# Ecotoxicological Assessment of Soils Reclaimed with Waste
## 1 Introduction  
In recent decades, there has been a growing interest in the sustainable management of natural resources and the remediation of degraded areas, including soils contaminated by industrial activity. This is related to a new trend in the global economy, the \"farm to fork\" strategy, which follows the \"zero waste\" principle, aiming to minimize waste [1]. One of the increasingly common solutions is the use of industrial, municipal, or organic wastes as remediation materials. Despite their potential to improve the physicochemical properties of soils, the question of environmental safety of such an approach remains important. Ecotoxicology, as an interdisciplinary field that examines the impact of pollutants on organisms and ecosystems, provides tools for assessing the potential effects of using waste in remediation and its impact on the quality of plants and food [2]. Soil remediation is one of the most important processes in environmental resource management aimed at restoring the usability of degraded areas. Due to the growing pressure to utilize waste, it is increasingly being used as a supporting material for remediation. In particular, industrial wastes such as ash, sewage sludge or waste materials from the mineral industryare used in soil improvement processes, increasing the soil's capacity to support plant and microbiological life. However, despite the potential benefits associated with recycling and waste utilization, concerns exist about their environmental impact, particularly on soil ecosystems. One of the key issues that has not yet been fully explored is the toxicity of soils remediated with waste, particularly for plants and microorganisms, which are the basis of soil health. Contaminants introduced into soil can originate from various sources and include heavy metals, chemicals, and pathogenic microorganisms. Therefore, the assessment of the ecotoxicity of soils subjected to waste remediation becomes a key element in studying the impact of such practices on the environment and plants used in food production [3]. Soil plays a key role in storing and filtering water and nutrients, transforming chemical compounds, producing biomass, and storing carbon [4]. In addition, soil microorganisms play a key role in both supplying nutrients to plants and in bioremediation of contaminated soils [5]. Microbiological activity also contributes to soil aggregation and increases water capacity, which is essential for plant growth [6]. Microorganisms synthesize enzymes that facilitate nutrient cycling and improve soil fertility [6; 7]. Protection of these functions is crucial for maintaining soil fertility and overall ecosystem health. Soil contamination poses a serious threat to the biodiversity of soil organisms, which are crucial for maintaining the ecological balance of this environment. Ecotoxicology helps assess the risks associated with various contaminants, including pesticides, pharmaceuticals, metals, and industrial residues [8; 9; 10]. Additionally, the use of bioindicators and biotests is crucial for assessing the ecotoxicological impact of contaminants on soil organisms. These tools help in understanding the bioavailability and toxicity of contaminants [4; 11]. Variability in soil properties, such as pH, organic matter content, and cation exchange capacity, can significantly affect the toxicity of contaminants [12; 13; 14]. The presented research contributes to this trend, adding new value by applying an integrated approach to assessing the impact of waste on indicator plants and residual toxicity in soil. These results can serve as a benchmark for remediation practices in other regions with similar industrial profiles, where it is necessary to reconcile effective waste management with soil environmental protection. Remediation of soils degraded by industrial and municipal waste is becoming an increasingly important issue in the context of sustainable development and the circular economy (CE).