o is an important basis for
human, animal and plant life.
o is the production basis for agriculture and forestry. It stores and filters
the groundwater and houses mineral resources and energy sources.
Plants which live in it form important biotopes for animals.
It is most important for the air we breathe and the food we eat.
o faces due to its interdependencies with air, water, waste and the
general demands for resources various environmental strains.
In the soil substances induced into the environment gather.
It can therefore become a collecting point for pollutants
Soil is subjected to the following pollutions caused by
human interferences with nature:
o Drainage of damp biotopes
o Sealing of open spaces (especially at river banks)
o Inappropriate drainage measures
o Utilization of over-dosed fertilizers and pesticides
o Inappropriate waste disposal
o Air pollutants, such as nitrogen oxides, lead to soil acidification and
cause forests to die. In turn, this leads to over-fertilization of arable
land and groundwater pollution.
o Misguided recreational activities in natural environments, for example
in ski resorts, where bleak and bare slopes leads to landslides.
| Land
uses in Germany: o Forests 29.2 % o Settlements 11.3% o Rivers and lakes 2.2 % o Agriculture 54.7% o Other uses 2.6% |
Main
sources of soil pollution are the following: o Industrial plants o Agriculture o Transportation o Deposits of refuse (waste etc.) o Straightening of rivers and its effects |
|