Zheng, Z.J., M.Y. Lin, P.T. Chiueh, and S.L. Lo.
Science of the Total Environment 654:822-831(2018)

A comprehensive assessment framework based on the concept of green and sustainable remediation was applied to determine the best alternative for managing sediments contaminated with heavy metals in a river in Northern Taiwan. Results of the pre-remediation human-health risk assessment indicated an unacceptably high cancer risk to children, while the cost-benefit analysis suggested that remediation was economically feasible. The results of multi-criteria decision analysis revealed that a strategy involving in situ capping with anthracite-based activated carbon would be relatively inexpensive and result in low risk to human health, while having a higher environmental impact and greater public acceptance as compared to a method involving the dredging and washing of soil. Thus, in situ capping using anthracite-based activated carbon was identified as the preferable remediation alternative from multiple perspectives.