Soil related issues. The problem of soil pollution and methods for its solution
Modern man has a huge impact on the environment, adjusting it “for itself”. As a result, there is a complete discord between nature and civilization, which is difficult to overcome. One of the main problems caused by anthropomorphic (that is, human) factors is soil pollution.
This phenomenon is observed in different parts of the world, including Russia. Is it possible to stop the destructive process - a question that worries all caring citizens.
Man is the cause of degradation
The Slavs called the earth “nurse” and “mother”, nourished their strength from it, said that it was softer to sleep on it than on a featherbed ... But centuries have passed, and in the 21st century the condition of the lands leaves much to be desired.
Industry with its hazardous waste, chemicalization of agriculture and unreasonable human activity... All this threatens the fertility of the land, on which our future depends.
We have listed the causes of pollution caused by man himself. However, there is another factor natural character. For example, some fungi produce mycotoxins that are harmful to fertile lands. Or soot gets into the soil as a result of a volcanic eruption. However, in these cases one cannot speak of the possibility of an ecological catastrophe. Unfortunately, it must be admitted that it is in the activities of people that the causes of the degradation of our lands lie.
Factories, thermal power plants, agriculture, transport and housing
Where to find the root of evil? Here are the main sources of soil pollution:
Industrial enterprises and factories. Every year, thousands of hectares of land are affected by industrial waste. But among them there are extremely toxic substances, salts of non-ferrous and heavy metals, benzene and phenol wastes, cyanides, as well as toxic compounds of arsenic and beryllium.
Thermal power engineering. A large amount of soot and unburned substances emitted into the atmosphere settles down very soon. As a result - the strongest pollution of soil resources.
agricultural sector. The unreasonable use of pesticides and mineral fertilizers, improper crop rotation, the use of heavy equipment, unsystematic walking of livestock - all this leads to the depletion and pollution of fertile lands.
Motor transport. Exhaust gases from cars contain great amount harmful substances, including zinc, hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides. Being inherently waste, they easily penetrate the soil and poison it from the inside. And some frivolous car owners manually refuel their "iron horses" on the roadsides, spilling gasoline directly on the surface of the earth.
Housing stock and social facilities. The population of the planet is growing and has already exceeded the mark of 7 billion people. But this is not the limit! Judging by the forecasts of scientists, by 2050 the figure will reach 9 billion earthlings. And the waste products of each of us are building materials, household waste, obsolete household items, feces and food leftovers. All this is considered hazardous waste that causes soil pollution.
What is the main threat?
Knowing the main sources of the problem, one can easily understand what types of soil pollution are. In this context, we are talking about substances that pose the main threats to land resources. They are divided into:
- Heavy metals. Chromium, cadmium, mercury, tellurium, lead, etc. are of particular danger. – over 40 in total chemical elements. They are all by-products of production; especially dangerous are those associated with high-temperature processes. Waste is no joke!
- Pesticides. These include:
- herbicides - drugs for weed control;
- fungicides - aimed at combating diseases;
- insecticides - insecticides;
growth regulators.
These drugs cannot be called waste, but if used improperly, they can adversely affect the condition of the land.
- Oil products. At the epicenter of danger Western Siberia, the Volga region and other regions with a well-developed black gold production industry. The fact is that accidents often occur on oil pipelines, which are not customary to talk about. In addition, technological emissions regularly occur. The result is the same: soil pollution with oil, oil products and industrial waste. The numbers speak for themselves. In some areas Tyumen region the concentration of petroleum hydrocarbons exceeds background values up to 250 times!
The situation is also complicated by the fact that all the “harmful things” that have fallen into the upper layers of the earth can easily end up in water bodies; then - in the organisms of agricultural animals and humans. Thus, we get a “vicious circle”, from which all living things eventually suffer.
- Household waste and garbage. In fact, it is not as safe as it might seem at first glance. After all, many household items are made of plastic, chipboard, plywood. Some of them contain toxic formaldehyde resins that cause soil pollution.
Simple solutions to complex issues
The main factors that cause soil pollution are listed above. Yes, our earth has an amazing property of self-purification. However, this is a very slow process, stretching over tens, hundreds and even thousands of years. It is not surprising that the rate at which soil pollution occurs and the rate of their self-purification are incommensurable.
Therefore, each person must be held accountable for his actions. And here the question arises: how exactly can a conscious citizen help the environment, including soils?
In fact, very many. To verify this, several situations can be considered.
- Situation #1
You are the owner of your own personal plot or cottage. Instead of indiscriminately applying nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium (NPK) fertilizers to the soil, order it chemical analysis. It will show exactly what substances are lacking in the lands, and what is in abundance. Following the data obtained, it is possible to balance the content of macroelements in the soil in just a few years.
