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Regional risk assessment for contaminated sites Part 2: Ranking of potentially contaminated sites
Abstract Environmental risks are traditionally assessed and presented in non spatial ways although the heterogeneity of the contaminants spatial distributions, the spatial positions and relations between receptors and stressors, as well as the spatial distribution of the variables involved in the risk assessment, strongly influence exposure estimations and hence risks. Taking into account spatial variability is increasingly being recognized as a further and essential step in sound exposure and risk assessment. To address this issue an innovative methodology which integrates spatial analysis and a relative risk approach was developed. The purpose of this methodology is to prioritize sites at regional scale where a preliminary site investigation may be required. The methodology aimed at supporting the inventory of contaminated sites was implemented within the spatial decision support sYstem for Regional rIsk Assessment of DEgraded land, SYRIADE, and was applied to the case-study of the Upper Silesia region (Poland). The developed methodology and tool are both flexible and easy to adapt to different regional contexts, allowing the user to introduce the regional relevant parameters identified on the basis of user expertise and regional data availability. Moreover, the used GIS functionalities, integrated with mathematical approaches, allow to take into consideration, all at once, the multiplicity of sources and impacted receptors within the region of concern, to assess the risks posed by all contaminated sites in the region and, finally, to provide a risk-based ranking of the potentially contaminated sites.
Research highlights ► Spatial risk assessment of chemical contamination is recognized as an essential step in the assessment of contaminated sites. ► Regional risk assessment is a complex issue requiring the analysis of spatial relationships between sources and receptors. ► The presented methodology integrates a relative risk approach with spatial analysis to prioritize sites at regional scale. ► Case study data, decision makers' insights and environmental experts' judgments are integrated by the use of MCDA.
Regional risk assessment for contaminated sites Part 2: Ranking of potentially contaminated sites
Abstract Environmental risks are traditionally assessed and presented in non spatial ways although the heterogeneity of the contaminants spatial distributions, the spatial positions and relations between receptors and stressors, as well as the spatial distribution of the variables involved in the risk assessment, strongly influence exposure estimations and hence risks. Taking into account spatial variability is increasingly being recognized as a further and essential step in sound exposure and risk assessment. To address this issue an innovative methodology which integrates spatial analysis and a relative risk approach was developed. The purpose of this methodology is to prioritize sites at regional scale where a preliminary site investigation may be required. The methodology aimed at supporting the inventory of contaminated sites was implemented within the spatial decision support sYstem for Regional rIsk Assessment of DEgraded land, SYRIADE, and was applied to the case-study of the Upper Silesia region (Poland). The developed methodology and tool are both flexible and easy to adapt to different regional contexts, allowing the user to introduce the regional relevant parameters identified on the basis of user expertise and regional data availability. Moreover, the used GIS functionalities, integrated with mathematical approaches, allow to take into consideration, all at once, the multiplicity of sources and impacted receptors within the region of concern, to assess the risks posed by all contaminated sites in the region and, finally, to provide a risk-based ranking of the potentially contaminated sites.
Research highlights ► Spatial risk assessment of chemical contamination is recognized as an essential step in the assessment of contaminated sites. ► Regional risk assessment is a complex issue requiring the analysis of spatial relationships between sources and receptors. ► The presented methodology integrates a relative risk approach with spatial analysis to prioritize sites at regional scale. ► Case study data, decision makers' insights and environmental experts' judgments are integrated by the use of MCDA.
Regional risk assessment for contaminated sites Part 2: Ranking of potentially contaminated sites
Pizzol, Lisa (author) / Critto, Andrea (author) / Agostini, Paola (author) / Marcomini, Antonio (author)
Environmental International ; 37 ; 1307-1320
2011-05-16
14 pages
Article (Journal)
Electronic Resource
English
Regional risk assessment for contaminated sites Part 2: Ranking of potentially contaminated sites
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