Issue 38 - June 2003
Welcome to the Contaminated Sediments News, a monthly review of
recent journal articles, issues in the press, upcoming conferences,
and other news. Items for the CS News are chosen from the
results of a detailed search of a number of scientific and technical
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Note: The summaries found on this website are based on articles
from the press and from peer-reviewed publications, and they represent
the opinions of the original authors. The views of authors expressed
herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States
Government, and shall not be used for advertising or product endorsement
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Book Summary
- Methodologies for soil and sediment fractionation studies
– For a long time, the application of
single-step chemical extraction procedures has been recognized
as likely to yield more useful information than the measurement
of total concentration. By the 1970s, multi-step sequential chemical
extraction procedures had started to emerge, the most notably
for aquatic sediments, especially for the potential for retain
and release entities, such as phosphate and heavy metals. Tessier
et al. (Anal. Chem. 1979, 51, 844) wrote an influential paper,
describing a five-step sequential extraction scheme for `exchangeable',
`carbonatic', `reducible', `organic matter and sulfidic' and `residual'
metals. Using this as a model with some modifications, many investigations
were completed in the field of sediment and soil trace element
research. With the variety of studies, the necessity to harmonize
and standardize the sequential chemical extraction approach became
apparent, especially in Europe. Under the Standards, Measurement
and Testing Program (SM&T, formerly BCR) of the European Commission,
the studies' results are presented in this book, which contains
seven single- or multi-authored chapters, each with its own reference
list (ranging from 9 to 81 references), and five associated appendices
containing details of the recommended procedures. These chapters
include: SM&T Activities in Support of Standardization of
Operationally Defined Extraction Procedures for Soil and Sediment
Analysis, Sequential Extraction Procedures for Sediment Analysis,
Extraction Procedures for Soil Analysis, Sequential Extraction
Procedures for Phosphorus Forms in Lake Sediments, Leaching Procedure
for the Availability of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs)
in Contaminated Soil and Waste Materials, and Harmonization of
Leaching/Extraction Procedures for Sludge, Compost, Soil and Sediment
Analyses. The purpose of this book is as a record of the historical
background, as well as an update summary of the latest developments
in soil and sediment fractionation studies.
Farmer, J.G. Methodologies for soil and sediment fractionation
studies. Ph. Quevauviller (ed.). Royal Society of Chemistry,
Cambridge, 2002. Abstract in The Science of the Total Environment
303 (3): 263-264, 2003.
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Summarized Journal Articles
- An approach for identifying the causes
of benthic degradation in Chesapeake Bay – The
goal of this project was to develop a method to accurately classify
the degradation effects of sites that are identified as degraded
by the Chesapeake Bay Benthic Index of Biotic Integrity. The authors
used discriminant analysis to create an index that distinguishes
between sites degraded by contaminated sediments and those degraded
because of low dissolved oxygen. Sixteen of 126 benthic community
metrics were found to meet the analysis selection criteria and
were used to develop a discriminant function that classified degraded
sites into one of two stress groups. The validation results showed
that the discriminant function enabled 77% of low dissolved oxygen
sites and 80% of contaminated sites were correctly classified.
Source: Christman, C.S. et al.; An approach for identifying
the causes of benthic degradation in Chesapeake Bay; Environmental
Monitoring and Assessment 81 (1-3): 187-197, 2003.
- Spatial scales and
probability based sampling in determining levels of benthic community
degradation in the Chesapeake Bay – The
extent of benthic community degradation in the Chesapeake Bay
was spatially evaluated on three scales using a benthic index
of biotic integrity (see Christman and Dauer, 2003 above). Probability-based
sampling with known confidence intervals allowed areal estimates
of degradation. In 1999, three spatial scales were sampled including
(1) the tidal Chesapeake Bay; (2) the Elizabeth River watershed:
and (3) two small tidal creeks within the Southern Branch of the
Elizabeth River that are part of a sediment contaminant remediation
effort. The areas covered varied from 0.1 to 10,000 km2. The tidal
Chesapeake Bay was divided into ten strata, the Elizabeth River
into five strata and each of the two tidal creeks was a single
stratum. Within the stratums, the authors sampled 25 random locations
for benthic community condition. The entire Chesapeake Bay had
47% benthos with poor benthic community condition, varying from
20% at the mouth of the Bay to 72% in the Potomac River. For the
Elizabeth River, the estimated area of benthos with poor benthic
community condition was 64%, varying from 52-92%. Both small tidal
creeks had estimates of 76% of poor benthic community condition.
