Sustainability

Production and consumption

Among the various air pollutants that act negatively on soil balance there are gaseous compounds of photochemical origin, like ozone and free radicals, sulphur and nitrogen compounds that are responsible for the increase in rain acidity. In particular, acid rains determine a soil pH reduction (acidification), which, for agricultural soil, can be useful as it satisfies the nutritional needs of many crops that tolerate soil acidity. Instead, on forest soil that is already slightly acid, it provokes a slow but progressive damage to the vegetation and sometimes it even provokes the death of vegetation. Another source of soil pollution is the water for field irrigation, which can contain natural organic substances, or artificial water, mineral substances, inorganic substances or micro-organisms that come from industrial waste or not correctly treated sewage water. This phenomenon can cause damaging pollutants to enter the food chain, as well provoking a reduction in agricultural production.