What is contaminated soil?
Contaminated soil is soil that has been in contact with or contains substances that are potentially hazardous to health or the environment. It is not just soil that can be contaminated by hazardous substances, concrete, block paving, etc can also be contaminated.
What causes contamination?
Contamination can occur in many ways such as accidental spills, industrial activities, agricultural chemicals or improper disposal of waste.
What substances cause contamination?
The most common substances are petroleum, solvents, pesticides, lead and other heavy metals.
Why is contaminated soil hazardous?
Contaminated soil can be hazardous to humans and animals. Hazardous substances may be transferred from the soil into humans and animals through the skin or ingested accidently. It may also be that contaminants enter the food chain as they are picked up by plants growing on the contaminated soil.
What are the risks to health if you encounter contaminated soil?
The risks depend on the contamination type, environment and how it has come into contact with a human. Methods of contact can include drinking contaminated water, skin contact, breathing in dust or a hazardous gas or eating food grown in the contaminated soil.
Effects from having contact with contaminated soil can be minor with side effects such as skin irritation, headache, fatigue and respiratory problems. However, if contact has been made with a more hazardous substance, such as Cadmium major side effects such as renal disfunction and bone damage can occur.
How do you know if soil is contaminated?
It can sometimes be difficult to know if soil or land is contaminated. There can be visible indicators such as discoloration in the soil, strong odours etc. It might also be possible to determine contamination if you are aware of the history of the land, for example; if you have knowledge that the land has been used for polluting industry, mining or waste disposal then contamination is possible. However, if there are no obvious signs and no knowledge of the site’s history there is no way of knowing unless a sample test is undertaken.
How can I get soil tested?
Contact Site Solutions where we will arrange an end to end service, We organise the haulage and treatment and make sure that you get the correct paperwork so you can rest easy knowing that the job has been done right and you can prove it. If you need testing done, we can arrange analysis of the soil and advise whether the results indicate if it is hazardous or non-hazardous.
How is contaminated soil treated?
Contaminated soil treatments include chemical oxidation, soil stabilisation or a more physical method such as washing the soil depending on the type of contamination. Site Solutions will source the most economic disposal method, be that treatment, landfill or a combination of the two. Where it makes most sense to do so, our national network of treatment sites ensure that your contaminated soil is recycled for reuse rather than just taking up valuable landfill space. Treatment for reuse can often be more economic than landfilling.
For more information on how Site Solutions can help with your contaminated soil treatment and contaminated soil restoration requirements, visit: Contaminated soil solutions and treatment available at Site Solutions or contact us on 01684 353556.
What we need to know from you…
- Where is the site?
- What quantity of contaminated material requires disposal
- What testing has been done on the soil already?
- If you suspect that there are any background contamination before the current event?
