Clean Ocean Action: Contaminated Sediments

CONTAMINATED SEDIMENTS

Clean Ocean Action assesses contaminated sediments issues in New Jersey, the New York Bight, and the nation. We take action when needed to protect the ocean. Explore the links to find out more about sediments and COA's work to protect them.

Contaminated sediments are muds, silts, and sands that lie below America's waters, and that become contaminated from runoff pollution, atmospheric deposition, pipe discharges, and other pollution sources. Contaminated sediments are found throughout the coasts of the United States, and at the 100 ocean dumpsites in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, and in the Gulf of Mexico. The Environmental Protection Agency has documented the presence of at least one billion cubic yards (roughly, one billion tons) of contaminated sediments below the nation's waterways. Some contamination is historical, but additional contamination occurs daily through runoff and other sources.

Every year, roughly 400 million cubic yards of sediments are dredged to maintain ship traffic, with 60 million cubic yards dumped at ocean dumpsites. Some portion of these dredged sediments are contaminated. The pollutants include PCBs, DDT and other pesticides, PAHs, dioxins, Mercury, and other substances. Negative impacts on populations of fish and shellfish have been documented, with impacts including reproductive impairments, growth reduction, and disease. Impacts on critical habitat have also been documented, particularly contamination of the benthic ecosystem, with subsequent harm to the marine foodchain. There is enormous pressure to expand dredging in ports around the country, which will generate additional contaminated sediments and cause pressure for increased disposal in the oceans and estuaries.

Learn more about contaminated sediments by exploring our links in the side menu to the left.

This work is supported by the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation and the William Penn Foundation.