper waste disposal, soil pollution has become a major threat to crop yield and human health.

3. “Soil pollution” refers to the presence of a chemical or substance
out of place and/ or present at a higher than normal concentration
that has adverse effects on any non-targeted organism (Rodríguez ,
McLaughlin, & Pennock, 2018)
Soil is a vital component of the environment that supports life on our planet
but with the increase in industrial activities, agricultural practices, and
improper waste disposal, soil pollution has become a major threat to crop
yield and human health.

4. There are mainly two causes of soil pollution.
Natural
Volcanic eruption
Earthquake
Geological change
Tsunami
Anthropogenic
Solid Waste
Agricultural practices
Chemical waste
Mining and smelting
Construction activities

5. Natural sources of soil pollution can arise from various environmental processes and
events.
Geological processes like erosion,
landslides, and sedimentation can
transport sediments containing
pollutants such as heavy metals or
chemical compounds.
Geological changes
A vast area of the land area
goes under sea water. And the
accumulation of salt after the
tsunami water caused
a serious damage to soil.
Tsunami
The shaking during an earthquake
can rupture underground storage
tanks or pipelines, leading to the
release of pollutants such as
petroleum products, chemicals, or
heavy metals into the soil.
Earthquakes
Volcanic eruptions are a significant
natural source, as they release ash,
gases, and lava containing minerals
and heavy metals that can
contaminate the soil .
Volcanic eruption

6. Anthropogenic Sources
According to a report by the United Nations, around 33% of the world's soil is
already degraded due to human activities. This highlights the extent of the
problem and the urgent need for action to prevent further damage to our soil.
Solid waste contains
various complex
characteristics with
highest proportions. As
leachate percolates into
the soil, it migrates
contaminants into the
soil and affects soil. Solid
wastes are a source of
toxic metals, hazardous
wastes, and chemicals.

7. • Excessive use of synthetic
fertilizer or pesticide.
• It can make soil acidic
losing its nutrients.
Anthropogenic Sources
Environmental change caused or influenced by people, either
directly or indirectly.

8.  Excessive mining
-it causes physical
disturbance to land.
 Prevents plant in growing
in their habitats.
 Smelting wastes contains
heavy metals that are
dangerous to many
organisms.
Anthropogenic Sources
Environmental change caused or influenced by people, either
directly or indirectly.

9. Chemical waste from industries, gas plants and motor
oils when deposited in soil, alter the soil layer strength
in the topsoil, lowering soil fertility and biological
activity.
Chemical Waste
Construction activities often involve the use of toxic chemicals and
pollutants that can end up in the water table if not managed well.
Common construction sources that contribute to soil pollution
include: Diesel and oil, Cement.
Construction Activities

10. Some direct effects of soil pollution are;
 Loss of Crop Productivity and Biodiversity.
 Decline in nutrient use efficiency (NUE).
 Quality of agricultural output (vegetables,
fruits and grains).
 Contamination of Food with Toxic
Compounds Like Heavy Metals.
 Rejection of export consignment.
 Soil Hardness/Compaction.
 Impacts on Soil Fertility Parameters.
 Decrease in Available Soil Moisture Content.

11. Decline in nutrient use efficiency
(NUE).
Loss of Crop Productivity and
Biodiversity.
Quality of agricultural output
(vegetables, fruits and grains).
o Crop yields have been estimated to have declined by 15–25%
due to severe soil and water pollution.
o Biodiversity refers to the microorganisms, insects, birds, and
other wildlife that rely both on plant and soil to maintain
ecosystem which is being lost due to contaminated soil.
o Soil pollution can alter the soil structure, aeration and natural
nutrient composition of the soil, leading to imbalances in
essential elements.
o Accumulation of toxic substances in the root zone, inhibiting
root development and function.
o Polluted soils suffer greatly in terms of shelf life, flavor, and
scent of crops.
o Some veggies have a shorter shelf life, emit terrible odors
when cooked, and have a bad taste when finished.
o The amount of heavy metal buildup in the edible sections of
vegetables was higher than that in grains (Hanan, Hasmen,
El-Deep, & Shouman, 2013).

