Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 13
Introduction to Ecological Risk Assessment
Frank A. Swartjes, Anton M. Breure, and Michel Beaulieu
Abstract
The topsoil is the most biologically diverse part of the earth, har-
bouring more than one billion organisms per square meter. These soil organisms
live in extremely complex mutual interaction and, additionally, in similarly com-
plex interactions with their physical and chemical environment. Although not
always acknowledged by the general public, the soil ecosystems perform so-called
Ecosystem Services which are very important for society. Some of these Ecosystem
Services, described in detail in this chapter, are soil structuring, humus formation,
nutrient supply, cleaning function, disease control, and - only recently recognised -
energy-related processes. The conclusion to be drawn is that intensive commu-
nication about Ecological Risk Assessment is a necessity, both to guarantee that
appropriate ecological protection is on the political agenda and to justify protection
of the soil ecosystem and the costs involved for the tax payer. Soil contamination has
a big impact on the soil ecosystem. Ecological Risk Assessment is an extremely use-
ful process for supporting the decisions taken concerning contaminated sites. The
general target for Ecological Risk Assessment is Ecological Health (the preferred
state) rather than the Ecological Integrity (the unimpaired condition), and this ide-
ally at the level of a whole ecosystem. The important factors that relate to ecological
effects in soil will be introduced in this chapter, factors such as bioavailability, food
supply, sealing, resilience and recovery, adaptation, land use, secondary poisoning,
the food web approach, wildlife protection, scale and contaminant pattern, and spa-
tial planning. Finally, insight will be provided as to how Ecological Risk Assessment
actually works in practice.
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