Research on the Technical System of Ecological Risk Assessment of Soil Contamination in Anglo-American and Its Enlightenments

With the development of economy, a large number of hazardous wastes produced by human activities are discharged into soils, causing serious soil contamination. Ecological risk assessment (ERA) is a method system for predicting the impact of risk source on surrounding ecosystem. As an important basis of risk management and soil contamination remediation, ERA determines whether risk management or remediation measures should be conducted as well as the goal of such measures. Due to the different focuses of researches, many ERA technical systems emerged continuously. The United States and the United Kingdom have years of experience in the management of contaminated sites, and have developed systematic ERA related technical guidelines and regulations with mature supporting technologies. Their experience can help superintendents in China scientifically analyze the impact of soil contamination on environment from the perspective of ecosystem. This study analyzed the present status of soil contamination related ERA in China, and investigated the workflow of ERA technical system for soil contamination in the United States and the United Kingdom. It is concluded that four key points should be noted when constructing local ERA technical system for soil contamination in China: (1) Developing tiered ERA technical system; (2)Constructing complete conceptual models from contaminants exposure to having ecological effects on receptors for ERA of contaminated sites; (3)Strengthening the analysis of the causal and effect relationship between contaminants and the ecological effects on receptors; (4)Improving decision-making participation in the ERA process; (5)Promoting toxicological research on native species. The aim of this study is to promote the construction of ERA technical system of soil contamination, guarantee the implementation of the assessment process, direct the follow-up risk management or remediation of contaminated sites, and promote the sustainable and safe utilization of soil resources in China.