Soil geochemical baseline studies are carried out to monitor the state of the soil and help to create a safer and better environment for people to live in.
There are numerous (residual) pollution sites in Estonia of which some have been remediated, while some might still be a source of contamination today, for example active mining and industrial areas.
Soil geochemical baseline data provides reference values for the assessment of soil contamination and remediation, therefore helping local governments in handling declarations on the remediation of contaminated soil or groundwater. Baseline concentrations refer to naturally normal concentrations of harmful substances in the soil (natural background) or elevated concentrations that occur in the surface soil in wide proximity to an area suspected to be contaminated (Finnish Government Decree on assessment of soil contamination and the need for cleaning 214/2007).
Geochemical mapping has been carried out in Estonian agricultural soils, but in urban areas, only the city of Tallinn has been studied. In the coming years, Geological Survey of Estonia is planning on studying soil geochemistry in other densely populated areas in Estonia.
The aim of the conference is to introduce the topic of soil geochemical baseline mapping to a wider audience of local governments, national institutes and universities and gain an insight of each institutions thoughts on this matter.