Determination of Heavy Metals in Water from the Little Spokane River, WA, USA
Faculty Sponsor
William Ntow, Whitworth University
Research Project Abstract
The metal concentration of the surface water from the Little Spokane River at the Verbrugge Environmental Center, near Newport, WA, USA, was measured as part of a general effort to obtain baseline data for the water quality of the river. Water samples obtained in January 2016 were concentrated and analyzed directly by Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry. The concentrations determined for arsenic, lead, iron, cadmium, and zinc were 0.51 ± 0.11 mg/L (n = 3), < 0.05 mg/L (n = 3), 0.13 ± 0.08 mg/L (n = 3), < 0.002 mg/L (n = 3), and 0.010 ± 0.008 mg/L (n = 3), respectively. The concentrations of metals reported for the Little Spokane River at the Verbrugge Environmental Center did not reflect water contamination. Further monitoring studies are needed in an attempt to eliminate or reduce potential sources of contamination and to provide information for sustainable management of the wetland’s resources.
Session Number
PS2
Location
Graves Gym
Abstract Number
PS2-a
Determination of Heavy Metals in Water from the Little Spokane River, WA, USA
Graves Gym
The metal concentration of the surface water from the Little Spokane River at the Verbrugge Environmental Center, near Newport, WA, USA, was measured as part of a general effort to obtain baseline data for the water quality of the river. Water samples obtained in January 2016 were concentrated and analyzed directly by Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry. The concentrations determined for arsenic, lead, iron, cadmium, and zinc were 0.51 ± 0.11 mg/L (n = 3), < 0.05 mg/L (n = 3), 0.13 ± 0.08 mg/L (n = 3), < 0.002 mg/L (n = 3), and 0.010 ± 0.008 mg/L (n = 3), respectively. The concentrations of metals reported for the Little Spokane River at the Verbrugge Environmental Center did not reflect water contamination. Further monitoring studies are needed in an attempt to eliminate or reduce potential sources of contamination and to provide information for sustainable management of the wetland’s resources.