In addition, you can refuse to use chemical plant protection products. In the fight against insect pests, environmentally friendly pheromone traps are effective. Against pathogens, use biological means of protection - in fact, there are many of them on the PPP market. Yes, and they are much cheaper than chemical products. And instead of herbicides, do not be lazy to carry out mechanical weeding.
These measures will not only save money, but also increase yields and product quality without damaging the soil.
- Situation #2
You are the owner passenger car. Most often, this category of people gets so used to the “steering wheel” that they don’t even go to the nearest bakery on foot. But this is wrong both from the point of view of health and from the standpoint of an environmentally savvy person.
After all, it is much more useful to take a walk or ride a bike. Just like the Europeans do. By the way, the mayors of cities do not disdain two-wheeled transport. So, Boris Johnson, by the way, who for the past eight years has been the head of London, constantly moved around his patrimony on a bicycle. And even tried to ban public transport in this European capital! And in Amsterdam, over 40% of urban transport is cycling. Here are the cases in which the European experience will benefit the Russians! If you use gasoline cars as little as possible, the amount of exhaust that penetrates into the upper layers of the earth will be reduced. This means that environmental problems will not be so acute.
The soil is an invaluable natural wealth that provides a person with the necessary food resources. Nothing can replace the soil cover: without this colossal natural object life on earth is impossible. At the same time, today one can observe the improper use of the soil, which leads to an increase in its pollution and, as a result, a decrease in its fertile properties.
Humanity should already seriously think about the problem of soil pollution and take the necessary measures to protect it. What are the main causes and sources of soil pollution?
The main cause of soil pollution is human activity, sometimes illiterate and careless. As a result of the influence of the anthropogenic factor, in particular the improper exploitation of land, a considerable proportion of the fertile layer is lost every year, which is subject to erosion. Thus, over the past 100 years, the erosion process has captured 27% of the total land area occupied by agricultural land.
Soil pollution refers to the ingress of various chemical substances, waste in quantities exceeding the norm required for participation in the biological cycle of soil ecosystems.
Sources of pollution
The main soil pollutants are classified as follows:
Residential buildings and utilities
These are various food residues; fragments of building materials; waste left after repair work, etc.
All this is taken to landfills, which have become the scourge of our time.
The simple burning of this waste in landfills leads to a double problem: firstly, huge areas are clogged, and secondly, the soil is saturated with toxic substances resulting from combustion.
Industrial enterprises
Any industrial enterprise produces many different wastes. The most dangerous among them are toxic substances that, getting into the soil, adversely affect living organisms. For example, the activity of the enterprises of the metallurgical industry is accompanied by the discharge of heavy metal salts, and the machine-building industry is accompanied by the discharge of cyanides, arsenic and beryllium compounds. Lead, mercury, cadmium are the three most dangerous metals. Pollution with heavy metals is dangerous because they accumulate in the body of humans and animals.
generates wastes that contain phenol, benzene, and during the production of synthetic rubber, harmful catalyst wastes fall into the soil, settling on the soil and plants.
Of particular note is the problem of pollution by oil and oil products. Massive oil spills are already called environmental disasters.
Accidental emissions are also possible, which are accompanied by the deposition of harmful toxic substances, this is how
Transport
A growing number of vehicles increase emissions of nitrogen oxides, lead, hydrocarbons. Once in the soil, these substances are involved in the cycle, which is associated with food chains. In addition, transport significantly reduces the total area of land used, including fertile plots. The process of soil erosion is accelerating, and it will take a hundred years to restore a fertile layer 1 cm deep.
Agriculture
The source of agricultural land pollution is mineral fertilizers, pesticides, some of which contain mercury and others. heavy metals.
Also, for several decades, various pesticides have been used to control pests and weeds in agriculture, which accumulate in the soil and remain there for a long time.
The plowing of lands leads to an increase in the process of soil erosion, overgrazing destroys the grass cover, which, in turn, leads to desertification of the lands.
Every year, about 6 million hectares of natural soils turn into a desert. Deforestation contributes to the depletion of the biogenic composition of lands and erosion.
Regular irrigation also negatively affects the soil: salinization occurs.
Soil protection
For many years people have used the earth without thinking about destroying it.
The desire to get the maximum of its capabilities from the soil eventually led to the fact that the degradation of the soil fertile composition began.
Today, people should seriously think about the protection of land, take measures to protect it and correct the consequences. technical progress. It is impossible to rely only on self-purification of the soil: this is a long process.
We need to help our land return to natural balance and natural balance. Environmental problems of the soil will primarily harm the person himself.
