Land Pollution

Soil is considered contaminated when human-made chemicals are present or other alterations have been made to its natural environment. This is often caused by accidental releases of chemicals or the improper disposal of hazardous waste.

Canada has tens of thousands of contaminated sites - including at factories, mines, military bases, airports, laboratories, historic landfills, lighthouse stations, harbours and other locations across the country.

This section offers information on contaminated sites in Canada, Environment Canada's efforts to develop new remediation technologies, and work being conducted under the Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan.