ABOUT US > Sub Groups

In 2011, SoBRA established a number of subgroups to work on specific topics with the aim of providing guidance and tools of potential benefit to land contamination practitioners. Our currently active subgroups are listed below.
If you would like to become involved in a subgroup then please email: info@sobra.org.uk

Acute Generic Assessment Criteria

In the UK, the assessment of risks to humans from land contamination has tended to focus on chronic exposure scenarios. However, focusing on chronic exposure may not always be protective of potential acute exposure scenarios, especially in non-residential settings, and/or if statistical methods are used to interpret site soil data. The overall aim of this sub-group is to develop Acute Generic Assessment Criteria (AGACs) to assist in assessing this issue, perhaps via their direct comparison with site-related maximum values. The AGAC working group is exploring  this issue in more detail and will make recommendations on how AGACs could be calculated and used. The aim is also to produce a set of example AGACs for a selection of potential soil contaminants.

Groundwater Vapour Modelling

At some sites there is potential for contaminants in vapour form to arise from dissolved phase sources and migrate to indoor or outdoor air. There are a number of models which can be used to estimate indoor air concentrations arising from dissolved phase contamination, but many of these are set within a non-UK assessment context. Using the Johnson and Ettinger model detailed in the recent CLEA documentation (SR3), and other appropriate national and international guidance, this group aims to develop guidance for risk assessors on the modelling of vapours to indoor and outdoor air.  If appropriate, the group will also propose a methodology for developing Groundwater Human Health GAC values for use as a screening tool based on generic assumptions on soils and buildings already set within the CLEA framework. The working group may also consider the potential for the development of a spreadsheet implementation of the spreadsheet-based model which could be used by practitioners to make such assessments.

Better Regulation

The aim of the Sub-Group is to consider the role that risk assessment generally, and SoBRA and its members specifically, can play in enhancing the regulation of land contamination in the UK. It is expected that the Sub-Group will undertake the following activities in connection with this aim:

• representation of SoBRA at the Land Forum BR meetings;
• canvassing SoBRA members' views and reporting back on Land Forum BR issues;
• developing outline and, if appropriate, detailed quality criteria for land contamination risk assessment and assessors;
• if appropriate, and probably in connection with others, developing curricula and associated standards to enable the accreditation of land contamination risk assessors;
• again, if appropriate, and probably in connection with others, producing training materials etc to assist with accreditation as above; and
• acting as a forum for contact between regulators, the regulated community, consultants and others concerning the quality of land contamination risk assessment in the UK and associated guidance/training needs.