Download Soil Pollution

Soil Pollution
Background Information
"If we take the time to learn the language of the land, the soil will speak to us."
[From: Listening to the Land by R. Weil and W. Kroontje]
The information given here is purposely vague, there is just enough to get you oriented to the topic.
Soil is a substance found everywhere. Perhaps because it is so commonplace, we often fail to fully appreciate its significance
in our daily lives. Soil is composed of mineral and organic materials and living organisms within these materials.
Soil is a very valuable resource and a major component of our ecosystem. Unfortunately, much pollution is caused by the
careless use or the lack of protection of the soil. Soil pollution can be the result of the addition of substances that cause a
detrimental decrease in soil quality, which may cause harm to humans, animals, plants and other life forms or their habitats.
Major areas of concern involve: soil erosion and deposition, the use of soil to dispose of hazardous wastes, soil contamination
by agricultural pesticides and soil contamination by hazardous chemicals, such as fuels.
Man-induced erosion has become a major pollutant in our waterways. In New Brunswick, some say that the most serious
cause of ecological damage is suspended solids within our stream systems due to increased erosion rates. This accelerated
soil erosion is often caused by poor construction or agricultural practices, the clear-cutting of trees or deforestation along
stream banks.
Soil can be polluted by the addition of a wide variety of chemical substances. These contaminants can be toxic to animal or
plant life and can result in sickness and death in humans. It is a common agricultural practice to add chemicals to the soil in
order to enhance fertility. In some cases, excessive nutrient additions can cause considerable ecological damage by
overloading adjacent ecosystems and upsetting the natural balance. Pesticides are used to decrease or eliminate the
population of a particular target species. They can become a problem if they impact on non-target organisms or if they
accumulate in the soil. Persistent use of pesticides that don't break down readily is particularly problematic.
Soil is still being used to bury our waste substances. The subsurface drainage, or leachate, can contaminate surrounding soils
if care is not taken. This, in turn, can contaminate the groundwater resources in the area.
Soil pollution can also result from atmospheric deposition. Industrial activities that involve incineration may release toxic
substances into the atmosphere. These can fall out as dust or be stripped from the atmosphere by rainfall, contaminating the
soil. In New Brunswick, there are a number of areas that are prone to these problems as a result of the contaminants given off
by electrical power generation plants, smelters and refineries. Soil contaminated by lead fallout from the combustion of leaded
gasoline was, and still is, a major problem for many throughout the world.
Suggested Websites to Visit
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http://sis.agr.gc.ca/cansis/publications/index.html Agriculture and Agri-food Canada; soil survey reports and maps
http://www.fed.cuhk.edu.hk/geo/AL/core/biotic/#7813 The Chinese University of Hong Kong; soil characteristics
http://www.crescentbloom.com/I/P/255.htm soil texture chart
http://www.bigsiouxwaterfestival.org/teachers/28/soil.pdf soil texture by feel flow chart
http://www.cee.vt.edu/program_areas/environmental/teach/gwprimer/btex/btex.html#7.%20Remediation%20Techniques Virginia
Tech; soil and groundwater pollution
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http://clu-in.org/download/citizens/citphyto.pdf US Environmental Protection Agency; phytoremediation
http://www.globalleadnet.org/index.cfm Global Lead Network; lead pollution around the world
http://www.atlanticrbca.com/eng/right.html Atlantic Risk Based Corrective Action; contaminated property clean-up
Guiding Questions
This research topic should be presented as a formal paper. Give as full an account of the environmental issue as you
can. Be sure to also include detailed answers to each of the following guiding questions within your paper. Include
maps, tables, charts and diagrams as required. Remember to cite all sources used throughout your work.
Erosion
1.
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3.
What conditions would result in an area having a high risk of soil erosion? Why are some soil types more susceptible
to erosion than others? (Check for grain size and land slope factors.)
What methods are used to reduce soil erosion?
Are there any soil types in your area that are prone to erosion problems? (Check soil reports and topographic maps.)
Soil Contaminant Clean-up
4.
5.
6.
What are some of the methods used to clean up contaminated soils?
How does the amount of pore space in the soil affect the way in which contamination will move through it?
Who usually does the soil clean-up in New Brunswick?
Agriculture
7.
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9.
Why don't people just stop using pesticides?
How would "integrated pest management" help to reduce soil pollution?
What are the different pathways that contaminants can take to go from soil to humans?
Atmospheric
10. What types of soil contaminants can be sourced from industrial incineration?
11. Where would soils contaminated by lead from leaded gasoline combustion most likely be found?
* Remember, do not give numbered responses to the above questions within your paper. You may interweave the
answers throughout your writing in any order you deem most effective in presenting your topic.