Although valuable resources in river basins and other aqueous environments, sediments often receive much less attention from researchers, policymakers, and other professionals than other components of the ecosystem. Until now. Highlighting the important role that sediments play in the geoenvironment, Sediments Contamination and Sustainable Remediation focuses on sediment management for the purpose of environmental cleanup or management. It provides the in-depth understanding of the sediment-water environment needed to develop better management practices and meet sustainability requirements.

The book discusses the contamination of sediments resulting from discharge of pollutants, excessive nutrients, and other hazardous substances from anthropogenic activities. It examines impacts observed as a result of these discharges, including the presence of hazardous materials and eutrophication, and elucidates the remediation techniques developed to restore the health of sediments and how to evaluate the remediation technologies using indicators. The text explores the problems inherent in dealing with contaminated sediments in rivers, lakes, and estuaries and includes numerous case studies that illustrate key concepts.

The authors provide wide-ranging coverage of the topic and include methods for evaluating the effectiveness of different remediation technologies. They make the case for the development and application of innovative management practices that create long-term solutions to sediment contamination to reduce natural resource depletion, continued landfill contamination, and diminished biodiversity in the aquatic geoenvironment.

Contents

Introduction to Sediment Contamination and Management

Introduction

Sustainable Development and the Aquatic Geoenvironment

Sources of Pollutants

Management of Contaminated Sediments

Natural Mitigation Processes

Bioaccumulation of Contaminants

Sustainable Sediment Management Practices

Concludrks

References

Introduction to Sediments

Introduction

Definition of Sediments

Types of Sediments

Benthos

Uses of Sediments and Water

Management of Sediments

Concluding Remarks

References

Contaminant–Sediment Interactions

Introduction

Factors Influencing Contaminant–Sediment Interactions

Sorption of Pollutants and Partition Coefficients

Biotransformation and Degradation of Organic Chemicals and Heavy Metals

Interaction of Contaminants, Organisms, and Sediments

Chemical Reactions, Geochemical Speciation, and Transport Predictions

Concluding Remarks

References

Remediation Assessment, Sampling, and Monitoring

Introduction

Cleanup Goals and Background Values

Sampling

Analysis and Evaluation

Case Studies

Concluding Remarks

References

Natural Recovery of Contaminated Sediments

Introduction

Natural Recovery Processes of S...