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Soil Pollution in Urban Environments: Sources, Consequences, Potential Mitigation Strategies and the Importance of Sustainable Urban Development

Water Air & Soil Pollution 2025
Muhammad Nauman Hanif, Ian B. Benitez

Summary

This review synthesizes sources, pollutant types, health consequences, and mitigation strategies for urban soil pollution, highlighting microplastics and pharmaceuticals as emerging contaminants alongside heavy metals and PAHs. Urban soils are a key but often overlooked pathway for human microplastic exposure, as contaminated soil enters food systems through produce, drinking water, and airborne dust in densely populated areas.

Soil pollution in urban environments is a critical issue with significant implications for public health, environmental quality, and sustainable urban development. This review paper explores the various aspects of soil pollution in urban areas, including its sources, types of pollutants, consequences, mitigation strategies, and the importance of sustainable urban development. The sources of soil pollution in urban environments are diverse, ranging from industrial activities and waste disposal to emerging sources like microplastics and pharmaceuticals. The types of pollutants found in urban soils include heavy metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and organochlorine pesticides, among others. The consequences of soil pollution in urban areas encompass public health risks, environmental impacts, and contamination of water resources. Mitigation strategies such as remediation techniques, pollution prevention measures, urban green infrastructure, and public awareness are crucial for addressing soil pollution in urban environments. Sustainable urban development plays a key role in maintaining soil health and integrating soil considerations into urban planning. By understanding the sources, types, consequences, and mitigation strategies of soil pollution in urban areas, cities can work towards healthier environments and sustainable development.

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