Application of neutron activatable tracers (NATs) for cohesive sediment transport studies in contaminated estuaries

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dc.contributor.authorHollins, SEen_AU
dc.contributor.authorSzymczak, Ren_AU
dc.contributor.authorAirey, PLen_AU
dc.contributor.authorPeirson, WLen_AU
dc.contributor.authorPayne, TEen_AU
dc.date.accessioned2021-04-20T01:16:54Zen_AU
dc.date.available2021-04-20T01:16:54Zen_AU
dc.date.issued2004-10-29en_AU
dc.date.statistics2021-03-19en_AU
dc.description.abstractANSTO and the University of NSW Water Research Laboratory (WRL) are investigating the migration of contaminants associated with cohesive sediments in Homebush Bay, Sydney. The study area is a highly urbanised and industrialised catchment with a long history of contamination [1]. Until 1890, when an ocean outfall was commissioned, domestic and industrial waste was discharged directly into Sydney Harbour [2]. Heavy metals and other hydrophobic pollutants have a distinct tendency towards solid phase partitioning. This means that the majority of heavy metals in the estuary are linked to particulates rather than occurring in the dissolved phase. Hence, in order to assess the impacts of the pollution and develop a scientific basis for remediation it is necessary to understand processes that resuspend and disperse the contaminated sediments. The study approach involved the evaluation of the numerical model of the processes using activatable tracer techniques [3]. An ideal tracer binds to the material of interest with high integrity and is detected with high sensitivity and selectivity. Tracers can be used to study sediment transport over extended periods and are therefore ideally suited to observing the impact of extreme weather events on sediment mobilisation by monitoring the distribution of the label before and after the event. The tracer must not only adhere to the cohesive sediment with high integrity but must be detectable with high efficiency, high sensitivity and relatively low cost. Identification of the optimum activatable tracer involved an assessment of the nuclear (Table I) and sorption properties. The implementation of the tracer study involved (a) labelling sediment from the study area with indium-115 in the laboratory and equilibrating for 3 weeks; (b) choosing a site where bathymetric surveys indicated significant recent accretion; (c) injection of the labelled sediment into an accurately located site in Homebush Bay (Fig. 1); (d) undertaking three surveys over the subsequent months; (e) analysis of samples via irradiation in the Fast Access Neutron facility in ANSTO’s research reactor, HIFAR and gamma counting on a High Purity Germanium detector3; and (f) data processing, where the tracer concentrations were contoured using the Surfer© routine and interpreted in terms of advective and dispersive transport using a Gaussian approximation (Fig. 2). Information on vertical transport was obtained by coring. These results are being used to evaluate a three-dimensional finite element model of the study area [4]. Estimates have been made of the aerial dispersion coefficients, of the surficial mixing due to bioturbation and of advective transport. This paper will focus on the optimum choice of the tracer for cohesive sediment transport studies and some early results.en_AU
dc.identifier.booktitleProceedings of an international conference held in Monaco, 25–29 October 2004 organized by the International Atomic Energy Agency and co-sponsored by the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics, International Hydrological Programme of UNESCOen_AU
dc.identifier.citationHollins, S., Szymczak, R., Airey, P., Peirson, E., L., Payne, T. (2006). Application of neutron activatable tracers (NATs) for cohesive sediment transport studies in contaminated estuaries. In Proccedings of an international conference held held in Monaco, 25–29 October 2004 organized by the International Atomic Energy Agency and co-sponsored by the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics, International Hydrological Programme of UNESCO, Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO and the Commission Internationale pour l’Exploration Scientifique de la Mer Méditerranée, "Isotopes in Environmental Studies Aquatic Forum 2004". (pp. 431-432). Retrieved from https://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/Publications/PDF/CSP_26_web.pdfen_AU
dc.identifier.conferenceenddate29 October 2004en_AU
dc.identifier.conferencenameIsotopes in Environmental Studies Aquatic Forum 2004en_AU
dc.identifier.conferenceplaceMonacoen_AU
dc.identifier.conferencestartdate25 October 2004en_AU
dc.identifier.isbn92–0–111305–Xen_AU
dc.identifier.issn1562–4153en_AU
dc.identifier.otherIAEA-CSP-26en_AU
dc.identifier.pagination431-432en_AU
dc.identifier.placeofpublicationVienna, Austriaen_AU
dc.identifier.urihttps://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/Publications/PDF/CSP_26_web.pdfen_AU
dc.identifier.urihttps://apo.ansto.gov.au/dspace/handle/10238/10672en_AU
dc.language.isoenen_AU
dc.publisherInternational Atomic Energy Agencyen_AU
dc.subjectANSTOen_AU
dc.subjectNew South Walesen_AU
dc.subjectBaysen_AU
dc.subjectWateren_AU
dc.subjectPollutantsen_AU
dc.subjectIndustrial wastesen_AU
dc.subjectHarborsen_AU
dc.subjectTracer techniquesen_AU
dc.titleApplication of neutron activatable tracers (NATs) for cohesive sediment transport studies in contaminated estuariesen_AU
dc.typeConference Presentationen_AU
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