Chemicals can enter the soil in various ways: by direct discharge, by atmospheric deposition, via incidents, and so on. From the soil, these substances can spread. They can leach into the groundwater, be blown by the wind, evaporate, or be absorbed by plants and thus enter the food chain. They can also enter the indoor environment via the air (ventilation) or via soil particles that for example cling to footwear. Humans can be exposed to this contamination via direct contact with the soil and indirect contact via the various channels through which the substances spread.
Exposure to and the health risks associated with soil contamination can be assessed – among others – using mathematical models that calculate the intake resulting from soil contamination.
VITO designs models and methods to calculate human exposure to soil contamination and the resulting health risks. Thus, VITO has developed the Vlier-Humaan Model (Flemish instrument for the evaluation of human risks) and the associated guidelines as a tool for the Flemish government's (OVAM) soil remediation policy. This model was fully revised recently to bring it in line with the latest scientific insights, and a prototype model – S-Risk – was proposed.
VITO uses the models it developed as well as other third-party methodologies to assess the exposure to and health risks of soil contamination in complex situations. The use of location-specific information (chemical measurements, biomonitoring) allows the evaluations to be adapted to the concrete issue.
More info at Soil Group.
