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Contaminated Sediment News
Note: EPA no longer updates this information, but it may be useful as a reference or resource.
Issue 36 - April 2003
Welcome to the Contaminated Sediments News, a monthly review of recent journal articles, issues in the press, upcoming conferences, and other news. This website will replace the Contaminated Sediments Newsletter, which was published quarterly through the summer of 2000. Items for the CS News are chosen from the results of a detailed search of a number of scientific and technical publication databases, as well as from searches of media publication databases (including newspapers and magazines).
Check back to this site frequently to see each new issue of the Contaminated Sediments News, and visit the CS News Archive to find past issues.
Contents |
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 purposes. Reference herein to any specific commercial products, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government.
Bioavailability of Contaminants in Soils and Sediments: Processes, Tools, and Applications
Committee on Bioavailability of Contaminants in Soils and Sediments, Water Science and Technology Board, Division on Earth and Life Studies: National Research Council of the National Academies, 2003,
Bioavailability of Contaminants in Soils and Sediments: Processes, Tools, and Applications , The National Academies Press, Washington, D.C.
- Removal of ammonia toxicity in marine sediment TIEs:
a comparison of Ulva lactuca, zeolite, and aeration methods
– Toxicity Identification Evaluations (TIEs)
can be used to determine specific toxicants, including ammonia, when
toxicity is observed in marine sediments. In order to characterize and
identify ammonia in marine sediment, two primary TIE manipulations can
be used: Ulva lactuca addition and zeolite addition. The researchers
compared the efficacy of these methods to (1) remove NHx and
NH3 from overlying and interstitial waters, and (2) reduce
toxicity to the amphipod Ampelisca abdita and mysid Americamysis
bahia using both spiked and environmentally contaminated sediments.
The utility of aeration for removing NHx and NH3 during
a marine sediment TIE was also evaluated. In comparison to an unmanipulated
sediment, the U. lactuca and zeolite addition methods performed
about equally as well at removing spiked NHx and NH3
from overlying and interstitial waters. Using both methods, ammonia
toxicity to the amphipod was reduced to about the same levels. The U.
lactuca addition, however, most effectively reduced toxicity to
the mysid, which indicates that this method functions best with epibenthic
species exposed to ammonia in the water column. When the pH was adjusted
to 10, aeration removed NHx and NH3 from seawater;
very little ammonia, however, was removed at ambient pHs. In conclusion,
both U. lactuca and zeolite addition methods are effective TIE
tools for reducing the concentrations and toxicity of ammonia in whole
sediment toxicity tests.
Source: Burgess, R.M. et al.; Removal of ammonia toxicity in marine sediment TIEs: a comparison of Ulva lactuca, zeolite, and aeration methods; Marine Pollution Bulletin, In press, Available online 25 March 2003.
- Factors influencing the design of bioaccumulation factor and biota-sediment
accumulation factor field studies – In order
to evaluate the underlying factors and principles that drive the uncertainty
in measured bioaccumulation factors (BAFs) and biota-sediment accumulation
factors (BSAFs) for fish, as well as to determine which sampling designs
minimize those uncertainties, a series of modeling simulations was performed.
The dominant factors that influenced the field-sampling design included
temporal variability of chemical concentrations in the water column,
and the metabolism rate and n-octanol-water partition coefficient (Kow)
for the chemical. Spatial variability of the chemical concentrations,
food web structure, and the sediment-water column concentration quotient
were less significant in the general design. The simulations also showed
that collecting composite water samples in comparison to grab water
samples resulted in reductions in the uncertainties associated with
measured BAFs. Based upon the temporal variability of chemical concentrations
in the water column, metabolism rate, and Kow for the chemical, some
illustrative sampling design structures for BAF and BSAF measurements
were developed. These illustrative designs showed how sampling design
structures (the number and spacing over time of sampling events) might
be influenced by differences in temporal variabilities, metabolism rates,
and Kow. Although the significance of spatial variability was discounted
as a major factor in the design process, successful measurements require
the sampling of water and sediment across the immediate home range of
the sampled organism. This is due to the poor spatial coordination of
organism, water, or sediment samples that yield BAFs and BSAFs with
large and unknown biases.
