Sediment-contaminant interactions and transport: a new perspective

Abstract This paper investigates the sediment structural controls over the transport and compartmentalization of Cd, Cu and Pb within flocculated sediments. The compartmentalization of contaminants within flocculated sediment particles demonstrates the complex underlying biogeochemical conttols of sediment contami nant interactions. The aims and objectives of the paper are to demonstrate (a) how the structure of suspended sediment particles will influence the transfer of metals within aquatic systems and (b) how the internal shoicture/composition of the particles promotes compartmentalization of metals in a selective manner