title: Using soil function evaluation in multi-criteria decision analysis for sustainability appraisal of remediation alternatives.
abstract: Soil contamination is one of the major threats constraining proper functioning of the soil and thus provision of ecosystem services. Remedial actions typically only address the chemical soil quality by reducing total contaminant concentrations to acceptable levels guided by land use. However, emerging regulatory requirements on soil protection demand a holistic view on soil assessment in remediation projects thus accounting for a variety of soil functions. Such a view would require not only that the contamination concentrations are assessed and attended to, but also that other aspects are taking into account, thus addressing also physical and biological as well as other chemical soil quality indicators (SQIs). This study outlines how soil function assessment can be a part of a holistic sustainability appraisal of remediation alternatives using multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA). The paper presents a method for practitioners for evaluating the effects of remediation alternatives on selected ecological soil functions using a suggested minimum data set (MDS) containing physical, biological and chemical SQIs. The measured SQIs are transformed into sub-scores by the use of scoring curves, which allows interpretation and the integration of soil quality data into the MCDA framework. The method is demonstrated at a study site (Marieberg, Sweden) and the results give an example of how soil analyses using the suggested MDS can be used for soil function assessment and subsequent input to the MCDA framework.
authors: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Sven Hultins gata 8, SE-41296 Gothenburg, Sweden. Electronic address: volchko@chalmers.se.
authors: Yevheniya
authors: Y
authors: Volchko
authors: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Sven Hultins gata 8, SE-41296 Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors: Jenny
authors: J
authors: Norrman
authors: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Sven Hultins gata 8, SE-41296 Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors: Lars
authors: L
authors: Rosén
authors: Department of Chemistry, Umeå University, SE-901 87 Umeå, Sweden; Envix, SE-906 20 Umeå, Sweden.
authors: Magnus
authors: M
authors: Bergknut
authors: Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7050, SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden.
authors: Sarah
authors: S
authors: Josefsson
authors: Enveco Environmental Economics Consultancy, Måsholmstorget 3, SE-127 48 Skärholmen, Sweden.
authors: Tore
authors: T
authors: Söderqvist
authors: Mathematical Sciences, Chalmers University of Technology & University of Gothenburg, SE-412 96 Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors: Tommy
authors: T
authors: Norberg
authors: Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7050, SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden.
authors: Karin
authors: K
authors: Wiberg
authors: Department of Chemistry, Umeå University, SE-901 87 Umeå, Sweden.
authors: Mats
authors: M
authors: Tysklind
mesh_terms: D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources / Q000379:methods; D003661:Decision Support Techniques; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D004787:Environmental Pollution / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D052918:Environmental Restoration and Remediation / Q000379:methods*; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D012987:Soil
keywords: Contaminated sites/soil; Multi-criteria decision analysis; Remediation; Soil ecosystem service; Soil function; Sustainability assessment