Soil Pollution and It's effects on human health . Soil is a renewable source which maintain balance in ecosystem . Disturbance of this ecosystem balance by soil pollution can lead adverse effects not only human but also plants and other living organism . Many of the adverse Effects is seen by duration of exposure short term or long term . FDA monitors the effects on human health by soil pollution. Soil pollution is defined as the presence of toxic chemicals (pollutants or contaminants) in soil, in high enough concentrations to pose a risk to human health and/or the ecosystem .

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Its Effects On Human Health
By Divya Bhargavi

2. Soil Pollution
• Soil contamination or soil pollution as part of land degradation is
caused by the presence of xenobiotics (human-made) chemicals or
other alteration in the natural soil environment.
• Soil is an essential, non-renewable resource providing vital supporting,
regulating, provisioning, and cultural ecosystem services. Contamination
of soils by inorganic and organic pollutants can result in a decline in soil
quality and its capability to support ecosystem functions
• The root cause of soil pollution is often one of the following:
a. Agriculture (excessive/improper use of pesticides)
b. Excessive industrial activity
c. Poor management or inefficient disposal of waste
• The term ‘xenobiotic’ has Greek roots – ‘Xeons’ (foreigner), and ‘Bios’
(life). Several xenobiotics are known to be carcinogens
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3. Soil Pollution
• Among the most common causes of soil contamination caused by
human activity, the FAO( Food And Agriculture Organization) highlights
industry, mining, military activities, waste — which includes technological
waste — and wastewater management, farming, stock breeding the
building of urban and transport infrastructures. Soil degradation affects
the quality of air and water, particularly in developing countries.
•
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Element Element Soil Species
Arsenic As AsO3 2-, AsO4 3-
Cadmium Cd Cd2+
Chromium Cr Cr3+, CrO4 2-
Copper Cu Cu2+
Mercury Hg Hg2+, (CH3 ) 2 Hg
Nickel Ni Ni2+
Lead Pb Pb2+
Zinc Zn Zn2+

4. Pollutants that Contaminate Soil
4 12/17/2020 Pollutants That Contaminate soil

5. Pollutants that Contaminate Soil
Toxic Metals that Cause Soil Pollution
Arsenic Mercury Lead
Antimony Zinc Nickel
Cadmium Selenium Beryllium
Thallium Chromium Copper
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The different types of pollutants that are found in contaminated soil are listed in this subsection.
Heavy Metals
The presence of heavy metals (such as lead and mercury, in abnormally high concentrations) in
soils can cause it to become highly toxic to human beings. Some metals that can be classified as
soil pollutants are tabulated below.

6. Pollutants that Contaminate Soil
• Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons
• Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (often abbreviated to PAHs) are
organic compounds that:
1.Contain only carbon and hydrogen atoms.
2.Contain more than one aromatic ring in their chemical structures.
• Common examples of PAHs include naphthalene, anthracene, and
phenalene. Exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons has been
linked to several forms of cancer. These organic compounds can also
cause cardiovascular diseases in humans.
• Soil pollution due to PAHs can be sourced to coke (coal) processing,
vehicle emissions, cigarette smoke, and the extraction of shale oil
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7. Pollutants that Contaminate Soil
• Industrial Waste
• The discharge of industrial waste into soils can result in soil pollution.
Some common soil pollutants that can be sourced to industrial waste
are listed below.
• Chlorinated industrial solvents
• Dioxins produced from the manufacture of pesticides and the
incineration of waste.
• Plasticizers/dispersants
• Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
• The petroleum industry creates many petroleum hydrocarbon waste
products. Some of these wastes, such as benzene and methylbenzene,
are known to be carcinogenic in nature
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8. 8 12/17/2020 Pathway Of Soil Pollution
Pathway Of Soil Pollution

