California Environmental Technology Certification Program

Benthic Flux Sampling Device

U. S. Department of Navy

Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center
53560 Hull Street
San Diego, California 92512
Mr. Tom Hampton (619) 553-1172
Dr. Bart Chadwick (619) 553-5333
www.spawar.navy.mil/sandiego

Certified Performance Claim: “The Benthic Flux Sampling Device (BFSD) is certified as a site characterization technology.  The technology is certified as an automated, in-situ water sampling device designed to collect data for quantifying the flux of trace metals, including arsenic, cadmium, copper, nickel, lead, and zinc across the sediment-water interface in marine and aquatic environments.  The BFSD collects and filters discrete water samples periodically over a deployment period of up to four days, which are then preserved at the end of the deployment and delivered to an analytical laboratory for analysis.  The technology provides a means to assess contaminant mobility by directly measuring and quantifying the contaminant flux across the sediment-water interface.”

Technology Description:

The Benthic Flux Sampling Device (BFSD) is a benthic lander for in-situ measurements of metal contaminant fluxes from or into shallow marine sediments.  The BFSD collects seawater samples at timed intervals from an open-bottomed chamber of known volume which encloses a known surface area of sediment.  The seawater in the chamber is continuously mixed and monitored for key water quality parameters.

Technology Application:

The BFSD was designed to characterize metal contamination problems in bays, harbors and coastal waters resulting from a variety of sources, including ships, shoreside facilities, municipal outfalls, spills and non-point source runoff.  The technology provides a means to assess contaminant mobility by directly measuring and quantifying the contaminant flux across the sediment-water interface.

Last updated: May 21, 2002