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Soil or land contamination is a global problem, because although there are more damaged areas, the water that circulates through contaminated soils goes to other parts of the world. Contaminated soils include contaminated water and this leads to infertile soils, droughts, unsuitable water and more problems. The reasons for this contamination are basically human activities. As the environmental situation worsens every day and the planet is in danger, it is better that we look for ways to stop this damage and prevent its worsening. For this reason, at Ecologista Verde we explain how to avoid soil contamination and what are the consequences of this environmental problem, that is, the reasons why it is necessary to prevent it from getting worse and to put a solution to it, as well as the main causes that are points in which it is necessary to influence to solve this type of pollution.
What is soil pollution and its causes
Soil contamination is defined as the land quality degradation due to the presence of harmful chemicals. When in a terrestrial zone there is an increase of toxic or harmful chemical components for the soil, this land is damaged to the point that there are serious consequences in all that ecosystem and even in neighboring ecosystems. These pollutants can be solid, liquid or gaseous and affect everything, starting with the soil but also the minerals, the vegetation, the waters of the area, animals and humans are altered.
Thus, the cause of soil contamination It is the dumping of polluting substances into it, but specifically it is about materials of anthropogenic origin, that is to say that they are derived from human activities and, in short, it is directly we humans who pollute.
Some of human activities and accidents during these that produce soil contamination are:
- Toxic spills, whether directly dumped on the ground or due to an accident, such as oil, solvents, pesticides, plastics, heavy metals and other protagonists of natural disasters caused by man.
- The use of toxic chemical pesticides and pesticides for much more than the pests they seek to combat.
- The blind wells.
- Gray water and sewage seepage.
- Accumulation of waste and garbage in landfills.
- Accumulation of industrial products and radioactive products.
- Radioactive leaks.
- Forest fires.
- Extraction and use of non-renewable energy.
- Acid rain.
Consequences and effects of soil contamination
The loss of soil quality due to contamination results in a series of very negative consequences for the planet in general, including us being affected in a very direct way. These are the main consequences and effects of soil contamination:
- Nutrients are lacking in the soil.
- Infertile soils.
- It does not grow vegetation or naturally.
- Loss of terrestrial ecosystems.
- Biodiversity loss.
- Impossibility of cultivating.
- Soils not suitable for livestock.
- Unstable floors.
- Impossibility to build.
- Increase in environmental catastrophes.
- Deterioration of the landscape.
- Million-dollar economic losses in the affected countries.
How to avoid soil contamination - solutions and tips
For Avoid ground contamination, that is to say that this worsens and reduce the one already present, it is necessary to take into account what are the possible solutions for soil contamination. Thus, these are some points to keep in mind to achieve it:
- Reduce: We must remember the 3Rs of ecology and start by reducing the amount of materials and goods we consume, we must take responsibility and only consume what is necessary so as not to waste because waste and waste pollute and accelerate the wear and tear of the planet. Thus, it begins by reducing and saving on energy, materials, food and other products.
- Re-use: the next R is to reuse. It is important that each product that we have at hand we use it as much as possible, extending its life and usefulness to the maximum. This greatly reduces the consumption and waste of resources.
- Recycle: finally, the third R reminds us that we must recycle materials when we can no longer reuse them. In this way, they will be treated in special recycling plants and this material will return to its basic state to re-manufacture another new product, which we will return to give maximum uses. With these first three steps, soil contamination is considerably reduced.
- Curb deforestation: Another important action to avoid contamination of the land is to help reduce deforestation as much as possible, to ensure that trees are only cut when it is really necessary and not to get a greater supply in an already saturated market, since that is why we are leaving areas entire world without vegetation.
- Plant plants and trees: Planting trees and all kinds of plants is one of the best ways to help prevent contamination of the land, since vegetation protects soils and helps maintain soil balance. In addition, vegetation is the best way to clean the air, which will also help prevent this problem from worsening and have a better chance of solving it.
- Have gardens and orchards: For the same thing mentioned in the previous point, if you have the possibility of having a garden and / or orchard in your house, do it. It is also important to promote that administrations such as municipalities create green areas, gardens and urban orchards. Proper use of the land will help prevent it from becoming contaminated and remove any contaminants that may already be in it.
- Use biofertilizers: If you have an orchard or garden, when you use fertilizers, fertilizers or even insecticides or pesticides, make sure that these are totally natural and that they do not contain sulfates and other aggressive chemicals with the earth, vegetation, animals and the whole environment, and can also be toxic for us. . So, sign up for organic farming and use biofertilizers, organic or natural fertilizer, natural pesticides, and so on.
- Avoid contaminated water: To water the plants and the garden, always use clean water, to avoid contaminating spills on the ground. If you collect rainwater, which is a very common ecological practice, make sure that it is not acidic rainwater and, of course, use water used to clean the home or clothes that have soaps.
- Consume organic, ecological and local products: Something also very important to avoid contamination of the soil or land is that you choose to consume local products of ecological or organic production. This, apart from helping the economy and the local people, means a reduction in air, water, soil pollution, and so on. The use of transport is notably reduced, therefore in emissions of CO2 and other polluting gases, the use of chemical products in crops is reduced, and so on.
- Help clean affected areas: Finally, when a land begins to be contaminated it is vital that we help to stop the origin of the contamination and clean the area, as well as if in case it is an already highly contaminated land we act in the same way so that it does not continue to worsen and be solved.
Other tips to avoid soil contamination
Finally, we leave you more ideas and tips to avoid soil or soil contamination:
- Do not burn waste or garbage on the ground and for the same reason do not use rockets and fireworks.
- Try to maintain your car or motorcycle well to try to pollute as little as possible. If possible, use clean transport such as the bicycle.
- Do not throw garbage and debris directly on the ground, much less glass or cigarette butts that can cause fires.
- Do not smoke or reduce your consumption to the maximum if you do, since it is one of the activities that a large number of the world's population does daily and several times a day and emits polluting smoke, butts pollute the ground a lot, more than it can seem at first glance because it contains different materials, including petroleum derivatives, among others, and also cause fires. Another option if you decide to reduce your consumption is to opt for the most natural products possible, reducing the amount of petroleum derivatives.
- Reduce the use of household cleaning products that are of totally chemical origin dangerous for the environment. There are countless natural products with natural and non-toxic chemistry that do not harm the environment but are equally effective to disinfect and clean. In addition, using natural ones you can take advantage of the water you use in cleaning to water.
- Take the waste that you do not know in which recycling container to throw directly to a clean point or green point. In this way you prevent them from ending up in a landfill contaminating the soil.
To expand the information on this type of damage to the environment, we recommend you read this other article by Green Ecologist on Soil Pollution: causes, consequences and solutions.
If you want to read more articles similar to How to avoid soil contamination, we recommend that you enter our Pollution category.
