The review article covers three major aspects of scientific research on sediment-associated contaminants during the last 20 years: (i) identification and monitoring of sources and distribution (sampling; sample preparation; analyses, mainly of non-residual fractions; estimation of pollution potential); (ii) study of processes and mechanisms of pollutant transfer (interactions between dissolved and particulate element species; particle environments; transport and diagenesis: colloids; surface microlayers; particle related processes; bioturbation; dredging operations; remobilization of toxic elements; bioaccumulation of organic chemicals: solid/dissolved distribution of contaminants); (iii) assessment of the environmental impact of particle-bound pollutations (chemical extraction sequence; sediment bioassay; combined chemical/biological test procedures). Enstead, empirical tests developed from multi-disciplinary research on biological, chemical and physical factors are applied for assessing the reactivity, mobility and bioavailability of sediment-bound pollutations and for estimating the validity of remedial measures.

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