The authors noted that the resulting estimates could help environmental
managers to better direct restoration efforts, as well as evaluate
progress towards restoration. The authors also found that interpreting
the comparisons of patterns in benthic community condition across
spatial scales and between combinations of strata should be carefully
interpreted.
Source: Dauer, D.M. et al.; Spatial scales and probability
based sampling in determining levels of benthic community degradation
in the Chesapeake Bay; Environmental Monitoring and Assessment
81 (1-3): 175-186, 2003.
- Demonstration of
a method for the direct determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
in submerged sediments – This article discusses
the development of a novel method for real-time in situ characterization
of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in submerged freshwater
sediments. A commonly-used method for PAH characterization in
terrestrial sediments, laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) spectroscopy,
was modified for shipboard use. The field probe was a cone penetrometer-type
apparatus that penetrates sediments at a constant rate to a maximum
depth of 3m. The output from a pulsed eximer laser was transmitted
via fiber optic cable to a sapphire window in the probe. Separate
fiber optic cabling collected the fluorescent signal from the
probe and was connected to spectrophotometer instrumentation on
deck. The authors conducted field-testing at 10 sites in Milwaukee
Harbor and conventional sediment core samples were collected concurrently
for comparative analyses. Using EPA methods 3545 (pressurized
fluid extraction, PFE) and 8270C (gas chromatography-mass spectometry,
GS-MS), the core samples were analyzed for PAHs. Using laboratory
LIF measurements and PFE-GS-MIS of the core samples, a partial
least-squares regression (PLSR) model was developed. Appling this
model to the in situ field test data, 13 of the 16 EPA-regulated
PAHs were quantified with a relative overall error of <30%.
This study also describes preliminary source apportionment relationships
that were revealed by the PLSR model for the in situ LIF measurements.
Source: Grundl, T.J. et al.; Demonstration of a method for
the direct determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
in submerged sediments; Environmental Science & Technology
37 (6): 1189-1197, 2003.
- Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin
and dibenzofuran concentration profiles in sediments and flood-plain
soils of the Tittabawassee River, Michigan –
Samples of sediments and flood-plain soils from the Tittabawassee
River, Michigan were analyzed and found to have concentrations
of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and dibenzofurans
(PCDFs) ranging from 102 to 53,600 pg/g. PCDD/PCDF concentrations
found in downstream sediment and soils were about 10- to 20-fold
greater than those found at locations upstream of Midland, Michigan.
Concentrations of PCDD/PCDF in sediments and flood-plain soils
from the Tittabawassee watershed were found to be comparable to
those in other industrialized areas such as the Housatonic and
lower Passaic Rivers. The authors did not find a relationship
between total organic carbon found in sediments or soils and concentrations
of PCDDs/PCDFs. In those sediment/soils collected from locations
downstream of Midland, Michigan, OCDD and 2,3,7,8-TeCDF were the
predominant congeners. Principal component analysis of the PCDD/PCDF
congener profile suggested the presence of sources originating
from a mixture of chlorophenol and other chlorinated compound
production. Mass balance analysis of TCDD equivalents (TCDD-EQs)
derived from a bioassay of sediment extracts and instrumental
analysis of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin equivalents (TEQs)
indicated that PCDDs/PCDFs were the major dioxin-like compounds
present in sediments. The authors found a significant correlation
exists between bioassay-derived TCDD-EQs and instrumentally measured
TEQs (r2=0.94).
Source: Hilscherova, K. et al.; Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin
and dibenzofuran concentration profiles in sediments and flood-plain
soils of the Tittabawassee River, Michigan; Environmental
Science & Technology 37 (3): 468-474, 2003.
