Cent Eur J Public Health 1998, 6(2):144-147
Current practice of health risk assessment of soil pollution in Hungary
- 1 "Johan Béla" National Institute of Public Health, Budapest, Hungary
- 2 Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Policy, Budapest, Hungary
Soil pollution represents one of the major environmental and health risks all over the world. Countries of the Central and Eastern European region are facing enormous problems in this area, since the extent and severity of the pollution has only become evident recently. Hungary is in the process to develop a system and institutional frame for risk assessment of soil pollution and contaminated land sites. Current practice of hazard and risk assessment in Hungary concerns contaminated arable land and food products, contaminated small farms and gardens around industrial settings and most extensively highly polluted areas of industrial origin. Hazard assessment of contaminated soils concerns chemical, microbiological and physical agents. Prioritization of contaminated lands for remediation is in the centre of the current activity. Direct or indirect health risk is an integrated part of this process. For characterization of risks of soil origin, internationally acepted computer programs are being used.
Published: June 1, 1998 Show citation