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An ecological risk assessment was conducted for sediments of the lower Willamette River near a wood-treatment (creosote) facility. Both surface and subsurface sediments near the facility are contaminated by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Limited contamination of sediments by dioxins/furans, chlorinated phenols, and arsenic was also observed. Sediment bioassays based on amphipod (Hyuleh uztecu) mortality and Microtox@ (Photobacterium phosphoreum) bioluminescence showed toxicity within approximately 300 ft of the shoreline, with a highly toxic area (i.e., possible acute lethal effects in sedentary benthic species) near a dock used for creosote off-loading. The relatively low concentrations of contaminants measured in crayfish muscle tissue and the absence of serious lesions in livers of large-scale sucker collected near the site suggest that excess risk to mobile species from chronic contamination is low. Cursory observations indicate that acute toxic effects on crayfish may be associated with creosote seeps. There is no evidence of adverse biological effects throughout most of the main channel of the river. Evaluation of sediment chemistry data for PAHs relative to available sediment-quality criteria proposed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency supports this conclusion.

Conservation of water quality is inherently tied to watershed management. Efforts to proect Lake Baikal have increasingly focused on the Selenge River, a major tributary, with more than half its watershed area in Mongolia. Placer gold mining in Mongolia has the potential to load total suspended sediment (TSS), and total phosphorus (TP) into Lake Baikal and destroy spawning areas for the endangered Taimen salmon (Hucho taimen taimen). This work describes water quality assessments performed from 2001 to 2003 on Mongolian tributaries to the Selenge River. Of 7 rivers sampled, rivers with proximal mining had the worst water quality. Elevated loading of TSS and TP was observed below mining regions on the Tuul River. Flooding could breach thin strips of land separating dredge pits from river channels, resulting in massive sediment loading. Extensive disturbance of the river terrace was apparent for many square kilometers. In the mountainous headwaters of the Yeroo River, tributary drainages undergoing mining had TP concentrations 8 to 15 times higher than the main stem. TSS was 7 to 12 times higher, and turbidity was 8 times higher. Alternative mining technologies exist that could minimize impact and improve the possibility for reclamation.

A spreadsheet-based tool for whole-life carbon dioxide accounting of soil remediation projects has been created. The tool carries out whole-life analysis of projects, including supply chain emissions. It was applied to the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games Athletes' Village remediation project, for which a calculated total ‘carbon footprint’ of 2328 t of carbon dioxide equivalent emission (tCO2e) was obtained. This is 71 tCO2e/ha of the site or 13·3 kgCO2e/t whole life of soil treated. These figures are not comparable with those reported for other projects, which have typically not included supply chain emissions. Fuel use was the main contributor to emissions, but the contribution made by staff transport and carbon dioxide embodied in construction plant was also found to be significant. A comparison was made with an excavate and disposal (E&D) approach, which required considerable use of estimation for the hypothetical E&D. However, it was determined that the carbon footprint of E&D may have been 14% higher than the soil washing actually used. It was concluded that fuel efficiency would be key to future reduction of the carbon footprint of remediation projects, that the accounting tool would be useful for ongoing project management, and its application over time could lead to a database of values for optioneering at the process design stage.