Jaana Jarva

TAPIR — Finnish national geochemical baseline database

In Finland, a Government Decree on the Assessment of Soil Contamination and Remediation Needs has generated a need for reliable and readily accessible data on geochemical baseline concentrations in Finnish soils. According to the Decree, baseline concentrations, referring both to the natural geological background concentrations and the diffuse anthropogenic input of substances, shall be taken into account in the soil contamination assessment process. This baseline information is provided in a national geochemical baseline database, TAPIR, that is publicly available via the Internet. Geochemical provinces with elevated baseline concentrations were delineated to provide regional geochemical baseline values. The nationwide geochemical datasets were used to divide Finland into geochemical provinces. Several metals (Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, V, and Zn) showed anomalous concentrations in seven regions that were defined as metal provinces. Arsenic did not follow a similar distribution to any other elements, and four arsenic provinces were separately determined. Nationwide geochemical datasets were not available for some other important elements such as Cd and Pb. Although these elements are included in the TAPIR system, their distribution does not necessarily follow the ones pre-defined for metal and arsenic provinces. Regional geochemical baseline values, presented as upper limit of geochemical variation within the region, can be used as trigger values to assess potential soil contamination. Baseline values have also been used to determine upper and lower guideline values that must be taken into account as a tool in basic risk assessment. If regional geochemical baseline values are available, the national guideline values prescribed in the Decree based on ecological risks can be modified accordingly. The national geochemical baseline database provides scientifically sound, easily accessible and generally accepted information on the baseline values, and it can be used in various environmental applications.

Geochemical baselines in relation to analytical methods in the Itä-Uusimaa and Pirkanmaa regions, Finland

ABSTRACT Geochemical baselines of As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, Sb, V and Zn concentrations were investigated for two Finnish regions (Itä-Uusimaa and Pirkanmaa) using different determinations based on separate analytical methods: (1) total concentrations based on X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometry or strong acid leach; and (2) ‘near-total’ concentrations determined using aqua regia extraction (ISO 11466) and/or concentrated nitric acid leaching (US EPA 3051A). The geology of the Itä-Uusimaa region is dominated by late-orogenic plutonic rocks, while the bedrock in Pirkanmaa contains arc-type volcanic and sedimentary rocks and turbiditic greywackes. Topsoil (0–25 cm) and subsoil samples that were analysed represent the most common mineral soil parent material types of the study regions: sandy soils, glacial till and clayey soils. The normative mineral composition of the samples was estimated using the NORMA model. The regional baseline as an estimate of the upper limit of background variation was defined in two study areas from acid-leachable concentrations. Baselines concentrations of As, Co, V and Zn exceed the Finnish soil contamination trigger values in the study areas. Regional baselines defined for one region could not be applied in another test region. Statistical tests were carried out to indicate the significance of the differences between studied baseline concentrations determined using aqua regia extraction and concentrated nitric acid leaching. The differences were found to be highly significant for As, Pb and Sb while for Cd, Co, Cr, Ni and Zn the two analytical methods were comparable. The ratios between total and ‘near-total’ (aqua regia or nitric acid-extractable) concentrations reveal higher total concentrations determined by XRF spectrometry compared to acid-leachable contents for most inorganic elements. Lead and Cr show the lowest extractability using aqua regia, while Cu was most extractable using acid leaching. According to normative mineralogy, the levels of several trace elements determined by near-total, partial methods are controlled by the abundance of micas, goethite and hydrous Al silicates. In topsoil, organic carbon correlated with Hg, Pb and Cd concentrations.

Application of arsenic baselines in the assessment of soil contamination in Finland

In Finland, a new Government Decree on the Assessment of Soil Contamination and Remediation Needs (214/2007) came into force on 1 June 2007. According to the Decree, natural baseline concentration levels should be taken into account when assessing potential soil contamination and the need for remediation. This applies particularly in the case of toxic metallic elements, since baseline concentrations may naturally be rather high. The new decree prescribes soil screening values for 52 substances or groups of substances. The natural baseline concentrations have been taken into account in the definition of the screening values for inorganic pollutants. The Geological Survey of Finland (GTK) carried out a nation-wide geochemical mapping of till on a reconnaissance scale in 1983 and on a regional scale during 1984–1992. These surveys have provided information on natural elemental distribution in subsoils of the glacial till. However, some important trace elements in regional mapping such as arsenic are missing from the analysis, and subsoil samples do not reflect the diffuse anthropogenic input. Thus, GTK has continued the survey work by determining geochemical baselines around suburban areas. Samples have been taken from humus, topsoil and subsoil layers, and the soil parent material has covered sandy soils, glacial tills and fine-grained sediments. According to the studies, a regional difference in the levels of arsenic and some other trace elements can be clearly seen, especially in minerogenic soils. The results illustrate the importance of information on regional baseline concentrations while assessing potential soil contamination.

Climate Change in Vietnam

Vietnam is considered as one of the countries to be severely affected by climate change and thus response to climate change is of crucial importance to Vietnam, particularly in coastal areas. Rises in average temperatures have been observed over the last decades, as well as substantial changes to precipitation patters. The average temperatures have been rising and the total precipitation has increased, especially during the rainy seasons, which is important for flood water management. In northern Vietnam the precipitation during the dry seasons has decreased, which poses important challenges to water management.

