Is Your Soil Contaminated?
If you’re planning a construction or demolition project, you’ve probably spent countless hours budgeting for materials, drawing up schedules and organising logistics. However, one thing you might not have stopped to think about is what’s underneath the surface of your site – namely, the condition of the soil.
If your soil has been contaminated in any way, this must be removed before work can begin; otherwise, it could pose a health risk to workers and the surrounding environment. But what is contaminated soil? And how can contaminated soil be removed? The team at Hill Demolition is here to protect your site and its workers by explaining everything you need to know.
What Is Contaminated Soil?
As the name implies, contaminated soil occurs when hazardous contaminants – such as heavy metals, oils and tars, chemicals, asbestos and more – are incorrectly handled and disposed of, causing them to leach into the surrounding soil.
Is Your Soil Contaminated?
Given how dangerous it can be to come into contact with contaminated soil, it’s important you’re able to identify it. Here are a few telltale signs:
Soil discolouration: Often, the colour of soil can vary by region. If you notice that a part of your site has unusually coloured soil that is not typical for your area and there appears to be no obvious cause for this, the soil could be contaminated.
Strong smells: If your soil is contaminated, you’ll probably notice an unpleasant chemical odour rather than the earthy smell you’d normally associate with soil. In some cases, the contaminant itself may have a signature smell, like arsenic.
Minimal plant growth: As plants take nutrients from the soil, it’s seemingly obvious that areas of contaminated soil can’t support healthy plant growth and will remain mostly bare.
Erosion: Plants and vegetation often help to prevent soil from wearing away. As contaminants kill this layer and affect the quality of the soil, this can then cause erosion.
Is Contaminated Soil Dangerous?
Yes, contaminated soil can be incredibly dangerous if not handled by a professional, although the severity of the danger can vary depending on the level of exposure and the contaminant in question – some pollutants will be more hazardous than others.
When soil is disturbed, it’s all too easy to accidentally inhale some soil particles. Light exposure can cause a series of unpleasant side effects, such as dizziness, rashes, headaches and respiratory issues, whereas heavy exposure to more dangerous contaminants can have more serious consequences, such as various cancers or neurological disorders.
How To Get Rid of Contaminated Soil
To safely dispose of contaminated soil, you’ll need the help of an expert, like the team at Hill Demolition. We’ll identify the contaminant, set up a safe working zone and – using specialist plant equipment – excavate the contaminated soil. This will then be placed in a secure vehicle and transported to a licensed waste management facility, where the contaminated soil will be treated and disposed of. There are several different ways of treating contaminated soil, such as bioremediation, soil washing and soil stabilisation, and the chosen method will depend on the type of contaminant.
Do you suspect there’s contaminated soil present on your site? If you need the help of a trusted contractor to safely dispose of contaminated soil, look no further than the team at Hill Demolition. For more than 50 years, we’ve been providing a range of excavation services, including contaminated soil removal, to customers across London, Hertfordshire, Essex and beyond. Contact us to discuss your needs in more detail.
