Does soil degradation have an impact on health?
Food and feed crops may uptake soil contaminants. This may affect the quality of products which circulate within the internal market and, in due course, the human and animal health in the EU. Landslides can also lead to casualties. What is the extent of the problem? Over the last few decades, there has been a significant increase in soil degradation processes. These processes are likely to further accelerate if nothing is done to protect soil. Erosion: 115 million ha (12% of Europes total land area) are affected by water erosion and 42 million ha are affected by wind erosion, 2% of which are severely affected. Organic matter decline: Around 45% of soils in Europe have low or very low organic matter content (0-2% organic carbon) and 45% have a medium content (2-6% organic carbon). Organic matter decline is an issue in particular in Southern Europe but parts of France, the United Kingdom, Germany, The Netherlands and Sweden are also concerned. Compaction: estimates of risk areas vary bet
