Brownfield development forms an essential component of plans to accommodate future housing requirements in many European countries and as a result Eurofins (UK), a leading analytical services company, has seen a noticeable increase in demand for soil testing services.
In Belgium, the Netherlands and the UK for example, there is a lack of space for both residential and industrial development. Consequently, there is an increased need for regeneration of sites that have been subjected to mixed, and often unknown, use in the past. Contamination can be a serious problem in such brownfield sites and may have arisen from a number of different uses over many decades.
The source, type and extent of any pollution is often unknown and as such it is almost impossible to identify the responsible body. This increases the levels of risk associated with different sites and creates a pressure for greenfield development.
Brownfield sites exist in every European city. Brussels for
example, has over 1000 unoccupied sites. Across Europe, both Public and Private investments have created successful brownfield remediation projects.
A detailed financial and environmental risk assessment is necessary before the commencement of such projects and so the Environmental Consultant has to conduct a Phase 1 and Phase 2 environmental investigation.
The Consultant will evaluate the history of the site and develop an appropriate sampling and analysis strategy in accordance with relevant regulations and taking into account the risk factors at that particular site (pollutant, pathway, receptor). However, this can be an onerous task because of the thousand of chemical residues that may exist. Professional laboratories can help with this process.
In consultation with the Environmental Consultant, Eurofins is able to compose a tailor-made analytical package that covers the known and theoretical pollutants for a particular brownfield site.
Naturally, it is vital that accurate analytical results are provided to the Environmental Consultant as quickly as possible and to ensure that this takes place Eurofins appoints a specific Project Coordinator for each contract, sample collection and preservation chemicals are provided
and a highly efficient logistics system is in place.
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