Summary
This global meta-analysis synthesised soil pollution data from 1,493 regional studies across 796,084 sampling points to map the distribution of seven toxic metals and identify areas exceeding agricultural and human health safety thresholds. The work reveals a previously unrecognised high-risk metal-enriched zone in low-latitude Eurasia and estimates that 14–17% of global cropland is affected by toxic metal pollution, with 0.9–1.4 billion people living in regions of heightened public health and ecological risk. The findings underscore soil metal contamination as a significant yet underappreciated threat to food security and human health in the Anthropocene.
Regional applicability
The UK's temperate climate and regulated agricultural practices may limit exposure compared to the high-risk low-latitude Eurasian zone identified; however, localised soil metal contamination from historical mining, smelting, or industrial activity remains a concern in certain regions and warrants continued monitoring to protect cropland and public health. The study's global methodology and machine learning approach may inform UK soil monitoring programmes and national risk assessments to characterise metal distribution in UK agricultural soils.
Key measures
Percentage of global cropland exceeding toxic metal thresholds (14–17%); proportion of population living in heightened public health and ecological risk zones (0.9–1.4 billion); spatial distribution mapping using machine learning; exceedance of agricultural and human health thresholds for arsenic, cadmium, cobalt, chromium, copper, nickel, and lead
Outcomes reported
The study mapped global distribution of soil pollution by seven toxic metals (arsenic, cadmium, cobalt, chromium, copper, nickel, and lead) across 796,084 sampling points from 1,493 regional studies and identified areas exceeding agricultural and human health thresholds. It quantified the proportion of cropland affected by toxic metal pollution and estimated population exposure in high-risk regions.
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