Draft 2: Affects of the Environment and Humans on Bodies of water in around Oxford

This topic submitted by Krista Van Wassen, Lauren Meeth, Emily Vaas , Ashley Horn ( vanwaske@muohio.edu, meethle@muohio.edu, joybaby83@hotmail.com, hornae@muohio.edu ) on 10/7/04 .

Natural Systems 1 Syllabus---Western Program---Miami University

Introduction:
a. Our purpose is to determine how our local environment and human interaction affect bodies of water in and around Oxford. We predict the sludge in the bodies of water on the Miami University campus will be more highly concentrated in nitrogen and phosphorus and acidity. Our null hypothesis is that there will be no significant difference between the bodies of water on campus and those in surrounding areas.
b. We initially had an experiment designed to test swan behavior, but our methods were against university policy. Therefore, we thought about other things having to do with our duck pond. We noticed, as a result of recent construction waste nearby, there was a greater amount of algae in the pond. This led us to believe that our presence near bodies of water affects the chemical concentration. Narrowing down the variables we could research affecting bodies of water, we decided to test soil composition as an accurate representation of what could be leaching in to bodies of water in and around Oxford.
c. We want to find out and bring awareness to the possibility of high contamination in the water and see if it's due to factors such as human interaction.
d. The relevance of our research and experiments will help provide information to the affects of our interaction with the local environment of Oxford, Ohio.

Background Information:
Soil, "a thin layer of unconsolidated material that covers the earth's surface, is a natural resource that is perhaps uniquely responsible for human development and continued existence on this planet" (Essington 1). This is because it provides nutrients and water for plants, which are used for food, clothing fabric, and building materials. In addition, soil collects human, animal, and industrial waste products, preventing toxic materials from being transferred back into the food chain and drinking water supplies. It "plays an important role in the regulation of atmospheric CO2 levels" (Essington 4) helping to offset fossil fuel emissions.
While almost every element in the periodic table is present in soil, 98 percent of the mass of soil is composed of just seven: oxygen, carbon, silicon, aluminum, iron, calcium, and potassium. The actual levels of each of these substances are "highly variable relative to location of the landscape and depth within the profile" (Essington 8). It is extremely easy to measure the abundance of an element, though this is not very useful for analyzing the quality of soil. "A high concentration of a potentially problematic element, relative to the uncontaminated soil concentration range does not indicate that a problem or risk exists. Conversely, an elemental concentration that is within the uncontaminated soil concentration range does not necessarily indicate that a problem does not exist" (Essington 11). An element's reactivity is what influences the toxicity instead.
The recent population growth and land development have overextended the soil beyond its natural capabilities as waste products are being produced at a quicker pace than they are being broken down (Essington). To give an analogy, the soil acts like human kidney. Naturally, the kidney filters out the body's toxins, but when overwhelmed, the kidney, like the soil, cannot perform the natural process of filtration to its potential. When such substances are in soil, they are free to move about to some degree, thus making it that much more toxic. These pollutants "enter the soil environment via rainfall (H2O), atmospheric particulates, fertilizers and other anthropogenic inputs (water disposal and utilization), [and] the diffusion of gases, such as carbon dioxide, oxygen, and nitrogen" (Essington 3).
One way to measure the quality of soil and determine if there are contaminants is by conducting a pH test. "The symbol pH stands for the negative logarithm of the hydronium ion concentration and is a convenient way of expressing the very low concentrations that are present" (Boulding 96) in substances. A scale of one to fourteen is used to rate a substance on its acidity; a reading of 7.0 establishes equilibrium, while anything below this number is acidic and if above the value the matter is considered to be basic. Typically, acidic soil is infertile.
Nitrogen forms are a major part of soil. An important source of Nitrogen (N) is fertilization of agricultural lands and from land disposal of wastes and sewage effluents. An additional source of N is that which originates from acid rains. Therefore Nitrogen is a major part of soil, but there it can be caused by negative factors and too high. There can also be levels that are too low. "Nitrogen losses from soil occur mainly through crop removal, volatilization, and leeching" (Calvet 26). "Adverse effects of Nitrogen encompass both human health and the terrestrial environments" (Calvet 27).
Phosphorus forms are also found in soils, more highly in some. There is a higher pH in soils that are also high in Ca phosphate compounds. Like Nitrogen, Phophourus (P) can be contained in fertilizers, organic amendments, and sewage effluents. When P enters the soil it becomes an integral part of it. Phosphourus losses from soil occurs mainly through crop removal runoff and leaching. (Calvet, 28-29)

Research Design:
We will be testing the levels of nitrogen and phosphorus forms, as well as the pH levels of sludge in several bodies of water in and around Oxford, Ohio.
We will begin by first collecting the sludge in the four bodies of water (totaling 36 samples) that we have previously mentioned. After collecting the sludge, we will proceed to dry each sample in the oven, for a better and more accurate assessment of the levels of pH, Nitrate, and Phosphate. We will then wash the dry samples in deionized water and filter the water out, testing the nutrient rich water. After performing the three tests, we will compare and contrast the differences in each body of water.
In order to better educate our fellow classmates, we will be bringing in the dry samples and having them wash, filter, and test the sludge samples as we will have previously done. This will allow them to see for themselves, the levels of the acidity, nitrate and phosphate levels that are in the bodies of water that are around the community and school.

Methods:

Collecting Sludge:
1. Go to the edge of the body of water.
2. Scoop out about one cup of sludge, as close to the surface as possible. Do not "dig" to collect sludge.
3. Place sample in Gladware container.
4. Label specimen as soon as collected to prevent confusion.
5. Repeat three times in the same area, then move to another specified area.
6. Repeat steps 1-5 for each body of water, totaling 3 areas, then move to the other bodies of water. (should total 36 samples in all)

Drying sludge:
1. Place one sample in oven on cookie sheet.
2. Bake until dry.

Finding the pH of the soil samples:
1. Place 5g of "soil into the depression on a white spot plate and addÉ[mixture of] two parts bromothymol blue and one part of methyl redÉuntil soil is saturated."
2. Stir mixture.
3. Let the mixture sit "until soil settles" and colored mixture can be seen.
4. "Using [the] color comparator chart [below], determine the pH."
5. Repeat this process for each sample, totaling three pH numbers for each specific area. (should total 36 tests in all)
(Jones, 36)

pH Test indicators:

Finding Nitrate:
1. Add 25 mL of deionized water to dried soil sample
2. Filter soil through filter paper and funnel
3. Follow directions on box of Low Range Nitrate Test Kit from Hach
4. Repeat for each sampled area, totaling 36 samples.

Finding Phosphate:
1. Add 25 mL of deionized water to dried soil sample.
2. Filter soil through filter paper and funnel
3. Follow directions on box of Orthophosphate Test Kit from Hach.
4. Repeat for each sampled area, totaling 36 samples.

Materials:

Gram balance
White spot plate
Bromothymol blue
Bethyl red
Graduated cylinder
Glass stirring rod
Gladware (36)
Labels
Soup ladle
Drying rack
Digital camera
Low Range Nitrate Test Kit
Orthophosphate Test Kit
Oven
Filter paper
Funnel

Research Timeline:

Date(s): Event(s):

October 23-24 Gather samples from locations

October 25-26 Optional back-up date to continue gathering samples

October 26-28 Bake sludge samples. Perform pH, nitrate, and phosphate tests on soil.

November 2-21 Work on experiment conclusions and final write-up. (Hopefully finish the website before December.)

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