Soil quality: the current picture and the threats

Threats to soil quality

Diffuse contamination with heavy metals and persistent pesticides occurs throughout the Netherlands. The continuing accumulation of heavy metals in agricultural land constitutes a threat to crop quality and the soil ecology.

• In the province of Zeeland, there are cases of contamination with PAHs that exceed the desired quality standards.
• Concentrations of heavy metals from historical sources are found in the south-east of the Netherlands and in the western peatland areas.
• We find acidification and eutrophication of nature areas in the southern and eastern Netherlands as a result of agricultural emissions.
• In the eastern part of North Brabant, more than 50% of agricultural land is saturated with phosphate.

Relevant sections and indicators in the Environmental Data Compendium

• Soil quality and soil pollution: policy
• Soil contamination and soil cleanup: terms and definitions
• Local soil pollution: the risks
• PAH levels in the soil in the Netherlands
• Pesticides in the soil in the Netherlands
• Heavy metals in agricultural land
• Phosphate saturation of agricultural soils in the Netherlands, 1986-1999
• See the index impact on nature for the impact of dangerous substances, for example pesticides, on nature.

Relevant information outside of the Environmental Data Compendium

• More information about soil pollution can be found on the site of the Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment.