Uranium-238 Decay Through Lead Contamination in Coldwater Creek, MO

Overview

Coldwater Creek, MO was radiologically contaminated in the late 1960s posing significant 238-Uranium decay risk to locals. After the Love Canal disaster, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires five-year reports to be done on all National Priorities List (NPL) sites. The creek is designated as a site on the NPL by the EPA. The goal of this research was to calculate the concentration of lead in Coldwater Creek over six weeks. If the water from Coldwater Creek is analyzed, then the concentration of lead in the creek will be 15 ppb or greater. The samples were collected every other week for a total of three trials, sample testing commenced the next day. All testing and analysis of samples took place at Edwardsville High School, Edwardsville IL. JNW Heavy Metal Testing Strips were used to test the water for mercury, lead, copper, and iron. Mercury and Iron had 0 ppm in all of the samples. Copper averaged at .66 ppm. The hypothetical concentration of 15 ppb was undershot by 22.2 percent at 11.66 ppb. The underrepresentation of lead ions in the water indicated an absence of 238-Uranium within the water samples, alluding to uranium diffusing into other portions of the environment. This diffusion requires further testing of other environmental factors like tree roots and soil sediments. Through dissemination and routine testing, contaminant information can be dispersed to locals located in St. Louis County along with many other NPL locations across the United States. INDIANA