SOIL POLLUTION
First of all we should know that what is soil? The soil is a resource for which there is no substitute. Environmental historian ³Donald worster´ reminds us that fertilizers are not a substitute for fertile soil. The soil is a thin covering over the land consisting of a mixture of a minerals, organic materials, living organism, air and water, That together support the growth of plant life. Several factors contribute to the formation of soil from the parent material. This include the mechanical weathering activities, and lichens. Climate and time are also important n the development of soils. In extremely dry or cold climates soils develop very slowly, while in humid and warm climates soils develop more rapidly. Under ideal climate conditions ,soft parent material may require hundreds of years to develop into soil. Mature soils are arranged in a series of zones called µsoil horizons¶. Each horizons has a distinct texture and composition that varies with different types of soils. A crosssectional view of the horizons in a soil is called a soil s oil profile. Therefore it is essential that proper soil conservation measures are used to minimize the loss of the top soil. There are several techniques that can protect the soil from erosion, today, both water and soil are conserves through integrated treatment methods. The two types of treatment treatment generally used are:y y
Area treatment, which involves treatment the land Drainage-line treatment, which involves treating the natural water courses(nalas)
Area treatment
PURPOSE Reduce the impact of rain drops on the soil Infiltration of water where it falls Minimum surface run off Ridge to sequencing
TREATMENT MEASURE EFFECT Develop vegetative cover on Minimum disturbance and the non arable land displacement of soil practices. Apply water infiltration In-situ soil and moisture measures on the area conservation Store surplus rain water by Increased soil moisture in the constructing bunds, ponds in area, facilitate ground water the area recharge valley Treat the upper catchment Economically viable, less risk first and then proceed of damage and longer life of towards the outlets structures of the lower catchments
Drainage-line Drainage-line treatment
PURPOSE Stop further deepening of gullies and retain sediment run-off Reduce run-off velocity, pass cleaner water to the downstream side Minimum sedimentation in the storage basins Low construction cost
TREARMENT MEASURE EFFECT Plug the gullies at formation Stops erosion, recharges groundwater at the upper level Create temporary barriers Delayed flow and increased in nalas groundwater recharge Use various methods to treat the catchments Use local material and skills Structures for constructing the maintained structures
are
locally
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 laborintensive 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 (manmade) 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.
REGUL ATORY
FRAMEWORK
INDIA:The current focus on environment is not new²environmental considerations have been an integral part of the Indian culture. The need for conservation and sustainable use of natural resources has been expressed in Indian scriptures, more than three thousand years old and is reflected in the constitutional, legislative and policy framework as also in the international commitments of the country. Even before India¶s independence in 1947, several environmental legislation existed but the real impetus for bringing about a well-developed well-developed framework came only after the UN Conference on the Human Environment Environment (Stockholm, 1972).Under 1972).Under the influence of this declaration, the National Council for environmental Policy and Planning within the Department of Science and Technology was set up in 1972. This Council later evolved into a full-fledged Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) in 1985 which today is the apex administrative body in the country for regulating and ensuring environmental protection. After the Stockholm Conference, in 1976, constitutional sanction was given to environmental concerns through the 42nd Amendment, which incorporated them into the Directive Principles of State Policy and Fundamental Rights and Duties. Since the 1970s an extensive network of environmental legislation has grown in the country. The µMoEF¶ and the pollution control boards (CPCB i.e. Central Pollution Control Board and SPCBs i.e. State Pollution Control Boards) together form the regulatory and administrative core of the sector. A policy framework has also been developed to complement the legislative provisions. The Policy Statement for Abatement of Pollution and the National Conservation Strategy and Policy Statement on Environment and Development were brought out by
the MoEF in 1992, to develop and promote initiatives for the protection and improvement of the environment. The EAP (Environmental Action Programme) was formulated in 1993 with the objective of improving environmental services and integrating environmental considerations in to development programs. Other measures have also been taken by the government to protect and preserve the environment. environment.
