Trace Metal Study Surrounding a Coal-Fired Electrical Generating Facility.

摘要

There are approximately 1300 coal-fired facilities that generate more than 55% of the nation's electricity. State-of-the-art technology removes 99% of the particulates in coal and 97% of the SO(sub 2). That kind of efficiency appears to be more than adequate until one realizes that the coal consumption of some power generating facilities may exceed 15,000 tons/day. Hence, it becomes very obvious of the potential anthropogenic effects of a daily release of pollutants to the environment via stack gases, fine metallic aerosols which elude modern pollution control equipment, and fly ash. The aqueous sediments of several lakes surrounding a coal-fired electric generating facility in southwest Houston are analyzed for trace metals by atomic absorption spectroscopy. Twenty to twenty-five centimeter cores are treated and analyzed for carbon content, sediment size, and trace metal concentration. A higher concentration appears to be present in the top portion of some cores which suggests that there has been some contribution to the aqueous sediment due to the recent industrialization of southwest Houston. Some of the elements of concern in this study are known to have a carcinogenic and/or mutagenic effect on man such as Hg, Pb, V, and Zn. Furthermore, the significance of this study is immeasurable in that it establishes background data that is critical in substantiating any claims of future additions and in preventing any potential health hazards in lake and stream eutrophication. 17 refs., 1 fig., 8 tabs. (ERA citation 13:046528)