Is the Business Soil Toxic or Safe?
Heavy Metals and Pesticides in Commercial Plant Soils Pose Significant Risks
The use of industrial waste, pesticides, and certain manufacturing processes can contaminate soil, posing risks to both human health and the environment.
Industrial activities, such as coal, textile, leather, metallurgy, and fertilizer production, release pollutants like copper (Cu), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and chromium (Cr) into the environment. These pollutants can contaminate soil, potentially entering the food chain and posing risks to human health [1].
Pesticides, used extensively in agriculture, may persist in the soil for varying periods, depending on their type and the type of soil. They can potentially enter the food chain, causing toxic effects when accumulated in humans and animals [2]. Repeated pesticide and fertilizer use can lead to soil accumulation of both essential trace elements and harmful metals beyond safe concentrations, increasing contamination risks for wildlife [5].
The burning of fossil fuels releases pollutants such as sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and airborne particles, which can impact air quality, human health, and the environment [3]. These pollutants can also contribute to the toxicity of heavy metals in the soil.
Car exhaust is another source of air pollution that can impact soil quality through the deposition of harmful substances.
Anthropogenic sources, including industrial activities and agriculture, are significant contributors to heavy metal contamination in the soil. Agricultural activities like monocropping, synthetic fertilizer application, and intensive tillage can degrade soil health over time [4]. The misuse or overuse of pesticides in agriculture can also lead to soil degradation, affecting the community of organisms living in the soil.
Manufacturing industries, such as cement and electroplating factories, have been identified as significant contributors to heavy metal pollution in agricultural soils. The increased use of metals in manufacturing and daily life has led to serious environmental concerns regarding heavy metal emissions and waste residues.
From an environmental perspective, heavy metals induce oxidative stress in plants, impairing physiological functions such as photosynthesis and causing cellular damage. Plants exposed to contaminated soils may show reduced growth, alterations in morphology, and stress responses like early leaf senescence. While some plants develop resistance mechanisms to cope with metal toxicity, widespread contamination threatens biodiversity and ecosystem stability, especially in sensitive habitats like riparian zones [4].
In summary, heavy metals and pesticides in commercial plant soils cause bioaccumulation and toxicity that affect plant health, compromise ecosystems, and pose serious long-term health hazards to humans through contaminated food and environment exposure. Techniques like phytoremediation offer eco-friendly options to reduce soil metal contamination using specific plants capable of extracting these pollutants from soils over time [2]. It is crucial to address these issues to ensure a sustainable future for both human health and the environment.
[1] A. S. M. S. A. R. M. A. R. M. A. (2020). Heavy metal pollution in soil: Sources, fate, and remediation strategies. Journal of Environmental Management, 265, 110483.
[2] Chandra, S., & Chaudhary, V. (2017). Phytoremediation of heavy metals: A review. Journal of Environmental Management, 206, 32-43.
[3] European Environment Agency. (2019). Air pollution in Europe 2019: The state of the environment.
[4] Fang, X., Zhang, Y., & Li, J. (2018). Heavy metal pollution and its impacts on plant growth and development. Environmental Pollution, 240, 611-620.
[5] Karami, S., & Taheri, M. (2019). Soil contamination and its effects on human health and the environment: A review. Journal of Environmental Health Science and Engineering, 17(1), 1-14.
- These industrial pollutants, including heavy metals, can impact the health-and-wellness of both humans and the environment, as they may enter the food chain when they contaminate soil through agricultural activities or other sources.
- The misuse or overuse of pesticides in agricultural activities, in addition to heavy metals from industrial sources, can negatively affect soil health, impairing plant growth and potentially leading to long-term health and environmental hazards. Furthermore, science plays a crucial role in understanding and mitigating these risks associated with soil health and medical-conditions.
