The 16th World Congress of Soil Science was devoted to the relations of soi
ls with present and former human activities. The dynamic of trace elements
(As, Cd, Cu, Hg, Nr; Pb, Se, Zn...) in soil-water-plant systems was a main
subject of the Congress. Forest, agricultural, urban and industrial soils a
re, at different levels, receptacles for pollutants. Their accumulation can
alter the functioning of the ecosystems and treath human health.