International Journal of Civil Engineering and Technology (IJCIET)

Volume 6, Issue 11, Nov 2015, pp. 32-38, Article ID: IJCIET_06_11_004
Available online at
http://www.iaeme.com/IJCIET/issues.asp?JType=IJCIET&VType=6&IType=11
ISSN Print: 0976-6308 and ISSN Online: 0976-6316
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IMPACTS OF SOIL AND WATER

POLLUTION ON FOOD SAFETY AND
HEALTH RISKS
BADER A. HAKAMI
Faculty of Earth Sciences, King Abdul Aziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

ABSTRACT
The food safety and environmental pollution is interlinked and considered
to be important issues in today’s world. Historically, the soil and water
pollution has impacted food safety and ultimately an important threat for
health. The situation is very challenging in most of the countries where the
pollution and risks of increasing food safety have affected large set of
population. The scarcity of water, over application of pesticides, chemical
application and other pollutants are most important factors which impacts
food safety in a drastic manner. The study will cater to the waste and soil
pollution and their impacts of human health. In present scenario, there is a
shortage of water resources which led to the irrigation of waste for fulfillment
of water requirements in the agricultural production. This kind of usage
causes serous health impacts due to water and soil pollution. Therefore, it is
important to address these issues and threatening safety to reduce potential
risks to health. Also, the negative effects on food safety from soil and water
pollution have increased the risk of several diseases in people. The soil and
waste pollution is a major area of concern and comprehensive prevention
strategies are required to resolve the concerns. The holistic prevention
strategies are also detailed in last section of study for understanding the ways
to reduce soil and water pollution and achieve better food safety.
Cite this Article: Bader A. Hakami. Impacts of Soil and Water Pollution on
Food Safety and Health Risks. International Journal of Civil Engineering and
Technology, 6(11), 2015, pp. 32-38.
http://www.iaeme.com/IJCIET/issues.asp?JType=IJCIET&VType=6&IType=11

1.0 INTRODUCTION
Water and soil pollution are two major concerns within the environmental pollution.
The pollution occurs when the specific polluted material is added to the water body or
land area which has adverse effects. Once the pollution exists in particular area of
land or water body, it is not possible to return the water and soil to its previous state
and therefore, prevention is very important from pollution. The study have

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 Impacts of Soil and Water Pollution on Food Safety and Health Risks

demonstrated basics of soil pollution and water pollution, causes of pollution, diseases
and overall impact of pollution of health and corrective actions to prevent pollution
and achieve food safety.

2.0 STUDY OBJECTIVES

The study caters to the understanding of water pollution and soil pollution specifically
and also, details the health effects to understand the impact of pollution of food safety.
The health risks need to be reduced for better and healthy environment. For the same
reason, the water and soil pollution basics and related area of concerns are detailed
below for clear understanding of study.

2.1 Water Pollution

Water pollution can be strike in any water body such as river, oceans, lakes etc. The
polluting substance is mostly wastage made by humans such as commercial waste,
garbage, agricultural runoffs which cause pollution in later stages. The water pollution
also causes marine creatures and increases health risks of human beings. Water is
considered to be very important resource and consumed by marine creates, plants and
have direct impact on human beings. The main causes of water pollution are industrial
wastages, sewage, and pesticide utilization in agriculture and oil spills. The untreated
sewage is dumped in rivers and it causes various health risks such as typhoid, cholera,
dysentery etc (Reuter, 2008). The continuous and uncontrollable growth of algae in
water causes increased risks to health. Mostly, the harmful bacteria’s flourish in the
untreated sewage and drinking water becomes contaminated and causes various types
of diseases in rapid manner (Hogan, 2010). The sewage need to be treated properly
and recycled within the environment. The local government agencies can monitor the
average level of water in river, dams and sea and investigations can be conducted
when they exceed that effluent level of water. The toxic wastes from industrial
wastage are mostly dumped illegally in rivers, dams and streams.
There are various chemicals such as mercury, cyanide; heavy metals such as
copper and lead are non-biodegradable. They are poisoned as toxins concentration and
increase toxins in the food chains. These chemical are very poisonous and even causes
cancer and major harm to the internal organs of people. Most of the times, the power
stations and factories pump hot water in streams and river which causes thermal
pollution (Thomas, 2010). The increased temperature of water causes the pollution
and non-tolerance of extreme environment changes causes pollution in water.
Ultimately, it causes water decay and increases disease causing bacteria’s in the
water. Another cause is the oil spread because there are regular leakages and sinking
of oil from oil tankers while transportation (Mielke, 2009). The oil spread across the
large sea surfaces and cause water pollution with the ingestion of oil in the water.

