SOIL POLLUTION WHAT IS SOIL POLLUTION?

The contamination of soil with solid waste, acid rain excess of fertilizers, Insecticides and herbicides is called soil pollution (or land pollution). Soil pollution results from the build up of contaminants, toxic compounds, radioactive materials, salts, chemicals and cancer-causing agents. The most common soil pollutants are hydrocarbons, heavy metals (cadmium, lead, chromium, copper, zinc, mercury and arsenic), herbicides, pesticides, oils, tars, PCBs and dioxins. Until the 1970s, there was little talk of soil pollution and its devastating effects. In the 1980s, the U.S. Superfund was created to set guidelines for the handling of hazardous material and soil contamination cleanup. Today there are more than 200,000 sites awaiting EPA soil cleanup, which is very expensive and labor-intensive work. Even a small cleanup project can cost $10,000, while larger areas require millions of dollars to clean it up for future use. Soil pollution is caused by the presence of xenobiotic (man-made) chemicals or other alteration in the natural soil environment. This type of contamination typically arises from the rupture of underground storage tanks, application of pesticides, percolation of contaminated surface water to subsurface strata, oil and fuel dumping, leaching of wastes from landfills or direct discharge of industrial wastes to the soil. The most common chemicals involved are petroleum hydrocarbons, solvents, pesticides, lead and other heavy metals. This occurrence of this phenomenon is correlated with the degree of industrializations and intensities of chemical usage. The concern over soil contamination stems primarily from health risks, from direct contact with the contaminated soil, vapors from the contaminants, and from secondary contamination of water supplies within and underlying the soil. Mapping of contaminated soil sites and the resulting cleanup are time consuming and expensive tasks, requiring extensive amounts of geology, hydrology, chemistry and computer modeling skills. SOIL POLLUTION A CASE STUTY OF JHARKHAND INTRODUCTION Soil pollution means the change in physical chemical and biological conditions of the soil through mans misuse of land and hence resulting degradation in quality and productivity of land. It is also caused by the presence of xenobotic chemicals or other alternative in the natural soil environment this type of contamination typically arises from the underground storage tanks application of contaminated surface water to subsurface strata oil fuel dumping leaching of waste from landfill or direct discharge of industrial wastes to the soil. The most common chemicals involved are petroleum hydrocarbons, solvents, pesticides, lead and other heavy metals. This occurrence of this phenomenon is correlated with the degree of industrializations and intensities of chemical usage. The concern over soil contamination stems primarily from health risks, from direct contact with the contaminated soil vapors from contaminants and from secondary contamination of water supplies within the underlying the soil. Mapping of contamination soil sites and the resulting cleanup are time consuming and expensive tasks, requiring extensive amounts of ecology, hydrology, chemistry, and computer modeling skills. In India required attention has not been paid to proper management

of the land and soil resources that has resulted serious degradation. The land area which is recorded is 30.6 crore hectares. Out of this 17.6 crore hectares are subjected to the environmental problems. Water and wind erosion is causing damage to 15 crore hectares of the land and this constitutes a major threat to the countries sustainable development. Soil pollution also leads to the water and air pollutions. Soil pollution not only affects the crops but it also affects the environment, ecosystem health of human, animals and environment. Soil pollution can lead to water pollution if toxic chemicals reach in to groundwater or if contaminated run of reaches streams, lakes or oceans. Soil also naturally contributes to air pollution by releasing volatile compounds into the atmosphere. The decomposition of organic materials in soil can release sulfur dioxide and other sulfur compounds, causing acid rain. Heavy metals and other potentially toxic elements are the most serious soil pollutions in sewage. Sewage sludge contains heavy metals and, if applied repeatedly or in large amounts, the treated soil may accumulate heavy metal and consequently become unable to even support plant life. The ever increasing population of the environment has been one of the greatest concerns for science and the general public in the last fifty years. Soil pollution can lead to water pollutions. The rapid industrialization of agriculture, expansion of chemical industry, and the need to generate cheap forms of energy has caused the continuous release of man made organic chemicals in to natural ecosystem. Consequently the ecosystem, the atmosphere, bodies of water, and many soils environments have become polluted by a large variety of toxic compounds. Many of these compounds at high concentrations or following prolonged exposure have the potential to produce adverse effects in humans and other organisms: these include the danger of acute toxicity, mutagenesis, carcinogenesis, and teratogenesis for human and other organisms. Some of these man made toxic compounds are also resistant to physical, chemicals, or biological degradation and thus represent an environmental burden of considerable magnitude. There are various types of soil pollution which are given bellow. 1) Agricultural soil pollution * Pollution of surface soil. * Pollution of underground soil 2) Soil pollution by industrial effluents and solid wastes * Pollution of surface soil. * Disturbances in soil profile 3) Pollution due to urban activities. * Pollution of surface soil * Pollution of underground soil Numerous attempts are being made to decontaminated polluted soil, including an array of both in situ and off-site techniques. None of this is ideal for remediating contaminated soil and often, more than one of the technique may be necessary to optimize the clean up effort. review JUSTIFICATION OF STUDY The study about soil pollution is essential at present situation. Day by day the soil pollution is increasing and affecting both human life as well as environment. Now one third of the land has been affected by salinity. It is due to irrigation practices. Soil pollution does not only affect the human life but it also causes water and air pollution. This pollution leads disturbances in the ecosystem. The carelessness and selfish motive of human being is causing rapid growth in soil pollution. There is a saying,