Source: Burkhard, L.P.; Factors influencing the design of bioaccumulation factor and biota-sediment accumulation factor field studies; Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 22 (2): 351-360, 2003.
- Solubility of metals in an anoxic sediment during prolonged aeration
– The researchers analyzed the evolution
of the solubility of selected metals during the aeration of an anoxic
sediment. Using a metal-polluted dredged sediment, batch experiments
were carried out for 76 days. The pH, Eh and concentration of Al, Cu,
Fe, Hg, Pb and Zn were periodically recorded. During the early stages
of aeration, the solubility of metals increased rapidly but this was
then followed by quick re-adsorption. After 14 days, most of the metals,
except Cu and Zn, were present at low or undetectable concentrations
in solution. During the first two weeks, re-adsorption of Zn was observed
to be much slower. On the other hand, during the months after land disposal,
solubilization of Cu increased gradually. Using speciation calculations,
Cu solubilization was partly due to complexation in solution by carbonates.
For Hg, although complexation by dissolved organic matter (DOM) could
be expected, re-adsorption was the dominant process. With the purpose
of making more quantitative statements about the mobility of heavy metals
present in dredged material, more knowledge about the behavior of the
DOM present in anoxic sediments is needed.
Source: Caille, N. et al.; Solubility of metals in an anoxic sediment during prolonged aeration; Science of the Total Environment 301 (1-3): 239-250, 2003.
- Toxicity of triphenyltin and tributyltin to the freshwater mudsnail
Potamopyrgus antipodarum in a new sediment biotest –
Using a new whole-sediment biotest with the freshwater mudsnail Potamopyrgus
antipodarum (Gastropoda, Prosobranchia), this study analyzed the effects
of two suspected endocrine-disrupting chemicals, the xeno-androgens
triphenyltin (TPT) and tributyltin (TBT). Seven concentrations, ranging
from 10 to 500 µg nominal TPT-Sn/kg dry weight and TBT-Sn/kg dry
weight, were injected into artificial sediments, examining the responses
of the test species after two, four, and eight weeks exposure. In comparison
to the control sediment, P. antipodarum showed a sharp decline
in the number of embryos sheltered in its brood pouch in a time- and
concentration-dependent manner for both compounds. The most sensitive
parameter was the number of new, still unshelled embryos. The lowest-observed-effect
concentration (LOEC) corresponded to the lowest administered concentration
for most parameters and thus the no-observed-effect concentration (NOEC)
could not be established. The calculation of effect concentrations (EC10)
resulted in even lower values for both substances (EC10 after eight
weeks for unshelled embryos: 0.03 µg TPT-Sn/kg, EC10 after four
weeks for unshelled embryos: 0.98 µg TBT-Sn/kg). In conclusion,
at environmentally relevant concentrations, P. antipodarum is
highly sensitive to both endocrine disruptors TPT and TBT.
Source: Duft, M. et al.; Toxicity of triphenyltin and tributyltin to the freshwater mudsnail Potamopyrgus antipodarum in a new sediment biotest; Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 22 (1): 145-152, 2003.
- Methods for selective determination of persistent organochlorine
pesticide residues in water and sediments of capillary gas chromatography
and electron-capture detection – In order
to determine the presence of 15 organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in
water and sediments, a variety of extraction methods were evaluated.
Liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) was examined for the pesticides analyses
in water. Soxhlet extraction (SE) and microwave assisted extraction
(MAE) methods were compared in sediment. For the OCPs, the limits of
detection ranged from 5.5 to 20.6 ng/l and between 0.6 and 2.1 ng/g,
respectively. Using marine and freshwater sources in the Eastern Cape
Province of South Africa that receive runoffs from agricultural lands
and effluents from industries, the LLE and the SE methods were applied
to water and sediments samples, respectively. Some endocrine disrupting
OCPs, such as DDT, DDE, heptachlor, endosulphan and the chlordanes,
were noticed.
