The deposition of silt in water courses often obstructs their natural path. The reason for this is that erosion is caused by numerous factors, originating from both natural processes and human activities. Erosion creates two major water quality problems in surface waters and drainage ways: excess nutrients and excess sediment. fragmenting the landscape and making it difficult for people and cattle to move around safely. In some unfortunate cases, tumultuous water even tears down houses, bridges or other otherwise sturdy structures. The economic impact of soil erosion in the United States costs the nation about $37.6 billion each year in productivity losses. One dust storm creating a wall of 2 miles and traveling over 2,000 miles even reached the New York City, giving the first-hand experience of powerful erosive forces to its residents [8]. Polluted soil can harm humans by making contact with the soil or consuming vegetation produce from contaminated soils. Countries all over the world are battling with worrisome sight of deepening gullies crisscrossing the landscape and barren fields stripped of the fertile topsoil. Quick Navigation for The Causes and Effects of Soil Erosion, [1] http://www.fao.org/soils-portal/soil-degradation-restoration/cost-of-soil-erosion/en/. Degraded land cannot support these essential soil functions or growth of vegetation, and therefore, renders affected land unsuitable for cultivation. In some locations, spaces between buildings create pathways for wind that magnify its erosive power. Effects of Soil Pollution Pollutants in soil, most often from industrial sources, deforestation and improper waste disposal, put animals and plants in danger. Fertile soil is being lost around the world at a rate of 24bn tonnes a year. Erosion is more likely to take a place on hilly sites. Human-induced causes of soil erosion #1 Mining. These vast surfaces are changed forever. Possibly the most direct detrimental effect is from wind-borne erosion, where dust is breathed into the lungs of individuals, sometimes containing harmful chemicals and particles like silica that can cause silicosis. Inexperienced farmers settled in the area and in the hope of making profit from increased prices of wheat, turn millions of acres of native grassland into heavily tilled fields. Rainy years in 2010 and 2011 in Colombia led to extreme flooding of the Magdalena River, whose banks are a home to 80 percent of Colombians. These are very real and at times severe issues. Overgrazing is another major contributor to erosion. Just the global events of the summer 2018 demonstrate the great destructive power of climate change. For example, Indian government has measured the rate of sedimentation in 11 water reservoirs around the country and found out that the amount of deposited material is up to 1,600 percent higher than previously expected. Flowing water gradually tears down river banks, stripping away parts of surrounding land and undermining its stability. But the area is naturally very dry, and the land couldn’t support crops that were not adapted to the climate like the native grasses were. ); and biological properties (soil enzymes, microorganisms and their activities, etc.). In many cases, erosion is the first step that starts the irreversible transformation of the landscape into the barren desert. Its effects can be seen directly in the location where erosion takes place, known as on-site effects, and at the site where the eroded soil deposits – off-site. However, research was needed to understand how these two practices can affect long-term soil health. Erosion used to only occur through natural erosion, which is caused by the planet. As a result of erosion over the past 40 years, 30 percent of the world's arable land has become unproductive. Children are even more susceptible to the harms of soil pollution since they spend most of their time playing in close contact with the soil. Soil degradation, characterized by decline in quality and decrease in ecosystem goods and services, is a major constraint to achieving the required increase in agricultural production. In some cases, sheet erosion washes away the top layer of soil in one continuous piece (one “sheet”). Erosion promotes critical losses of water, nutrients, soil organic matter and soil biota, harming forests, rangeland and natural ecosystems. Erosion by wind or water is greatly responsible for nearly 85 percent of soil degradation throughout the world [13]. The lifetime of these reservoirs has been therefore significantly shortened [18]. Where will the famous Mongolian nomads graze their large herds of livestock then? (2006, March 23). This is a common problem in many countries with rainforests. This leads to the increased surface runoff, which initiates the following forms of erosion. How? The same problem bothers citizens in China, North and South Korea, and Japan, as the dust blown from the Gobi Desert scourges their territory every spring. Massive Prehistoric Croc Emerges from South East Queensland, The 'Crazy Beast' That Lived Among the Dinosaurs. Yet the need for food and other