2.2 Soil Pollution

Soil pollution arises from various sources such as utilization of excessive amount of
fertilizer and chemicals on land areas. Mostly, the soil pollution arises from the
leakage of waste in ground such as seepage from landfills, radioactive contamination,
oil spills etc. Soil pollution can also occur due to damage of underground tanks
containing toxic chemicals. The polluted soils are very serious threat to health of
human beings as they regularly come in contact with food grown in the soil
(Voulvoulis, 2010). The soil sustains on earth throughout the life and toots of plants in
soil absorbs water and nutrients during photosynthesis process and grows plant. The

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 BADER A. HAKAMI

consumers of soils are also benefitted as it provides habitat to many consumers. The
land is abused with various acts, irresponsible behavior and pollution, soil harms and
many careless acts and it is equivalently important for survival of organisms
(Oyewole, 2012). Mainly, the soil pollution occurs from the dumping of toxic water
into the soil and deforestation. The litter is another problem in current scenario
because there are various man made materials such as glass, plastic, tin which are
non-biodegradable. Litter results in soil pollution when they are not disposed in
proper manner. These items should be placed in disposal containers and need to be
dumped in landfills covered with soil. The litter attracts mosquitoes, flies and rats
which are unhygienic and increase risks to soil. Also, the disposal of toxic chemical
need to be done in sealed containers which can be buried in cemented landfills (Kahn,
2007). These landfills need to be managed properly to avoid the leakage of containers.
The leakage of toxic chemicals will result in contamination of rivers and streams and
absorbed by the soil causing toxic poisoning and major diseases. The illegal dumping
of toxic chemical in seal eventually leak or corrode which impacts the health risks and
overall environment (Reagan, 2009). The local government agencies can take care of
the soil pollution policies with the analysis of special areas and demarcation of
dumping of toxic wastes.

3.0 HEALTH IMPACTS

3.1 Water pollution
It is evident that the water is very essential for healthy living and healthy
environment. The sufficient amount of clean and fresh water is the basic need of
human beings but depriving of the fact, fresh water resources are threatened by poor
management, over exploitation and ecological degradation. The main source of fresh
water pollution is the discharge of untreated sewage, industrial wastages, and
agricultural fields (Schueler, 2010). The growth and urbanization of industries are
causing the natural resources and have adverse effects in health. Most of the
developed countries are facing these issues due to large amount of chemical discharge
in water sources while developing the countries. The polluted water causes various
diseases and other problems to health related to water-borne diseases.

3.1.1 Groundwater contamination

There are many areas of surface and groundwater areas which are contaminated by
heavy metals, nutrients and other organic pollutants which affect health in
considerable manner. Mainly, the water-borne diseases occurs die to incompetent and
inadequate management of various water resources. The safe water can only be
assured when the sustainability, equity and access is guaranteed (Robertson, 2012).
The access means the various numbers of people who consumes safe drinking water
in sufficient quantities. The sustainability means the there is no need to make extra
effort to safeguard the water and equity means the equal distribution of water in
different segments of society (Dickey, 2011). Mostly the urban areas have high
amount of safe water as compared to rural areas. There is a variation that some areas
pay for accessing safe water and some cannot pay for these services and consumer
water from hand pumps and similar sources. In urban areas, water is contaminated in
different ways and some of the common reasons are leaking water joint lines and
sewage line close to water line (Grayson, 2012). The water gets polluted at the source
itself due to large inflow of sewage. The other major reasons of water contamination
are described in detail below.

