Abstract

Soil contamination is common in the Netherlands. Exposure to contaminated soil is usually marginal and people are not expected to suffer any harmful effects to their health from it. Sometimes, however, exposure is extensive, for example, when children ingest polluted soil through hand-to-mouth behaviour. Other instances of extensive exposure are when people eat home-grown vegetables or when volatile substances enter the indoor air of residences. In such cases, health risks cannot always be excluded. It is natural that people in these situations may have questions and be worrying about the consequences for their health. Therefore, it is important that the local departments of the Municipal Health Services (GGD) are able to answer these questions satisfactorily and make a good estimation of the risks. For this purpose, the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) has drawn up a guideline, together with the GGD, that contains the necessary information. The guideline is a revised version of the GGD guideline 'Assessing risks of soil contamination' published in 2002. The guideline describes which data is needed at which time in order to assess whether or not there is a risk to health. The legal regulations for soil surveys and exposure models are at the base of the guideline. In some cases additional investigations are carried out, for example, in the indoor air of residences or on vegetables grown in the garden or allotment. The guideline outlines how, with the help of these tests, risks to health can be determined and against which standard values they are tested. There is also an overview of the relevant legislation and regulatory requirements on this subject. Finally, it indicates how the GGD can advise both residents and the competent authorities, such as the municipal and provincial administrations, on the health risks of soil contamination, the measures that need to be taken and the communication regarding this matter.