Abstract
China has recognized the need to investigate and remediate former manufacturing facilities and return the land they occupy to a new, productive use. As a result, national guidelines entitled “Technical guidelines for Risk assessment of contaminated sites” were issued in 2014 to guide site investigations, risk assessments, and remedial actions to reduce or mitigate potential exposures of people and ecological receptors to contaminants. This study was pursued to gain experience with the new guidelines at a small, former chemical manufacturing facility in Nanjing City, China. A series of investigations were undertaken to determine the locations and levels of contaminants in soils and groundwater, develop a conceptual site model, and prepare an initial estimate of risks to humans and ecological receptors. Groundwater results revealed several contaminants that were greater than the Dutch Intervention Levels, yet, surprisingly, few, if any, contaminants were found in multiple samplings of soil. Despite the limited investigations of soil and groundwater, data were sufficient to prepare initial risk evaluations for humans, both for systemic toxins and potentially carcinogenic chemicals. The site and nearby area contain industrial facilities and residential neighborhoods; hence, there were too few ecological receptors to warrant an ecological risk assessment. The new guidelines for site investigations and risk assessments proved sufficient for the purposes of this small site; however, more complex sites may require much greater levels of effort and more detailed guidelines for investigations, risk assessments, and remedial actions.
Highlights
Like many nations, China has begun to recognize the need to investigate former manufacturing sites and remediate them so they can be returned to productive use [1]
An additional 30 soil samples were collected for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) analysis
Optical brightener PF was detected in soils at 2 mg/g from location SW5, yet this chemical does not appear to be a “typical” soil or groundwater contaminant found at former manufacturing sites that are or have been investigated, either in China or elsewhere. These results clearly demonstrate the need for China to develop risk-based screening levels for soils and groundwater, or adopt and supplement those already developed by the United States (US), The Netherlands, or other countries
Summary
China has begun to recognize the need to investigate former manufacturing sites and remediate them so they can be returned to productive use [1]. In China’s case, this is important because many former manufacturing sites are quickly becoming isolated within large, newly developed or developing residential areas [2]. These former manufacturing facilities occupy highly desirable land that could be used for residential housing, new manufacturing, or for recreation. Of additional importance to undertaking remedial actions at these facilities is the need for a risk-based decisional process Such a process would include written guidelines for conducting qualitative and quantitative analyses of potential risks to humans and ecological receptors, as well as details on how the risk assessment should be applied in deciding what remedial action(s) are appropriate for the site under study
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
