Environmental professionals consider soil pollutants to be chemicals that have an adverse affect on the soil. The chemicals are present in substances such as fuels, oils, solvents and paints. They are introduced into the soil by many different sources, including industries, commercial businesses and residences. Pollutants that exist in the soil can adversely affect natural habitats. They can also endanger the health of humans through direct contact as well as air and groundwater contamination.
Impact on Plants and Animals
Soil pollutants can affect the ability of a plant to grow or survive. For example, while some fertilizer is good for a crop, too much fertilizer may cause the plants to die. And fuel released from a vehicle accident may kill the surrounding vegetation. The soil pollution affects both plant life and animal life. The contaminants often kill the vegetation; animals that normally feed upon the vegetation are deprived of food and may starve if they are not able to find other sources of food.
Human Health Issues
Pollutants in soil pose a threat to the health of children and adults who play or work in the affected area. Residences, businesses and industrial areas may contain chemicals of concern in paints, heating oil and solvents, among others. Children and adults who work or play in the area can be exposed to the chemicals through direct skin contact with the contaminated soil, inhalation of chemical vapors emanating from the land surface, accidental ingestion of particulates and consumption of food grown in the contaminated soil.
Effects on Air and Water Quality
Contaminants in the soil can leach into the groundwater, causing water pollution, or vaporize into the air, causing air pollution. Volatile contaminants such as gasoline have constituents that easily vaporize from the land surface and cause air pollution. Soil contaminants such as solvents, fuels and oil may migrate in isolation from the land surface to the groundwater via gravity drainage. They may also leach into the groundwater in combination with rainwater. Contaminated groundwater becomes a problem for homeowners who rely on it for drinking and for plants with roots that extend downward into the water table.
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