Characterisation of dredged materials

Management of contaminated sediments requires similar to other waste materi als - a holistic approach. In addition to the common predictive techniques for estimating contaminant losses - a priori techniques and pathway-specifi c tests - the interactive nature of various parameters has to be recognized . This means, that particular emphasis should be placed on the evaluation o f the two data sets "driving force/geochemical gradient" parameters (mostly redox-sensitive components, which may be critical for the "acid producing capacity") and "capacity controlling properties" (with prevalence of "carbo nate content"). Assessment of these parameters and their long-term borderli ne conditions, as well as the potential links between the two sets of geoch emical properties and of individual parameters should be an integrated part of the wider management scheme, i.e., the analytical and experimental para meters should always be related to the potential remediation options for a specific sediment problem. (C) 1998 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd on be half of the IAWQ. All rights reserved.