Life in extraordinary concentrations (a tribute to Peter Beuge)
Jörg Matschullat
Our growing humankind needs fertile soils for its sustainable development. Population growth and related use of resources, jointly with environmental pollution seem to contradict that demand. Recently available geochemical atlases allow a better assessment representative soil chemistry potential status, thus more efficient planning Despite millennia human (agriculture forestry) perceived abuse (mining etc.), most Europe’s are on the continental scale strongly influenced by natural forces (primarily geology/lithology) than impact. Even in large conurbations (e.g., Berlin), baseline values can be encountered city centre spatial proximity highly contaminated sites. In country like Brazil, where significant impact started only about 500 years ago, challenges appear demanding, due very old age radical depletion nutrients. Yet, relatively recent site-specific local contamination appears almost negligible comparison, again corroborating dominant role processes (geology, climate). Both regions, representing northern southern hemispheric conditions, show chemical elements wide concentration range. The objective necessity clean up polluted sites avoid additional supported acknowledging localized true soils. Related governmental regulations (threshold etc.) should applied deeper understanding variability real risks involved positive pedogeochemical anomalies, saving money frustration.
Environmental Sciences Europe