Question

During the project assessment portion of a subsurface exploration, you found out that an old factory where numerous hazardous substances were used was previously located on your site. Does this concern the development of your site? Why?

Answer 1

• Soil contamination is caused due to previous industrial activities. It may alter the natural soil environment.
• The site may have been subjected to activities such as Drainage of contaminated surface water into the soil , Accidental spill , direct discharge of waste into the soil , ore smelting etc in the past.
• The concern over soil contamination primarily come from health risks, from direct contact with the contaminated soil, or from secondary contamination of water supplies within and underlying the soil.
• Mapping of contaminated soil sites and the resulting cleanups are time consuming and expensive , requiring extensive amounts of geology, hydrology, chemistry, computer modeling skills, and GIS in Environmental Contamination, as well as an appreciation of the history of industrial chemistry.