Comparison of Inorganic Elemental Concentrations in Water Samples and Occurrence of Zebra Mussels in Kentucky Lake, USA
Academic Level at Time of Presentation
Senior
Major
Chemistry
Minor
none
List all Project Mentors & Advisor(s)
Bikram Subedi; Susan Hendricks; David S. White; Bommanna Loganathan
Presentation Format
Poster Presentation
Abstract/Description
Zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) are an exotic and invasive mollusk that spread extensively over various rivers and lakes in the United States. However, these mussels had been unable to reproduce and establish populations in the Kentucky Lake during the last several decades. Recently, zebra mussel colonies were frequently encountered in Kentucky Lake. This emergence of mussels in the waters generated interest in examining physical and chemical parameters that are vital to the reproduction and development of zebra mussels. The specific aim of this study was to examine various physical and chemical parameters (trace metals) in water samples collected from selected long-term monitoring stations in the Kentucky Lake. Surface and bottom water samples were collected during the Kentucky Lake sampling Cruise #572. Pre-cleaned high density polyethylene bottles were used to collect the water samples and filtered using 0.45 micron syringe filters. The filtrate was acidified to 2% nitric acid with trace metal grade nitric acid. Standard analytical procedures were followed including sample preparation, quality assurance protocols and analysis using Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP) Optical Emission Spectrometer (OES). Arsenic (As), barium (Ba), beryllium (Be), calcium (Ca), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), selenium (Se) and thallium (Tl) were measured in the samples. Elemental concentrations ranged from µg L-1 (ppb) to mg L-1 (ppm) depending on analyte type and sampling locations. Among various inorganic elements, calcium levels steadily increased in concentration from 16.0 ppm (May 2012) to 22.0 ppm (September 2017). While Ohio River showed no significant change in the concentration (21.0 ppm) during the same period. Increasing levels of calcium may be attributable to the elevated occurrence of zebra mussel colonies in Kentucky Lake.
Affiliations
General Posters Session--ONLY
Comparison of Inorganic Elemental Concentrations in Water Samples and Occurrence of Zebra Mussels in Kentucky Lake, USA
Zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) are an exotic and invasive mollusk that spread extensively over various rivers and lakes in the United States. However, these mussels had been unable to reproduce and establish populations in the Kentucky Lake during the last several decades. Recently, zebra mussel colonies were frequently encountered in Kentucky Lake. This emergence of mussels in the waters generated interest in examining physical and chemical parameters that are vital to the reproduction and development of zebra mussels. The specific aim of this study was to examine various physical and chemical parameters (trace metals) in water samples collected from selected long-term monitoring stations in the Kentucky Lake. Surface and bottom water samples were collected during the Kentucky Lake sampling Cruise #572. Pre-cleaned high density polyethylene bottles were used to collect the water samples and filtered using 0.45 micron syringe filters. The filtrate was acidified to 2% nitric acid with trace metal grade nitric acid. Standard analytical procedures were followed including sample preparation, quality assurance protocols and analysis using Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP) Optical Emission Spectrometer (OES). Arsenic (As), barium (Ba), beryllium (Be), calcium (Ca), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), selenium (Se) and thallium (Tl) were measured in the samples. Elemental concentrations ranged from µg L-1 (ppb) to mg L-1 (ppm) depending on analyte type and sampling locations. Among various inorganic elements, calcium levels steadily increased in concentration from 16.0 ppm (May 2012) to 22.0 ppm (September 2017). While Ohio River showed no significant change in the concentration (21.0 ppm) during the same period. Increasing levels of calcium may be attributable to the elevated occurrence of zebra mussel colonies in Kentucky Lake.