whatever we give, and we receive the same. It is very much true that we receive what we give. At present soil pollution has become a great threat to the world. The soil is reacting and we are suffering. So it very much needed to know about soil pollution as well as other pollution. So that we may able to take better steps to preserve soil. Soil is like our mother who carries us, provides all our needs. Soil pollution is a major threat to the country. So it is necessary to protect the soil from pollution. Awareness among the people for its conservation should be increased. In India required attention has not been paid to proper management of the land and soil resources. With the result they have suffered serious degradation. So it is necessary that effective steps are taken to provide drainage and other appropriate measure. It should be clear that the countries agricultural productivity will remain adversely affected until the problems of soil pollution are tackled. So to raise the agricultural productivity an appropriate measure should be taken to reduce soil pollution. How ever the result of these effects will not be available immediately. In fact it will take several years to prevent the soil from further pollution. Hence the conservation of soil is very necessary. The purpose of the study of this topic is to create awareness among the people and make it free from pollution which will increase the agricultural production. OBJECTIVES The objectives of the soil pollution as follows:1) To study the effects on agricultural products. 2) To study the effect on human health. 3) To know about ecosystem 4) To study about the effect of polythene in the health of environment and human health. 5) To know the effect of soil pollution in the development of the country.

Analysis :Effect on agriculture products According to 2001 about 329 millions hectares of soil is categorized as degraded and this degradation is resulting in 33%-67%yield loss. Due to high irrigation facilities land is becoming salinity which can not produce food grain. There are various reasons of soil pollution which results less agricultural products. A) domestic and municipal wastes This waste is mainly generated by house hold. These wastes are not properly disposed. it is simply dump on the soil. These wastes are like, vegetable wastes, rotten and spoiled goods, paper, and glass, metal etc. some of these waste are decomposable but the others are can not be composed. So these wastes lower the capacity of productivity of the land. According to the survey the domestic and municipal wastes have reduced 10%of its production. B) Industrial waste

Lakhs of tones industrial wastes are dump daily into soil which reduces the fertility of the soil. Some of the industries direct their waste water or acidic water to the cultivable land that affects the productions. E.g. Raurkela steel plant. B) Nuclear wastesNuclear wastes are harmful for the agriculture production. The plants will die off. C) mineral pollutionThis is associated with the solid wastes generation. Mining results soil erosion and reduces the fertility of the land. Soil pollution affects the health of human beings as well as the health of animals. People are directly or indirectly related with the soil. Such as residents, park, schools, play ground, crop field etc. we stay on the soil, eat and drink from the production of the soil. These all goods contain pollutions when we do not take care of the soil and it enters into the body of human beings along with the food. The pesticide, chemicals which is used in the land goes to the food grains. These chemicals reduce immunity power of the body. Around 20% people are sick due to chemical food. CONCLUSION While writing this project we felt very happy. We became aware of soil pollution. we came to know more about soil pollution, its effects, causes. our interview with farmers was very enriching. They shared about their feelings, the loss of food grains due to soil pollution, in this present situation it is very much needed to know about it. The growth rate of population is very high, and it is needed to improve the quantity of food grains to meet sufficient food grains for survival. The soil pollution is not only affecting the agricultural production but also affecting in the life of human being, people are getting incurable diseases . due to the use of polythene people are having cancer. Soil pollution is caused mainly by the human being. There are also another reasons of soil pollution. Now we need to take care of the soil we need to bring awareness among people, that all should know the value of soil and its use or importance. Soil is like a mother who carries nourishes and provides everything that we need. So it is our responsibility to take care of it. All the group member are very active and their co-operation has help us to get success in our project work. It is not only our effort but PROF.M.BARLA has great role under whose guidance we are able to do our work. We do appreciate and thank one another. Well done this project work brought great joy in our life though we were tensed but now we feel happy.