Chemical substance transport in soils and its effect on groundwater quality.

The problems of chemical substance applications in different spheres of industry and agriculture and their effects on groundwater quality and human health are described. Sources of groundwater contamination from industrial and municipal wastes, agricultural pollutants, etc., are listed. The experience in the application of chemical fertilizers and pesticides in the USSR is described. A brief estimation of groundwater salinity is given for various regions of the USSR where irrigation is practiced, as well as the experience in environmental protection. Special attention is given to methods of simulating water seepage and chemical substance transport in soils. Boundary problems for free-surface seepage and dissolved solids transport in porous media are stated, and methods of solution are described in the example of the hydrodynamic theory of seepage and dispersion. Some results of calculations with this method are presented. The influence of groundwater quality on the morbidity of the population is given and the main diseases and associated medical problems are listed.