Innovative Optical Methods for Characterization of Chemical Dynamics

Contaminants such as mercury and PCBs accumulated in aquatic environments pose potential risks to humans and wildlife. Mitigation within dynamic aquatic settings, such as rivers and estuaries, requires a thorough understanding of the processes that drive contaminant transport and lead to exposure. Traditional monitoring techniques often do not supply a robust characterization of key processes and can hinder site management decisions. Integral’s OPTically based In-situ Characterization System (OPTICS) characterizes particulate and dissolved contaminant concentrations in surface water at an unprecedented temporal resolution, thereby enabling exploration of contaminant dynamics in the context of physical processes. Integral presents two case studies where continuous OPTICS data were used to assess biogeochemical and physical variability to understand contaminant transport mechanisms and mass flux—providing critical context for understanding current and future site risks and supporting remedial action analysis.