Assessment of toxicity hazards of dredged lake sediment contaminated by creosote

In order to predict the potential toxicity hazards of sediment remediation by dredging, an experimental laboratory simulation was made by investigatin g seven ratios of creosote-contaminated sediment (Lake Jamsanvesi, central Finland) and artificial lake water mixtures. Sediment was suspended in wate r at the ratios of 1:1, 1:2, 1:4, 1:8, 1:16, 1:32, 1:64, 1:128 v/v. The elu triates were analysed for the acute toxicity by photoluminescence bacterial and waterflea (Daphnia magna Straus) tests. The concentrations of polycycl ic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are determined by gas chromatography (GC/FI D). The elutriate of ratio 1:2 was most toxic to bacteria (EC50 = 4.5%), wh ereas the ratio 1:4 was most toxic to waterfleas (EC50 = 21%). The elutriat e of 1:1 contained the highest total PAM-concentration (1.67 mg/l) and tota l organic carbon (TOC) content (39.4 mg/l). When compared to the 1:1 ratio, taken as unity, the relative toxic emission yield (RTE) for bacteria was 3 07 for the ratio 1:128, so the high mixing ratio may cause a considerable e cotoxicological hazard. The highest amounts of PAHs were desorbed from sedi ment to water layer when the sediment was mixed with water at the ratios 1: 1, 1:2 and 1:4 (v/v). It is assumed that dredging of creosote-contaminated sediment can potentially cause an ecotoxicological risk for a lake system a t wide range of suspension ratios. We recommended that basic knowledge for these risks can be produced by simple laboratory simulation. (C) 1999 Elsev ier Science B.V. All rights reserved.