Knowledge base
KM and MKM: how Sweden's soil guideline values work
The Swedish guideline values for sensitive and less sensitive land use govern what your soil can be used for and what it costs to dispose of. Here we explain the system, show the most common values and walk through the pitfalls that lead to incorrect classifications.
What do KM and MKM mean?
KM, sensitive land use, applies to land where people spend time daily: housing, preschools, cultivation. MKM, less sensitive land use, applies for example to offices, industry and roads. The Swedish EPA's generic guideline values indicate the contaminant level judged not to pose a risk for the given land use. If the soil clears the KM values it can often be reused in sensitive settings, if it only clears MKM its use is limited, and above that a more in-depth assessment is required.
Selected guideline values
| Substance | KM (mg/kg DW) | MKM (mg/kg DW) |
|---|---|---|
| Arsenic | 10 | 25 |
| Lead | 50 | 180 |
| Mercury | 0.25 | 2.5 |
| Zinc | 250 | 500 |
| PAH-H | 1 | 10 |
| Aliphatics >C16 to C35 | 100 | 1,000 |
Source: Swedish EPA generic guideline values for contaminated soil, table version 2.3, published in 2025. Always check the current table with the Swedish EPA, values change. The MKM value for lead has been lowered from 400 to 180 mg/kg, the values for cadmium and hexavalent chromium have been adjusted, and for PFAS preliminary values apply pending a decision.
Why the values change, and why it matters
The guideline values rest on toxicological reference values that are revised as knowledge grows. The lead reduction followed EFSA's revised assessment. In practice: soil that was correctly classified in the past may fall differently today. Classifying against an old downloaded table carries a real risk, both financial and legal. For PFAS in soil, preliminary guideline values apply pending a decision, which makes version control even more important.
Generic or site-specific guideline values?
The generic values are a first-pass assessment. Site-specific guideline values can be calculated with the Swedish EPA's calculation tool where conditions clearly deviate, but adjustments must always be motivated, and site-specific values cannot automatically be used to govern which soil is brought in to a site.
The three most common mistakes
- Old table: classifying against outdated values, see the lead example above.
- Wrong comparison: the KM and MKM guideline values address risk from land use, not the boundary against hazardous waste, that is a separate assessment with different values.
- The averaging trap: individual high concentrations cannot always be averaged away, how sample results may be combined is governed by guidance and statistical methods.
Frequently asked questions
What do KM and MKM stand for?
Sensitive land use (känslig markanvändning) and less sensitive land use (mindre känslig markanvändning), the Swedish EPA's two generic scenarios for how land is used and therefore which contaminant levels are accepted.
Where do I find the current guideline values?
In the Swedish EPA's latest compilation of generic guideline values for contaminated soil. Always use the latest version, values are revised on an ongoing basis.
What happens if the soil exceeds MKM?
A more in-depth assessment is required. The soil may need to go to a facility permitted for higher levels, and above the thresholds for hazardous waste, separate rules apply.
Are guideline values enough to classify soil?
No, they are one of several tools. A sampling strategy, statistical handling of results and comparison against the correct legal framework are also required.
Want the guide as a PDF?
Download the full guide as a PDF, handy to share internally or bring to the next project meeting. The PDF is in Swedish.
Classify against always-current guideline values
Pinpointer's classification module is a decision-support tool with version-controlled guideline-value rules: when the Swedish EPA changes a value you see it immediately, and every classification is saved with the rule version in force. You always make the final decision.