Control
For the cultivation of agricultural products, an assessment of soil contamination with chemicals is necessary. There are four rating levels: acceptable, moderately dangerous, highly dangerous, extremely dangerous. The same assessment of the degree of pollution is carried out for soils allocated for settlements.
The hazard class of chemicals polluting the soil is also assessed. General control is exercised by Rosprirodnadzor.
Monitoring can be carried out by organizations that have a license, it consists in determining indicators that have a certain allowable rate.
Samples are taken and the degree of contamination is determined in the laboratory. After that, an appropriate act is drawn up.
Measures
Today, soil protection measures are already being taken. In particular, to combat degradation, measures are taken to protect soils from waterlogging and salinization:
- drainage works to reduce the level of groundwater (installation of drainage structures, open channels, water intake facilities, etc.);
- flushing of irrigated areas in compliance with irrigation norms.
To combat soil erosion, a number of different measures are envisaged:
- fixing the soil through the root system of vegetation, the formation of a closed vegetation cover, the alternation of different types of vegetation on the slopes;
- plowing of land across the slope, terracing of slopes;
- planting protective forest belts that reduce wind speed in the surface layer;
- minimization of tillage (for example, plowing without turning over);
- strip rotation of crops;
- fixing the soil with vegetation.
In order not to damage the soil by excessive use of pesticides, it is necessary to use natural methods of pest control. For example, a ladybug feeds on aphids and insects; Some weeds can be controlled with herbivorous insects. The most important thing is to minimize the introduction of pesticides into the soil.
Land reclamation is a comprehensive restoration measure land plots, the structure of which is disturbed as a result of mining, construction or waste storage.The main methods of reclamation:
- Preparation of land for the restoration of farmland (creation of arable land, gardens, hayfields).
- Preparation of land for planting forests.
- Formation of recreation and sports areas, parks, camp sites, etc.
- Carrying out sanitary and hygienic measures in those areas that are unsuitable for use in the national economy.
In order to prevent desertification of lands, it is necessary to optimize the use of natural resources, improve the structure of sown areas, normalize the use of pastures, and expand reserves water resources, to stimulate nature-protective production.
Soil (ground) is a unique natural body, thanks to which the growth and development of all plants and the existence of the entire biosphere are possible. In our country, it is and has always been one of the main wealth. However, soil pollution to date has reached critical level. And this is connected, first of all, with the active development of industry. Therefore, the soil cover needs constant monitoring and protection.
What is soil?
Soil pollution by humans is one of the most serious environmental issues modernity, which began to be seriously discussed since the middle of the last century. But before you start considering this issue, you should find out what soil is, what components it consists of, and what are the features of its formation.
The soil, as a special component of any geosystem (landscape), is formed in the upper part of the rocks. Its formation is influenced by climate features, surface waters, as well as flora growing in a particular area. If we look at this process from a different angle, we can say that the soil acts as a kind of connecting link between animate and inanimate nature.
Its formation is based on two processes: mechanical weathering (destruction) of rocks and the vital activity of living organisms that introduce organic matter into the soil mass. Thus, living organisms ensure the formation of the so-called humus horizon in the soil.
The main property of the soil
Fertility is the most important property of soil. It is provided just by the presence of the humus horizon, which was discussed earlier. It is this property that distinguishes the soil from all other components of the geosystem. Thanks to this quality, all plants receive the organic substances and minerals necessary for their life, ensuring, among other things, crop yields. That is why the consequences of soil pollution can be very serious for all mankind, because the food security of society is at risk.
What is the soil made of?
The structure of any soil is represented by the following four components:
- water;
- air masses;
- rock;
- a ball of humus (humus).
The main part of the soil is rock, in percentage terms it makes up to 50% of the total mass of a particular soil.
By features internal structure Soil scientists distinguish several main types of soils: sandy, rocky, clayey, saline and others. Depending on the geographical (latitudinal) location, they are: chernozem (the most fertile), sod-podzolic, ray, gray forest, red soil and others.
Vasily Dokuchaev and his role in soil research
An outstanding scientist Vasily Vasilyevich Dokuchaev made a huge contribution to the study of the soil cover. His name is known throughout the world. He was the first to notice back in the 19th century that the distribution of soils on the surface of our planet is strictly latitudinal and regular. Also, his merit lies in the fact that he first began to consider the soil as an independent object of the geosystem, which is endowed with such an important quality as integrity. By the way, for the most part, the causes of soil pollution are just related to ignorance or misunderstanding of this important feature of the soil.
The most important work of the scientist is the book "Russian Chernozem" (1883). It was the fruit of his many years of research and development. Vasily Dokuchaev independently studied vast areas, conducted soil studies in the territories modern Russia and Ukraine. In his work, he singled out 5 main criteria for soil formation: climatic features, parent rock, relief, flora and time.