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 Impacts of Soil and Water Pollution on Food Safety and Health Risks

Pesticides – The golf courses, backyards and run-off from farms contain various
types of pesticides such as DDT which contaminates the water. Another major source
of contamination is leechate from landfill sites. It affects the health and ecosystem and
reproductive damage and ultimately, food safety (Morgan, 2013). The groundwater
can be contaminated easily with the utilization of pesticides and persistent use of
chemicals.
Sewage – Most of the untreated sewage is major source of water contamination
and water pollution. The discharged organic material through municipal wastes and
other water courses utilize substantial oxygen and upset the ecological balance of
lakes and rivers (Schueler, 2010). The use of water by people for cooking and other
utilities affects the health and food safety in an influential manner.
Nutrients – The domestic wastage of water and industrial wastages and
agricultural run-offs contain substantial amount of nitrogen and phosphorus which
increase the level of nutrients in water and causes eutrophication in water. Mostly, the
nitrates are added in water through fertilizers (Laws, 2009). The excessive use of
fertilizers contaminates the groundwater and ultimately drinking water and food
safety. The good practices in agriculture can reduce the nitrate amount in soil and
reduce the water contamination.
Synthetic organics – There are many synthetic compounds in the water
environment which accumulate food chain. The persistent organic pollutants are one
of the most harmful elements in the ecosystem and impacts health in a considerable
manner such as agricultural pesticides, industrial chemicals etc. (Yardley, 2007). The
chemicals accumulate serious damages to health of human beings. The usage of
pesticides contaminates groundwater and drinking water.
Acidification – The process of acidification in surface water and mainly in
reservoirs and lakes are main environmental impacts (Liiri, 2012). Also, the air
pollution generates from power plants and heavy industries causes further
contamination in water.

3.2 Soil pollution

There are various health impacts of soil pollution and it is mainly caused by the
human made chemicals and major alterations in the natural environment. The extreme
industrial activities, improper disposal of wastage, agricultural chemicals generate soil
pollution. And most common chemicals involved in soil pollution are polynuclear
hydrocarbons, petroleum hydrocarbons, pesticides, lead, solvents and heavy metals
(Zaikab, 2011). The contamination of soil is also related to the intensity of usage of
chemicals. The concerns of soil contamination generate high health risks to human
beings and negatively impacts food safety. The human beings come in direct contact
with contaminated soil through the food underlying in the soil. The mapping of soil
and cleanups are very time consuming and very expensive and also requires high
amount of hydrology, geology, modeling skills, chemistry and therefore, the process
is not conducted in the sites (Sanborn, 2007). Soil pollution can be caused by various
reasons such as deforestation, erosion of land, intensive use of chemical and
fertilizers, industrial accidents, mining, buried wastes, acid rain, illegal dumping on
land areas, other accident spills, nuclear wastes, intensive farming practices, genetic
modification, dumping of oil and fuel, electric waste, disposal of coal ash and
ammunitions, drainage of polluted water into soil (Wachman, 2008). The major health
risks generates due to inhalation of contaminated soils which are generally vaporized

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 BADER A. HAKAMI

and considered to be greatest threat to food safety. The infiltration of contaminated

soil causes unsafe food and used for human consumption further.
The consequences of soil pollution to health consequences and food safety vary
according to the type of pollutants, attack pathway and exposed pollution
vulnerability. Mainly, the chronic exposure to heavy metals leads to the formulation
of carcinogenic and congenital disorders and other chronic diseases (Brutsaert, 2013).
The industrial wastes and other man made wastages formulate ammonia and nitrate
associated manure and they are serious health hazards for human health. The high
chronic exposure of benzene is highly associated with leukemia incidences. The
cyclodienes and mercury induces high incidences of damage to kidney and negatively
impacts the health. The cyclodienes are also linked to the toxicity of liver. The
neuromuscular blockage is also a response to carbomates and organophosphates
(Schueler, 2010). There are various chlorinating solvents which impacts kidney and
liver changes and also, affects overall nervous system. The entire spectrum of health
effects is caused because of soil pollution and impacts food chain in a negative
manner. The large number of soil contaminants causes exposure to health impacts and
negative aspects of food safety.

