Overview of Advances and a Look Ahead in Soil Remediation Technology Research in China.

Here we present an overview of the soil contamination problems in China nowadays and discuss the up-to-date research advances in protection, restoration, and remediation technologies. It is stated that soil contamination in China becomes increasingly severe, more widespread, and involves greater number of pollutants. There have emerged numerous contaminated sites with complex pollution patterns and high environmental risks. During last decade, a wide range of technologies including bioremediation, physical/chemical remediation, and integrated approaches have been introduced and developed in China to clean up the contaminated sites. Based on the review of the up-to-date progress in the research and development of soil remediation technologies in China, we identify the following areas to be focused on in the future: green and environment-friendly bioremediation, combined or hybride remediation approaches, in situ remediation, environment functional materials, site remediation equipments, decision support system and post-remediation assessment. The successful remediation of contaminated agricultural farmlands in China requires continuous research to develop widely usable, safe, cost-effective technologies (e.g., in situ bioremediation and physical/chemical stabilization technologies). For heavily polluted industrial site, there is great demand for safe, land reusable, site-specific physical/chemical and engineering remediation technologies. Phytostabilization and eco-engineering remediation technologies deserve further research and development for controlling soil erosion and pollutant release at mining areas. In addition to practical technologies, there also have urgent needs for national guidelines, standards and management policies for soil remediation.