NIL

1. ALL INDIA INSTITUTE OF LOCAL SELF
GOVERNMENT
DELHI
“ SOIL - Concepts for Paramedical”
DR.P.P.SINGH
By
Dr. P.P.SINGH
Faculty AIILSGD
Ex Medical Superintendent Cum Consultant pathologist HRH Delhi
Ex. Director India Population Project 8 Delhi..
Source ;- Book for Sanitary inspector course by AIILSG.

2. SOIL
A SOIL IS DEFINED AS A MIXTURE OF EARTH
MATERIALS ,WITH PARTICLES OF DIFFERENT SIZE , SHAPE ,
STRUCTURE CONTAINING AIR & WATER.
SOIL HAS:
AIR
WATER
SOLIDS ( INORGANIC OR ORGANIC)
THIS FORMS THE UPPER LAYER OF GROUND . IS
FROM FEW CENTIMETERS TO FEW METERS ON THE
SURFACE.
THE UNDISTURBED STRATA BELOW IS KNOWN AS SUB SOIL

4. CLASSIFICATION OF SOIL
1. RESIDUAL SOIL; THE SOIL WHICH
REMAINS AT THE PLACE WHERE IT IS FORMED.
2. DRIFT SOIL : THE SOIL IS
TRANSFERRED TO OTHER PLACE BY WIND
,RAIN AND RIVER .ALSO CALLED ALLUVIAL OR
FERTILE SOIL.

5. PUBLIC HEALTH POINT.
1.HEALTH SOIL. THE POROUS SOIL.
IT DOSE NOT RETAIN MOISTURE
IT DOSE NOT EMIT OR EVOLVE HARMFUL
GASES.
SUCH SOILS ARE FORMED FROM GRANITE
STONE, ROCKY CHALK, SAND STONE & SANDY SOIL.
2. UN HEALTHY SOIL ; SOIL HAVING EXCESS MOISTURE,
SOIL HAVING EXCESS OF CO2.
SOIL WITH LOW O2.
HARMFUL GASES DUE TO
DECOMPOSITION OF ORGANIC SOILED
RECLAIMED SOIL FROM REFUGE OR
MARSHY LAND

6. REASONS FOR THE EXCESSIVE MOISTURE IN THE SOIL.
1.HIGH PERCENTAGE OF CLAY. CLAY = 0.002MM SMALLEST
PARTICLE.
2. WHEN SUB SOIL WATER COMES UP AT THE LEVEL OF 1.5
MTS OR LESS.
3. CONSTRUCTION OF DAM DUE TO BACK PRESSURE
CAUSES RISE IN SUB SOIL.
4. SILTING OF RIVER BED RAISES THE LEVEL OF SUB SOIL.

7. NORMALLY THE SOIL HAS MORE CO2 AND LESS
O2. THERE IS CONTINUOUS EXCHANGE OF GASES
BETWEEN SOIL AND ATMOSPHERE .
* THIS EXCHANGE OF GASES IS ALWAYS DEPEND
ON TEMPERATURE, PRESSURE AND HUMIDITY OF
ATMOSPHERE.

8. RECLAMATION OF LAND
THE LOW LYING LAND ,PITS OR BURROWS ARE FILLED
SO THAT IT MATCH WITH SURROUNDING GROUND BEFORE
USING FOR ANY PURPOSE . FILLING OF SUCH LAND IS CALLED
RECLAMATION OF LAND.
THIS CAN BE DONE BY REFUSE OR WASTE MATERIALS
AT VERY CHEAP COST.
THIS CAN BE USED FOR FARMING FOR 15-20 YEARS .
THERE CAN BE HARMFUL GASES ARE EVOLVED DUE TO
DECOMPOSITION OF ORGANIC MATTERS.
RECLAIMING CAN ALSO BE DONE BY DUMPING GOOD
EARTH, STONES ,BRICKS CLINKERS AND OLD BUILDING
MATERIALS. SUCH CAN BE USED FOR ENGINEERING PURPOSE
– CONSTRUCTION OF ROAD OR HOSES ETC.

9. MICRO- ORGANISMS IN SOIL.
LIVING ON ORGANIC MATERIAL AEROBIC BACTERIA &
FUNGI THRIVE ON O2 & NITROGEN IN THE SOIL.
THESE CAN DESTROY AND ATTACK MANY CONSTRUCTION
ITEMS.
SOIL BACTERIA ARE MAINLY IN GARDEN ,MANURE,
AND CULTIVATED SOIL. NITROGENOUS SUBSTANCE IS
UTILIZED BY PLANTS.
THESE ARE MORE IN CULTIVATED SOIL AND SEWAGE
POLLUTED LAND
PATHOGENIC BACTERIA CAN BE KILLED BY CERTAIN
BACTERIA DURING THEIR METABOLISM.

10. SOIL
*-- CONTAINS SAPROPHYTIC ORGANISM.
*-- CONTAINS PATHOGENIC ORGANISM LIKE CHOLERA,
TYPHOID , DIARRHEA CAUSING GERMS.
*--CONTAINS EGGS & LARVAE OF HELMINTHES (ROUND
WORM, HOOK WORM , TRICHRA ETC.
*-- CONTAINS ANTHRAX, BOTULINUM AND TETANUS
SPORES. ( ANAEROBIC ORGANISM).
*--AFTER RAINFALL SURFACE WASHING OCCUR AND
WATER FROM WELL , RIVER, LAKES ETC GETS
POLLUTED THEREBY POLLUTING THE SOIL.

11. SOIL & HEALTH.
1. UNDERSTANDING THE SOIL IS IMPORTANT FOR HEALTH .
--POROUS AND SANDY SOIL IS HEALTHY SOIL.
--SUB SOIL DRAINAGE OF EFFLUENT IS PERMITTED
ONLY UP TO 2-2.5MTS DEEP . BECAUSE SOIL BACTERIA WILL
KILL PATHOGENIC ORGANISMS.
--FOR BORE-HOLE LATRINE AND FOR BURIAL OF DEAD
BODIES HEALTHY SOIL IS REQUIRED.

12. 2.DUE TO OPEN AIR DEFECATION SOIL GETS
POLLUTED – LEADS TO INCREASE OF
PATHOGENIC ORGANISMS AND PARASITES.
3. SOIL RICH IN MINERAL LIKE FLUORINE WILL
CAUSE FLUOROSIS , DENTAL CARIES. DEFICIENT
IN IODINE LEADS TO GOITER. RADIOACTIVE
SUBSTANCES LEADS TO RADIATIONS.
4. FOR PROPER LOCATION OF HOUSING NATURE
OF SOIL MUST BE KNOWN.
5. FOOD PRODUCTION DEPENDS ON SOIL
CONDITIONS.

13. 6. DAMP SOIL WITH DARKNESS ATTRACTS MOSQUITOES.
LOW LYING MARSHY LAND FAVORS MOSQUITO BREEDING –
MAY SPREAD MALARIA , FILARIASIS ETC.
7. RHEUMATISM AND LUMBAGO ARE ATTRIBUTED TO DUMP
SOIL.
8. WATERLOGGED LAND WILL OFTEN PROVE TO BE
UNHEALTHY . .