PERSISTENCE OF WHITE PHOSPHORUS (P-4) PARTICLES IN SALT-MARSH SEDIMENTS

Remediation of sediments at Eagle River Flats, Alaska, a salt marsh co ntaminated with solid particles of white phosphorus (P-4), may require severe alterations of the wetland by dredging, draining, or covering. However, some sediments may undergo decontamination naturally in area s that are seasonally subaerially exposed. The persistence of millimet er-size P-4 particles was studied in laboratory and field experiments. White phosphorus particles were found to be persistent in saturated s ediments. In unsaturated sediments, loss was rapid (within 24 h) at 20 degrees C, and was retarded by low temperatures.