Remediation of Soils Polluted by Urban Settings

Metropolitan soil challenges reflect the rapid urbanization and globalization pressures, including the generation of toxic by-products, physical disturbances, and changes in the abiotic and biotic environment. Thus, it is crucial to remediate and sustainably use urban soil and to support the maintenance of natural ecosystem services within the urban environment. This chapter focuses on the remediation and management approaches for soil polluted by urban settings. First, the characteristics of urban soil are defined by describing pedogenic evolution, various technogenic substrates, and their functions in providing ecosystem services. Subsequently, soil challenges within the urban setting are discussed, with a focus on the various sources of contamination, the issues related to sealed soils, and the formation of heat islands. Finally, the most recent strategies for urban soil remediation and management, including remote sensing, biomonitoring, the sponge city approach, and the use of waste-based soil amendments, are presented.