Comparative Life Cycle Assessment of Soil Remediation Technologies: The Case of Janghang Songrim Forest

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), a systematic method of evaluating the environmental impacts of an entire process, will be employed in this study to compare four soil remediation scenarios. In this study, we apply LCA on the Janghang Songrim Forest in South Korea, a site contaminated by arsenic from historical smelting operations. The environmental impacts of soil remediation techniques are critical in selecting sustainable methods for contaminated sites. A thorough understanding of these impacts enables the identification of the most environmentally responsible strategies for site restoration. We examine four techniques, in-situ solidification/stabilization using iron oxide injection, excavation & refill, soil washing, and the combined approach reflecting actual on-site practices implemented on the site around 2010. The assessment is performed with Simapro software 9.6.0.1 using ReCiPe2016 impact assessment method, supported by data from field measurements, Ecoinvent database, relevant literature, and site-specific information from the Janghang Songrim Forest. This study models and assesses the environmental trade-offs of each remediation scenario from a cradle-to-gate perspective, analyzing every stage from material extraction and transportation to remediation processes. The comparative analysis aims to guide future decisions on sustainable soil remediation by identifying low impact, effective techniques for sites with similar contamination profiles. The goal of this study is to conduct a comparative assessment of the environmental impacts of four remediation methods especially focusing on greenhouse gas emissions, resource depletion, and effect on human health. Although the results are based on a case in Janghang Songrim Forest, we intend to extend this approach to propose pathways for enhancing low-impact technologies informed by the results.