Behavior and fate of surfactants in soil

Although a growing number of investigations have dealt with selected aspects of the behavior of surfactants in soil and their effects on various soil properties, systematic approaches like those applied to pesticides or heavy metals are still rare. Considering that soil is exposed to a considerable quantity of surfactants, it would appear necessary to do more intensified research in this field. Based on a comprehensive review of the literature, the author briefly outlines the behavior and fate of surfactants in soil and presents a synopsis from the viewpoint of a pedologist. Even at low concentrations, surfactants seem to alter soil physics, soil chemistry, and soil biology significantly, whereby sorption processes play a dominant role. The report tries to integrate the most important research results in this field and to interpret them against the background of the complex structure of the soil system.