Source: Fatoki, O.S., and R.O. Awofolu; Methods for selective determination of persistent organochlorine pesticide residues in water and sediments by capillary gas chromatography and electron-capture detection; Journal of Chromatography A 983 (1-2): 225-236, 2003.
- Sediment-water distribution of organic contaminants in aquatic
ecosystems: the role of organic carbon mineralization –
A significant role in the food-chain transfer of hydrophobic organic
chemicals is the distribution of these chemicals between sediments and
water. Despite many observations reporting an "enrichment"
of chemical concentrations in suspended sediments, current models and
assessment methods of sediment-water distribution of hydrophobic organic
chemicals predominantly rely on chemical equilibrium partitioning. The
researchers develop a fugacity-based model of chemical magnification
due to organic carbon decomposition throughout the process of sediment
diagenesis. This study compares the behavior of the fugacity-based model
to observations of bottom sediment-water, suspended sediments-water,
and plankton-water distribution coefficients of a range of hydrophobic
organic chemicals in five Great Lakes. Observations include: (i) sediment-water
distribution coefficients of organic chemicals between bottom sediments
and water and between suspended sediments and water are considerably
greater than expected from chemical partitioning and that the degree
sediment-water disequilibrium appears to follow a relationship with
the depth of the lake; (ii) concentrations increase from plankton to
suspended sediments to bottom sediments and follow an inverse rather
than a proportional relationship with the organic carbon content; and
(iii) the degree of disequilibrium between bottom sediment and water,
suspended sediments and water, and plankton and water increases when
the octanol-water partition coefficient Kow drops. Using a proposed
organic carbon mineralization model, the researchers show how these
observations can be explained. This study concluded that sediment-water
distribution is not solely a chemical partitioning process; it is primarily
controlled by lake specific organic carbon mineralization processes.
Source: Gobas, F., and L.G. MacLean; Sediment-water distribution of organic contaminants in aquatic ecosystems: the role of organic carbon mineralization; Environmental Science & Technology 37 (4): 735-741, 2003.
- The fate, distribution, and toxicity of lindane in tests with Chironomus
riparius: effects of bioturbation and sediment organic matter content
– In this study, the impact of Chironomus
riparius bioturbation and sediment organic matter content on the
fate, distribution, and bioavailability of 14C-lindane under standardized
conditions in toxicity tests with artificial sediment is analyzed. Both
C. riparius burrowing activity and sediment organic matter content
strongly affect test conditions. Larval mortality and development had
an inverse relationship with C. riparius densities and lindane
concentration. Larval development rates, but not mortality, were impacted
by sediment organic matter content. C. riparius larval densities
negatively affected partitioning of lindane between the sediment, overlying
water, and interstitial water. Sediment partitioning, however, was positively
affected by sediment organic matter content. Bioturbation by C. riparius
resulted in a remobilization of particle-associated lindane to the interstitial
and overlying water, which implied an increase in the bioavailability
of the test compound. C. riparius densities and lindane concentrations
in interstitial water had strong positive relationships. The presence
of C. riparius also resulted in lower label recovery. For initially
added label in microcosms without C. riparius, label recovery
on sediment particles ranged from 49 to 61%, from 41 to 56% at low larval
densities, and from 15 to 50% at high larval densities. In conclusion,
the study's results reveal that large discrepancies may exist between
nominal test concentrations (from test compound additions) and true
exposure concentrations even under standardized test conditions, which
can introduce a relatively large error term in risk assessments. Calculations
also show that volatilization may be a quantitatively important sink
for test compounds.
Source: Goedkoop, W., and M. Peterson; The fate, distribution, and toxicity of lindane in tests with Chironomus riparius: effects of bioturbation and sediment organic matter content; Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 22 (1): 67-76, 2003.
