Soil Pollution: A Global Crisis Unveiled

Soil pollution is a global threat, with industrialisation, war, mining and the intensification of agriculture all contributing to contaminated soil across the world. Soil pollution is particularly serious in regions like Europe, Eurasia, Asia and North Africa, and China has categorised 16% of its soils as polluted. In the United States, 1,300 sites are listed as pollution hot spots. Soil pollution poses a serious risk to human health through direct contact or indirectly, by consuming plants or animals that have accumulated significant amounts of soil contaminants.

Soil pollution in Japan

Soil pollution is a global threat that is particularly serious in regions like Europe, Eurasia, Asia and North Africa. It is estimated that recovery from soil pollution is so slow that it would take 1,000 years to create a few centimetres of arable soil.

In 1975, a large quantity of soil contaminated with hexavalent chromium was found in Tokyo, becoming a serious social issue. Since then, the number of "urban-type" (non-agricultural) soil pollution cases has rapidly increased throughout Japan. This increase is mainly due to accelerated urban redevelopment of former factory sites and the implementation of groundwater quality monitoring activities. The major soil polluters are the chemical and electroplating industries, with lead, hexavalent chromium and trichloroethylene as the primary contaminants.

In response to the growing problem of soil pollution, Japan has implemented various policies and legislative actions to protect the soil environment. Environmental Quality Standards for soil pollution were issued in 1991, and the country has been working towards remediating polluted agricultural soils and addressing "urban" soil problems.

Soil pollution in China

Soil pollution is a global issue, but is particularly serious in Europe, Eurasia, Asia and North Africa. China has categorised 16% of its soils as polluted, including 19% of its agricultural soils.

Soil pollution has been identified as a key national priority in China, with an increase in reports of agricultural land and human health being affected. Soil pollution from abandoned sites in urban areas has also drawn attention and concern regarding the safety of human settlements. The contamination of local soil at a new foreign language school in Changzhou became one of China's most high-profile scandals when students started complaining about headaches and skin problems.

China has adopted its first soil pollution law, which takes a "putting prevention first" approach. The law includes preventative measures that government authorities and land users should take to protect soil from future pollution. For existing soil pollution, the law holds polluters and users accountable for a series of risk management and remediation obligations. However, how to finance the remediation of the damage already done remains a big question.

Soil contamination is an urgent problem around the world, but the situation is much worse in developing countries undergoing rapid industrialisation and urbanisation. China, which underwent rapid industrialisation in the 20th century, has estimated that nearly 20% of its total farmland has been contaminated by heavy metals. This poses serious societal challenges, such as food insecurity and public health threats.

Soil pollution in the US

Soil pollution is a global threat, particularly in regions like Europe, Eurasia, Asia and North Africa. However, it is also a significant issue in the United States, where industrialization has led to increased levels of soil contamination. In the US, there are 1,300 sites on the Superfund National Priorities list of pollution hotspots.

Soil contamination is a form of land degradation caused by human-made chemicals that are unnatural to the land. These chemicals can have adverse effects on the environment and human health. In urban areas, soil contamination is largely caused by human activities such as manufacturing, industrial dumping, land development, local waste disposal, and excessive pesticide or fertilizer use. Heavy car and truck traffic can also contaminate soil, as oil is a petroleum product that can seep into the ground.

Soil pollution can also occur in rural areas, particularly through agricultural activities. The use of fertilizers and pesticides can release chemicals into the soil, and these can have toxic effects on both plants and humans. In addition, natural disasters or acts of terror can result in the deposition of toxic materials in the soil.

The potential of soils to cope with pollution is limited, and the prevention of soil pollution should be a top priority. The slow rate of recovery means that it would take 1,000 years to create a few centimetres of arable soil. Soil pollution poses a serious risk to human health through direct contact, inhalation of polluted soil particles, or indirect contact by consuming contaminated plants or animals.

Soil pollution in Europe

Soil pollution is a global threat that is particularly serious in regions like Europe, Eurasia, Asia and North Africa. In Europe, the chemical contamination of soils is widespread, taking place at local sites (mostly in urban areas), at mining locations and in larger areas, such as those under agricultural management or previously flooded land. The two main categories of pollutants affecting soil are heavy metals and organic contaminants. Recently, pollution by pharmaceuticals and plastics has become an emerging concern. The intensity and impact of soil pollution vary significantly across Europe. This is due to the large differences across regions with respect to soil properties, land use, the type and number of agricultural inputs (fertilisers or manure) and climate.

There are approximately 3 million potentially polluted sites in the European Economic Area and the West Balkans. The latest estimates for the EU-28 have identified 2.8 million polluted parcels. Approximately one quarter of them are included in databases (such as BASOL and BASIAS in France) and are subject to monitoring, with only 10% of them (approximately 65,000 sites) having been decontaminated. The cost for this great cleanup effort will total at least 119 billion euros.

Industrialisation, war, mining and the intensification of agriculture have all left a legacy of soil contamination across the planet, while the growth of cities has seen soil used as a sink for ever greater amounts of municipal waste. Soil pollution affects the food we eat, the water we drink, the air we breathe, and the health of our ecosystems.

Hotspots for human exposure to soil pollution are contaminated sites, certain agricultural and urban soils, and land that has previously been flooded. A German study monitored toxic pollutants in floodplain soils across the Elbe River in central Europe and assessed health risks. The Elbe River and its tributaries are among the most highly polluted rivers in Europe due to a history of intensive industrial activity taking place over centuries. Around the Central Elbe River, arsenic was found to be the primary contributor to total health risk — with chromium second, vanadium third and lead fourth.

Soil pollution in cities

Soil pollution is a global threat that is particularly serious in regions like Europe, Eurasia, Asia and North Africa. The Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO) affirms that both intense and even moderate degradation is already affecting one-third of the world's soil.

Industrialization, war, mining and the intensification of agriculture have all contributed to soil contamination across the planet. The growth of cities has also played a significant role, as soil is used to dispose of municipal waste. Soil pollution is commonly found in cities, old factory sites, around roadways, illegal dumps and sewage treatment stations.

In China, 16% of all soils and 19% of agricultural soils are categorised as polluted. There are approximately 3 million potentially polluted sites in the European Economic Area and the West Balkans. In the United States, 1,300 sites appear on the Superfund National Priorities list of pollution hotspots.

Soil pollution poses a serious risk to human health through direct contact, such as dermal exposure and inhalation of polluted soil particles, or indirect contact, by consuming plants or animals that have accumulated soil contaminants. For example, in Japan, soil contaminated with cadmium from zinc/lead mines has led to the widespread occurrence of Itai-itai disease, which is characterised by osteomalacia, osteoporosis, painful bone fractures and kidney dysfunction.

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