Spatial variability in ecological risk assessement

Ecological risk assessment in heterogene polluted Dutch river floodplains

Between the end of the past century and now, the rivers Rhine and Meuse and their sediments
have become increasingly contaminated with various pollutants (heavy metals, PAC's). As a
result considerable amounts of heavy metals have accumulated in the soils of the embanked
floodplains. The coming decades, large construction works in these floodplains are foreseen,
aiming at a reduction of the flooding risk, development of nature and improvement of the
quality of the soils.
For these large interferences in the landscape information on the current and future state of soil
pollution is indispensable. This research focuses on the development of a spatial model for the
quantification of this pollution variability in space and time. A possible solution direction could
be the integration of geographical information systems (GIS), geostatistics and remote sensing.
The next step of the research will focus on the ecological implications of the heterogene
polluted floodplains. As large parts of the floodplains will function as nature reserves, it is
important to get insight into the ecological risks of the current and future pollution. An
ecotoxicological model for terrestrial organisms will be constructed, which will the spatial
variability of bio-availability and -magnification.

Photo: Measurements with Fieldspec in the floodplain Afferdensche and Deestsche Waarden
Photo: Measurements with Fieldspec in the floodplain Afferdensche and Deestsche Waarden