Environmental risk assessment
Environmental risk assessment
We help you investigate potential soil and groundwater contamination, assess the need for treatment and, if necessary, plan and implement remediation.
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Environmental risk assessment
The need for soil remediation typically arises when the land is contaminated and poses environmental or health risks. Contaminated soil may contain harmful substances such as heavy metals, organic compounds or toxic chemicals. When they end up in surface water or groundwater or are distributed as airborne dust or gas, they can expose people to health hazards or cause ecological risks. Soil contamination and the need for remediation are determined risk-based and adequate measures to manage the risks are assessed. Contaminated land areas are remediated when, for example, planning new construction, demolition or land construction, or when there are other changes to land use.
The goal of remediation is to eliminate migration or exposure routes of harmful substances found in the soil and to restore the safety and suitability of soil for its intended use. Risk assessments and remediation plans prepared by our experts are always based on thorough surveys and samples taken by certified samplers.
Remediation of contaminated soil
01
Surveying land and soil contamination
The investigation of soil contamination begins with a survey of the causes of potential contamination and the extent of the damage. The aim is to get an initial idea of which harmful substances have ended up in the environment and how widely they may have spread.
02
Sampling and risk assessment
Samples are used to determine the harmful substances present in the soil and their quantities. The samples are sent to be examined in accredited laboratories. Surveys and samples help assess the risk of the land or soil contamination being a danger to people or the environment.
03
Notifying authorities of the contamination
Legally, soil contamination must be reported to the supervisory authority, which is the local ELY Centre. Based on surveys and background information, the authority is informed of the nature and extent of what has happened and what actions can be taken to remedy the situation. Treating contaminated land is a licensed activity, if a risk-based need for remediation has been identified in the area. In that case, a statutory notice with an attached remediation plan must be made before the treatment begins.
04
Remediation plan
The remediation plan defines the means for treating contaminated soil as well as the objectives of remediation. Based on the notice, the supervisory authority (the local ELY Centre) issues a decision on soil remediation. If the remediation is expected to cause a contamination risk to a water body or unreasonable stress on the neighbourhood, the treatment measures require an environmental permit application that must be submitted to the state environmental permit authority, i.e. AVI.
05
Supervising the remediation
Remediation of land and soil is always supervised by an independent body with expertise on treating contaminated soil. The supervisor ensures that the contaminated soil is removed from the area and delivered to the correct disposal site in accordance with the remediation objectives. The supervisor also prepares all necessary documents and reports.
Needs for soil remediation
- Prevention of environmental and health risks: Contaminated soil may contain harmful substances such as heavy metals (e.g. lead and cadmium), organic compounds (e.g. petroleum hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenyls or PAHs) and toxic chemicals. When they end up in surface water or groundwater or are distributed as airborne dust or gas, they can expose people to health hazards or cause ecological risks.
- Restoring the ecosystem: Contaminated soil can weaken local ecosystems and living conditions, such as microbial and plant communities in the soil, which in turn affects the entire food chain. Remediation helps restore natural diversity and ecosystem functioning.
- Groundwater protection: Groundwater is an important source of household water, and its quality can be compromised by soil contamination. Harmful substances can infiltrate deep into the soil and contaminate groundwater. Remediation prevents contamination from spreading into groundwater reserves.
- Improving constructability and land use: Construction and other development projects require clean soil. Treating contaminated land is a way to prepare it for new purposes and changes in land use, such as residential or commercial use, and to reduce damage to construction and infrastructure planning.
- Statutory requirements and responsibility: Legislation, such as the Environmental Protection Act in Finland, requires that contaminated land be treated if it poses a risk to the environment or human health.
Remediation methods vary by target and pollutant. They can be physical (contaminated soil removal), chemical, biological (bioremediation) or combined methods. Our specialists can survey pollutants in contaminated soil and are familiar with the ways of assessing their distribution, which helps specify the need for remediation and appropriate methods for it.
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Ari Kolehmainen
Ari’s areas of expertise include investigations, plans and risk assessments related to contaminated land, circular‑economy matters, permit processes and construction‑management projects. In addition, Ari has extensive experience with a wide range of environmental‑consulting assignments, including those related to mining, aggregate extraction, waste‑management and energy‑production projects.
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Marjaana Rautpalo
Marjaana’s areas of expertise include permitting and environmental impact assessment procedures for mining projects, environmental and health risk assessments, preparation of environmental permit applications, various notification procedures, environmental studies and sampling, as well as assessments of remediation needs.
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Pekka Haaranen
Pekka’s areas of expertise include investigations and remediation of contaminated soils.