LEGISLATION FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION IN INDI A:W ATER- W ater
quality standards especially those for drinking water are set by the Indian Council of Medical Research. These bear close resemblance to WHO standards. The discharge of industrial effluents is regulated by the Indian Standard Codes and recently, water quality standards for coastal water marine outfalls have also been specified. In addition to the general standards, certain specific standards have been developed for effluent discharges from industries such as, iron and steel, aluminium, pulp and paper, oil refineries, petrochemicals and thermal power plants. Legislation to ccontrol ontrol water pollution are listed below. Water
(Prevention and
Control
of Pollution)
Act,
1974 This Act represented India¶s first attempts to comprehensively deal with environmental issues. The Act prohibits the discharge of pollutants into water bodies beyond a given standard, and lays down penalties for non-compliance. The Act was amended in 1988 to conform closely to the provisions of the EPA, 1986. It set up the CPCB (Central Pollution Control Board) which lays down standards for the prevention and control of water pollution. At the State level, the SPCBs (State Pollution Control Board) function under the direction of the CPCB and the state government. government.
Water
(Prevention and Act, 1977
Control
of Pollution)
Cess
This Act provides for a levy and collection of a cess on water consumed by industries and local authorities. It aims at augmenting the resources of the central and state boards for prevention and control of water pollution. Following this Act, The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Cess Rules were formulated in 1978 for defining standards and indications for the kind of and location of meters that every consumer of water is required to install. AIR:Air(Prevention
and
Control
of Pollution)
Act,
1981 To counter the problems associated with air pollution, ambient air quality standards were established, under the 1981 Act. The Act provides means for the control and abatement of air pollution. The Act seeks to combat air pollution by prohibiting the use of polluting fuels and substances, as well as by regulating appliances that give rise to air pollution. Under the Act establishing or operating of any industrial plant in the pollution control area requires consent from state boards. The boards are also expected to test the air in air pollution control areas, inspect pollution control equipment, and manufacturing processes. National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for major pollutants were notified by the CPCB in April 1994. These are deemed to be levels of air quality necessary with an adequate margin of safety, to protect public health, vegetation and property (CPCB 1995 cited in Gupta, 1999). The NAAQS prescribe specific standards for industrial, residential, rural and other sensitive
areas. Industry-specific emission standards have also been developed for iron and steel plants, cement plants, fertilizer plants, oil refineries and the aluminium industry. The ambient quality standards prescribed in India are similar to those prevailing in many developed and developing countries. To empower the central and state pollution boards to meet grave emergencies, the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) t, 1987, was enacted. The boards were authorized Amend ment Ac t to take immediate measures to tackle such emergencies and recover the expenses incurred from the offenders. The power to cancel consent for non-fulfilment of the conditions prescribed has also been emphasized in the Air Act Amendment. The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Rules formulated in 1982, defined the procedures for conducting meetings of the boards, the powers of the presiding officers, decision-making, the quorum; manner in which the records of the meeting were to be set etc. They also prescribed the manner and the purpose of seeking assistance from specialists and the fee to be paid to them. Complementing the above Acts is the Atomi c t of 1982, c Energy Ac t which was introduced to deal with radioactive waste. In 1988, the c les Motor Vehi c les Ac t, t, was enacted to regulate vehicular traffic, besides ensuring proper packaging, labelling and transportation of the hazardous wastes. Various aspects ofvehicular pollution have also been notified under the EPA of 1986. Massemission standards were notified in 1990, which were made more stringent in 1996. In 2000 these standards were revised yet again and for the first time separate obligations for vehicle owners, manufacturers and enforcing agencies were stipulated. In addition, fairly stringent Euro I and II emission norms were notified by the Supreme Court on April 29, 1999 for the city of Delhi. The notification made it mandatory for car c ar manufacturers to conform to the Euro I and Euro II norms by May 1999 and April 2000, respectively, for new noncommercial vehicle sold in i n Delhi.
