Co-Contaminant Effects on Risk Assessment and Remediation Activities Involving Urban Sediments and Soils: Phase II| Research Project Database | NCER | ORD

Co-Contaminant Effects on Risk Assessment and Remediation Activities Involving Urban Sediments and Soils: Phase II

EPA Grant Number: R828771C001
Subproject: this is subproject number 001 , established and managed by the Center Director under grant R828771
(EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
Center: HSRC (2001) - Center for Hazardous Substances in Urban Environments
Center Director: Bouwer, Edward J.
Title: Co-Contaminant Effects on Risk Assessment and Remediation Activities Involving Urban Sediments and Soils: Phase II
Investigators: Ball, William P. , Bouwer, Edward J.
Current Investigators: Ball, William P. , Bouwer, Edward J. , MacKay, Allison
Institution: Johns Hopkins University
Current Institution: Johns Hopkins University , University of Connecticut
EPA Project Officer: Lasat, Mitch
Project Period: October 1, 2001 through September 30, 2007
Project Amount: Refer to main center abstract for funding details.
RFA: Hazardous Substance Research Centers - HSRC (2001)
Research Category: Hazardous Waste/Remediation

Description:

Objective:

The release of hazardous organic contaminants at sites of chemical disposal, processing, storage, or release has led to the contamination of surface water, ground water, and associated solids. These latter include harbor sediments, urban surface soils and subsurface geologic materials adjacent to and downstream of the chemical source. Contaminated sites typically involve complex mixtures of contaminants, the fate of which is affected by both biochemical interactions that impact microbial attenuation (e.g., cometabolic effects, competitive inhibition and toxicity), as well as competitive adsorption on solid phases. Because sediment- or soil-bound contaminants are usually not bioavailable (from either a remediation or biotoxicity viewpoint), successful prediction and assessment of fate and transport require a full accounting and integration of the sorption effects. The proposed research will evaluate the need and means to achieve improved modeling as applied to risk assessment and management for contaminated sediments and soils. The focus will be on organic contaminant mixtures, with emphasis on improved approaches for modeling the combined effects of both sorption and biodegradation.

In the first year, we will focus on one of the following two objectives, dependent upon the interests and abilities of the doctoral student: (1) To experimentally evaluate sources and mechanisms of competitive sorption in environmentally relevant soils and sediments; (2) To develop and evaluate alternative (mechanistically based) approaches for quantifying rates of biodegradation in complex mixtures of organic chemicals.

Approach:

Our experimental approach will be based on laboratory evaluation of field samples, including harbor sediments, brownfield soils, and other sites of contamination in urban settings. In addition to characterizing solids for organic matter and black carbon (charcoals, soot, and coal), we intend to obtain screening -level sorption equilibrium and rate data using nonpolar organic chemical probes. Modeling efforts will apply postulated numerical models to evaluate the sensitivity of overall degradation rates to the biochemical issues and competitive adsorption effects identified above. Using selected waste mixtures, we intend to develop guidance about magnitudes of "correction" factors to account for bioavailability and co-contaminant interaction.

Expected Results:

Overall, this work will contribute toward better assessment and management of risk in urban settings by providing both characterizations and modeling approaches applicable to the processes that most strongly control the transport and persistence of organic pollutants.

Publications and Presentations:

Publications have been submitted on this subproject: View all 29 publications for this subproject | View all 111 publications for this center

Journal Articles:

Journal Articles have been submitted on this subproject: View all 5 journal articles for this subproject | View all 22 journal articles for this center

Supplemental Keywords:

chlorinated organic chemicals, toxic chemicals, cleanup, restoration, hydrogeology. , ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT, Water, INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION, TREATMENT/CONTROL, Scientific Discipline, Waste, Health, RFA, PHYSICAL ASPECTS, Brownfields, chemical mixtures, Remediation, Risk Assessment, Risk Assessments, Waste Treatment, Health Risk Assessment, Physical Processes, Hazardous Waste, Contaminated Sediments, Hazardous, Ecology and Ecosystems, environmental justice, exposure assessment, urban environment, Brownfield site, biodegradation, outreach material, brownfield sites, urban sediment, environmental hazards, co-contaminants, human health risk, technical outreach, contaminated sediment, outreach and education, community support, contaminant dynamics, contaminant transport, contaminated soils, sediment transport, chemical exposure, hazardous substance contamination, complex toxic chemical mixtures, exposure, sediment treatment, technology transfer, chemical contaminants, complex mixtures, human exposure, web development

Progress and Final Reports:
2002 Progress Report
2003 Progress Report
2004 Progress Report
2005 Progress Report
Final Report

Main Center Abstract and Reports:
R828771 HSRC (2001) - Center for Hazardous Substances in Urban Environments

Subprojects under this Center: (EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
R828771C001 Co-Contaminant Effects on Risk Assessment and Remediation Activities Involving Urban Sediments and Soils: Phase II
R828771C002 The Fate and Potential Bioavailability of Airborne Urban Contaminants
R828771C003 Geochemistry, Biochemistry, and Surface/Groundwater Interactions for As, Cr, Ni, Zn, and Cd with Applications to Contaminated Waterfronts
R828771C004 Large Eddy Simulation of Dispersion in Urban Areas
R828771C005 Speciation of chromium in environmental media using capillary electrophoresis with multiple wavlength UV/visible detection
R828771C006 Zero-Valent Metal Treatment of Halogenated Vapor-Phase Contaminants in SVE Offgas
R828771C007 The Center for Hazardous Substances in Urban Environments (CHSUE) Outreach Program
R828771C008 New Jersey Institute of Technology Outreach Program for EPA Region II
R828771C009 Urban Environmental Issues: Hartford Technology Transfer and Outreach
R828771C010 University of Maryland Outreach Component
R828771C011 Environmental Assessment and GIS System Development of Brownfield Sites in Baltimore
R828771C012 Solubilization of Particulate-Bound Ni(II) and Zn(II)
R828771C013 Seasonal Controls of Arsenic Transport Across the Groundwater-Surface Water Interface at a Closed Landfill Site
R828771C014 Research Needs in the EPA Regions Covered by the Center for Hazardous Substances in Urban Environments
R828771C015 Transport of Hazardous Substances Between Brownfields and the Surrounding Urban Atmosphere

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Co-Contaminant Effects on Risk Assessment and Remediation Activities Involving Urban Sediments and Soils: Phase II

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