Pollution Levels of the Central and South Puget Sound
Researched by Chris C. 2001-02	PURPOSE  HYPOTHESIS  EXPERIMENT DESIGN  MATERIALS  PROCEDURES  RESULTS  CONCLUSION  RESEARCH REPORT  BIBLIOGRAPHY  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

PURPOSE

The purpose of this experiment was to determine the pollution levels of central and south Puget Sound.

I became interested in this idea because water quality in Puget Sound has always been a large concern in Washington.  In 6th grade, we went on a field trip to the Puget Sound to study oceanography and water quality.

The information gained from this experiment will increase awareness in the community so that people can make a positive contribution to help preserve and hopefully improve the water quality in the Puget Sound.

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HYPOTHESIS

My hypothesis was there would be a difference in the pollution levels of the Central and South Puget Sound.

I based my hypothesis on research done by Eric Crecelius, an oceanographer from Battelle Labs, and his colleagues who found pollution in Puget Sound "was greatest at the Tacoma study site and seemingly insignificant at the northernmost site, near Edmonds."

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EXPERIMENT DESIGN

The constants in this study were:

•   The containers to store the water
•   The temperature the water was stored at
•   The materials used to test the water
•   Amount of water being tested
•   Method of experimentation

The manipulated variable was the location the water was collected.

The responding variable was the level of heavy metals, pH, and temperature of the water in each location in Puget Sound.

To measure the responding variable, I used pH paper to measure the pH, took the temperature with a thermometer, and had a water analysis laboratory (Lauck’s Testing Laboratories) to analyze the water for me. (Analyzing the amount of heavy metals in water involves sophisticated instruments and the skills of a chemist)

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PROCEDURES

1. Gather Materials
2. Tie one end of the rope to the handle of the bucket
3. Secure the other end of the rope to your hand
4. Throw bucket over the dock in Elliot Bay
5. Make sure bucket is filled with water
6. Pull bucket back onto dock
7. Pour water in one of the plastic bottles
8. Label bottle.  Write test site and time collected
9. Test the pH of the water

a. Get 1 strip of pH paper
b. Dip strip into water for 1 sec
c. Wait until the strip color changes
d. Compare the strip to pH chart

a. Place metallic end of the thermometer in the water
b. Wait about 1 min. or until thermometer reading stops
c. Take out thermometer

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RESULTS

The original purpose of this experiment was to determine the pollution levels of Puget Sound.

The results of the experiment showed there was no copper, lead, or silver found in either of the water samples.  However, there was a presence of nitrates and nitrites in both samples.  Results from the analysis done by Laucks Testing Laboratories indicate that the Seattle test had a higher concentration of Sulfate, Chloride, Magnesium, and Calcium than the test site at Tacoma.

Veiw My Data and Graphs
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CONCLUSION

My hypothesis was that there would be a difference in the pollution levels of the Central and South Puget Sound.

The results indicate that this hypothesis should be rejected because there were no significant differences in the pollution levels.  There were higher concentrations of Sulfate, Chloride, Magnesium and Calcium, but these chemicals are not hazardous to your health. 

Because of the results of this experiment, I wonder if I collected my water samples in a spot that truly represents the Puget Sound.  I also wonder that if I collected the water at a much greater depth, then maybe I would have found a difference. 

If I were to conduct this project again I would get as much input as I could from experts like environmentalists or oceanographers so I could conduct a more thorough experiment.  I probably would of done more pollutants than just lead or copper.  Also, I would have taken my samples at a lower depth because I might have gotten better results.  Since I tested heavy metals, they do not float.   That is probably the reason why I did not get results for those metals. 

