Field experiments on remediation of coastal sediments using granulated coal ash

Published source details Kim K., Hibino T., Yamamoto T., Hayakawa S., Mito Y., Nakamoto K. & Lee I. (2014) Field experiments on remediation of coastal sediments using granulated coal ash. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 83, 132-137.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Add chemicals or minerals to sediments to remove or neutralise pollutants Action Link

Add chemicals or minerals to sediments to remove or neutralise pollutants

A controlled, before-and-after study in 2008–2010 in one area of soft seabed in Hiroshima Bay, Japan (Kim et al. 2014) found that adding coal ash to sediments to remove phosphate and hydrogen sulphide appeared to result in more species and individual invertebrates compared to before treatment and to adjacent untreated sites, during winter but not summer. However, results were not statistically tested. In winter, species richness increased (post-treatment: 17–22; pre-treatment: 8; untreated: 0–11/sample), and invertebrate abundance increased (post-treatment: 3,345–3,859; pre-treatment: 42; untreated: 0–507/m²). In summer, species richness and invertebrate abundance were similar in post-treatment sites (species: 3–7/sample; abundance: 49–944/m²), pre-treatment sites (species: 2 /sample; abundance: 204/m²), and untreated sites (species: 0–6/sample; abundance: 0–261/m²). Annually between August 2008 and August 2012 (except 2009), two sites were sampled once in winter and once in summer (one sample/site/time point). In May 2010, coal ash was scattered onto the sediment at one site to a depth of 10 cm; the other site was untreated. At the treated site, sediment samples were collected using a 25 x 25 cm quadrat to a depth of 10 cm. At the untreated site, sediment samples were collected using a sediment grab (dimensions unspecified). Invertebrates (> 1 mm) were identified and counted.

(Summarised by: Anaëlle Lemasson)