What causes contaminated land?
Contamination of land has primarily arisen as a result of past human activity, for example mining, industrial activities and waste disposal. However, some areas of the United Kingdom also have naturally elevated levels of certain substances in the soil (e.g. metals), which may pose a risk to human health and the environment. Part IIA does not differentiate between naturally occurring contaminants and anthropogenic (man-made) contaminants, and to date no guidance has been issued concerning land with naturally elevated concentrations of contaminants.
