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Moss Biomonitoring Of Lead Emissions From Hillsboro Airport, Daria Kolpakov

University Honors Theses

The objective of this experiment was to use biomonitoring as a method to determine lead concentration levels around Hillsboro Airport in Hillsboro, Oregon. Twenty-two samples were collected within a 2 km radius around Hillsboro Airport using a randomized sampling strategy. The concentrations of lead within the samples were determined using ICP-MS. The average lead concentration was (2.8 ± 5.0) mg/kg with a peak value of 21.6 mg/kg 0.57 km from Hillsboro Airport. As the average lead concentration was substantially skewed, Hillsboro Airport is likely to be the source of the lead increase.

Combined Effects Of Temperature And Heavy Metals On The Performance Of The Giant Salmonfly., James Frakes, Amanda Andreas, Benjamin P. Colman, Aurthur Woods

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

In many freshwater ecosystems, communities of aquatic insects are facing the combined stresses of warmer waters due to climate change and increased exposure to heavy metal toxicants. Although each stressor may threaten aquatic insects independently, they also likely interact in important ways to affect insect physiology and performance. Here we investigate this potential interaction using two populations of aquatic nymphs of the giant salmonfly, Pteronarcys californica, collected from adjacent rivers in Montana: naïve individuals from Rock Creek, a relatively pristine stream, and individuals from the Upper Clark Fork River, which has a history of heavy metal pollution and higher …

Mining-Contaminated Sediment And Metal Storage In Channel Deposits In Turkey Creek, Tri-State Mining District, Missouri And Kansas, Max Quinn Hillermann

MSU Graduate Theses

The Joplin subdistrict, within the Tri-State Mining District (TSMD), was a major producer of lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) ore between the 1880s to 1920s. Metalliferous mining wastes are still stored in the channel deposits of local streams raising environmental and health concerns. This study quantifies the volume, sediment size, and metal concentrations in channel bed, bar, bench, and chute deposits to quantify the spatial variability of contaminated sediment storage in Turkey Creek (119 km²). Sample reaches (n=14) contained metal concentrations elevated above the Tri-State Mining District specific probable effects concentration at every site with mean concentrations in …

Identifying Biogeochemical Factors Responsible For The Cyclical Precipitation Of Sphalerite And Galena In Low Temperature Mississippi Valley Type Ore Deposits, Daniel John Makowsky

Theses and Dissertations

Mississippi Valley Type (MVT) lead and zinc deposits provide a significant source of sedimentary galena and sphalerite. However, geochemical characteristics and genesis including the source and production of hydrogen sulfide required for galena and sphalerite ore formation and the reasoning for quick, episodic mineralization is not fully understood. By simulating regional MVT brines, the input and effect of biological by-products during the development of these ores as well as the cause of cyclicity within MVT deposits have been observed. Experiments using compositions from MVT fluid inclusions were conducted over two-week periods. Variables during the experiments included temperature, CO2, hydrogen sulfide …

Biochar Applications To The Remediation Of Lead And Polychlorinated Biphenyl Contaminated Water, Victory Itua Igberase

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the performance of biochar materials as adsorbents to remove Pb and polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) in aqueous solutions. Batch adsorption and column experiment packed with biochar and geomaterials (pumice) in 1:1 volume ratio was evaluated to address the efficacy of biochar in removing Pb while only batch adsorption was employed for PCB removal with biochar materials. Overall, PT biochars performed the best (42–53 mg g−1) followed by BE biochars (10–32 mg g−1) and AB biochars (17–27 mg g−1) while high temperature biochars were favored in terms of maximum Pb adsorption capacity. Column Pb breakthrough showed similar results, with …

Assessing The Impacts To Society Associated With The Use Of Alternative Ammunition For Hunting On National Wildlife Refuges, Christopher Cahill

Masters Theses

Attempts to eliminate lead ammunition use for hunting through regulatory approaches can be controversial and contentious, despite extensive scientific evidence of the detrimental effect of lead on wildlife species. In the United States, voluntary approaches to non-lead use that have used outreach and education in place of regulatory approaches have achieved sustained behavioral change in hunter ammunition choice. However, voluntary approaches to alternative ammunition use can be confronted with both practical and social barriers. In collaboration with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and U.S. Geological Survey Cooperative Research Units Program, this study assessed the practical and social barriers associated with …

