Pollution effects on soil geotechnical properties

A variety of reasons often contaminate soils. Fine-grained soils interact more vigorously with the pollμtants than coarse-grained soils. All types of interactions affect the soil geotechnical properties. The soil-pollutant interaction is a very complex problem. Understanding the mechanisms can help to restore the soil properties. In the absence of dissolution of soil minerals and precipitation due to strong pollutants, the main variables, which influence the interaction, are the type of clay present in soil and the nature of pollutant. Ion exchange properties of clay and soil structure change in the presence of pollutant brings in changes in soil properties. The effect of isolated pollutants on Index properties, Volume change behaviour, Shear strength properties and permeability of different types of clayey soils with different groups of pollutants are reviewed and the changes explained.