SOIL CONTAMINATION

A SEVERE RISK FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND HUMAN HEALTH

EUROPES SOILS IN DANGER

Despite comprehensive regulations soil contamination is
widespread in Europe, where 200 years of industrialization
have left their marks. Historically, the mining and smelting
of trace metals have created soil contamination problems
of the greatest magnitude (Kansas State University, 2005).
In addition, heavy metals from industrial waste have largely
contaminated soils as have leaks from landfills, dumping
of oil and fuel, and the over-application of agrochemicals
such as pesticides and fertilizers. Specifically, fertilizer
consumption in Europe has continued to grow steadily during recent years with unknown consequences for diffuse
soil contamination (FAO, 2008; Eurostat, 2010). During the
past decades, the large volume of waste and the intense

Distribution of contaminants affecting soil in Europe

(BTEX: benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes; CHC: chlorinated hydrocarbon; PAH:
polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon; European Commission, 2013).

use of chemicals have resulted in numerous contaminated

sites across Europe, the major causes being municipal and
industrial wastes with 38% as well as the unsustainable pro-

NEGATIVE FORECAST

duction of raw materials, production and distribution proces-

The number of recorded polluted sites across Europe is ex-

ses of the industrial and commercial sectors with 34% (Eu-

pected to increase by 50% by 2025 (European Environment

ropean Commission, 2013). The most prevalent types of soil

Agency, 2012). Remediation remains still a significant un-

contaminants in Europe - mineral oils and trace metals, in-

dertaking as only about 80.000 sites have been remediated.

cluding lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury heavy metals,

Most EU countries have now legislation in place to control

including lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury - together

industrial wastes and accidents. However, flooding of indus-

contribute to 60% of soil contamination. The management

trial sites in Germany during extreme weather events and

of contaminated sites costs Europeans an estimated 6 billion

the collapse of a dam at the Ajka alumina plant in Hungary

Euros annually (European Commission, 2013).

in 2010 indicate that soil contamination can still occur in

Europe (European Commission, 2012).
The extent of contaminated soil is best known in North America and Western Europe, where many countries have a legal
framework to identify and deal with soil contamination. In
contrast, developing countries tend to be less tightly regulated and the extent of soil contamination is less well known.

WE ARE LOSING GROUND THROUGH

SALINIZATION - WORLDWIDE

What is soil contamination?

Soil contamination implies that the concentration of a

Salinization or the accumulation of salt in soil is among the

substance (e.g., nutrient, pesticide, organic chemical,

major threats to soil and its ability to carry out ecosystem ser-

acidic or saline compound, trace element) in soil is

vices (European Commission, 2012). This affects soils abili-

higher than would naturally occur. Whereas in con-

ty to support food production, to store carbon, nutrients and

trast soil pollution implies that the substance is cau-

water, and to support biodiversity among other soil-derived

sing harm of some type. It is important to distinguish

ecosystem services. Globally, 34 million hectares of land are

between local soil contamination, a result of intensive

affected by some level of salinity from irrigation. Salinization

industrial agriculture or waste disposal, and diffuse

occurs when irrigation releases salt already present in the

soil contamination, which covers large areas.

soil or when salt-rich water is used for irrigation. An additional 60 to 80 million hectares of land are to some extent affected by salinity due to waterlogging, which causes oxygen
deprivation in the soil thereby also reducing plant growth
(FAO, 2011). Thus, salinization can result from inappropriate irrigation practices being utilized such as the use of saltrich irrigation and water or poor drainage conditions. Locally
such as in northern urban areas, the use of de-icing salt can
be a contributing factor: Salt for use on highways throughout
the U.S. has risen from 149,000 metric tons in 1940 to 18
million metric tons in 2004 (Duke University, 2005).
Most of the existing national provisions in the European
Union tackle the problem of soil contamination but not all
member states have established a national inventory of contaminated sites (European Commission, 2006).
Sectors contributing to soil contamination in Europe (European Commission, 2013).

