Find Best Career in Environmental Engineering

1
(No Transcript)
2
(No Transcript)
3
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
  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

4
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.

5
(No Transcript)
6
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 bio solids), 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.

7
The Problem of soil contamination is a worldwide
issue

• The BBC reports (on April 14, 2014) that
  one-fifth of Chinas 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.

8
(No Transcript)
9

• Visit us to know more about e
  environmental engineering
• www.hsagolden.com