A Speciation Modeling Study Of Heavy Metal Adsorption To Plastic In Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant Units, Kaitlyn Hague

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Microplastics are an emerging concern due to their harmful effect to organisms and their ability to facilitate transport of contaminants including heavy metals. Microplastics can enter the environment through wastewater treatment plants, landfill leachate, and littering. Once in the environment microplastics can be distributed throughout rivers, the ocean, and lakes. In order to understand the adsorption of heavy metals to microplastics a geochemical modeling study was completed using Visual Minteq. Lab tests were completed to better understand what constituents are available in wastewater at four different locations: influent, clarifiers, digesters, and effluent. These constituents were then used to observe how …

The Legacy Of Contamination By Lead Smelters In Missouri, Robert S. Armstrong

MSU Graduate Theses

Missouri has a rich history of lead mining. In the smelting process lead particles are emitted, which may be toxic to plants and animals. This study focuses on two primary lead smelters, Herculaneum and Glover, in Missouri. Smelting operations have ceased at these two sites, and unlike Herculaneum, Glover has no reported lead concentrations. Findings from air and sediments of these two sites were compared to background conditions and to each other. Thirty-three samples were collected from Herculaneum and Glover (thirty samples and three replicates) and eleven samples (ten samples and one replicate) for background. For Herculaneum sediment, lead levels …

The Quantification Of Heavy Metals In Infant Formulas Offered By The Florida Wic Program, Naya Martin

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Many infants rely on the WIC program to provide their main source of sustenance in theform of infant formula. In 2016, about 86% of the eligible infant population participated in this program. Infants in Florida account for about 30% of participation in the Southeast. For this reason, it is necessary to ensure that the formulas offered by this program provide the best opportunity for an optimal health outcome.

Exposure to heavy metals can have detrimental effects on the development of infants and children. Arsenic, lead, and cadmium specifically have been commonly found in certain types of infant formulas. Significant exposures …

The Legacy Of Mining In Southwest Missouri: Past And Present Conditions Of The Tri-State Mining District, Anastasia M C Mcclanahan

MSU Graduate Theses

The historic Tri-State Mining District (TSMD) of southwestern Missouri, southeastern Kansas, and northeastern Oklahoma has a history of lead and zinc mining that extended over a hundred years. During the district’s peak production period, the TSMD was one of the world’s largest producers of lead and zinc. The mining activities in the TSMD produced economic growth that supported the local communities and were essential to the victory of the Allied Forces during World War I and World War II. Beginning in the 1920s, the mining activities in the district slowly began to cease due to depletion of metal ores and …

Nonwovens Of Ceramic Decorated Cellulose Based Fine Fibers For Leaded Water Purification, Alejandro J. Castillo

Theses and Dissertations

Fine fibers of cellulose acetate were Forcespun and used to make nonwoven mats of cellulose. Nonwovens were activated using a solution combustion synthesis which deposited iron nitride onto fibers. Cellulose and cellulose composite mats were tested as adsorbents for lead ion in water. Cellulose showed slightly higher adsorption capacities (mg/g) up to 1300 mg/g lead loading. Adsorption data were further analyzed using several isotherms, of which the Dubinin-Raduskevich gave the best fits.

A Behavioral And Voltammetric Study Of The Effects Of Pb Exposure In Mice As A Model Of Autism Spectrum Disorder, Brenna Parke

Theses and Dissertations

Despite being a known toxin for several centuries, lead (Pb²⁺) is still utilized in commercial products including leaded gasoline, paint, and modern cosmetics. This presence has caused (Pb²⁺) to pollute the environment, including public drinking water sources. The recent outbreaks of elevated levels of (Pb²⁺) in the drinking water in Flint, Michigan and Washington D.C. have caused large populations to be exposed to the heavy metal for months at a time, raising a public health concern over the implications of widespread, long-term (Pb²⁺) exposure. Young children are most susceptible to the effects …

Quantifying The Variability In Heavy Metal Concentrations In Produce Grown In Metals-Rich Soil, Harris Lowell Byers