Proportion of land salinized due to irrigation (modified from FAO, 2011)

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Global Soil Forum | www.globalsoilweek.org
(October 2013)

The situation in Germany

Local soil contamination as result of waste disposal
potentially affects more than 300.000 sites in Germany (LABO, 2012). Hazardous waste has already
been found at more than 14.000 sites, and about
27.000 sites have been remediated. Diffuse inputs
together with geogenic levels contribute to the background levels of contaminants in soil (LABO, 2003).
Especially the levels of zinc, lead, cadmium and
copper are affected by diffuse inputs, and for those
Number of identified remediated, potentially contaminated, and contaminated sites
reported until 2011 by 33 European countries (European Commission, 2013).

metals and chromium, mercury and nickel background levels for surface soils are available to assess
whether soil pollution is occurring (German Federal

RELIABLE DATA MISSING

Ministry for the Environment, 2009). In contrast, organic contaminants in soil mostly result from diffuse

More than 2.5 million sites among 38 European countries

inputs and background levels are only available for

are potentially contaminated, and 342,000 sites have been

some federal states but nationwide levels are not yet

identified as contaminated sites (European Commission,

available.

2013). The diffuse contamination by salinization affected

4 million hectares in the Mediterranean region in the year
1998 but more recent and systematic data on trends across Europe are missing. (European Environment Agency,

data on diffuse soil contamination (European Commission,

1998; European Commission, 2012). About 35% of the land

2012). For example, mapping the concentrations of heavy

area of Poland is acidified (FAO, 2000). However, compre-

metals in soils of 26 European countries was affected by

hensive inventories on local soil contamination are lacking

mixed accuracies (European Commission, 2008). Further,

for the EU, and European countries differently interpret the

model results indicated that about 15% of the EU-25 land

terms of contaminated sites (European Commission, 2013).

surface experiences soil nitrogen surplus in excess of 40 kg

Even more limited than data for local soil contamination are

nitrogen per hectare (European Commission, 2009).

Soil pollution due to agriculture (FAO, 2011).

Contaminated soils worldwide

that polluters can often not be identified at sites affected

Similar to Europe, industrial activities, agricultural che-

by local soil contamination and thus brought to account for

micals or improper disposal of waste contaminate soils

their actions which may affect human health and be det-

in other world regions. For example, about 435.000

rimental to the local environment (European Commission,

underground storage tanks in the United States with

2006). For those purposes, it was proposed that EU mem-

many of them containing petroleum hydrocarbons of

ber states should put in place specific funding mechanisms

some type have leaked and contaminated soils (Kan-

to ensure a durable financial source for the remediation of

sas State University, 2005). Nearly 1.5 million under-

such sites.

ground storage tanks have been closed since 1984 but

the number of sites that need remediation is difficult to

JOINT FORCES FOR HEALTHY SOILS

estimate. Worldwide, the magnitude of the problem is

The addition of contaminants to soil must be reduced as

even much larger but the extent less well known (Kan-

they pose a long-term risk for soil ecosystems and their ser-

sas State University, 2005). Specifically, a comprehen-

vices on which human wellbeing depends on. In addition to

sive inventory on the global extent of soil contamina-

these environmental costs, the financial implications of soil

tion is lacking. Agricultural activities contribute to soil

contaminant remediation must clearly be communicated to

degradation and diffuse soil pollution by introducing

all users of potential soil contaminants, the knowledge about

pollutants or toxic substances like cadmium by appli-

the current state of global soil contamination be improved.

cation of mineral phosphate fertilizers).

