Urban Soil Management: A Growing Concern

Urban environmental geochemistry of trace metals

“…This is because investigative principles of environmental geochemistry normally applicable in a natural or relatively undisturbed environment might become deficient or inappropriate when implemented in an urban setting. In some cases, the modification of existing techniques and/or derivation of a new methodology may be necessary if meaningful and scientifically sound conclusions are to be drawn (De Kimpe and Morel, 2000). Using urban soils as an example, the discussion below highlights some physical factors of an urban environment that are worthy of attention during an assessment of trace metal contamination of urban soils.…”

Initial conditions during Technosol implementation shape earthworms and ants diversity

“…Urbanization causes profound impacts on ecosystem functioning (Pickett et al, 2011) but the consequences for urban soil ecosystem processes are not well documented (De Kimpe and Morel, 2000;Pouyat et al, 2010) despite their importance in the delivery of ecosystem services (Morel, Chenu, & Lorenz, 2015). Urban soils can be highly heterogeneous and are mainly affected by human activities (Morel et al, 2015).…”

“…Because of the importance of human disturbance in excavating this material, the soil of urban parks belongs to the Technosols Reference Soil Group (IUSS Working Group WRB, 2006). Their management is a growing concern (De Kimpe & Morel, 2000).…”

Heavy Metal in Urban Soil: Health Risk Assessment and Management

“…De Kimpe and Morel [19] generalizes urban soil as the soil in urban and suburban areas that are strongly disturbed by human activity. The mainstream explanation of urban soil according to Chinese scholars is that urban soil developed under longterm disturbance or direct assembly of human activities and under the special environmental background of the urban [20].…”