Preface

**Section 5 Advances in the Assessment of Heavy Metal Contamination -**

Chapter 25 **Geochemical Speciation and Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals**

Chapter 26 **The Effect of Industrial Heavy Metal Pollution on Microbial Abundance and Diversity in Soils — A Review 759**

Chapter 27 **Pollution of Pb in Soils Affected by Pyrite Tailings: Influence of**

**Fractionation and Bioavailability Assessment 799** Marija Romić, Lana Matijević, Helena Bakić and Davor Romić

**Polluted with Mercury: Occurrence, Transformations, Environmental Considerations and San Joaquin's Sierra**

I. Robles, J. Lakatos, P. Scharek, Z. Planck, G. Hernández, S. Solís and

**(Cu), Manganese (Mn), Lead (Pb), and Zinc (Zn) Contamination**

**in Agricultural' Soils and Wheat Crops Projects at Three**

Youssef F. Lawgali, Andy A. Meharg and Yousef M.T. Elgimati

**Land Application of Sewage Sludge: A Review with Data**

F. Martín, M. Simón, I. García, A. Romero and V. González

**Anthropogenic Modification of Two Sites in the Sudan**

Sunday Paul Bako, Augustine Uwanekwu Ezealor and Yahuza

Santosh Kumar Sarkar, Paulo J.C. Favas, Dibyendu Rakshit and K.K.

Chapter 24 **Heavy Metal Deposition in Soils and Plants Impacted by**

**Savanna of North Western Nigeria 697**

**in Soils and Sediments 723**

Anna Lenart-Boroń and Piotr Boroń

Chapter 28 **Copper Accumulation in Vineyard Soils: Distribution,**

Chapter 29 **Characterization and Remediation of Soils and Sediments**

Chapter 30 **Conducted and Investigate Arsenic (As), Cobalt (Co) Copper**

Chapter 31 **Risks of Heavy Metals Contamination of Soil-Pant System by**

Alysson Roberto Baizi e Silva and Fábio Camilotti

**Soil Properties 785**

**Gorda Case 827**

**Regions in Libya 851**

**from Brazil 873**

E. Bustos

**Case Studies 695**

Tanimu

**VIII** Contents

Satpathy

*"Continuing change is the dominant factor in society today. No sensible decision can be made with‐ out taking into account not only the world as it is, but the world as it will be."* Isaac Asimov.

The natural resources of the planet face enormous challenges in meeting food and energy demands of an increasing population, expected at 9 billion by 2050. Production challenges are exacerbated by unpredictable impacts on climate and natural ecosystems. Soil contami‐ nation and soil pollution constitute an essential issue to be addressed if we are to secure the life quality of present and future generations. Soil contamination is the presence of elevated concentrations of substances in the environment above the natural background level for the area and for the organism. Therefore, soil contamination is defined as the build-up of persis‐ tent toxic compounds in the natural soil environment, which have adverse effects on plant growth and animal health. More specifically, pollution is the introduction by man, directly or indirectly, of substances or energy into the environment resulting in deleterious effects to living resources and hazards to human health. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA, USA) considers risk "to be the chance of harmful effects to human health or to ecological systems resulting from exposure to an environmental stressor". From historically contami‐ nated areas to recent environmental disasters, the quality of world soils is constantly jeopar‐ dized, with an immediate associated risk for all living organisms linked to the affected soil area. According to a recent report from the European Commission (EEA, 2013), approxi‐ mately three million sites in the EU have supported potential polluting activities, with 250,000 sites needing urgent remediation. The most frequent contaminants are heavy metals and mineral oil and the main causes of pollution are past and present industrial and com‐ mercial activities, agricultural chemicals, and the improper disposal and treatment of waste, but these categories vary widely worldwide. The Cooperative Research Centre for Contami‐ nation Assessment and Remediation reported in 2013 that Australia has 160,000 potentially contaminated sites, less than 1 per cent remediated, and most of the sites being in urban areas. According to data discussed at the 13th International Conference on Environmental Science and Technology (Athens, 2013), the number of contaminated sites exceeds 500,000 in the USA, 30,000 in Canada and 500,000 in Japan, while there are no official available data for several other areas such as Eastern Europe, Africa and South America and for countries such as China and India.

The protection of soil as the irreplaceable resource that sustains life in the planet requires integrated efforts from researchers and policy makers to develop sound risk assessment pro‐ cedures and policies as well as feasible soil management and remediation strategies. To date, the relevance of soil contamination in environmental research and policy remains con‐ siderably belittled. Despite the substantial body of published research currently available,

circa 3.5 million records returned from the web of science for "soil" search (650,000 records for "soil pollution" search), official guidelines and risk assessment procedures are frequent‐ ly obsolete. Moreover, the advance of legislation concerning soil protection from the poten‐ tial impact of human activities fails to meet the urgent need of developing sustainable land management practices. Overall, an increased effort to assess soil contamination and develop remediation and quality preservation strategies has become essential for the present and fu‐ ture of world soils.

