Table G.

1 Identification of principal potential hazards relating to contamination

Contaminant(s) [sources] Principal hazard/reasons for Comments

PAHs and toxic elements
including arsenic and lead
Copper, nickel and zinc
PAHs and toxic metals
Petroleum hydrocarbons
Asbestos
concern (including potential
receptors)
Potentially harmful to human
health
Toxic to plants
Potential groundwater and
surface water contaminants
Potential groundwater and
surface water contaminants
Some forms are proven
carcinogens
Near-surface sampling required in
garden area.
Potential risks to future site
occupants and other human
receptors.
Concentrations might be
elevated.
Near-surface sampling required.
Negligible risks
No evidence for oil tanks etc.
found.
Negligible risks.
Investigation not required.
Anecdotal information that there
had been an asbestos-cement
structure on the site - sampling
required in this part of the site.

G.4.7 Fieldwork
The fieldwork was carried out with both the geotechnical engineer and the
environmental specialist on the site. All logging was carried out by the
geotechnical engineer.
Ten trial pits were formed. The trial pit locations were chosen taking the
proposed layout into account so that samples for chemical analysis could be
taken as far as practical from both the future front and rear garden areas of
each house (there was limited access in places). Two pits were located within the
footprint of the old greenhouse and one in the gravel drive at the front of the
existing house.
Five of the trial pits at locations chosen by the geotechnical engineer were
formed to about 2.5 m to enable the ground to be inspected and samples taken
for geotechnical testing. The remaining five pits were formed to depths of up to
about 1.0 m. The trial pit locations are shown in Figure G.2.
The trial pits exposed varying thicknesses of topsoil over sandy clay with sand
and gravel at greater depths. Overall, twenty four samples were taken for
chemical analysis from the topsoil and underlying sub-soil from depths of 0.1 m
to 1.2 mbgl from the ten trial pits. Samples were taken from the near-surface
top-soil and from within the range 0.4 m to 0.6 m from each trial pit.
In addition, several surface and near-surface samples were taken by hand from
the assumed location of the old asbestos-cement garage.

G.4.8 Analytical strategy

The samples were analysed for acidity (pH), a range of potentially harmful
elements, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).
The samples from the assumed location of the old asbestos-cement garage and a
number of other of the top-soil samples were screened for asbestos fibres (no
asbestos-cement fragments were seen during sampling).