Determination of Mercury content in living and non-living systems

Dylan Campbell, James Lowe

Henderson state university Department of Chemistry Determination of Mercury content in living and non-living systemsBackgroundSouthwest Arkansas Cinnabar Mining1930s and 1940sGraysonia- tri-county operationMan-made soil erosion

Environmental ToxicologyBioaccumulation-General term describing a process by which chemicals are taken up by an organism either directly from exposure to a contaminated medium or by consumption of food containing the chemical. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2010WaterVegetationOrganismsPredators

ObjectiveLiving and Non-Living SystemsNon-LivingSoilWaterLivingOttersFurLiver

Community Chemical Education

http://tigrisriver.weebly.com/uploads/1/1/0/1/11017791/2509400_orig.jpgNon-Living SystemsSoil, sediment, and water samples collected following US EPA methods to reduce contaminationSamples taken from or near historic cinnabar mining operation sites

Living SystemsGPS Tagged Location for all samplesCollaboration with HSU Biology Dept.Otter Fur and LiverDissolved in 1:1 Nitric:Sulfuric Acid Soln.Liver Samples Homogenized and Artificially Digested

http://www.jmeuc.com/dept/operations/laboratory/images/Hot-Block.JPGAnalysisBuck Scientific Model 410 Mercury AnalyzerCold Vapor Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy10ppb Mercury Stock Standard Calibration CurveAbsorbance vs. Concentration Samples treated and analyzed according to the U.S. EPA Method 245.1.3

Otter Fur Data

Otter Liver Data

Discussion Looking for correlation between furs and livers.Determining Geographical locations of bioaccumulation The data shown shows varying concentrations within differing otters.

Future WorkGPS Toxicity DatabaseCommunity Outreach-drinking water testingHigher predatory mammals-Mountain LionsTaking the data collect from this research and looking for trends in certain bodys of water.AcknowledgementsHenderson State University Chemistry Dept.T. David Bateman PhD.Hunter WaylandDavid MayAllie DavisHenderson State University Biology Dept.Renn Tumlison PhD.Allison Surf