Edinburgh Napier University

  This chapter provides an overview of the biological tools to assess contaminants bioavailability in soils. Compounds that cause contamination include heavy metals, polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), pesticides, and chlorinated solvents. For the purpose of analysis, the two major subgroups of contaminants are metals and organics. Given the potential human and ecosystem problems associated with soil contamination, many countries have developed guidelines that set levels of contaminants, above which soils may be potentially considered a risk. Different countries have generic assessment criteria-set intervention values for specific contaminants. There are a burgeoning number of bioavailability tests for seemingly huge numbers of scenarios. Any bioavailability test has to be robust, clear in what it does, and standardized before acceptance by any regulatory body. It is also important that the assay method is understood. Factors affecting bioavailability of contaminants in soil are discussed in this chapter And the assessment of contaminant bioavailability in soil is done. Biological tools for assessment of contaminant bioavailability are also elaborated in detail in the chapter