Unearthing Earth's secrets: Exploring the environmental legacy of contaminants in soil, water, and sediments

Environ Res. 2024 May 15:249:118246. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.118246. Epub 2024 Jan 24.

Abstract

The Earth's history is documented in human civilizations, soil layers, river movement, and quiet sediments throughout millennia. This investigation explores the significant legacy of environmental toxins in these key planet components. Understanding how ancient activity shaped the terrain is crucial as mankind faces environmental issues. This interdisciplinary study uses environmental science, archaeology, and geology to uncover Earth's mysteries. It illuminates the dynamic processes that have built our globe by studying pollutants and soil, water, and sediments. This research follows human actions, both intentional and unintentional, from ancient civilizations through contemporary industrialization and their far-reaching effects. Environmental destiny examines how contaminants affect ecosystems and human health. This study of past contamination helps solve modern problems including pollution cleanup, sustainable land management, and water conservation. This review studies reminds us that our previous activities still affect the ecosystem in a society facing rapid urbanisation and industrialization. It emphasises the importance of environmental stewardship and provides a framework for making educated choices to reduce toxins in soil, water, and sediments. Discovery of Earth's secrets is not only a historical curiosity; it's a necessary step towards a sustainable and peaceful cohabitation with our home planet.

Keywords: Contaminants; Environmental conditions; Environmental legacy; Human activities; Pollution remediation; Prehistoric.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Historical Article

MeSH terms

  • Earth, Planet
  • Environmental Monitoring / history
  • Environmental Monitoring / methods
  • Environmental Pollution / analysis
  • Environmental Pollution / history
  • Geologic Sediments* / analysis
  • Geologic Sediments* / chemistry
  • Humans
  • Soil / chemistry
  • Soil Pollutants / analysis
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical / analysis

Substances

  • Soil Pollutants
  • Soil
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical