Sediment quality and ecorisk assessment factors for a major river system
- Westinghouse Hanford Co., Richland, WA (United States)
- Pacific Northwest Lab., Richland, WA (United States)
- Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (United States)
Sediment-related water quality and risk assessment parameters for the Columbia River were developed using heavy metal loading and concentration data from Lake Roosevelt (river km 1120) to the mouth and adjacent coastal zone. Correlation of Pb, Zn, Hg, and Cd concentrations in downstream sediments with refinery operations in British Columbia suggest that solutes with K{sub d}`s > 10{sup 5} reach about 1 to 5 {mu}g/g per metric ton/year of input. A low-suspended load (upriver avg. <10 mg/L) and high particle-surface reactivity account for the high clay-fraction contaminant concentrations. In addition, a sediment exposure path was demonstrated based on analysis of post-shutdown biodynamics of a heavy metal radiotracer. The slow decline in sediment was attributed to resuspension, bioturbation, and anthropogenic disturbances. The above findings suggest that conservative sediment quality criteria should be used to restrict additional contaminant loading in the upper drainage basin. The issuance of an advisory for Lake Roosevelt, due in part to Hg accumulation in large sport fish, suggests more restrictive controls are needed. A monitoring strategy for assessing human exposure potential and the ecological health of the river is proposed.
- Research Organization:
- Westinghouse Hanford Co., Richland, WA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC06-87RL10930
- OSTI ID:
- 10140834
- Report Number(s):
- WHC-SA-1989; CONF-9406155-1; ON: DE94009613; BR: 35AF11201/35AF11202
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: AWRA annual summer symposium on effects of human-induced changes on hydrology systems,Jackson Hole, WY (United States),26-29 Jun 1994; Other Information: PBD: Aug 1993
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
SEDIMENTS
RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION
METALS
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
REMEDIAL ACTION
RISK ASSESSMENT
COLUMBIA RIVER
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LEAD
ZINC
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CADMIUM
ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE
540320
540350
054000
CHEMICALS MONITORING AND TRANSPORT
SITE RESOURCE AND USE STUDIES
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