12. Rejection of export
consignment.
Contamination of Food with Toxic
Compounds Like Heavy Metals.
Soil Hardness/Compaction.
o Pollutants present in the soil, such as heavy metals and harmful
chemicals, can be taken up by plants along with essential
nutrients which are hazardous to mammals
o there is great concern about their contamination of food supplies,
which is being tracked by government organizations.
o Soil pollution can have a negative influence on a nation's
export of food products..
o Due to presence of pesticides, heavy metals, and other
contaminants, export of cardamom has declined in Nepal.
o Numerous industrial processes hurt soil friability and cause
compaction or hardness.
o Dust that is deposited on surrounding agricultural land as a result
of mining operations, high traffic thermal power plants.
o Many soil species, including earthworms, can die as a result of soil
pollution, which can change the way the soil is structured.

13. Decrease in Available Soil
Moisture Content.
Impacts on Soil Fertility
Parameters.
o The interaction of the soil's physical, chemical, and biological
components determines how fertile it is.
o It alters soils' biodiversity, reduces soil organic matter and
soils' capacity to act as a filter.
o The soil qualities (soil pH, nutrient holding capacity, bulk
density, availability of macro and micronutrients, and soil
organic matter) are significantly impacted by the presence of
contaminants in soil resulting low soil fertility.
o The entry of salt-loaded wastewater and industrial waste
lowers the amount of soil moisture that is readily
available.
o The cumulative infiltration decreases with increasing
contaminants in soil.

14. Humans are exposed to soil
pollution through inhalation of dust
and vapor from contaminated soil,
ingestion of contaminated food or
soil particles (most commonly in
children), and dermal absorption
through the skin.

16. • It might be intentional, unintentional (contaminated hands in
mouth), or caused by consuming raw vegetables and fruits
without first washing and cleaning them.
• A rare benefit of eating soil, however, would be that it provides
nutrients, although the drawbacks outweigh this pleasure.
• Eating soil, exposes people to dangerous chemicals, infectious
germs, and heavy metals.
• The eggs of geohelminths, which are parasitic worms, can also
be swallowed in addition to soil. Example; Ascaris lumbricoides.
• Ascariasis is characterized by nausea and abdominal pain along
with abnormal digestion.

17. • As the name implies, it is brought on by breathing in
contaminated soil.
• Breathing in contaminated dirt for a long time, cause
Lung cancer, Mesothelioma—cancer of lining of the
lung(Pelura) caused by inhalation of soil dust
containing asbestos (silicate mineral).
• Outdoor inhalation of soil (dust) particles or volatile soil
pollutants (e.g., Hg or volatile organic compounds) are
also relevant sources of human exposure
• Farmers and people who work in brick factory are
under high risk of these health issues.

18. • Humans are subjected to hazardous chemicals and dangerous
bacteria through skin contact when they visit places like parks
and gardens.
• It can lead to Podoconiosis (Podoconiosis is a form of
elephantiasis arising in barefoot subsistence farmers who are
in long-term contact with irritant red clay soil of volcanic
origins.)
• Helminthiasis—parasitic intestinal infection caused by
penetration of skin by hookworm larvae in soil (Brevik, et al.,
2020).
• Some other health issues are skin rash, allergy, Atopic
dermatitis (eczema), Skin/ eye irritation .

19.  In Love Canal, New York: In 1970s, a neighborhood was built on top of a former chemical waste dump, leading to
high rates of cancer and other health problems among residents.
There have been many real-world cases where soil pollution has had a significant
impact on human health.
 In Bhopal, India: In 1984 AD, a gas leak from a pesticide plant led to around four thousands of deaths and long-
term health effects for survivors.
 Minamata, Japan: In the 1950s and 1960s, industrial wastewater containing methylmercury was
discharged into Minamata Bay by a chemical plant. The mercury accumulated in the sediment and was
absorbed by marine life, leading to widespread soil and water contamination. Consumption of
contaminated fish caused severe neurological disorders in the local population.
 Chernobyl, Ukraine: The 1986 nuclear disaster at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant caused radioactive
contamination of soil in the vicinity. The release of radioactive materials, such as cesium-137 and
strontium-90, contaminated agricultural lands and forests, rendering them unsuitable for farming or
other activities for an extended period.