How Much Mercury Is In How Much Mercury Is In Your Soil?Your Soil?

Aubrey LewisAubrey Lewis

Freeport High School Freeport High School

Mr. Irwin and Ms. LewisMr. Irwin and Ms. Lewis

IntroductionIntroduction

Mercury can be found in many different Mercury can be found in many different places. places.

Landfills, Auto Junkyards, and Beaches.Landfills, Auto Junkyards, and Beaches.

What is MercuryWhat is Mercury

Mercury is one of many heavy metals on Mercury is one of many heavy metals on this planet.this planet.

Mercury stays in a liquid form at room Mercury stays in a liquid form at room temp.temp.

Mercury was used in filling for teeth until Mercury was used in filling for teeth until recently when it was found to be to cause recently when it was found to be to cause Mercury PoisoningMercury Poisoning

Mercury PoisoningMercury Poisoning

Mercury poisoning effects the nervous Mercury poisoning effects the nervous system. It can cause personality changes, system. It can cause personality changes, nervousness, trembling, and even nervousness, trembling, and even dementia. In the 19th century these dementia. In the 19th century these people were called “Mad Hitters”.people were called “Mad Hitters”.

MaterialsMaterialsMercury AnalyzerMercury Analyzer

Goggles / GlovesGoggles / Gloves

BOD BottlesBOD Bottles

Soil Samples Soil Samples

Reagents and StandardsReagents and Standards

10% Stannous chloride10% Stannous chloride

Sulfuric acid, 0.5NSulfuric acid, 0.5N

5% Sodium chloride-hydroxylamine sulfate 5% Sodium chloride-hydroxylamine sulfate solutionsolution

Mercury stock solution Mercury stock solution (1ml=1mg Hg )(1ml=1mg Hg )

Mercury working standard Mercury working standard

Perkin-Elmer FIMS 400Perkin-Elmer FIMS 400

Mercury AnalyzerMercury Analyzer

The FIMS 100 Mercury Analyzer use a The FIMS 100 Mercury Analyzer use a Flow Injection System to analyze the Flow Injection System to analyze the samplesampleIt reads the absorbs of the sample to see It reads the absorbs of the sample to see how much mercury it contains. how much mercury it contains. Absorbs @ 257.5umAbsorbs @ 257.5um

MERCURY EXTRACTION METHODMERCURY EXTRACTION METHOD

1) 0.6g of sample1) 0.6g of sample2) Add 5mL of RGW and 5mL of aqua regia2) Add 5mL of RGW and 5mL of aqua regia3) Heat for 2min @ 953) Heat for 2min @ 9500C, than coolC, than cool4) Add 50mL RGW and 15mL 5% Potassium 4) Add 50mL RGW and 15mL 5% Potassium Permanganate (KMnO4)Permanganate (KMnO4)5) Mix and Heat for 30 min @ 955) Mix and Heat for 30 min @ 9500CC6) Cool, add 6mL of Sodium chloride hydroxylamine 6) Cool, add 6mL of Sodium chloride hydroxylamine sulfatesulfate7) Analysis within 1-28days7) Analysis within 1-28days

MERCURY STANDARDSMERCURY STANDARDS

STOCK (diluted to 1ppm)STOCK (diluted to 1ppm)

100uL of 1,000ppm + 100mL 2% HNO100uL of 1,000ppm + 100mL 2% HNO33

1mL = 1mg Hg 1,000pmm1mL = 1mg Hg 1,000pmm

(For 500mL of 2% HNO3 mix 10mL HNO(For 500mL of 2% HNO3 mix 10mL HNO3 3

with 490mL RGW)with 490mL RGW)

100uL / 100mL (50uL / 50mL) = 1/1,000 100uL / 100mL (50uL / 50mL) = 1/1,000 dilution = 1ppmdilution = 1ppm

ResultsResults

The samples from two landfills have be The samples from two landfills have be tested so far.tested so far.

One sample has a higher percent of One sample has a higher percent of Mercury then the other.Mercury then the other.

We believe this is because of were it was We believe this is because of were it was taken. taken.

Later WorkLater Work

In later work I want to test samples from all In later work I want to test samples from all over Long Island to see what area has the over Long Island to see what area has the highest amount of Mercury. highest amount of Mercury. We wish to see if this areas have a higher We wish to see if this areas have a higher rate of Mercury Poisoning and rate of Mercury Poisoning and Developmental Disorders then other Developmental Disorders then other places.places.And we want to test and see if there are And we want to test and see if there are other toxic Metals that could be in the soil.other toxic Metals that could be in the soil.

~Acknowledgements~~Acknowledgements~

Dr. Sat BhattacharyaDr. Sat Bhattacharya

Harlem Children’s SocietyHarlem Children’s Society

Mr. Ed Irwin Mr. Ed Irwin

Ms. Vanessa LewisMs. Vanessa Lewis