Effects

Once pollutants enter soils they can result in a range of adverse effects. The effect depends on the pollutant properties and the soil environment.

Negative aesthetic effects

Toxicity to humans and animals.

Exposure to soil pollutants may cause a range of different adverse human health effects and reduces productivity and resilience

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Phytotoxicity

Phytotoxicity is the term used for toxicity to plants. This results in low plant growth rates, plant death and will threaten food security.

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Reduced growth of sugar beet due to pesticide nicosulfuron  exposure.

Soil biota toxicity

Pollutants are toxic to soil biota (link to Living Soils?) and, particularly pesticides and metals, cause the largest negative impact on soil biodiversity compared to other stressors such as  climate change and invasive species. This reduces soil health and threatens the soil capacity to carry out critical functions such as nutrient cycling (link to that page) and climate regulation.

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Water pollution

Soil pollutants may move from soil to water systems and cause water quality degradation. Effects include eutrophication and aquatic organism and plant death. The water may become unfit for intended use such as drinking or irrigation.   

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Eutrophication of a freshwater lake as seen when excess fertiliser is applied to agricultural fields and runs off to water bodies. 

Air pollution

Some soil pollutants vaporise to air to cause air pollution. Examples include benzene and naphthalene. This can result in toxicity to humans or animals if the pollutant is inhaled. Plant damage can also occur. Some persistent pollutants  (e.g. PCBs) are subject to long-range atmospheric transport driven by global wind patterns and pollute areas of the world where they have never been used.   This is called the “grasshopper effect” and results in wide pollutant dispersion and concentration in pristine environments such as the Arctic, endangering vulnerable wildlife. 

Fires and explosions

Explosives and their residues, such as TNT, can accumulate in soils and ignite at industrial and military sites or during warfare. Leaks and spills of petroleum compounds from underground storage tanks at fuels stations are common causes of fires and explosions. At waste disposal sites waste degradation in the oxygen deficient environment generates the flammable gas methane which may build up and cause explosions. 

Chemical attack on buildings and materials 

Acids, sulphates and chlorides in soil are some examples of pollutants that corrode steel structures and degrade concrete. These can be found on a range of industrial sites including old scrap yard facilities.  

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