Soil contamination and mitigation: a bibliographic analysis of the main classes in Brazil

Soil is an essential natural resource for the functioning of the terrestrial ecosystem, composed of liquid, gaseous, and solid fractions, responsible for physical-chemical and biological processes such as nutrient cycling and fixation, gas exchange, pollutant degradation, and element retention. However, anthropogenic activities and natural processes can compromise the stability and environmental quality of this resource. The objective of this study was to relate activities that intensify terrestrial impacts to the types, compositions, and forms of soil contaminants, as well as to indicate mitigation strategies. A deductive method was adopted, with a qualitative approach, basic nature, and descriptive procedure. The data were secondary, obtained through bibliographic research in academic materials, organized in a systematic way. The results show that contaminants can be generated and transported naturally by soil fractions, but are intensified by anthropogenic actions. Substances such as agrochemicals, heavy metals, residual fertilizers, explosives, parasites, solid waste, and inadequate irrigation practices promote contamination through infiltration, leaching, or volatilization, affecting surface and groundwater and the food chain. The consequences include yield losses, crop and biota poisoning, bioaccumulation of metals, disease spread, and soil infertility. It is concluded that techniques such as phytoremediation, bioremediation, chemical correction, soil mapping, and proper waste management are fundamental, reinforcing the need for sustainable management policies and continuous monitoring to ensure soil conservation and environmental quality.