Heavy Metal Content of Sediment in the Little Spokane River
Faculty Sponsor
William Ntow, Whitworth University
Research Project Abstract
The Little Spokane River is one of the major tributaries of the Spokane River, which is primarily sourced by Lake Coeur d’Alene. The concentrations of lead, arsenic, cadmium, zinc, and iron in January sediment samples of the Little Spokane River were assessed in this study to provide baseline data. Sediment samples from three different cross-sections of the river were dried, homogenized, acid-digested, and analyzed using flame atomic absorption spectrometry (flame AAS). There were no measurable concentrations of lead and cadmium found in the sediment samples, while concentrations of arsenic (n = 8.81 +/- 0.48 mg/L), iron (n = 44.12 +/- 0.29 mg/L), and zinc (n = 0.38 +/- 0.02 mg/L) were present. The analyzed concentrations of heavy metals in the samples were all under the Washington Administrative Code’s sediment management standards.
Session Number
PS2
Location
Graves Gym
Abstract Number
PS2-o
Heavy Metal Content of Sediment in the Little Spokane River
Graves Gym
The Little Spokane River is one of the major tributaries of the Spokane River, which is primarily sourced by Lake Coeur d’Alene. The concentrations of lead, arsenic, cadmium, zinc, and iron in January sediment samples of the Little Spokane River were assessed in this study to provide baseline data. Sediment samples from three different cross-sections of the river were dried, homogenized, acid-digested, and analyzed using flame atomic absorption spectrometry (flame AAS). There were no measurable concentrations of lead and cadmium found in the sediment samples, while concentrations of arsenic (n = 8.81 +/- 0.48 mg/L), iron (n = 44.12 +/- 0.29 mg/L), and zinc (n = 0.38 +/- 0.02 mg/L) were present. The analyzed concentrations of heavy metals in the samples were all under the Washington Administrative Code’s sediment management standards.
