Soil Pollution PDF

•“By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination”, which currently lacks any measurable indicator for soil pollution. • The lack of an indicator is due to the complexity of relating soil pollution to hea...

•“By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination”, which currently lacks any measurable indicator for soil pollution. • The lack of an indicator is due to the complexity of relating soil pollution to health outcomes. • Soil pollution often has a long-term impact and many variables determine the relationship between exposure to soil pollution and disease, such as: • Contaminant(s) and concentrations • Humans are exposed to multiple contaminants at specific times and throughout their lives. Source media of exposure • Soil contaminants can reach humans through soil, dust, air, water or food. All can occur separately or simultaneously. • Individual vulnerabilities and community specificity • People with pre-existing illnesses, or more vulnerable individuals such as fetuses, neonates and children will be more sensitive than healthy adults. Pathways for exposure • Human beings are in close contact with the environment and the natural resources on which our well-being depends. • All components of the environment - water, air, land, organisms - are interconnected and interrelated. • Soil is the key link in the functioning of ecosystems. 1. Soils accumulate less than 1 percent of the global water, but this tiny amount is essential to sustain terrestrial ecosystems. 2. Soils filter water from rainfall or irrigation, store water, support plant growth water needs, and allow the redistribution vertically and horizontally to ground and surface water bodies, thus regulating quality and quantity. Route of Exposure • There are four main routes of exposure to soil contaminants: • Accidental ingestion of contaminated food, dust, and polluted soil particles • intentional ingestion of soil • Inhalation of soil particles, contaminated dust and vapours, indoors and outdoors • Dermal contact. • However, given the interconnectivity of the components of the environment, it is often very difficult to discern the origin of the pollution and to quantitatively attribute the health damage to a specific source. • The deposition of contaminated soil particles and dust on food or food utensils is also an accidental route of contaminant transfer to humans. • This exposure route is especially relevant in infants and children due to their hand-to-mouth behaviour. HOW DO WE MANAGE SOIL HEALTH • Reduce soil disturbance • Crop rotation practices • Cover cropping practices to promote plant diversity and living roots • Diversify production systems • Add soil organic amendments • Integrate livestock into cropping systems • Promote diverse plant species with different rooting depths • Sustainable animal grazing practices • Be patient for the results and don’t expect positive change overnight Reducing Soil Pollution • Because soil is so important to plant growth and the health of its consumers and the organisms that live in it • Kingdom has helped to reduce its pollution by establishing the Soil Quality Department • Which is affiliated to the National Center of Meteorology • Charge of several tasks, including supervising and following up on soil quality monitoring and control programs, • Conducting environmental surveys of soil pollutants and preparing the necessary database • Implementing the provisions and obligations contained in regional and international agreements on soil pollution and conservation. • Reviewing and auditing engineering designs for landfills. • Rehabilitation of techniques for waste treatment • Disposal, issuance of periodic reports related to soil quality, and others.