Soil Remediation Methods Part I

Figure shows the overall inputs of pollution and trace elements such as heavy metals into soils. Soil pollution can be due to natural or anthropogenic causes, but it is usually the anthropogenic contributions which are hazardous as excessive amounts of pollutants which cannot be remediated by soils naturally are added into soils.

In view of the risks imposed by soil pollution, remediation methods have been carried out in many developed countries such as Norway. However, although the tropical and developing countries host most of the heavy polluting industries, soil remediation is rarely carried out in these places. While these remediation methods are costly, the potential health effects may be more costly if soils continued to be polluted without control and remediation.

In the diagram below, soil remediation methods for inorganic pollutants are listed. Remediation can be classified into ex-situ and in-situ methods. Some of the common methods used are water treatment/filter, soil screening, soil removal and landfill disposal, soil washing and phyto-remediation.

References