1 Sediment Quality Assessment: Chemical and Biological Approaches.- 1.1 Introduction.- 1.2 Chemical Methods.- 1.3 Integrated Chemical and Biological Methods.- 1.4 Tiered Sediment Assessment Strategy.- 1.5 Conclusions.- Laboratory Studies.- 2 The Influence of Diagenetic Processes on the Exchange of Trace Contaminants at the Sediment-Water Interface.- 2.1 Introduction.- 2.2 Materials and Methods.- 2.3 Results and Discussion.- 3 Interaction of Pesticides with River Sediments and Characterization of Organic Matter of the Sediments.- 3.1 Introduction.- 3.2 Experimental.- 3.3 Results and Discussion.- 3.4 Conclusion.- 4 Partitioning Behaviour of Phenols Between Water and Hydrophilic/Hydrophobic Interfaces.- 4.1 Introduction.- 4.2 Fundamentals.- 4.3 Adsorption of Phenols on Hydrophilic Mineral Surfaces.- 4.4 Sorption of Phenols on Coated Surfaces.- 4.5 Adsorption of Colloidal Particles on Surfaces.- 4.6 The Partition Coeffient: kD.- 4.7 Concluding Remarks.- 5 Sorption Properties of Biofilms.- 5.1 Introduction.- 5.2 Composition and Properties of Biofilms.- 5.3 Biofilms and Sorption.- 5.4 Sorption Sites in Biofilms.- 5.5 Remobilization.- 5.6 Concluding Remarks.- 6 Ecotoxicity of Certain Heavy Metals Affecting Bacteria-Mediated Biogeochemical Pathways in Sediments.- 6.1 Introduction.- 6.2 Heavy Metal Resistance of Bacteria.- 6.3 The Gap Between Microbial Physiology and Ecology.- 6.4 Influence of Cd, Hg, and Cu on Some Key Measures of Microbiological Sediment Analysis.- 6.5 Conclusions.- 7 Bioassays on Sediment Toxicity.- 7.1 Introduction.- 7.2 Ecological Requirements.- 7.3 Organismic Responses in Sediments and Impacts of Environmental Stressors.- 7.4 Enzymatic Inhibition (Cholinesterase) in Sediment Organisms.- 7.5 Genetic Damage.- 7.6 Ecological Relevance of Biological Responses in Sediments.- 7.7 Recommendations.- Field Studies.- 8 Trace Element Diagenesis in Polluted Sediments of the River Elbe Estuary.- 8.1 Introduction.- 8.2 Materials and Methods.- 8.3 Results and Discussion.- 8.4 Conclusions.- 9 Mercury Distribution and Speciation in a Polluted Fluvial System.- 9.1 Introduction.- 9.2 Results.- 9.3 Conclusions.- 10 Organotin Compounds in Sediments of the Rivers Elbe and Mulde.- 10.1 Introduction.- 10.2 Organotin Compounds in Elbe and Mulde Sediments.- 10.3 Analytical and Chemical Methods - Species Analysis.- 10.4 Conclusions.- Modelling Aspects.- 11 Advective Transport of Interacting Solutes: The Chromatographic Model.- 11.1 Introduction.- 11.2 Transport Equations.- 11.3 Riemann Problem and Centred Waves.- 11.4 Analytical Integration of Transport Equations.- 11.5 Coherence Conditions, Rankine-Hugoniot Relation and Retardations.- 11.6 The Jacobian and the Retardation Matrix.- 11.7 Topology of Waves for Multicomponent Langmuir-Type Isotherms.- 11.8 Waves in Two-Component Systems.- 11.9 Barrier Against Remobilization of a Contaminant.- 11.10 Conclusions.- Appendices.- Glossary of Notation.

In modern sediment research on contaminants five aspects are discussed which, in an overlapping succession, also reflect develop­ ment of knowledge on particle-associated pollutants during the past twenty-five years: (1) identification of sources and their distribution; (2) evaluation of solid/solution relations; (3) study of transfer mecha­ nisms to biological systems; (4) assessment of environment impact; and (5) selection and further development of remedial measures, in par­ ticular, of dredged materials. Scientific research and practical develop­ ment are still expanding in all these individual aspects. Similar to other waste materials, management of contaminated sed­ iments requires a holistic approach. This means that assessment of biogeochemical reactions, interfacial processes and transfer mecha­ nisms as well as the prognosis of long-term borderline conditions, in particular of capacity-controlling properties, should be an integrated part of the wider management scheme, i.e., the analytical and experi­ mental parameters should always be related to potential remediation options for a specific sediment problem. The underlying coordinated project, which was funded by the German Federal Ministry for Science and Technology (now the Federal Ministry for Education, Science, Research and Technology) provided excellent opportunities for multidisciplinary effort, bringing together biologists, chemists, engineers, geologists and other researchers. During its active phase, the group attracted much interest nationally and internationally. The group members highly appreciate the manifold contacts and invitations during the past five years.