The Effects of Heavy The Effects of Heavy Metal on the Flora of Metal on the Flora of

the Copper Basinthe Copper Basin

Sean A. FlattSean A. FlattUndergraduate Undergraduate

Tennessee Technological UniversityTennessee Technological UniversityCookeville, TnCookeville, Tn

Project SummaryProject Summary

Objective: To determine the effects of heavy Objective: To determine the effects of heavy metals on the flora in the Copper Basinmetals on the flora in the Copper Basin

ICP Analysis of soil, water, and plant samples ICP Analysis of soil, water, and plant samples will determine the concentration of heavy will determine the concentration of heavy metals metals

Expected Results: Prove the existence of heavy Expected Results: Prove the existence of heavy metals in high concentrations in water and soilmetals in high concentrations in water and soil

Goal: Identify species of flora able to Goal: Identify species of flora able to accumulate heavy metalsaccumulate heavy metals

BackgroundBackground

The Copper Basin is The Copper Basin is an area of approx. an area of approx. 60,000 acres in the 60,000 acres in the extreme southeast extreme southeast corner of TNcorner of TN

Site of the only deep Site of the only deep shaft mines east of shaft mines east of the Mississippithe Mississippi

Background, continuedBackground, continued

First the land was First the land was cleared of trees to fuel cleared of trees to fuel the smeltersthe smelters

The Sulfur released The Sulfur released rained back down as rained back down as Sulfuric Acid, Sulfuric Acid, destroying the destroying the remaining vegetationremaining vegetation

Massive soil erosion Massive soil erosion followedfollowed

Background, continuedBackground, continued

Remnants of ore wastes have contaminated Remnants of ore wastes have contaminated North Potato Creek and Davis Mill Creek, North Potato Creek and Davis Mill Creek, both tributaries of the Ocoee Riverboth tributaries of the Ocoee River

In total, an estimated 9,000 hectare (35 square In total, an estimated 9,000 hectare (35 square mile) area was decimated (Faulkner and mile) area was decimated (Faulkner and Miller, 2003)Miller, 2003)

Once considered our country’s largest man-Once considered our country’s largest man-made biological desertmade biological desert

Background, continuedBackground, continued

Abandoned mining operations have provided Abandoned mining operations have provided an ideal backdrop for many scientific studies an ideal backdrop for many scientific studies involving heavy metals (Madejon et al., 2003; involving heavy metals (Madejon et al., 2003; Stoltz and Greger, 2001; Tang and Fang, Stoltz and Greger, 2001; Tang and Fang, 2001)2001)

Sites of major industrial processes have Sites of major industrial processes have provided similar environmental conditions for provided similar environmental conditions for study (Barman et al., 2000; Jang et al., 2002; study (Barman et al., 2000; Jang et al., 2002; Machado et al., 2002)Machado et al., 2002)

Objective/Hypothesis Objective/Hypothesis

The objective of this study is to study the The objective of this study is to study the effects of heavy metals on the flora of effects of heavy metals on the flora of Tennessee’s Copper Basin, the site of Tennessee’s Copper Basin, the site of extensive copper and sulfur mining activitiesextensive copper and sulfur mining activities

Null Hypothesis: Heavy metals are not Null Hypothesis: Heavy metals are not concentrated in the soil, water, or vegetation of concentrated in the soil, water, or vegetation of Tennessee’s Copper BasinTennessee’s Copper Basin

Methods of SamplingMethods of Sampling

Soil, plant, and water samples will be taken at Soil, plant, and water samples will be taken at specific locations and recorded by GPS specific locations and recorded by GPS systemssystems

Areas of testing will include land not directly Areas of testing will include land not directly involved in mining operations, unremediated involved in mining operations, unremediated spoil sites, and areas of past remediationspoil sites, and areas of past remediation

Plant specimens will be identified and Plant specimens will be identified and recorded prior to analysisrecorded prior to analysis

Methods, continuedMethods, continued

Soil and plant samples will be placed in a Soil and plant samples will be placed in a incubator after returning from the fieldincubator after returning from the field