- Incidence of stress
in benthic communities along the U.S. Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico
coasts within different ranges of sediment contamination from
chemical mixtures – As part of the nationwide
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program (EMAP), synoptic
data on concentrations of sediment-associated chemical contaminants
and benthic macroinfaunal community structure were collected from
1,389 stations in estuaries along the U.S. Atlantic and Gulf of
Mexico coasts. The authors developed an empirical framework for
evaluating risks of benthic community-level effects within a variety
of ranges of sediment contamination from mixtures of multiple
chemicals present at different concentrations. The mean ratio
of individual chemical concentrations compared to corresponding
sediment quality guidelines (SQGs) was used to define sediment
contamination. The SQGs included Effects Range-Median (ERM) and
Probable Effects Level (PEL) values. Diagnostic, multi-metric
indices, developed for three EMAP provinces (Virginian, Carolinian,
and Louisianan), were used to assess benthic condition. Cumulative
percentages of stations with a degraded benthic community were
plotted against ascending values of the mean ERM and PEL quotients.
Using the observed relationships, there were four divisions of
mean SQG quotients: low, moderate, high, and very high incidence
of degraded benthic conditions. The study found that condition
of the ambient benthic community provides a reliable and sensitive
indicator for analyzing the biological significance of sediment-associated
stressors. Mean SQG quotients marking the beginning of the contaminant
range associated with the highest incidence of benthic impacts
were well below those linked to high risks of sediment toxicity
as determined by short-term toxicity tests with single species.
The sensitivities of many species and life stages to persistent
exposures under field conditions is shown through the measures
of the ambient benthic community, which is also similar to results
found with preliminary data from Puget Sound.
Source: Hyland, J.L. et al.; Incidence of stress in benthic
communities along the U.S. Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts
within different ranges of sediment contamination from chemical
mixtures; Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 81 (1-3):
149-161, 2003.
-
Uptake and depuration of nonionic organic contaminants
from sediment by the oligochaete, Lumbriculus variegatus
– Using the oligochaete Lumbriculus variegatus,
the uptake of sediment-associated contaminants was evaluated.
L. variegatus was exposed for 1, 3, 7, 14, 28, and 56
days to a field-collected sediment contaminated with DDT and
its metabolites, DDD and DDE. Similarly, L. variegatus
individuals were exposed for the same duration to a field-collected
sediment contaminated with PAHs. After 28 d of exposure to the
field-collected sediments, depuration of contaminants by oligochaetes
in a control sediment or in water was also analyzed over a 7-d
period. At day 14, 4,4'-DDT showed a peak in accumulation but
was followed by a decline at days 28 and 56. In contrast, accumulation
of PAHs with a log Kow >5.6 or DDD and DDE typically exhibited
a steady increase from day 1 to about day 14 or 28, which was
followed by a plateau. The authors concluded L. variegatus
exposures conducted for a minimum of 14 to 28 d better represented
steady-state concentrations for DDT and its metabolites, as
well as for PAHs. Depuration rates for DDT, its metabolites,
and high-Kow PAHs were much higher in organisms held in clean
sediment than found in water-only depuration or as predicted
by models. These results show that depuration in clean sediment
may artificially accelerate depuration of hydrophobic compounds.
The authors concluded that comparisons between laboratory-exposed
L. variegatus and oligochaetes collected in the field
from these types of contaminated sediments show that results
of laboratory tests can be extrapolated with some certainty.
Source: Ingersoll, C.G. et al.; Uptake and depuration of
nonionic organic contaminants from sediment by the oligochaete,
Lumbriculus variegatus; Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry/SETAC
22 (4): 872-885, 2003.
- Androstenedione and progesterone in the
sediment of a river receiving paper mill effluent –
Concern about endocrine disruptors in paper mill effluents led
to a study of masculinized female eastern mosquitofish, Gambusia
holbrooki in the Fenholloway River (Florida). Previous studies
used water samples from the Fenholloway River to identify low
concentrations of the androgen precursor androstenedione. In this
study, the authors characterize steroids in river sediment using
multiple analysis methods as a toxicity and evaluation approach
including:
- Solid phase extraction and high pressure liquid chromatography
purification
- Androgen receptor transcription assays
- Liquid chromatography mass spectroscopy
Androstenedione and progesterone were detected in the river sediment
(2.4 nM and 155 nM, respectively) at concentrations greater than
in the river water column (0.14 nM and 6.5 nM, respectively).
