Like many rust belt communities, Buffalo, NY has seen an increase in environmental concerns following the reduction of its industrial base. Multiple remediation and dredging projects have since cleaned up much of the contamination that formerly impacted its waterways. However, preliminary studies in these labs have indicated remaining legacy effects of heavy metal contamination, specifically lead (Pb), in shoreline soil samples. According to EPA guidelines, Pb in soil must be below 400 ppm to meet residential, and below 800 ppm to meet industrial or non-residential standards. This undergraduate research project focused on determining current Pb concentrations in shoreline soil along the Buffalo River in Buffalo, NY. EPA Method 3050B was used to digest and prepare samples for concentration determination using ICP-MS instrumentation. Pb levels in the soil samples ranged from 0 to over 660 ppm.

Lead in shoreline soil samples along the Buffalo River: An undergraduate research project

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