Press Release
For Immediate Release
22 October 2009
Minister launches important urban environmental survey
Dublin SURGE Project (Soil Urban Geochemistry)
Today sees the launch of a first-ever baseline study of soil quality in Dublin.
According to Minister Conor Lenihan, of the Department of Communications, Energy
& Natural Resources, the study will help inform future land-use policy in the city and
suburban areas. “In an era of increasing public interest in our environment it is
opportune that we are launching the Dublin leg of a European-wide project which
will analyse the quality of Dublin’s soils. Important environmental information will
be provided which will have relevance to the public health of the urban population”,
he said.
Extensive historical studies on urban soil quality have been conducted in European
cities by national Geological Survey organisations over the past decade. The studies
have been aimed at determining the level of pollution by heavy metals and organic
compounds in city soils that have accumulated over tens or even hundreds of years.
In general they show, as might be expected, that soils from the inner (older) core of
cities show the most extensive contamination by potentially harmful elements. “This
finding has implications for land use policy and public health in inner city areas
where population densities are high”, Minister Lenihan said. Stressing that there is
no need for concern he pointed out that “high quality scientific research of this nature
is essential in the effective management and sustainable development of our urban
environment.”
Ireland has been successful in having Dublin included as one of the ten locations
where this comprehensive European-wide urban soil quality baseline study will be
carried out. Sampling of Dublin’s soils commences today and will continue
throughout November. Sample teams with staff from the Geological Surveys of
Ireland (GSI) and Norway (NGU) will carry out the work on public lands (parks,
allotments, playgrounds, green spaces etc.) with the assistance of Dublin City
Council, Fingal County Council, South Dublin Council and Dun Laoghaire–
Rathdown Council.
GSI will lead a team effort on data interpretation which will engage a
multidisciplinary group of scientists at GSI and NGU, with support from the city and
local authorities, the EPA and the HSE. The surface soil samples will be analysed at
the geochemical laboratories of NGU and the German Geological Survey (BGR) and
the results will be presented free of charge in an open-access digital atlas in early
2011. The study is part-funded under the NDP and by NGU and BGR as part of what
is an overall EuroGeoSurveys study.
Ends
Further information from:
Patrick O’Connor, Assistant Director,
Geological Survey of Ireland.
Tel 087 806 2900
E-mail Patrick.oconnor@gsi.ie
www.gsi.ie/surge
Customer Centre
Geological Survey of Ireland
Tel: 01 678 2868
E-mail: gsisales@gsi.ie