Patents on Contaminated Land

Industrialised nations have a legacy of contaminated land, which is often abandoned and derelict, and pose unprecedented risks to human health, animals and protected resources like surface and groundwater, flora and fauna, and the ecosystem as a whole. The management and clean-up processes of these lands are complex and time intensive, with high cost overruns and depend on input from a range of disciplines. This paper gives an overview of contaminated land, its effects and current management techniques and practices, with references to the UK regulatory framework. It reviews some recent and important patents relevant to contaminated land management, highlighting the significance and limitations of reviewed patents. It concludes by highlighting current and future developments in the field.