Possible effects of a garbage dump on the heavy metal levels of Molawin Creek

Date

10-1993

Degree

Bachelor of Science in Chemistry

College

College of Arts and Sciences (CAS)

Adviser/Committee Chair

Carlito R. Barril

Abstract

Water and sediment samples from three sites in the creek near the garbage dump were collected and analyzed for the following heavy metals: cadmium, chromium. copper, iron, lead and zinc. Results indicated that dissolved metals were within maximum allowable levels for a Class C body of water except for copper. Metal concentrations in sediments were likewise below the limit except for copper. It was observed that for both the water and sediment samples of cadmium. chromium. lead and zinc the highest concentrations occurred during the dry season months of April and May and gradually decreased towards August. The concentration of iron gradually increased during June, July and August. Correlation analysis showed a negative relation-ship between rainfall and aqueous :inc, copper and cadmium concentrations but indicated a positive relationship in the case of aqueous iron. Sediment samples were negatively correlated with rainfall. Iron. zinc and copper in water and zinc and iron in sediment showed weak correlation with pH. Zinc. cadmium and copper were negatively correlated with sulfide: metals in sediment were also negatively correlated with sulfide. On the average the concentrations of metals in sediment increased 59% across and downstream of the dump. Analysis of Variance and Duncan's Multiple Range Test revealed that month-to-month variations were highly significant for both types ,of samples but site-to-site variations were significant only for metals in sediment. The study concludes that the dump contributes a measurable amount of heavy metals into the creek but at the time of study this did not make the stream exceed the standards for a Class C body of water.

Language

English

Location

UPLB Main Library Special Collections Section (USCS)

Call Number

LG 993.5 1993 C4 G66

Document Type

Thesis

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