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(M/MF178) Development of soil quality criteria for the characterisation of contaminated and non-contaminated sites for the ecosystems protection. Vega, M.M. 1, Fernandez, M.D.1, Tarazona, J.V.1, 1 ABSTRACT- This approach propose the development of soil quality criteria by deriving values according to the expected use of the land, and using toxicological and chemical characterisations of both, soils and leacheates. The approach propose the following uses, receptors and the levels of protection: a) for industrial sites, it is required the protection of some specific functions of soil systems and the protection of both, surface and ground waters; b) for urban/residential sites, it is required the protection of the function and the structure of soil systems, the whole protection of both, surface and ground waters and the protection of small terrestrial vertebrates from secondary poisonings and; c) for sites that can support any use it is required the complete protection for soil systems, the whole protection of both, superficial and ground waters and the protection of terrestrial vertebrates from bioaccumulation and biomagnification processes. Reference values are estimated for each protection goal (soil, water and vertebrates) allowing, on a case-by-case basis, the assessment of the relevance of each receptor for each site. This approach would classify the sites in contaminated (if toxicity is observed), non-contaminated (if criteria are fulfilled) and potentially contaminated (if criteria are not fulfilled but toxicity is not observed). Further specific cost-effective refinements would be needed for those potentially contaminated sites by using risk assessment protocols. Risk assessment would require the characterisation of the receptors and exposure routes, developing a conceptual model and an analysis plant for each site. Funded by a research contract from DGCEA, Ministry of the Environment. Key words: soil quality criteria, toxicity tests, site specific risk assessment, n/a |
