The document discusses soil contamination from organic and inorganic pollutants. Some key causes of soil pollution include corrosion of underground storage tanks, application of fertilizers and pesticides, mining, oil dumping, landfill leachate, and direct industrial waste discharge. The most common contaminants are petroleum hydrocarbons, solvents, pesticides, and heavy metals like lead. Soil pollution adversely impacts humans, animals, agriculture, and urban environments. Control methods include restricting plastic waste, encouraging recycling, banning deforestation, and optimizing fertilizer and pesticide use.

2. Tando Jam
Department of Soil Science

3. CONTAMINATION OF SOILS WITH
ORGANIC AND INORGANIC
POLLUTANTS
By
MASHOOQ HUSSAIN ODHANO
(PhD, Student)

4. Soil contamination
Soil contamination is the occurrence of pollutants in soil
above a certain level causing a deterioration or loss of
one or more soil functions. Also, Soil Contamination can
be considered as the presence of man-made chemicals
or other alteration in the natural soil environment. This
type of contamination typically arises from the rupture of
underground storage tanks, application of pesticides,
percolation of contaminated surface water to subsurface
strata, leaching of wastes from landfills or direct
discharge of industrial wastes to the soil. The most
common chemicals involved are petroleum
hydrocarbons, solvents, pesticides, lead and other heavy
metals. The occurrence of this phenomenon is correlated
with the degree of industrialization and intensity of
chemical usage.

5.  Corrosion of underground storage tanks (including
piping used to transmit the contents)
 Application of fertilizers and pesticides
 Mining
 Oil and fuel dumping
 Disposal of coal ash
 Leaching from landfills
 Direct discharge of industrial wastes to the soil
 Drainage of contaminated surface water into the soil
 Discharging urine and faeces in the open
The most common chemicals involved are petroleum
hydrocarbons, solvents, pesticides, lead, and other
heavy metals.

6. Soil pollution
• Soil pollution is defined or can be described
as the contamination of soil of a particular
region.
• Soil pollution is caused by addition of
chemicals, which reduces it’s productive
capacity.
• In rural areas more fertilizers & pesticides
are used in agricultural operations & the
residual chemicals remain in the top layers
of soil.

7. Pollutants in Pakistan
Pakistan is the seventh most populous country
of the world, having a population of more the
180 million. It is developing country with an
increasing population density in order to
develop its economy, Pakistan requires
establishment of new industries. Due to
unplanned industrial growth, much of the land
and nearby water bodies are polluted by
indiscriminate dumping of solid and liquid
wastes generated by these units increased levels
of metal ions and organic pollutants in the
environment are either due to absence of laws
for various industries to treat their wastes .

8. The rapid increase in population, together with the
unplanned disposal of effluent from tanneries and
textile industries have increased the threat of soil
pollution in Pakistan. Faisalabad Effect of industrial
effluents discharged by various industries in the
industrial area o f Lahore, Sheikhupura and Kala Shah
Kaku indicated soil and water contamination of salts and
heavy metals in their respective areas. Environmental
protection agency studies have been shown that
industrial effluents from electroplating and tannery
industries containing toxic metals, such as Cr, Ni, As,
Hg, Cu, Pt, etc have contaminated soil and biota of these
areas by such metals in Faisalabad and Lahore. Pakistan
reported that Faisalabad city effluent, comprising of
domestic and industrial wastes, contained toxic metals,
including Pb, Cu and Cd.

9. The type of pollutant
 ORGANIC POLLUTANTS
 INORGANIC POLLUTANTS

10. 1.ORGANIC POLLUTANTS
a. SEWAGE,WASTE FROM TANNRIES,PAPER MILLS, FOOD PROSSESING
INDUSTRIES. SUGAR REFINERIES
DECREASE DISSOLVED OXYGEN
PATHOGENIC MICROORGANISM , EUTROFICATION
b. SYNTHETIC ORGANIC CHEMICALS
( PLASTIC,PAINTS,PHARMA WASTE)
c. PESTICIDES
.

11. 2.INORGANIC POLLUTANTS
HEAVY METAL POLLUTANTS
 ENTER INTO FOOD CHAIN
 AFFINITY FOR SULPHUR;ATTACK SULPHUR BONDS IN ENZYMES
 OTHER VULNARABLE SITES ARE COOH OF PROTEIN ALSO BIND TO CELL
MEMBRANE.
A. ORGANIC MERCURIAL: INCECTISIDES & BACTERICIDES, NEUROLOGICAL
DISORDERS
B. CADMIUM: UNCOUPLER OF OXIDATIVE PHOSPHORYLATION
C. BERYLLIUM :PHOSPHATE INHIBITOR
D.STRONTIUM :COMPETITOR FOR CALCIUM IN BONE
Lead, Arsenic, Mercury, and Cadmium (all main industrial pollutants) tend to
accumulate in the human body for long periods of time, as they are difficult to
flush out of our system.

12. SOURCES OF SOIL POLLUTION
• Acid rains
• Excess application of pesticides, fertilizer.
• Urban solid wastes.
• Disposal of Industrial wastes and sludge
over land.

13. Acid Rain
 Acid Rain is
caused by air
pollution. The
acidic water falls
on the soil and
pollutes it by
making the soil
acidic.

14. Fertilizers
 The use of excess
fertilizers to
increase the crop
yields makes the
soil either acidic or
alkaline and
pollutes it.
 Ex: ammonium
sulphate , sodium
nitrate

15. Excess use of Fertilizers
 Excess use of Na,
Mg, Ca, K, Zn in the
form of fertilizers &
pesticides inhibit
plant growth &
reduce crop yield.

16. Urban wastes
 These wastes include a
wet and fermentable
fraction, made of food
residuals from houses,
restaurants and food
industries, paper.

17. Industrial waste
 This pollution can
be very massive in
certain areas,
where the
industries
discharge their
wastes and really
great is the variety
of pollutants: heavy
metals compounds,
asbestos, organic
compounds

18. p0llutants
Excess use of fertilizers
Excess use of Na, Mg, Ca, K, Zn, in the
form of fertilizers & pesticides inhabit
plant growth & reduce crop yield.

19. p0llutants effect
 Humans
 Animals
 Agricultural
 Urban

20. Humans Effects
 Causes cancers including leukemia.
 Mercury can increase the risk of kidney damage.
 Also cause headaches, eye irritation & skin rash.

21. Animals Effects
 Small life forms may consume harmful
chemicals which may then be passed up
the food chain to large animals.

22. Agricultural Effects
 Decrease soil fertility.
 Reduced crop yield.
 Larger loss of soil & nutrients.
 Reduced nitrogen fixation.

23. Urban Effects
 Public health problems.
 Pollution of drinking water sources.
 Foul smell & release of gases.
 Waste management problems.

24. Control of soil pollution
 Ban on use of plastic bags which are
major cause of pollution in cities.
 Recycling of plastic wastes to
manufacture many ‘remake’ items.
 Ban on deforestation.
 Encouraging forest replantation
programmes.
 Use carefully the fertilizers & pesticides
preferable in optimal dose.