Measures That Can Be Taken

Soil contamination is a problem that has many possible solutions.  The issue being that it is difficult to jump start these solutions in order to help gain control over the pollution and contamination of soil across the planet.  So, what are some possible solutions to this issue?

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, there are three general ways to go about cleaning up soil that is contaminated and/or polluted.  The first is that soil can be excavated from the ground and be treated or disposed.  The second approach is that soil can be left in the ground and treated in place.  The third approach is that soil can be left in the ground and contained to prevent the contamination from becoming more widespread and reaching plants, animals, or humans.  

How do you go about containing this soil?  Generally, containment of soil (in place) is done by placing a large plastic cover over the soil to prevent direct contact and keep rain water from seeping into the soil and spreading the contamination.  How can we work on treating the contaminated and polluted soil?  One option is by flushing contaminants out of the soil using water, chemical solvents, or air.  Another possibility would be to destroy the contaminants by incinerations.  We could also encourage natural organisms in the soil to break them down or add material to the soil to encapsulate the contaminants and prevent them from spreading. 

As you can see, there are many different routes that can be taken when dealing with the prevention and/or treatment of contaminated and polluted soil.  In my eyes, the main issue with these is that it is costly and time consuming.  With so much soil across the planet being contaminated over time, it is becoming increasingly difficult to contain the problem.  It’s important that we begin to implement and carry out these measures to restore healthy soil. 

Sources:   http://www.epa.gov/