Project Type
Poster
Publication Date
2025
Department or Program
Earth and Environmental Sciences
College
College of Arts & Sciences
Faculty Mentor #1
Ben Kisila
Abstract
This study examined the spatial distribution of heavy metals along the Levisa Fork and primary tributaries in Buchanan County, VA and Pike County, KY. Buchanan and Pike Counties have a long history of coal mining, a process known to release heavy metals into surrounding waterways. Exposure to certain heavy metals, such as arsenic and lead, has been known to cause health problems, such as cancer and organ damage. The study looked at concentrations in riverine sediments, surface water and groundwater for As, Al, Cr, Cu, Fe, Li, Mg, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn. Sediment samples were collected, dried and digested and the leachates and water samples analyzed in ICAP-OES. The preliminary results show evidence for anthropogenic enrichment in all elements, especially As, Cd, Cu, Mg, Ni and Zn. The highest enrichments occurred at downstream river bend locations and adjacent to the largest settlement in the area. A single groundwater sample revealed alarming levels of Mn and concerning levels of other elements. To expand on these findings, we will return over the summer to gather sediment cores, more groundwater data and eDNA fish population analysis in the region to further assess contamination trends and potential health risks.
Included in
Environmental Health Commons, Environmental Health and Protection Commons, Environmental Monitoring Commons, Geochemistry Commons, Hydrology Commons, Natural Resources and Conservation Commons, Water Resource Management Commons