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The Use of Stable Isotopes to Measure Contaminant Movements in Wetlands
The goal of this project is to develop and test a new approach to examine the degree to which methods used for mitigation and remediation of wetland and estuarine sediments reduce the transfer of contaminants to the environment. We will compare and contrast three proposed mitigation strategies: capping, phytoremediation, and marsh restoration using contaminated sediments. Stable isotope tracers for trace element contaminants will be used to evaluate the effectiveness of three approaches to wetland and shallow water remediation. Experiments will be done in mesocosms and in the field. Stable isotope tracers will produce a strong signal from which deviations in the natural ratio in natural matrices can be readily determined. The proposed use of stable trace metal stable isotopes to study the movements of trace elements in wetland and estuarine sediments, waters and biota should be applicable to a wide variety of ecosystems. This method could be used in the field to test real outcomes of mitigation efforts for efficacy prior to their large scale implementation in contaminated wetlands or estuarine sediments.
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Gerhardt F. Riedel
Richard Osman
Benedict Estuarine Research Center
The Academy of Natural Sciences
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