Bringing Sustainable Management of Contaminated Sites into Practice – The Role of Policy and Regulations - Dealing with Contaminated Sites: From Theory Towards Practical Application - page 1020

The working group on Contamination (Van Camp et al. 2004 ), one of the techni-
cal working groups established under the EU Thematic Strategy for Soil Protection,
concluded that a qualitative description of the status of soil contamination in Europe
is possible and sufficient to serve as a starting point for policy making at the EU
level. The working group considered the following broad categories of land use:
1. Agricultural areas including areas with intensive forestry.
2. Natural areas including recreational areas and areas with extensive forestry.
3. Urban areas and infrastructures.
4. Soils under surface waters or sediments.
In Europe, the overall soil conditions with respect to contamination for each of
these land use categories are described below.
23.2.1.1 Agricultural Areas
Soils in agricultural areas are under pressure from atmospheric deposition (acidify-
ing substances, persistent organic pollutants (POPs), heavy metals), direct input of
pesticides, manure and other biowaste. These pressures may lead to the slow accu-
mulation of heavy metals and POPs in top soil and to accumulation of phosphate in
areas with intensive animal farming.
The use of land for agriculture is endangered in some problem areas, because of
safety of food crops. But in general, most agricultural soil is still fit for its use and
for future land use changes for what concerns contamination, although a transition
from eutrophic farmland to oligotrophic nature may take some time. It should be
realised that also a natural succession towards mature terrestrial ecosystems will
take its time.
23.2.1.2 Natural Areas
Soils in natural areas share the same pressures from atmospheric deposition as agri-
cultural soils. An additional concern in these areas is related to nitrogen deposition,
which may lead to eutrophication and acidification. Soils in natural areas may slowly
accumulate POPs and heavy metals but these soils are in general still in a reasonably
good shape. Hence the quality of soil would not be a barrier for a change in land use.
23.2.1.3 Urban Areas and Infrastructures
Urban soils and soils related to infrastructure (roads, railways, powerlines, also out-
side urban areas) are often contaminated. The most important soil contaminants are
polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), lead, copper and zinc from power lines and
masts, cadmium from transport, herbicides in the vicinity of roads and railways,
asbestos from demolished buildings, mineral oil and volatile organic compounds
(VOCs). These soils are often unfit for sensitive land uses like playgrounds for chil-
dren and vegetable gardens. Another risk category for human health is accumulation