The Development of Risk-Based Remediation Target Value for Lead Contaminated Soils

With the rapid economic development, China is experiencing increased land contamination and lead poisoning problem in recent years, which is no longer restricted to isolated incidents and locations. There is an urgent need to remediate the lead contaminated soils to protect the publics health. However, contaminated land remediation and determination of remediation target value has been neglected for years. In order to accommodate uncertainties within the conservative point estimation of remediation target value for lead contaminated soils, Monte Carlo simulation technique is integrated into the traditional calculation model from a probabilistic perspective. Risk-based remediation target values for lead contaminated soils of different land use types (including school/hospital, residential, business and industrial use) are developed preliminarily. Furthermore, this study highlights the necessity to determine the remediation target value on the basis of actual (i.e. site-specific) risks to humans and, besides, actual risks due to contaminant migration.