Soil - a special natural formation for the growth of the trees, crops and other plants.It is difficult to imagine life without our fertile soil.But modern man refers to ground?Today, a man of the soil pollution has reached enormous proportions, so the soil of our planet in dire need of protection and preservation.
soil - what's that?
Soil protection against contamination is impossible without a clear understanding of what soil is and how it is formed.Consider this question in more detail.
soil (or soil) - a special natural formation, a mandatory component of any ecosystem.It is formed in the upper layer of the parent rock, by the action of the sun, water, and vegetation.Soil - a kind of a bridge link that connects biotic and abiotic components of the landscape.
main processes, which formed as a result of soil erosion is the ability to live and living organisms.As a result of the mechanical processes of weathering parent material is destroyed and gradually crushed, and living organisms that fill the lifeless mass of organic substances.
human contamination of soil - is one of the most important problems of modern ecology and nature, which is particularly sharpened in the second half of the twentieth century.
Soil structure
Any soil consists of 4 main components.It:
- rock (foundation soil, about 50% of the total weight);
- water (about 25%);
- air (about 15%);
- organic matter (humus, 10%).
Depending on the ratio of these components in the soil, are the following types of soil:
- rocky;
- clay;
- sand;
- humus;
- saline.
key soil properties that distinguish it from any other component of the landscape is its fertility.This unique property satisfying plants necessary nutrients, moisture and air.Thus, the soil provides the biological productivity of all vegetation and crop yields.That is why soil and water contamination is so acute problem in the world.
Research soil
soil research has a special science - soil science , which is considered the founder Vasily Dokuchaev - a scientist of world renown.It was he who, at the end of the XIX century, first noted that the soil spread over the earth's surface is quite natural (latitudinal zoning of soil), as well as a clear call morphological characteristics of the soil.
Dokuchaev considered the soil as an integral and independent natural formation that before him had done none of the scientists.The most famous work of the scientist - "Russian black earth" in 1883 - is a reference book for all modern soil scientists.Dokuchaev conducted a thorough study of soils of the steppe zone of modern Russia and Ukraine, the results of which formed the basis for the book.The author identified the main factors of soil formation: the parent rock, topography, climate, and the age of the plant world.The scientist gives a very interesting definition of "soil is a function of parent rock, climate and organisms multiplied by time."
Dokuchaeva After studying soil actively engaged in other well-known scientists.Among them: Kostychev, N. Sibirtsev, K. Glinka and others.
value and the role of soil in a person's life
phrase "land-nurse", we hear very often, not a symbolic or metaphoric.It really is.It is the main source of food for humanity, which, anyway, gives about 95% of all food.The total area of land on the planet is now 129 million km2 land area, of which 10% is arable land, and another 25% - hayfields and pastures.
study the soil began only in the XIX century, but people know about the beautiful of their properties - for fertility, since ancient times.That is the basis of all owe their existence to plants and animals on Earth, including humans.It is no accident that the most densely populated areas of the planet are the areas with the most fertile soils.
soils - is the main resource of agricultural production.Many conventions and declarations adopted at international level, calling for rational and take care of the soil.And this is obvious, because the total pollution of land and soil threatens the existence of all humanity on the planet.
soil cover - a key element of the geographical envelope of the Earth, is responsible for all processes in the biosphere.Soil accumulates a huge amount of organic matter and energy, performing thereby a giant part of the biological filter.This - a key element of the biosphere, whose destruction will break all its functional structure.
In the XXI century, the load on the soil cover has grown several times, and the problem of soil contamination goes to the rank of major and global.It is noteworthy that the solution to this problem depends on the concerted action of all countries in the world.
land and soil pollution
soil contamination is the process of degradation of soil, in which significantly increased the content of chemicals.Indicators of this process are living organisms, in particular plants that are the first to suffer from disturbing the natural composition of the soil.The reaction of the plant depends on the level of their sensitivity to such changes.
should be noted that in our country provides for criminal responsibility for pollution of land by man.In particular, Article 254 of the Criminal Code, sounds like "Spoiling the earth."