In addition to Vasily Dokuchaev, other prominent scientists were also involved in soil science. Among them are K. Glinka, N. Sibirtsev and P. Kostychev.
Soil in human life
Is the phrase "earth-nurse" so metaphorical and figurative? Of course not. The soil is indeed the main source of food for humans and the main resource for the agro-industrial complex. And although soils began to be studied in detail only at the end of the 19th century, our distant ancestors also knew about their quality as fertility.
The soil cover is an essential element of any landscape. The soil can be compared with a large battery that accumulates a huge amount of useful substances. It is for this reason that environmental pollution of the soil is extremely dangerous not only for the life of society, but also for the integrity of the landscape envelope of the Earth.
Industrialization and urbanization are the main enemies of the soil
Anthropogenic pressure on the geographic envelope greatly increased in the second half of the 20th century. The main soil pollution at this time is associated with increased industrialization, urbanization processes and the growth of cities. Despite the fact that many declarations on the protection of soils have been adopted, they still need protection and protection.
The main causes of soil pollution lie in the irrational and irresponsible approach of mankind to environmental issues. Therefore, in order to solve this unusually acute problem, it is necessary first of all to reconsider human behavior in the plane of the relationship "man - nature".
Determination of soil pollution
The term "environmental pollution of the soil" refers to the degradation of soils, which is accompanied by a significant change in their chemical composition. As a rule, it is the plants that are the first to feel these changes, and they are the first to suffer from them.
Variety of soil pollutants
Active soil pollution began in the middle of the last century. It was associated with the growth of cities and the rapid development of industry. All soil pollutants can be divided into 4 main classes:
- Class of inorganic pollutants - heavy metals, cyanides, acids and alkalis;
- The class of organic pollutants is pesticides, phenols, oil products, etc.;
- Class of biological pollutants;
- Class of radioactive waste.
Accordingly, a number of sources of pollution can be identified, which include:
- residential sector of cities and towns;
- utilities;
- industrial enterprises (plants, combines, factories);
- Agriculture;
- transport and transport systems;
Soil degradation can be both natural and anthropogenic. At the same time, the consequences of soil pollution in the second case are more deplorable and dangerous. Below we consider the most basic types of anthropogenic soil pollution.
Soil degradation: pollution by heavy metals and pesticides
This type of pollution is classified as a chemical class. Chemical contamination of soils is especially dangerous, since compounds that enter the soil can accumulate in the tissues of living organisms. It doesn't matter if it's a plant, an animal or a person.
Cadmium, lead, nickel, arsenic and mercury are the most common causes of soil degradation. Heavy metal pollution poses a great threat to biosystems of any rank. In addition to the listed elements, tetraethyl lead, a compound contained in gasoline, also poses a huge danger.
No less detrimental to the soil cover and pesticides that destroy the soil microflora. We would not have known about their harmful effects on the soil, if not for the rapid development of agriculture. Farmers actively fight various pests with the help of pesticides, introducing a huge amount of them into the ground. In terms of their harmfulness, these substances are no less dangerous for human body than heavy metals. In addition, scientists have found that some pesticides can accumulate in the soil and remain in it for decades.
Soil radioactive contamination
The nuclear industry is a big threat to all life on Earth. Soil contamination with radioactive waste - cesium, plutonium, strontium and other uranium fission products - has extremely undesirable consequences. At least 98% of the fuel used in nuclear reactions turns into waste, the elimination of which is one of the most acute environmental problems of our time. So, every year on our planet, nuclear power plants generate about 200,000 m 3 of radioactive waste.
The most dangerous isotopes are strontium-90, cesium-137, cerium-144. Once in the ground, they are able to easily penetrate into the food chains of biosystems. At the same time, their mobility in the thickness of the soil is very high. In living organisms, these radionuclides, as a rule, accumulate in bone tissue. It is for these reasons that radioactive contamination of soils is very dangerous and fraught with its own negative consequences.
Other types of soil pollution
In addition to radioactive and chemical, there are some other types of soil pollution. Let's consider them.
One of these types is domestic soil pollution. Every day, tons of household waste and garbage are generated in the world - different kind and state of aggregation. Domestic pollution does not carry too much danger, but waste and garbage accumulated in large quantities become an obstacle to normal growth and development. flora. This problem is especially acute in major cities and megacities, where garbage is generated daily on a colossal scale.
In addition, there is also natural pollution of the soil cover, to which a person has nothing to do. First of all, here we are talking about soil contamination with products of volcanic eruptions (soot, toxic compounds), as well as myotoxins secreted by some types of fungi. However, it should be noted that these types of pollution are not so dangerous, and they are tied to separate, small territories.
