Evaluating the effectiveness of contaminated-sediment dredging.

ater bodies fed by current or former industrial, agricultural, or mining areas frequently contain contaminated sediments, and throughout the U.S., miles of riverbeds and vast areas of harbors, lakes, and estuaries are affected (1, 2). Contaminants in sediments can have direct toxic effects on organisms and can accumulate in organisms consumed by humans. The presence of sediment contamination also limits the productive use of a water body and its associated economic benefits (e.g., Ref. 3). The Hudson River in New York State is probably the best-known example of a large river system with widespread sediment contamination. The proposed cleanup addresses the upper 40 miles of river where 2.65 million cubic yards are slated to be removed (4). Cleanup has yet to begin, although dredging of 265,000 cubic yards Evaluating the Effectiveness of Contaminated-Sediment DREDGING