title: Application of ecological risk assessment based on a novel TRIAD-tiered approach to contaminated soil surrounding a closed non-sealed landfill.
abstract: The Ecological Risk Assessment (ERA) is a reliable tool for communicating risk to decision makers in a comprehensive and scientific evidence-based way. In this work, a site-specific ERA methodology based on the TRIAD approach was applied to contaminated soil surrounding a closed non-sealed landfill, as a case study to implement and validate such ERA methodology in the Basque Country (northern Spain). Initially, the procedure consisted of the application of a Parameter Selection Module aimed at selecting the most suitable parameters for the specific characteristics of the landfill contaminated soil, taking into consideration the envisioned land use, intended ecosystem services and nature of contaminants. Afterwards, the selected parameters were determined in soil samples collected from two sampling points located downstream of the abovementioned landfill. The results from these tests were normalized to make them comparable and integrable in a risk index. Then, risk assessment criteria were developed and applied to the two landfill contaminated soil samples. Although the lack of a proper control soil was evidenced, a natural land use was approved by the ERA (at Tier 2) for the two landfill contaminated soils. However, the existence of a potential future risk resulting from a hypothetical soil acidification must be considered.
authors: Energy and Environment Division, Tecnalia Research & Innovation, E-48160 Derio, Basque Country, Spain.
authors: Laura
authors: L
authors: Gutiérrez
authors: Department of Ecology and Natural Resources, Soil Microbial Ecology Group, NEIKER-Tecnalia, Berreaga 1, E-48160 Derio, Basque Country, Spain.
authors: Carlos
authors: C
authors: Garbisu
authors: Energy and Environment Division, Tecnalia Research & Innovation, E-48160 Derio, Basque Country, Spain.
authors: Estela
authors: E
authors: Ciprián
authors: Department of Plant Biology and Ecology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), P. O. Box 644, E-48080 Bilbao, Basque Country, Spain.
authors: José M
authors: JM
authors: Becerril
authors: Research Centre for Experimental Marine Biology and Biotechnology (PIE-UPV/EHU), E-48620 Plentzia, Basque Country, Spain.
authors: Manu
authors: M
authors: Soto
authors: GAIKER Technological Centre, IK4 Research Alliance, E-48170 Zamudio, Basque Country, Spain.
authors: Javier
authors: J
authors: Etxebarria
authors: Department of Analytical Chemistry, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), P. O. Box 644, E-48080 Bilbao, Basque Country, Spain.
authors: Juan M
authors: JM
authors: Madariaga
authors: Department of Geodynamics, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), P. O. Box 644, E-48080 Bilbao, Basque Country, Spain.
authors: Iñaki
authors: I
authors: Antigüedad
authors: Department of Ecology and Natural Resources, Soil Microbial Ecology Group, NEIKER-Tecnalia, Berreaga 1, E-48160 Derio, Basque Country, Spain. Electronic address: lepelde@neiker.net.
authors: Lur
authors: L
authors: Epelde
mesh_terms: D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D012037:Refuse Disposal / Q000379:methods; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D013030:Spain; D064091:Waste Disposal Facilities
chemical_list: D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants
keywords: Ecosystem risk assessment; Polluted soil; TRIAD method; Tiered approach