Quick Search:    advanced search

GSW Home   GeoRef Home   My GSW Alerts   Contact GSW   About GSW   Journals List   Help

This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (3) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Weeks, J. M. Articles by Comber, S. D. W. Search for Related Content GeoRef GeoRef Citation

Ecological risk assessment of contaminated soil

¹ The Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Sciences, Lowestoft Laboratory, Pakefield Road, Lowestoft, Suffolk NR33 0HT, UK
² WRc-NSF Ltd., Henley Road, Medmenham, Marlow, Buckinghamshire SL7 2HD, UK

^* E-mail: j.m.weeks{at}cefas.co.uk

The basis for an ecological risk assessment based on meeting the needs of recent UK and EU legislation is described. The background to the framework and the legislative driver and relevant definitions of harm are provided, prior to an overview of the proposed ecological risk assessment process, which has been broken down into a Tiered approach. Tier 0 requires the establishment of a conceptual site model, where potential contaminant-pathway-receptor linkages are sought and, assuming they are identified, lead on to higher Tier assessments. Tier 1 relies largely on chemical analysis of soil contaminant levels and comparison with soil quality guideline values to assess the likelihood of harm. In some cases biological screening assays may also be undertaken within this Tier. Based on a weight of evidence approach, should data Tier 1 indicate harm or leave uncertainty, then Tier 2 biological testing is undertaken using assays relevant to the site of interest. In situations where harm is identified under Tier 2 then Tier 3 is reserved for establishing the extent of harm within the ecosystem. Finally the use of the ‘weight-of-evidence’ approach to generate scientifically robust conclusions regarding the harm (or potential for harm) within the ecosystem is briefly outlined. The framework discussed is currently being adopted by the UK Environment Agency, with implementation expected in 2005. The UK scheme compares favourably with comparative schemes operating in other countries possessing the merits of being iterative, tiered, flexible with agreed exit points subject to satisfying defined criteria and so speeding the decision-making process.

KEYWORDS: ERA, soil, risk assessment, toxicity testing

This article has been cited by other articles:

				K. Hudson-Edwards and M. E. Hodson Speciation and toxicity: introduction to a thematic set of papers arising out of a meeting held in London during 2004 Mineralogical Magazine, October 1, 2005; 69(5): 555 - 556. [Full Text] [PDF]