Determinants of sediment toxicity in San Francisco Bay. Final report

Technical Report · Thu Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1994

OSTI ID:32783

Hoffman, E R ^[1]; Anderson, S L ^[1]; Knezovich, J P ^[2]

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1. Lawrence Berkeley Lab., CA (United States)
2. Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (United States)

San Francisco Bay has received anthropogenic waste for decades. Sediments, in particular, have served as a sink for numerous contaminants. Yet, the bioavailability of sediment-associated chemicals to benthic organisms and, thus, the potential for ecological impacts remains unclear. Various testing methodologies are currently used to assess the potential for impacts to the benthos associated with sediment contamination. However, increased development and application of these sediment quality tests has resulted in intense debate regarding their interpretation and reliability. Currently, a wealth of data exist that can be used to develop a better understanding of the extent and impacts of sediment contamination in San Francisco Bay. Generated by numerous short- and long-term monitoring programs as well as dredged material testing, this data reflects both where we have been and where we are going in sediment testing. It was our goal to evaluate a subset of this new data with an eye on the evolving state of our understanding of chemical processes in sediments and their influence on the toxicity of contaminants. In this report, several topical issues relating to sediment contamination in San Francisco Bay are examined. Each section addresses a discrete question and includes a discussion of the context for the analysis as well as description of the approach used, the results, and implications of our findings. Although sections are meant to stand alone, linkages do exist among them and these are discussed where appropriate.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Berkeley Lab., CA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: Department of Defense, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC03-76SF00098
• OSTI ID: 32783
• Report Number(s): LBL--36592; ON: DE95009374
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
56 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
APPLIED STUDIES
BAYS
DREDGING
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
GEOCHEMISTRY
SEDIMENTS
TOXICITY
WATER POLLUTION