“Reviving Our Earth: How We're

Affecting Soil Health And What We

Can Do About It”

A Persuasive Essay Presented to the Faculty of

FAITH Fidelis Senior High

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Subjects:

English for Academic & Professional Purposes,
Oral Communication in Context, and Earth and Life Science/Earth Science

Submitted by:

Mohit Singh
Camille Cadorna
Sofia R. Claveria
Reisa Denise R. Cuapiaco
Ma. Julianna P. Landicho
 October 2024

I.

When walking around communities, it's common to be caught by the breathtaking beauty of
nature—the vibrant leaves, the joyful chirping of birds, and the peaceful atmosphere that
provinces offer. However, this peaceful scene may soon be changed by the harsh reality of soil
pollution, an unseen risk that lies just beneath our feet. Polluted soil is a hidden issue that carries
toxic chemicals that are bad for the environment and human health. As urbanization and
industrial activities grow, the consequences of our actions become more obvious. The Food and
Agriculture Organization (FAO) identifies common sources of this pollution, including mining
operations, irrigation water, military activities, and industrial waste. All of these activities
worsen the balance of our ecosystems by spreading pollutants into the soil in amounts that harm
important plants and animals. The effects of pollution of the soil are serious because the cycling
of nutrients, plant growth, and the general health of environments depend on healthy soil. Given
that humans are to be blamed for soil pollution and other environmental problems, we need to be
held accountable. It is possible for harmful substances to seep into the food chain and affect the
things that we eat and drink. Soil pollution represents a significant environmental challenge that
must be addressed to mitigate the public health risks associated with contaminated soils, enhance
agricultural productivity, and promote accountability among large corporations and industrial
facilities.

II.

Soil pollution is an environmental issue caused by contamination of soil with harmful chemicals
from human activities. According to The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) that 33%
of soil is polluted due to chemicals, which are dangerously built up because of the heavy
application of fertilizers and pesticides in agriculture. This chemical buildup affects crop
production, lowers soil fertility, and raises health hazards. Other factors that contribute to soil
pollution include industrial waste, as many industries dump harmful waste into our surroundings,
and urbanization, where construction activities disturb the soil. Changes like soil erosion,
contaminated water, and habitat loss can result from land pollution (Texas Disposal Systems,
2023). It threatens public health, biodiversity, and climate stability. According to the World
Health Organization (2016), land pollution is responsible for an estimated 24% of the global
disease burden and 23% of all deaths. Major causes include agricultural chemicals, urbanization,
mining, landfills, and human sewage (Texas Disposal Systems, 2023), with impacts such as
climate change, soil degradation, health risks, wildfires, and tourism decline (Texas Disposal
Systems, 2023). Therefore, addressing soil pollution is crucial for both human health and
environmental sustainability
Agriculture can be a key factor for the 80% of the world's poor, in lowering poverty, increasing
incomes, and improving food security. According to Sudarsan Biswas, Md. Nasim Ali*, Rupak
Goswami and Somsubhra Chakraborty (2014) “Papadopoulos et al. 73 notice that organic
management can improve soil structure, organic matter content, and porosity in soil.” Soil health
can be greatly improved by using organic farming practices, such as crop rotation to prevent soil
deterioration, the use of compost and green manure, the recycling of organic materials, and
alternative crop protection systems (natural enemies). Organic farming has become known as a
sustainable and environmentally friendly method, that evolved from ancient civilizations to
modern day movements. It is important for maintaining the quality of the soil, promoting
biodiversity, and producing crops high in nutrients. Furthermore, by helping in the removal of
garbage in areas that resemble dumpsites, good waste management is crucial for environmental
protection. Zorpas (2019) mentioned that “Strategy” in the framework of Waste Management can
be defined as a set of initiatives that “can reduce the impact of several processes on the
environment through products and corporate policies such as (a) reducing of energy, (b) waste
management and treatment (c) water consumption (including water footprint), (d) environmental
footprint, and (e) changing the social attitude and behaviour, using green applicable sustainable
resources and environmental management systems (such as ISO 14001, EMAS, Ecolabel etc)
implementation and number of activities (related with prevention, reduced, reused, refurbished,
remanufactured etc), measuring at the same time the impact on the society”. Recycling,
composting, waste-to-energy, and resource reduction and reuse are essential waste management
techniques.

Restoration projects aim to recreate environments that existed before disturbances or to establish
new ecosystems where none existed before. They explore how human intervention can restore
disrupted ecosystems, with millions of hectares of land potentially revitalized to ensure food
security, preserve waterways, and improve living standards in rural areas. Notable efforts include
the restoration of the Kissimmee River in Florida, which re-established natural flow patterns and
improved biodiversity and water quality (Runkle et al., 2010). Scientific studies, such as Suding
et al. (2015), highlight the critical role of restoration in enhancing ecosystem services, showing
that successful projects can significantly boost habitat quality and resilience. Activities like
revegetation, habitat development, and cleanup are essential for restoring ecological balance and
promoting sustainable land use that benefits both people and the environment.
III.

In summary, soil pollution is a severe problem that has an impact on both human health and the
ecosystem. It's critical to understand how our actions affect the soil underneath us as we continue
to develop and expand. The basic foundation for our food systems, biodiversity, and general
well-being are all at risk due to polluted soil. Better farming practices, including organic farming,
can help us reduce the use of toxic chemicals and increase soil health. Furthermore, improving
waste management techniques—such as composting and recycling—can greatly reduce the load
on our planet. Another essential step is to support restoration programs, as they can assist
sustainably develop and rehabilitate ecosystems that have been harmed. Together, these efforts
not only protect our natural resources but also ensure a healthier future for ourselves and
generations to come. It is our duty to protect and sustain the planet, making it a more secure,
hygienic, and lively place to live. Everyone's quality of life eventually gets better when we take
steps to improve our environment.

References (APA Format)

● Sudarsan Biswas, Md. Nasim Ali*, Rupak Goswami and Somsubhra Chakraborty. (2014). Soil
health sustainability and organic farming: A review (Vol.12 (3 & 4), Vol. 12). Journal of Food,
Agriculture
&Environment.https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/document?repid=rep1&type=pdf&doi=958be099ea7
7a16ffc6f0aac4dc65808bce615f5 “Papadopoulos et al. 73 notice that organic management can
improve soil structure, organic matter content, and porosity in soil.”

● Zorpas, A. A. (2020). Strategy development in the framework of waste management. The

Science of the Total Environment, 716, 137088. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.137088

● Runkle, J. et al. (2010). "Ecological Restoration of the Kissimmee River," Ecological

Engineering.

● Suding, K. et al. (2015). "Committing to Ecological Restoration," Science 348(6235): 638-640.