Warrington Environmental Pollution and Soil Health Risks

Warrington Environmental Pollution and Soil Health RisksReport on the environmental pollution and human health risks of stigmas in the former industrial area of Woolston, Warrington.2.IntroductionAs a result of rapid population outgrowth fol minored by intense industrial activity and petrochemical development begrimes have suffered from taint with substances of various origins (E.M.Garcia et al,2015).As a result of rapid industrialisation of cities such as Manchester, newly constructed transmission channels were built all over the UK in array to extend trade as well as the exportation of goods. In the 1820s, a new canal was established on the river Mersey with the purpose of shortening the alley of navigation through with(predicate) with(predicate) the meandering Mersey.3.Study station.According to Warrington borough council, the juvenile spot canalise was opened in 1821. This 2km long canal was built in graze to improve the Mersey and Irwell navigation by creating a shortcut for barges carrying goods between Liverpool and Manchester. historical ordnance survey maps from 1907 show an adjacent chemical works, a enormous tannery, a slaughter house, a admixturelic element works and a powder mill. Sustained industrial activity meant that the canal down payment was undoubtedly polluted by spillages from ships and industrial effluents (Hartley and Dickinson,2010). Following the establishment of the Manchester shipping canal the New Cut transmission channel began to decline until it was left derelict (Warrington borough council) and eventually the Canal was dis attached from the river and aband wizd in 1978 (Hartley and Dickinson,2010). In that year, it was discrete that the site was to be used for tipping under emergency procedures to deposit road construction rubble (Hartley and Dickinson ,2010).Following this history, it has been estimated that the site contains 9800 tonnes of polluted anoxic alluviation. It is known that this polluted sedim ent contains elevated levels of TPHs (Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons), PAHs (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons) followed by highly elevated concentrations of metals (Pb, Zn, Cu, Cr and Ni) and Arsenic (As) (Hartley and Dickinson,2010).4.Methods4.1. Methods out in the dramaturgy.4.1.1 Soil samplesTo determine the degree of dirty contaminant at the site, brand samples were taken at various organises along the New Cut Canal site. It was decided that a systematic sampling method would be used in order to record an competent amount of data for the investigation. This sampling method had been chosen as it allowed one to determine the spacial pattern of contamination whilst limiting human errors (O1). Whilst at the site, transects had been established along the New Cut Canal site. Transects were established along a 700-metre stretch of the canal and each transect had been stray by 70 meters. In total there was 10 transects and along each transect,6 primer samples were taken approxim ately every 10 meters from the Northernmost point of the canal to the southernmost point closest to the river Mersey.Soil samples from each sampling point were taken just to a lower place the surface but in order to prevent large organic materials from interfering with the soil investigations later it was decided that each sample should be taken and the large organic consider (Roots etc.) should be removed. This was through using a measuring tape and a spade. The soil samples had been gathered in plastic bags.4.2. conduction and resistivity set within the soil surrounding New Cut Canal. 4.2.1. Electrical impedance Imaging (ERI) using ERT (Electrical Resistivity Tomography)The ERI was used to show the potential mobility of fall out and toxic metals within the soil by analysing conductivity data from the ERT and the EM-31. Conductivity measurements were taken using an ERT along a single transect measuring 35 metres between the New Cut Canal site and the river Mersey. The ERT tak es conductivity measurements through a series of electrodes which are placed into the design. Once these electrodes had been implanted and connected to each other via multi core cables a current was whence injected into the globe through these electrodes and as the current passed through the soil resistivity measurements were taken. Changes in conductivity reflect variations in underwater materials and higher conductivity readings are associated with higher metal concentrations in soil pore waters. shape 1 Below is an movie that shows the standard setup of ERT. In this investigation the electrodes were inserted into the ground at distances of 2 