Soil erosion is also a big problem for the integrity of the soil cover. Thus, hundreds of hectares of fertile land are destroyed every year under the influence of wind and flowing waters. This problem is especially acute in the steppe and forest-steppe regions of our country.
Soil protection and monitoring
In order to effectively carry out a set of measures for the protection of soils, it is important to qualitatively and adequately analyze their condition.
A correct assessment of soil pollution makes it possible to select appropriate measures for their protection and reclamation. To obtain such an assessment, the most complex mathematical calculations are used and detailed chemical studies (including laboratory ones) are carried out. It is usually represented as a complex index Zc. This indicator takes into account several factors, in particular:
- The nature of the pollution sources.
- The presence of chemical contaminants in the soil.
- Priority of pollutants.
- Features of land use.
To date, scientists and ecologists have developed a whole range of measures to protect and conserve the soil cover. It provides for the implementation of scientific, sanitary, administrative-legal, legislative, technological and forest reclamation measures. In this aspect, work on the creation of waste-free production systems and technologies is of particular importance.
Conclusion
Soil is a natural component, the importance of which is very difficult to overestimate. Soil pollution is one of the most important problems, the solution of which requires the consolidation of efforts of all members of the world community without exception: scientists, politicians, social activists and ordinary citizens. Every inhabitant of our planet must understand that the Earth is our common wealth, and join the active struggle to protect it.
Problems of soil pollution and ways to solve them.
At present, the interaction problem human society With
nature has taken on a special urgency. It becomes indisputable that the decision
the problem of preserving the quality of human life is unthinkable without a certain
understanding of modern environmental problems: preservation of the evolution of living things,
hereditary substances (genofund of flora and fauna), preservation of purity and
productivity of natural environments (atmosphere, hydrosphere, soil, forests, etc.),
environmental regulation of anthropogenic pressure on natural ecosystems in
within their buffer capacity, the preservation of the ozone layer, food chains
in nature, biocirculation of substances and others.
The soil cover of the Earth is the most important component of the biosphere
Earth. It is the soil shell that determines many processes,
occurring in the biosphere.
Soil is a special natural formation with near properties,
inherent in animate and inanimate nature, formed as a result of a long
transformation of the surface layers of the lithosphere under the joint
interdependent interaction of the hydrosphere, atmosphere, living and dead
organisms.
The soil cover is the most important natural formation. His role in life
society is determined by the fact that the soil is a source
food, providing 95-97% of food resources for
the population of the planet.
The soil cover is a natural base for human settlement, serves as the basis for the creation of recreational areas. It allows you to create an optimal ecological environment for the life, work and recreation of people. The purity and composition of the atmosphere, surface and underground waters depend on the nature of the soil cover, soil properties, and chemical and biochemical processes occurring in soils. The soil cover is one of the most powerful regulators of the chemical composition of the atmosphere and hydrosphere. The soil has been and remains the main condition for the life support of nations and humanity as a whole.
The area of land resources in the world is 129 million km 2, or 86.5%
land areas. Under arable land and perennial plantations in the composition
about 15 million km 2 (10% of land) are occupied by agricultural land, under
hayfields and pastures - 37.4 million km 2 (25%). total area
arable land is estimated by various researchers in different ways: from
25 to 32 million km 2.
The planet's land resources allow us to provide more food
population than currently available. However, due to the growth
population, especially in developing countries, soil degradation,
pollution, erosion, etc.; as well as due to the acquisition of land for development
cities, towns and industrial enterprises the amount of arable land per capita
the population is drastically reduced.
Human impact on soil component the general influence of human
society on the earth's crust and its upper layer, on nature in general, especially
increased in the age of the scientific and technological revolution. This not only enhances
human interaction with the earth, but the main features are also changing
interactions. The problem of "soil - man" is complicated by urbanization, all
large use of land, their resources for industrial and housing
construction, growing demand for food. By the will of man
the nature of the soil changes, soil formation factors change - relief,
microclimate, new rivers appear, etc.
At present, the regions with significant soil pollution should include the Moscow and Kurgan regions, the regions with medium pollution - the Central Chernozem region, Primorsky Krai. North Caucasus.
Soils around big cities and large enterprises color and ferrous metallurgy, chemical and petrochemical industries, mechanical engineering, thermal power plants at a distance of several tens of kilometers are polluted with heavy metals, oil products, lead compounds, sulfur and other toxic substances. The average content of lead in the soils of a five-kilometer zone around a number of surveyed cities of the Russian Federation is in the range of 0.4 80 MPC. The average content of manganese around ferrous metallurgy enterprises ranges from 0.05-6 MPC.
