Stable Sediment Environments

P Associated with low flow environments

P Contaminant dynamics controlled by

<Deposition of clean sediment – often controls monitored natural recovery

<Water side mass transfer resistances

<Sorption retarded diffusion/advection in pore water

<Bioturbation - normal life cycle activities of benthic organisms

<Contaminant availability

P Bioturbation

<Dominated by deposit feeders that ingest sediment

<Increases sediment cycling to the surface- surface release of contaminants

<Increases porewater irrigation of sediments

<Increases oxygen transport into the sediments- enhancing biodegradation

<Organism uptake contributes to transmission up food chain