Model and assessment of the contribution of dredged material disposal to sea-surface contamination in Puget Sound

Technical Report · Sat Feb 01 00:00:00 EST 1986

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6063339· OSTI ID:6063339

Hardy, J T; Cowan, C E

Hydrophobic or floatable materials released to the water column during dredge disposal operations may accumulate in high concentrations on the water surface. If such surface accumulations occur, they could impact the reproduction of fish and shellfish with neustonic (floating) eggs or larvae. Also, floatable surface contaminants could deposit on nearby beaches. In order to examine the potential impacts of such processes, an interactive computer (IBM PC) model was developed. The FORTRAN model allows input of contaminant concentrations on the dredge material, the surface area of the disposal site, the floatable fraction of the contaminated material, and the baseline concentrations of contaminants present in the sea-surface microlayer. The model then computes the resultant concentrations of each contaminant in the microlayer and the potential impact on floating fish eggs. The utility of the model would be greatly improved by empirical data, not yeat available, on the vertical upward and lateral movement of contaminants during dredge material disposal.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC06-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 6063339
• Report Number(s): PNL-5804; ON: DE86007972
• Resource Relation: Other Information: Portions of this document are illegible in microfiche products
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
COMPUTER CODES
D CODES
DREDGE SPOIL
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
POLLUTANTS
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
EGGS
FISHES
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
SURFACE WATERS
WASTE DISPOSAL
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
MANAGEMENT
MASS TRANSFER
VERTEBRATES
WASTE MANAGEMENT
520200* - Environment
Aquatic- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)