Project

Brochure on the project here here.

Arsenic (As) is a chemical element occurring naturally in the soil and bedrock. One of the results of a previous EU-project RAMAS was that arsenic can be dissolved and transported naturally to the groundwater.

Based on international studies, long-term use of groundwater contaminated by arsenics is a risk to the health.

High arsenic concentrations occur most typically due to anthropogenic reasons, caused for example by minig activities, metal refinement or by the combustion of fossil fuels. In areas with naturally elevated arsenic concentrations, such as the Pirkanmaa region, arsenic typically resides in the soil, near the surface of the underlying bedrock. In regions like these, arsenic does not typically cause any major risks for health unless the soils are disturbed for example by groundworks. Therefore it is important to assure that arsenic is not transported to ground- or surficial waters during major groundworks or excavations of rock products. Long-term use of drinking water containing high concentrations of arsenic may be harmful and cause health risks.

In Finland, guidelines to assess and manage the risks caused by naturally high arsenic concentarations is lacking, causing problems in the process of permitting environmental and construction licences.

In ASROCKS-project, the purpose is the assess the evironmental risk caused by arsenic at aggregate production and construction sites located in the Pirkanmaa and Häme regions in southern Finland.

Based on investigationa and analyses carried out during the project, the transport potential of arsenic to ground and surficial waters is assessed and guidelines are generated to manage the risks during permitting environmental licences and especially from the point of view of aggregate production.

ASROCKS-project is carried out in co-operation with aggretate producers, municipalities and the authorities of the Centre of Economic Development, Transport and the Environment.