Spring Creek, a reference stream, had low levels of progesterone
but no androstenedione in the sediment. These results support
the hypothesis that pine pulp-derived phytosteroids found in the
paper mill effluent accumulate in river sediment, where they are
converted by microbes into progesterone, which converts into androstenedione
and other bioactive steroids. Another significant finding is that
normal streams with much less organic matter still contain progesterone
but at dramatically lower levels. Thus, the presence of androgens
and androgen precursors in the river water and sediment likely
contributes to the masculinized phenotype of the female Gambusia
holbrooki in the Fenholloway River.
Source: Jenkins, R.L. et al.; Androstenedione and progesterone
in the sediment of a river receiving paper mill effluent;
Toxicological Sciences: An Official Journal of the Society of
Toxicology 73 (1): 53-59, 2003.
- Centrifuge simulation of the consolidation
characteristics of capped marine sediment beds –
Marine sediment capping is a technique involving the placement
of clean sand or sediment over contaminated sediment as a way
of reducing the migration of contaminants to the environment.
Due to concerns about the contaminant migration through the cap,
environmental regulations have limited the use of in situ sediment
capping. In order to simulate the consequences of consolidation
settlement of capped marine sediment, a series of centrifuge tests
were performed. This study explains the testing and monitoring
of the centrifuge tests. The results from the centrifuge tests
are analyzed and compared to predictions made by the PSDDF computer
program, which can qualitatively estimate the consolidation settlement
of capped marine sediment. Centrifuge tests were utilized to predict
the consolidation of marine sediment. The centrifuge tests used
the "modeling of models" technique to verify the modeling
procedures. The maximum observed deviation between the centrifuge
test results and PSDDF prediction was 20%. These results enabled
the authors to recommend using PSDDF consolidation settlement
results with caution. The significance of consolidation-induced
advective transport of contaminants was shown with dye tracer
studies. The authors recommend that capping layers must be designed
to reduce the effects of consolidation-induced advective transport.
This can be accomplished with the addition of a reactive barrier
or geosynthetic barrier layer to the cap design.
Source: Moo-Young, H. et al.; Centrifuge simulation of the
consolidation characteristics of capped marine sediment beds;
Engineering Geology, In Press.
-
Sediment toxicity tests using benthic marine microalgae
Cylindrotheca closterium (Ehremberg) Lewin and Reimann
(Bacillariophyceae) – A new method for sediment
toxicity testing using marine benthic pennate noncolonial diatom
(Cylindrotheca closterium, formerly Nitzschia closterium)
has been developed. Even when low enriched media were used,
the microalgae exhibited good growth rate during the experimental
period. By using microalgal growth inhibition as the endpoint,
sediment spiked with heavy metals [cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu),
and lead (Pb)] was utilized to determine the EC(50) values.
One result included separate examinations of Cd, Cu, and Pb,
which were previously spiked on experimental sediment, in toxicity
tests. By studying the impact of sediment granulometry on the
growth of microalgal population, the authors found that the
growth of the microalgal population on media containing sediment
with a sand-size:silt size of 9:1 was similar to optimal growth.
The authors concluded that the diatom C. closterium proved
to be a suitable organism, due to its sensitivity and fast growth,
even in poorly enriched media, for sediment toxicity tests.
Source: Moreno-Garrido, I. et al.; Sediment toxicity tests
using benthic marine microalgae Cylindrotheca closterium (Ehremberg)
Lewin and Reimann (Bacillariophyceae); Ecotoxicology and
Environmental Safety 54 (3): 290-295, 2003.
-
Spectral imaging detection and counting of microbial cells
in marine sediment – Using microscopic-spectral-imaging
analysis, semiautomated detection and counting techniques for
microbial cells in soil and marine sediment were developed.
Microbial cells in microscopic fields were selectively identified
from other fluorescent particles by their fluorescent spectrum,
based on the spectral shift between the conjunction and nonconjunction
of DNA fluorochrome with nucleic acids. Using this technique,
microbial cells could be easily detected in soil and 30-cm deep
sediment samples from Tokyo Bay, both of which contain particles
other than microbial cells. Analyzed in samples taken at different
depths in Tokyo Bay, total cell density was semiautomatically
estimated at 1-6x109 cells cm-3 of sediment, which
corresponded to 65-106% of visual direct counting. Therefore,
the semiautomated technique may be useful for detecting microbial
cells in soil and sediment samples from the deeper subsurface
environment.