Water samples will be placed in a refrigerator Water samples will be placed in a refrigerator until time of analysisuntil time of analysis

One gram of each sample will measured out One gram of each sample will measured out and placed in 15ml centrifuge tubes and and placed in 15ml centrifuge tubes and transported to the TTU Waters Center for ICP transported to the TTU Waters Center for ICP analysisanalysis

Methods, continuedMethods, continued

ICP Testing-This method allows for elemental ICP Testing-This method allows for elemental analysis for elemental analysis of the plant analysis for elemental analysis of the plant tissue, soil and water componentstissue, soil and water components

Plant species that are possibly Plant species that are possibly hyperaccumulating heavy metals should show hyperaccumulating heavy metals should show high concentrations when tested using the ICPhigh concentrations when tested using the ICP

Data FormData Form Data will be processed after analysis from Data will be processed after analysis from

TTU Waters CenterTTU Waters Center

MaterialsMaterials

Collection tubesCollection tubes Portable scalePortable scale Global Positioning SystemGlobal Positioning System Field notebookField notebook Plastic covered shovel and shearing snipsPlastic covered shovel and shearing snips

(No metal can be used to collect samples)(No metal can be used to collect samples)

Expected ResultsExpected Results

Soil samples will have at least slightly Soil samples will have at least slightly elevated concentrations of heavy metals elevated concentrations of heavy metals (highest concentrations expected in those (highest concentrations expected in those taken from spoil piles)taken from spoil piles)

Water samples will also have elevated Water samples will also have elevated concentrations of heavy metalsconcentrations of heavy metals

The amount of heavy metals accumulating in The amount of heavy metals accumulating in plant samples will vary with species, from 0 to plant samples will vary with species, from 0 to possibly significant levelspossibly significant levels

Benefits of ResearchBenefits of Research

Gain better understanding of the long term Gain better understanding of the long term effects of mining on the natural ecosystemeffects of mining on the natural ecosystem

Examine the effectiveness of past remediation Examine the effectiveness of past remediation efforts (Berry, 1979;Cook et al., 2000; Muncy, efforts (Berry, 1979;Cook et al., 2000; Muncy, 1986)1986)

Possibility of identifying a bioaccumulator of Possibility of identifying a bioaccumulator of heavy metals, which would dramatically heavy metals, which would dramatically impact current methods of land reclamationimpact current methods of land reclamation

Project TimelineProject Timeline

Initial sampling trip: Feb. 20, 2004Initial sampling trip: Feb. 20, 2004 Incubation of samples: Feb. 23, 2004Incubation of samples: Feb. 23, 2004 Sample preparation for analysis: Mar. 2, 2004Sample preparation for analysis: Mar. 2, 2004 Samples delivered to TTU Water Center: Samples delivered to TTU Water Center:

March 3, 2004March 3, 2004 Anticipated date of analysis: March 18, 2004Anticipated date of analysis: March 18, 2004 Additional sampling trip: April 2004Additional sampling trip: April 2004

BudgetBudget

Anticipated Cost

# of Samples# of Samples

(soil/plant)(soil/plant)

Sample Sample DigestionDigestion

(soil/plant)(soil/plant)

Sample Sample AnalysisAnalysis

(soil/plant)(soil/plant)

Total Cost Total Cost

(per sample)(per sample)

Estimated Estimated Total CostTotal Cost

(soil/plant (soil/plant samples)samples)

6060 $8$8 $8$8 $16$16 $960$960

BudgetBudget

Anticipated Cost

# of Samples# of Samples

(water)(water)

Sample Sample Analysis Analysis

(water)(water)

Estimated Estimated Total CostTotal Cost

(soil/plant (soil/plant samples)samples)

1010 $8$8 $80$80

BudgetBudget

Estimated Estimated Cost of Cost of TravelTravel

Estimated Estimated Cost Cost

(soil/plant)(soil/plant)

Estimated Estimated CostCost

(water)(water)

$150$150 $960$960 $80$80

Anticipated Cost

Estimated Estimated Total CostTotal Cost

$1190$1190