Introduction to Contaminated Site Management - Dealing with Contaminated Sites: From Theory Towards Practical Application - page 82

UK and Wales 10 and the Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO) 11 in
Flanders, Belgium.
1.11 Scope of the Topic
To sum up the previous sections, this topic focuses on the possibilities for inves-
tigating whether 'there is a problem' with potentially contaminated sites (Risk
Assessment) and, if so, how to deal with this situation (Risk Management). The
scope of the topic is limited to the extent of that part of the earth's crust that impacts
human health and the ecosystem, that is, the water-saturated upper soil layer and
the groundwater that is within human reach. The topic is primarily focused on
procedures for dealing with terrestrial contaminated sites, not on surface water or
sediments.
The topic deals with contaminated sites, either diffusely contaminated or locally
contaminated (although since most chapters deal with tools that can be used for
any type of contaminated site, this distinction is not always relevant). Physical
quality of the soil is not within the scope of the topic. Also the risks of radioac-
tive contaminants, endocrine disruptors, microbial contaminants and nanoparticles
in soil or groundwater are not included in this topic, since they are of a different
nature and require a different kind of Risk Assessment. This topic does not focus
primarily on agricultural practices, therefore, no further attention is given to (the
consequences of) (macro) nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and sulphur).
However, Risk Assessment tools are described that can be used to assess the risk for
Food Safety.
Since in most countries separate legislation exists for the assessment and control
of occupational risks, this topic does not implicitly focus on the risks of humans that
are exposed to soil contaminants during working activities such as digging or other
ground construction works. Many of the tools for Human Health Risk Assessment
that are described in this topic, however, could in principle be used for this purpose.
10 The Environment Agency (EA) is an executive non-departmental public body responsible to the
Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and an Assembly-Sponsored Public
Body responsible to the National Assembly for Wales. Their principal aims are to protect and
improve the environment, and to promote sustainable development. The EA is going through
changing times, both in terms of the physical and business environments. Their new strategy builds
on the improvements they have delivered in recent years, but it provides a new framework to guide
our work to protect and improve the environment of England and Wales in the challenging climate
of the next 5 years ( www.environment-agency.gov.uk ).
11 The Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO ) has, in its 18 years of existence,
achieved the status of being a key player in the European world of research and development. In the
research domains of environment, energy, materials and remote sensing, VITO's strength has been
its pursuit of applied and practical research and development which is relevant for industry and
public authorities. VITO expresses its 'vision on technology' through the recommendations given
to clients vis-à-vis technological developments, as well as in the way in which the VITO experts
develop new technology and support companies with their innovation ( http://www.vito.be ).