[en] Directly or indirectly man's spewing of his wastes into the coastal zone is coupled to his use of energy. The act of supplying energy for his ongoing activities is capable also of supplying some of the potentially most deleterious components to the coastal zone. Results are reported from studies of the pattern of physical and biological activity in the estuary which controls the distribution and possible neutralization of potential pollutants. Sediment chronologies applicable to aqueous repositories were established in order to identify the effects due to man and to assess the changing intensity of his activities over time. Natural and manmade radionuclides have been commonly used to identify age with depth in the sediment pile, but we find that processes other than sediment accumulation confound the record. Biological and physical disruptions that alter the record of radionuclides in a sediment from that expected from the source were studied in Long Island Sound using the natural radionuclides ²³⁴Th and ²¹⁰Po and trace elements Zn, Cd, Cu, and Ni. The uptake and retention of these elements in mussels was studied