Soil Health and War

Abstract

War represents a catastrophic disturbance to soil, water, air, wildlife, humans, and planetary health. It contaminates soil, pollutes water and air, destroys habitats, and degrades landscapes. Environmental destruction and the degradation of terrestrial ecosystems are long-term legacies of armed conflict; residues of war-related pollutants remain detectable in soils affected by World War I and the Vietnam War. This paper synthesizes evidence on the effects of war on soil health, with attention to four main processes: (i) physical disturbance through compaction, cratering, and churning; (ii) chemical contamination through oil spills and the addition of potentially toxic elements, including As, Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb, U, and Zn, together with phosphorus- and sulfur-containing residues; (iii) desertification and erosion; and (iv) alteration or loss of soil cover. Elevated concentrations of depleted uranium and dioxins in war-damaged soils may increase risks to human health, including risks of breast and lung cancer, leukemia, lymphoma. The mobility and bioavailability of contaminants depend on soil texture, clay content, organic carbon content, surface area, charge density, and hydrological connectivity. The paper argues that the international community, including relevant UN organizations, should develop science-based guidelines for assessment, monitoring, remediation, and long-term restoration of contaminated soils and associated freshwater systems.