Title: Ecological risk assessment of contaminated soil 
Resource Type: document --> technical publication --> journal article 
Country: United Kingdom 
Year: 2005 
Availability: Mineralogical Magazine; October 2005; v. 69; no. 5; p. 601-613 
Author 1/Producer: Weeks, J M 
Other Authors/Producers: Comber, S D W 
Author / Producer Type: University research group / research institute 
Publisher: The Mineralogical Society of Great Britain and Ireland 
Publisher City: 12 Baylis Mews, Amyand Park Road, Twickenham, Middlesex,TW1 3HQ, UK 
ISSN: 0026-461X 
Article Weblink (=direct link): http://minmag.geoscienceworld.org/cgi/content/abstract/69/5/ ...  
Format (e.g. PDF): HTML 
EUGRIS Keyword(s): Contaminated land-->Risk assessment-->Risk assessment overview
Contaminated land-->Risk assessment-->Tools and procedures
Contaminated land-->Site investigation-->Methods
Contaminated land-->Site investigation-->Site description
Contaminated land-->Site investigation-->Site investigation overview
Contaminated land-->Soil and groundwater processes-->Ecotoxicology
Contaminated land-->Soil and groundwater processes-->Soil and groundwater processes overview
Soil-->Soil quality
 
Short description: An ecological risk assessment based on the needs of recent UK and EU legislation is described. The framework has been adopted by the UK Environment Agency, with implementation expected in 2005. The UK scheme compares favourably with schemes in other countries, being iterative, tiered and flexible, with agreed exit points subject to satisfying defined criteria. 
Long description: The proposed assessment has a tiered approach. The first tier establishes a conceptual site model, where potential source-pathway-receptor linkages are sought and, where identified, lead to the next tier of assessment. This relies largely on a comparison of chemical analysis of soil contaminant levels with soil quality guideline values to assess harm. In some cases biological assessments may also be undertaken. Where harm is identified, a third tier establishes the extent of harm within the ecosystem. Finally, scientifically robust conclusions on the potential for harm within the ecosystem are generated using a ‘weight-of-evidence’ approach. 
Submitted By: Dr Antony Chapman WhoDoesWhat?      Last update: 10/05/2007

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