Soil pollution with oil in the places of its production, processing, transportation and distribution exceeds the background level by dozens of times. Within a radius of 10 km from Vladimir in the western and eastern directions, the oil content in the soil exceeded the background value by 33 times.
Soils around Bratsk, Novokuznetsk, Krasnoyarsk are contaminated with fluorine, where its maximum content exceeds the regional average level by 4-10 times.
Intensive development industrial production leads to the growth of industrial waste, which, together with household waste, significantly affect the chemical composition of the soil, causing a deterioration in its quality. Severe soil contamination with heavy metals, together with zones of sulfur pollution formed during the combustion of coal, lead to a change in the composition of trace elements and the emergence of man-made deserts.
A change in the content of microelements in the soil immediately affects the health of herbivores and humans, leads to metabolic disorders, causing various endemic diseases of a local nature. For example, a lack of iodine in the soil leads to thyroid disease, a lack of calcium in drinking water and food - to damage to the joints, their deformation, growth retardation.
In podzolic soils with a high iron content, when iron interacts with sulfur, iron sulfide is formed, which is a strong poison. As a result, microflora (algae, bacteria) is destroyed in the soil, which leads to a loss of fertility.
In agriculture, thousands of chemicals have been invented to kill pests. They are called pesticides, and depending on the group of organisms on which they act, they are divided into insecticides (kill insects), rodenticides
(destroy rodents), fungicides (destroy fungi). However, none of these
chemicals does not have absolute selectivity for organisms,
against which it is designed, and poses a threat also to others,
organisms, including humans. . The annual use of pesticides in
agriculture in the Russian Federation is approximately 150 thousand tons. In our opinion, it is ecologically much more expedient to use natural or biological methods.
The soil always contains carcinogenic (chemical, physical, biological) substances that cause tumor diseases in living organisms, including cancer. The main sources of regional soil contamination with carcinogenic substances are vehicle emissions, emissions from industrial enterprises, and oil products. Disposal of industrial and household waste to landfills leads to pollution and irrational use of land, creates real threats of significant pollution of the atmosphere, surface and ground water, an increase in transport costs and the irretrievable loss of valuable materials and substances.
Technogenic pollution of the soil required the development of special methods for its regeneration and protection. Some of them consist in the localization of pollutants with the help of storages and sedimentation tanks. This method does not destroy toxins and pollutants, but prevents their spread in the natural environment. The real fight against polluting compounds is their elimination. Toxic products can be destroyed on site or taken to special centralized points for their processing and neutralization. Various methods are used on the ground: burning hydrocarbons, washing contaminated soils with mineral solutions, removing pollutants into the atmosphere, as well as biological methods, if pollution is caused by organic substances.
Over the past 25 years, the area of agricultural land has decreased by 33 million hectares, despite the annual involvement of new lands in agricultural circulation. The main reasons for the decrease in the area of agricultural land are manifestations of soil erosion, insufficiently thought out land acquisition for non-agricultural needs, flooding, swamping, overgrowing with forests and shrubs.
An improvement in the situation is possible only if agriculture is carried out strictly scientific principles, taking into account environmental impact. At each stage of the agricultural process, the laws of the interaction of plants with the environment and soil, the laws of the circulation of matter and energy, must be taken into account. The law of ecological farming is formulated as follows: the anthropogenic impact on the soil, the plant, the environment should not exceed the limits beyond which the productivity of the agroecosystem decreases, the stability and stability of its functioning is violated. Increasing the productivity of the agroecosystem can only be ensured by the parallel improvement of all its elements.
To preserve soils, it is necessary to take into account and apply all factors of soil formation. Here are some examples of their use.
Soil-forming rocks - the substrate on which soils are formed; they consist of various mineral components, to one degree or another participating in soil formation. Mineral matter makes up 60-90% of the total weight of the soil. depends on the nature of the parent breeds physical properties soils - its water and thermal regimes, the speed of movement of substances in the soil, the mineralogical and chemical composition, the initial content of nutrients for plants. The type of soil also depends to a large extent on the nature of the parent rocks.
Vegetation
organic compounds Soils are formed as a result of vital activity of plants, animals and microorganisms. Vegetation plays the main role in this. Green plants are practically the only creators of primary organic substances. terrain, etc.