Source: Sunamura, M. et al.; Spectral imaging detection and
counting of microbial cells in marine sediment; Journal
of Microbiological Methods 53 (1): 57-65, 2003.
- Analytical procedure for the determination of chlorobenzenes
in sediments – This study presents a procedure for determining
chlorobenzenes in sediment. The authors used solvent extraction
(shaking overnight), extract clean-up with the use of a homemade
glass column packed with activated silica gel and freshly activated
copper, and slow solvent evaporation to a volume of 0.3 mL. Two-microliter
extract portions are analyzed by means of gas chromatography with
an Rtx-624 capillary column (60 m x 0.32 mm, d(f) = 1.8 microm)
coupled with mass spectrometry (in selected ion-monitoring mode).
Deuterated 1,2-dibromobenzene is used as the recovery standard.
The recovery of this method for all chlorobenzenes is high (ranging
from 78% to 107%) with the exception of monochlorobenzene, which
is 58%. The method shows good precision, which is necessary in
the analysis of trace organic pollution.
Source: Wolska, L. et al.; Analytical procedure for the determination
of chlorobenzenes in sediments; Journal of Chromatographic
Science 41 (2): 53-56, 2003.
- Toxic effects of polychlorinated biphenyl bioaccumulation
in sea urchins exposed to contaminated sediments – The
authors evaluated the uptake patterns and toxicity of polychlorinated
biphenyl (PCB) congeners in the white sea urchin, Lytechinus
pictus, exposured to contaminated sediments. First-order uptake
modeling of the 10 most abundant PCB congeners or domains (containing
more than one coeluting congener) by L. pictus indicated
that a 35-d exposure was insufficient to reach steady state. Bioaccumulation
of PCBs in sea urchins exhibited substantial difference between
field and amended sediments, suggesting that caution must be exercised
in sample preparation. The authors observed some evidence of the
dependence of measured biota-sediment accumulation factors (BSAFs)
on K(ow). This indicates that equilibrium partitioning of PCBs
may not always be achieved between biota lipid, sediment organic
carbon, and water. Survival of L. pictus was unaffected
by exposure to field and amended sediments with PCB concentrations
varying more than three orders of magnitude. The growth measures
(diameter, weight, and gonad weight) were significantly reduced
in L. pictus exposed to San Diego Bay ([SDB]; San Diego,
CA, USA) sediment, whereas they were relatively unaffected after
exposure to amended sediments (with much higher PCB concentrations
than SDB sediment) prepared from a New Bedford Harbor (MA, USA)
sediment. The toxic effects as measured by the growth rates in
L. pictus were likely attributable to polycyclic aromatic
hydrocarbons (PAHs), which were elevated in SDB sediment (7.3
microg/g), rather than PCBs.
Source: Zeng, E.Y. et al.; Toxic effects of polychlorinated
biphenyl bioaccumulation in sea urchins exposed to contaminated
sediments; Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry/SETAC 22
(5): 1065-1074, 2003.
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Other Journal Titles of Interest
- Interlaboratory variability of amphipod sediment
toxicity tests in a cooperative regional monitoring program.
Bay, S.M., Jirik, A., and S. Asato. Environmental Monitoring
and Assessment 81 (1-3): 257-268, 2003.
- Effects of organic amendments on the toxicity
and bioavailability of cadmium and copper in spiked formulated
sediments. Besser, J.M., W.G. Brumbaugh, T.W. May, and C.G.
Ingersoll. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry/SETAC 22
(4): 805-815, 2003.
- Can turbidity caused by Corophium volutator
(Pallas) activity be used to assess sediment toxicity rapidly?
Briggs, A.D., N. Greenwood, and A. Grant. Marine Environmental
Research 55 (3): 181-192, 2003.
- The influence of lipophilicity and formulation
on the distribution of pesticides in laboratory-scale sediment/water
systems. Bromilow, R.H., A.A. Evans, and P.H. Nicholls. Pest
Management Science 59 (2): 238-244, 2003.
