Introduction – Project Summary

On-site measurements using field analytical tools (FATs) have the potential to significantly reduce the costs and increase the reliability of contaminated land assessment by supplying rapid, actionable and low cost data in relation to laboratory analysis. However, a current lack of acceptance of on-site measurements is limiting their use by end-users and regulators. This project aims to increase the acceptability of such measurements by -:

1) developing and validating a protocol and Decision Management Tool (DMT) that can effectively quantify and minimise the uncertainty associated with using FATs and

2) developing a field analytical tool designed to operate optimally with the DMT producing a system that minimises the qualitative uncertainty and sensitively quantifies the concentrations of risk-driving priority contaminants such as Benzo(a)pyrene.

By providing the end-user and the regulator with information on both the quantitative and qualitative uncertainty, the more widespread defensible use of on-site analysis in site investigation and remediation works will be realised. The effective development of this technology will ultimately enable:

Increased reliability of site investigation and its verification via increased sampling frequency

More accurate ‘hotspot’ delineation via optimised sampling methods

More rapid decisions being made on-site minimising plant and personnel costs

Improved delineation in waste segregation, reducing volumes of waste requiring treatment and disposal

On-site analytical tools are not used extensively in the UK because of a perceived lack of data quality. The introduction of MCerts has addressed the analytical quality of laboratory testing techniques, but no such scheme exists for the use of field analytical tools. The proposed DMT to be developed within this project will utilise an evaluation of the uncertainty of the measurements made using FAT by taking into account sampling and analytical method errors. It will then apply this uncertainty to the interpretation of the results in order to establish whether an effective decision can be made.

Risk assessment criteria are increasingly focussed on ensuring that the levels of specific compounds are below the threshold of acceptability, and on-site decisions are required in UK contaminated land assessment. To address this an Optimised Uncertainty Minimised Chemiluminescent Immunoassay (OUMCI) tool will be developed to more specifically identify and quantify risk-driving compounds than currently available immunoassay tools. The OUMCI system will utilise highly specific monoclonal antibodies rather than polyclonal antibodies, which currently identify classes of compounds such as PAHs. Additionally, highly sensitive chemiluminescent detection techniques will be used enabling contaminant detection at the low ppb levels. A simple microfluidic system will be also be developed, automating the OUMCI tool, effectively minimising operator error and then integrated into Rapid On-site Toxicity Audit System (ROTAS) modifying software. The technology developed will be a next generation high performance field optimised immunoassay.

In order to validate the newly developed uncertainty estimation DMT and combined OUMCI DMT technologies, this project will perform field trials at stakeholder sites (Corus and National Grid) with guidance from the UK regulator (EA), comparing the effectiveness of these tools with existing FATs.

Finally: The newly developed technology and scientific outcomes will be exploited and disseminated into the environmental sector with the aid of CL:AIRE to accelerate knowledge transfer, effectively contacting end-users of the technology.

In summary: This project will deliver a rigorously evaluated OUMCI DMT that will significantly contribute to the increased acceptability and use of FATs. It is envisaged that such novel tools will significantly reduce Brownfield remediation costs, effectively facilitating increased redevelopment of contaminated sites and reducing the potential for misclassification thus reducing liabilities for potential developers. The technology developed in this project will have a substantial and sustainable positive environmental impact by allowing more effective decision making on-site, thereby improving both the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of remediation.