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