Contamination and integrated remediation of brownfield land

Findings and Recommendations

Well designed, constructed and managed greenspace established on reclaimed brownfield land brings a wide range of public and environmental benefits. When the processes of site assessment, design and planning, remediation, soil formation and species choice are adopted collectively the sustainable regeneration of sites and is achievable and cost effective.

Vegetation influences the pathways by which pollutants interact with susceptible receptors, including by reducing erosion, trapping and absorbing airborne pollutant particles and retaining sediment.

The use of trees to restore heavy metal values to within acceptable limits may be possible for low to moderate levels of contamination, but unlikely if contamination is moderate to high. Trees remove the bioavailable metal fraction, which is the most important in terms of minimising transfer of pollutants to crops or to groundwater.