Urban soil and water leaching processes: implications for human and environmental health
In Europe, numerous urban sites exist where top layers of soil are enriched in potentially toxic elements. The land uses in urban environment are a matter of concern for human health and food security in cities, also in the context of the growing trend in Europe and elsewhere for using urban soil to grow food [1][2]. Nonetheless, the risk to the subsoil and groundwater may be minimal, depending on the nature and chemistry of the constituents released, as well as on the local conditions [e.g. climate, soil type, chemical conditions (pH, EC, redox and dissolved organic matter), and hydrogeology (permeability, dispersion, preferential flow paths)] [3][4][5].