Abstract

This review considers the physical principles of soil related to movement of pollutants. Considering that most of the potential contaminants are water soluble or can be displaced by water flux, clearly the movement of these agents through the soil is associated to water movement. Therefore it is very important to know the soil characteristics that determine the organization of the porous system (texture, structure, organic matter content) which ultimately determine its diameter, continuity and connectivity to the microcosm of pollution. It is important to consider other soil properties, such as compaction and hydrophobicity that influence heterogeneity of the media and preferential flow zones. The work scale, the spatial variability and the nature of pollutant determine the strategies of study, prevention and control of the contaminants; this review shows a brief review of a laboratory method and reaction processes of pollutants in soil. Gas flows could not be left out of the analysis, especially with regard to the emission of greenhouse gases. Finally, the review leaves open to controversy the subject of the role of soil as an environmental filter.