On 17 April, a team of international scientists specialising in data analysis, from China, the UK, Norway and the US conducted a global study on soil pollution, revealing widespread contamination across various regions. Their study was published in Science, one of the most prestigious peer-reviewed journals produced by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). It provides an overview of the current global soil contamination, drawing on more than 796,000 data points collected from 1,493 regional studies worldwide.
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While researchers call attention to the problem, regulation typically falls under national standards, many of which may be outdated or poorly enforced. The findings show that roughly 14 to 17% of the world’s croplands are polluted with metals such as cadmium, lead and arsenic, often exceeding identified thresholds.
The study highlights its role in pushing for stronger protections, especially as demand for food is expected to rise between 35 and 56% by 2050. Without intervention, toxic soils could undermine food security for billions of people. Using machine learning, the study identified a “metal-enriched corridor” across southern Europe through South and Southeast Asia, where nearly 1.4 billion people live in areas where soils surpass safe thresholds for human health and ecological stability.
Beyond mapping contamination, the study also explores environmental and socioeconomic factors that worsen soil pollution, including intensive irrigation, mining, steep slopes and plant-pumping mechanisms that draw metals toward the surface. Croplands in these regions are particularly vulnerable to bioaccumulation, thereby crop quality, livestock health and biodiversity are threatened.
Meanwhile, efforts are already underway by the Food and Agriculture Organization and the United Nations Environment Programme to address soil pollution through global initiatives focused on prevention and restoration. Still, the study stresses that many areas, such as Sub-Saharan Africa, lack the data needed to fully assess the risks—urging international aid to support soil surveys and protective measures.
In the absence of harmonised thresholds for soil contamination, the researchers emphasise the need for improved monitoring and stricter enforcement. Without stronger oversight, the accumulation of metals in croplands will continue to pose serious risks to agriculture and human well-being.
Overall, the findings reveal that protecting soil health is critical to food safety and environmental sustainability. The researchers call for urgent action from policymakers and land managers to ensure that contaminated soils do not silently undermine global food systems.
More information available at:
To read the study, follow this link.
To follow up on FAOs mission, follow this link.