Biological Methods For Assessment And Remediation Of Contaminated Land

Biological processes to treat contaminated land (bioremediation) have had widespread use in North America, several countries in mainland Europe, and in the UK. The general technical consensus is that remediation (biological or otherwise) should usually take place in a risk management context to break pollutant linkages. Risk assessment is the defining discipline for this management approach. Conventional approaches to risk assessment are based on evaluations of contaminant toxicity and exposure to organisms (a function of bioavailability). The evaluations are informed by conceptual site models developed using site investigation data. Typically estimations of toxicity and bioavailability are generic in nature, based on overall assumptions, which have to be rather conservative in order to provide an acceptable level of protection for all types of site and contamination problems. Biological techniques have begun to be used as tools to provide site specific estimates of bioavailability and ecotoxicity, for use in risk assessment. There is great interest in developing these biological test methods further as they are seen as potentially offering a more direct appraisal of risks. Bioremediation techniques include monitored natural attenuation (MNA), biosparging, groundwater recirculation, landfarming, biopiles, bioreactors, phytoremediation, treatment beds and windrows. This report includes a series of case studies showing that bioremediation can cost-effectively treat a range of contaminants under redevelopment, transaction or proactive risk management scenario. The case studies selected are representative of many of the technologies in commercial use in the UK. Contents: Part A Overview, 1 Introduction, Part B Bioremediation, 2 Introduction, 3 Case studies, 4 Factors to consider in the selection and implementation of bioremediation technologies on contaminated sites, 5 Conclusions, Part C Biological test methods, 6 Overview, 7 Case studies, 8 Factors to consider in the selection and use of biological test methods to asses ecological risk on contaminated sites, 9 Conclusions, References, Appendix A Contacts, Appendix B Biological test methods.

This guide addresses the topics of investigation, assessment and remediation of contamination in the context of current thinking on how best to deal with the issues surrounding contaminated land, both in terms of redevelopment and from considerations of human health and environmental impacts.

Traditional techniques for the assessment and remediation of contamination have technical, financial and practical limitations. An increasing number of innovative techniques are available within the UK, many of which have an established track record overseas. case studies that illustrate their application to both radionuclide and non-radionuclide contamination issues in the UK. technologies can cost-effectively treat a range of contaminants under redevelopment, transaction or proactive risk management scenario. The case studies selected are representative of many of the technologies in commercial use in the UK, but also include a number of field trials illustrating the application of technologies that show potential for application on a commercial scale.

Land contamination is of global concern with many of the world’s industries potentially harming the environment and human health. Along with rapidly changing policy and technological developments, this is an interdisciplinary area in which successful contaminated land management depends on the expertise of and interaction between a number of scientific and engineering disciplines. Reclamation of Contaminated Land takes into account the different groups involved in contaminated land management and offers a flexible learning approach based on practical experience and research. It presents an overview of the general skills and knowledge required, encompassing both general management and regulatory practice and specific land contamination issues. Divided into two parts, Part I discusses site characterisation and the design of site investigations, and the central role of conceptual models and risk assessment in decision making. Part II discusses how risks from contaminated land are managed and the role of different remediation approaches to achieving this. This book is of great value for 2nd/3rd/4th year undergraduates and MSc students in Environmental Science, Environmental Technology, Environmental Management, Geography, Geology, Estate and Land Management. It is also key reading for undergraduates and MSc students in Chemical Engineering, Civil & Environmental Engineering and Environmental Chemistry, as well as professional planners and developers, and local authorities.

Contaminated land and the methods and legal controls governing its reclamation for subsequent development and use are of great current interest and concern. This volume covers aspects of this subject, ranging from the origins and extent of contaminated land problems, including effects on human health, through investigative measures, to specific techniques of remediation. It is written in the context of the new UK contaminated land regime and includes human and ecological risk assessment methodology, and the legal liabilities and insurance aspects of contaminated land. This authoritative review will be welcomed by those involved in the areas of land use planning and development, consultants and engineers in contaminated site investigation and remediation, and environmental regulators. Students of land management and environmental science will also find it essential reading.

