Distribution and Origin of Toxic Elements in the Hudson River

Welley Loc, Rachel Adkins, Janee White, Jovanna McCoy, and Mossbah M. Kolkas
Natural Sciences, Bard High School Early College, New York, NY

This research provides information about the distribution and origin of major and trace elements in the surface waters and the bottom sediments of the Hudson River.

Water and soil samples were collected from selected sites along the river proceeding from upstream to downstream.

Chemical analysis using Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometer (ICP) of the selected samples indicates the presence of metals at various concentrations. These heavy metals include Cadmium, Cobalt, Zinc, Copper, Tin, and Manganese. In addition to these heavy metals, lithophile-radioactive metallic elements such as Yttrium and Strontium were detected. Calcium, Magnesium, and Iron are the major constituents of the collected samples.

Salinity, water temperature, pH, and dissolved Oxygen were measured at the collected sites.

The major distribution of grain sizes of the collected sediments range from coarse sands to fine clay. In certain location where clay minerals are common, high concentration of heavy metals were found. The concentration of heavy metals increases downstream close to New York City.

Natural processes as well as anthropogenic activities contribute to the origin and distribution of metals throughout the river. High concentration of heavy metals and radioactive nuclides could result in a very acute environmental impact on the ecosystem in general and humans in particular.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90078©2008 AAPG Annual Convention, San Antonio, Texas