Abstract
The ability of various uncontaminated cap materials of varying thicknesses to isolate contaminated dredged material from the water column was assessed in large (250 l.) reactor units using chemical and microbial tracers. Heavy metals, polychlorinated biphenyls, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and bacterial spores contained in the underlying contaminated dredged material were monitored in the overlying water column, clams ( Rangia cuneata) suspended in the water, and burrowing polychaetes ( Nereis virens). Tissue analysis of Rangia indicated that none of the 5 cm cap thicknesses tested was totally effective in preventing contaminant transfer to biota. However, cap materials consisting predominantly of clay and silt appeared more effective than sand in preventing contaminant transfer to biota. Rangia did not show elevated tissue concentrations of chemicals when contaminated sediment was covered with a 50 cm cap. However, chemical and microbial results indicated that Nereis breached both the 5 cm and 50 cm thicknesses of all cap materials tested.
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