Mechanization in agriculture & Conserving of the resources
Vol. 69 (2025), Issue 4, pg(s) 115-119

CONSERVING OF THE RESOURCES

Soil pollution: pollutants, causes and effects

  • 1 Technical University Varna, Bulgaria

Abstract

Soil is a complex heterogeneous system composed of solid, liquid and gaseous matrix, which is a key factor for terrestrial ecosystems. As an open system, it is a source or sink of many substances, including pollutants. Pollutants in soils can be of natural or anthropogenic origin, which are generally divided into two main groups: organic and inorganic pollutants. The report is prepared on the basis of scientific literature and is entirely aimed at clarifying the sources, impact and effects of persistent organic compounds. For this purpose, 32 scientific articles available in ResearchGate, Scholar and ScienceDirect were studied. Attention is focused on them, as they are considered a global environmental problem due to their persistence, potential for bioaccumulation, toxicity, carcinogenic and mutagenic potential.

Keywords

References

  1. Duraes, N., L.A.B. Novo, C. Candeias, E.F. Silva. Distribution, Chapter 2 - Distribution, Transport and Fate of Pollutants, Soil Pollution, (2018), 29-57
  2. R.G.Morgado, S. Loureiro, M.N. González-Alcaraz. Chapter 3 - Changes in soil ecosystem structure and functions due to soil contamination, Soil Pollution, 2 (2026), 65-102
  3. Patinha C., A. Armienta, A. Argyraki, N. Duarte. Chapter 6 - Inorganic Pollutants in Soils, Soil Pollution, (2018), 127-159
  4. Cachada A., T. Rocha-Santos, A.C. Duarte. Chapter 1 - Soil and Pollution: An Introduction to the Main Issues, Soil Pollution, (2018), 1-28
  5. Plamenov D., P. Naskova. Soil science, soil pollution and remediation technologies, Technical University of Varna, (2017), 121-123
  6. Duarte R.M.B.O., J.T.V. Matos, N. Senesi. Chapter 5 - Organic Pollutants in Soils, Soil Pollution, (2018), 103-126
  7. Rodrigues S.M., P.F.A.M. Römkens. Chapter 10 - Human health risks and soil pollution, Soil Pollution, 2 (2026), 271-306
  8. Litynska M. Persistent organic pollutants: sources, migration in ecosystems, removal methods in wastewater treatment and remediation of soils and natural water , National Water and Water Purification Technologies. Scientific and Technical News, (2024), 40-48
  9. Ashraf M.A. Persistent organic pollutants (POPs): a global issue, a global challenge, Environ Sci Pollut Res, 24 (2017), 4223-4227
  10. Mao S., S. Liu, Y. Zhou, Q. An, X. Zhou, Z. Mao, Y. Wu, W. Liu. The occurrence and sources of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in agricultural soils across China with an emphasis on unintentionally produced PCBs, Environmental Pollution, 271 (2021), 116171
  11. Anjum N.A., K.F. Mendes, M.R. dos Reis, V.L. Tornisielo, A.C. Duarte, E. Pereira. Chapter 4 - Pollutant transformation and metabolite accumulation in soils, Soil Pollution, 2 (2026), 103-116
  12. Nenin T., T. Mitrović, A. Petković, J. Čolić. Validation of the GCMS method for the determination of polychlorinated biphenyls congeners in soil and sediment samples, Microchemical Journal, 207 (2024), 111761
  13. Kalbe U., P. Lehnik-Habrink, N. Bandow, A. Sauer. Validation of European horizontal methods for the analysis of PAH, PCB and dioxins in sludge, treated biowaste and soil, Environmental Sciences Europe, 31 (2019), 29
  14. P.A. Correa P.A., L.S. Lin, C.L. Just, D. Hu, K.C. Hornbuckle, J.L. Schnoor, B.V. Aken. The effects of individual PCB congeners on the soil bacterial community structure and the abundance of biphenyl dioxygenase genes, Environment International, 8 (2010), 901-906
  15. Zhang H. B., Y. M. Luo, M. H.Wong, Q. G. Zhao, G. L. Zhang. Concentrations and possible sources of polychlorinated biphenyls in the soils of Hong Kong, Geoderma, 138, (2007), 244-251
