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Soil contamination, soil pollution, or land pollution as a part of land degradation is caused by the presence of xenobiotic (human-made) chemicals or other alteration in the natural soil environment. It is typically caused by industrial activity, agricultural chemicals or improper disposal of waste. The most common chemicals involved are petroleum hydrocarbons, polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (such as naphthalene and benzo(a)pyrene), solvents, pesticides, lead, and other heavy metals.[1] Contamination is correlated with the degree of industrialization and intensity of chemical substance. The concern over soil contamination stems primarily from health risks, from direct contact with the contaminated soil, vapour from the contaminants, or from secondary contamination of water supplies within and underlying the soil.[2] Mapping of contaminated soil sites and the resulting clean ups are time-consuming and expensive tasks, and require expertise in geology, hydrology, chemistry, computer modelling, and GIS in Environmental Contamination, as well as an appreciation of the history of industrial chemistry.[3]
In North America and South-Western Europe the extent of contaminated land is best known for as many of the countries in these areas having a legal framework to identify and deal with this environmental problem. Developing countries tend to be less tightly regulated despite some of them having undergone significant industrialization.
- ^ Anweting, I. B.; Ebong, G. A.; Okon, I. E.; Udofia, I. M.; Oladunni, N. (2024-05-24). "Evaluating the Concentration of Pb, Hg, Co, V, As, Fe, Cu, Cd, Cr, Mn, Ni, and Zn and their Potential Sources in Soil from Two Abattoirs in Itu and Ikot Ekpene Local Government Areas of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria". Journal of Applied Sciences and Environmental Management. 28 (5): 1335–1343. doi:10.4314/jasem.v28i5.2. ISSN 2659-1499.
- ^ Risk Assessment Guidance for Superfund, Human Health Evaluation Manual, Office of Emergency and Remedial Response, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington D.C. 20450[date missing][page needed]
- ^ George, Rebecca; Joy, Varsha; S, Aiswarya; Jacob, Priya A. "Treatment Methods for Contaminated Soils – Translating Science into Practice" (PDF). International Journal of Education and Applied Research. Retrieved February 19, 2016.