SOU

RC

E: STAT

US O

F TH

E W

OR

LD’S SO

IL RE

SOU

RC

ES - M

AIN

RE

PO

RT

Soil contaminationIncrease in toxic compounds(heavy metals, pesticides, etc.) in soils affects human health and/or the provision of soil ecosystem services.The three major pathways fordiffuse soil contamination are atmospheric deposition,agriculture and flood events.

Soil contamination can reduce food security by decreasing crop yieldsand rendering crops unsafe for consumption.

In Europe340 000 sites

are thought to be contaminated

COUNTRIES ARE IMPLEMENTINGPOLICIES AND PROGRAMMES THAT ENCOURAGEREPORTING AND REMEDIATIONOF CONTAMINATED SITES/SOILS

2016

SOIL THREATSSoil contamination

LACLatin America

and the Caribbean

NANorthAmerica

SSAsub-Saharan Africa

NENANear East and

North Africa

E Europe and Eurasia

SPSouthwest

Pacific

AAsia

GoodFairPoorVerypoor

Condition TrendImproving Deteriorating Variable Stable ©

FAO

, 201

6 -

I64

75EN

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