Feb
Air pollution is getting almost all of the attention but soil pollution is another serious problem. Soil pollution is a concern which is just as important as air pollution. As soil pollution is in the ground, it is not that obvious to detect. There are tests which can be run to show you if the soil is healthy enough to be put into use.
If water is tainted, it could quite easily seep into the soil and make the soil contaminated. Because of this, plants become less productive and usually do not grow very well. A lot of the foods we consume have been affected by pollution in the soil and are not very good to eat. Air pollution is not able to improve since the plants are not able to remove the carbon monoxide in the air because of soil pollution. Human blunder and negligence are the primary causes to the soil pollution we have now. Chemicals found in storage tanks are put underground, and they often leak, allowing the chemicals to flow throughout the soil. As a result, a lot of plants stop growing and the area basically becomes dead with no life found.
Other pollutants seep into the soil from lots of sources like the landfill. In earlier times waste from companies and individuals was dumped in landfills, that did very little to protect the land. With rainwater or snow, the water could flush any number of chemicals in the ground. The chemicals spread by falling into subterranean rivers that carry the chemicals to many different places. Nowadays, lots of modern landfills are built to stop chemicals from seeping into the ground and limiting certain garbage from being dumped there.
The use of pesticides and the negative effects on soil and wildlife have been well documented. Many environmental associations are lobbying the government to safeguard the soil from harmful chemicals. Through more stringent laws on certain pesticide sprays and the boost in organic farming, there’s hope that soil pollution will improve. Companies are making changes also including using biodegradable resources. The United States has the most severe soil pollution issue in the world. This has come about with the high level of advancement, along with a practically complete disregard for the environment.
Having said that, as more people understand more about soil pollution, the more action is being taken to solve the problem. There are several programs being implemented across the nation to try to make the problem better by reducing soil pollution. It really is wonderful that there are a lot of people who are being more mindful about their health and are concerned about the soil.