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This survey project aims to provide a national overview of the chemical contamination of soil and herbage.
<p>This project will provide information about current levels of dioxins, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocabons (PAHs) and metals in surface soils and herbage, using the latest analytical methods by: <br> <ul>
<li>Detailing and assessing levels of dioxins, PCBs, PAHs, and metals in soils and herbage across UK locations, in the vicinity of significant sources and in urban areas and in non-industrial locations.
<li>Comparing these levels with the results of previous studies in order to establish possible trends and cross-referencing the data generated with UK air monitoring data for the Toxic Organic Micropollutants Programme.
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This project, co-funded by the Food Standards Agency Scotland, the Environment Agency, the Department for Environment and Rural Affairs, the National Assembly for Wales, the Environment and Heritage Service Northern Ireland, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and the Scotland and Northern Ireland Forum for Environmental Research, is intended to provide a national overview of the chemical contamination of soil and herbage, as a baseline for comparison to specific sites and to allow an assessment of changes in soil and herbage chemical quality since previous surveys.
<p>Find more about this project and other FSA food safety-related projects at the <a href="http://www.food.gov.uk/science/research/" target="_blank">Food Standards Agency Research webpage</a>.