In August 2016, the state of Louisiana experienced a large volume of flood water that significantly impacted the city of Baton Rouge and its surrounding parishes. Historical analysis of flood water from major flooding events such as Hurricanes Katrina and Gustav revealed that large volumes of flood water were hazardous to human and environmental health. The purpose of this study was to assess the safety and quality of environmental samples taken from the Amite River in Denham Springs, Louisiana after the Great Flood of 2016 via laboratory analysis. Vernier LabQuest 2 equipment and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis revealed that basic water quality standards were met; however, hazardous, OSHA-regulated chemicals, such as isopropyl acetate, were identified in the Amite River. The results of this study are concerning as the environmental test samples were obtained from a residential area. Additional qualitative and quantitative analysis via FTIR and HPLC-MS is recommended to obtain a better understanding of the hazards posed by the Amite River post-flood.

Mass spectral identification of isopropyl acetate in Louisiana flood water

255th National Meeting (2018)

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