The soiled environment: bubble, bubble, soil in trouble

There are many contaminated soil sites in Australia. Contamination may be from human activities (eg, smelters, industrial waste dumps, old gasworks) or from naturally occurring sources (eg, surface mineralisation). Concentrations of contaminants may vary markedly across a site. Their distribution may be localised or quite extensive. Common contaminants include lead, arsenic, cadmium, petrol and diesel products, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. People living on or near a contaminated site will often be concerned about potential effects on their health. Assessing their exposure potential and/or measuring levels of biological markers often allays concerns, but occasionally confirms them (eg, elevated blood lead levels and subtle cognitive effects have been found in some people living near the Port Pirie lead smelter).