In the process of dying off of both whole plants and their individual parts, organic substances enter the soil (root and ground decay). The amount of annual decline varies considerably: in tropical rainforests it reaches 250 q/ha, in arctic tundra - less than 10 q/ha, and in deserts - 5-6 q/ha. On the soil surface, organic matter decomposes under the influence of animals, bacteria, fungi, as well as physical and chemical agents with the formation of soil humus. Ash substances replenish the mineral part of the soil. Undecomposed plant material forms the so-called forest floor (in forests) or felt (in steppes and meadows). These formations affect the gas exchange of the soil, the permeability of sediments, the thermal regime of the upper soil layer, the soil fauna, and the vital activity of microorganisms. Vegetation affects the structure and nature of soil organic matter, its moisture content.
animal organisms
The main function of animal organisms in the soil is the transformation of organic matter. Both soil and terrestrial animals take part in soil formation. In the soil environment, animals are mainly represented by invertebrates and protozoa. The main mass of soil animals are saprophages (nematodes, earthworms, etc.). Saprophages influence the formation of the soil profile, humus content, and soil structure. For more than a decade, there has been experience in the use of the red California worm to obtain biologically valuable fertilizer (biohumus) from fiber-containing and a wide range of organic waste, as well as to improve soil structure, aeration.
The most numerous representatives of the terrestrial animal world involved in soil formation are small rodents (voles, etc.). Plant and animal remains, falling into the soil, undergo complex changes. A certain part of them decomposes into carbon dioxide, water and simple salts (mineralization process), others pass into new complex organic substances of the soil itself.
Microorganisms
Of great importance in the implementation of these processes in the soil are microorganisms (bacteria, actinomycetes, lower fungi, unicellular algae, viruses, etc.), which are very diverse both in their composition and biological activity. Microorganisms in the soil are in the billions per 1 ha. They take part in the biotic cycle of substances, decomposing complex organic and mineral substances into simpler ones. The latter are utilized both by the microorganisms themselves and by higher plants. One of the most common and persistent land pollution is oil. The natural microflora, adapting, is able to destroy this type of pollution. Mixing oil-contaminated soil with crushed pine bark accelerates the rate of oil destruction by an order of magnitude due to the ability of microorganisms existing on the surface of the bark to grow complex hydrocarbons that make up pine resin, as well as the adsorption of oil products by the bark. This biotechnological technique is called "microbial recovery of oil-contaminated soil."
As for land protection, it includes a system of organizational, economic, legal, engineering and other measures aimed at protecting them from plunder, unjustified withdrawals from agricultural circulation, irrational use, harmful anthropogenic and natural impacts, in order to increase the efficiency of nature management and create a favorable ecological situation.
The protection of lands and their rational use are carried out on the basis of an integrated approach to lands as complex natural formations (ecosystems), taking into account their zonal and regional characteristics. The system of rational land use should be environmentally friendly, resource-saving in nature and provide for soil conservation, limiting impacts on vegetation and animal world, geological rocks and other components of the environment. Land protection provides for:
Protection of lands from water and wind erosion, salts, downwind erosion, flooding, waterlogging, secondary salinization, desiccation, compaction, pollution by production waste, and other destruction processes;
- reclamation of disturbed lands, increasing their fertility and other useful properties;
- removal and preservation of the fertile soil layer in order to use it for land reclamation or increase the fertility of unproductive lands;
- establishment of special regimes of use for land plots that had environmental, historical and cultural significance.
All landowners, land users and tenants, regardless of the forms and terms of land use, carry out work to protect and improve the quality of land at their own expense and are responsible for the deterioration of the environmental situation on their land and adjacent territory associated with their activities.
The exceptionally important role of natural resource relations is enshrined in Art. 9 of the Constitution of Russia, which establishes that land and other Natural resources are used and protected as the basis of life and activity of the peoples living in the respective territories. Also, these relations are regulated by the Land Code of the Russian Federation, the Laws on land use, land management, agricultural land and many other regulatory legal acts.
In 1992, the Government of the Russian Federation adopted a resolution "on the approval of the regulation on the procedure for exercising state control over the use and protection of land." Specially authorized government bodies, exercising state control over the use and protection of land are: the Committee on Land Reform and Land Resources under the Government of the Russian Federation and its local bodies, the State Committee for Environmental Protection of the Russian Federation and its local bodies, the Sanitary and Epidemiological Service of the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Architecture, Construction and housing and communal services of the Russian Federation and local bodies of architectural and construction supervision.
In the Russian Federation, there is a fairly large regulatory and legal framework for land legislation, but as you can see, it is not enough to solve all the environmental problems of modern land use. In this regard, in our opinion, the current legislation on land requires careful analysis, refinement and elimination of gaps, the adoption of new bills.
Bibliography:
1 G.V. Dobrovolsky "Soil. City. Ecology”, Moscow, 1997
2. Yu. V. Novikov "Ecology, environment and man"; m., 1999
3. V.D. Valova. "Fundamentals of Ecology". Publishing house "Dashkov and Co." M - 2001.
4. Arustamov E.A. "Nature Management" Textbook. Publishing house "Dashkov and
Ko". M - 2000.
