Soil Contamination
By: Cally Anderson
Definition
Soil contamination is when concentration of chemicals, nutrients, or elements in soil become more than natural or normal as a result of human action.
Cause and Effects
Pesticides and herbicides (farm chemicals), direct discharge of wastewater by industries, leakages from sewer systems, leaching of soluble substances from landfills, and rainwater from polluted lands spread soil contamination. The effects of contamination soil affect plants, breathing or eating crops from contaminated soils harm organisms.
Save the land
If you dispose of waste properly, neutralize the waste, break down the biodegradable waste, reuse and recyle you will save natural resources and save land from contamination.
Trying to stop Soil Contamintion
Fertilizers in Topeka are set to limits and put on the soil based on the rate the plants and soil need it. Kansas State University takes samples of the soil to make sure there is not too much fertilizers and it's contaminating the soil. The United States Environmental Protection Agency is trying to stop soil contamination and show people ways to prevent soil contamination.
In-Situ Biological Treatment of Contaminated Soil
This video describes one way to help reduce soil contamination. (Stop at 1:10)