One of the tools for preventing soil pollution and thus protection of public health is the application of appropriate limit values. Policies on soil protection in relation to soil pollution include two basic strategies: a preventive approach and a remediation or cleanup approach. Preventive, multifunctional limit values are independent from present or future land use. Remediation limit values are connected with land use – these are functional limit values. Both types of limit values are applied in Hungary. Determination of soil limit values demands long-term field investigations, but to estimate allowable concentration for a given site reverse risk assessment methods are well applicable. A comparison and evaluation of the calculated data and the measurement results obtained at the use of the area is indispensable. Further investigations are needed for establishment of combined limit values when more polluting components are present simultaneously in the soil.

        Key words: soil, limit values, assessment of soil limit values