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On September 22, 2025, the Chinese Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) issued the List of Toxic and Hazardous Soil Pollutants Subject to Priority Control (1st Batch) (hereinafter referred to as the List). It includes 18 types of chemicals (see table below).
No. | Pollutant Name |
1 | Cadmium and cadmium compounds |
2 | Chromium and chromium compounds |
3 | Mercury and mercury compounds |
4 | Lead and lead compounds |
5 | Arsenic and arsenic compounds |
6 | Cyanide* *It refers to hydrocyanic acid, all simple cyanides (mostly those of alkali metals and alkaline earth metals), and zinc cyanide complexes, excluding iron cyanides, ferrous cyanides, copper cyanides, nickel cyanides, and cobalt cyanides. |
7 | 1,1-Dichloroethylene |
8 | 1,2-Dichloropropane |
9 | Benzene |
10 | Dichloromethane |
11 | Toluene |
12 | Trichloromethane |
13 | Trichloroethylene |
14 | Tetrachloroethylene |
15 | 2,4-Dinitrotoluene |
16 | Benzo[a]pyrene |
17 | Benzo[b]fluoranthene |
18 | Benzo[k]fluoranthene |
These 18 chemicals are also in the List of Toxic and Hazardous Water Pollutants (1st Batch and 2nd Batch). They were screened out based on the Catalogue of Priority Control Chemicals (1st Batch and 2nd Batch). They meet all the following conditions:
Chemicals that are detectable in soil or can exist in soil for a long time.
Chemicals that are subject to national and local standards for soil pollution risk control, and for which soil monitoring methods are already available.
Chemicals that have relevant emission limit standards and exceed the limits in detailed investigations of soil pollution status.
China MEE is making efforts to prevent environmental risks and protect public health, contributing to the ongoing improvements in China’s ecosystem. According to the Law on Soil Pollution Prevention, enterprises involving these 18 chemicals in 271 industries (e.g., mining, manufacturing, electricity, heat, gas and water production and supply, etc.) should comply with relevant measures regarding restrictions and alternatives. Moreover, the authorities at the local level should strengthen the source control and incorporate these key soil pollutants into the scope of toxic and hazardous substances that should be considered when determining key soil pollution supervision units.
