Soil Pollution

Environment and Ecology Pollution

Soil Pollution

A fertile soil is capable of producing a large variety of plants, which are so important for supporting animal life. But soil has been subjected to various types of pollutants such as (i) Pollutants that are washed out of atmosphere that are washed out of atmosphere (ii) pesticides, insecticides and biocides, sprayed over the crops may find their way along with water to the soil (iii) Nitrogenous fertilizers, mixed with soil to increase its productivity may sometimes have negative effect on the soil. Such soil pollutants destroy the natural structure and alter the chemical nature of the soil.

Soil erosion, unplanned irrigation, and deforestation also affect adversely the soil productivity. Soil

Effect of heavy metal pollution on man

Metal Toxic effects

Metral	Toxic effects
Cadmium	Diarrhea, retarded growth, bone deformation, Kidney damage, testicular atrophy, Hypertension, tumour formations hepatic injury, anemia, CNS injury etc.
Copper	Hypertension, sporadic fever, uremias, coma etc.
Barium:	Excessive Salivation, colic vomiting, diarrhoea, paralysis, etc.
Zinc:	vomiting, renal damage, cramps, etc.
Mercury:	Abdominal pain, headache, diarrhoea, hemolysis etc.
Lead:	Anemia, brain damage, vomiting, liver, Kidney damage etc.
Arsenic:	Disturbances of peripheral circulation, mental disturbances liver cirrhosis, hyperkeratosis, kidney damage, lung cancer, ulcer in digestive tract etc.
Selenium:	Fever, nervousness, vomiting, dental caries, low blood pressure, liver, kidney, spleen damage, blindness etc.
Cobalt:	Paralysis, diarrhoea, low blood pressure lung irritation, bone defects etc.
Chromium:	Cancer, nephritis, gastrointestinal ulcer etc.

Fertility increases by absorption of water bound nutrients soil also helps the purification of water bound nutrients soil also helps the purification of waste water. Some of the solid wastes, such as garbage, trash, ashes, sludge, building materials rubble, empty bottles, etc. dumped on land may cause problems and some sort of soil pollution.