The application of the carcinogenic hazardous property assessment to oil contaminated dredging waste

The carcinogenic hazardous property assessment for oil contaminated waste is inappropriate when applied to canal and river dredgings. The presence of polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) derived from non-oil sources means that Benzo(a)Pyrene concentrations cannot be assumed to be markers for the carcinogenicity of any oil contaminants present. Canal dredgings can be suitable for use in a residential without homegrown produce land use whilst also being classified as 'carcinogenic' waste. A revision of the basis on which waste is classified as hazardous or non-hazardous is needed, at least for canal and river dredgings which may contain PAH from several pyrogenic and petrogenic sources. Such a basis could simply refer to a concentration of PAH or individual congeners reflecting risk-based assessment criteria.