The Impact of Soil Contamination on the Environment

Soil contamination puts our communities at risk through the introduction of potentially hazardous

substances into our environment. Created from the decomposition of rock and organic material over

long periods of time, soil differs in composition from place to place;this is largely because of varying

geological properties, but climate also plays a role in soil composition.

Not all soil contamination is caused by mankind

Many chemicals occur naturally in soil, usually as components of minerals. Depending on the

composition of the soil, some of these natural chemicals can become toxic over time under certain

conditions. For example, if some chemicals are present in higher concentrations than the soil can safely

absorb, the soil and nearby groundwater can become contaminated. According to the Cornell waste

management engineering Institute, one such example can be found in some regions of New York State

where naturally occurring levels of arsenic in the soil can exceed recommended safety levels. As a

result, drinking water in these areas must be treated in order to be safe for human consumption.

Nevertheless, humans are responsible for much of the soil contamination

Naturally occurring soil contaminants are only a small part of the problem. Pesticides, fertilizers and

accidental leaks and spills from industrial development have created environmental hazards

throughout the world. The problem is compounded by the fact that once these contaminants are

released into the soil, they usually do not remain in one place, making them difficult to contain.

.Quick Facts about the Impact of Soil Contamination on our Environment

The following information has been provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency:

*Nearly 40 percent of rivers and streams in the United States are too polluted for fishing and

swimming due to chemical and microbial contaminants.

*Both soils and sediments can be polluted with a host of chemical and microbial contaminants from a

number of sources. Sources include municipal wastewater (and associated biosolids), industry and

agriculture.

*Chemical contaminants range from heavy metals like mercury to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) to relatively new emerging contaminants. Sediments and soils may contain multiple chemical contaminants combined with microbial pathogens. Emerging contaminants of concern such as endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) come from municipal wastewater, concentrated animal feeding operations and other sources.

The Problem of soil contamination is a worldwide issue…

The BBC reports (on April 14, 2014) that one-fifth of China’s soil is contaminated. The information comes directly from the Chinese government which conducted a study from 2005-2013 that revealed that 16.1% of China's soil and 19.4% of its arable land showed contamination. According to the BBC, the report from the Environmental Protection Ministry, named cadmium, nickel and arsenic as top pollutants. Similar governmental reports in various nations in Europe also show widespread incidents of soil contamination.

How to ensure that your Project site is free of soil contamination issues

To determine whether your project site is free of current or potential soil contaminants, contact landfill

design. The Florida-based company has assessed and remediated contamination issues for a wide

variety of industries, including agriculture, solid waste, manufacturing, fuel service stations and dry

cleaners. HSA Golden has leading-edge technologies to perform the most sophisticated soil testing. For

more information, please visit HSAGolden.com where you can request a proposal online. You can also

reach HSA Golden by calling 407-649-5475.

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