A review of the contamination of soil with lead II. Spatial distribution and risk assessment of soil lead

Contamination of soil with lead has occurred on a global scale. Exposure to lead may cause adverse effects to human health and the environment. It is therefore desirable to obtain a quantitative estimate of the potential risk of lead contamination. Numerous studies have been conducted collecting lea d concentration data from both natural and contaminated soil on a range of scales. Very few of these studies have made serious attempts to spatially d escribe the data. In order to identify contaminated land and to enable deve lopment of appropriate environmental guidelines, it is essential to have an understanding of the universal range of lead concentrations. Such data als o assists in assessing any potential risk to the environment or human healt h. This paper reviews the multitude of data collected on soil Pb concentrat ions. Lead surveys are discussed on the basis of land use, with Australian data presented separately. Data from lead surveys of agricultural, urban an d industrial areas, as well as nationwide surveys are summarised. A small b ut increasing number of studies have employed spatial prediction techniques such as kriging to map the distribution of lead concentrations in soil. Th ese studies are also summarised and a brief description of the basis for th eir use presented. Finally, environmental and health risk assessment is dis cussed and some methodologies in use around the world reviewed. (C) 2001 El sevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.