SOLACE – Understanding the links between SOiL pollution and CancEr
Soil pollution is a major environmental and health concern in Europe, with potential links to cancer. The SOLACE research project aimed to explore the complex relationships between soil properties, pollution, land use, and human health. This project, which is part of the Joint Research Centre's (JRC) strategic scientific development, provides a foundation for further research and policy development.
May 6, 2025
The 2025 SOLACE report presents a framework with four key objectives:
Understanding Soil Pollution in EU Soils: The SOLACE project investigates the link between soil pollution and cancer using statistical analyses and GIS, identifying industrial activities, urbanization, agriculture, and military operations as primary causes. It evaluates urban soil threats, assesses heavy metal concentrations using the LUCAS topsoil survey, and models arsenic contamination, highlighting high-risk areas.
Analysing Associations Between Soil Pollution and Cancer Outcomes: A comprehensive literature review uncovers gaps in knowledge about the soil pollution-cancer link. An ecological study across 26 EU countries reveals associations between regional lung cancer mortality rates and soil pollution with arsenic and cadmium, identifying the most polluted regions and correlating them with higher lung cancer rates.
Enhancing the Zero Pollution Action Plan Clean Soil Outlook: The project develops a model to evaluate the impact of soil pollutants on human health, incorporating crop and pollutant maps, and reviewing the current plan to identify pollutant pathways into the food chain.
Revising the Sewage Sludge Directive: This objective evaluates the impact of sewage sludge on soil and human health, using GIS to manage updated soil conditions and estimate risks from pollutant loads in the food chain.
The SOLACE project emphasizes the need for continued investment in research, monitoring, and policy development to address the complex issues surrounding soil pollution and its impact on human health. The achievements of the SOLACE project support the goals of the JRC by contributing to soil-related directives like the Soil Monitoring Law and the Zero Pollution Action Plan.
For a comprehensive look at these findings and recommendations, be sure to read the full report here.
Dynamics of PFAS transport in the unsaturated zone: Insight from long-term monitoring of an AFFF-contaminated site
PFAS in the unsaturated zone can remain a long-term source of groundwater contamination. A two-year Danish field study shows that precipitation and infiltration, soil composition and secondary PFAS reservoirs control mobilisation and vertical transport, with distinct behaviour for short- and long-chain PFAS.
Microplastics in groundwater: An updated systematic review of occurrence, hydrogeological controls, methodological challenges, and regulatory gaps
Microplastics are increasingly detected in groundwater, yet their occurrence, transport and environmental relevance remain difficult to assess. A systematic review of 82 field studies from 28 countries demonstrates their presence across a wide range of hydrogeological settings. Large differences in reported concentrations are strongly influenced by inconsistent sampling and analytical methods. Standardised monitoring is therefore essential for developing reliable groundwater quality criteria and future regulatory frameworks.
PFAS and the pollution trap: contested knowledge in environmental justice struggles
PFAS contamination is not only an environmental and health issue, but also a challenge of environmental justice and access to reliable knowledge. Based on 25 documented PFAS conflicts worldwide, this study examines how scientific uncertainty, chemical persistence and information asymmetries shape affected communities. The authors describe how the largely invisible nature of PFAS contamination can delay recognition and regulatory action. The study highlights the importance of combining scientific evidence with the experiences and knowledge of exposed communities.
PFAS remediation across Europe: costs and limited impacts
PFAS contamination is widespread across Europe, but removing these persistent chemicals from the environment is technically difficult and extremely costly. This study estimates the costs and potential impact of large-scale PFAS remediation across the EU. Even extensive treatment of contaminated soil, drinking water, wastewater, sludge and landfill leachate would remove only a small fraction of ongoing emissions. The results demonstrate that remediation must be combined with strong control of PFAS emissions at their source.
Accumulation of PFAS in wine from a contaminated area: perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA) as a molecular marker of PFAS groundwater contamination and implications of wine ingestion for human health
PFAS contamination of groundwater can also affect agricultural products and contribute to human exposure through food and beverages. This study investigated PFAS in wines produced within and around a major contaminated area in Northern Italy. Short-chain PFAS, particularly perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA), were frequently detected and linked to local groundwater contamination. The results suggest that wine may serve both as a bioindicator of groundwater contamination and as a potential dietary exposure pathway.
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