dataset · United Kingdom

Estimated Urban Soil Chemistry

The Estimated Urban Soil Chemistry data are derived by spatial interpolation of the Measured Urban Soil Chemistry data. A unique feature of this dataset is the inclusion for the first time of estimated bioaccessible arsenic and lead data. The Estimated Urban Soil Chemistry data indicates the estimated geometric mean concentrations (mg kg-1) of Arsenic, Cadmium, Chromium, Nickel and Lead in topsoil derived by spatial interpolation of the Measured Urban Soil Chemistry data. Estimated bioaccessible

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Source details

Licence: ["The copyright of materials derived from the British Geological Survey's work is vested in the Natural Environment Research Council [NERC]. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in an

Evidence quality: 38.9

Listed in data.gov.uk public catalogue API on 2026-10-16; relevance/value screened (haiku).

Metadata checked: 2026-10-14T13:20:00.000Z

What's in it

Data offered docs-verified: estimated geometric mean topsoil concentrations (mg kg-1) of arsenic, cadmium, chromium, nickel and lead · estimated bioaccessible arsenic and lead
Coverage docs-verified: United Kingdom (metadata extent: latitude 49.77 to 60.86, longitude -8.65 to 1.78) · 2012 (dataset reference date, creation)
Update frequency docs-verified: As needed (metadata: asNeeded; no fixed schedule stated)
Formats docs-verified: Shapefile
Access docs-verified: No licence set on the data.gov.uk page. Access constraints: NERC/BGS copyright; reproduction requires prior permission from the copyright holder. Use is at the customer's own risk.

Useful for

Use cases llm-inferred: Screening for areas where developers may need a contaminated-land risk assessment, to support local planning authority decisions · Judging whether high topsoil potentially harmful element (PHE) concentrations are geogenic or anthropogenic by overlaying land use and geology · Bioaccessible As and Pb screening inputs for human health risk assessment in urban brownfield or redevelopment sites
Audience llm-inferred: geoenvironmental consultants · contaminated land specialists · land quality and planning consultants · environmental scientists · GIS analysts

Limitations

Constraints llm-inferred: Values are spatial interpolations, not direct measurements at each location · Based on, and limited to, BGS records held when the dataset was created; reference date is 2012 · No spatial resolution is stated, so interpolation accuracy at site scale is unknown · Bioaccessible As and Pb are regression estimates derived from total concentrations · Covers only As, Cd, Cr, Ni and Pb in topsoil, and only two shapefiles · BGS/NERC gives no warranty on accuracy or suitability and accepts no liability · Reuse is restricted by NERC/BGS copyright, despite the data.gov.uk footer's OGL statement

Evidence

Check upstream coverage, uncertainty and licence before use. Station observations are not forecasts or design levels.