An integral part of the G-BASE and TellusNI survey programmes was to map and establish the soil geochemical baselines of urban areas in the UK.
Systematic geochemical sampling and analysis of soil samples was carried out in 25 urban centres. Soil samples were collected from two depths (5β20cm topsoil and 35β50cm deeper soil) at an average density of four every 1km2. Samples were collected according to the methods described in the . Topsoil samples were analysed by X-ray fluorescence (XRF) for a range of major and trace elements; topsoil pH and loss on ignition (LOI) were also determined. The deeper soil samples were stored in the G-BASE sample archive.
Figure 1: UK Urban Centres Shallow (5-20 cm) Soil Sample Sites. See main outputs section for further information and links to reports.
In addition to the standard urban soil dataset, stream sediment and stream water samples were collected within the Glasgow urban area.
The urban surveys were carried out according to the methods outlined in:
- Fordyce, F M, Brown, S E, Ander, E L, Rawlins, B G, OβDonnell, K E, Lister, T R, Breward, N and Johnson, C C. 2005. . Geochemistry: Exploration, Environment, Analysis. Vol. 5(4), 325β336.
- Johnson, C C, and Ander, E L. 2008. . Environmental Geochemistry and Health, Vol. 30(6), 511β530.
- Johnson, C C, Demetriades, A, Locutura, J, and Ottesen, R T (editors). 2011. . (UK: Wiley Online Library.)
- Johnson, Christopher. 2005. 2005 G-BASE field procedures manual. 51ΑΤΖζ, 65pp. (IR/05/097)
The resultant data provides the most extensive set of systematic soil chemical information available for UK urban environments and are used to:
- assess the condition of soil within populated areas.
- identify and quantify human impact on soil in urban areas through comparison with the rural, natural soil geochemical background
- assess pollution and potential risks to the health of ecosystems and humans, as an aid to environmental protection
Applications are relevant to land-use planning and sustainable development, urban regeneration and land contamination legislation.
Reports are available for a number of urban centres. Click on the links in the table below to download the reports. Additional information is available for Glasgow and London.
* See Figure 1
| Locality | Urban centre |
|---|---|
| 1 | Glasgow |
| 2 | |
| 3 | |
| 4 | |
| 5 | |
| 6 | |
| 7 | |
| 8 | |
| 9 | |
| 10 | |
| 11 | Derby |
| 12 | Nottingham |
| 13 | |
| 14 | |
| 15 | Leicester |
| 16 | Peterborough |
| 17 | |
| 18 | Coventry |
| 19 | Northampton |
| 20 | Ipswich |
| 21 | |
| 22 | |
| 23 | London |
| 24 | |
| 25 |
For project information and outputs see:
The G-BASE, TellusNI and BGS urban geochemical datasets have been used extensively in studies to understand geochemical processes in urban environments to help inform land quality assessments and sustainable urban development.
Stream sediment and stream water
CREW urban diffuse pollution project
Urban soil
- GIS as a Tool to Illustrate the Use of Urban Geochemical Data in the Risk Assessment of Hazardous Pollutants.
- Relationships between Soil Metal Land Quality and Land Use β a Case Study from Glasgow, UK.
- Assessment of Lead and Arsenic Bioavailability in Surface Soils in the Cardiff Area.
- Influence of Geology and Anthropogenic Activity on the Geochemistry of Urban Soils.
- The impact of urbanization on metals in soils: A case study from Leicester.
Groundwater and soil pollutants project (GRASP):
- Assessing the Importance of Depth to Groundwater in a Methodology for Prioritising Threats to Groundwater Quality from Surface Contaminants in the Clyde Gateway, Glasgow.
- Validation of a GIS-based Tool for Prioritising Threats to Shallow Groundwater Quality from Soil Pollutants in Glasgow.
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Applied geochemistry
Since the 1960s, the BGS has amassed considerable geochemical data holdings and developed significant expertise in applied geochemistry.