Sweet Home
Arsenic Project Proposal
Introduction:
The
purpose of this study is to discover what effect, if any, does abnormally high
levels of arsenic have on physical characteristics of freshwater snails (genus Lymnaea).
Our goals are to collect use areas of known high arsenic levels, collect
streambed soil samples, analyze the soil samples using neutron activation
analysis at the Oregon State University reactor, and collect sufficient
information regarding snails that inhabit those areas, which include their
population density and shell color. Our observations and data will be entered
into a GIS system so others can improve the study of arsenic and itŐs
characteristics.
In
the Sweet Home, Oregon area, there are an elevated levels of arsenic. The U.S
Geological Survey conducted the first investigation into this problem in 1996.
The group Littorina Obtusata gathered data and samples from this region. Crescent
Valley High School students conducted the next study in 2002. Both studies
mapped out areas of high arsenic concentrations, but the source and cause of
the high concentration is still inconclusive. (Kirsch, 2003) Using these
studies to locate the sites of high arsenic levels we will study the effect of
arsenic, not the cause. In a previous study concerning pond snails, genus Lymnaea,
population density decreased significantly in areas with arsenic pentoxide and
arsenic trioxide in concentrations of 900 to 1000 ug/L (Orme, 2002). From this
study we can conclude that the high concentrations of arsenic in Sweet Home has an impact on snails inhabiting these
water sources. No studies have been done to explore the relationship between
arsenic and the shell color of freshwater snails. However, Machala in 2002
reported that the color of saltwater snails shells, genus Littorina Obtusata, ranged from yellow to dark brown to olive green.
According
to the Oregon Department of Human Services in 2002, arsenic is an
indestructible element that changes forms and is carried either through the air
or water. In high doses arsenic can be extremely harmful to humans. It is
already known that arsenic has adverse effects on humans. (Agency for Toxic
Substances, 1989) Vitayavirasuk in 1997 stated that Both water hyacinths and
bitter snails might be useful as bioindicators of arsenic pollution in
freshwater environment. So, it is also important to find out if these elevated
levels of arsenic have adverse effects on animals, since snails and humans are
both biological creatures that are potentially harmed from the high levels of
arsenic. Our study will be useful to
the Sweet Home community. If our study concludes that high arsenic has an
adverse effect on wildlife then the city might want to conduct further studies
exploring the effects of arsenic on wildlife and humans.
Our
objective is to add more information to the study of high arsenic levels in
Sweet Home, by collecting data about any adverse effects it has on freshwater
snails. Previous studies have shown
that elevated levels of arsenic have a direct correlation with population
density and shell color variations. We
hypothesize that there will be a direct correlation between abnormally high
arsenic levels and low population density and the shell color of water snails.
Methods and
Materials:
Using
the data and locations from Crescent Valley students in 2002 and 2003 we
concluded that Ames Creek would be an area of high arsenic concentration. We
will take snail samples from other water sources with little or arsenic
concentration for our control. The other two water sources we will be
collecting samples from are Quartzville Creek, and the Santiam River below
Foster Dam. In each river we will be collecting from a 1 m by 1 m area and use
gardening stakes and string to mark our area. For each site we will collect and
record its coordinates and mark the site on a map with a designated number. We
will collect three soil samples from each site, mix all three samples in a
Ziploc bag, and then test for trace amounts of arsenic using Neutron Activation
Analysis. Each soil sample will be placed in a bag that is marked with the site
number. From each site we will wade into the water wearing rubber boots and
pick the snails off of the rocks and place them in a bucket; attempting to
collect all the snails from the 1 m by 1 m area. On the site we will take count
the snails to estimate population density for the site and we will take
pictures of the snails we collected so that we can analyze their color later.
To organize our pictures we will first take a picture of the bucket, which will
have the site number on it. From each water source we will collect from three 1
m by 1 m sites, each site at least 15m away from the previous site.
Materials Needed:
Map- Sean
GPS system- Megan
rubber boots- Leif
3 buckets- Sean
Ziploc bags- Justin
Trowels- Megan
digital camera-
Megan
gardening stakes(1
m- 3 m long)- Leif
5 m of string- Sean
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1st visit to Sweet Home |
Go to Ames Creek and collect samples |
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2nd visit to Sweet Home |
Go to Santiam River and collect samples |
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3rd visit to Sweet Home |
Go to Quartzville Creek and collect samples |
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Data:
References:
6.
Vitayavirasuk,, Banjong.
Proc. of Toxic Metal Studies of Pak Panang and Pattani River Basin, PSU. http://www.clib.psu.ac.th/acad_41/vban1.htm.
17 Oct.1997
Organisms.” http://www.pesticide info.org/PCW/List_AcquireAll.jsp?Species=2172.
2002