Countries like Nepal and Bangladesh are known for high levels of arsenic contamination, which can cause detrimental health problems. Arsenic is highly dangerous to humans because it is poisonous at levels as low as 0.5 ppm, as well as colorless, tasteless, and odorless. Because of these characteristics, people are unaware that they are consuming arsenic-contaminated water or food until dangerous health effects start to appear. Naturally occurring arsenic appears in many sources like groundwater, soil, air, and leachate, and since it is extremely soluble in those sources, it is particularly difficult to isolate and detect. X-ray fluorescence (XRF) has been reported to be a sufficient detection method for arsenic detection in soils, but was insufficient for the liquid leachate samples that were collected in Nepal. The goal of this research is to measure the concentration of arsenic present in these samples using a Perkin Elmer ICP-OES instrument. Leachate samples were collected from various areas in Nepal, acidified for preservation, and sent to our laboratory for analysis. Results will be reported in this presentation and shared with the Nepali government in order to prepare for remediation efforts if necessary. Together, we aim to complete a careful, scientific study of the arsenic contamination in leachate sources collected from various sites of Nepal.

Using ICP-OES to quantify arsenic levels of leachate samples collected in Nepal

255th National Meeting (2018)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.