Significance and Use Sediment provides habitat for many aquatic
organisms and is a major repository for many of the more
persistent chemicals that are introduced into surface waters. In
the aquatic environment, most anthropogenic chemicals and waste
materials including toxic organic and inorganic chemicals
eventually accumulate in sediment. Mounting evidences exists of
environmental degradation in areas where USEPA Water Quality
Criteria (WQC; Stephan et al.(67)) are not exceeded, yet
organisms in or near sediments are adversely affected Chapman,
1989 (68). The WQC were developed to protect organisms in the
water column and were not directed toward protecting organisms
in sediment. Concentrations of contaminants in sediment may be
several orders of magnitude higher than in the overlying water;
however, whole sediment concentrations have not been strongly
correlated to bioavailability Burton, 1991(69). Partitioning or
sorption of a compound between water and sediment may depend on
many factors including: aqueo