Acknowledgements

The updated industry profiles were reviewed by individuals or relevant organisations that volunteered. The main task of the reviewers was to check the assignment of potential contaminants of concern to their likely locations and to check and provide additional information sources. The profiles were also reviewed by the Steering Group and the CL:AIRE Technology and Research Group. CL:AIRE would like to thank all those listed below as well as those who preferred not to be listed:

Steering Group

Heidi Bignell - Environment Agency
Theresa Cory - Environment Agency
Angela Haslam - Environment Agency
Matt Llewhellin - Natural Resources Wales
Barry Mitcheson - WSP UK Ltd (representing AGS)

Industry Reviewers

Sarah Bannon - Ramboll UK Ltd
Ruth Chippendale - Energy Institute, Soil, Waste & Groundwater Group
Ann Chivers - National Grid Commercial Property
Dannyjo Cox - Dunton Environmental Ltd
Mandy Dennis - West Northamptonshire Council
Jon Eudall - Ramboll
Emma Evans - Arcadis
Paul Hamer - Arcadis
Hilary IIsley - JNP Group
James Lemon - Arcadis
Paul Nathanail - LQM
James Nelson - JDNscience
Kimberly Neville - Soiltechnics Ltd
Ben Rees - Geotechnology Limited
David Rudland - Swindon Borough Council
SEPA Radioactive Substances Unit
Jonathan Smith
Alan Thomas - ERM
Ben Thomas - Urban Regen Ltd
Russell Thomas - WSP

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Engineering works - railway engineering works

Background:

This profile covers the processes and activities carried out at railway engineering works. The works covered by this profile are generally referred to as heavy maintenance depots. This profile also includes the processes and activities carried out at refuelling yards.

Potential Processes and Operations:

Railway works have been involved in the manufacture and repair of locomotives, carriages and rolling stock. The buildings range in size from small engine sheds, where only minimal maintenance is undertaken, to large-scale manufacturing works, where construction of engines, carriages and rolling stock and a full range of maintenance and refuelling operations takes place. Many sites have their own electrical generation facilities and there could be water pre-treatment facilities in areas where water is particularly hard. Larger works may have incorporated steelworks and gas works.

Potential Contaminants of Concern:
Contaminant type Main group of contaminants Location
Storage areas Workshop areas* Waste storage Waste disposal (ash pits, on-site landfill) Ancillary industrial activities
Organic Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) • • • •  
Halogenated hydrocarbons • • • •  
Non-halogenated hydrocarbons • • • •  
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs     • • •
Dioxins and furans          
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)     • •  
Pesticides and herbicides •     •  
Organometallic compounds          
Explosives          
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)          
Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) •   • •  
Inorganic Metals • • • •  
Non-metals and common inorganic substances • • • • •
Asbestos • • • • •
Cyanides
 
 •   • •
Radionuclides       •  
Other potential contaminants of concern Ethylene glycol, coal, ash and landfill gas. See original Industry Profile for additional potential contaminants.
* workshop areas include the following types - fabrication, construction, painting, plating, electrical, maintenance, dismantling, cleaning, repair etc.
 
Original Industry Profile: 
Further Information Sources: Related Industry Profiles:
 

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Waste recycling, treatment and disposal sites: landfills and other waste treatment or waste disposal sites

Background:

This profile deals with waste recycling, treatment and disposal sites and focuses on landfills and other waste treatment or disposal sites. The discussion of landfill sites in this profile includes the disposal of hazardous waste. Another industry profile Waste recycling, treatment and disposal sites: hazardous waste treatment plants considers the treatment of hazardous waste by incineration and by physical, chemical and biological methods.

Potential Processes and Operations:

This profile considers the operations at the following types of waste management facilities: 

  • waste collection and transfer stations (processes include sorting, compaction, baling, depollution (e.g. of end-of-life vehicles), liquid management)
  • landfill sites
  • household/commercial waste incinerators
Potential Contaminants of Concern:

Industry profiles usually include a list of potential contaminants associated with different locations on site. For this profile a site-wide approach has been taken because its focus is on landfills and other waste treatment or waste disposal sites and may be contaminated by a large range of substances. It is recommended that an appropriate site investigation be carried out to determine the exact nature of the contamination associated with an individual site, taking into account the history of the site.

Contaminant type Main group of contaminants Location
Site wide
Organic Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) •
Halogenated hydrocarbons •
Non-halogenated hydrocarbons •
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs •
Dioxins and furans •
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) •
Pesticides and herbicides •
Organometallic compounds •
Explosives  
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) •
Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) •
Inorganic Metals •
Non-metals and common inorganic substances •
Asbestos •
Cyanides •
Radionuclides  
 
Original Industry Profile: 
Further Information Sources: Related Industry Profiles:
 

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Timber treatment works and timber products manufacturing works

Timber treatment works

Background:

This profile covers the formulation of timber preservative solutions and the treatment of timber with preservatives before use. This includes the formulation of preservatives used in remedial treatments, but not the application of remedial treatments. It does not deal with flame retardant treatments for timber. The production of the active ingredients used in wood preservative formulations is covered by the profile Chemical works - pesticides manufacturing works.

