Standard soil quality

Thailand has an arsenic soil quality standard of 3.9 mg kg-1 for habitable and agricultural sites and a standard of 27 mg kg-1 for other areas (http //www.pcd.go.th/Infojerv/enregjtdjoil01.html). 

International harmonization of soil quality standards (SQSs) has been discussed in the CARACAS (Concerted Action on Risk Assessment for Contaminated Sites in the European Union, 1995 to 1998) and CLARINET (Contaminated Land Rehabilitation Network for Environmental Technologies, 1998 to 2001) concerted actions (Vegter et al. 2003), and a form of the Soil Framework Directive is still under review by member states in the European Union, so the present guidance is both timely and relevant. 

FIGURE 5.2 Different types of currently existing soil quality standards with some limited discrimination by land use. 

FURTHER CONSIDERATIONS IN SOIL QUALITY STANDARD SETTING... 

ASSESSMENT FACTORS — EXTRAPOLATION AND SOIL QUALITY STANDARD DERIVATION... 

Correcting the quality standard for differences in bioavailability 5.10.1 Added Soil Quality Standard Approach... 

FIGURE 5.9 Stepwise approach for deriving soil quality standards. 

Refinement of the Total Soil Quality Standard Approach... 

It is appropriate to have different types of environmental quality standards (EQSs, often referred to as soil quality standards [SQSs] for soils) to protect the environment and human health, but there are many more ways to set and implement a standard than legally binding limits that are introduced through direct regulation. However, even the softer approaches entail the use of a numerical standard that must have a sound basis in science. 

Soil Quality Standards are developed for different purposes (e.g., different land uses and different protection goals) since soils are variable by nature and have various uses and functions that may influence the protection goals. Nevertheless, a minimum level of protection or a base level is needed to guarantee resilience of the soil ecosystem, and this should be incorporated into all approaches to soil standards. Standards can be derived that indicate the presence or absence of certain data. 

Water quality--Standards. 2. Soils--Quality—Standards. 3. Environmental toxicology--Measurement. 4. Water quality biological assessment. 5. 

Table 10.11 Selected British Standard methods for monitoring soil quality ...

Without a solution, formulated mathematical systems (models) are of little value. Four solution procedures are mainly followed the analytical, the numerical (e.g., finite different, finite element), the statistical, and the iterative. Numerical techniques have been standard practice in soil quality modeling. Analytical techniques are usually employed for simplified and idealized situations. Statistical techniques have academic respect, and iterative solutions are developed for specialized cases. Both the simulation and the analytic models can employ numerical solution procedures for their equations. Although the above terminology is not standard in the literature, it has been used here as a means of outlining some of the concepts of modeling. 

The WFD, so far, has identified 33 priority hazardous pollutants (PHS), for which Environmental Quality Standards (EQS) have been set. To some extent, these EQS can be met through the establishment of emission control measures. These PHS may originate from several different sources and activities. The main sources of toxic substances to water bodies in Europe may be categorised as agriculture, sewage treatment plants, urban runoff, industry, contaminated lake/ river sediment, soils and landfills. Input via atmospheric transport and deposition has also been identified as an important source both far from and close to source areas. Many of the PS are today banned in Europe, but due to their persistence they are still present in the environment [30]. 

ISO, 1995. Soil quality - Determination of organic and total carbon after dry combustion. ISO standard 10694 1995. 

ISO 11269-1. Soil quality - Determination of the Effects of Pollutants on Soil Flora - Part 1 Method for Measurement of Inhibition of Root Growth International Organization for Standardization Geneve, 1993 9 pp. 

Note Soil environment quality standard (GB15618-95), 1995, State Environmental Protection Administration, P. R. China. 

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