Geological Society of America

46 Environmental Geoscience/Hydrogeology

Tuesday, 24 March 2009
8:00 AM - 10:00 AM

GEOCHEMICAL INVESTIGATION OF HEAVY METALS AND RADIOACTIVE NUCLIDES IN THE EAST RIVER AND GOWANUS CANAL, NEW YORK CITY

Program: Technical Sessions
Time: 8:20 AM – 8:40 AM

Authors

Marjorie Kalomeris Presenting Author
Bard High School Early College, New York, NY
Chiara Zaccheo
Bard High School Early College, New York, NY
Clarissa Fortier
Bard High School Early College, New York, NY
Talia Bosco
Bard High School Early College, New York, NY
Mossbah Kolkas
Bard High School Early College, New York, NY

Abstract

Geochemical analysis of water and soil samples collected from selected sites along the East River and the Gowanus Canal in New York City indicates the presence of heavy metals and radioactive elements at various concentrations. Chromium (Cr), Copper (Cu), Manganese (Mn), Nickel (Ni), Lead (Pb), Tin (Sn), Zinc (Zn), Strontium (Sr), and Yttrium (Y) are recorded in high concentration.

Dissolved oxygen, salinity, air and water temperatures, and pH levels were measured at each site to evaluate the water quality.

Granulometric, microscopic, and chemical analyses strongly support the abundance of clay minerals at various sites in the study area. These clay minerals act as a good reservoir for heavy metals due to the cation exchange capacity.

The presence of these heavy metals and the radioactive nuclides in the sediments and waters of the East River and the Gowanus Canal could be hazardous to the watershed in particular and to the ecosystem in general.