*Environmental risk assessment of soil contamination* is a book designed by InTech - Open Access Publisher in collaboration with recognized international authors, unifying biological, chemi‐ cal and agronomic approaches to research on soil contamination and pollution.

This book is intended to provide a wide depiction of current research in soil contamination and risk assessment, encompassing broad reviews and case studies on soil pollution by heavy metals and organic pollutants. Moreover, the book introduces several innovative ap‐ proaches for soil remediation and risk assessment, including recent advances in phytoreme‐ diation. Therefore, this volume will be a valuable reading to a global audience of scientists, researchers, environmental educators, policy makers, technicians, managers, students and the general public.

The first section comprises nine chapters corresponding to broad studies on soil contamina‐ tion and pollution, including a wide diversity of environmental scenarios and general revi‐ sions of soil pollution assessment and remediation strategies. Section 2 introduces seven chapters dedicated to advanced methodological approaches for risk assessment and soil re‐ mediation, including several up to date chemical and biological techniques. Section 3 specif‐ ically addresses progresses in phytoremediation, which is traditionally considered a top strategy for soil reclamation. A collection of 11 case studies on soil contamination with or‐ ganic pollutants (section 4) and heavy metals (section 5) provides a worldwide depiction of soil contamination and pollution, highlighting the variability of contaminated sites and as‐ sessment approaches across the world.

The 31 chapters of this book can be read independently, but like different soil quality indica‐ tors they mutually benefit and enrich each other, providing a valuable composition that de‐ picts current status of research in soil contamination and advances on risk assessment from a multidisciplinary approach.

For their excellent work, special thanks to the technical editors and sincere appreciation to Ms Iva Lipović, Deputy Head of Book Publishing Department, who coordinated the publica‐ tion process of this volume and assisted me and the authors in completing our tasks smooth‐ ly and in a timely manner.

> **Dr. Maria C. Hernández-Soriano** The University of Queensland Australia

**Risk Assessment: Soil Contamination Scenarios and Strategies**

circa 3.5 million records returned from the web of science for "soil" search (650,000 records for "soil pollution" search), official guidelines and risk assessment procedures are frequent‐ ly obsolete. Moreover, the advance of legislation concerning soil protection from the poten‐ tial impact of human activities fails to meet the urgent need of developing sustainable land management practices. Overall, an increased effort to assess soil contamination and develop remediation and quality preservation strategies has become essential for the present and fu‐

*Environmental risk assessment of soil contamination* is a book designed by InTech - Open Access Publisher in collaboration with recognized international authors, unifying biological, chemi‐

This book is intended to provide a wide depiction of current research in soil contamination and risk assessment, encompassing broad reviews and case studies on soil pollution by heavy metals and organic pollutants. Moreover, the book introduces several innovative ap‐ proaches for soil remediation and risk assessment, including recent advances in phytoreme‐ diation. Therefore, this volume will be a valuable reading to a global audience of scientists, researchers, environmental educators, policy makers, technicians, managers, students and

The first section comprises nine chapters corresponding to broad studies on soil contamina‐ tion and pollution, including a wide diversity of environmental scenarios and general revi‐ sions of soil pollution assessment and remediation strategies. Section 2 introduces seven chapters dedicated to advanced methodological approaches for risk assessment and soil re‐ mediation, including several up to date chemical and biological techniques. Section 3 specif‐ ically addresses progresses in phytoremediation, which is traditionally considered a top strategy for soil reclamation. A collection of 11 case studies on soil contamination with or‐ ganic pollutants (section 4) and heavy metals (section 5) provides a worldwide depiction of soil contamination and pollution, highlighting the variability of contaminated sites and as‐

The 31 chapters of this book can be read independently, but like different soil quality indica‐ tors they mutually benefit and enrich each other, providing a valuable composition that de‐ picts current status of research in soil contamination and advances on risk assessment from

For their excellent work, special thanks to the technical editors and sincere appreciation to Ms Iva Lipović, Deputy Head of Book Publishing Department, who coordinated the publica‐ tion process of this volume and assisted me and the authors in completing our tasks smooth‐

> **Dr. Maria C. Hernández-Soriano** The University of Queensland

> > Australia

cal and agronomic approaches to research on soil contamination and pollution.

ture of world soils.

X Preface

the general public.

sessment approaches across the world.

a multidisciplinary approach.

ly and in a timely manner.
