SOIL POLLUTION Rat: Don t you know the land we are living is facing a danger day by day?

Wolf: Danger... Aaha? Acca, would you please throw a little light about what do you mean by danger? Rat: O... Yes, I mean SOIL POLLUTION Cat: Acca, I know that, I ve already studied in my 9th standard when I was doing m y 9th attempt. I tell you in detail. That is the result of penetration of harmf ul pesticides and insecticides, which on one hand serve whatever their main purp ose is, but on the other hand bring about deterioration in the soil quality, thu s making it contaminated and unfit for use later. Dog: Hei Cat thambi, why should we worry about the soil.... pollution....? If I get mouth full of bones every day, that s enough, I ll be very happy. Don t teach u s a new subject which is not at all giving any tastiest food to me. Filling stom ach should be our main aim in our life. Rat: Dog, you are always thinking about eating. Do you know what causes the Soi l Pollution? Wolf: Tell us Acca, Don t mind this dog, he is always like this only. Ok ok. Cat t hambi will explain this since he has studied 9th standard 9 years and 10th stand ard 10 years. Such a scholarly man he is. Cat: There are so many reasons which cause the soil pollution. Industrial wastes such as harmful gases and chemicals, agricultural p esticides, fertilizers and insecticides are the most common causes of soil pollu tion. Unfavorable and harmful irrigation practices. Improper septic system and management and maintenance of the same. Leakages from sanitary sewage. Acid rains, when fumes released from industries get mixed with rains. Fuel leakages from automobiles, that get washed away due to rain and seep into the nearby soil. Excessive use of pesticides, fertilizers increases toxicity of soil. Discharge and dumping of industrial effluents on land. Accumulation of solid waste i.e. garbage and refuse etc and radioacti ve substances from nuclear plants. Open defecation of animals and human beings. Sewage discharged into rivers instead of being treated properly Septic tank seepage Dog: O Cat, let the Soil may be Polluted. Are we going to be affected in any ma nner? Will there be any danger to my food, especially for bones? Cat: Anna, definitely we are affected. Decrease in soil fertility and therefore decrease in the soil yield. How can one expect contaminated soil to produce healthy crops? Loss of soil and natural nutrients present in it. Plants also would n ot thrive in such soil, which would further result in soil erosion. Disturbance in the balance of flora and fauna residing in the soil. Increase in salinity of the soil, which therefore makes it unfit for vegetation, thus making it useless and barren. Generally crops cannot grow and flourish in polluted soil. Yet, if so me crops manage to grow, they would be poisonous enough to cause serious health problems in people consuming them. Foul smell due to industrial chemicals and gases might result in headach es, fatigue, nausea, etc., in many people. Wolf: Philosopher Cat Thambi, how can we control the Soil Pollution? Is there a ny way? Cat: Really I appreciate you thambi. Though you are cunning, you are the real f riend to the environment. This Dog is only thinking to fill his stomach. But t his wolf is not thinking to control his desire to get his favourite Goats. Rathe r, thinking of controlling the Soil Pollution. Soil pollution can be cured by transporting the contaminated soil layer to some remote place, thus making it once again fit for use. Harmful chemicals from the

soil can also be removed by aerating it. These are just 'tentative solutions'. H owever, let us remember the proverb, 'prevention is better than cure', and follo w proper a soil management system, maintain sewage systems, and avoid the overus e of fertilizers and pesticides in the soil. So let us begin the movement of soi l pollution prevention from our own lands itself!!! Bioremediation: It is a technique for treating polluted soil. It utilizes microorganisms like yeast, fungi, and bacteria to breakdown or degrade hazardous subs tances into less toxic or non toxic substances like water or CO2. Control of soil pollution: Leaking and improperly maintained septic systems can also contribute to soil contamination. To avoid this problem be sure to pump out your septic system every three to five years, recommends the EPA, or more frequently for those wit h systems that hold less than 1,000 gallons. Regular annual septic system inspec tions are also recommended. Dog: Prevention is better than Cure Ha! Ha!! Ha!!! See this Cat thambi is telli ng proverb like vayasana Patti Polae(????? ?????? ???).