0
Article ? AI-assigned paper type based on the abstract. Classification may not be perfect — flag errors using the feedback button. Tier 2 ? Original research — experimental, observational, or case-control study. Direct primary evidence. Environmental Sources Human Health Effects Marine & Wildlife Policy & Risk Sign in to save

Environmental Impacts of Industrial Activities on Soil and Water Quality: a Comprehensive Review

2025 Score: 48 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.
K S Okonji

Summary

This comprehensive review synthesized 2023–2025 evidence on how industrial activities introduce heavy metals, organic contaminants, microplastics, and nutrients into soils and water, degrading ecosystem function and posing health risks through multiple exposure pathways.

Industrialization has accelerated economic growth globally but has also intensified pressure on terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Industrial activities introduce a wide spectrum of pollutants into soils and water bodies, including heavy metals, organic contaminants, microplastics, nutrients, and emerging pollutants. These contaminants alter soil physicochemical properties, degrade water quality, disrupt ecological functions, and pose serious risks to human health. This comprehensive review synthesizes recent (2023–2025) scientific evidence on the sources, pathways, distribution, and impacts of industrial pollutants on soil and water systems. Emphasis is placed on heavy metal contamination, industrial effluents, microplastics, and associated ecological and health risks. Contemporary monitoring approaches, pollution indices, and risk assessment frameworks are discussed alongside remediation and management strategies aligned with sustainable development goals. The review highlights critical knowledge gaps and provides recommendations for future research and policy aimed at mitigating industrial pollution and safeguarding environmental quality.

Sign in to start a discussion.

More Papers Like This

Article Tier 2

A review of soil pollution, causes, and health effects

This review summarized the causes, extent, and health effects of soil pollution, covering both natural and anthropogenic sources including industrial activity, agriculture, and urbanization. The paper discussed how soil contamination degrades agricultural productivity, contaminates water resources, and poses direct risks to human health.

Article Tier 2

Environmental pollution indices: a review on concentration of heavy metals in air, water, and soil near industrialization and urbanisation

This review examines how industrial and urban activity raises heavy metal levels in air, water, and soil. Heavy metals from industrial waste, mining, and agriculture can damage cells and increase cancer risk, highlighting the need for comprehensive monitoring near industrial zones.

Article Tier 2

Land application of industrial wastes: impacts on soil quality, biota, and human health

Researchers reviewed the practice of applying industrial waste to agricultural land and found it can offer benefits like nutrient recycling and landfill diversion, but also poses risks from contaminants including heavy metals and potentially microplastics. The review identified major gaps in long-term research needed to safely guide land application policies.

Article Tier 2

Beneath the Surface: Unmasking the Global Crisis of Soil Pollution

This review examines soil pollution as a global crisis driven by industrial emissions, intensive agriculture, and poor waste management, covering how heavy metals, pesticides, microplastics, and emerging contaminants accumulate in soils, degrade microbial communities, reduce crop yields, and enter the food chain.

Article Tier 2

Remediation Strategies for Soil and Water

This review examines remediation strategies for soil and water contaminated by industrial pollutants, surveying physical, chemical, and biological approaches to address the growing challenge of environmental decontamination driven by rapid global industrial development.

Share this paper