Environmental pollution, in general, occurs when certain elements that cause harmful effects accumulate in quantities that nature can not recycle. In the case of soil, at present, the rate of substrate losses is greater with which they are formed. The soils can be lost, as in fact they are lost, due to pollution and degradation as a consequence of the anthropogenic activities that affect the natural cycles of their recovery. There are already those who consider the soil as a non-renewable natural resource.

The contamination of soils is mainly due to the injection of chemical agents that modify their composition and affect the growth of the flora and fauna. These include salinization, loss of nutrients, contamination with excess sodium salts, acidification and the poisoning of land and plants through excessive use of pesticides and artificial fertilizers. Over time, the lower strata can penetrate and pollute the aquifers, preventing their use as drinking water.