This paper explores the proposition that we are living in an era marked by unprecedented quantities and exotic types of human waste and environmental contamination by examining the impact of anthropogenic activity on the Earth’s epiderm. Specifically, the paper introduces anthrosols and technosols as critical markers of unfettered human activity as recorded in the terrestrial stratigraphic signature of soils and sediments adversely impacted by municipal, agricultural, industrial and maritime activities. The paper presents examples of the sources and fates of some of the most worrisome contaminants, many of them persistent organic pollutants, including common heavy metals-metalloids and hydrocarbons but also instances of more unfamiliar drug residues and antibiotic resistant genes, at Australia’s 160,000 contaminated sites.Consideration is given to how anthropogenic elements and compounds in soil may bioaccumulate and bioconcentrate in animals, and how they can subsequently be consumed to the detriment of human health. Among the 75,000 identified contaminants in Australian soils are tributyltin, which has a half-life of at least 10 years and is one of the most toxic chemicals introduced into the environment by man, and uranium-contaminated mine tailings, which require constant and careful management for up to 75,000 years if their polluting effects are to be minimized. The author concludes that anthrosols and technosols provide evidence of the Anthropocene in Australia.

The remediation of wood preservative–contaminated sites is an important issue due to the carcinogenic nature of some contaminants derived from wood preservatives (e.g., Cr⁺⁶, arsenate, and pentachlorophenol). This study evaluated the effects of fertilizer application on remediation potential of co-plantings of Salix interior Rowlee. (Salix) and Festuca arundinacea Schreb. (Festuca) in a wood preservative–spiked technosol while considering the potential contaminant and nutrient leaching. Two levels of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) fertilizers, NaNO₃ and NaH₂PO₄ (25 and 75 mg L⁻¹), were applied to achieve three N:P ratios, i.e., 3:1 (75:25), 1:3 (25:75), and 1:1 (25:25), that were compared with a control treatment (0:0 N:P) in a mesocosm experiment. Roots of the plant supplied with 1:1 and 1:3 N:P had more than double arsenic (As) and copper (Cu) amounts (i.e., biomass × concentration) compared to the control ones. Highest As and Cu amounts in shoots were found for Salix stems and Festuca leaves in the 1:3 and 1:1 N:P treatments, respectively. Arsenic and P leaching was high in mesocosms supplied with 1:3 N:P. Contamination and nutrient leaching in the 1:1 N:P treatment did not differ from the control, except for Cu. In conclusion, 1:1 N:P treatment yielded the best results in terms of metal(loid) uptake and contaminant and nutrient leaching. In 1:1 N:P treatment, the maximum values of percent As, Cr, and Cu in Salix and Festuca aboveground were 0.18%, 0.024%, and 1.20% and 0.89%, 0.08%, and 1.78%, respectively.

Soil pollution is a worldwide issue and has a strong impact on ecosystems. Metal(loid)s have toxic effects on plants and affect various plant life traits. That is why metal(loid) polluted soils need to be remediated. As a remediation solution, phytoremediation, which uses plants to reduce the toxicity and risk of polluted soils, has been proposed. Moreover, flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) has been suggested as a potential phytoremediation plant, due to its antioxidant systems, which can lower the production of reactive oxygen species and can also chelate metal(loid)s. However, the high metal(loid) toxicity associated with the low fertility of the polluted soils render vegetation difficult to establish. Therefore, amendments, such as biochar, need to be applied to improve soil conditions and immobilize metal(loid)s. Here, we analyzed the growth parameters and oxidative stress biomarkers (ROS production, membrane lipid peroxidation, protein carbonylation and 8-oxoGuanine formation) of five different flax cultivars when grown on a real contaminated soil condition, and in the presence of a biochar amendment. Significant correlations were observed between plant growth, tolerance to oxidative stress, and reprogramming of phytochemical accumulation. A clear genotype-dependent response to metal(loid) stress was observed. It was demonstrated that some phenylpropanoids such as benzoic acid, caffeic acid, lariciresinol, and kaempferol played a key role in the tolerance to the metal(loid)-induced oxidative stress. According to these results, it appeared that some flax genotypes, i.e., Angora and Baikal, could be well adapted for the phytoremediation of metal(loid) polluted soils as a consequence of their adaptation to oxidative stress.