2 DANNY D. REIBLEI AND KATERINA DEMNEROVA 1 Hazardous Substance Research Center/South and Southwest, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803 2 Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Institute of Chemical Technology, Prague, Czech Republic On May 24, 2001, a total of 102 students and lecturers participated in an Advanced Study Institute (ASI) sponsored by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) under our direction. The Institute was focused on in situ and onsite management of contaminated sites. The objective of the Institute was to balance state of the art science with techniques for field application of a variety of technologies for in situ assessment and remediation of contaminated sites. Many of the lecturers were drawn from the ranks of the Hazardous Substance Research Centers, multi-university consortia that have been funded by the US Environmental Protection Agency to conduct research and technology transfer designed to promote risk-based management and control of hazardous substances for the nation. The Centers have made special contributions to the areas of in situ and onsite assessment and remediation of contaminated sites. Such approaches have the potential for being significantly less expensive than other assessment and remediation approaches while maintaining accuracy and effectiveness. Cost-effective remedial and management approaches that are also effective in minimizing exposure and risk to human health and the environment are a critical need throughout the world but particularly in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union where resources that can be devoted to environmental cleanup are especially limited.

This standard work on contaminated site management covers the whole chain of steps involved in dealing with contaminated sites, from site investigation to remediation. An important focus throughout the book is on Risk Assessment. In addition, the book includes chapters on characterisation of natural and urban soils, bioavailability, natural attenuation, policy and stakeholder viewpoints and Brownfields. Typically, the book includes in-depth theories on soil contamination, along with offering possibilities for practical applications. More than sixty of the world’s top experts from Europe, the USA, Australia and Canada have contributed to this book. The twenty-five chapters in this book offer relevant information for experienced scientists, students, consultants and regulators, as well as for ‘new players’ in contaminated site management

Paul T. Kostecki, Associate Director, Northeast Regional Environment Public Health Center, School Of Public Health, University Of Massachusetts At Amherst, Received His Ph.D. From The School Of Natural Resources At The University Of Michigan In 1 980. He Has Been Involved With Human And Ecological Risk Assessment And Risk Management Research For The Last 12 Years. Dr. Kostecki Has Co-Authored And Co-Edited Over 50 Articles And 16 Books On Environmental Assessment And Cleanup Including: Remedial Technologies For Leaking Underground Storage Tanks, Soils Contaminated By Petroleum Products; Petroleum Contaminated Soils, Vols. 1 To 3: Hydrocarbon Contaminated Soils And Groundwater, Vols. 1 To 4; Hydrocarbon Contaminated Soils, Vols. 1 To 5; Principles And Practices For Diesel Contaminated Soils, Vols. 1 To 5; Sesoil In Environmental Fate And Risk Modeling, Contaminated Soils, Vol. 1 And Risk Assessment And Environmental Fate Methodologies.Dr. Kostecki Also Serves As Associate Editor For The Journal Of Soil Contamination, Chairman Of The Scientific Advisory Board For Soil And Groundwater Cleanup Magazine As Well As An Editorial Board Member For The Journal Of Human And Ecological Risk Assessment.In A Addition. Dr. Kostecki Serves As Executive Director For The Association For The Environmental Health Of Soils (Aehs) And Was The Scientific Advisor For The Workshop On Assessment And Remediation Of Oil Contaminated Soils Held In Kuwait 18-22 March 1995.Dr. Manaf Behbehani Obtained His B.S. In Biology From The University Of Akron, Usa (1969) And M.S. In Zoology From The Same University (1972). He Continued His Graduate Studies At The University Of New Hampshire Receiving Ph.D. In Marine Ecology And Invertebrates In 1978. Since Then, He Has Been Teaching Ecology And Marine Biology Courses At The Faculty Of Science, Kuwait University. From 1 982-1987, He Held The Post Of Marine Scientist At The Regional Organisation For The Protection Of The Marine Environment (Ropme) In Kuwait. Dr. Behbehani Has Worked On A Number Of Pioneering Research Projects, Namely To Study The Zooplankton Of Kuwaiti Waters And The Western Section Of The Arabian Gulf, And To Study The Distribution, Abundance And Taxonomy Of Marine Invertebrates Living In The Intertidal Zones Of Kuwait. He Has Published Several Scientific Articles And Has Served As External Examiner For Several Masters Thesis. From 1991-1995, Dr. Behbehani Was Vice-Dean For Planning And Laboratories At The Faculty Of Science, Kuwait University And Is Presently Chairman Of The National Biodiversity Committee, State Of Kuwait. He Was The Chairman Of The Scientific Committee For The Workshop On Assessment And Remediation Of Oil Contaminated Soils, The Proceedings Of Which Are Published In This Book.