
One of the largest means of producing electricity is through the combustion of coal. Coal ash, its waste product, contains trace metals that can become mobile in the environment. Catherine Crowell, a sophomore majoring in environmental science, examined trace metal contamination within sediment and water samples collected near a coal-burning power station using ICP-OES. Synthetic leachates were prepared in the lab and exposures of these leachates on embryonic ramshorn snails, were conducted. Preliminary results indicate high mortality of ramshorn snails to the leachates, and the presence of trace metals found within the leachates and water column samples. It is expected that trace metals will be found in high concentrations within sediment samples collected near and downstream the power station. Crowell received a travel grant to present her research, “The Impacts of pH on trace contaminant leaching and toxicity of coal ash in Planorbella duryi,” at the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry meeting held in Toronto, Canada in November 2019. She also received a travel award from the Chesapeake Potomac Regional Chapter. The next phase of her study is to analyze the remaining sediment samples for trace metals. Her primary faculty mentors are Dr. Tyler Frankel, Assistant Professor of Environmental Science, Dr. Ben Kisila, Professor of Geology.
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