9. Pollutants that Contaminate Soil
• Pesticides
• Pesticides are substances (or mixtures of substances) that are used to kill or
inhibit the growth of pests. Common types of pesticides used in agriculture
include:
• Herbicides – used to kill/control weeds and other unwanted plants.
• Ex: Triazines, Carbamates, amides , Phenoxy alkyl acids ,Aliphatic acids
• Insecticides – used to kill insects. Ex : Organophosphates , Chlorinated
hydrocarbons , Arsenic-containing compounds , Pyrethrum
• Fungicides – used to kill parasitic fungi or inhibit their growth. Ex: Mercury-
containing compounds , Thiocarbamates , Copper Sulphate
• However, the unintentional diffusion of pesticides into the environment
(commonly known as ‘pesticide drift’) poses a variety of environmental concerns
such as water pollution and soil pollution
• These chemicals pose several health risks to humans. Examples of health
hazards related to pesticides include diseases of the central nervous system,
immune system diseases, cancer, and birth defects
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10. Pollutants that Contaminate Soil
• Natural Pollution of Soil
• In some extremely rare processes, some pollutants are naturally
accumulated in soils. This can occur due to the differential deposition of
soil by the atmosphere. Another manner in which this type of soil
pollution can occur is via the transportation of soil pollutants with
precipitation water.
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11. 11 12/17/2020 Pathway of contamination by soil pollution
Pathway of contamination by soil pollution

12. It’s Effect On Human Health
• Effects on Human Beings
 Soil contaminants can exist in all three phases (solid, liquid, and gaseous). Therefore, these contaminants can find
their way into the human body via several channels such as direct contact with the skin or through the inhalation of
contaminated soil dust.
 The short term effects of human exposure to polluted soil include:
• Headaches, nausea, and vomiting.
• Coughing, pain in the chest, and wheezing.
• Irritation of the skin and the eyes.
• Fatigue and weakness.
 A variety of long-term ailments have been linked to soil pollution. Some such diseases are listed below.
• Exposure to high levels of lead can result in permanent damage to the nervous system. Children are particularly
vulnerable to lead.
• Depression of the CNS (Central Nervous System).
• Damage to vital organs such as the kidney and the liver.
• Higher risk of developing cancer.
• It can be noted that many soil pollutants such as petroleum hydrocarbons and industrial solvents have been linked
to congenital disorders in humans. Thus, soil pollution can have several negative effects on human health.
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13. It’s Effect On Human Health
• Chronic exposure to chromium, lead and other metals, petroleum,
solvents, and many pesticide and herbicide formulations can be
carcinogenic, can cause congenital disorders, or can cause other
chronic health conditions
• Chronic exposure to benzene at sufficient concentrations is known to be
associated with higher incidence of leukemia.
• Mercury and cycloidians are known to induce higher incidences of
kidney damage and some irreversible diseases
• PCBs and cycloidians are linked to liver toxicity.
• Organophosphates and carbonates can induce a chain of responses
leading to neuromuscular blockage
• Many chlorinated solvents induce liver changes, kidney changes and
depression of the central nervous system
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14. It’s Effect On Human Health
Clean-up options :
• Clean-up or environmental remediation is analysed by environmental scientists who utilize field measurement
of soil chemicals and also apply computer models (GIS in Environmental Contamination) for analyzing
transport[10] and fate of soil chemicals. Various technologies have been developed for remediation of oil-
contaminated soil and sediments [11] There are several principal strategies for remediation:
• Excavate soil and take it to a disposal site away from ready pathways for human or sensitive ecosystem contact.
This technique also applies to dredging of bay muds containing toxins.
• Aeration of soils at the contaminated site (with attendant risk of creating air pollution)
• Thermal remediation by introduction of heat to raise subsurface temperatures sufficiently high to volatize chemical
contaminants out of the soil for vapor extraction. Technologies include ISTD, electrical resistance heating (ERH),
and ET-DSP.
• Bioremediation, involving microbial digestion of certain organic chemicals. Techniques used in bioremediation
include landfarming, bio stimulation and bioaugmentation soil biota with commercially available microflora.
• Extraction of groundwater or soil vapor with an active electromechanical system, with subsequent stripping of the
contaminants from the extract.
• Containment of the soil contaminants (such as by capping or paving over in place).
• Phytoremediation, or using plants (such as willow) to extract heavy metals.
• Myco remediation, or using fungus to metabolize contaminants and accumulate heavy metals.
• Remediation of oil contaminated sediments with self-collapsing air microbubbles.
• Surfactant leaching
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