Theses and Dissertations

Childhood Pb exposure is associated with a multitude of poor health outcomes. In food-insecure areas, growing fresh produce in residential backyard gardens is one option for parents; however, commonly grown crops are known to accumulate Pb in consumable tissues when grown in metals-rich soils. A variety of produce representing a continuum of consumable tissues were grown in soils collected from two residential vegetable gardens, a former metal foundry, and commercial topsoil purchased from a local hardware store. The concentrations of heavy metals in crop tissues were measured with custom wavelength dispersive X-ray Fluorescence (WD-XRF) spectroscopy and portable energy dispersive X-ray …

Evaluation Of Relationship Between Lead-Dust Loading, Lead-Dust Concentration, And Total Dust Loading Metrics Across Multiple Data Sets, Charles Bevington

Capstone Experience

Lead-dust monitoring studies report values as either lead-dust loadings µg/ft² or as lead-dust concentrations µg/g. It is rare for studies to report both metrics. When only lead-dust loading values are present, professionals require an approach to estimate lead-dust concentration values. A literature search identified five studies that contained raw data for both lead-dust loading and lead-dust concentration. An additional thirty-two studies had summary-statistics available for both lead-dust loading and lead-dust concentration. Studies with raw-data were used to develop an empirically-based loading to concentration statistical relationship. Raw data sets were critically evaluated to determine whether elimination or …

An Electrochemical Instrument For The Analysis Of Heavy Metals In Water Via Anodic Stripping Coulometry For Applications In Remote Sensing., Kelsey Lynn Kaht

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

From the high levels of arsenic in groundwater in Bangladesh to the lead contamination of drinking water in Flint, Michigan, there are incidents across the globe that highlight the need for a reliable instrument capable of monitoring heavy metals remotely and continuously in a variety of geographical locations. Typical instrumentation for water analysis, such as ICP and AAS, must be housed in a central lab and relies on an operator traveling to the collection site, obtaining a sample, and transporting it back to the lab. This analysis provides a snapshot of the water quality that is limited to the specific …

Computational Studies Of High-Oxidation State Main-Group Metal Hydrocarbon C-H Functionalization, Clinton R. King

Theses and Dissertations

High-oxidation state main-group metal complexes are potential alternatives to transition metals for electrophilic C-H functionalization reactions. However, there is little known about how selection of the p-block, main-group metal and ligand impact C-H activation and functionalization thermodynamics and reactivity. Chapter 2 reports density functional theory (DFT) calculations used to determine qualitative and quantitative features of C-H activation and metal-methyl functionalization energy landscapes for reaction between high-oxidation state d10s0 InIII, TlIII, SnIV, and PbIV carboxylate complexes with methane. While the main-group metal influences the C-H activation barrier height in a periodic manner, the carboxylate ligand has a much larger quantitative impact …

Lead Contamination Of Soils In An Abandoned Rifle Range, Augusta County, Virginia, Logan Mahoney

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

Presence of high concentrations of Lead within the soil and water could lead to various health related impacts on humans and wildlife. Exposure to Lead short termly or long termly could lead to many detrimental impacts due to Lead poisoning. The overall concentration of Lead in a soil can be measured using an Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICPMS) under laboratory conditions. The present study investigates the Lead concentration of contaminated abandoned riffle range located in Augusta County, Virginia. Soil samples were obtained using soil augurs from three locations randomly based on the severity of contamination. Location three, which was …

Accumulation And Spatial Distribution Of Lead And Other Trace Elements In Keratinized Tissues : Investigations Based On Analytical Atomic Spectrometry, Mina W. Tehrani

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Human biomonitoring for toxic metals such as lead (Pb) provides information about absorbed dose from all exposure routes, and is critical for identifying exposed individuals and assessing health risks. Blood Pb and bone Pb are the primary validated biomarkers for assessing short-term and historical Pb exposures, respectively, while non-traditional matrices, including keratinized tissues, can provide complementary exposure information. Hard keratinized tissues – including hair, nails, hooves, and horns – grow incrementally, potentially preserving chemical exposure histories over a span of days to years. Analytical limitations and poor interlaboratory reproducibility, however, have led to debate around the use of human nails …