Typology of soil contaminants
main soil contamination began in the twentieth century, with the rapid development of the industrial complex.Under soil contamination understand introduction into the ground for him atypical components - so-called "pollution".They can stay in any aggregate state - liquid, solid, gaseous or complex.
All soil contaminants can be divided into 4 groups:
- organic (pesticides, insecticides, herbicides, aromatic hydrocarbons, chlorinated substances, phenols, organic acids, mineral oil, gasoline, paints and varnishes);
- inorganic (heavy metals, asbestos, cyanides, alkali, inorganic acids, etc.);
- radioactive;
- biological (bacteria, pathogens, algae, etc.).
Thus, the main soil contamination is carried out by means of these and certain other pollutants.Elevated levels of these substances in the soil may lead to negative and irreversible consequences.
land pollution sources
Today can be called a large number of such sources.And the number of them every year is increasing.
list the main sources of soil pollution:
- Residential buildings and utilities.It is the main source of pollution of land in urban areas.In this case, contamination of soil occurs through human waste, food residues, construction debris and household items (old furniture, clothing, etc.).In large cities, the question "what to do with the garbage?"It turns into a real tragedy for the city authorities.Therefore, on the outskirts of cities grow huge kilometer landfill where dumped all the trash.In developed Western countries have long introduced the practice of recycling in special plants and factories.And in this there is a lot of money earned.In our country is such cases, unfortunately, rare.
- factories.In this group, the main sources of soil contamination - a chemical, mining and engineering industries.Cyanide, arsenic, styrene, benzene, clusters of polymers, carbon black - all these terrible substances into the soil in the area of large industrial enterprises.The big challenge now is also the problem of disposing of tires, speakers cause large fires that are very difficult to extinguish.
- transport complex.Sources of soil contamination in this case - lead, hydrocarbons, soot and nitrogen oxides.All these substances are extracted in the process of internal combustion engines, and then deposited on the ground and absorbed by plants.Thus, they find themselves in the soil.The degree of contamination of the soil will be as high as along major highways and road junctions near.
- Agriculture.Get off the ground food, we at the same time poisoning her, as paradoxical as it may sound.Contamination of soil by man's going through the entry in the land of fertilizers and chemicals.That is in the ground for a fall terrible substances - mercury, pesticides, lead and cadmium.In addition, excess chemicals are washed from fields by rain, falling into permanent streams and groundwater.
- radioactive waste.It is a great danger carries soil pollution waste nuclear industry.Few people know that at the time of nuclear reactions at nuclear power plants around 98-99% of the fuel is wasted.This uranium fission products - cesium, plutonium, strontium and other elements that are extremely dangerous.It is a big challenge for our country is the burial of radioactive waste.Each year the world produced about 200 thousand cubic meters of nuclear waste.
main types of pollution
Soil contamination can be natural (eg volcanic eruptions) or anthropogenic (man-made), when pollution is the fault of man.The latter fall into the ground substance and the products that are not inherent in the environment and have a negative impact on ecosystems and natural systems.
process of classification of soil contamination is very complex, in different sources served different classifications.Still, the main types of pollutants in the soil can be represented as follows.
Domestic soil pollution - the pollution of soil and debris and emissions.This group includes contaminants of different nature and a different state of aggregation.They can be both liquid and solid.In general, this type of pollution is not too dangerous for the soil, but the excessive accumulation of waste littering the area and prevents normal growth of plants.The most acute problem of domestic soil contamination is in metropolitan areas and large cities, as well as in villages with nenalazhennoy system of garbage collection.
