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Environment & Climate vocabulary · Pollution and Environmental Quality

Soil contamination

Meaning in environment & climate, with examples

/sɔɪl kənˌtæmɪˈneɪʃən/nounCommon term

In environment & climate, soil contamination means: The presence of harmful substances in soil, such as heavy metals, oil, solvents or pesticides, at levels that may threaten human health, groundwater or ecosystems.

In Turkish: toprak kirliliği, toprak kirlenmesi

How it is used

Common at old industrial sites, fuel stations, landfills and mines. Consultants carry out a site investigation, take soil samples and assess the risk; contaminated land then undergoes remediation (clean-up). Related terms: contaminated site, brownfield, soil remediation.

Example sentences

  1. The site investigation found soil contamination from leaking fuel tanks.

  2. The soil contamination must be cleaned up before homes can be built on the old factory site.

Common collocations

  • contaminated land
  • soil remediation
  • site investigation
  • soil sampling
  • heavy metal contamination
  • pollutionThe presence in air, water or soil of harmful substances, or of noise, light or heat, at levels that damage people's health, wildlife or the environment.
  • hazardous wasteWaste that can harm people or the environment because it is toxic, flammable, corrosive or reactive, such as used oils, solvents, batteries and medical waste.
  • landfillA site where waste is buried in the ground in a controlled way, usually with a lining and systems to collect leachate and landfill gas.
  • water pollutionContamination of rivers, lakes, seas or groundwater by substances such as sewage, industrial chemicals, fertilizers, oil or plastics that harm people and aquatic life.

More terms: Pollution and Environmental Quality

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