Soil contamination in Europe unveiled: A review of pesticides and metabolites to watch

Soil is multifunctional and fundamental for both humans and ecosystem health. However, it faces growing threats from contamination, particularly from pesticides. In this review, pesticide contamination trends across Europe were assessed by analysing published data from 5193 sampled soils collected between 2015 and 2022. By raking pesticides based on detection frequency, persistence and toxicity, key concerns were brought to attention, including the presence of banned substances, such as p,p’-DDT (detected in 31% of sampled soils) and Atrazine (17%), as well as high detection rates of currently approved pesticides like Boscalid (36%) and Epoxiconazole (32%). Results also revealed regional contamination patterns and differences. Greece and Poland presented a strong association with non-approved pesticides. The presence of these substances, although long banned, raises concerns about their origin, persistence and potential cross-border pollution. In contrast, Portugal appears to be more associated with currently approved pesticides. Furthermore, metabolites like AMPA, a degradation product of Glyphosate, was detected in 44% of soils, which highlights the contribution of metabolites in long-term contamination risks. The metabolite 1,2,4-triazole has been proposed as a potential indicator of soil pesticide contamination, which could enhance monitoring and reduce associated costs. These results point out the limitations of currently regulatory frameworks, which often fail to account for environmental transport, persistent residues, and policies related to pesticide distribution across countries. To protect soil health, monitoring programs and remediation strategies are necessary. Establishing more comprehensive legislation for both active substances and their breakdown products is essential to mitigate long-term contamination risks.