EN
Soil, as the one of nonrenewable elements of the environment, should be especially protected from contamination. The most important soil pollutants, besides hydrocarbons and pesticide residues, are the heavy metals. The level of soil contamination is assessed by comparing current concentration of pollutants with the suitable limits called the „threshold values". These values depend on several factors such as the type of land utilization, physical and chemical soil properties and analytical method of pollutant determination. This paper presents the current criteria of soil contamination assessment applied in the Netherlands, United Kingdom, Germany, Sweden, France and Poland. The authors briefly discuss soil protection policy in particular countries and focus on used threshold values.