ABSTRACT

Over the past decade, soil contamination has emerged worldwide as a key environmental issue, and it has become increasingly apparent that soil contamination is placing human and environmental health at risk. The reasons for soil contamination are diverse. On the one hand, coal tar pits, mine tailing wastes, landfill sites, wastewater discharge accidents and, due to agricultural activities, excess of fertilizers, sewage sludges, and pesticides all contribute to soil contamination. On the other hand, atmospheric deposition is also an important source of contamination. The array of contaminants to be addressed-trace metals and toxic elements, excess nutrients, volatile and nonvolatile organic compounds, radioactive isotopes-is today very large.