Chemical contamination of soils - is primarily contaminated with heavy metals and pesticides.This type of pollution is already a great danger to humans.After all, heavy metals have the ability to accumulate in living organisms.Soils contaminated kinds of heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, chromium, copper, nickel, mercury, arsenic, and manganese.More polluting soil acts gasoline, which contains the very toxic substance - tetraethyl lead.
pesticides - are also very dangerous substances to the soil.The main source of pesticide is a modern agriculture that is actively using these chemicals to combat pests and bugs.Therefore, pesticides accumulate in the soil in large numbers.Animals and humans are no less dangerous than heavy metals.So, it was banned a highly toxic drug and very resistant to DDT.He is not able to decompose in the soil for decades, scientists have found its track even in Antarctica!
Pesticides are very harmful to the soil microflora: bacteria and fungi.
soil contamination - the pollution of ground waste of nuclear power plants.Radioactive substances are very dangerous as they can easily penetrate into the food chain of living organisms.The most dangerous radioactive isotope considered strontium-90, which is characterized by high yield during nuclear fission (8%) and high (28 years) half-life.Besides, he is very mobile in the soil and can be deposited in human bone tissue and various living organisms.Among other hazardous radionuclides can also be called Cs-137, Ce-144, 36-chloro.
volcanic soil pollution - this type of pollution refers to a group of natural.It is released into the soil of toxic substances, soot and products of combustion, which occurs as a result of volcanic eruptions.This is a very rare type of soil contamination, which is characteristic only for certain small areas.
Mikotoksicheskoe soil pollution - is not a man-made and has a natural origin.The source of contamination is advocated by some types of fungi that release hazardous substances - mycotoxins.It is worth noting that these substances pose as big a danger to living organisms, as well as all the others above.
soil erosion
major problem for the preservation of the fertile layer of soil has been and remains the erosion.Every year she "eats" large areas of fertile soil, and the rate of natural recovery of soil is significantly lower rate of erosion processes.Scientists have thoroughly studied the features of these processes and find measures to combat them.
Erosion can be:
- water
- wind
It is obvious that in the first case acts as a leading factor in the erosion of flowing water, and the second - the wind.
more common and dangerous water erosion.It begins with the appearance on the earth's surface a small, barely noticeable ravine, but after each heavy rain this gully will expand and grow in size until they turn into a ditch.In a single year period on a completely flat surface may pit depth of 1-2 meters!The next stage of water erosion - is the formation of the ravine.This form of relief is different great depth and branching structure.Gullies catastrophically destroy the fields, meadows and pastures.If the gully is not to fight, he will sooner or later turn into a beam.
Vodnoerozionnye processes are more active in the steppe region with rugged terrain, where very little vegetation.
reason wind erosion are the storms and winds that can blow up to 20 centimeters of the upper (most fertile) soil ball.Wind carries the soil particles over long distances, forming deposits in certain places up to 1-2 meters.Most often they are formed along the landings and belts.
Evaluation of soil contamination
to carry out a complex of measures for the protection of soil is very important adequate assessment of soil pollution.It is calculated by complex mathematical calculations, after the set of detailed chemical and environmental studies.Evaluation presented a comprehensive indicator of pollution ZC.
Evaluation of soil contamination is carried out based on several important factors:
- specifics of pollution sources;
- complex chemical elements - soil contaminants;
- priority pollutants, according to the list of MPC;
- character and land use.
Researchers distinguish several levels of soil contamination, namely:
- Acceptable (ZC less than 16).
- moderately hazardous (ZC 16 to 38).
- Dangerous (ZC from 38 to 128).
- extremely dangerous (ZC 128).
Soil protection
Depending on the source of contamination and the intensity of its influence, developed special measures for the protection of soil.To those measures include:
- Legislative and administrative (adoption of relevant legislation in the field of soil conservation and control of their implementation).
- Technology (creation of non-waste production systems).
- Sanitation (collection, decontamination and disposal of waste and pollution of the soil).
- Research (development of new technologies of treatment facilities, assessment and monitoring of soil).
- forest reclamation and erosion control (planting activities this special shelter belts along fields, construction of hydraulic structures and the correct planting of crops).
Conclusion
Soils of Russia - it is a tremendous wealth, thanks to which we have food, and the production to provide the necessary raw materials.The soil was formed over many centuries.
