The need and means to characterize sediment structure and behaviour prior to the selection and implementation of remediation plans

Remediation of contaminated sediments requires detailed characterizations of the speciation of the toxic substances and their transformations with regard to time and spatial distribution. While many approaches exist to address dissolved species of toxicants, there is a need to characterize sediments per se in terms of materials or particles which bind toxicants and modulate their bioavailability and rate of burial. Such specific information can …