SOIL CONTAMINATION

Soil contamination is the accumulation of such substances at levels that adversely affect
the behavior of soils. Substances, those concentration levels become toxic to organisms
living in it. It is a chemical degradation that causes partial or total loss of productivity.
There is talk of soil contamination when substances or elements of solid, liquid or gaseous
type that cause the soil biota is affected, plants, animal life and human health are
introduced.
Usually the soil is contaminated in various ways: when underground storage tanks break,
when pesticides are applied, sewage leaks and cesspools, or by direct accumulation of
industrial or radioactive products.
The most common chemicals include petroleum, solvents, pesticides and other heavy
metals. This phenomenon is closely related to the degree of industrialization and intensity
of use of chemicals.
Regarding soil contamination risk is primarily health, directly and in contact with drinking
water sources. The delimitation of contaminated areas and the resulting cleaning tasks it is
time-consuming and money, requiring extensive skills geology, hydrography, chemistry and
computer models.
Causes
The main causes are: plastics, organics, solvents, pesticides (insecticides, herbicides,
fungicides) or radioactive substances that contaminate natural or artificial soil.

Pesticides or pesticides and insecticides

They are used to kill insect pests. They act on larvae, eggs or adult insects. One of the
most widely used insecticides was DDT, which is characterized by very fast. It works by
contact and is absorbed by the insect cuticle, causing death. This insecticide may be
maintained for 10 years or more in soil and does not decompose.
It has been shown that organochlorine insecticides, such as DDT, are introduced into the
food chain and concentrate in the fatty tissue of animals. The higher is in the chain ie
further away from the plant will be more concentrated insecticide. In every link in the chain,
will exist dose of insecticide in their tissues. However, in the carnivore 2nd order, the
insecticide will be much more concentrated.
The problem of pesticide contamination is increasingly serious both the quantity and
diversity as resistance to them to acquire some species, which causes increasing amount
of pesticide required to obtain the desired pest effect. However, the native flora and fauna
is affected increasingly destroying the natural diversity of the regions in which they are
used. They can be consumed by humans through plants and animals consumed as food.
There are other insecticides that are used in horticultural activities; They are biodegradable
and are not concentrated, but its toxic action is associated with the mechanism of

transmission of nerve impulses, resulting in contaminated nervous system uncoordinated

agencies.
Herbicides
They are a type of chemical that destroys vegetation, because they prevent the growth of
plants in their juvenile stage or exert an action on the metabolism of adults vegetables.
This means that birds that eat vegetation sprayed with these herbicides contaminated.
Fungicides
They are pesticides used to combat fungal growth (Fito parasites). They contain sulfur and
copper metals.
Mining activity
The exploitation of mineral resources generates a significant environmental impact: The
mining, both underground, surface work and generate several conditions.
Mining galleries intercepting aquifers and groundwater levels change, while pollute ground
and surface currents. The main features of the mineral waters are:
Altered pH: Spills may have values very highly acidic or alkaline pH. Cases of extreme
acidity (acid mine drainage) are associated with the benefit of sulfide ores (REF).
Contamination by salts and metal mines active extract groundwater flooding galleries and,
after the cessation of the activity, the farms are flooded spontaneously. The waters flowing
to the outside may contain high levels of phosphates, sulfates, nitrates, metals (lead,
copper, silver, manganese, cadmium, iron, zinc ...) and radionuclides. To this are added
the products used in the treatment of ore (cyanide, mercury, tense active ...).
Tailings: The remains of rock and mineral forms not used large piles with a great visual
impact. These include the "levees sterile" where we fi waste from the enrichment process
ore accumulate.
Powder: Mining operations generate large amounts of dust are carried by wind and
deposited nearby places to leeward.
Destruction of the landscape: The earthworks and excavations alter the relief and create
large areas of disturbed soil with a high aesthetic and environmental impact. The reliefs
are amended and surface subsidence and landslides are observed.

Effects of soil contamination

The presence of contaminants in soil assumes the existence of potential harmful effects to
humans, wildlife and vegetation in general. These toxic effects depend on the toxicological
characteristics of each pollutant and concentration. The enormous variety of existing
pollutants involves a broad spectrum of toxicological conditions which description is not the
subject of this work.

