Head Office Press Office
- 7-Jun-2007 - Environment Agency reveals
findings of major UK soil survey
A major survey into contaminant levels
in soil and grass in the UK has found that
concentrations of dioxins, one of the most
toxic and persistent group of contaminants,
have fallen by about 70% since the late
1980s when restrictions on emissions from
major industries were introduced.
The Environment Agency today released the
results of the UK Soil and Herbage Survey
(UKSHS), which analysed soil and vegetation
from 122 rural, 28 urban and 50 industrial
sites. The survey, also co-funded by Defra,
SEPA, Sniffer, the Welsh Assembly Government,
the Department of the Environment Northern
Ireland, and the Food Standards Agencies
of England and Scotland, tested for concentrations
of dioxins, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs),
polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)
and a range of metals across the UK.
Declan Barraclough, Geosystems Science
Manager at the Environment Agency, said
some of the organic contaminants studied
in the UKSHS could take years or even decades
to break down in soil, and for many pollutants,
the survey provided the first comprehensive
picture of their concentrations across the
UK.
"Soil is often taken for granted -
out of sight, out of mind. It is all too
easy to forget that it grows our food, stores
and filters much of our water and air, and
provides a platform for buildings and roads.
But globally, soils are under increasing
pressure from rising populations, the intensification
of agriculture and contamination,"
Dr Barraclough said.
"Managing the risks to humans and
the wider environment posed by soil contamination
involves first deciding what level of contamination
poses an unacceptable risk, and second,
monitoring soil to make sure that such levels
are not reached. The UK Soil and Herbage
Survey is a significant contribution to
the second of these requirements, providing
a snapshot of current contaminant levels
on a national scale."
Dr Barraclough said dioxins are the unwanted
by-product of any combustion process involving
organic material with trace amounts of chlorine.
Concentrations in soil rose between 1850
and 1985, tracking the rise in industrial
activity.
"Dioxin concentrations in soils from
urban and industrial locations are still
two to three times those in rural areas.
This is because dioxins are persistent in
soil and act as a historical marker, reflecting
emissions from industrial sites over the
last 10-30 years.
"In contrast, herbage is constantly
growing and dioxins in plants more closely
reflect current conditions. Our results
show dioxin concentrations in vegetation
at rural sites are similar to industrial
and urban areas. As a result, these findings
suggest that, in many cases, major industrial
sites are no longer the main factor determining
dioxin concentrations in their immediate
area because of better regulation, legislation
and business practices."
The survey also found urban and industrial
areas are still sources of PCBs, with concentrations
about double those in rural areas. Although
PCB production was banned in many countries
in the 1970s and their use closely regulated,
PCBs are still a major environmental problem
worldwide. They can cause serious environmental
damage because they are toxic, don't easily
break down and can accumulate in the tissues
of fish, birds and mammals.
The survey also found:
That PAHs show the largest urban and industrial
footprint of all the chemicals studied,
with concentrations up to seven times higher
than in rural areas. Road traffic and domestic
fuel combustion may now be the main sources
of PAHs in urban and industrial areas
For all the metals studied, and arsenic,
concentrations are higher in industrial
soils compared to rural sites, reflecting
significant industrial activity in recent
times. Copper, lead, mercury, nickel, tin
and zinc are higher in urban soils compared
to rural sites
Differences between England, Scotland,
Wales and Northern Ireland. Some reflect
the complex geology of the British Isles.
For example, high levels of titanium in
soils from Scotland and Northern Ireland
reflect the occurrence of titanium-rich
basaltic rocks in these areas, rather than
man-made pollution.
Dr Barraclough said the survey results
would help inform future Government policy
on contaminant sources and how they are
controlled and regulated, and also provide
a baseline for assessing future local surveys
and national trends.
"The survey was not designed to compare
pollutant levels in, for example, Leeds
with Manchester - the number of samples
taken from each site does not support such
comparisons. It is primarily a national
survey against which intensive local surveys
and future surveys can be assessed,"
Dr Barraclough said.
"Unchecked, soil contamination can
reach levels which pose risk to humans and
the wider environment. This work presents
a clear national picture and will be invaluable
in finding better ways of protecting and
managing soils."
The survey determined the concentrations
of 12 metals and arsenic, 22 PAHs, 26 PCBs
and 17 dioxins in soil and herbage.
The survey was carried out by the Environment
Agency Science Department, and the summary
report and nine detailed reports from the
survey are available on the Environment
Agency's website.
+ More
Environment Agency praises law-abiding
anglers
Catherine Burbage - 7-Jun-2007 - The Environment
Agency has praised the vast majority of
anglers in Lincolnshire and East Anglia
who make sure they have a valid rod licence
before going fishing.
As part of a nationally co-ordinated blitz,
checks in Lincolnshire and East Anglia were
carried out over the May Bank holiday on
269 waters with 1886 anglers checked. Of
those checked, just less than 4% were found
to be committing an offence, generally fishing
without a valid rod licence. This compares
with a national figure of almost 6%.
Principal Officer for Fisheries Nigel Tomlinson
was really pleased with the results, "It's
great to see that once again the vast majority
of anglers in this region behave responsibly
and make sure they have a rod licence when
they go fishing. All the licence money is
put back directly into fisheries so we are
able to continue improving fishing opportunities
in this region.'
"We appreciate this support and want
to encourage our law-abiding anglers further
- by continuing to crack down on the minority
of individuals who cheat their sport and
fellow anglers through licence dodging."
Anglers must be able to produce their licence
when requested by an Agency bailiff or other
authorised person. Licences must be carried
at all times when fishing and anglers should
check and follow Fisheries Byelaws. A prosecution
can result in a fine of up to £2,500.
Nigel concluded by saying, "We'll
be carrying out further crackdowns through
the summer months but we never announce
when or where. Always carry a valid rod
licence with you and enjoy a great summer
of fishing!"
Income from the sale of rod licences is
used by the Environment Agency to fund vital
work to maintain healthy fisheries. These
include the National Fisheries Project Programme
which invests approximately £2 million
per annum into local fisheries projects,
designed to improve angling opportunities
for anglers of all abilities nationwide.
