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Instant Insights: Soil contaminants

Code: 9781835452660
Publication Date: 29/09/2026

Contributions by: Teklit Gebregiorgis Ambaye, University of Brescia, Italy/Technical University of Denmark, Denmark; and Mentore Vaccari, University of Brescia, Italy; Nikola Rakonjac, Wageningen University, The Netherlands; Joost Lahr, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), The Netherlands; Sören Thiele-Bruhn, Trier University, Germany; Bjorn J. A. Berendsen, Wageningen University & Research, The Netherlands; Carlos A. Faúndez Urbina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Chile; and Coen J. Ritsema, Wageningen University, The Netherlands; Guy J. Levy, Asher Bar-Tal, Eddie Cytryn, and Mikhail Borisover, Agricultural Research Organization, Volcani Institute, Israel; and Santanu Bakshi and Chumki Banik, Iowa State University, USA; and Zhenli He, University of Florida, USA

Description

This collection features four peer-reviewed reviews on major contaminants in agricultural soils.

The first chapter discusses emerging technologies for remediating soil polluted with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon and their contamination routes. The chapter also addresses techniques for their identification and tracking, persistence and bioaccumulation in the soil and risks to and effects on human health and soil health.

The second chapter provides a comprehensive overview of the pathways through which antibiotics reach the soil, the processes that influence their fate within the soil and the techniques and efforts used to predict their behaviour and fate. The chapter also offers insights from specific case studies and discusses future research directions to address environmental challenges.

The third chapter addresses the risks associated with using treated wastewater in irrigation systems for crop production, including an elevation in soil water osmotic pressure, the addition of toxic ions and organic contaminants to the soil and the deterioration of the physical and hydraulic properties of soil.

The final chapter reviews the impact of heavy metal contamination on soil health, focussing on its effects on soil biogeochemical processes, nutrient cycling and soil functions in crop production, environmental quality and food security. The chapter also discusses common indicators of soil contamination and remediation techniques.

Key Features

  • Discusses key groups of contaminants in agricultural soils
  • Considers the benefits and risks of using treated wastewater in irrigation systems
  • Reviews the impact of heavy metal contamination on key soil processes

Ordering Information

Note: This product will be available to order 90 days prior to publication.

If you have any questions about this product, contact us at info@bdspublishing.com for further information.

£37.99
Table of Contents

  • Chapter 1 – Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) contaminants in agricultural soils: occurrence and remediation: Teklit Gebregiorgis Ambaye, University of Brescia, Italy/Technical University of Denmark, Denmark; and Mentore Vaccari, University of Brescia, Italy;
    • 1 Introduction
    • 2 Characteristics, sources, transport and impact of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
    • 3 Techniques for remediation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
    • 4 Emerging remediation technologies
    • 5 Monitoring of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
    • 6 Implementing sustainable remediation technologies: trends and challenges
    • 7 Future trends
    • 8 Conclusion
    • 9 References

Chapter taken from: Naidu, R. (ed.), Contaminants in agricultural soils: Challenges and solutions, Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing, Cambridge, UK, 2025, (ISBN 978 1 80146 878 7)

  • Chapter 2 – Antibiotic residues as contaminants in agricultural soils: Nikola Rakonjac, Wageningen University, The Netherlands; Joost Lahr, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), The Netherlands; Sören Thiele-Bruhn, Trier University, Germany; Bjorn J. A. Berendsen, Wageningen University & Research, The Netherlands; Carlos A. Faúndez Urbina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Chile; and Coen J. Ritsema, Wageningen University, The Netherlands;
    • 1 Introduction
    • 2 Antibiotic pathways to agricultural soils
    • 3 Fate of (veterinary) antibiotics in the soil
    • 4 Modeling approaches
    • 5 Controlled laboratory studies
    • 6 Dutch case study
    • 7 Mixed contaminations with antibiotics in excreta andsoil
    • 8 Conclusion and future trends
    • 9 Acknowledgments
    • 10 Where to look for further information
    • 11 References

Chapter taken from: Naidu, R. (ed.), Contaminants in agricultural soils: Challenges and solutions, Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing, Cambridge, UK, 2025, (ISBN 978 1 80146 878 7)

  • Chapter 3 – Wastewater as a contamination risk for agricultural soils: Guy J. Levy, Asher Bar-Tal, Eddie Cytryn, and Mikhail Borisover, Agricultural Research Organization, Volcani Institute, Israel;
    • 1 Introduction
    • 2 Wastewater sources, composition, treatment systems and methods
    • 3 Inorganic contaminants in wastewater
    • 4 Contamination by the organic fraction in wastewater
    • 5 Microbial contaminants in wastewater irrigated soils
    • 6 Management solutions to mitigate hazards involved in irrigation with wastewater
    • 7 Conclusion
    • 8 References

Chapter taken from: Naidu, R. (ed.), Contaminants in agricultural soils: Challenges and solutions, Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing, Cambridge, UK, 2025, (ISBN 978 1 80146 878 7)

  • Chapter 4 – The impact of heavy metal contamination on soil health: Santanu Bakshi and Chumki Banik, Iowa State University, USA; and Zhenli He, University of Florida, USA;
    • 1 Introduction
    • 2 Current levels of soil contamination by heavy metals
    • 3 Natural and anthropogenic sources of heavy metals
    • 4 Chemical transformation of heavy metals in soils
    • 5 Bioavailability of heavy metals in soils
    • 6 Effects of heavy metals on soil health: soil chemistry, biochemistry and microbiology
    • 7 Effects of heavy metals on plant health and crop production
    • 8 Indicators of soil contamination
    • 9 Remediation of contaminated soil
    • 10 Conclusions and future trends
    • 11 References

Chapter taken from: Reicosky, D. (ed.), Managing soil health for sustainable agriculture – Volume 2: Monitoring and management, Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing, Cambridge, UK, 2018, (ISBN 978 1 78676 192 7)

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