In general, the presence of contaminants in the soil is reflected directly on the vegetation
inducing their degradation, reducing the number of species present in the soil, and most
often the accumulation of contaminants in plants, without causing notable damage these.
In humans, the effects are restricted to ingestion and dermal contact, which in some cases
has resulted in heavy metal poisoning and more easily or semi volatile organic
compounds.
Indirectly, through the food chain, the incidence of contaminated soil may be more
relevant. Absorbed and accumulated by vegetation, soil contaminants pass fauna in much
higher doses than could do by ingestion of soil.
When these substances are bioaccumulative, the risk is amplified with increasing
concentrations of pollutants as you go up the food chain, on top of which man is.
Apart from the above mentioned purposes generally, there are other effects induced by
contaminated soil:
Landscape degradation: the presence of discharges and waste accumulation in places
unconditioned, generate a loss of landscape quality, which would be added in the most
serious cases the vegetation deterioration, abandonment of farming and the
disappearance wildlife.
Loss of land value: economically, and without considering the costs of recovery of soil,
the presence of pollutants in an area involves the devaluation of the same, resulting from
the restrictions of uses to be imposed on this ground, and thus, an economic loss for their
owners.
Probably the contamination appears: receiving quantities of wastes containing toxic
chemicals (in any physical state: solid, liquid, gaseous) incompatible with the ecological
balance; radioactive materials, not biodegradable; organic matter decomposition,
dangerous microorganisms.
Events such as:
Atomic tests, such as those made by the British in Australia, which cause the soil can not
undergo decontamination processes for thousands of years.
Nuclear accidents like Chernobyl show the incredible and massive contamination of soil,
water, air, due to the lack of common sense or restricting potential sources of pollution
laws.

The most common causes of soil contamination are:

Harmful agricultural technology (use of sewage or water contaminated rivers,
indiscriminate use of pesticides, hazardous pesticides and fertilizers in agriculture).

Lack or inappropriate use of systems of urban garbage disposal.

 Industry with non-regulation systems waste disposal.

Moreover, soil contamination occurs naturally; this occurs because some rocks exhibit
heavy metals (chromium, nickel, lead) which is incorporated into the soil in the weathering
process. These elements, in small proportions, are exploited, but in large quantities, are
harmful to health.
Other causes are also:
rupture of underground storage tanks: This is a secure method of storing liquid
flammable or combustible but may break because of the excessive burden of land around
it or covering the entrance of waste or traffic vibrations.

Filtered landfills: these small spaces designed for accumulation of trash and where it is
covered by layers of dirt and compacted in such a way that is not harmful to health, may
suffer any leakage or rupture in their cloaks.

Monoculture: the fact planting a single species on land without rest or fertilizer depletes
the soil, depleted of nutrients, causing erosion, sterility and desertification.

Consequences

Insecticides can be kept 10 years or more in the soil and do not decompose. It has been
shown that organochlorine insecticides, such as DDT, are introduced into the food chain
and concentrate in the fatty tissue of animals. The higher you are in the chain, ie, further
from the vegetables, more concentrated will the insecticide. Apart from the above
mentioned purposes generally, there are other effects induced by contaminated soil:
De- gradation landscape: the presence of discharges and waste accumulation in places
unconditioned, generate a loss of landscape quality, which would be added in the most
serious cases the vegetation deterioration, abandonment of agricultural activity and
disappearance of wildlife.
Loss of land value: economically, and without considering the costs of recovery of soil, the
presence of pollutants in an area involves the devaluation of the same, resulting from the
restrictions of uses to be imposed on this floor, and therefore an economic loss for their
owners.

Alteration of biogeochemical cycles.

Contamination of groundwater.

 Disruption of biological processes.

A dif fi cult contaminated soil development life wildlife without food or clean water exist, the
species migrate or suffer irreparable damage to their reproductive chain. This process is
then suffers what is called "landscape degradation" and hence a loss in the value of land,
agricultural activities are stopped, wildlife disappears and the land is useless.
Some solutions to this problem may be:
Eco agriculture is gaining ground gradually artificial agriculture especially in European
countries and in some poor communities seeking alternative crops for their food. Eco
farming uses no pesticides or agrochemicals, just based on the traditional way of planting,
fertilize and harvest food.
Another solution is the recycling of plastics, batteries, glass or car oils and cooking
because they are elements that take many years to degrade, so this action helps keep our
free soil contaminants.

The regulation of certain practices such as mining, industrial activity that produces toxic
waste. Find solutions ranging from cleaning the area to the simple delimitation of the
damaged area and the prohibition of use for certain activities.
Usually, actions focus on improving recycling plants to reduce soil contamination and, at
the same time water, proper waste recycling and treatment of waste and the promotion of
renewable energies. Keep sewerage networks in good condition and improve wastewater
purification and treatment of industrial discharges that are returned to nature.