Contaminated sediments are a particular challenge due to the direct exposure of contaminants to biota, diversity of contaminants, and cost and difficulty in their remediation. Understanding the fate and transport of contaminants is critical in evaluating their potential effects and efficacy of remediation efforts, such as caps. Evaluating the fate and transport of contaminants in sediments can be difficult due to their heterogeneity and low solubilities of common sediment contaminates such as PCBs, PAHs, and DDT. Over the last decade polymeric samplers have been successfully deployed to monitor porewater concentrations. These passive samplers can give detailed information on contaminant spatial distribution. However, these measurements alone are not sufficient to understand the fate and transport, as there are too many unconstrained variables such as biodegradation rates, advective flux, and sorption impacts. We have developed a multi-parameter passive samplers (sHRPP) that can produce co-located data on hydrophobic contaminates using discrete polymeric samplers but also on conservative transport species (Cl-), biogeochemical indicators (Fe+2, S-2, SO4-2, CH4), microbial abundances, and pore water velocities. Combined these parameters allow better constraint of transport parameters which can then allow better estimates or reactive processes (sorption or degradation). This presentation will highlight the utility of high-resolution multi-parameter sampling at a number of field sites and how the data can be used to evaluate contaminated sediment sites and remediation activities.

Improved understanding of contaminant transport and fate in sediments using co-located multi-parameter spatial profiles

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ACS Fall 2022

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