ABSTRACT
Approximately 0.9 billion m3 of sediment in the United States are contaminated, which are a risk to sh, humans, and animals that eat the sh, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA, 1998). The rate of survival, immunity to diseases, and growth of sh such as salmon may be affected by exposure to contaminated sediments early in life (Varanasi et al., 1993). Although part of the geoenvironment, sediments have received much less attention from researchers, policy makers, and other professionals than other components. Sediment, however, is an essential and valuable resource in river basins and other aqueous environments. A large biodiversity exists in the sediments. It is thus a source of life and resources for humans as construction materials, sand for beaches, and farmland and wetland nutrients.
