Discipline: Ecology Environmental and Earth Sciences
Subcategory: Water
Session: 3
Room: Exhibit Hall
Tochi Iwuji - Coppin State University
Co-Author(s): Mintesinot Jiru, Coppin State University, Baltimore MD
One of the most important environmental issues in Baltimore county is groundwater contamination and the diversity of contaminants that affect water resources. These contaminants are mostly heavy metals such as Aluminum, Copper, Arsenic, Zinc, etc. These heavy metals particularly cause strong toxicity even at low concentrations. Copper is required for the proper functioning of many important enzyme systems. Wilson disease is an autosomal recessive disorder that leads to Copper toxicity because Copper accumulates in the liver, brain, and eyes. In this study, the sample will be collected from six different locations of about eight groundwater and watershed. Distilled water will be used as a control. Few heavy metals will be studied including Copper. Their concentration and maximum contaminant levels (MCL) will be compared with Environmental Protective Agency (EPA) data. The maximum contaminant levels according to EPA, for Copper, Zinc and Aluminum are 0.1, 5.0, and 0.05 mg/L respectively. We will analyze our result using an Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). The procedure is very economical, and fast and the instrument is simple to operate. This study aims to compare results for water samples taken at different locations. Also, we compare the effect of characteristics of media through which the water passes on its way to the groundwater zone of saturation. We believe that discharged by industries, traffic, municipal wastes, hazardous waste sites as well as from fertilizers for agricultural purposes, and accidental oil spillages from tankers can result in a steady rise in contamination of groundwater. Our result will then be compared with the specified EPA standards and with other literature.
Funder Acknowledgement(s): NSF
Faculty Advisor: Mintesinot Jiru, Mjiru@coppin.edu
Role: For this research (ongoing), I am focusing on the specific cation, Copper. I will also compile an overview about the environmental impacts of various copper concentrations.