Pesticides and organic contaminants

Pesticides pollute the soil directly by affecting the organisms that reside in it. Soil, however, can act as a vector for the pollution of surface water and groundwater. Organic pollutants enter the soil via atmospheric deposition, direct spreading onto land, contamination by wastewater and waste disposal.

In addition to pesticides, organic contaminants include many other components, such as oils, tars, chlorinated hydrocarbons, PCBs and dioxins. There is such a wide variety of organic substances that their detection and monitoring in the soil is practically impossible.

Pesticides (mainly fungicides, herbicides and insecticides) are used in agriculture to protect crops and to ensure a quality harvest. Persistent or mobile pesticides are especially dangerous, as are those that affect non-targeted organisms.

Environmental impacts of agricultural production   


The use of pesticides may lead to:

• destruction of the soil's micro-flora and fauna, leading to both physical and chemical deterioration;

• severe yield reduction in crops; and

• leaching of toxic chemicals into groundwater and potentially threatening drinking water resources.

Some improvements in application and legislation may reduce the side effects of pesticides, such as:

• banning broad-spectrum and highly mobile pesticides;

• employing integrated pest-management;

• enforcing biological control; and

• developing biotechnologies.