Soil cover is the key substrate of biosphere supporting development of human civilization. Soil pollution due to anthropogenic activity is a fundamental problem arising from natural process of the growing man-made impact on the biosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere and all their systems. From the geochemical point of view anthropogenic activity leads to the creation of a new layer of chemical elements and their compounds superimposed on the initially formed natural soil cover. The ecological effect of interaction of the anthropogenic and natural systems could be considered in both spatial and temporal aspects. Spatial aspect involves the studies on distribution and migration of the contaminants revealing the zones of different level of contamination in urban, mining, arable and other areas that cause different ecological risks. Temporal aspect takes account of dynamics of ecosystems’ respond to soil contamination and their potential to withstand chemical loads in the particular chemical and physical conditions. Determination of the site specific threshold elements/compounds concentrations as limits of natural homeostatic mechanisms to mitigate contamination seems to be one of the key points in the development of sustainable reclamation techniques. Therefore reclamation of the disturbed areas should account of both the ability of natural ecosystems to withstand the pollution and the ability of civilization to develop the environment-friendly techniques in line with the strategy of natural systems in their “struggle for life” with due regard to human interests.
In this session the participants are invited to present their ideas and approaches on general solution of the problem of soil contamination and reclamation, to show the results contributing to the present knowledge on eco-geochemical evaluation of the soil, soil-water, soil-plant pollution in different regions of the world subjected to man-made geochemical impact including abnormal use of fertilizers and to demonstrate the results of soil reclamation techniques.