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The Boston Harbor Story:
Applying Earth Science to issues of immediate public concern

THE CONTAMINATED SEDIMENT DATABASE

Understanding the physical and chemical composition of bottom sediments is essential for environmental management, including dredging and disposing of sediment to deepen shipping channels and regulating fisheries. The USGS has assembled a database, compiled from all available sources of information, describing chemicals in sediments from Boston Harbor.

As depicted at right, lead concentrations in surface sediments decrease with distance from Boston, focusing the highest levels of lead (shown with red and orange dots) in the innermost harbor. Similar patterns arise for a variety of metals, which are documented in the USGS Coastal and Marine Geology database.
Map of lead concentrations in Boston Harbor
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Introduction Regional Overview Mapping the Seafloor Harbor Sediments Contaminated Sediment Data
Tracking Pollution Storms and Sediments Circulation Models Stellwagen Bank Credits

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Updated: 11 September 2000