The natural soil environment can become contaminated by agricultural chemicals, improper disposal of waste, mining, fertilization application, oil and fuel dumping, ruptured underground storage tanks or leaching waste from landfills. Soil can be polluted by petroleum hydrocarbons, pesticides, lead and other heavy metals. 

Environmental remediation refers to reducing radiation exposure from groundwater, surface water or contaminated soil. This type of remediation does more than eliminate radiation sources — it protects people and the environment from the harmful effects of exposure to radiation. Environmental remediation is divided into the following two categories.