Advanced methods for soil and water remediation: introduction to the RemTech Europe 2023 special series

Many soil and water ecosystems are in poor condition. Contamination, among the numerous anthropogenic pressures on soils, causes degradation that may completely limit provision of ecosystem services. Healthy soils and waters are fundamental to sustaining life on Earth, so the development and application of sustainable and effective technologies for remediation of contaminated environments is a priority. Also important are robust contaminated site risk assessment and management processes, and the application of high-resolution techniques for pollutant characterization. In addition, the socioeconomic burden of contamination presents another highly complex challenge that requires attention. This special series features selected works from RemTech Europe 2023, including presentations regarding difficult-to-treat contaminants such as pesticides and perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and the application of tools for rapid assessment of methane emissions from contaminated soils (e.g., tunable diode laser adsorption spectroscopy mounted on drones). The series also includes a range of advanced approaches for in situ site remediation and practical site management, together with a demonstration of how soil degradation can reduce economic land value. Overall, advanced techniques for in situ remediation together with practical management of contaminated sites were presented in a hybrid attendance event that included combined face-to-face and online engagement participation at RemTech Europe. This fundamental role of RemTech Europe in knowledge exchange and sharing is crucial for promoting suitable and effective methodologies for the assessment and remediation of contaminated sites.