General

Metals in the environment
http://www.ozestuaries.org/indicators/In_heavy_metals_f.html

NSW Environment Protection Authority
http://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/soe/soe2003/chapter5/chp_5.7.htm

Sediments are used to monitor aquatic environments because they faithfully record and time-integrate the environmental status of an aquatic system. Contaminant concentrations are high in sediments, and thus they are easily, cheaply, and accurately analysed. Sediments can be an important secondary source of pollutants, and because they integrate contaminants over time, sediments provide useful spatial and temporal information. Sediment quality influences the nature of overlying and interstitial waters through physical, chemical and biological processes. Because sediments play a major role in the transport and storage of contaminants, they are important in identification of contaminant sources and determining dispersion pathways. Sediments also provide an important habitat for animals and are a food source for many species. Sediment quality thus determines, to a large degree, biodiversity and ecological health in aquatic systems, and they are economically attractive in environmental assessment of coastal environments.
From: http://www.ozestuaries.org/indicators/DEF_sediment_scheme.html

Protocol

General Water Quality Monitoring guideline (ANZECC 2000)
http://www.deh.gov.au/water/quality/nwqms/summary/chapter4.html
Surface sediments are collected as these represent recent contamination. Only sediment consisting of a majority of fine particles are collected as these are the ones which are physically capable of holding onto the contaminants in question (See Case Studies). Sediment samples are typically collected at each site using a grab, corer or other suitably prepared sampling device (polycarbonate or stainless steel). The contents of each grab is dumped into a polyethylene bag or pyrex container prior to transport (in an esky) to the laboratory, where they can be frozen (-18o C) pending analysis (for metals).

Sediment contaminant concentrations can be compared with background data and with sediment quality criteria (ANZECC Guidelines reference), to examine the possible hazard to aquatic organisms. Background data can either be collected from unimpacted catchments or from deeper sediment cores (it is assumed that deeper sediments represent past geologic time).

The following parameters are typically analysed for in sediment monitoring programs associated with estuarine, residential, industrial, and rural areas.

Nutrients

Physical

EPA
Examples of sediment metal indicator levels
http://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/water/mwqo/proposed_mwqo.htm

Cost

Analytical costs
$6,000 for 10 sites and 13 common metals (plus sampling, labor and reporting)

Case studies

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority
http://www.gbrmpa.gov.au/corp_site/info_services/publications/misc_pub/misc_003/

Hornsby Shire Council
Estuary Manager
Berowra Creek Estuary Process Studies
E-mail: hsc@hornsby.nsw.gov.au

EPA Sydney Harbour
http://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/soe/97/ch3/13_2.htm

Person Contact

Dr Phillip Ford
CSIRO Land and Water GPO Box 1666 Canberra ACT 2601
Phone: +61 2 6246 5559
Fax: +61 2 6246 5560
Email: Phillip.Ford@csiro.au

Dr Gavin Birch, MSc, PhD, Grad.Dip.Ind.Admin
Senior Lecturer
Edgeworth David Building, Rm 510
Phone: +61 2 9351 2921
Fax: +61 2 9351 0184
Email: gavin@mail.usyd.edu.au
Web: Personal pages

Organisation contact

CSIRO
http://www.energy.csiro.au/science/environmentandgreenhouse/water_topics.htm

Advanced reference

Marine sediment monitoring
USA, Puget Sound
http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/eap/mar_sed/spatial.html