Editorial: Hazardous pollutants in agricultural soil and environment

Food security is a cornerstone of global health, human well-being, and economic stability.Ensuring the availability, accessibility, and quality of food is fundamental for sustaining populations worldwide, but this critical need is threatened by contaminants that diminish agricultural productivity and compromise food security. These pollutants, including heavy metals and metalloids, persistent organic pollutants, pesticides, and emerging threats like microplastics and nanoplastics, not only disrupt agricultural productivity but also pose significant risks to environmental sustainability, and human health.The detrimental effects of soil contamination on agricultural outputs are multifaceted. Heavy metals such as lead and cadmium can severely hinder plant growth, reduce crop yields, and compromise the nutritional quality of the food produced (Kumar et al. 2021;(Madhav et al. 2024).Arsenic on the other hand is a toxic metalloid that has been reported as the major determinant for decreasing grain yield besides causing straighthead disease in rice (Kumar et al. 2021). Similarly, the widespread use of chemical pesticides and herbicides, while aiming to enhance crop protection, often leads to long-term soil degradation and loss of biodiversity, further diminishing the soil's natural capacity to support agriculture. The infiltration of these toxic substances into soils, a direct consequence of industrial activities, agricultural practices, and inadequate waste management, leads to a cascade that disrupts the delicate balance of nutrients and microbial life critical for plant growth and soil health (Swain 2024). This xenobiotic contamination undermines the nutritional value of crops and raises the chances of bioaccumulation of harmful chemicals in the human body. This can potentially lead to chronic health conditions in humans, including cancers, neurological disorders, and developmental issues in children. The challenge is further compounded by the emerging threat of microplastics, whose long-term ecological and health impacts are only beginning to be understood. Therefore, both, food safety and security are compromised due to the presence of toxic contaminates in agricultural soil.Addressing the challenges posed by soil pollution to food security requires a concerted effort to implement sustainable agricultural practices, innovative remediation technologies, and robust policies aimed at protecting soil health, thereby ensuring the production of safe, nutritious food and safeguarding public health for future generations (Goel et al. 2021). In this direction, the current research topic highlights the problems associated with hazardous pollutants in agricultural Conclusively, this research topic confers useful updates and advancements about the existence of hazardous pollutants in the agricultural fields. The collaborative efforts of researchers, farmers, policymakers, and the broader public are imperative in this endeavor, highlighting the collective responsibility to preserve the foundation of food security for generations to come. We have a firm believe that these studies, along with sustainable agricultural practices and policy reforms, will be useful in combating soil pollution, ensuring the sustainable future of agriculture, and protecting public health.