- The use of respiratory enzymes as biomarkers of petroleum
hydrocarbon exposure in Mytilus edulis planulatus – This
study investigated the impact of exposure to petroleum hydrocarbons
through the water column and through contaminated sediment upon changes
in respiratory enzymes in the common mussel (Mytilus edulis planulatus).
Mussels were exposed to three concentrations of the water-accommodated
fraction (WAF) of Bass Strait crude oil. In a second study, mussels
were exposed to three concentrations of crude oil-contaminated sediment
for 2 weeks and 1, 2, 4 and 6 months. Measurements in the gills included
activities of citrate synthase (CS) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH).
A significant decrease in CS activity was seen over time in mussels
exposed to WAF. Neither treatment, nor time, had an effect on LDH activity.
CS activity was not significantly affected by exposure to contaminated
sediment. Time, however, had a significant effect on CS activity.
Source: Long, S.M. et al.; The use of respiratory enzymes as biomarkers of petroleum hydrocarbon exposure in Mytilus edulis planulatus; Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, In press, Available online 27 March 2003.
- Bioavailability of desorption-resistant
phenanthrene to the oligochaete Ilyodrilus templetoni
– This study analyzed bioavailability, which is measured by the
biota-sediment accumulation factor (BSAF), of reversibly sorbed and
desorption-resistant phenanthrene to the deposit-feeding freshwater
tubificid oligochaete Ilyodrilus templetoni. Using a sequential
batch desorption method by washing with an isopropanol solution, desorption-resistant,
phenanthrene-contaminated sediments were arranged. Results from the
study indicated a significantly reduced bioavailability of desorption-resistant
phenanthrene, which was seen in the averages of BSAFs 1.20±0.32
and 0.59±0.13 for reversibly sorbed phenanthrene and desorption-resistant
phenanthrene. In the study, 91% of the variance for both measured and
selected literature data of the BSAF was described in a generalized
model assuming a linear relationship between pore-water concentration
and normalized bioaccumulation. Physical and chemical measures of partitioning
between pore water and sediment described the reduced bioavailability
of desorption-resistant phenanthrene.
Source: Lu, X. et al.; Bioavailability of desorption-resistant phenanthrene to the oligochaete Ilyodrilus templetoni; Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 22 (1): 153-160, 2003.
- Factors affecting the distribution
of benthic macrofauna in estuaries contaminated by urban runoff
– In previous studies, contaminants derived from urban runoff
have been shown to accumulate in estuarine sediments, reaching concentrations
potentially capable of causing biological effects. Due to strong natural
environmental gradients and the impacts of past or present point sources
of contamination, demonstrating these effects, however, is difficult.
The researchers used multivariate methods to test two hypotheses that
related to the effects of urban-derived contaminants on estuarine benthic
communities. The first hypothesis was to prove that patterns of distribution
and abundance of benthic invertebrates in two urbanized estuaries would
be different from those in two non-urbanized estuaries. The second hypothesis
is that the distributions of benthic invertebrates within and among
the four estuaries would be related to those of urban-derived contaminants.
Contaminant concentrations were large in estuaries with urbanized catchments
and concentrations of Cu, Pb, Zn and DDT in some samples exceeded those
at which biological effects may be expected to appear. The two urban
estuaries were not significantly different, and the two rural estuaries
were also not significantly different. However, the urban estuaries
were found to differ significantly from the rural estuaries. These results
were attained through tests of differences in composition of benthic
communities among the estuaries. Distributions of environmental variables
and of benthic invertebrates were significantly related, as well as
ordinated along axes that correlated with both natural environmental
variables (nature of the sediment, position in estuary) and contaminants.
For the two sampling episodes, differences in faunas between the urban
and non-urban estuaries were not, however, readily apparent, nor were
relationships between faunal assemblages and environmental variables
(including contaminants) consistent.
