Types of Soil Pollution and Their Composition
1. Industrial Pollution:
- Heavy metals: Lead, mercury, chromium, cadmium, arsenic
- Toxic chemicals: Pesticides, herbicides, dioxins, PCBs
- Industrial wastes: Slag, fly ash, mining waste
2. Agricultural Pollution:
- Fertilizers: Nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium
- Pesticides: Herbicides, insecticides, fungicides
- Animal manure: Pathogens, antibiotics, hormones
3. Municipal Solid Waste:
- Organic matter: Food scraps, paper, wood
- Plastics: Polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride
- Metals: Aluminum, steel, copper
4. Urban Runoff:
- Sediment: Soil particles, construction debris, road salts
- Heavy metals: Lead, zinc, copper
- Nutrients: Nitrogen, phosphorus
5. Mining Activities:
- Mining waste: Tailings, overburden, slag
- Heavy metals: Lead, copper, zinc, arsenic
- Acids and salts: Sulfuric acid, nitric acid, sodium chloride
6. Radiological Pollution:
- Uranium and thorium: Radioactive elements
- Nuclear isotopes: Plutonium, cesium-137, strontium-90
7. Thermal Pollution:
- Elevated temperatures: From industrial processes or wastewater discharge
- Organic matter: Decomposing plant and animal matter
- Bacteria and pathogens: Growth encouraged by higher temperatures
8. Biological Pollution:
- Pathogens: Bacteria, viruses, parasites
- Organic matter: Sewage sludge, animal waste
- Microbial contamination: From industrial or agricultural activities