EUROPE’S SOILS IN DANGER
Despite comprehensive regulations soil contamination is widespread in Europe, where 200 years of industrialization have left their marks. Historically, the mining and smelting of trace metals have created soil contamination problems of the greatest magnitude (Kansas State University, 2005). In addition, heavy metals from industrial waste have largely contaminated soils – as have leaks from land!lls, dumping of oil and fuel, and the over-application of agrochemicals such as pesticides and fertilizers. Speci!cally, fertilizer consumption in Europe has continued to grow steadily during recent years with unknown consequences for diffuse soil contamination (FAO, 2008; Eurostat, 2010).
