The Effects of Soil Pollution on Human Beings
Soils become polluted either through direct contact with contaminants or by non-point source pollution (NSP). NSP is pollution from a source that may not be directly identifiable, such as runoff from roads, mines or agricultural lands. Air pollution also pollutes soils by contributing to the formation of acid rain which is then absorbed into the soil.
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Acid Rain
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Acid rain creates acidic soils, ideal for mobilization of toxic metals such as lead, mercury and cadmium, all of which are linked to genetic disorders and cancer.
Dead Zones
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Acid deposition on soils alters soil chemistry, creating an environment where plants and animals cannot live, thus creating ecological dead zones, unsafe for human use.
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Drinking Water
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Runoff from polluted soils can introduce contaminants into waterways, with the potential to leach into ground water and contaminate drinking water sources.
Crop Yields
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Heavy metals such as zinc and copper can accumulate over time in soils and plant tissues, resulting in lower crop yields.
Economic Loss
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Soil pollution from abandoned mines can leach toxins such as cyanide and sulfuric acid into aquatic ecosystems, rendering them uninhabitable for wildlife or humans and resulting in economic loss.
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- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of woodley wonderworks