  16. Mel A., A. Dettlaff, K. Kuklińska, J. Namieśnik, L. Wolska. Concentration and sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in surface soil near a municipal solid waste (MSW) landfill, Science of The Total Environment, 530-531, (2015), 18-27
  17. Tor A., M.E. Aydin, S. Ozcan. Ultrasonic solvent extraction of organochlorine pesticides from soil, Analytica Chimica Acta, 559 (2006), 173-180
  18. Lesueura C., M. Gartnera, A. Mentlerc, M. Fuerhackerb. Comparison of four extraction methods for the analysis of 24 pesticides in soil samples with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography–ion trap–mass spectrometry, Talanta, 75 (2008), 284-293
  19. Gnanaprakasam P.D., A.J. Vanisree. Recurring detrimental impact of agrochemicals on the ecosystem, and a glimpse of organic farming as a possible rescue, Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 29, (2022), 75103-75112
  20. Sarkar, Deepranjan, S.S. Rakesh, S. Ganguly, A. Rakshit. Management of Increasing Soil Pollution in the Ecosystem. Advances in Research, 12 (2017), 1–9
  21. Abdel-Shafy H.I. , M.S.M. Mansour. A review on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons: Source, environmental impact, effect on human health and remediation, Egyptian Journal of Petroleum, 25, (2016), 107-123
  22. Kumirska J., P. Łukaszewicz, M. Caban, N. Migowska, A. Plenis, A. Białk-Bielińska, M. Czerwicka, F., Qi, S. Piotr. Determination of twenty pharmaceutical contaminants in soil using ultrasound-assisted extraction with gas chromatography-mass spectrometric detection, Chemosphere, 232, (2019), 232-242
  23. F. Manole , P. Marian, G.M. Mekeres, A.N. Csep. A Review of the Effects of Pharmaceutical Waste on the Environment and Human Health, Pharmacophore, 14, (2023), 106-110
  24. G. Barbara, M. K., J. Wrzosek, M. Graniewska. Pharmaceuticals in the Soil and Plant Environment: a Review, Water, Air, & Soil Pollution, 232, (2021), 145
  25. K. Radka, R. Grabic, M. Kočárek, A. Klement, O. Golovko, M. Fér, A. Nikodem, O. Jakšík. Pharmaceuticals' sorptions relative to properties of thirteen different soils, Science of The Total Environment, 511, (2015), 435-443
  26. A. Subramanian, M.S. Mumtaz, M.H.A.K. Mohideen, A. Radha, N. Sasirekha, B. Sawicka, V. Tamizhazhagan. Pharmaceutical Pollution Crisis in the World: A Menace to Ecosystem, Entomology and Applied Science Letters, 8, (2021), 77- 89
  27. Zaborowska M., J. Wyszkowska, A. Borowik. Soil Microbiome Response to Contamination with Bisphenol A, Bisphenol F and Bisphenol S, International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 21, (2020), 3529
  28. E. Soria, T. Grisin, D. Moison, M.J. Guerquin, T. Thierry, S. Pozzi-Gaudin, A. Benachi, G. Livera, V. Rouiller-Fabre, R. Habert. A new chapter in the bisphenol A story: bisphenol S and bisphenol F are not safe alternatives to this compound, Fertility and Sterility, 103, (2015), 11-21
  29. Careghini A., A.F. Mastorgio, S. Saponaro, E. Sezenna. Bisphenol A, nonylphenols, benzophenones, and benzotriazoles in soils, groundwater, surface water, sediments, and food: a review, Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 22, (2015), 5711- 5741
  30. Costa H.E., E. Cairrao. Effect of bisphenol A on the neurological system: a review update, Archives of Toxicology, 98, (2024), 1-73
  31. Rochester Johanna R. Bisphenol A and human health: A review of the literature, Reproductive Toxicology, 42, (2013), 132-155
  32. Zhang Z., R. Lu, L. Li, Y. Chen, J. Lan, R. Chen, Y. Zhou, H. Han. Phytotoxic Effects of Bisphenol A on Growth and Physiology of Capsicum annuum L., Horticulturae, 11, (2025), 788

Article full text

Download PDF