Field monitoring of environmental contaminant lead around New Orleans by a portable instrument

CHED 1092

Ju Chou, Ju.Chou@selu.edu1, Adriana Dantin, adriana.dantin@selu.edu2, Lutasshi Green1, and Yixiang Duan3. (1) Department of Chemistry and Physics, Southeastern Louisiana University, Hammond, LA 70402, (2) Chemistry and Physics, Southeastern Louisiana University, SLU Box 10878, Hammond, LA 70402, (3) C-ACS, MS K-484, Los Alamos National Laboratory
Lead, a ubiquitous and versatile metal, is considered a significant environmental threat in the global region. Even at low levels of lead exposure, there are serious side effects in children including learning disabilities, and brain damage. The lead exposure increased in New Orleans after Katrina. Environmental threats from lead are a serious problem in New Orleans and pose long term threats to the communities. It is important to monitor lead concentrations. Quantitative analysis of toxic metals is commonly analyzed by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectroscopy or inductively coupled plasma–atomic emission spectroscopy and performed in labs. A portable instrument called Element Presence Detector is employed to monitor hazardous lead on-site around New Orleans. EPD is the world's first plasma source based portable instrument which instantly detects elements with functions of continuous, on-line, and in real-time. Data collected around New Orleans on lead contaminations will be presented based on on-site, real-time analysis.
 

Undergraduate Research Poster Session: Environmental Chemistry
2:00 PM-4:00 PM, Monday, April 7, 2008 Morial Convention Center -- Hall A, Poster

Division of Chemical Education

The 235th ACS National Meeting, New Orleans, LA, April 6-10, 2008