Soil on which municipal, industrial, and agricultural waste has been deposited by storms, particularly hurricanes, can adversely affect local and regional water, air, and soil quality. Soil pollution can directly affect public health through human contact with deadly pathogens. In addition, it can lead to air pollution which causes pulmonary congestion, disorientation, altered breathing, and headaches in humans, as well as decreased crop yields. Historically the focus of research and public concern was to understand and control waste-loaded water systems, whereas the focus now is to understand and control waste-loaded soil systems.