# Presentation: 082746

## HEALTH EFFECTS OF  CHEMICAL CONTAMINANTSLinda HimmelbauerChemistU.S. EPA, Region VIII 

- 	     	     Nitrate/Nitrite
-     Radium*Uranium*Radon
- 	      Iron * Manganese
-       Sulfate* Fluoride* TDS

## ACUTE vs. CHRONIC

- _Acute_ - Symptoms show up in a short period of time (0-7 days)
- _Sub-Chronic_ -  Symptoms show up in           7 days - 7 years.
- _Chronic_ - Symptoms show up in                  7 years - lifetime.

## Chronic:CARCINOGEN vs. NON-CARCINOGEN

- _Carcinogen_ - chemical found to cause cancer in laboratory animals or humans.
- _Non-Carcinogen_ - chemical found to cause disorders and diseases such as reproductive abnormalities, nervous system problems.

## NITRATES & NITRITES

**WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?**
- Inorganic Ion
- NO3- = Nitrate
- NO2- = Nitrite
-  				      	Potassium Nitrate, KNO3

## NITRATES & NITRITES

**WHERE DO THEY COME FROM?**
- SEWAGE
- FERTILIZERS
- FEEDLOTS
- GEOLOGICAL

## NITRATES & NITRITES

**WHAT DOES Nitrate DO?**
- Non-Carcinogenic
- (+) essential nutrient for many photo- synthetic processes
- _Acute_ - Methaemoglobinaemia in bottle-fed infants  “ blue baby syndrome”
- _Chronic_ - diuresis, increased starchy deposits, hemorrhaging of the spleen.
- (-)Nitrate converts to Nitrite in the body

## NITRATES & NITRITES

_**How to SAMPLE for NITRATE only**_
_*Container:*__*	*_  			PLASTIC 						     	or GLASS
_*Minimum Sample size:*_ (100 mL)
_*Preservation:*_  Analyze as soon as   	  			  possible or refrigerate
_*Maximum storage time:*_  48 hours                          	 	or  28 days if chlorinated

## NITRATES & NITRITES

_**How to SAMPLE for                    NITRATE & NITRITES only**_
_*Container:*_  PLASTIC (polyethylene, etc.)                     		     or GLASS
_*Minimum Sample size:*_ (200 mL)
_*Preservation:*_  H2SO4 acid to pH <2,  				  refrigerate
_*Maximum storage time:*_  28 days

## NITRATES & NITRITES

**INTERPRETATION OF RESULTS****:**
- Units of Sample results                                                        		= mg/L nitrate as N                      		= mg/L nitrite as N
- MCL for Nitrate = 10 mg/L
- MCL for Nitrite  = 1.0 mg/L                                  		(40 CFR Part 141)

## NITRATES & NITRITES

**FOLLOW- UP MONITORING                 for MCL EXCEEDANCES....**
- Confirmation sample within 24 hours of being notified.
- If samples cannot be collected, notify public and the system is allowed a maximum of two weeks to collect confirmation sample.

## RADIUM/ URANIUM/ RADON

**WHERE DOES IT COME FROM?**
- Natural Sources,                              Erosion of natural deposits
- Human Activities

## RADIUM/ URANIUM/ RADON

**WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?      **
- All are ELEMENTS
- Radon :     Rn    Atomic #:  86
- Radium :   Ra     Atomic #: 88
- Uranium:   U      Atomic #: 92

**Notes:**
1.  Describe /Define "ELEMENT."

2.  Hand out PERIODIC TABLE.

3.  Briefly describe "RADIOACTIVE DECAY" in term of the periodic table - show how one element becomes another by emitting a proton.

4.  This "emission" energy is what we are measuring in the samples.  

##  RADIUM, Ra           RADON, Rn

## URANIUM, U

-    		Uraninite, UO2    (Pitchblende on right)

## RADIUM/ URANIUM/ RADON

**WHAT DO THEY DO ?**
- Chronic Exposure
- Carcinogenic
- increased risk of cancer

**Notes:**
In 1898, Marie Curie discovered that two common uranium ores, pitchblende and chalcolite were more
radioactive than refined uranium. This was the indication that there must be another element, one even
more radioactive than uranium, mixed with these ores. Further work indicated the samples actually
contained two new elements we now know as radium and polonium. Between 1899 to 1902, Marie Curie
continued to dissolve, filter, and repeatedly crystallized nearly three tons of pitchblende, lifting every
kilogram by herself. The end of that working marathon was marked by the production of 1/10 of a gram
of high grade radium chloride. This was enough to confirm her discovery spectroscopically and determine
the exact atomic mass of radium. Detection of the nuclear decay of radium, as indicated by the emanation
of alpha, beta, and gamma radiation, was in part responsible for the revolution of physics that occurred
between 1895 and 1910, for it had previously thought that atoms were permanent and indestructible
entities. Marie Curie was shared the Nobel Prize for chemistry with her husband Pierre Curie for their
basic research in radioactivity. 

Radium is the heaviest of the alkaline-earth metals. Like the others in the group, radium is metallic and
thus a good conductor of electricity. When freshly cut, it has a brilliant white color and, in time, a nitride
coating develops. Virtually all radium is derived from the by-products of uranium refining operations. 

Radium is intensely radioactive. It glows in the dark with an eerie bluish light. The handwritten laboratory
notes of the discovers are still too radioactive today for safe handling. 

