Integrated Approaches to Soil Contamination Monitoring

摘要

Top soil is a very important environmental compartment for many reasons, like it being the medium where plants grow, carbon accumulates, and so forth. But it also represents the "sink" where a wide range of waste materials, in very heterogeneous chemical forms, are disposed of and accumulate. This fact may allow contaminants to move downward the soil profile and reach subsurface and groundwater reservoirs. Agricultural activities can lead to land contamination due to the improper use of pesticides, agrochemicals, fertilizers, conditioners, and several other materials. The problem of contaminated land is exacerbated by industrial activities, including waste disposal and accidental spills that can also contribute to extensive contamination in the near surface environment. Dangerous contaminants can impact the characteristics and productivity of the surface soil as well as the subsurface and valuable natural resources conditions. Soil pollution threats human health, quality of foods, and groundwater but affects also the quality of the air.