Source: Morrisey, D.J. et al.; Factors affecting the distribution of benthic macrofauna in estuaries contaminated by urban runoff; Marine Environmental Research 55 (2): 113-136, 2003.
- Toxicokinetics of sediment-sorbed
benzo(a)pyrene and hexachlorobiphenyl using the freshwater invertebrates
Hyalella azteca, Chironomus tentans, and Lumbriculus
variegatus – Using three freshwater benthic
invertebrates, the researchers analyzed the impact of long-term sediment
aging on the toxicokinetics of benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) and hexachlorobiphenyl
(HCBP). Hyalella azteca, Chironomus tentans, and Lumbriculus
variegatus were exposed to BaP- and HCBP-spiked sediments that were
aged for 7 d or 1.5 years. By using a two-compartment model, the toxicokinetics
of the two compounds were determined for each test organism. With the
inclusion of biotransformation in the model, the modeling of BaP was
more complex. The researchers found that the HCBP uptake clearance rates
(ks) for each species were generally an order of magnitude greater than
those determined for BaP and that this difference was most likely due
to preferential and rapid binding of BaP to sediment particles. Overall,
based on ks values and bioaccumulation factors (BAFs), the bioavailability
of HCBP in spiked sediments tended to decrease with duration of aging.
The decreases in bioavailability, however, seem to be species specific.
Due to its large size, benzo(a)pyrene resisted movement into the micropores
of the sediment, revealing no decline in bioavailability for the species
tested. In addition to the bioassays, a method for toxicokinetic modeling
of biotransformed compounds and methods for statistical comparisons
of kinetic parameters (i.e., ks, kd ...) and BAF values is outlined.
Source: Schuler, L.J. et al.; Toxicokinetics of sediment-sorbed benzo(a)pyrene and hexachlorobiphenyl using the freshwater invertebrates Hyalella azteca, Chironomus tentans, and Lumbriculus variegatus; Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 22 (2): 439-449, 2003.
- Disturbances to metal partitioning
during toxicity testing of iron(II)-rich estuarine pore waters and whole
sediments – When suboxic estuarine sediments
containing Fe(II)-rich pore waters are disturbed during collection,
preparation, and toxicity testing, metal partitioning is altered. The
rates at which adsorptive losses of Cd, Cu, Ni, Mn, Pb, and Zn occur
upon exposure to air were verified by experiments with model Fe(II)-rich
pore waters. Experiments with Zn-contaminated estuarine sediments demonstrated
large and often unpredictable changes to metal partitioning during sediment
storage, removal of organisms, and homogenization before testing. Large
changes to metal partitioning were caused by small modifications to
conditions, such as aeration of overlying waters. Sediment collection
caused disturbances that required many weeks for reestablishment of
equilibrium. Benthic organisms caused bioturbation, which led to oxidation
of pore-water Fe(II) and lower Zn fluxes because of the formation of
Fe hydroxide precipitates that adsorb pore-water Zn. For five weeks
after the addition of organisms to sediments, as the organisms established
themselves in the sediments, Zn fluxes increased slowly, which indicated
that the establishment of equilibrium was not rapid. The results are
discussed in terms of the dynamic nature of suboxic, Fe(II)-rich estuarine
sediments, how organisms perturb their environment, and the importance
of understanding chemistry in toxicity testing with whole sediments
or pore water. The authors provide recommendations for the handling
of sediments for toxicity testing.
Source: Simpson, S.L. et al.; Disturbances to metal partitioning during toxicity testing of iron(II)-rich estuarine pore waters and whole sediments; Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 22 (2): 424-432, 2003.