meters apart. The transect of electrodes covered an area between the New Cut Canal and the river Mersey and was carried out at an angle of 0 (North to South). Image from Terra digital audiotape http//terradat.co.uk/survey-methods/resistivity-tomography/4.2.2. Geonics EM-31 Ground Conductivity meter ERT maps out the geological variations associated with changes in conductivity (Exploration instruments) as well as the EM-31. Unlike the ERT, the EM-31 gathers its readings by creating an electromagnetic field in the air using a coil wire which is separated from a receiver coil by 3.66 meters. The transmitted energy propagates into the subsurface where a second electromagnetic field is created due to the effect of soil moisture, conductive earth materials and other buried objects (Reynolds international,2011). The EM-31 is useful to this investigation as it can take conductivity measurements infra 2 meters of the Earths surface. The data placid by both the EM-31 and the ERT could because be combined to determine changes in conductivity up to a depth of 3-4 meters.4.3. Soil sample experiments in the lab4.3.1. Determining total metal concentrationsFollowing the onsite extraction of soils samples, they were then taken to the lab for further processing. Before any more investigations were conducted the soil samples were dried in an oven at 40C for 48 hours in order to remove all of the moisture. Oven drying the sediment is crucial in this fibre of investigation as one can only compare the dry weighting to the Soil Guideline Values (SGVs) (DEFRA, 2002). Once they had been dried, the soil samples were then processed further in order to analyse the total metal concentrations (Pb,Zn,Cr and As), bioavailability of those metals, organic question content and soil pH. Soil samples were then sieved so that larger particles greater than 2mm in diameter were removed. After the samples had been sieved, analysis of the bioavailability of metals was conducted. 10g of sieved sediment was then added to a conical where 50mL of 0.5mol acetic acid was added using a measuring piston chamber. Once the acid was added the flask was sealed with Parafilm and placed onto an orbital shaker for 30 minutes. Whilst the samples were shaken, 2 30mL universal sample tubes were prepped (2 for every sample) and a Whatman no 1 fil ter paper was added to each of the tubes. After the cylinder samples had been shaken, they were left to stand for 10 minutes in order for the content to settle (Beneficial to the investigation as it sped up the filtering process). Following 10 minutes, the supported liquid in the cylinder was then added into the universal sample tubes through the filter paper. Once one of the tubes was full the second one was then introduced to the filtering process. Eventually both universal tubes were sealed and then analysis of the metal concentrations was conducted by Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS).4.3.2. Determining organic issue (OM) contentSecondly, organic matter content needed to be measured, this was done using the loss on ignition method. This process began with the weighing of an alter porcelain crucible (W1). Soil was then added until it filled the crucible and was then weighed (W2). The dry weight was then dogged by using the pursuit computing W2-W1. The minute that this w as done the crucibles for each of the samples was then oven-dried at a temperature of one hundred fiveC overnight and then placed in a desiccator the following morning. Afterwards, the samples were then measured again (W3). The crucibles were then placed into a moderate furnace and ignited at 450C for 8 hours and left to cool on a sand tray. After this, the crucibles were weighed again (W4). This was done to burn get rid of any of the Organic Matter (OM) content. Muffled weight was then determined by using this calculation, W4-W1. The final method involved a simple(a) calculation, shown belowOM content (% of dry sediment) =oven dry weight (g) muffled weight (g) / oven dry weight (g) x 1004.3.3. Determining soil pHTo begin with 10g of soil was added to a beaker using a spatula where it would then be mixed with 25mL of deionised water using a measuring cylinder. The beaker was then affected well until all of the material had been suspended (To allow the contents to mix) short f ollowed by a 15-minute period whereby the beaker was left to stand. Following the 15-minute period a pH strip was dipped into each of the samples. Using a pH reference card, the colours recorded on each of the pH document was noted.4.3.4. Determining Total (T) metal concentrations using XRF (X-Ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy)Finally, 10g of each sample was added