5. G.V. Stadnitsky "Ecology", St. Petersburg Himizdat, 1999
6. A. P. Oshmarin "Ecology"; Yaroslavl, 1998
G.V. Dobrovolsky "Soil. City. Ecology”, Moscow, 1997
Yu. V. Novikov "Ecology, environment and man"; m., 1999
V.D. Valova "Fundamentals of Ecology" Publishing House "Dashkov and Co." M - 2001.Arustamov E.A. "Nature Management" Textbook. Publishing house "Dashkov and
Ko". M - 2000.
G.V. Stadnitsky "Ecology", St. Petersburg Himizdat, 1999
A. P. Oshmarin "Ecology"; Yaroslavl, 1998
Recently, the impact of man on nature has increased significantly, so there is a threat of depletion of certain resources. In addition, the scale of waste emissions into nature has increased. This also affected soils, which are the most important component of the biosphere and determine many processes occurring in it. It is the basis for human settlement, and therefore the consequences of soil pollution must be prevented as far as possible.
Soil and its importance in human life
This is a natural formation great value for a person. Primarily as a source of food. In addition, the soil cover is involved in creating an optimally positive environment for the life, recreation and work of people.
Thanks to the land resources of our planet, it is possible to provide the necessary food for a population that is much larger in number than currently lives on Earth. Soil is also a regulator of the chemical composition of the hydrosphere and atmosphere.
Types of soil pollution
The consequences of soil pollution can be minimized, but for this it is necessary to know well what types and sources exist.
The main pollutants of the soil cover are: mineral fertilizers, pesticides (pesticides), gas and smoke emissions into the atmosphere, production waste, oil and oil products.
Pesticides are chemicals widely used in agriculture to control weeds and pests. Accumulating in the soil, they can be transmitted through the food chain and cause serious diseases in animals and humans. The production of pesticides is constantly growing in the world, which has an extremely negative impact on health.
Mineral fertilizers can also cause soil pollution and its consequences. This happens as a result of their use in unreasonable quantities, with losses during production or transportation.
Waste and waste from production also lead to intense soil pollution. Considerable areas of land are occupied by landfills, many of which are toxic.
Huge damage to the normal functioning of soils is caused by gas and smoke emissions. Industrial enterprises emit pollutants (heavy metals), which are especially dangerous for people, which the soil can accumulate.
As a result of the imperfection of oil production technology, one of the most acute environmental problems in our country is the contamination of the upper layer of the lithosphere with oil and its products.
Scale of the problem
In our century of scientific and technological breakthrough, the negative impact of man on nature as a whole, and especially on the upper layer of the lithosphere, has significantly increased. Human intervention changes the nature of the earth.
The main impacts on soil are as follows:
- erosion;
- desertification;
- waterlogging;
- pollution.
Recently, the issue of pollution of the lithosphere has been particularly acute, in particular, attention should be paid to such problems as the sources of soil pollution, the consequences of pollution and solutions.
Sources
The main factors causing soil pollution are as follows:
- domestic enterprises and residential buildings (food waste, household waste, feces, waste from public organizations);
- agriculture (toxic chemicals, fertilizers);
- industrial enterprises (heavy metals);
- transport (exhaust gases deposited on the soil surface).
Effects
Pollution is considered to be the ingress of various kinds of waste, toxic substances, chemicals into it, which lead to an inevitable result. The consequences of soil pollution are inevitable and include: changes in the terrain, its structure, subsidence and displacement of rocks, activation of hazardous geological processes. All this has an extremely negative effect on the vital activity of microorganisms in the ground cover, fertility. The ecosystem itself is being destroyed. The negative consequences undoubtedly affect the health of the population, which is deteriorating with each generation.
Ways to solve the problem
An important role in the process of soil restoration can be played by green spaces. If you create a continuous green strip of hawthorn or maple along the freeway, then a significant part will be absorbed by them. The most polluted areas can also be taken for planting forests.
The consequences of soil pollution can be reduced if waste is recycled. It would be useful to introduce strict control over the use of mineral fertilizers. Pesticide pollution can be reduced by improving their composition and preventing buildup in the soil cover. As an alternative to pesticides, it is quite possible to use predatory insects, the so-called biological protection (these are ants, ground beetles, ladybugs). For construction, land unsuitable for agriculture should be taken. Also, whenever possible, it is necessary to carry out a withdrawal from the oil.
There is a colossal natural wealth. This is the soil. The causes and consequences of soil pollution remain today one of the most pressing issues that specialists should come to grips with. At the moment, this problem is one of the most important tasks of mankind. It can be solved only if you approach the issue in a comprehensive manner, without missing out on trifles and without making indulgences.