- Reductive dehalogenation of chlorinated dioxins by an anaerobic
bacterium. Bunge, M., L. Adrian, A. Kraus, M. Opel, W.G. Lorenz,
J.R. Andreesen, H. Gorisch, U. Lechner. Nature 421 (6921):
357-360, 2003.
- Microbial reductive dechlorination of pre-existing PCBs
and spiked 2,3,4,5,6-pentachlorobiphenyl in anaerobic slurries
of a contaminated sediment of Venice Lagoon (Italy). Fava,
F., G. Zanaroli, and L.Y. Young. FEMS Microbiology Ecology
44 (3): 309-318, 2003.
- Estrogenic activity in water and sediments of a French river:
contribution of alkylphenols. Fenet, H., E. Gomez, A. Pillon,
D. Rosain, J-C Nicolas, C. Casellas, and P. Balaguer. Archives
of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 44 (1): 1-6, 2003.
- Speciation of mercury in soil and sediment by selective
solvent and acid extraction. Han, Y., H.M. Kingston, H.M.
Boylan, G.M.M. Rahman, S. Shah, R.C. Richter, D.D. Link, and S.
Bhandari. Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry 375 (3): 428-436,
2003.
- Nonylphenol and nonylphenol ethoxylates in fish, sediment,
and water from the Kalamazoo River, Michigan. Kannan, K.,
T.L. Keith, C.G. Naylor, C.A. Staples, S.A. Snyder, and J.P. Giesy.
Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 44 (1):
77-82, 2003.
- Reductive dehalogenation of halomethanes in iron- and sulfate-reducing
sediments. 1. Reactivity pattern analysis. Kenneke, J.F.,
and E.I. Weber. Environmental Science & Technology 37 (4):
713-720, 2003.
- Application of the micronucleus and comet assays to mussel
Dreissena polymorpha haemocytes for genotoxicity monitoring of
freshwater environments. Klobucar, G.I.V., M. Pavlica, R.
Erber, and D. Papes. Aquatic Toxicology 64 (1): 15-23, 2003.
- The relative sensitivity of four benthic invertebrates to
metals in spiked-sediment exposures and application to contaminated
field sediment. Milani, D., T.B. Reynoldson, U. Borgmann,
and J. Kolasa. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry/SETAC
22 (4): 845-854, 2003.
- PCB congener distributions in muscle, liver, and gonad of
Fundulus heteroclitus from the lower Hudson River Estuary and
Newark Bay. Monosson, E., J.T.F. Ashley, A.E. McElroy, D.
Woltering, and A.A. Elskus. Chemosphere 52 (4): 777-787, 2003.
- Genetic structure and mtDNA diversity of Fundulus heteroclitus
populations from polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon-contaminated
sites. Mulvey, M., M.C. Newman, W.K. Vogelbein, M.A. Unger,
and D.R. Ownby. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry/SETAC
22 (3): 671-677, 2003.
- Microwave-assisted steam distillation for simple determination
of polychlorinated biphenyls and organochlorine pesticides in
sediments. Numata, M., T. Yarita, Y. Aoyagi, and A. Takatsu.
Analytical Chemistry 75 (6): 1450-1457, 2003.
- A comparison of the metal content of some benthic species
from coastal waters of the Florida panhandle using high-resolution
inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) analysis.
Philip, R.B., F.Y. Leung, and C. Bradley. Archives of Environmental
Contamination and Toxicology 44 (2): 218-223, 2003.
- Influence of particle characteristics and organic matter
content on the bioavailability and bioaccumulation of pyrene by
clams. Verrengia Guerrero, N.R., M.G. Taylor, E.A. Wider,
and K. Simkiss. Environmental Pollution 121 (1): 115-122, 2003.
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Upcoming Events and Conferences
All weblinks will exit EPA
- Coastal Structures Conference, Portland, Oregon. A Coastal
Structures Conference will take place August 26-29 at Embassy
Suites, Portland, Oregon. Topics to be addressed will include:
functional and structural design; rubble mound breakwaters, revetments,
jetties; shore protection structures; caisson breakwaters; innovative
structures; wave-structure interaction; physical modeling; geotechnical
design and performance; and many other subjects, including dredge
disposal caps/environmental containment. For more information,
contact the American Society of Civil Engineers, World Headquarters,
1801 Alexander Bell Drive Reston, Virginia 20191-4400. Phone:
800-548-2723 or 703-295-6300, or visit http://www.asce.org/conferences/coastal2003/index.cfm.
