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Article

How to Achieve Sustainably Beneficial Uses of Marine Sediments in Colombia?

by
Wendy Tatiana González Cano
1,2,3 and
Kyoungrean Kim
1,2,*
1
KIOST School, University of Science and Technology (UST), Busan 49111, Korea
2
Marine Environmental Research Center, Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology (KIOST), Busan 49111, Korea
3
The Colombian Navy (ARC, Armada Republica de Colombia), Bogota 111321, Colombia
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Sustainability 2022, 14(22), 14821; https://doi.org/10.3390/su142214821
Submission received: 7 September 2022 / Revised: 29 October 2022 / Accepted: 8 November 2022 / Published: 10 November 2022
(This article belongs to the Topic Coastal Development, Conservation and Sustainability)

Abstract

Marine sediments may easily accumulate contaminants, posing a high risk to human health and biota. Beneficial use applications exist for natural sediments and sediments contaminated with organic and inorganic pollutants. In this research, the term marine sediments (MSs) was used to refer to all marine sediments, which could be clean, natural marine sediments, as well as contaminated marine sediments and dredged materials, as the main focus of this research. Sediment remediation often involves costly and time-consuming processes. Assessment frameworks are essential for selecting suitable remediation alternatives for MSs. This research aims to provide regulatory frameworks for the sustainable beneficial use of all marine sediments. No studies have been reported on this issue in Colombia until now. The current states of marine sediments on the Colombian Caribbean Coast were mainly investigated. Concentrations of specific harmful heavy metals (HHMs) in Colombia’s sediments were higher than the environmental standards of various nations. Ex situ remediation technologies were evaluated through cost–benefit analysis and environmental feasibility to be adopted in Colombia. The results identified solidification/stabilization (S/S) as promising technologies. Sustainable remediation of MSs may offer ample opportunities for environmental enhancement and economic benefits. Continuous research and adopting appropriate environmental regulations, such as the London Protocol 1996, would contribute to effectively managing all marine sediments in Colombia. More innovative and cost-effective remediation technologies with beneficial uses would still be needed. Decision makers may use the proposed frameworks to select optimal remediation alternatives and implement sustainable MSs management by achieving their beneficial uses.
Keywords: marine sediments; dredged materials; remediation technologies; frameworks; beneficial uses marine sediments; dredged materials; remediation technologies; frameworks; beneficial uses

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MDPI and ACS Style

González Cano, W.T.; Kim, K. How to Achieve Sustainably Beneficial Uses of Marine Sediments in Colombia? Sustainability 2022, 14, 14821. https://doi.org/10.3390/su142214821

AMA Style

González Cano WT, Kim K. How to Achieve Sustainably Beneficial Uses of Marine Sediments in Colombia? Sustainability. 2022; 14(22):14821. https://doi.org/10.3390/su142214821

Chicago/Turabian Style

González Cano, Wendy Tatiana, and Kyoungrean Kim. 2022. "How to Achieve Sustainably Beneficial Uses of Marine Sediments in Colombia?" Sustainability 14, no. 22: 14821. https://doi.org/10.3390/su142214821

APA Style

González Cano, W. T., & Kim, K. (2022). How to Achieve Sustainably Beneficial Uses of Marine Sediments in Colombia? Sustainability, 14(22), 14821. https://doi.org/10.3390/su142214821

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