Remediation of polluted soil and sediment: perspectives and failures

Abstract

Experience gained with the remediation of contaminated sites over the last 10 to 15 years has strongly increased the insight into the problem and how it can be tackled. A large number of remediation techniques, most of which focus on clean-up, are now available, and some of them are intensively applied in practice. However, the experiences gained with them show that they are not capable of solving all problems. Furthermore, each case of soil pollution is different and the way to manage it requires, within the limits set by policy and the finances available, a careful weighing of all relevant factors. Increased knowledge about the problem has resulted in potential new techniques, such as extensive in-situ treatment, the use of special treatment walls, phytoremediation and intrinsic natural degradation.