Integrated Field Screening for Rapid Sediment Characterization
Abstract
The Environmental Security Technology Certification Program (ESTCP) has an established program to accelerate acceptance and application of innovative monitoring and site characterization technologies that improve the way the nation manages its environmental problems. Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center, San Diego (SSC San Diego), will demonstrate an integrated methodology to facilitate acceptance of three field screening techniques to delineate chemical concentrations and potential biological effects of sediment contaminants. Defining the nature and extent of contamination in marine sediments can be a difficult problem. Detailed site investigations require extensive sampling and subsequent laboratory analyses for both metal and organic contaminant chemistries. Additional laboratory analyses including several different types of bioassays are conducted to determine any possible adverse biological effects to organisms exposed to the sediment. Samples are often collected without any a priori knowledge of the nature and extent of contamination. Due to the high cost of all these laboratory analyses, samples taken for analysis are often limited. Zones of contamination in marine sediments can be missed, or, if located, overestimated or underestimated. For more detailed spatial information on extent of contamination, sites of interest must often be sampled and analyzed in an iterative manner. This approach can be prohibitively costly, slow, and labor intensive. An alternative to this approach is to combine standard laboratory analyses with field screening using various techniques to characterize both the contaminant chemistry and any possible biological effects. By using near real-time screening techniques during the sampling procedure, the full extent of contamination and possible biological effects can be rapidly mapped.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 2004
- Accession Number
- ADA607315
Entities
People
- David Lapota
- Jim Leather
- Victoria Kirtay
Organizations
- Naval Information Warfare Systems Command