A Brief Discussion About Soil Contamination

Soil contamination means that human activities, either directly or indirectly, destroy land that could be used for good. At the moment, it is thought that lead and arsenic have ruined 300,000 ha of land in the UK. The same is true of the other industrialized countries getting hit the hardest. The developing countries are also moving in this direction slowly but surely. Thinking about how lousy soil pollution is for the environment should make you very worried.

What Makes the Soil Dirty?

Several things can be the cause of soil contamination. Human actions like drilling for oil, mining, farming on a large scale, and getting rid of waste are all significant causes. Pesticides, oil, lead, and other heavy metals are some of the most common chemicals that can easily pollute the soil. Coal ash from industrial heating processes is a common source of pollution in places with many factories. Even though treated sewage can be used as fertilizer, it has things that are bad for the soil, like organisms and heavy metals.

Pesticides help farmers and other users eliminate pests that would otherwise hurt yield. But these pesticides might have toxic chemicals that could harm people and other vital organisms in the soil. Herbicides like trinitrotoluene and paraquat have impurities that are very poisonous and can quickly break down the ground. If munitions are thrown away improperly or if the people who make them aren't careful, the soil could be contaminated for a long time.

How to Clean Up Polluted Soil

• Reforestation

  
  In most countries, people are required to plant more trees where one has been cut down. This is an excellent way to stop the soil from washing away. The government should also punish people who cut down trees without thinking about them. You can take help from an environmental consultancy.

• Controlled Ways of Farming

Too much of almost anything is wrong. According to the same idea, farming practices should also be done in moderation. Overcropping and overgrazing should be avoided because they cause soil to wash away.

• Bioremediation

  This is when microorganisms that break down pollutants are put into the soil. This is a great way to protect the environment because it lets nature take its course and brings back balance.

• Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle

  Things that can be used again shouldn't be thrown away. Things made of paper, glass, aluminum, and other similar materials should be recycled. Finally, if you can avoid using too much of something, like polythene paper, then do so to stop soil contamination.

Conclusion

We only have one earth; if we eradicate it, we will be the first to go hungry or get sick. Getting land back to the way it was before is almost impossible. It will need to have its properties changed, which we can avoid if we responsibly use our land. An environmental consultancy will be a very helpful option for you.