Soil Pollution Solutions Pollution has a negative and direct impact on the environment, and thus on the health of humans, animals, and plants. Soil pollution in particular is a real problem and challenge for government agencies and citizens, as soil is one of the non-renewable natural resources. It may take several thousand years to form and renew again, while its response to environmental degradation is rapid, and may occur in a few years or decades. Therefore, government institutions and agencies provide many solutions to avoid pollution, including: [1] Therapeutic solutions After acknowledging the seriousness of soil pollution and the need to treat it, it is necessary to choose the best techniques that are compatible with the nature, toxicity and origin of soil pollutants, the degree of existing or expected pollution from this pollutant, the chemical and physical properties of the soil, the purpose of using the soil, the time available for treatment, the extent of the community’s readiness for this process, and the cost and benefit expected from treating the soil. The following is a detailed presentation of the best treatment methods followed and recommended for treating soil: [2] Chemical treatment Chemical soil treatment is very effective, as it aims to treat pollutants that have become part of the soil, or improve the properties of chemical pollutants, making them less dangerous to the soil. It is worth noting that the use of chemical treatment for soil pollution may lead to the formation of secondary chemicals as a result of chemical treatment, which leads to an increase in the steps taken to treat the soil. [3] Microbial treatment Microbial remediation aims to treat organic pollutants in the soil through living organisms, by converting these organic pollutants into carbon dioxide, water, or other products for use by microbes later in their photosynthesis and growth process. Microbes treat the soil either by releasing enzymes capable of decomposing pollutants, or by increasing the soil’s resistance to these pollutants. Microbes also treat heavy metals by absorbing them, a process that occurs either through bioaccumulation or adsorption. [3] Heat treatment Thermal treatment aims to remove soil pollutants through one of the following methods: [4] Removal of pollutants by evaporation, either by direct heat transfer from heated air, exposure to an open flame, or by indirect heat transfer. Destroy pollutants directly or indirectly at a suitable temperature. In both methods, the gas produced by the heating process destroys, removes or treats pollutants or any unwanted combustion products. After this process is completed, the channel into which the steam was injected is exposed in the soil, in order to help evaporate the relatively volatile pollutants that may be soluble in water or insoluble in it. separation techniques Pollutants can be removed from soil through a set of processes based on separating the soil into a set of parts based on specific gravity, particle size, or sedimentation rate. Sometimes the main reason for resorting to this method is that pollutants are usually found in the coarse or fine parts of the soil or in the organic components of the soil such as humus. [4] Soil pollutants can also be removed by using one of the known separation techniques – such as solvent extraction – to separate the soil from the pollutants inside it, using an extraction agent that may be an aqueous solution, but it is preferable to use an organic solvent. The separation techniques used result in the removal of many metals present in the polluted soil, such as: cadmium, copper, zinc, nickel, chromium, arsenic, antimony, and lead, if a mineral solution is used. However, if a sodium hydroxide solution is used, the products may be: zinc lead, organometallic compounds, and some cyanide. Sometimes, the separation process may result in the extraction of some hydrocarbons and halogenated hydrocarbons. [4] Preventive solutions Here are some suggested preventive solutions to prevent soil contamination: Reducing the use of fertilizers and chemical pesticides, and replacing them with biological fertilizers and animal manure, as biological methods play an important role in pest control, thus reducing soil pollution. [4] Reusing materials, such as glassware, plastic bags, paper, and cloth instead of throwing them away, which reduces soil pollution with solid waste. [4] Recycling materials such as glass, some types of paper and plastic; to reduce the amount of waste and contribute to the protection of natural resources. For example, recycling one ton of paper is enough to preserve 17 trees. [4] Reducing the increasing consumption pattern among a large segment of the population, as increased consumption results in increased pollution, especially soil pollution. [5] Avoid buying plastic products and throwing garbage on the ground, as plastic products, including bags used for various purposes, increase pollution rates. In addition, throwing cigarette butts on the ground leads to soil contamination with many chemicals that may leak into groundwater layers through rainwater. [5] Focus on clarifying these issues through education, especially for young ages, by making them aware of the negative effects of pollution and how to preserve the environment. Children will inevitably transfer this knowledge to their parents to try to modify their behaviors towards the environment. [5] Proper disposal of waste is a responsibility of individuals and industries. Individuals must ensure that waste is disposed of in the most effective manner, while the industrial sector must dispose of waste in a way that ensures environmental preservation. [5] Preventing the use of toxic chemicals in the manufacture of chemicals and pesticides , which may be fatal to plants and animals, in addition to the necessity of prohibiting nuclear explosions and improper disposal of radioactive waste. [6] Reforestation , through some policies that require citizens to plant trees instead of those that have been cut down to prevent soil erosion, and strict penalties must be imposed on people who cut down trees without any legal formula. [ 7] Regulating agricultural practices by avoiding over-cultivation and overgrazing , as they increase soil erosion. [7] To learn more about soil pollution, you can read the article Research on soil pollution.