-
Predicting sediment toxicity using logistic regression: a concentration-addition approach – The study analyzed the usefulness of the chemical concentration measurements for predicting the outcome of sediment toxicity tests. The researchers investigated several approaches for predicting toxicity based on multiple logistic regressions with concentration-addition models using matched data on sediment toxicity and sediment chemical concentrations from different studies. Three models met criteria for acceptability. The first model uses individual chemicals selected using stepwise selection. The second uses derived variables to reflect combined metal contamination, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) contamination, and the interaction between metals and PAHs. The third and final model is a separate species model with derived variables. The study found that although prediction is better for samples identified as nontoxic than for those known to be toxic, these models indicate that toxicity may be correctly predicted approximately 77% of the time.
Source: Smith, E.P. et al.; Predicting sediment toxicity using logistic regression: a concentration-addition approach; Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 22 (3): 565-575, 2003.
-
The toxicity of fluoranthene to Hyalella azteca in sediment and water-only exposures under varying light spectra – The light regimen is specified as a 16:8 light dark cycle with 500-1000 lx in the US Environmental Protection Agency methods for sediment toxicity testing. This study evaluates the potential for photoinduced toxic effects from this requirement. In order to examine the effect of light spectra on the toxicity of fluoranthene, Hyalella azteca were exposed to fluoranthene in both water only and sediment. The light sources included gold fluorescent light, cool white fluorescent light, and LC50-enhanced fluorescent light. After 10 days of exposure, toxicity was determined as mortality, which the extent of mortality was defined as LC50 and LR50 (median lethal body residue). In water-only exposures, the toxicity of fluoranthene was greatest under the UV-enhanced spectra, followed by fluorescent light, and least toxic under the gold light. The same pattern was shown in both the LC50 and LR50 values. Similar to values expected for the acute toxicity of nonpolar narcotic (anesthetic) compounds, the toxicity under gold light gave an LR50 of 0.81 mmol kg-1. Under the other two light sources, the LR50 values were significantly less, 4 and 58 times lower for the fluorescent and UV-enhanced exposures, respectively. The light source did not significantly impact the toxicity in sediment. Toxicity occurred only when the body residue concentration approached that of the LR50 under gold light from the water-only exposures. By burrowing into the sediment, H. azteca were significantly protected from the light.
Source: Wilcoxen, S.E. et al.; The toxicity of fluoranthene to Hyalella azteca in sediment and water-only exposures under varying light spectra; Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 54 (1): 105-117, 2003.
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Other Journal Titles of Interest
- In situ two-dimensional high-resolution profiling
of sulfide in sediment interstitial waters. Devries, C.R.; and F.
Wang. Environmental Science & Technology 37 (4): 792-797, 2003.
- Measured pore-water concentrations make equilibrium partitioning
work--a data analysis. Kraaij, R.; P. Mayer; F.J.M. Busser; M. van
het Bolscher; W. Seinen; J. Tolls; and A.C. Belfroid. Environmental
Science & Technology 37 (2): 268-274, 2003.
- Sediment toxicity tests using benthic marine microalgae
Cylindrotheca closterium (Ehremberg) Lewin and Reimann (Bacillariophyceae).
Moreno-Garrido, I.; M. Hampel; L.M. Lubian; and J. Blasco. Ecotoxicology
and Environmental Safety 54 (3): 290-295, 2003.
- Transport behavior of 3,3'-dichlorobenzidine in a freshwater estuary.
Nyman, M.C.; K. McCord; W.L. Wood; and E.R. Blatchley. Environmental
Toxicology and Chemistry 22 (1): 20-25, 2003.
- Studies on bioremediation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon-contaminated sediments: bioavailability, biodegradability, and toxicity issues. Tabak, H.H.; J.M. Lazorchak; L. Lei; A.P. Khodadoust; J.E. Antia; R. Bagchi; and M.T. Suidan. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 22 (3): 473-482, 2003.
Upcoming Events and Conferences
-
Coastal Sediments 2003. This conference occurs May
18-23 in Clearwater Beach, FL. Coastal Sediments '03 is a multi-disciplinary
international conference convened for researchers and practitioners
to discuss science and engineering issues of coastal sediment processes.
Visit the website for more information: http://www.coastalsediments.net/.