SOIL POLLUTION A CASE STUTY OF JHARKHAND
INTRODUCTION
Soil pollution means the change in physical chemical and biological conditions of the soil through man¶s 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 t he underground 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. 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 t o 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.
W ater
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 whi ch 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.
The causes of soil pollution
A) Domestic and municipal waste causes the soil pollution. B) Industrial wastes are dumped into the soil s oil which increases the soil pollution. C) Agricultural pollution like excess irrigation, use of pesticide intensive fertilizer etc. D) Mineral product is always always associated with the t he solid waste generation. E) Nuclear waste is very harmful to the soil. F) Acid rain is caused by air pollution. The acidic water falls on the soil and pollutes it by making the soil acidic. G)Solid wastes comes from homes, cattle sheds, agricultural fields, industries and many other places and gets accumulated in the form of heaps. H) The use of fertilizers to increase the crop yields makes the soil either acidic or alkaline and pollutes it. I) Insecticides and herbicides herbicides are poisonous poisonous chemicals which which are used to spray standing crops to prevent them from harmful insects and herbs. These insecticides and herbicides mix with the soil and pollute it.
JUSTIFICATION OF STUD Y
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, ³whatever 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. 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 s tudy 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.
H YPOTHESIS
1. Soil pollution is affecting the productivity adversely. It has decreased the level of productivity by reducing the fertility of the soil. 2. Soil pollution also affects the human health. Soil pollution can enter our body if not taken care it enters our body through the food &water we taken. It wll also causes harmful diseases. 3. Soil pollution has adverse impact on ecosystem. soil pollution will lower the quality of environment. It will pollute the air by ash rams.it will affect the creatures
living in the soil that are an important part of the ecosystem. 4. Use of polythene also cause soil pollution.use of polythene has become a great threat in human life as well as to the environment. because after using of polythene we displace in the t he environment. 5. Soil pollution will hinder the overall development of the country. Soil pollution will affect the productivity of all the sectors.and it will affect the development of the country.
QUESTIONAIRE 1. How much percentage of production has decreased due to the soil pollution? 2. What are the steps you are taking to preserve your land? 3. Who is responsible for the soil pollution? 4. What is the impact of soil in production, health of the soil, environment? 5. Can you do any preventive work? 6. Can you start any awareness programme to reach out the people to save the soil fro pollution? 7. What are the reasons of soil pollution? 8. How does the soil pollution affects the Indian economy? 9. Are you affected by the soil pollution? If yes than how? Physically/economically/productivity Physically/economically/produ ctivity yield. 10. W hat are the impacts of the soil pollution in national economy?
ANSWERS
OF THE QUESTION
1. According to the places it varies, some says 30%, the other says 10% 2. Many steps are taken to preserve soil like recycling the wastes, composing the domestic waters, proper disposal of wastes, landfill etc. 3. All entities are responsible it includes all the farmers, industries, house hold are responsible for the soil pollution. 4. The impact of production ±due to soil pollution the productivity has decreased. Seeds are not germinated properly. Health of the soil- the quality of soil which is important for the plants germination looses its quality. If the soil is unfit for cultivation then it requires lots of mans efforts and lots of manures and fertilizers to restore its quality. The cultivation is very low in the polluted soil or no cultivation is possible. The plants do not receive the important nourishments required for its germination. Environment soil pollution makes the environment unfit for sustain. Soil pollution disturbs the ecological balance. To control the pollution it requires lots of chemicals fertilizers which are harmful for the environment. 5. Yes we can do control over soil pollution by a) avoiding the polythene. b) Waste should not be dumped in open place. c) Reduction in the use of chemicals, fertilizers and pesticides d) We should avoid use of drainage waste which is highly polluted.
