Scientists now believe that with the emerging field of “Environmental Forensics”, it will be easier to prove who is responsible for causes of pollution at contaminated. This could be greatly beneficial in both time and money, as difficult and tedious legal proceedings would no longer be required in order to figure out who is to blame and responsible for paying the legal remediation costs. Brownfield sites hold huge potential for the building and expansion of new businesses, residential areas, and leisure locations, but they cannot be built upon if they are contaminated. This developing field of Forensic Scientist would allow for such expansion faster and with much more ease as well as for the same benefits of projects already under way.
The individual skills that are involved in this budding science (i.e. ecological impact analysis, chemical analysis, hydrology, etc) it is the integration of these skills in tandem, with the legal process, and with the other existing fields of forensic science is what currently hinders its full development.
However, a push is being made to bring this science into more application. The EPSRC is currently working to promote the application of environmental forensic science by focusing on real, live issues an cases. Professor Bob Kalin, who is leading the research program, will delivered his findings at the Queen’s University Belfast festival in September of 2006. He explained how environmental forensics focuses on identifying how and when contamination took place, the contaminations extent and impact, and whether and if there has been any illegal attempts to cover up any contamination. He also outlined specific cases of his findings. In this new age of environmental conscientiousness, this new field of science can only prove beneficial.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/09/060908192920.htm
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