Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Table 9.1. Soil screening values derived for use in the ERA for
contaminated land
Substance
Soil screening
value (mg kg
-1
)
0.15
a
Benzo(a)pyrene
1.15 (0.09)
b
Cadmium
Chromium
21.1
88.4 (57.8)
c
Copper
Lead
167.9
Mercury
0.06
Nickel
Pentachlorobenzene
0.029
0.6
a
Pentachlorophenol
0.01
a
Tetrachloroethene
0.3
a
Toluene
90.1 (72.5)
c
Zinc
Notes:
a
These SSVs are site specific, for a soil of pH 6.5, organic matter of 2% and
clay content of 10%. They will change according to the site soil conditions.
b
The second SSV for cadmium should be used where bioaccumulation is likely.
c
These SSVs for soil are site specific. Values in brackets should be used for sandier
soils with 2% organic carbon and 10% clay.
mammals, plants and soil invertebrates, or on the microbial functioning of
soils. If concentrations of a chemical are found above an SSV this should
prompt further investigation to examine whether there are any ecological
risks. SSVs form the basis of Tier 1 of the ERA framework, and whilst it is
essential that generic screening values are protective of ecosystems, they
should not be so stringent that a contaminant is never screened out of the
assessment; thus they act as a screening tool (Environment Agency
2008c
).
To date, the Environment Agency has derived SSVs for 12 chemicals for use
in the ERA framework (
Table 9.1
). These have been derived using a similar
methodology to that used in the European Commission's Technical Guidance
Documents (TGD) (EC
2003
).
With SSVs available for 12 chemicals at present, there are likely to be many
incidences where an SSV for the CoPC is not available. In these instances, it may
be acceptable to use appropriate 'supplementary' SSVs from other acceptable
regulatory organisations. Suitable supplementary SSVs include:
Soil Screening Levels (SSLs) derived by the United States Environmental Protec-
tion Agency (USEPA);
Soil Quality Guidelines (SQGs) derived by the Canadian Council of Ministers of
the Environment (CCME);