6. Yes we can start awareness programme like polythene awareness programme, reduced use of fertilizers, proper dumping of industrial wastes. E.t.c. 7. All of the above stated points. points. 8. Due to soil pollution the national income has decreased. Production has decreased. India¶s economy is based on agriculture, and its major income comes from the agriculture and its major income comes from the agriculture sector. If the soil is polluted it decreased the productivity which lowers the national income. And major part of the land is wasted due to pollution which reduces the cultivation. 9. Yes we are affected by the soil pollution soil pollution has reduced the productivity yield and it also has affects our health. 10. Some people dump the waste on the open place or field which causes soil pollution. There are some people who dispose dispos e the house hold waste very carefully. They dug a fit and dump that that does not affect the soil.
T ABULATION
ARR ANGEMENT
Land area Land area used Environmental damage Water and wind erosion According to year 1992-93 According to year 2001
OF DATA
32.68 crores hectares 30.6 crores hectares 17.5 crores hectares 15 crore hectares
3.75 crore hectares of land was brought under soil conservation measures 10% agriculture production have been reduced due to domestic and municipal wastes 20% of people sick due to the chemical chemic al food 3.29 million hectares are degraded degraded land 33%-67%yield loss due to soil pollution ( sources from the Indian economy book by mishra and puri) The total geographical area of India is 32.68 crore hectares, out of which 30.6 crore hectare of land is used for various purpose and 17.5crore hectare of land is environmentally damaged. damaged. The area polluted by water and wind erosion is 15 crore hectares. according to the year 1992-93 1992-93 soil conservation methods were were adopted according to that 3.75crore hectare of land were brought under it. According to year 2001,the agricultural land reduced due to domestic and municipal wastes and 20% of people felt sick due to consumption of chemical found. In that year, the total
degraded land was 3.29 million hectare. And the yield loss due to soil pollution was 33%-67%. U.S.A. CANADA U.K. SWEDEN FRANCE INDIA TAIW RANGOON
2.25 1.64 1.0 0.79 0.72 0.33 AN
0.5 0.25
Series 1 2.5
2
1.5
1
0.5
0
Series 1
In this data we can see s ee the average per capita per day solid waste in different affecting countries which are as followed:-In U.S.A. per day soild waste is 2.25% which is very high In comparison to other countries. In Canada it is 1.64%quite lower than U.S.A. in U.K. it is 1%. In Sweden it is 0.79%quite lower than the most populated countries. Where as France, it is 0.72% almost less populated than Sweden S weden.. Where as in our country India ,it is 0.33%. in Taiwan it is 0.5%and in Rangoon it is 0.25%. From this table we can see that the most polluted country country is u.s.a. and the least polluted region is Rangoon. Rangoon. India is is less polluted as compared to other countries.
PRESENT ATION OF D AT A AND F ACTS
Lead and cadmium content in rice grain Lead(ppm) <-0.5 0.5-1.0 >-1.0 Total Cadmium(ppm) <0.12 0.12-0.24 >0.24 total
Level of pollution
Total area(ha) area(ha)
Percentage(%)
Unpolluted slightly polluted polluted
63,300 35000 7200 105500
60 33 7
unpolluted slightly polluted polluted
83,300 18500 3700 105500
79 17 4
Source: kasno el at 2000
According to kasno et at.2000
-
<
0.5 ppm± unpolluted from the total area 63,300or 60% of land
area 0.5-1.0 lead ppm is slightly polluted out of 35000 area or 33% of land area. 1.0 lead opp is polluted out of of 7200 or 7% <0.12 cadmium ppm unpolluted are out of 18500 or 17% >0.24 cadmium ppm polluted out of 3700 or 4% Heavy metal content in two tea plantations, west Java, Indonesia Villages A,B C D E F
Distance from traditional mining location(k.m.)
