Systematic Review of the Health and Equity Impacts of Remediation and Redevelopment of Contaminated Sites

Danielle Sinnett, Isabelle Bray, Gergő Baranyi, Matthias Braubach and Sinaia Netanyanhu
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Danielle Sinnett: Centre for Sustainable Planning and Environments & WHO Collaborating Centre for Healthy Urban Environments, University of the West of England, Bristol BS16 1QY, UK
Isabelle Bray: Centre for Public Health and Wellbeing & WHO Collaborating Centre for Healthy Urban Environments, University of the West of England, Bristol BS16 1QY, UK
Gergő Baranyi: Centre for Research on Environment, Society and Health (CRESH), Institute of Geography, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9XP, UK
Matthias Braubach: European Centre for Environment and Health, World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe, Platz der Vereinten Nationen 1, 53113 Bonn, Germany
Sinaia Netanyanhu: European Centre for Environment and Health, World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe, Platz der Vereinten Nationen 1, 53113 Bonn, Germany

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 9, 1-25

Abstract: (1) Background: Globally there is a vast legacy of contaminated sites from past industrial, commercial and military activity, waste disposal, and mineral extraction. This review examined the extent to which the remediation of contaminated sites reduces health risks to new and existing populations. (2) Methods: Standard academic databases were searched for papers that reported on health-related outcomes in humans following remediation and redevelopment of contaminated sites. Title/abstract screening, followed by full-text screening identified sixteen papers that met the eligibility criteria. (3) Results: Most studies were set in the United States of America and reported changes in blood lead concentrations in children, following soil remediation and, in some cases, public health campaigns to reduce exposure. Two further studies examined the impacts of remediation on soil contaminated with chromium and sediments contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). (4) Conclusions: Overall, the evidence suggests that remediation via removal, capping, and replacing soil, and planting vegetation is effective at reducing concentrations of lead and chromium in blood and urine in children. There is also evidence that sediment dredging can reduce PCB concentrations in umbilical cords in infants. Study designs are relatively weak and some recommendations are provided for those wishing to examine the health impacts of remediation.

Keywords: brownfield; regeneration; human health risk assessment; contaminated land; urban soil (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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