The fate and transport of natural and anthropogenic sediment-borne organic contaminants is a critical environmental issue and complex processes are involved that until now have been poorly defined. Organic Substances and Sediments in Water is a three-volume book that provides the best information available regarding the many interdisciplinary factors affecting organic substances associated with particulates in water. Topics discussed include absorption and transport of contaminants associated with particles; interfacial processes affecting fate and transport of organic substances associated with particles; the release of contaminants in receiving water bodies; water treatment; the role of biological factors in the fate and transport of organic contaminants in aqueous systems; development of biotransformation in natural and anthropogenic systems; the use of organic contaminant and sediment chemicals; biological and physical data to refine models to be used by resource managers; and chemical and biological processes that affect the fate and transport of organic constituents and determine degradation of contaminants and uptake in plants. This will be an important reference for environmental chemists, environmental engineers, environmental biologists, water treatment and natural system modelers, and soils scientists.

Bioavailability refers to the extent to which humans and ecological receptors are exposed to contaminants in soil or sediment. The concept of bioavailability has recently piqued the interest of the hazardous waste industry as an important consideration in deciding how much waste to clean up. The rationale is that if contaminants in soil and sediment are not bioavailable, then more contaminant mass can be left in place without creating additional risk. A new NRC report notes that the potential for the consideration of bioavailability to influence decision-making is greatest where certain chemical, environmental, and regulatory factors align. The current use of bioavailability in risk assessment and hazardous waste cleanup regulations is demystified, and acceptable tools and models for bioavailability assessment are discussed and ranked according to seven criteria. Finally, the intimate link between bioavailability and bioremediation is explored. The report concludes with suggestions for moving bioavailability forward in the regulatory arena for both soil and sediment cleanup.

The fate and transport of natural and anthropogenic sediment-borne organic contaminants is a critical environmental issue and complex processes are involved that until now have been poorly defined. Organic Substances and Sediments in Water is a three-volume book that provides the best information available regarding the many interdisciplinary factors affecting organic substances associated with particulates in water. Topics discussed include absorption and transport of contaminants associated with particles; interfacial processes affecting fate and transport of organic substances associated with particles; the release of contaminants in receiving water bodies; water treatment; the role of biological factors in the fate and transport of organic contaminants in aqueous systems; development of biotransformation in natural and anthropogenic systems; the use of organic contaminant and sediment chemicals; biological and physical data to refine models to be used by resource managers; and chemical and biological processes that affect the fate and transport of organic constituents and determine degradation of contaminants and uptake in plants. This will be an important reference for environmental chemists, environmental engineers, environmental biologists, water treatment and natural system modelers, and soils scientists. VOLUME I: HUMICS AND SOILS