It seems as every season comes with different problems in Mongolia. As we finally try to clean our lungs from 4 months of heave smog, another pollution arrives with a spring...."SOIL POLLUTION"

What is soil pollution?

Soil pollution or soil contamination is caused by the presence of xenobiotic (human-made) chemicals or other alteration in the natural soil environment. It is typically caused by industrial activity, agricultural chemicals, or improper disposal of waste. Especially human waste, (or human excreta) both liquid and solid, the remains of plants, and domestic and industrial wastewater contribute to soil pollution. Ulaanbaatar city Health Department conducts soil tests twice a year (May and October) in around 50 densely populated areas in 9 districts.

Types of soil pollutions

Chemical pollution of soil: heavy metals, radioactive substances, oil carbohydrate and mineral fertilizers.

Biological pollution of soil: carrions of dead animals; agricultural, industrial and domestic disposal and pesticides.

Disease transmission

Contaminated or polluted soil directly affects human health through direct contact with soil or via inhalation of soil contaminants which have vaporized; potentially greater threats are posed by the infiltration of soil contamination into groundwater aquifers used for human consumption, sometimes in areas apparently far removed from any apparent source of above ground contamination. One of the biggest domestic transmissions is the fact that people who reside in Ger areas wear same shoes that they wore in their outside bathrooms and their kids get infections by playing on the floor where the people who wore same shoes in the bathroom stepped on.

Disease-causing objects can survive for a long time in contaminated soil and water. For example, infect ants such as bacteria, and viruses which cause dysentery (a type of gastroenteritis that results in diarrhea with blood) can live up to 2-4 months in a contaminated environment. According to the Ministry of Health, around 521 dysentery cases were registered for this year which is 231 more than that of last year. Metropolitan Professional Inspection Department released a recommendation on “PREVENTING RISKS FROM SOIL POLLUTION” this year.