How can we remove contaminated sediments without polluting the water?

 

Introduction

 Toxins are threatening the fauna (including humans) in many aquatic ecosystems.  Efforts are underway to reduce the amount of toxins being released into the environment, however, the problem of what to do with toxins already in the environment has become a pressing issue.  The following lesson will focus on the dredging of contaminated underwater sediments and include dredging's potential impacts on ecosystem and human health.

Objectives

 This lesson has two activities. 
  • With Activity 1 [Can toxins covered by sediments be dredged without causing the toxin to be resuspended in the water column?], students will model the action of dredging techniques for contaminated sediments. The objective is to determine which method of dredging is most efficient and least likely to resuspend sediments in the water. 
  • In Activity 2 [Should the Ashtabula River be dredged?], students will decide how to deal with contamination of Ashtabula (Ohio) Harbor, using the information about dreding methods.
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    From Decision Making Activities for the Great Lakes, Contaminated Sediments.
    Developed by the Ohio Sea Grant Education Program, The Ohio State University. © 2005