Contaminated land is a problem, both in the short and long term, as it cannot be used without remediation. The investigation and analysis of the problem, along with the legal responsibilites surrounding the issues, continue to present difficulties to those wishing to use or develop a contaminated site. Since publication of the first edition the area has developed and therefore the second edition has been updated to take account of advances in the field.

Former industrial and urban land is increasingly being recycled, a practice which follows current political policy and is appropriate in the more heavily populated areas of Europe. The contamination which soils and water below such land may have suffered due to past industrial activities could pose future risks to new occupiers, or to the environment as a whole, and therefore it is important that an assessment of the risk is undertaken before such land is re-used. This volume has been written specifically to assist developers, consultants and planners who are involved in the reclamation of...