Potential Processes and Operations:

Wood preservation involves the formulation and impregnation of wood with chemicals toxic to wood-destroying organisms. The active ingredients and other materials required for the formulation and preparation of timber treating solutions are received from chemical works in liquid or solid state. The formulation of most wood preservative chemicals is typically undertaken by mixing the raw materials in a mixing vessel, often to form a concentrate. The prepared formulations used for timber treatment are typically transported as liquids or pastes. The main types of treatment solution are:

  • Copper-organic (water-based)
  • Water-based copper-chromium-arsenic (CCA) solutions (historic use)
  • Microemulsion (primarily organic based)
  • Organic solvent (commonly known as Light Organic Solvent based Preservatives)
  • Creosote and creosote solutions
  • Copper-organic (oil-based)

The main industrial methods of applying wood preservatives utilise pressure and/or vacuum techniques, or immersion; the latter is decreasing in use.

Potential Contaminants of Concern:
Contaminant type Main group of contaminants Location
Raw materials delivery/storage/ transfer Process buildings Products storage/ transfer Waste storage/disposal Process pipework/ pumps Drainage systems and soakaways Effluent/water treatment areas
Organic Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) • • • • • • •
Halogenated hydrocarbons • • • • • • •
Non-halogenated hydrocarbons • • • • • • •
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs • • • • • • •
Dioxins and furans              
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)              
Pesticides and herbicides • • • • • • •
Organometallic compounds • • • • • • •
Explosives              
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)              
Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) •  • • • • • •
Inorganic Metals •  • • • • • •
Non-metals and common inorganic substances •  • • • • • •
Asbestos
 
      •  •    
Cyanides
 
            
Radionuclides              
Other potential contaminants of concern
 Biocides (e.g. triazole), creosote, coal and associated ash, pyrethroids. See original Industry Profile for additional potential contaminants.
 
Original Industry Profile: 
Further Information Sources: Related Industry Profiles:
 

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Timber products manufacturing works

Background:

This profile deals with the manufacture of solid wood and wood-based panel products. It also includes the finishing of wood products with surface coatings such as varnishes and paints at their place of manufacture. It does not include the offsite preservative treatment of timber, which is dealt with in Timber treatment works

Potential Processes and Operations:

The solid timber products manufacturing industry can be broadly divided into three categories:

  • construction timber (trussed rafters and beams)
  • joinery (window frames, doors and staircases)
  • furniture
Wood-based panel products increase the use of raw wood by using a higher proportion of the felled tree. They also have advantages over solid wood; large sheets can be produced and the major defects and differences in properties along and across the grain, characteristic of solid timber, can be avoided. Wood-based panel products fall into three main groups:
  • fibre building boards
  • particleboard (mainly chipboard)
  • plywood
The chemicals required for the manufacture and subsequent on-site treatment of timber and timber products are generally received as powdered solids or liquids and may comprise adhesives, resins, surface coatings, sizing agents, wood preservatives and fire retardants. Most sites operate, service and repair a fleet of vehicles and have large on-site engineering and electrical departments. In addition, some sites may have their own electrical sub-stations.
Potential Contaminants of Concern:
Contaminant type Main group of contaminants Location
Raw materials delivery/storage/ transfer Process plant Drainage systems and soakaways Waste disposal/incineration Water treatment areas
Organic Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) • •   •  
Halogenated hydrocarbons • •   •  
Non-halogenated hydrocarbons • • • •  
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs • • • •  
Dioxins and furans       •  
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)          
Pesticides and herbicides • • • •  
Organometallic compounds • •   •  
Explosives          
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) • • • •  
Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) • • • •  
Inorganic Metals • • • •  
Non-metals and common inorganic substances • • • • •
Asbestos
 
 •   •  
Cyanides
 
        
Radionuclides          
Other potential contaminants of concern
 Biocides, glycols, ketones, esters, bitumens. See original Industry Profile for additional potential contaminants.
 
Original Industry Profile: 
Further Information Sources: Related Industry Profiles:
 

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Railway land

Background:

This profile covers facilities and activities, past and present, on railway land. The potential for the contamination of railway land is greatest at depots for the construction and maintenance of locomotives and carriages and for refuelling locomotives, which are the subject of the Industry Profile Engineering works: railway engineering works.

Potential Processes and Operations:

The profile considers the following infrastructure and operations:

  • running lines and lineside
  • electrical substations
  • infrastructure engineering depots
  • waste management
  • freight operations and freight depots
Potential Contaminants of Concern:
Contaminant type Main group of contaminants Location  
Running lines Stations Sidings and freights yards Freight depots Signal box lamprooms Infrastructure engineering workshops Engineering landfill sites
Organic Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)           •  
Halogenated hydrocarbons           •  
Non-halogenated hydrocarbons • • • • • • •
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs • • • •     •
Dioxins and furans              
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)

•
(electrified)

         •  
Pesticides and herbicides •     •      
Organometallic compounds              
Explosives              
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)              
Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) •     •   •  
Inorganic Metals •           •
Non-metals and common inorganic substances •     •     •
Asbestos
 
           •
Cyanides
 
            
Radionuclides              
Other potential contaminants of concern Ethylene glycol, ash. See original Industry Profile for additional potential contaminants.
 
Original Industry Profile: 
Further Information Sources: Related Industry Profiles:

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  1. Printing and bookbinding works
  2. Dry-cleaners
  3. Oil refineries and bulk storage of crude oil and petroleum products
  4. Gas works, coke works and other coal carbonisation plants

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