Soil contamination, otherwise called soil pollution in simpler terms, is
caused due to the presence of anthropogenic substances, majorly chemicals in the
natural soil habitat. It is frequently caused by contaminants from industrial and
agricultural activities or because of improper disposal of waste. Heavy metals like lead
and arsenic; chemicals like pesticides, fungicides, insecticides and petroleum
hydrocarbons are the most common chemicals involved in soil pollution. Soil pollution
is now a global concern due to its impact on the environment and majorly human
health. Industrialization, mining, and overuse of chemical fertilizers are the major
causes of contamination of soil and pose a significant threat to the environment. One
way to restore soil to its original state is soil remediation. It is the process of cleaning
and reviving the soil with external help. It is the process of removing toxicants from the
environment to protect the health of both the population and the environment. There
are three major soil remediation techniques that are generally used - soil washing,
bioremediation, and thermal desorption. Bioremediation is a method of using living
organisms in remediating the soil that is, removing contaminants, pollutants, and toxins
from the soil. Bioremediation includes the remediation of the soil by bacteria, yeasts, or
fungi called mycoremediation. Remediation can also be brought about by mycorrhizal
fungi which are associations of fungal species with roots of higher plants.
Vermiremediation is the remediation of soil with the help of earthworms.
Keywords: Anthropogenic, Bioremediation, Mycoremediation, Porous media soil contamination, Soil Washing, Soil remediation, Thermal Desorption, Vermiremediation