Building a knowledge and innovation platform on diffuse and point soil contamination as base for (inter)national soil policies

Abstract

This article highlights the importance of soil contamination, both from diffuse and point source pollution. It summarises a series of presentations at the Global Soil Week 2015 illustrating the current understanding of soil exposed to pollutants, including the main sources of contamination, the hazards and risks that pollutants in soil present for the environment and human health, as well as the possible ways to address the problem from both global and EU perspectives. It summarises the World Café discussions on four themes that participants identified as the key areas for further action: remediation of contaminated sites, alternatives to the use of chemicals and pollutants, harmonisation of monitoring and approaches and Knowledge and innovation platform.JRC.H.5-Land Resources Managemen