1. science
2. ecology

A presentation of the project APPLICERA - Applicable site-specific environmental risk
assessment of contaminated soils
Anja Enella, Sarah Josefssonb, Pär-Erik Backa, Dan Berggren Klejaa, Magnus Engwallc, Malin Franssond, Sara
Hallinb, Lars Roséne, Astrid Taylorb, Maria Viketoftb, Annika Åbergf and Karin Wibergb
a
Swedish Geotechnical Institute (SGI), Linköping, SE-581 93 Sweden
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden
c
Örebro University, SE-701 82 Örebro, Sweden
d
Swedish Transport Administration, SE- SE-172 90 Sundbyberg, Sweden
e
Chalmers University of Technology, SE-412 96 Göteborg, Sweden
f
ÅF Infrastructure, SE-169 99 Stockholm, Sweden
b
E-mail: [email protected], Phone: +46 40 35 67 74
Introduction
Soils are a natural resource carrying out essential functions and services vital to mankind. The
goal for soil protection at contaminated sites is often to sustain soil functions (SFs). In
practice, soil functions are considered to be protected if soil contamination levels are
sufficiently low to protect a certain fraction of soil fauna species using species-sensitivity
distributions (SSDs) based on toxicity data. However, problems with this approach are for
instance that the soil functions to be protected are not specified, and that the link between
preservation of soil functions and protection of a fraction of species included in the SSDs is
not clear. Thus, it has become increasingly obvious that there is a need not only for an
applicable site-specific ERA methodology, but also one that is function-based. The Swedish
research project APPLICERA aims to make explicit connections between relevant SFs and
indicators for SFs that can be used in a site-specific ERA.
APPLICERA
The APPLICERA project will be carried out during 2015-2017. It was initiated by Swedish
researchers and consultants with decades of experience from risk assessment and risk
management of contaminated soils. The consortium includes six research groups from the
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (lead organization), the Chalmers University of
Technology and Örebro University, covering a range of soil sciences (chemistry, ecology,
microbiology, ecotoxicology, risk assessment and risk management). It also includes a
research institute (Swedish Geotechnical Institute), problem owners (Swedish Transport
Administration) and other stakeholders (ÅF Infrastructure).
Aim of APPLICERA
The overall aim of APPLICERA is to develop a site-specific methodology for environmental
risk assessment (ERA) of contaminated land, where relevant soil functions are included.
Current ERA tools suffer from a limited understanding on how contaminants affect soil
ecosystems and functions. This frequently leads to expensive dig-and-dump, where all soil
masses with levels above guideline values are removed, but with largely unknown benefits for
the soil ecosystem and functions. Specific objectives are to:
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Investigate contaminated sites in situ and test a battery of relevant indicators to
explore how biotic and abiotic indicators can be used to express SFs.
Explore the relation between soil function and environmental risk using a TRIADmethodology based on i) chemical, ii) ecological and iii) toxicological indicators.
Make cost-benefit analysis comparing current and alternative ERA methodologies.
Approach of APPLICERA
In APPLICERA, we will select and thoroughly characterize a set of contaminated sites
representing typical sites under the liability of the Swedish Transport Agency, responsible for
national road and railway networks in Sweden. The contaminants at these sites consist of
organic pollutants and metals, primarily polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), arsenic
and lead.
Our experiments will draw on the findings from a previous research project, where a soil
classification system based on a minimum set of abiotic soil quality indicators (SQIs) has
been suggested to be used in decision tools [1]. However, it lacks biotic indicators, even
though soil microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, etc.) are key players in biogeochemical cycles,
which all relate to ecosystem functions such as nutrient and carbon cycling and plant
productivity.
Soil samples will be analyzed for a battery of microbiological indicators along with
previously tested abiotic SQIs indicative of SFs. For relevant microbiological indicators, we
will screen for enzyme coding genes present in groups of microorganisms performing specific
functions. These functions are key elements in e.g. the N and C cycles, and can therefore
potentially serve as functional indicators. The most promising microbiological SF indicators
found will be used together with other ecological, chemical, and ecotoxicological indicators in
a site-specific TRIAD. A methodology for site-specific ERA will be developed where SF
rather than biodiversity is in focus, i.e. a more direct methodology. Finally, consequences of a
shift towards site-specific SF-based ERA methodology will be evaluated versus traditional
approaches.
Reference
[1] Volchko, Y., Norrman, J., Rosen, L., Bergknut, M., Josefsson, S., Soderqvist, T., Norberg,
T., Wiberg, K., and Tysklind, M. (2014). “Using soil function evaluation in multi-criteria
decision analysis for sustainability appraisal of remediation alternatives”. Science of the Total
Environment 485: 785-791.