| Soil contamination must be eradicated to | | | | of land southeast of New Orleans became |
| ensure that the best produce is grown for | | | | contaminated, when over 1 million gallons of |
| consumption, (most important for organic | | | | oil soaked into the earth after a hurricane, |
| farmers) first it has to be proved that the | | | | destroyed some holding facilities. |
| land and soil are of good quality, there are | | | | |
| several things making up the soil, the basic | | | | What are the concerns and health problems? |
| organic material in the area that soil is | | | | |
| made of, such as granite or limestone, then | | | | China has little legislation in place for the |
| there are organisms that decompose like | | | | protection of land to guard against soil |
| leaves, critter droppings, etc, the location | | | | contamination, unfortunately it seems that |
| of the land and elevation bottom of the | | | | over a 10th of the land has soil |
| valley or on a mountain slope, climate is | | | | contamination, land is being irrigated by |
| also an important factor. | | | | polluted water, the effects of soil |
| | | | contamination are devastating on people's |
| What happens when plants grow in contaminated | | | | health causing kidney and liver problems and |
| soil? What happens when the plants are | | | | even leukemia. |
| eaten? | | | | |
| | | | That are thousands of sites with land |
| It depends on what type of soil, the kind of | | | | pollution in North America and even greater |
| toxins present and the severity of the soil | | | | numbers in other countries, some have not yet |
| contamination, as to how much or what enters | | | | been identified whereas the United Kingdom |
| the plant, basically sandy soil is less | | | | has many legislative measures to prevent |
| likely to hold on to chemicals, whereas soil | | | | health issues from soil contamination, there |
| containing more organic matter such as peat | | | | are regulations in place for land use, from |
| moss will hold on to contaminants more | | | | parks and playgrounds housing projects to |
| readily this has the effect of altering the | | | | allotment, as they understand the effect of |
| metabolic state of the microorganisms soil is | | | | soil contamination. |
| comprised of, thus the contaminates enter the | | | | |
| food chain. | | | | The oil sands project is one of great concern |
| | | | especially to environmentalists, many |
| Soil contamination can also effect those who | | | | thousands of acres of land are going to be |
| touch it, depending on the contaminant, when | | | | deforested, water is being contaminated, many |
| small animals borrow or humans dig in it, | | | | new advancements are being researched |
| then if the soil becomes dry the contaminated | | | | measures are trying to be put in place, |
| dust particles can be inhaled, occasionally | | | | attempting to ensure the environmental |
| some serve contaminants in dust form, are | | | | concerns are minimized however the threat |
| absorbed into the skin. What causes soil | | | | continues. Not long ago over 500 ducks were |
| contamination? | | | | killed when they landed on one of the toxic |
| | | | ponds. Since the 1970's there has been |
| Well there's oil spills, pipe line leaks, | | | | seepage from toxic tar island dyke in to the |
| toxic spills land that has been used | | | | soil, and more recently a leek of toxic |
| previously for things such as factories, | | | | contaminants was discovered going into the |
| mining, gas stations and airports, all of | | | | Athabasca River, a main water supply for |
| these have contaminated soil beneath them, | | | | Alberta, BP also wants a piece of the pie us |
| the heaps of unnatural stuff in the land | | | | they have recently to bought into the oil |
| fills leaching into the ground, in some | | | | sands projects. Greenpeace is calling the tar |
| countries crops are still sprayed with very | | | | sands, the greatest environmental crime, |
| toxic pesticides, over use of fertilizers, | | | | bitumen has a higher carbon content than |
| all these things are causing soil | | | | crude oil therefor its harmful emissions |
| contamination around the world. When there | | | | while being refined, processed and burned |
| are natural disasters such as hurricanes, | | | | will be greater, wouldn't it be great if the |
| earthquakes and tsunamis facilities that hold | | | | money and resources were put to use seeking |
| toxins, oil and other chemicals become | | | | and implementing fuel alternatives? These |
| damaged or destroyed, their leaks and spills | | | | are all factors adding to the world wide soil |
| cause soil contamination, roughly 10 mi.² | | | | contamination. |