Combustion of fossil fuels including coal is one of the sources of mercury pollution. Combustion waste from fly ash disposal sites poses a problem for the environment and constitutes a potential source of Hg, thus phytostabilisation is a crucial goal in the mitigation of fossil fuel impact. The paper presents mercury (Hg) concentration in technosols from combustion waste and in individual biomass components (fine roots, bark, stem wood and leaves) of alder species (black, gray and green alder) introduced as part of a long-term experiment to develop a method of phytostabilisation and afforestation of a lignite combustion disposal site. Mercury content in the combustion waste was elevated compared to the data for natural soils from uncontaminated forest areas, however, it did not exceed the amounts considered to be toxic. Hg content in technosols was related to clay and silt fraction content and phosphorus content. Mercury in the alder biomass accumulated mainly in the underground part, especially in the fine roots and displayed a positive correlation with acid and alkaline phosphatase and sulfur content, with no differences in the accumulation of Hg between the alder species. The obtained results indicate that the fine roots are the frontier of Hg biosorption in developed alder systems on combustion waste disposal sites.

In the study, we have analysed the impact of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr) and copper (Cu) on fine root biomass and the associated level of bioacumulation heavy metals in fine roots under alder plantings (Alnus incana, A. glutinosa and A. viridis) growing on technosols developed from combustion wastes and extremely poor quaternary sands excavated by sand mining. The control sites were located in natural habitats in the Bieszczady Mountains within the natural range of the occurrence of the investigated alder species. Results showed that the bioaccumulation index of heavy metals in the alder roots depended on technosol properties, in particular, pH and texture, and, to a lesser extent, on the total content of heavy metals in soil. Additionally, it was found that in some concentration ranges, Pb and Cr had a stimulating effect on the growth of fine roots.

Phytoremediation of metal(loid)s by conifers is not widely studied, although conifers may be interesting, particularly in temperate-cold areas and/or on acidic soils. In this study, seeds of Douglas fir were sown in greenhouse and cultivated for 3 months on two Technosols highly contaminated with different concentrations of Pb, As and Sb and collected in two French old former mines located in massif Central or close to it: a mine of gold at La Petite Faye and a mine of lead and silver at Pontgibaud. Two amendments, a nutrient solution (NS) and composted sewage sludge (CSS), were tested in order to stimulate Douglas fir growth and to reduce the metal(loid)s mobility and phytoavailability. The speciation determined by sequential extractions as well as mineralogy highlight different geochemical behaviours of Pb, As and Sb as a function of the Technosol. In all cases, CSS amendments significantly reduced Pb phytoavailability as well as the uptake and translocation of Pb and As. Moreover, CSS stimulated the growth of Douglas firs highlighting that this amendment could be a good strategy for a better phytostabilisation of these metal(loid)s.

This study aims to understand the influence of salinity and labile organic matter removal on the fate and behavior of metals in coastal technosols. Two technosol cores were collected near the Lebanese shore. The cores were sectioned into layers; each layer was characterized for pH, salinity, electric conductivity, labile and total organic matter, grain size, and total and oxalate-extractable metals. Consequently, two saline solutions were used in desorption experiments to understand the role of ionic strength and labile organic matter on metal release. The results showed that the technosol layers were highly heterogeneous; most layers were enriched with Fe, Zn, Pb, and Cu. The mineralogical investigations showed that the metals, notably Fe, were not present as crystalline minerals, rather big percentages of the metals were found in amorphous or poorly crystalline phases. Desorption experiment showed that Mg release was dependent on salinity and organic matter in both technosols, while Pb release was dependent on both factors only in one. Additionally, Zn and Cu were associated to organic matter, and their release was conditioned by the removal of labile organic matter; iron was primarily found as amorphous or poorly crystalline phases, and salinity had a major role in its release. The role of ionic strength and labile organic matter removal on the behavior of metals in technosols was demonstrated. Finally, understanding metal dynamics between the solid and liquid compartments in technosols, especially where salt deposition occurs, is important to reduce unwanted metal leaching to groundwater or seawater and transfer to biota.

