Characterisation of dredged materials

Management of contaminated sediments requires - similar to other waste materials - a holistic approach. In addition to the common predictive techniques for estimating contaminant losses - a priori techniques and pathway-specific tests - the interactive nature of various parameters has to be recognized. This means, that particular emphasis should be placed on the evaluation of 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 “carbonate content”). Assessment of these parameters and their long-term borderline conditions, as well as the potential links between the two sets of geochemical properties and of individual parameters should be an integrated part of the wider management scheme, i.e., the analytical and experimental parameters should always be related to the potential remediation options for a specific sediment problem.