The chemical quality of urban soils in Glasgow, UK, with reference to anthropogenic impacts and current toxicologically-based soil guideline values

Until recently systematic data on the chemical quality of urban soils was lacking in many countries as traditional soil survey programmes focussed on rural environments. The advent of environmental protection legislation in the UK in the 1990s has driven the need for urban soil quality information to ensure healthy and sustainable environments. Since 1992, the British Geological Survey (BGS) has completed soil surveys in 27 UK cities under the Geochemical Baseline Survey of the Environment (G-BASE) programme. This included a survey of Glasgow and surrounding rural areas to link to a wider geoenvironmental assessment: the BGS Clyde and Glasgow Urban Super Project (CUSP). The survey provides an overview of land quality in Glasgow.