Abstract: In light of the works on soil environment in China,three important issues worth exploring in the research of soil environmental quality in China are discussed,i.e.definition of soil contamination,revision of soil environmental quality standards,and legislation of soil contamination prevention law.In view of ambiguity of the definition of soil contamination,a definition is developed by the authors summarizing various principal views at home and abroad.It is suggested that a risk-based soil environmental quality standard system be set up in China,consists of three standards: a target value for soil environmental quality,guideline values for soil(for agricultural,residential and industrial soils,respectively) environmental quality,and a threshold value for soil pollution.Methodologies for setting up those values are suggested.Development of the soil contamination prevention law is an essential requirement for establishment of an effective soil environmental management system in China.Therefore,technical issues are discussed in formulating the soil contamination prevention law in China.

Key words: definition of soil contamination, environmental quality standard for soil, soil contamination prevention law