- 2nd International Symposium on Contaminated Sediments.
This conference is May 26-28 in Quebec City, Canada. Conference is subtitled
Characterization, Evaluation, Mitigation/Restoration, Management
Strategy, and Performance. For more information, contact Helene
Tremblay at 418-656-2193; e-mail: SCS2003@ggl.ulaval.ca or
visit the conference website.
- In-Situ Contaminated Sediment Capping Workshop.
This workshop is from May 12-14 in Cincinnati, OH. A national workshop
to review the science, technology and applications of capping at contaminated
sediment sites, examine lessons learned, and discuss future directions.
For further information, contact Ana Montes, Electrical Power Research
Institute (EPRI) at 650-855-2165. Web site: www.epri.com/default.asp
and click on Events Calendar.
-
North American Benthological Society's Annual Meeting. This meeting runs from May 27-31 in Athens, GA. Sessions at the conference will present case studies dealing with ecotoxicology and bioassessment. For more information, contact Anne Yount, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, 204 Lumpkin House, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30624. Website: www.benthos.org/Meeting/nabs2003/programschedule.htm.
- In Situ and On-Site Bioremeditation.
This conference happens in Orlando, FL, June 2-5. For more information,
contact the Conference Group at 800-783-6338 or 614-424-5461; e-mail:
info@confgroupinc.com; or
see the website: http://www.battelle.org/biosymp.
- International Association for Great Lakes Research
Global Threats to Large Lakes: Managing in an Environment of Instability
and Unpredictability. The conference occurs June 22-26 in Chicago,
IL. For more information, contact Marc Tuchman at the EPA’s Great
Lakes National Program Office at 312-353-1369 or email at tuchman.marc@epa.gov.
- Coastal Structures Conference. A Coastal Structures Conference
will take place August 26-29th 2003 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 or info@UMassSoils.com.
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 is from 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.
- 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.
Calcasieu Estuary Database. The project database was updated
in September 2002 to include the Phase 2 biota data. The database includes
the results of the recent estuary sampling in addition to the historical
sediments. http://www.epa.gov/earth1r6/6sf/sfsites/datarep.htm
The Sediment-Contaminant Database for the Upper Mississippi River
System (version 2) contains reliable sediment-contaminant data of
known quality in a readily accessible format. The database was compiled
to facilitate the assessment of riverine contamination, to increase
the availability of historic sediment-contaminant data, to facilitate
responses to contaminant issues in the Upper Mississippi River System,
and to focus management and scientific efforts pertaining to contaminated-sediment.
http://www.umesc.usgs.gov/data_library/sediment_contaminants/sediment_contaminant_page.html
National Dredging Team implements the National Dredging Policy established in 1994. The Team works to increase communication, coordination, and timely resolution of dredging issues among participating Federal agencies. The National Dredging Team also provides guidance on formation of Local Planning Groups and development of dredged material management plans. http://www.epa.gov/OWOW/oceans/ndt/
USGS Coastal and Marine Geology Program. The Online Science
Resource Locator found on this web page allows the review of publications
relating to contaminated sediment. Articles describe sources, composition,
and effects of sediment on aquatic habitats including coral reefs. http://marine.usgs.gov/
U.S. Navy Contaminated Sediments Website. This page provides
links to Risk Assessment and Site evaluation tools available through
the U.S. Navy. It also has links to other federal agencies and the programs
that have been developed to reduce the amounts and effects of contaminated
sediment. http://enviro.nfesc.navy.mil/erb/restoration/fcs_area/con_sed/main.htm
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Contaminated Sediments. This page
provides links to reports, technical notes, and news bulletins. Topics
addressed include developing rapid and inexpensive screening tools,
producing guidance for contaminant pathway assessments, developing design
guidance for contaminant controls and management, demonstrating bioremediation
as a cost-effective treatment option, and developing field approaches
for confined facility reclamation. http://www.wes.army.mil/el/dots/doer/cs.html