Determination of Heavy Metal and Anion Concentrations in Water Samples

1. Determination of Heavy Metal and Anion Concentrations in Water Samples Gabby Pilla & Caitlin Verhalen

2. Background • Determination of contaminants in environmental, biological and food samples requires significant attention • Some elements or their compounds have toxic or nutritional effects • Regular monitoring of contaminant concentrations is required • ICP and IC can be used for determination of various contaminants in water samples.

3. Background • Lead and copper enter water systems primarily through plumbing materials • Can lead to symptoms ranging from stomach distress to brain damage • An accumulation of cadmium in the body can affect several organ systems; nervous, gastrointestinal, reproductive and skeletal and biochemical activities. • Health risks associated with arsenic include severe poisoning and carcinogenic, most importantly cancer of the respiratory and gastrointestinal tract. • Fluoride can cause fluorosis or bone disease (Raja et al. 2013).

4. United State Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) National Primary Drinking Water Regulations: ¹Maximum contaminant level ¹Maximum contaminant level

5. Objective • Our purpose was to investigate whether purified or filtered water contains less toxic materials than tap water. • Hypothesis: • Store brand filters or water bottles will contain higher concentrations of contaminants compared to name brand filters or water bottles

6. Samples & Analytes

7. Method- ICP • 3 standards for the metals were prepared with dilution method: • 10 ppm = 1 ml of 1000 ppm stock solution 100 ml DI water • 10, 30, 50 ppm • Standards and 5 water samples were analyzed • For each contaminant two wavelengths were chosen to be analyzed • Calibration curves were created for each contaminant for the two wavelengths separately and then averaged

8. Method- IC • 7 anion standard ran after instrument equilibration • Regenerantwas prepared and refilled, allowing for production of a better spectrum • 5 samples ran and compared to the 7 anion standard spectrum

9. Data- ICP

10. Data- IC

11. Discussion- ICP • Aluminum, Arsenic, Lead, and Antimony levels are all high for each water sample • Store brand filter contained the highest aluminum levels • Brita filtered water contained the highest arsenic levels • Tap contained the highest lead levels although they were all very close in concentration • Brita filtered water contained the highest antimony levels • Cadmium levels were safe for each water sample

12. Discussion- ICP • Possible risks for those in who encounter these contaminants: • Skin damage • Circulatory system problems • Increase risk of getting cancer • Kidney problems • High blood pressure • High blood cholesterol • Low blood sugar

13. Discussion- IC • No levels exceeded the acceptable maximum contaminant level. Therefore, no one is at risk for adverse health effects. • The store bought filter contained all of the anions though they were at acceptable levels. • The leading water bottle contained the least amount of anions. • The water bottle samples contained the lowest concentration of anions compared to the Brita, store filter, and tap water.

14. Conclusion • Hypothesis was rejected based on ICP data: • Name brand filters and water bottles contained higher levels of contaminants versus store brand filters and water bottles • Cheaper is better!

15. References • United State Environmental Protection Agency. National Recommended Water Quality Criteria. http://water.epa.gov/scitech/swquidance/standards/current/index.cfm (accessed May 10, 2013). • Gholivand, M., Pourhossein, A., & Shahlaei, M. Simultaneous determination of copper and cadmium in environmental water and tea samples by adsorptive stripping voltammetry. 2011Turkish Journal Of Chemistry, 35(6), 839-846 • Raja, I. A., Khan, M. Y., Khan, N. A., Wani, M. R., & Bhat, A. A. Assessment Of Some Metals In The Drinking Water Of Dal Lake Kashmir. 2013. Nature & Science, 11(3), 63-64.