4.0 CORRECTIVE ACTIONS

There are various correction actions which can be taken to prevent water and soil
pollution and improve the health impacts and food safety. The core objective of the
corrective action is to reduce the risk to human health by contamination of soil and
water. Most of the wastages are manmade and therefore, it is important to increase
awareness about health risks of soil and water pollution and their adverse impacts of
food safety (Olawoyin, 2012). The risk exposure can be mitigated by the reduction of
concentrations, metals, pesticides and other chemicals to reduce pollution levels. The
proposed corrective actions for reducing water pollution are as follows:
 Promoting education of community and society about the importance of recycling
water and water storage concerns.
 Provide sufficient amount of containers to recycle tin, plastic, paper and glass and
other materials causing water pollution
 Encouraging fines for sewage dumping in streams and rivers and similar illegal acts.
 Ensuring the informal settlements with good facilities for removal of sewage by
municipalities (Hogan, 2010)
 Enforcing strict laws for prevention of industrial wastage and dumping industrial
wastages in dams, streams, rivers and seas
 Enforcing laws and penalties for the oil tankers leakage and sink and oil spills
 Conducting close check of oil tankers for their seaworthiness
 Encouraging accountability of oil companies for cleaning up oil spills
 Encouraging people for using organic fertilizers (Hengl, 2008)
 Encouraging use of natural pesticides instead of using natural enemies
 Educating farmers about approved pesticides and herbicides (Dickey, 2011).
 The proposed corrective actions for reducing soil pollution are as follows:
 Educating people for reducing and recycling the wastages and providing containers to
recycle non-biodegradable materials
 Enforcing laws for prevention of wastage dumping in unauthorized areas
 Enforcing fines for litter

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 Impacts of Soil and Water Pollution on Food Safety and Health Risks

 Utilizing indigenous tree for afforestation

 Educating farmers for crop rotation
 Ensuring waste removal properly (Newton, 2008)
 Ensuring the sufficient amount of dustbins in cities by local government and agencies
 Formation of action group and committees for cleaning up the environment.

5.0 RESEARCH LIMITATIONS

There are various challenges while conducting the study because the water and soil
pollution issues are very common and adapted by people in the environment. The
local government and agencies were also not supportive while providing important
data for the soil and water pollution and their health impacts of food safety. The food
chain is closely allied with water and soil and thereby, has major impacts by pollution.
Another issue was the information sharing which was restrained and necessary
information was not shared by farmers, industrialists, oil companies etc. They were
reluctant for sharing information related to the study. The main consideration was
improper management of waste in most of the areas and habit of dumping wastages
illegally in the unauthorized areas. The attempts to educate farmers, industries and site
managers are significant for improving the concerns of soil and water pollution and
enhance food safety. Also, the time limitation and resources constraints while
collecting the data was present throughout the study.

6.0 CONCLUSIONS
The study has concentrated on evaluating the impacts of soil and water pollution on
food safety and health risks within the environment. The overview of water and soil
pollution and their health impacts on food safety and risks to human health has been
explained for understanding the clear purpose of study. The study has been conducted
to understand the causes of water and soil contamination and their ultimate effects on
the health of human beings and food safety implications. There are various linkages of
water and soil contamination with food safety and also, various diseases occur due to
soil and water pollution. Therefore, the study have concentrated on the health impacts,
pollution, soil and water contamination and other factors contributing to the negative
health impacts. It is evident that the soil and water pollution have long term negative
impacts on the health and food safety and therefore, various corrective actions have
been provided for improving the current situation and reduce contamination up to
maximum extent. The assessment of health risks and food safety risks are conducted
to take into account the environmental characteristics of soil and water and their
relation with human activities.
The water and soil pollutants are found to be crucial for entire food chain of
supply and the effects of contamination can be reduced with implementation of
corrective actions within the environment. The high exposure of water and soil
contamination to human beings causes health impacts and various problems. The
health problem includes liver, cancer and other circulatory system problems (Philipp,
2012). Therefore, the man-made wastage has to be managed properly for reducing the
impacts of soil and water pollution of health of human beings and have better food
safety.

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 BADER A. HAKAMI

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