ABSTRACT
In this chapter, the authors focus on soil-pesticide monitoring data, emphasizing key findings and challenges such as legacy contamination and the interpretation of results. The chapter discusses the dual role of soils as both a sink and source of pesticide residues, underlining the need for regular, harmonized, and holistic monitoring programs. Additionally, it provides recommendations for better assessing and preventing soil contamination by pesticide residues, including an initial attempt at defining relative benchmarks for pesticide residues in agricultural land. The chapter's focus is primarily on synthetic pesticides, used on most agricultural land, and most relevant for regulatory and pesticide reduction efforts.
