Five Soil Pollutants and Their Effects

Acetone

• Acetone is a colorless and highly flammable organic compound. It is a natural byproduct of metabolic processes within the human body, is used as a cleaning solvent, and included in many beauty products, plastics and drugs. According to the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services, certain industrial processes introduce more acetone into the environment than would be there naturally. Because acetone isn't absorbed by soil, acetone-containing waste tends to leach into groundwater, a potentially damaging side-effect of industry. The long list of exposure effects depend on whether it has been ingested, inhaled or absorbed through the skin. Short-term problems include eye and respiratory irritation, nausea and mild nervous system problems, which cease once exposure has ended. Anemia, respiratory irritation, dizziness and loss of strength are effects of long-term exposure. Acetone is not known to be carcinogenic and has not been shown to interrupt reproduction.

Heavy Metal

• Heavy metals are a group of materials that occur naturally in the environment but are rarely present at toxic levels. Soil pollution by heavy metals is most often the result of mining, manufacturing and improper disposal of man-made products, including paint, batteries and pesticides. Exposure is most often chronic, occurring over an extended period of time, but ingestion or absorption through the skin is also possible. Side effects vary greatly depending on the type of metal. Lead causes memory problems, cadmium affects the kidneys and liver, while arsenic damages the kidneys and central nervous system. Nickel, copper, chromium and manganese are also widespread contaminants, each with its own list of health effects. Additionally, most heavy metals have carcinogenic effects.

Polychlorinated Biphenyls

• Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are completely man-made products common in manufacturing processes and equipment, including coolants, transformers, capacitors and motors. In the 1970s Congress banned them as a persistent organic pollutant, the cause of numerous environmental contamination sites now considered unlivable, including Superfund sites in Massachusetts, New York, Indiana and the Great Lakes. These compounds are often toxic and notable for causing endocrine problems, neurotoxicity, cancer and immune deficiency. Low birthweights were reported in babies born to women exposed to PCBs, according to the EPA.

Benzene

• Benzene, also called benzol, is a colorless liquid used widely in petroleum refining and as an industrial solvent. It is a byproduct of petroleum, coal, and natural gas production. The primary target of benzene exposure is the blood. Long-term exposure damages bone marrow, causes anemia and excessive bleeding. Immunity problems and increased infection susceptibility are also side effects. Short-term exposure causes drowsiness, headache, confusion, vomiting and convulsions, according to the Centers for Disease Control.