Challenges of monitoring contaminants in soils: insights from the French experience

Soil pollution is one of the major threats upon soil health. However, the main knowledge of the extent and the diversity of contaminants in soils has been obtained during the last years and there is still a big knowledge gap. If the most campaigns were focusing on trace elements or well-known organic contaminants such as PAH or PCB, the bigger challenge lies ahead when looking at emerging contaminants such as PFAS, pesticides or microplastics. The recent EU directive on soil monitoring might be an opportunity to tackle these knowledge gaps about diffuse soil contamination and the risk they may pose along with a better distribution of the knowledge across countries. This presentation aims to showcase what has been done the last 20 years in France regarding soil contaminants, and specifically since 2020 about trace elements, organic contaminants but also pesticides and microplastics and what are the challenges going-on. Major results and lessons from these monitoring in France could be used when building the European monitoring to ensure the most efficient choices to advice and answer policy questions and enlighten decisions regarding contaminants.