exceed 500 milligrams per liter (mg/1). This is a measure, however, 

 applicable only to drinking water supplies. For the protection of fresh- 

 water fish, the EPA criteria specify that concentrations should not exceed 

 50 milliosraoles (the equivalent of 1500 mg/1 NaCL) . No similar limits have 

 been given for offshore bodies of water, such as the dumping area of the 

 N. Y. Bight. 



Natural seawater contains dissolved solids consisting primarily of 

 chlorides, carbonates, bicarbonates, nitrates, phosphates, sulfates and 

 traces of metallic elements. Concentrations or effects of these substances 

 can sometimes be elevated or synergistically altered by the addition of 

 chemical substances (such as those contained in the wastes) resulting in 

 deterioration of water and sediment quality and local adverse effects on 

 fish and other aquatic animals. 



The wastes dumped in the Bight, especially sewage sludges, contain 

 dissolved organic and inorganic solids which may add materially to naturally 

 occuring concentrations of certain substances already in solution, and 

 also introduce some new ones. The quantities of such dissolved solids in 

 the wastes have not been determined. However, not all the solids go into 

 solution immediately after dumping as their solubilities are governed by 

 a number of physical and chemical factors, such as temperature, pH, oxidizing 

 or reducing conditions, and saturation limits. Furthermore chemical break- 

 down of certain solids constituents of the wastes, over the long term, 

 could produce unknown water-soluble by-products. Reactions could be re- 

 versed, and materials may be removed from the liquid state, returned to the 

 solid state, and deposited as sediments. The chemical equilibria affecting 

 such interactions are too complex to be quantitatively described. However, 

 a general estimate of total dissolved solids in the waste materials dis- 

 posed in the Bight could be obtained. 



Discussions of individual chemical species, such as nutrients, heavy 

 metals and organic substances that may go into solution, and therefore 

 affect water and sediment quality, are given in subsequent sections. 



e. Settleable Solids . Settleable solids include inorganic materials 

 such as sand, silt and clay, and organic materials such as greases, oils, 

 tars, animal and vegetable fats. Sewage sludges, dredge spoils and in- 

 dustrial wastes fall within these categories. The NTAC of EPA (EPA, 1972) 

 has recommended that no settleable solids be added to these waters in 

 quantities that adversely affect the natural biota. The States of New York 

 and New Jersey have similar descriptive restrictions (EPA, 1972) . None of 

 these restrictions apply to ocean dumping, even though ocean dumping con- 

 stitutes the largest single source of solids entering theNew York Bight 

 (Gross, 1970). Although the damage to the benthic biota due to the smother- 

 ing effect of setteable solids associated with ocean dumping is evident, 

 the dumping grounds of the Bight may be thought of as a trade-off area, or 

 as a mixing area where settleable solids may be temporarily allowed to 

 exceed permissible limits, until an alternate solution to the problem of 

 waste disposal is found. 



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