Large quantities of potentially toxic pollutants have been discovered beneath the soil of the Litoral Park in Sant Adrià de Besòs. This popular seafront area is adjacent to the iconic Three Chimneys power station site.
Analyses of soil samples taken in 2023 confirm the presence of hazardous substances far exceeding legal safety limits. Consequently, these findings pose a complex challenge for the Barcelona Metropolitan Area (AMB) and the Catalan government. They are preparing for a massive urban regeneration project in the district.
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The timing of these revelations is critical. Meanwhile, they coincide with other large-scale urban development plans in the Barcelona metropolitan area. The Litoral Park sits within a sector earmarked for a major transformation. This includes the construction of 1,783 new apartments and a digital technology hub surrounding the Three Chimneys. The current parking lot, which sits atop potentially affected soil, is slated for 132 free-market homes and 88 social housing units.
Three Chimneys Soil Contamination: A Toxic Legacy Underground
The contamination was identified during minor works on a small section of the 39,427-square-metre park. According to the analysis, the subsoil contains concentrations above legal tolerances for ten different heavy metals and a cocktail of chemical compounds. These include polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, chlorobenzenes, and chlorinated pesticides.
The severity of the pollution in certain samples is stark:
- PCBs (Polychlorinated biphenyls): Found at levels up to 12 times the threshold where they are considered harmless.
- DDT: An insecticide banned since 1977, found at levels 85 times the legal limit.
- Heavy Metals: Excessive traces of arsenic, lead, cadmium, copper, and zinc, among others.
The site was historically occupied by a construction parts factory between the 1940s and the 1980s. Therefore, the profile of pollutants mirrors those found at the adjacent Litoral Beach. That beach was forced to close for nearly four years to undergo decontamination works.
Three Chimneys Soil Contamination: Public Safety and Official Response
Following the discovery, the Catalan Waste Agency (ARC) issued a requirement in September 2023. It demanded the AMB investigate the full extent of the contamination. The agency required a quantitative health risk assessment. This assessment must determine if the soil or groundwater poses an “unacceptable risk” to the public, including an evaluation of carcinogenic potential.
Despite these findings, the park remains open to families and children. The AMB defends this decision. It states that the immediate area where contaminants were found was sealed off. Furthermore, the toxic materials are located deep underground, not on the surface.
A study conducted in April 2023 concluded that the excavated earth did not constitute hazardous waste. “It was determined that the systemic risk and the carcinogenic risk were acceptable, that the park could return to normal operation, and that it would remain so as long as no altered soil surfaced,” the AMB stated.
Three Chimneys Soil Contamination: Impact on Future Development
The AMB has acknowledged that a comprehensive review is “priority for environmental and public health reasons.” A tender is currently underway for a qualitative investigation of the soil and groundwater. The objective is to produce a detailed risk assessment. In addition, the goal is to ensure that the buried industrial legacy does not rise to the surface. This is crucial as the neighbourhood undergoes its most significant redevelopment in decades.
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