| What Are Soil Contamination Levels ?
Soil contamination arises when harmful chemicals and materials change the nature and composition of the soil. This is also known as soil pollution. This form of pollution has both primary and secondary negative effects. Plants, animals and humans, are affected when they come in contact with contaminated soil. Also, ground water gets adversely affected.Western Europe and North America are leaders in setting standards for inhibiting soil contamination. |
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However, these standards are not really implemented. Thousands of acres of land loss occurs due to soil pollution. Most developing countries are also going in the same direction.
Till 1970, countries were not so much concerned about the consequences of soil contamination. The U.S. CERCLA set some rules and regulations in 1980. About 200,000 sites in the US have been cleaned from soil contamination, but some developing and underdeveloped countries do not even bother to entertain this activity.
Various awareness programs are run in few countries to avoid the scope of soil contamination. Since cleaning up a site costs around US$10,000, it is better to look for a way which prevents the possibility of cleaning any site.
Due to frequent use of highly concentrated chemical fertilizers, plants are affected directly. When herbivores eat those plants or come in contact with the soil, they get affected with several diseases and mutations as well. Humans also eat the meats of herbivores, and cereals and vegetables which contain harmful chemicals. Microorganisms present in the soil are killed by these chemicals.
Thus, directly or indirectly, each and every living organism is negatively influenced by the consequences of soil pollution.
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What Are Soil Contamination Levels
