Geological information for environment protection
As a basis for safeguarding our environment, we need information about geological conditions in different areas, such as levels of heavy metals in soils, the permeability of superficial deposits, and how groundwater moves through the ground.
SGU offers basic information about the geology of Sweden. Here we give a few examples of how the various kinds of information available from us can be of use in addressing a range of environmental issues. Often, different types of information may need to be combined to provide a more complete picture. SGU’s Customer Services will be pleased to help you find the specific information you need.
Groundwater
The information on groundwater held by SGU is used both in developing private water supplies and as a basis for public planning of drinking water supplies, landfill disposal of waste, new roads, factories, water resources management etc. SGU is also responsible for national environmental monitoring of groundwater.
Pollutants in soil and water
The chemical and physical properties of soils decisively affect the spread of pollutants in soil and groundwater. Information on fracturing of bedrock, permeability of soils and movements of groundwater is essential in a number of fields, including safe disposal of hazardous waste, environmental impact assessments of civil engineering projects, and protection of groundwater.
Background levels and bioavailable substances
In efforts to achieve the goal of a ‘non-toxic environment’, information about geochemical background concentrations in soil and groundwater is fundamental to a correct assessment of impacts on and changes in the environment. SGU’s biogeochemical databases also show bioavailable concentrations of different substances, i.e. the amounts that can be taken up by humans.
This information can for example be used to locate or investigate suspected point sources, indications of metals being released from acid sulphate soils, or natural leaching of metals from other soils and rocks, or to create an overall picture of metal loadings in different areas.
In recent times, moreover, problems of uranium, arsenic and other substances in drinking water have been observed. Risk maps of the areas concerned are being produced on the basis of geochemical and other data.
Marine environment
Toxic pollutants are also a marine environment problem. To be able to take appropriate action, we need a knowledge of marine sedimentation processes and benthic conditions.
Marine geological and geochemical information can be used, for instance, in monitoring and protection of marine environments. The sediment samples analysed at SGU provide information on the concentration distribution and history of hazardous substances such as cadmium, mercury, PCBs, TBT and flame retardants.
SGU is responsible for national monitoring of the marine environment.
Radiation
Humans are constantly exposed to ionizing radiation, most of it originating from natural sources such as bedrock. For many people in Sweden, the dominant source of exposure to radiation of this kind is radon in their homes.
To measure the gamma radiation (a form of ionizing radiation) emitted from the ground, SGU carries out aerial surveys, involving a method known as airborne gamma spectrometry. Using these measurements, we can calculate levels of the natural radioactive isotopes of uranium, thorium and potassium in the ground. This information is used, among other things, to identify areas where ground radon could be a problem. The results are held in our geophysical databases.
Our bedrock quality maps, too, show concentrations of radioactive isotopes in different rocks. On the basis of this information, it is for example possible to avoid using rock materials that emit radiation.
More general information on radiation can be found at the Swedish Radiation Protection Authority (SSI).