Environment pollution is increasing day by day with air, soil, and water. Soil bears the greatest burden of environmental pollution. It is getting polluted in many ways. It is urgently necessary to control the soil pollution to preserve the soil fertility and increase productivity. Soil contamination is one of the main concerns in environmental project management.
Pollution may be defined as an undesirable change in the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of air, water, and soil affecting human lives, living plants and animals, industrial progress, living conditions, and cultural assets. Most pollutants are introduced in the environment by sewage, waste, and accidental discharge.
What is soil contamination?
Soil contamination is the occurrence of contaminants in soil above a certain level causing deterioration or loss of one or more soil functions. It occurs in two forms – point pollution, and diffuse pollution. Point pollution is caused by a specific event or series of events to a particular place like a factory site. Diffuse pollution involves low levels of contaminants spread over very wide areas that become lodged in the soil as it acts as a sink. Examples of such contaminants would be heavy metals or herbicides or pesticides used in agriculture.
Point pollution is found in particular places like ex industrial land, or areas to accidental spillage of contaminants. Diffuse pollution is much more widely spread in areas depending on the practices that give rise to the form of contamination.
Cause of soil contamination
Soil contamination can arise as a result of a wide range of activities. Mining can release sulphuric acid, arsenic, and mercury into the soil; hydrocarbons are released during fuel storage, and lead by steel works, asbestos fibers are released during demolition works. Human, industrial, and agricultural waste can cause soil contamination when leak, spills, and rupture of pipelines occur.
Various different wastes were used as a general backfill in low lying urban areas like metal can or coal slags. This also can lead to issues like soil contamination when modern day construction projects excavate from these areas of historical contaminated backfills.
Being located next to a site with contaminated soil causes many many unexpected issues for project managers and engineers as flooding or groundwater flow can transfer soil contamination.
How to prevent soil contamination
Some ways to mitigate soil contamination by individuals, governments, and organizations are discussed below.
- Reduce, reuse, and recycle
Some of the household wastes are taken to landfills for disposal. Plastics and other materials slowly break down in landfills by releasing toxic substances into soil. Some substances are very harmful for soil health and inaugurate a major source of contamination. Lower the use of disposable products and recycle items to limit the amount of waste that ends up in landfills contributing to soil contamination.
- Limited use of chemical fertilizers
Proper amounts of chemical fertilizers can improve soil fertility but overusing them can lead to soil contamination in many ways. Too much chemical fertilizer can derange soil pH levels and destroy beneficial microorganisms. Going from the soil where fertilizer is used also contaminates water. That is why fertilizers need to be favored over chemicals.
- Improve waste management
Many administrations have hazardous waste management regulations to protect the environment. It is important for the government to enforce these regulations strictly.
- Stop deforestation
One of the main causes of soil contamination is soil erosion by deforestation. Tree planting needs to be encouraged in deforested areas. The roots of plants bind the soil together and can help remediate it.
Effects of soil contamination in the environmental project management
Soil contamination has many adverse effects on ecosystems and human health. The consequences can come from direct contact with the contaminated soil or exposure to other resources like grown food in the soil that has flowed through it. Some effects of soil contamination are discussed below.
- Many soil contaminants are carcinogenic. People who are exposed to them are likely to have cancer. Contaminated soil can lead to other health problems like depression of the central nervous system, headache, nausea, fatigue, and skin rashes.
- Soil contamination can negatively affect the metabolisms of microorganisms and arthropods destroying some levels of the food chain. Smaller life forms ingest the harmful chemicals in the soil which then pass to the food chain of large animals, leading to increased mortality rates.
- Soil pollution also contaminates the groundwater. As the groundwater collects underneath layers of soil, any toxins present in the soil can mix into the water and pollute it.
- Most plants are unable to adapt when soil chemistry changes due to contamination. Soil contamination can alter their metabolism and reduce their ability to absorb nutrients and perform photosynthesis, interfering with their growth.
Conclusion
The growing global population combined with increasing migration to urban centers are redeveloped to meet demand. As a result, soil contamination is increasing day by day. It affects the environment badly. Environmental project managers can help to create a healthier and more sustainable future by focusing on environmental factors and utilizing advanced technologies in reducing soil contamination.
