Effects of soil pollutants such as heavy metals, pesticides, microplastic, PAH etc. on human, plants and soil microflora.
Understand the Problem
The question is asking for an overview of how various soil pollutants, including heavy metals, pesticides, microplastics, and PAH (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons), affect human health, plant growth, and soil microflora. This involves discussing the impacts on each category separately and understanding the broader implications of soil pollution.
Answer
Soil pollutants harm soil quality, disrupt nutrient cycling, contaminate food crops, and cause diseases in humans and plants.
Soil pollutants such as heavy metals, pesticides, and microplastics degrade soil quality, disrupt nutrient cycling, contaminate food crops, and cause diseases in humans and plants. They can also harm soil microflora, affecting ecosystem health and agricultural productivity.
Answer for screen readers
Soil pollutants such as heavy metals, pesticides, and microplastics degrade soil quality, disrupt nutrient cycling, contaminate food crops, and cause diseases in humans and plants. They can also harm soil microflora, affecting ecosystem health and agricultural productivity.
More Information
Heavy metals in soil can lead to chronic diseases in humans while pesticides and microplastics may disrupt soil microflora and nutrient cycling. These pollutants also affect plant growth and can enter the food chain, magnifying health risks.
Tips
A common mistake is underestimating the long-term impact of soil pollutants on the food chain and ecosystem health.
Sources
- Heavy Metals and Pesticides Toxicity in Agricultural Soil and Plants - ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Soil and Human Health: Current Status and Future Needs - journals.sagepub.com
- Microplastics as an Emerging Environmental Pollutant in Agricultural - frontiersin.org