Brief Context
Context A new study has revealed that soil pollution from toxic heavy metals and metalloids is significantly reducing crop yields and contaminating food supplies across the globe. Key highlights The research found that between 14 percent and 17 percent of the world’s agricultural soils (About 242 million hectares) exceed safe thresholds for at least one hazardous metal. This contamination affects an estimated 900 million to 1.4 billion people living in high-risk regions.
Source Content
Syllabus: GS3/ Environment
Context
- A new study has revealed that soil pollution from toxic heavy metals and metalloids is significantly reducing crop yields and contaminating food supplies across the globe.
Key highlights
- The research found that between 14 percent and 17 percent of the world’s agricultural soils (About 242 million hectares) exceed safe thresholds for at least one hazardous metal.
- This contamination affects an estimated 900 million to 1.4 billion people living in high-risk regions.
- A heavily contaminated belt has been identified across low-latitude Eurasia, covering regions like southern Europe, the Middle East, South Asia, and southern China.
- The widespread contaminants are Cadmium, Arsenic, Cobalt, Nickel and Chromium.
Causes of Heavy Metal Accumulation
- Anthropogenic Causes: Mining, smelting, industrial activities, and intensive agriculture (excessive fertilizer and pesticide use).
- Natural Causes: Metal-rich bedrock and low rainfall in some regions that facilitate pollutant accumulation.
Impact of metal contamination
- Food Chain Contamination: Crops grown in polluted soils absorb heavy metals like cadmium, arsenic, lead, and mercury. These metals enter the human body through food consumption.
- Bioaccumulation: Long-term ingestion of low doses can lead to bioaccumulation, resulting in chronic diseases, including neurological and developmental disorders.
- Biodiversity Loss: Toxic metals harm beneficial organisms like earthworms, insects, and microbes, leading to reduced biodiversity both below and above the soil.
- Land Degradation: Continuous pollution makes soils barren, contributing to land degradation and desertification.
Concerns
- Data Gaps: Limited information from sub-Saharan Africa, northern Russia, and parts of central India may mean the issue is even more widespread.
- Food Trade Risks: Global food trade could transfer contamination to low-risk regions, threatening broader food security.
- Rising Demand for Metals: Increasing industrial demand is likely to worsen the contamination crisis without urgent mitigation measures.
Government Initiatives for Soil Conservation
- Soil Health Card Scheme: It provides farmers with soil nutrient status reports to encourage balanced fertilizer use and improve productivity.
- Promotion of Organic Farming: Initiatives like Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) encourage organic farming practices to maintain soil health.
- National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA): It focuses on enhancing soil health through integrated farming systems and agroforestry practices.
Global Initiatives
- Global Soil Partnership (GSP): It is an FAO-led initiative to improve global soil governance and promote sustainable soil management.
- United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD): It works to prevent land degradation and promote sustainable land management globally.
- It has a pledge for land degradation neutrality (LDN) by 2030.
- 4 per 1000 Initiative: It aims to increase soil carbon stocks by 0.4% annually to combat climate change and enhance soil health.
Way Ahead
- Establish regional soil health observatories and expand the coverage of soil surveys.
- Phytoremediation: Use of hyperaccumulator plants and microbes to clean contaminated soils.
- Circular Economy: Recycling and management of e-waste, industrial waste to prevent soil contamination.
- Farmer Awareness Programs: Educate farmers on heavy metal risks, safe agricultural practices, and alternative cropping systems.
Source: DTE