Concluding Remarks and Research Needs

This comprehensive handbook thoroughly discusses soil pollution, emphasizing its various impacts on soil functions and the subsequent consequences for human and environmental health. Addressing the management of contaminated soils, the handbook underscores the significant costs involved, prompting the need for innovative and sustainable solutions for soil remediation. The handbook discusses the legal, policy, and economic contexts of soil remediation, highlighting a commitment to sustainable development goals and regional strategies. It also sheds light on the challenges associated with the substantial financial resources required for timely cleanup and the reutilization of soil. Nature-based solutions (NBS) emerge as cost-effective approaches, offering environmental, social, and economic benefits while maintaining soil functions. The sections on NBS and physicochemical processes provide various strategies, including bioremediation, phytoremediation, and soil amendment. Overall, the handbook serves as a comprehensive resource, shedding light on the complex dynamics of soil pollution and offering valuable insights into sustainable solutions for soil management and remediation.