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Soil Pollution
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Soil Pollution Examples

Soil Pollution Examples (Pollutant, Sources, Effects)

While a large variety of pollutants could poison the soil, below are examples of the most common and problematic soil pollutants.

Main Soil pollutant Potential Specific Sources Some Common Symptoms/Effects of Poisoning with the Polluted Soil
Lead (Pb) Lead paint
Mining
Foundry activities
Vehicle exhaust (historical exhaust since lead is not used in gasoline anymore)
Construction activities
Agriculture activities (pesticide with lead such as lead arsenate that was banned but has been historically used)
  • Affect the nervous system and memory, growth and development, as well as cognitive development (lower IQs)
  • Learning difficulties
  • Autism in genetically predisposed people
  • Growth reduction and weight loss
  • Impair pituitary-thyroid endocrine system
  • Favor osteoporosis at old age
Mercury (Hg) Mining
Incineration of coal
Alkali and metal processing
Medical and other waste
Volcanoes and geologic deposits (natural sources)
Accumulation in plants and vegetables grown on polluted soils
  • Itching, burning, pain
  • Damage to brain kidney and lungs
  • Pink disease (acrodynia) – skin discoloration (pink cheeks, fingertips, toes), while red cheeks and nose in affected chlidren
  • Desquamation (peeling off in layers of dead skin)
  • High blood pressure and hypersalivation
  • tachycardia
Loss of hair, teeth, nails, photofobia, kidney disfunction, memory impairment, insomnia -  in children
Arsenic (As) Mining
Coal-fired power plants
Lumber facilities (used as CCA – chromate copper arsenate in pressure treated wood)
Electronic Industry
Foundry activities
Agriculture (Pesticides - including some of those currently used)
Natural accumulation under specific conditions
  • If ingested –the most specific effects relates to skin pattern changes and cancer (including liver, kidney, bladder, prostate and lung cancer); also at lower doses the digestive system may be affected with symptoms such as: nausea vomiting, stomach irritation, diarrhea, damage of blood vessels
If inhaled – skin changes; irritation of throat and lungs, circulatory problems, nervous system disorders
Other metals (Mn, Cd, Cu, Zn, Ni, etc.)

Mining
Foundry activities
Construction activities

 Depend on metals – please follow individual links
PAHs (polyaromatic

Coal burning

 Harm to skin, body fluids, and
hydrocarbons) Vehicle emissions
Accumulation in plants and vegetables grown on polluted soils
Cigarette smoke
Wildfires
Agricultural burning
Wood burning
Asphalt roads (construction activities)
Industrial plants (e.g., coal tar, bitumen, coal-gasification)
Accumulation in plants and vegetables grown on polluted soils
Construction activities
  • autoimmune system
  • Eye irritation, nausea, vomiting, diahrea
  • Cataracts
  • Kidney and liver damage
  • Cancer (skin, lung, bladder, gastrointestinal)
Difficulty in reproduction in animals (not yet confirmed in humans)
Herbicides/Insecticides Agricultural activities
Gardening		 Large range of effects from skin rashes to death

For more information on a certain pollutant please click the links in the table