Mercury contents(ppm)
<0.1 0.8-1.0 1.2-1.5 7.0-7.5 11.5-12.0
6.7 5.6 1.8 2.4 1.3
Soil
ricestraw rice grain 5.3 1.8 0.8 -----
0.43 <0.0005 <0.0005 <0.25 <0.0005
Heavy metal content in two tea plantation in West Java and IndonesiaVillage A,B are<0.1 k.m. far from the traditional mining soil 6.7 an rice straw 5.3. and rice grain 0.43 In village C distance distance is 0.8-1.0k.m 0.8-1.0k.m and the mercury content ppm is 5.6 in soil,1.8 s oil,1.8 rice straw and<0.0005 and<0.0005 in rice grain. In village D distance is 1.2-1.5 and mercury contents contents in soil is1.8,in rice straw 0.8 in rice grain <0.0005
Analysis :-
Effect
on agriculture products
According to 2001 about 329 millions hectares of soil is categorized as degraded and this degradation degradation is resulting in 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 m unicipal wastes² 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 s oil 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. 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 l and goes to the food grains. These chemicals reduce immunity power of the body. Around 20% people are sick due to chemical food.
The use and effect of polythene
At present the use of polythene is a big issue. Day after day the use of polythene is increasing. Now the jharkhand government has taken steps to reduce it. The pravat khabar has taken lead to free our state from the use of polythene. The use of polythene has become a great threat in human life as well as to the environment. environment. Every body liked the use of polythene because it was an easy means of caring things, the sailors made available to the buyers. After using it people displaced it in the environment. environment. People never realized that by throwing polythene, polythene, will affect soil, water, and air etc. the burning of the polythene produces poisonous gas which will affect the human life, animals, plants, environments, climate
and global warming. Now people have realized it and started to stop the use of polythene. 60 millions tons polythene has been produced per year.1 millions of bags have been used per minute. Only 1% of polythene has been recycled. Per year 1 lakh of sea creatures c reatures are dying due to the use of polythene. In jharkhand daily60tonns polythene are being used. Last year around 44 billions of polythene has been used through out the world, from them only 4 lakh of polythene are recycled. (Source from ³prabhat khabar´, date from 1 st of February to 12th of February 2010.)
The effect of polythene
The regular use of polythene can be reason for dangerous diseases It has maximum effect on global worming It can be a cause c ause of cancer. It reduces the fertility of the soil. It affects the plant and trees. Polythene becomes poisonous for the trees and plants. It is affecting water, air fertile land. The gas which comes out from the polythene is more dangerous for the children. Due to polythene the ice which is collected in north and south drub is melting very fast. Air and water is becoming poisonous. The used polythene which is dump in the soil, water, drains, are affecting the recycle of water and the drainage system is blocked. Soil reduces the contain of ground water level. It is reducing the productivity of the food grains. (Source from ³prabhat khabar´, date from 1st of February to 12th of February 2010.)
Plastic bag litter the landscape :-
once they are used most plastic bags go in to land fill, or rubbish tips. Each year more and more plastic bags are ending up the littering the environment. Once the become litter, plastic bags find their way in to our waterways, park, beaches, streets. And if they are burnt, they infuse the air with toxic fumes.
Plastic bag kill animals : About 100,000 animals are killed every year due to the plastic bags. Many animals ingest plastic bags, mistaking them for food, and there for die. And the worse ingest plastic bag remain intact even after the death and decomposition of the animals. Thus it lies around in the landscape where another victim may ingest it.
Plastic bags are non biodegradable
And one of the worst environmental effects of plastic bags is that they are non biodegradable. The decomposition of plastic bags takes about 1000 years.
Petroleum is required to produ ce plastic bags :-
As it is petroleum products are diminishing and getting more expensive by the day, since we have been using this non renewable resource increasingly. Petroleum is vital for our modern way of life. It is necessary for our energy requirementsfor our factories transport, heating, lighting, and so on. Without viable alternative sources of energy yet on the horizon, if the supply of petroleum were to be turn off, it would lead to practically the whole world grinding to a halt. Surely this precious resource should not be wasted on producing plastic bags, should it?
