How to Stop Soil Pollution

Soil pollution is a global problem that everyone can help solve.

Soil pollution contaminates drinking water, degrades topsoil and threatens plants that produce oxygen and food. Industrial, municipal and agricultural waste that contains heavy metals and hazardous compounds is a primary source of soil pollution. Chemical fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides are also significant sources of pollutants. Some toxins seep into the soil and contaminate underground waterways, while others evaporate into the atmosphere and are washed back into the soil through rain. Countries throughout the world are enacting regulations to reduce soil pollution, but it has been a slow process. Everyone can take steps, however, to help protect and preserve this essential resource

Instructions

1. Remove any underground fuel storage tanks. Underground tanks that hold heating oil can corrode, leak and contaminate soil. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency advises homeowners who have underground tanks to replace them with above-ground tanks as soon as possible. Removing tanks is costly, but cleaning up contaminated soil is even more of a financial burden, and property owners are responsible for cleanups when leaks occur. Some states offer grants to help pay for the cost of removal, and many state environmental agencies offer information to assist homeowners.

2. Avoid using chemical pesticides. Chemical treatments that kill pests also kill small organisms and bacteria that add nutrients to soil, making it less fertile. Accept some bugs as part of nature and learn how these pests fit into the natural cycle of seasons. When pests are at their highest levels, control them with organic methods such as pheromone traps, crushed fossils and insecticidal soaps.

3. Maintain septic systems. Wastewater and sewer sludge can contaminate soil with hazardous chemicals and bacteria that breed disease. These pollutants can seep into underground streams, or aquifers, used for drinking water. Conserve water and do not overburden a septic system. Do not pour oils, grease and other materials that can clog or damage systems down sink drains. Regular cleaning and maintenance of septic systems can prevent leaks that pollute soil.

4. Prevent erosion by maintaining a green cover of plants and grass on soil. Bare soil is more susceptible to the forces of wind and water. As soil erodes, it loses nutrients and the ability to absorb water. The root systems of plants keep soil in place. Plants also attract other organisms that add nutrients to the soil and increase its natural resilience to contaminants. Native plants adapt best to climate conditions, and they attract insects, birds and other life forms that are a natural part of the ecosystem.

References

• National Science Digital Library: Soil Pollution
• Pollution Issues: Underground Storage Tanks
• Green Footsteps: Pesticides and Pollution
• Environmnetal Protection Agency: Green Landscaping
• Extension Toxicology Network: Contamination of Water and Soil by Sewage and Water Treatment Sludge
• North Carolina State University: Soil Facts: Septic Systems and Their Maintenance

Resources

• Planet Friendly: How to Protect and Preserve the Land You Love