Integrated geological risk mapping: a qualitative methodology applied in St. Petersburg, Russia

The current active development of the city of St. Petersburg in Russia has led to high growth rates in both industrial and housing areas, causing an increased load on geological media. Taking into account the rather unfavourable geological conditions of the city area, such a development can entail to an intensification of environmental risks. Sustainable and cost-effective land-use planning requires information on geological conditions. Stakeholders need general geological information on the area of St. Petersburg, hydrogeological information on groundwater and information on geological risks. Geological risk maps help to identify whether an area under consideration requires special measures for geological risk management. This paper describes a first attempt to analyze potential geological risks in the city of St. Petersburg, Russia. The approach is to introduce a methodology for multi-risk assessment to be used in land-use planning. The core of the methodology is a matrix that assigns a certain level of geological risk depending on the combination of land use stipulated by the master plan of St. Petersburg and geological characteristics. Based on the matrix, a map presenting potential integrated geological risk can be created. At the same time, the combination of the integrated geological risk map, single geological risk maps and the matrix allows the retracement of which geological characteristics and which land use types contribute to the resulting risk. Users of the methodology in St. Petersburg were trained and an end-user manual was prepared by the authors. The methodology was introduced to professionals who utilize geological information and assess potential risks related to geology.

Climate Change Adaptation Measures

As a result of training of young scientists in Finland and Vietnam, scientific field investigations, environmental and climate change impact modeling and the scenario workshops with local stakeholders first climate change adaptation measures were developed for the two cases studies in Vietnam. The adaptation measures have a sectoral approach and are according to timescales of implementation. The adaptation measures are funded mainly by national budgets of the respective research institutions and environmental authorities.

A qualitative approach for identifying areas prone to urban floods with the support of LiDAR

Abstarct In urban areas, the land surface is often covered with impervious layers increasing the potential for storm water flooding. Thus, runoff water management during intensive rain events has become an important issue to be tackled in fast-growing cities with increasingly large populations. This paper presents a LiDAR-aided qualitative methodology for defining areas prone to urban floods on a regional scale at the early phases of land use planning. The developed methodology is based on different datasets describing water infiltration capacity of the ground and tested in the city of Vantaa, Finland. The methodology utilizes datasets that are freely and easily available. The selected factors for analysis are soil permeability, soil sealing and surface topography. The presented approach gives tools for the preliminary identification of areas prone to storm water flooding. The developed analysis is user-friendly and quick to perform. It is a qualitative method that can support land use planners and other municipal and regional actors in the environmental and technical sectors in early-phase storm water flood management. The developed method is applicable for different planning scales.

A methodological concept for territorial impact assessment applied to three EU environmental policy elements

EU policies require either impact assessment or evaluation, depending on the character of the policy elements. A relatively new requirement is the need to assess the territorial impacts of a policy as proposed in the European Spatial Development Perspective (ESDP) and promoted by the European Spatial Planning Observation Network (ESPON) 2006 programme. Territorial impact assessment (TIA) is defined as “a tool for assessing the impact of spatial development against spatial policy objectives or prospects for an area” (European Communities 2000). This paper summarises and further develops basic work on TIA and presents a methodological concept and the first results of such a TIA approach, applying it to EU environmental policy (civil protection, water, biodiversity).KurzfassungFür EU-Politiken sind entweder Wirkungseinschätzungen oder aber Evaluationen vorgeschrieben, je nach Gegenstand der Politik. Relativ neu ist die Vorgabe, die räumlichen Auswirkungen einer Politik abzuschätzen, wie es im Europäischen Raumentwicklungskonzept (EUREK) vorgeschlagen und vom ESPON 2006 Programm unterstützt wurde. Derartige Raumwirksamkeitseinschätzungen sollen dazu dienen, die voraussichtlichen Auswirkungen einer Politik auf die Entwicklung von Räumen zu ermitteln, und zwar mit Blick auf raumordnungspolitische Zielsetzungen oder deren Zukunftsaussichten (European Communities 2000). Der Beitrag beschreibt die Grundlagen von Raumwirksamkeitseinschätzungen und entwickelt sie weiter. Er stellt einen methodischen Ansatz und erste Anwendungsergebnisse vor, und zwar am Beispiel der EU-Umweltpolitikbereiche Zivilschutz, Wasser und Biodiversität.

Impacts of Climate Change on the Thanh Hoa Province

The most important climate change impacts in the Thanh Hoa province are increasing temperatures and precipitation during the rainy season. Dry seasons on the other hand have been decreasing precipitation which actually leads to water shortages in some areas. The rising sea level causes salinization of coastal aquifers. Along with this goes a strong socio-economic development of the entire province, leading to a higher water demand as well as risks to recharge areas. The detailed assessment of aquifers as well as water balance calculations has been started as a basis to build scenarios for future water supply. These scenarios take both climate change models and the impacts of socio-economic development into account and support the development and implementation of climate change adaptation strategies in close cooperation with local stakeholders.

Impacts of Climate Change on the Ba Ria–Vung Tau Province

The Ba Ria–Vung Tau province is both an important industrial area and tourism hot spot. The development of these two sectors has led to substantial stresses to the environment, especially water quality and quantity. The socio-economic development remains at a high pace. The natural salinization of aquifers might become more important due to future increase of groundwater demand. Detailed water resource and balances were started, also taking climate change impacts and socio-development impacts into account. These form the basis to build future development and impact scenarios to develop and implement climate change adaptation measures in close cooperation with local stakeholders.