The development of “gentle”, in-situ remediation technologies (i.e. phytoremediation,    
in situ immobilisation, etc.) has been under intensive research    
over the last few decades (see Figure 1). A great deal of progress    
has been achieved at the experimental level, but the application of these    
technologies as practical solutions is still at its early stage. On the one    
hand, methods for determination of the trace element (metals and nonmetals)    
fractions relevant for their ecotoxicology (i.e., the bio available    
fraction) still have their limitations since they may insufficiently reflect the    
potential risks. On the other hand, a number of in-situ remediation options    
are available and thus a decision tool system has to be developed allowing    
to choose the most suitable technique. TECS (trace element contaminated    
soils) management moved into a new century where environmental    
decisions must be ‘socially-robust’ within a context of sustainable development    
& is a part of the conceptual framework “Risk-based land management”.    
All efforts need to ensure management and/or remediation is affordable,    
feasible, effective & sustainable.    
    
Additionally, further aspects that are closely related to the remediation    
process were previously only partly covered by research projects. These    
aspects include the potential impacts on the local environment (soil processes    
and functioning, socio-economic impacts on the local population,    
etc.), but also the principal question on the sustainability of the remediation    
process and its target.    
    
The aim of this project is to make a literature and project-based review    
(including country specific state of the art and current procedures) to identify    
the current status of research and application in Europe and to (i) derive    
decision tool systems, remediation scenarios including the potential    
impacts on the local environment and (ii) define further research needs.