Assisted phytoremediation using amendments is a cost-effective and environmentally friendly approach to control soil pollution. However, amendment type, combination and application rate can influence process effectiveness. In the present study, the effect of the association of red mud and carbon-based amendments on the physicochemical properties of a former mine soil as well as the growth and metal(loid) uptake of Trifolium repens was investigated. For this purpose, a mesocosm experiment was set up using a former mine technosol highly contaminated by As and Pb, amended with red mud combined with different carbon-based amendments, i.e., bamboo biochar, oak biochar, steam activated carbon and acidic activated carbon, and sown with Trifolium repens. The final goal was to determine which amendment combination allows soil metal(loid) immobilization and an efficient plant growth. Results showed that all the four different treatments improved soil characteristics by increasing pH and electrical conductivity and reducing redox potential. All the treatments were also effective in reducing soil pore water lead concentrations. Among the four treatments, the addition of red mud and acidic activated carbon in the soil showed better results regarding Trifolium repens growth. Finally, when grown on the soil amended with red mud and acidic activated carbon, Trifolium repens presented mainly a metal(loid) storage in roots, making it a right candidate for the establishment of a vegetation cover.

Spontaneous colonization of mine tailing dams by plants is a potential tool for phytostabilization of such reservoirs. However, the physical and chemical properties of each mine tailings deposit determine the success of natural plant establishment. The plant Baccharis linearis is the main native nanophanerophyte species (evergreen sclerophyllous shrub) that naturally colonizes abandoned copper tailings dams in arid to semiarid north-central Chile. This study compare growth of B. linearis against the physical and chemical properties of a Technosol derived from copper mine tailings. Five sites inside the deposit were selected based on B. linearis vegetation density (VD), at two soil sampling depths under the canopy of adult individuals. Physical and chemical properties of tailings samples and nutrient concentrations in tailings and plants were each determined. Some morphological features of the plants (roots and aerial parts) were also quantified. There were significant differences in soil available water capacity (AW) and relative density (Rd) at different VD. Sites with low AW and high Rd had lower nutrient concentrations and higher Zn content in tailings, decreased infection by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, and increased fine root abundance and root hair length in individual plants. In contrast, higher AW, which was positively correlated with fine particles and organic matter content, had a positive effect on vegetation coverage, increased N and P contents in tailings, and increased N contents in leaf tissues, even when available N and P levels in tailings were low. Multiple constraints, such as low AW, N, P, and B contents and high Zn concentrations in the tailings restricted vegetation coverage, but no phenotypic differences were observed between individuals. Thus, in order to promote dense coverage by B. linearis, water retention in these tailings must be improved by increasing colloidal particles (organic and/or inorganic) contents, which have a positive effect on colonization by this species.

Studied technosols represent a unique system of a 50-year-old environmental burden after dam failure of coal-ash pond. The released ashes rich in arsenic with a thickness of 1–2 m were covered by a 40-cm thick layer of soil. Long-term exposure and selection pressure of elevated concentrations of arsenic (a range of 93–634 μg/g) induced the formation of the specific adapted autochthonous microorganisms. The phylum Proteobacteria was identified as a dominant phylum in the soils and represented only by one class—Gammaproteobacteria with six species. The species of phylum Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes and Actinobacteria were also identified. Thirty-three species of identified autochthonous microscopic fungi belong to 18 genera with the most abundant Mortierella alpina (Zygomycota). The most frequent identified mycobiota belongs to genera Penicillium, Aspergillus, Trichoderma and Alternaria. The isolates of Alternaria triticina, Bionectria ochroleuca, Chrysosporium queenslandicum, Exophiala psychrophila, Metarhizium robertsii, Trichoderma rossicum and Phlebia acerina were identified for the first time in Slovakia. Despite the stimulation of autochthonous community by nutrient medium and augmentation by native species, As leachability was relatively low—on average 5.63 wt.%, 9.23 wt.% and 17.04 wt.% of the total As for inoculated Pseudomonas chlororaphis ZK-1, Pseudomonas putida ZK-5 and Aspergillus niger, respectively. The highest As leachability was achieved through biostimulation of autochthonous microbiota using liquid SAB medium (34.73 wt.% of total As content). Additionally, microbial activity was efficient in the biovolatilization of As from soils (∼70 wt.% of the total As volatilized). It appears that bioremediation using microorganisms represents one of the possible ways of As removal from soils containing coal-combustion ashes with elevated concentrations of As.