Sediment quality data from the US Army Corps of Engineers Portland District for the Lower Columbia River. The dataset includes measurements of dioxins, furans, PAHs, PCBs, and metals from areas previously dredged and areas with potential contamination. Information was compiled from the Columbia River Basin Sediment Database Abstracts, with data primarily from studies in 1992 and 1994.
Use Cases
- Analyze spatial distribution of dioxin and furan concentrations across dredged and potential dredge sites.
- Correlate levels of hydrophobic organic compounds like PCBs and PAHs with sediment sampling locations.
- Assess total contaminant load by summing individual congener results reported on a dry weight basis.
- Compare metal analysis results with organic pollutant data from the specified study areas.
Strengths
- Data covers multiple contaminant classes: dioxins/furans, PAHs, PCBs, and metals.
- Analytical techniques are specified, such as EPA Method 8290 for dioxins/furans.
- Samples target both historically impacted and potentially contaminated areas for comparison.
Limitations
- Dataset size, row count, and specific column schema are unknown.
- Data is temporally stale, with primary studies from 1992 and 1994.
- Geographic scope is limited to the Lower Columbia River.
Provenance
- Source
- US Army Corps of Engineers (USACOE), Portland District, via NASA Earthdata and Columbia River Basin Sediment Database Abstracts.
- Collection Method
- Sediment sampling and laboratory analysis using specified EPA methods, results reported on a dry weight basis.
- Time Range
- Primary data from studies circa 1992 and 1994.
- Freshness
- null
- Geography
- Lower Columbia River.