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Persistence of white phosphorus (P 4 ) particles in salt marsh sediments
Author(s) -
Walsh Marianne E.,
Collins Charles M.,
Racine Charles H.
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
environmental toxicology and chemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.1
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1552-8618
pISSN - 0730-7268
DOI - 10.1002/etc.5620150605
Subject(s) - persistence (discontinuity) , phosphorus , dredging , wetland , sediment , salt marsh , environmental chemistry , marsh , environmental science , environmental remediation , sedimentation , white phosphorus , ecology , contamination , chemistry , biology , geology , organic chemistry , paleontology , geotechnical engineering
Remediation of sediments at Eagle River Flats, Alaska, a salt marsh contaminated with solid particles of white phosphorus (P 4 ), may require severe alterations of the wetland by dredging, draining, or covering. However, some sediments may undergo decontamination naturally in areas that are seasonally subaerially exposed. The persistence of millimeter‐size P 4 particles was studied in laboratory and field experiments. White phosphorus particles were found to be persistent in saturated sediments. In unsaturated sediments, loss was rapid (within 24 h) at 20°C, and was retarded by low temperatures.