for degree classes

2. Dr. Preetha.P.S

3. Soil pollution is defined as the presence of toxic chemicals
in soil, in high concentrations to create a risk to human health or
the ecosystem. It refers to anything that causes contamination
of soil and degrades the soil quality.

4.  Industrial wastes
 Urban wastes
 Radioactive pollutants
 Agricultural practices
 Biological agents
 Soil sediments

5. Industrial effluents are mainly discharged from various industries,
factories, distilleries, processing units etc.
Urban wastes comprise both commercial and domestic wastes
It is estimated that in India alone, about 450 million of urban
population produces nearly 45 million tonnes of solid wastes
causing chronic pollution of land and water. Delhi, which is the
third most polluted city, collects about 9000 tonnes of garbage
from its streets every day.

6. Radioactive substances resulting from explosions of nuclear
devices, atmospheric fall out from nuclear dust soil radioactive
wastes penetrate the soil and accumulate there creating soil
pollution. Radionuclides of radium, thorium, uranium, isotopes of
potassium (K-40) and carbon (C-14) are very common in soil,
rock, water and air.

7. Advanced agro-technology, huge quantities of fertilizers,
pesticides, herbicides, weedicides and soil conditioning agents
are employed to increase the crop yield.
Soil gets large quantities of human, animals and birds excreta
which constitute the major source of soil pollution by biological
agents.

8. The pathogenic organisms such as bacteria, fungi, algae,
protozoans etc. pollute the soil. Soil sediments refer to the
deposition of trace metals such as Hg, As, Sb, Pb, Cd, Ni, Co,
Mo, Cu , Cr etc.

9. Production of Natural Fertilizers
Ban on Toxic Chemicals
Plantation and recycling of trees to prevent soil erosion
Using biological weapons to control soil pollution.

10. Effective treatment of domestic sewage by suitable biological and
chemical methods and adopting modern techniques of sludge
disposal.
Launching of extensive afforestation and community forestry
programmes.
Implementing deterrent measures against deforestation

11. Municipal wastes have to be properly collected by segregation,
treated and disposed scientifically. Recycling of glass, paper,
plastics should be done carefully.
Industrial wastes have to be properly treated at source, by
segregation of wastes or adopting integrated waste treatment
methods
Enforcing environment audit for industries and promoting eco
labelled products.

12. Formulation of stringent pollution control legislation and
effective implementation with powerful administrative
machinery.
Imparting informal and formal public awareness
programmes to educate people at large regarding health
hazards and undesirable effects due to environmental
pollution.

13. Mass media, educational institutions voluntary agencies etc.
should be involved to achieve these objectives.
Extending market support for recoverable products through fiscal
concessions.

14. Sharma P.D. 2004 Environmental Biology
Kumar, H.D 2000 Modern concepts of Ecology
Agarwal, K.C 2001 Environmental Biology