Contaminants in the soil can harm plants when they take up the contamination through their roots. Ingesting, inhaling, or touching contaminated soil, as well as eating plants or animals that have accumulated soil contaminants can adversely impact the health of humans and animals.

Moldova is located in Eastern Europe, northeast of Romania, comprising of 33,843 sq km. It has a population of 4,455,421 (2005). Major environmental concerns are: heavy use of agricultural chemicals, including banned pesticides such as DDT, has contaminated soil and groundwater; extensive soil erosion from poor farming methods.