- Second International Conference on the
Remediation of Contaminated Sediments - The Second International
Sediment Remediation Conference will be held in September 30th
through October 3rd in Venice, Italy. Organizers say the city
is an ideal setting for a conference on this topic because of
the sediments remediation efforts being exerted there by the local,
regional, and national governments. For more information, contact
the Conference Group at 800-783-6338 (U.S. and Canada) or 614-488-2030;
e-mail: info@confgroupinc.com;
or visit the Sediment
Remediation Conference website.
- Contaminated Soils, Sediments, and Water. The conference
is from October 20-23 in Amherst, MA. For more information, contact
Denise Leonard at 413-545-1239. Web site: www.umasssoils.com.
- SETAC 24th Annual Meeting: Science Without Borders: Developing
Solutions for Global Environmental Challenges. This meeting
takes place November 8-13 in Austin, TX. This conference supports
efforts scientists and engineers to work together to develop solutions
to global problems. Topics including the factors influencing bioavailability
and sediment chemistry will be addressed. For more information,
contact SETAC North America, 1010 North 12th Avenue, Pensacola,
FL 32501. Phone: 850-469-1500; web site: http://setac.org/austin.html.
- Specialist Dredging Techniques, Inspiring Dredging Solutions.
This conference occurs November 20-21 in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
The Central Dredging Association has programmed this conference
to present a state of the art review of specialized dredging techniques
and innovative approaches to individual dredging operations. The
conference addresses techniques for core business but also from
the so-called niche applications. The aim is to discuss and share
ideas and to initiate the exchange of experience and technology.
For more information, visit http://www.dredging.org
and click on the Dredging Days 2003 link.
- 14th Annual West Coast Conference on Soil, Sediment, and
Water. The conference is March 15-18, 2004 in San Diego, California.
The workshop will offer attendees an opportunity to exchange findings,
ideas, and recommendations in a professional setting. The strong
and diverse technical program has been developed to meet the changing
needs of the environmental field. For more information, visit
http://www.aehs.com/conferences/westcoast/index.htm or contact Brenna Bartell at 413-549-5170 or e-mail brenna@aehs.com.
- Watersheds 2004. This conference takes place July 11-14,
2004 in Dearborn, Michigan. For more information contact Water
Environment Federation, 601 Wythe Street, Alexandria, VA 22314-1994.
Phone: 703-684-2400 x7010; fax: 703-684-2413; e-mail: watershed
04@wef.org.
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Websites of Interest
All weblinks will exit EPA
The Green Gate. This page is NRDC's guide to the San Francisco
Bay area. The site provides a summary of findings about contaminated
sediment in the Bay area; the site also includes some preliminary
data on the contaminants in sediment and studies on its toxicity.
http://www.nrdc.org/greengate/water/sedimentf.asp
Sediment Contamination Problems Associated with Manufactured
Gas Sites. The purpose of this guidance is to provide a framework
for sediment investigations at MGP sites. This guidance describes
a multi-step process to be used, with case-specific modification
as may be appropriate, to conduct and document the results of
file reviews, field investigations, and data evaluations to characterize
the nature and extent of MGP site-related sediment contamination.
http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/water/wm/wqs/sediment/assessment/mgp/subdocs/1.html
Port of Tacoma Cleanup and Redevelopment Story. This
report describes the technologies used to clean up contaminated
sediment from the Port of Tacoma. http://www.fwc.com/publications/heat/heat_pdf/story3.pdf
(PDF)
Los Angeles Basin Contaminated Sediment Long Term Management
Strategy. This site discusses the scope of the contamination
around the Los Angeles basin, the goals for management, and the
steps that will be taken to achieve those goals. This document
could serve as an example sediment management strategy. http://www.coastal.ca.gov/web/sediment/action.html
New York Department of Environmental Conservation's Technical
Guidance for Screening Contaminated Sediments. This guidance
helps contaminated sediment projects identify areas of sediment
contamination and make a preliminary assessment of the risk posed
by the contamination to human health and the environment. http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/dfwmr/habitat/seddoc.pdf
(PDF)
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