Soil Pollution

Soil pollution refers to the contamination of soil with anomalous concentrations of toxic substances.

It is a serious environmental concern since it harbours many health hazards. For example, exposure to soil containing high concentrations of benzene increases the risk of contracting leukaemia. An image detailing the discolouration of soil due to soil pollution is provided above.

The root cause of soil pollution is often one of the following:

• Agriculture (excessive/improper use of pesticides)
• Excessive industrial activity
• Poor management or inefficient disposal of waste

The challenges faced in soil remediation (decontamination of soil) are closely related to the extent of soil pollution. The greater the contamination, the greater the requirement for resources for remediation.