agricultural products continues to soar. Soil erosion is an unfathomable enemy that often goes unnoticed right in front of our eyes and slowly eat away the most precious resource we have – our soil. With some areas getting more frequently heavy rains and other areas suffering of prolonged droughts, the risk of erosion is expected to rise around the world. But during the deforestation when forests are clear cut or burned down in the ‘slash-and-burn’ practice, soil stability is disturbed. Mulching with weeds, herbs, and flowers is simple! About 38 percent of the world's surface is dedicated to agriculture to feed The rate of erosion in forests is naturally very low because complex root systems of trees anchor the soil in place and fallen leaves or other green material offers a protective cover. Soil Erosion Threatens Environment And Human Health, Study Reports. Soils with a loamy texture, consisting of fine sand and silt particles, are generally more prone to water erosion. Although this occurs naturally, degraded, drier soils are more susceptible to wind erosion causing an increase in overall air pollution in certain areas. For example, most cultivated lands in Iowa lose to erosion two to five tons of topsoil per acre per year [10]. In general, healthy soils are capable to withstand weather extremities the best. Only erosion gradually removes the last pieces of soil that could harbor new life. Urbanization changes the landscape in many ways that encourage erosion and make it worse over the time. And as you can imagine, the steeper and the longer the hill is, more velocity and force this water gains. Some of the world’s largest mines cut as deep as 0.75 miles into the earth’s surface and spread over an area of more than 2,000 acres [5]. What is the effect of soil erosion on human health? Soil erosion occurs when upper layers of soil are removed from their original location in the process that is either slow and goes unnoticed for long periods of time or can be sudden and cause immediate damage (for example: appearance of a rill in the middle of a crop field after heavy rain). What are the effects of soil erosion on the people health 1 See answer Shinodegozaru064 Shinodegozaru064 Cannot go to places u want to go New questions in Health. This happens because inclined surfaces do not absorb water as well as straight surfaces. High amounts of rapidly moving water are capable of tearing and removing large pieces of land and sediments. Soil erosion results in land that will not sustain agriculture. All these factors and their combinations can cause erosion under certain circumstances. Soil erosion is a natural process that has been shaping the face of the earth for millennia and has given rise to many specific landscapes, exposing rocky peaks or curving meandering river channels. "Soil Erosion Threatens Environment And Human Health, Study Reports." And nothing holds soil better together than dense root system of healthy plants. This is another reason why maintaining good soil health should be our priority. In the search for a land that will provide satisfactory yields, local farmers cut more of the forest and the same story repeats again. Disturbed soils also do not absorb water as much as they naturally would. Our goal is to inspire people to change their attitudes and behaviors toward a more sustainable life. Increased runoff combined with the gravitational force can easily strip off the upper soil layer, especially if it is already damaged in some way, for example by deforestation. Greentumble is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Feeding the world population, 7.3 billion in 2015 and projected to increase to 9.5 billion by 2050, necessitates an increase in agricultural production of ~70% between 2005 and 2050. Without having space large enough, animals also repeatedly trample the vegetation and soil, triggering its further degradation and making the plant recovery more difficult. Once turn into desert, soils cannot support plant life anymore, which leads to crop failures, the disappearance of whole ecosystems and biodiversity declines. Sedimentation which is out of 70 percent brought about by human-induced erosion [15]. However, this strategy is only a short-term fix to get the last bit of harvest from damaged soils. It is in the topsoil where large pores and soil aggregates form, allowing for proper water infiltration and aeration. The effect of soil moisture and temperature on soil nitrate, ammonium, and carbon dioxide can determine the accuracy of prediction for nitrogen availability (Clark, 2007). It doesn't sound like much, but when you consider a hectare (2.5 acres), it would take 13 tons of topsoil -- or 20 years if left to natural processes -- to replace that loss," Pimentel said. Soil particles are washed off into rivers, giving water a specific red color and leaving patches of eroded red dirt dispersed all over the land. When an area gets flooded, most of the vegetation is stripped away, which leaves originally covered soils fully exposed to the erosive force of rain. 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