Comparing Soil Samples from the Albany Pine Bush to Average Soil Contaminants

Comparing Soil Samples from the Albany Pine Bush to Average Soil Contaminants

Intro:

A & L Great Lakes Laboratory created a table from the USEPA Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response on the average contaminants you would expect to find in natural soils. Using the soil collected from the Albany Pine Bush I will compare heavy metal contaminants to averages found in the table. This will give me an idea of the levels found throughout the Pine Bush. If any samples seem to be very high in a certain contaminant I can then compare it to regulated standards.

Also note that I ran several tests on each sample. If there was not much variation then I only posted one data set. However, If there was variation among the two sets I posted both. Because soil is not consistent in mineral composition it is no surprise to see a range of values.

Source:

http://www.algreatlakes.com/PDF/factsheets/ALGLFS25_Metal_Concentrations_in_Natural_Soils.pdf

Data:

Sample 1

• by shrubs
• near houses

Looking at the table I can see that all of my values fall within the range except for antimony. This should be a little concerning seeing as antimony has high health risks. Cl is above the average.

Sample 2

• by shrubs and woods
• recent control fire
• not as close as 1 to urban development

Referring to the table I see my data again falls within the range except for antimony. Cl is above the average

Sample 3

• wooded area
• recent control fire
• near highway
• note: water was vey cloudy

Antimony again is fairly high.

Sample 4

• same as sample 3

Antimony again is high.

Sample 5

• low shrubs
• very close to landfill

The first data set falls within the range, but the second set has high antimony. Ba is relatively high for the average , but not uncommon.

Sample 6

• low shrubs
• very close to landfill
• also near wetlands

Antimony is very high compared to the range.

Sample 7

• same as sample 6

Data set one has high antimony levels, but set two has very high Ba readings.

Sample 8

• same as sample 6

Antimony is high. Chlorine is as well above the range.

Sample 9

• closest sample to landfill

Antimony is high compared to range.

Sample 10

• in swamp area

Both data sets have high antimony levels. Set one has high bromine levels.

Sample 11

• same as sample 10

Antimony levels are high compared to range.

Sample 12

• near parking lot of Albany Pine Bush Center

Data set one has extremely high levels of bromine. Antimony levels are also high.

Conclusions

All eta sets had high levels of antimony meaning that it is probably an issue within the area. The moment we began sampling areas close to the landfill, bromine levels were very high. I might even add the antimony levels were relatively higher than areas that were mainly shrubs. In one sample the chlorine level was very high. The Albany Pine Bush center also had high bromine levels. This proves a point that urban development is not good for soil and actions should be taken to take care of the soil.