The Atomic And Electronic Structure And Tunability Of Ruddlesden-Popper Phases For Photovoltaic Applications, Britt A. Tyler

WWU Graduate School Collection

There is an increasing need for alternative energy sources that reduce the global reliance on fossil fuels. Since their demonstration in 2009, perovskite solar cells (based on compounds with the formula ABX₃, such as CH₃NH₃PbI₃) have become an extremely promising and active research area. Still, there are obstacles to the widespread use of these technologies, including their instability and the environmental impacts of lead. It is therefore important to find ways to modify and tune the structure and properties of perovskites to optimize their stability and photovoltaic performance. This research explores a …

Lead In Tap Water Of Public Schools Near Dayton, Ohio, Baylee Stark

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

Lead (Pb) is a human-health concern, especially with regard to exposures of children. Lead contaminated drinking water is a primary route of exposure for children; however, water sampling for Pb is voluntary in schools with a public water supply. This study examined Pb in tap water from public schools around Dayton, OH. Schools were selected to span a range of ages (construction year) and community socioeconomic status. Of the 28 schools contacted, seven responded "affirmatively" to sampling, two responded "negatively", and 19 did not respond. None of the schools that were sampled had Pb concentrations exceeding the U.S. EPA guidelines …

Spatial And Temporal Trends Of Mining-Related Lead-Zinc Sediment Contamination, Galena River Watershed, Sw Wisconsin-Nw Illinois, Dylan Alexander King

MSU Graduate Theses

Alluvial sediments within the Galena River Watershed were severely contaminated with heavy metals by historical zinc (Zn) and lead (Pb) mining operations during the early 1800s until 1979. Since the mines closed, there have been efforts to remediate on-site mine waste. However, the effectiveness of these efforts to reduce metal concentrations in stream sediments is unknown. This study compares present-day (2017) contamination trends in the Galena River Watershed to trends reported 25 years ago. A total of 415 sediment/soil samples were collected and analyzed using X-ray florescence spectrometry to determine sediment metal concentrations. The highest concentrations of zinc measured were …

Assessment Of Metals In Tissues Of Marine-Associated Birds In South Florida, Caitlyn A. Nay

HCNSO Student Theses and Dissertations

Seabirds – broadly defined as any bird species associated with the marine environment – are exposed to a wide range of environmental contaminants. Vectors of exposure to metal pollution include by external contact, inhalation, and most often ingestion of food and incidental seawater. Seabirds are often considered marine ecosystem bioindicators due to their high trophic position, relatively long lifespan, and wide geographic ranges. We examined the concentration of total mercury (THg), lead (Pb), and cadmium (Cd), in the kidney, liver, breast muscle, and feathers of seven species of juvenile and adult seabirds commonly found in South Florida: brown pelican Pelecanus …

Microscale Controls On Lead Speciation In Soils: A Framework For Sustainable Remediation, Grant Reeder

Graduate College Dissertations and Theses

The potential of a soil to immobilize heavy metal ions is dependent on the presence of adsorption sites, and the stability of metal species over the range of geochemical conditions present in the soil over time. Lead (Pb) is a cumulative toxin that is enriched in much of the urban pedosphere due to historical use of Pb-based paint and Pb-amended gasoline. Because in-situ remediation of Pb is possible if the bioavailable fraction can be rendered inert, understanding Pb-sorbent interactions is necessary to accurately and efficiently alter Pb speciation in soils. The objectives of this study are to 1) determine efficient …

Lead In Tap Water From The City Of Dayton, Ohio, Kayla Marie Haman

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

Lead (Pb) in public tap water is a national health concern and is the main pathway of human exposure to Pb. The City of Dayton has verified Pb pipelines and homes with Pb plumbing; thus, residents are at risk to Pb leaching into their tap water. I sampled water from 130 residential and 24 public water taps and measured Pb and copper (Cu). Five percent of samples exceeded the action level for Pb (> 15 [micro]g/L) and none exceeded the action level for Cu. The City of Dayton's lead pipeline map identifies potential Pb exposure from Pb distribution pipes. However, …

