An Integrated Application of Field Screening Tools for Rapid Sediment
Characterization (RSC) at a Former Navy Site: Naval Construction
Battalion Center (NCBC) Davisville, Rhode Island, Case
Study
 Environmental sites undergoing assessment rarely contain one class of
contaminants. Typically, multiple classes of contaminants are
present at a site. Therefore, the integration of a broad range of screening
tools
are required to provide a more accurate picture of the contaminant
distribution as opposed to single method. An integrated screening approach
was utilized
to support a remedial investigation (RI) of an offshore sediment
site (Allen Harbor) adjacent to the Naval Construction Battalion Center
(NCBC) Davisville,
a Navy BRAC site located in Rhode Island (USA).
The
Environmental Sciences Branch at SSC Pacific has
modified, tested and implemented
a suite of rapid screening
tools for sediments that can provide
near-real time data to streamline site characterization, focus
resources on regions
of concern and provide insight into contaminant locations,
sources, and interactions. Two screening technologies,
X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) for
metals and Immunoassay (IA) for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
(PAHs), were employed to characterize potential ecological
risks. More than 150 sediment samples were
rapidly screened for Pb, Zn, Cu & total PAHs (with results mapped within
a week of collection), with only a subset of the total number
(10%) sent for confirmatory analyses.
Screening data showed
good correlations (XRF vs ICP/MS) to laboratory data (R2 > 0.8)
for major and minor elements such as Cu, Zn, and Pb. Direct
comparison between screening and confirmatory laboratory data
(IA vs GC-MS) also demonstrated good correlations for total
PAH concentrations (R2 > 0.85).
Capabilities:
Applications:
- Pre-remedial investigations at Navy IR sites.
- Improve Navy’s ability to effectively assess and
manage contaminated sediments.
- Navy Ecological Risk Assessment (ERA) Tiered Approach
- Step 4: Study Design/DQOs – WP/SAP
- Step 5: Field Verification of Sampling Design
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