Evaluation of contaminated sediments by toxicity characteristic leaching procedure extraction techniques

The metals Cr, Cu, Hg, Pb, and Zn were measured by using the Total Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP) extracts from sediment samples taken from Bayou d'Inde, southwestern Louisiana. Bayou d'Inde has been severely contaminated by numerous industrial and municipal outfalls along its length. Fishing advisories have been posted to prevent excessive consumption of fish caught within the bayou. Sediment samples were crushed and allowed to pass through a 20-mesh sieve (<0.85 mm), well below the maximum particle size of 9.5 mm mandated by the TCLP extraction procedure. Despite the small particle size used in this study and the extraction of heavy metals from contaminated sediments, none of the studied metals in the extracts exceeded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency limits of 100 times the maximum contaminant levels given in the primary and secondary drinking water standards.