PAID ACCESS | Published on : 25-May-2026 | Pages: 5-20 |
Soil contamination has emerged as global threat that compromises ecological integrity, human well-being, as well as farming production. It occurs due to accumulation of harmful chemical substances in soil beyond their critical levels. Naturally occurring pollutants-like toxic metals, radionuclides, volcanic discharges and asbestos-interact with human activities including industrial wastes, intensive farming, municipal waste and mismanagement of chemicals, jointly hastening soil degradation. The severe form of soil pollution in India as numerical universal "rank" in not imaginable but industrial and green revolution causes dangerous threat to soils. Region based assessments reveal that prevalent contamination of soils across different countries like China, Europe, USA and Australia, highlighting magnitude of the issue. Toxic substances like heavy metals, pesticides, radioactive materials, microplastics and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) deteriorating soil’s physico-chemical properties, leading to nutrient imbalances, loss of biodiversity and diminishing soil fertility. These changes have severe consequences like nutritional security, environment stability and community well-being, including toxic exposure, carcinogenic risks, respiratory disorders, and waterborne diseases. To remediate such problems, integrated management approaches like organic farming, reducing conventional fertilizer, pesticides, reutilizing of waste, bioremediation, afforestation and safe waste dumping etc. is impactful. Finally, combating soil pollution demands coordinated worldwide action and constant commitment to ecological stewardship, as the protection of soil health is essential to environmental resilience and the long-term sustainability of human civilization.
Soil Pollution, Heavy Metals, Bioremediation, Agricultural Productivity, Ecosystem Degradation, Sustainability
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