In the late 1950s, radium was mixed with a second phosphoresent material such as zinc sulfide to make
luminous paint for wristwatches, clocks, and aircraft instrument dials. Shown above is the lumininous
mixture of radium bromide and zinc sulfide lused in luminous watch dials. The radium gives off dangerous
radiation which causes the zinc sulfide to glow. Recognition of the potential health hazards has forced
companies to look for alternative materials for glow-in-the-dark paints. 

Radium is used as a portable source of neutron radiation in medicine and industry. Radium is formerly
used in cancer therapy. 

Beta-particle

     An electron emitted by a radioactive substance as it decays. They have moderate energy and can be damaging to human
     tissue. Effective shielding can be obtained with thin metal sheets. Collectively, such particles are often called beta rays or
     beta radiation.
Alpha-particle

     A He2+ ion emitted at a high velocity by a radioactive substance. Alpha particles are used to cause nuclear disintegration
     reactions. In radiation chemistry, alpha radiation is a form of radiation consisting of helium nuclei. 

     An atom of radium gives off one alpha particle in decaying to radon. Alpha particles are used to bombard other nuclei in
     creating artificial radioactivity and are the least damaging to human tissue of all radioactive emanations.

Gamma radiation

     A form of highly energetic radiation emanating from unstable atomic nuclei and characterized by very short wavelengths
     about 1 angstrom. 

     Gamma radiation is emitted slowly by decaying radioactive nuclei such as radium, and very rapidly in the fission process.
     Gamma radiation is highly dangerous to body tissues and may cause genetic damage or even death on prolonged
     exposure. Cobalt-60 has been used in industry as a source of gamma rays. 

     Gamma radiation is used for spectroscopic analysis and in cancer treatment. 

## RADIUM/ URANIUM/ RADON

_**How to SAMPLE**_
_*Container:*_  				  PLASTIC 				  		   or GLASS
_*Minimum Sample size:*_ (500 mL to 18 L)
_*Type of Sample:*_  	Grab or 4 quarter          				composite
_*Preservation:*_ acidify to pH <2
_*Maximum storage time:*_  up to 1-year

##  RADIUM/ URANIUM/ RADON

**INTERPRETATION OF RESULTS****:**
- Units of Sample results = pCi/L                                 		*“picocuries per Liter”*
- Action Level for gross alpha = 5 pCi/L
- >5 pCi/L will trigger testing for Ra-226
- if Ra-226 > 3 pCi/L, must test for Rd-228
- MCL for combined Ra 226-228 = 5 pCi/L.
- MCL for gross alpha = 15.0 pCi/L
- MCL for  Radon, Rn - to be released 8/99.

## IRON & MANGANESE

**WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?**
- Fe, Iron             Mn, Manganese

## IRON & MANGANESE

**WHAT DO THEY DO?**
- Secondary contaminants -                      for aesthetic value (40 CFR Part 143)
- (+) Fe essential nutrient in human nutrition DW NOT considered a primary source.
- Fe > .3 mg/L,  Mn > .15 mg/L - stains laundry and plumbing fixtures, bad taste.
- (-) can cause deposits in pipes

## IRON & MANGANESE

_**How to SAMPLE**_
_*Container:*_  PLASTIC (polyethylene, etc.)                     		     or GLASS
_*Minimum Sample size:*_ (50 mL)                     can use same container for both analyses.
_*Type of Sample:*_  Grab
_*Preservation:*_ acidify to pH <2 with       			 nitric acid (HNO3)
_*Maximum storage time:*_  6 months

## IRON & MANAGANESE

**INTERPRETATION OF RESULTS****:**
- Units of Sample results                                              		Mn = mg/L                                                                                                    		Fe   = mg/L
- Secondary Standard                             		Mn = 0.05 mg/L                                 		Fe = 0.3 mg/L

## SULFATE

**WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?**
- Gypsum,  CaSO4-2(H2O) 		Pyrite,  FeS2
**SO****4****2-**
- Naturally Occurring

## SULFATE

- Secondary Standard  Sulfate =250 mg/L
**WHAT DOES IT DO?**
- Taste and Odor problems
- possible diarrhea health effects

## SULFATE

_**How to SAMPLE**_
_*Container:*_  PLASTIC or GLASS
_*Minimum Sample size:*_ (50 mL)
_*Type of Sample:*_  Grab
_*Preservation:*_ refrigerate
_*Maximum storage time:*_  28 days

## FLUORIDE

**WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?**
-  			Fluorite, CaF2
**F****- **
- Naturally Occurring

## FLUORIDE

- Secondary Standard = 2.0 mg/L
**What does it do?**
- Small amounts, help reduce                               tooth cavities.
- In children whose teeth are forming, high F- exposure can cause dental fluorosis with visible changes in the teeth.
- In adults, high fluoride over a long time can lead to skeletal fluorosis with denser bones, joint pain, and a limited joint movement.

## FLUORIDE

_**How to SAMPLE**_
_*Container:*_  PLASTIC
_*Minimum Sample size:*_ (50 mL)
_*Type of Sample:*_  Grab
_*Preservation:*_  none required
_*Maximum storage time:*_  28 days

## TOTAL DISSOLVED SOLIDS,TDS

- Dissolved solids come from rock dissolved by water.
- Secondary Standard = 500 mg/L

## TOTAL DISSOLVED SOLIDS,TDS

_**How to SAMPLE**_
_*Container:*_  PLASTIC or GLASS
_*Minimum Sample size:*_ (200 mL recc.)
_*Preservation:*_  refrigerate
_*Maximum storage time:*_  7 days           	(24 hour analysis preferred)