into a small plastic bag and then shaken until all of the soil reached the bottom. The bag was then placed onto the test bed and then the XRF cable car determined the % values of Pb, Zn, Cr and As.5. Results 5.1. Figure 2 The table below shows all of the data collected from the field as well as metal concentrations in mg/kg-1 for each of the soils samples. OM or organic matter was measured in grams. Total Chromium concentrations when analysed however the concentrations were too low when measured using X-Ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy (XRF).SiteIDxyOMpHPbTZnTCrTPbBZnBCrBA13630813890354.665.5029.00199.00nd0.0112.710.21A23630813 8896914.815.8015.0080.00nd0.091.900.20A336308738891915.286.0020.00130.00nd0.0111.950.26A43630643888676.264.70645.00417.00nd2.4435.990.45A536307038882310.674.5040.00205.00nd0.185.870.17A63630793887378.764.5058.00299.00nd1.0519.160.04B136313738902123.245.00178.0032.00nd0.4126.420.18B23631393889736.835.0079.0016.00nd0.010.010.18B33631403889417.025.00126.0024.00nd0.015.370.16B436314538888213.114.70128.0027.00nd0.019.920.11B536316038880810.164.7096.0026.00nd0.3010.230.15B636318638873113.574.70184.0032.00nd0.009.570.18C13631963889419.104.7073.0021.00nd1.558.200.22C236319438897510.605.00107.0019.00nd0.0111.020.31C336318538902211.205.0079.0024.00nd0.1510.720.24C436320538882813.104.7075.0020.00nd0.019.090.12C53632013888548.904.7093.0020.00nd0.2611.130.12C63631873888889.604.4095.0024.00nd0.018.710.16D13632513889697.516.10126.00298.00nd0.6961.880.41D236325038896510.555.80111.00278.00nd0.0117.750.20D336325638899911.455.50109.00312.00nd0.1618.380.16D436324738890712.926.1032.0045.00nd4.7536.600.3 7D53632503888989.325.0034.0056.00nd4.5025.350.30D63632523888873.864.4023.0032.00nd4.5927.910.34E13633983889847.705.5038.00298.00nd0.5221.280.17E23633893889978.905.9055.00433.00nd0.2125.960.22E33633803890035.605.1038.00532.00nd0.013.600.15E436344538892911.204.5021.0056.00nd0.110.010.09E536344438891911.905.1019.0048.00nd0.580.420.09E636344738890712.105.2033.0063.00nd1.225.420.14F13635193889829.775.8033.00225.00nd2.0111.290.63F236351038901011.165.5022.00134.00nd0.3716.080.35F33635123890295.706.5055.00489.00nd0.0723.220.17F43635193889736.895.0037.00220.00nd1.7516.220.58F53635253889466.184.7021.0080.00nd0.010.010.14F63635333889236.754.4020.0052.00nd0.012.590.12G136357338905621.175.8043.00287.00nd0.0013.660.41G236356438903212.765.5045.00289.00nd0.0110.490.44G33635613890228.537.0032.00212.00nd0.099.900.34G43635643890018.325.0023.00176.00nd0.072.100.15G53635593890226.674.7021.0076.00nd0.052.300.17G63635693889658.354.7019.0034.00nd0.032.100.18H13636853890566.266.501047.001639.00nd16.5749.790 .67H23636743890362.225.5049.001156.00nd0.1738.150.22H33636693890163.015.3046.00153.00nd8.7323.470.44H43636323889814.965.0023.0077.00nd0.242.970.06H53636313889717.345.0031.00143.00nd0.466.010.11H63636323889594.845.0048.0078.00nd2.440.640.13I136369738901821.175.8032.00819.00nd0.7440.060.39I236370338904412.765.5051.00483.00nd1.6532.530.60I33636943890788.537.0032.00202.00nd2.1025.270.81I43637183889828.325.0023.0091.00nd0.489.230.12I53637203889816.674.7019.0068.00nd0.010.010.05I63637233889788.354.7031.00126.00nd0.017.460.09J13637753890036.266.5033.00224.00nd2.2226.490.80J23637703890532.225.5024.00104.00nd0.010.370.13J33637673891043.015.3036.00401.00nd0.4025.690.33J43637713889724.965.0024.00176.00nd0.0110.960.18J53637713889737.345.0023.00128.00nd0.0111.930.19J63637723889704.845.0017.0079.00nd0.014.300.09Figure 3 The image below shows the spatial pattern of Lead (Pb) contamination across the New Cut Canal site. The image was created using glint play software. It is clear that the highes t levels of Pb were prepare around sample site A3-5 and H1-2.Figure 4 The image below shows the spatial pattern of Zinc (Zn) contamination across the New Cut Canal site. The image was created using Arc Map software. Based on the spatial image, it is clear that the highest levels of Zn were found around sampling sites H1 and H2.Figure 5 The image below shows the spatial pattern of pH levels across the New Cut Canal site. The image was created using Arc Map. The most acidic pH readings were located towards the southwest of the site whereas pH readings in the Eastern part of the sampling site increased to a pH of 5.3 and above.Figure 6 The graph below represents the changes in the Total (T) metal concentrations of various metals as well as indicating how bio available these metals are in the area.Figure 7 The stacked tower below allows one to determine the bioavailability of Zinc as a persona when compared to its total (T) metal concentrations for each of the sample sites. Upon obse rving the data, it is clear that (in monetary value of percentage) Zn bioav