Geochemical Fractionation, Speciation, And Bioavailability Of Heavy Metals In Stream Sediments In Aurora, Mo, Miles Pearson

MSU Graduate Theses

Stream sediments from Chat Creek in Aurora, MO, part of the former Tristate Mining District, were digested via a sequential extraction procedure modeled after the Tessier method. Prior sampling had shown elevated levels of zinc, lead, and cadmium in sediments located near former chat piles. Metals in sediments were divided into four geochemical fractions: 1) easily exchangeable, 2) carbonate-bound, 3) iron-manganese oxides-bound, and 4) organic matter-bound. The distribution of the metals within these fractions can help predict the bioavailability and speciation of said metals. The majority of metals were contained in the third and to a lesser extent the fourth …

Characterization Of Aquarefined Micro/Nanoporous Lead Material, Liam S. Russell, June Y. Suh

Materials Engineering

The process of aquarefining is an environmentally-friendly method for producing pure lead products that exhibit particularly low density. To observe the microstructures of these low-density forms of lead, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was employed to examine aquarefined lead samples produced under three batches of processing conditions. Due to aquarefined lead's tendency to collapse under its own weight, careful measures were taken during transport and handling to avoid damaging the samples. Three types of microstructures were observed and correlated to changes in processing conditions: octahedron crystallites, microscales, and dendrites. Energy-dispersive x-ray spectrometry (EDS) was used to quantify the amount of oxygen …

Using Survey Data And Hec-Ras Modeling To Assess A Riffle-Remediation Structure On The Big River, Bonne Terre, Missouri, Nichole Renee Weedman

MSU Graduate Theses

Sediment transport and deposition in river channels can vary for many reasons including flooding, dredging, channel velocity, and grain size. On the Big River, the Army Corps of Engineers constructed a riffle ramp structure to trap and remediate lead-contaminated sediments. The performance of the structure is unknown. The goal of this study is to evaluate the storage capabilities of the riffle structure. To do this, survey data was collected to analyze sediment storage and entered into the HEC-RAS 5.0 to model the hydraulics of the channel before and after the riffle installation. Samples were collected to assess the level of …

Channel Bar Morphology, Distribution, And Mining-Related Geochemistry In The Big River, St. Francois County, Missouri: Implications For Geomorphic Recovery, Lindsay Marie Olson

MSU Graduate Theses

Tailings releases associated with large-scale historical Pb mining in St. Francois County, Missouri resulted in system-wide contamination of Pb and excess sediment in the Big River. Previous studies have addressed basin and segment scale variability of the contaminants; however, little is known about reach and bar scale variability. This study addresses how mining sediment inputs influence bar form and geochemistry across a range of scales. Bar sediment samples were collected at 21 reaches and analyzed for particle size and geochemistry, while air photo analysis was used to evaluate channel morphology, bar type, and area. Bar area is initially low in …

Airborne Lead In El Paso, Texas, Usa, Lisa Marie Paz

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Despite significant strides to minimize lead in our air, water, soil, food, homes, workplaces, and consumer products, sporadic and systemic lead poisoning persists in industrial societies, e.g., the contemporary Flint (Michigan, USA) municipal water tragedy. Because lead exposure is cumulative, the sum of exposure from all sources, it is important to document and update potential community or neighborhood exposure levels from such environmental compartments as air, water, and housing. Here we present ambient airborne lead levels in El Paso, Texas, USA, parsed by particulate matter (PM) size fraction, geography, and season. Dichotomous samplers at 8 stations collected particulate matter continuously …

Speciation, Distribution, Prediction, And Mobility Of Lead In Urban Soils: A Multiscale Study, Jennifer Bower

Graduate College Dissertations and Theses

Lead (Pb), a trace metal notorious for its impacts on human health, has achieved worldwide environmental dispersal resulting from centuries of use by human society. The toxicity of Pb is governed largely by its mineral form, which is in turn controlled by pH, localized reactivity and soil processes that differ according to soil type, location and Pb source. Given the context of these localized dependencies, or site specificity, efforts to predict Pb toxicity and refine sustainable remediation techniques are most useful when Pb behavior is constrained and predicted within environments with homogeneous conditions, such as a single soil. I evaluated …