Effect
on health :-
The major concern is that there are many sensitive lands where people are in direct contact with soil such as residences, parks, schools and playgrounds. Other contact mechanism includes contaminations of drinking water or inhalations of soil contaminants which have vaporized. There is a very large set of health consequences from exposure to soil contamination depending on pollutant type, pathway of attack and vulnerability of the exposed pollution. Many of the pesticides and herbicides formulation are carcinogenic to all population. Lead is especially hazardous to young children, in which group there is a high risk of developmental damage to the brain and nervous system, while to all populations kidney damage is a risk. Many chlorinated solvents include liver changes, kidney changes, and depression of central nervous system. There is an entire spectrum of further health effects such as headache, nausea, fatigue, eye irritation and skin rash from the harmful chemicals. At sufficient dosages a large number of soil contaminants cause death.
Effect
on ecosystem:-
The soil pollution has a great effect on ecosystem. Not unexpectedly, soil contaminants can have significant consequences for ecosystem. There are radical soil chemistry changes which can rise from the presence of many hazardous chemicals even at low concentration of the contaminants species. These changes can manifest in the alteration of metabolism of endemic microorganisms and arthropods resident in a given soil environment. The result can be virtual eradication of some of the primary food chain, which in tern has major consequences for predator or consumer species. Many of these effects are now well known, such as the concentration of persistent DDT materials for avian consumers, leading to weakening of egg shells, increased chick mortality and potential extinction of species.
Suggestions-: There are many suggestions stated bellow1. Keeping in mind the future generation, production and the need of food production we should take care of the soil. 2. We should not dump the wastes on the field. It should be collected and make use of that waste to fill up the deep land to make it level for building purpose. 3. Industries should s hould not channel the chemicals or poisoned water in to the river or to the land. The big tanks should be made to recycle the water to use it again. 4. The chemicals and fertilizer which reduces the fertility of soil should be reduced. 5. Too much irrigation facility also not good because it makes the land into salinity. 6. All should have respect towards soil. Because it provides all our needs from our birth to till death. 7. The deforestation has affected the soil. Due to this rain fall has decreased. The ground water level has gone very deep. So we need forestation. f orestation. 8. If we have the will, we can start reducing their use in small ways. A hotel bag can make a good substitute for holding the shopping. You can keep the bag with the chair and then put your purchase into it instead of the usual plastic bags. 9. Recycling the plastic bags you have is another good idea. These can come into use for various purposes, like holding your garbage, instead of purchasing new bags. Government is working out to lesson the impact of plastic bags on the environment, however, each of us shoulder some of the responsibility for f or this problem, which ultimately harm.
CONCLUSION W hile
writing this project we felt very happy. We became aware of soil pollution. we came to know more about 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 ³PROF.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.
APPENDIX
Table 1. land use changes c hanges in the period1970-1988( period1970-1988(OECD,1991) OECD,1991) LAND AREA AREA1988 103 km2 CANADA 9,215 USA 9167 JAPAN 377 AUSTRALIA 7618 FRANCE 550 ITALY 294 SPAIN 499 U.K. 242 130693 W ORLD
ARABLE AND CORP LAND AREA1988 CHANGE 3 2 10 KM (%) 70-80(%) 460 5 9.7 1899 21 -0.6 47 12 -15.0 470 6 16.3 195 36 6.2 121 41 -0.7 204 41 -3.7 70 29 -3.1 14754 11 4.3
W OODED AREA
AREA1988 103KM2(%) 4500 49 2946 32 253 67 1060 14 152 28 68 23 157 31 24 10 40,490 31
CHANGE 70-80(%) 1.6 -3.4 0.1 13.1 8.2 9.5 8.9 25.5 -3.4
Land degradation can very often be evaluated (qualitatively or quantitatively)in terms of soil erosion whish is a process accompanying the degradation during its evolution, and sometimes represents its final stage. That explains why many documents dealing with land degradation are actually expressed
as soil degradation.
REFRENCE y y y y y y y
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