Release of contaminants and nutrients from sediments: exposure and effects
Aquatic sediments may absorb or release contaminants from/to surface waters and ground water. The rate and amount of which this occurs is generally difficult to determine. Redox processes (oxidation and reduction) determine the fate of many compounds to a large extent.
SOFIE® has found uses in many types of studies:
- Inundation / flooding experiments;
- Exposure tests with terrestrial and aquatic organisms;
- Bioturbation and contaminant displacement;
- Fluxes of nutrients to/from sediment and surface water;
- Simulation of long-term sediment storage in sand pits and lakes;
- (Geo)chemical oxidation and ripening of drained sediments.
Bioaccumulation studies with Tubifex (left) and Chironimus (right) show that uptake is primarily via the free dissolved phase
Redox gradients occur over short distances.
This affect the bioavailability of compounds.
