World’s Soil Resources

and Uruguay. The number of exposed people in these countries is estimated to be about 14 million (Bundschuh
et al., 2012; Castro de Esparza, 2006). It is also estimated that during the late 1980s and early 1990s, 3 000 to
4 000 t of Hg were deposited in the Amazon basin as a result of artisanal gold-mining activities, mainly in
Brazil, Bolivia, Venezuela and Ecuador (de Lacerda, 2003). In addition, intensive use of fertilizers and pesticides
in many parts of Latin America contributes to soil contamination and causes a range of environmental
pollution and human health problems (UNEP, 2010).
In Africa, soil contamination has resulted from mining, spills, and improper handling of waste (Gzik et
al., 2003; SSR, 2010; EA, 2010). The Nigerian federal government reported more than 7 000 spills between
1970 and 2000. In Botswana and Mali, over 10 000 tonnes of pesticides, including DDT, aldrin, dieldrin,
chlordane and heptachlor, have leaked from damaged containers and contaminated the soil (SSR, 2010). Soil
contamination in the Near East and North Africa is linked to oil production and heavy mining. In arable land, a
common source of soil pollution is the use of contaminated groundwater or wastewater for irrigation.
6.3.3 | Trends and legislation
In developed countries, legislation on contaminated land and the related regulatory mechanisms are well
established. As a result, the extent of contaminated land is thoroughly reported. The European countries have
created a common framework in the Thematic Strategy on Soil Protection (COM (2006) 231), which aims at
sustainable use of soil, preservation of soil as a resource, and remediation of contaminated soil. The EC has
also created networks such as CLARINET, NICOLE and SNOWMAN (Vicent, 2013). Investigations of suspected
contaminated sites continue in Europe and as a result the total of contaminated sites listed is expected to
increase by 50 percent by 2025 (EEA, 2007, 2012; EC, 2013). The number of remediated sites is expected to grow
as well. In addition, regulation now requires industrial plants to control their wastes and prevent accidents,
limiting the introduction of contaminants into the environment. As noted above, the United States has
introduced a regulatory regime and has made significant progress on site clean-up.
In Asia, early legislation on contaminated land management (CLM) focused on contamination of agricultural
land caused by industrialization and urbanization. Thus Japan, Taiwan, Province of China and South Korea
have developed comprehensive CLM frameworks of laws, regulations and guidelines. Other Asian countries,
however, are still at early stages of developing a CLM framework (Ng, 2010).
Atmospheric deposition (Section 4.4.1) is an important input of pollutants (Lofts et al., 2007) and air quality
regulation to decrease the load of contaminants on soils is therefore important. In most developed countries,
relevant legislation is well established. In the case of long-range atmospheric pollution, international
agreements are needed. In this regard, the Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution (LRTAP)
was signed in 1979. Conceived in response to the detrimental impact of acid rain in Europe, the Convention
entered into force in 1983. Over the past 30 years, the Convention has been extended by eight further protocols
that target pollutants such as S, NOx, persistent organic pollutants, volatile organic compounds, ammonia
and heavy metals. More recently, a global treaty to protect human health and the environment from the
adverse effects of mercury - the 2013 Minamata Convention on Mercury - has been established.
CECs require due attention and they can include, but are not limited to, nanoparticles, pharmaceuticals,
personal care products, estrogen-like compounds, flame retardants, detergents, and some industrial
chemicals (including those in products and packaging) with potential significant impact on human health
and aquatic life (Jones and Graves, 2010). Electronic waste (also referred to as ‘e-waste’) is of great concern
given the increasing volumes generated each year, the hazardous nature of some of the components, and the
exportation of this waste from industrialized countries to recycling centres in China, India and Pakistan (UNEP
DEWA/GRID-Europe, 2005). This chain risks violating the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary
Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal, which was adopted in 1989 and came into force in 1992.
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