Up to
now, studies have been carried out to find the
total content of pollution in soil. These studies
have been criticised because they over-estimate
the real risks from the pollution. The Danish
EPA has two primary concerns for soil contamination,
the ground water and children. The new method
can test how the soil affects a child's health
if it is swallowed.
The method has been translated
into English by the UK EPA.
The Danish EPA test builds on
a Dutch method and it attempts to simulate the
physiological conditions in the human digestive
system, primarily for tar, nickel, lead and cadmium.
There have been experiments
in the US where pigs are fed contaminated soil
to see how much the pigs will absorb. Internationally,
work has been done to find a lab test replacement.
The Danish EPA has found an alternative test that
can be carried out in the laboratory. This saves
time and money.
The new method can simulate
children's systems for cadmium or lead, but so
far it has not been proven for tar and nickel
and cannot be used for these two substances. The
new method is also more expensive than traditional
methods. Therefore the Danish EPA recommends that
the method is only used in special situations,
for example where results from traditional methods
are close to limit values for remediation.
The new method will benefit
authorities and property owners as remediation
will only be necessary where there is a real risk.
