Contemporary Patterns in Soil Contamination and Environmental Sustainability in the Global South

Soil contamination presents serious risks to both human and environmental health, and so it is a global concern. This chapter presents an overview of current trends in soil contamination and how they affect the sustainability of the ecosystem in the Global South. It also discusses past patterns in soil contamination, including a plethora of sources responsible for soil contamination and determining the degree of contamination. The identification of new soil contaminants and understanding their mechanisms and effects on soil ecosystems and overall health should be among the main goals of current and future soil research. Also considered are approaches to remedying soil contamination, relevant laws, and regulations about soil contamination, as well as the impacts of soil pollution on environmental sustainability. To guarantee that contaminated sites are cleaned up effectively, research into more economical and efficient remediation methods needs to be supported. Countries in the Global South are independently and collectively working towards implementing sustainable agricultural practices, including agroecology and organic farming, to enhance soil health and promote long-term sustainability. To further improve overall soil and environmental sustainability, policies and regulations need to be enacted to address issues with contaminated soil as well as prevent soil pollution.