Soil contamination
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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Soil contamination, soil pollution, or land pollution as a part of land degradation is caused by the presence of xenobiotic (human-made) chemicals or other alteration in the natural soil environment. It is typically caused by industrial activity, agricultural chemicals or improper disposal of waste. The most common chemicals involved are petroleum hydrocarbons, polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (such as naphthalene and benzo(a)pyrene), solvents, pesticides, lead, and other heavy metals. Contamination is correlated with the degree of industrialization and intensity of chemical substance. The concern over soil contamination stems primarily from health risks, from direct contact with the contaminated soil, vapour from the contaminants, or from secondary contamination of water supplies within and underlying the soil.
See also
- Contamination control
- Dutch pollutant standards
- Environmental policy in China#Soil pollution
- GIS in environmental contamination
- Groundwater pollution
- Habitat destruction
- Index of waste management articles
- Land degradation
- Landfill
- List of solid waste treatment technologies
- List of waste management companies
- Litter
- Pesticide drift
- Plasticulture
- Plastic-eating organisms
- Remediation of contaminated sites with cement
- Triangle of death (Italy)
- Water pollution