The potential effects of contaminants strongly depend on

policies, current practices as well as soil types, climate conditions and their chemical properties. Understanding the

SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES FOR HUMAN

HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT

processes and the influencing factors responsible for the

effects of contaminants require inter- and transdisciplinary
approaches. A plan for action is needed towards sustainable

The long-term exposure to low-level concentrations of soil

management of contaminants. Researchers, representatives

contaminants is of particular concern. Coming into contact

from farmer organizations, (agro)industry, waterworks asso-

with contaminated soil through ingestion, inhalation, or der-

ciations, NGOs, federal state authorities, lawyers,

mal absorption directly effects human health and can cause

makers as well as the general public have to act in concert.

policy

serious health problems:

cancers caused by arsenic, asbestos ordioxins
neurological damage

How can contaminated soils be remediated?

lower IQ caused by lead or arsenic

Remediation refers to processes or methods for tre-

kidney disease caused by lead, mercury, cadmium, and

ating contaminants such that they are contained, re-

skeletal and bone diseases through lead, fluoride or

moved, degraded, or rendered less harmful (Kansas

cadmium)

State University, 2005). Soil remediation generally refers to processes that directly treat soil and affect the

Globally, an astonishing number of people are affected by to-

contaminant. This can either happen in-situ or ex-situ

xicities of arsenic (>100,000 people), cadmium (500,000),

involving physical removal of soil and treatment on-si-

mercury (80,000) and lead (>1 billion; National Water Re-

te or at another location. To reduce the contaminant

search Institute, Burlington, Canada, 1988). Soil contami-

concentration in soil, inorganic contaminants are re-

nants may be responsible for health effects costing millions of

moved from soil by washing, leaching, particle size

euros, but studies to quantify the true cost are in their infancy.

separation, attenuation, volatilization, phytoextraction

WHY IS THE RESPONSE INADEQUATE?

An adequate response to soil contamination is only possible
when reliable soil data are available. However, at European
level it is unclear what threshold values should be used to
classify soil as polluted, and with regard to heavy metals at
which locations can high natural background values be expected (European Commission, 2008). Another problem is

Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies

Global Soil Forum | www.globalsoilweek.org
(October 2013)

and electrocinetics.

THE CONTRIBUTION OF
THE GLOBAL SOIL FORUM
The Global Soil Forum of the Institute for Advanced Sustaina-

IASS has hosted discussions with its partners which have

bility Studies (IASS) in Potsdam carries out interdisciplinary

continued central issues from the event. The findings will

research on soil sustainability and takes a transdisciplinary

be discussed at the Global Soil Week 2013 with a broader

approach to ensuring transfer of knowledge between scien-

circle of participants. On this basis, an action plan will be

tists, decision-makers and representatives of civic organisa-

compiled in the form of a roadmap for a joint approach by

tions in Africa, America, Europe and Australia/Oceania. Be-

various actors for soil protection. Despite its significance, soil

hind this initiative is Founding and Executive Director Prof.

has up to now had no lobby group. New partnerships have

Klaus Tpfer.

to be formed. This requires a joint process which Global Soil

Based on the success of 2012, the IASS aims to help shape

Week initiates.

the work following the Millennium development targets as

The partners of Global Soil Week include the European Com-

well as the discussions surrounding the land transparency

mission, the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United

initiative from the G8 and the question of integrated soil ma-

National, the United Nations Convention to Combat Deser-

nagement with the second Global Soil Week (www.globalsoil-

tification, the United Nations Environment Programme, the

week.org). To this end, it draws the attention of politicians

German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and De-

and the public to the finite and forgotten resource which

velopment, the Deutsche Gesellschaft fr Internationale Zu-

is soil. Following on from the Global Soil Week 2012, the

sammenarbeit and the German Federal Environment Agency.

CONTACT
Coordinator of the Global Soil Forum
Jes Weigelt
Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies (IASS) Potsdam
T: +49 (0) 331 28822- 319
E: jes.weigelt@iass-potsdam.de
Head of Press & Communication
Corina Weber
Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies (IASS) Potsdam
T: +49 (0) 331 28822-340
E: corina.weber@iass-potsdam.de
Visit us at
www.iass-potsdam.de and www.globalsoilweek.org

#SOILWEEK

Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies

Global Soil Forum | www.globalsoilweek.org
(Oktober 2012)