Contaminated sediments news

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 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.

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.

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.

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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