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Research Report Introduction  The pollution level in Puget Sound has always been a concern not only among environmentalists but also Washington state residents, as well.  In the past, the Puget Sound was extremely polluted.  However, It is  "cleaner today than at any time before World War II," according to Eric Crecelius, an oceanographer at the Battelle Marine Labs in Sequim, WA. Puget Sound  The Puget Sound is a large inlet in the northwest corner of Washington.  It is most known for the shipping, because the Puget Sound is the leading Shipping center.  The sound is about 100 miles long, and 200 square feet in area.  In depth, it is anywhere from 180 ft ? 925 feet.  Forests surround most of the Puget Sound’s shores.  The Puget Sound is mostly threatened by human caused pollution that harms many plants and animals.  It is mainly polluted with heavy metals like copper lead and mercury and some forms of bacteria.  Water Pollution  Water pollution is one of the most serious environmental problems.  Water pollution occurs when water is mixed with pollutants like wastes, hazardous chemicals, metals, or oils.  In time, pollution can affect all water sources such as lakes, oceans, and ground water.  Ground water is water that is under the surface of the earth.  Even though some sources of water look clean, it can be contaminated with all sorts of bacteria and toxic materials that can cause illness and sometimes be fatal.  Good quality water should be free of these pollutants so it ca be safely used for drinking, cooking, cleaning, etc.  Sources of Pollution  The three main types of water pollution are:    -Industrial wastes    -Sewage    -Agricultural chemicals and wastes Industrial wastes  Several industries empty pollutants into natural bodies of water.  These pollutants contain many toxic chemicals.  These chemicals can kill plant and animal life.  Some industries also burn coal and oil, which release toxins in the air.  When these toxins mix with clouds, it causes acid rain, which go into streams and rivers, contaminating more water.  Industries not only pollute water by discharging them, but they also cause thermal pollution.  Thermal pollution is caused when water in rivers or lakes gets a lot warmer.  This happens when industries use a lot of water to cool down hot machines.  The water from the machines is then emptied into rivers, heating them up, and killing marine life. Sewage  Sewage consists of human and animal wastes, garbage, and any water used for cleaning.  Almost all sewage goes through treatment plants to remove pollutants, so it can be re-used.  However, some sewage are left untreated and therefore released into bodies of water. Agricultural chemicals  Farmers use a lot of chemicals on their plants to keep them growing, or to kill pests like insects.  After it rains, water flows through the farmland and carries excess fertilizers or pesticides.  When this water gets into a river or lake, the fertilizers will make the underwater plants grow, causing overcrowding.  If the pesticide gets to the water, it will kill underwater animals. Effects of Pollution Human illness  Water that is polluted with wastes (from humans or animals) can spread contagious, fatal diseases such as typhoid fever and cholera.  Community water tanks are usually disinfected with chlorine.  Disinfecting the water does not get rid of dangerous chemicals or harmful heavy metals like lead.  Some water analysis scientists are concerned because drinking just a small amount of these chemicals over time can cause illness later on.  Reduced Recreational Use  People will use popular recreational bodies of water once polluted less often. People who enjoy water activities such as boating, surfing, water skiing, swimming, fishing etc. will be looking for other places where water is safe and clean. Pollutants Lead  Lead is a heavy metal that is soft and pliable. It is used to make several things like alloys and bullets.  Lead is considered a pollutant because if gets into your body, you can get lead poisoning.  Lead poisoning damages the nervous system, kidneys and red blood cells.  A blue line on the gums is one sign of lead poisoning.  A long time ago, lead was used in several ways.  It was used to make soda cans and water pipes.  After it was found to be harmful, aluminum has been used instead.  Aluminum is not hazardous to one’s health. Copper  Copper is a metal that has been used by humans since the Bronze Age.  In fact, it was on of the first metals known by humans.  Copper is harder than lead, but it is pliable too.  It can conduct heat and electricity extremely well.  Copper is used in many ways.  It is used for metal utensils and coin work.  Copper in powdered form is sometimes used in paints.  Silver  Silver is similar to copper.  They both are very pliable, and both are good conductors of heat and electricity.  Also like copper, silver was one of the first metals known to humans.  The color of pure silver is almost white.   It is very brilliant and soft.  Silver is used in many ways especially in making jewelry such as rings, necklaces, earrings and bracelets.  Silver is also used in an alloy to make coins and silverware.  Photo processing laboratories use silver.  According to Eric Crecelius, "a ton of silver per year was going to Puget Sound," before the 1960’s Then people found a way to recycle silver. Nitrates and Nitrites  Nitrates and nitrites are salts or esters of nitrous acid.  There are several types of nitrates.  Calcium nitrates are used in plant fertilizers, barium and strontium nitrates are used in colored fireworks and signal flares, and bismuth nitrates are used in some medicines and prescriptions.  Calcium, barium, and strontium nitrates are all hazardous to your health because they are all toxic.  Bismuth nitrates are hazardous to your health because too much of this is just like taking too much medicine, when you don’t need it.  Nitrites are very similar to nitrates because they have similar properties and both of them are used in medicines.  Nitrites are also used as food preservatives or food coloring.  It has been shown that excessive intake of nitrites can cause cancer.  All of these mentioned pollutants have been considered by the US Environmental Protection Agency as dangerous or suspected of being dangerous to one’s health.  Summary            Pollution prevention is everyone’s responsibility.  By actively participating in the community’s recycle program each citizen will help keep our environment clean and safe.            The Washington State Department of Ecology continues to monitor water quality at different stations in the Puget Sound to control and/or prevent pollution.  Top of Page

BIBLIOGRAPHY   "Copper" Encyclopedia.com. 2001 <http://www.encyclopedia.com/articles/03128ImportanceandUses.html> Child, Jois C. "Puget Sound." The World Book Encyclopedia. 1999. How safe is your drinking water? Cleveland: National Testing Laboratories, LTD.  1997. Pp. All "Lead" Encyclopedia.com. 2001 <http://www.encyclopedia.com/articlesnew/27125.html> Lickens, Gene "Water Pollution."  The World Book Encyclopedia. 1999. "Marine Water Quality Monitoring" Washington Department of Ecology. 1998 <http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/eap/mar_wat/mwm_intr.html> "Mud reveals the story of a cleaner Puget Sound" Seattle Times. 1999 <http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/news/health-science/html98/mudd_19990420.html> "Nitrate" Encyclopedia.com. 2001 <http://www.encyclopedia.com/articles/33717.html> "Pollution of Puget Sound" Puget Soundkeeper Alliance. October 12, 2001 <http://www.pugetsoundkeeper.org/about_us/mission.html> "Puget Sound Report Details Industry’s Toxic Chemical Pollution" Puget Sound. 1997 <http://www.pugetsound.org/p2/report.html> "Silver" Encyclopedia.com. 2001 <http://www.encyclopedia.com/articles/11894.html>  Top of Page

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This science project could not have been completed with out the help and assistance of several people.  I would like to thank each of them for their help.
 

• Everybody at Laucks Testing Laboratories who analyzed my water samples.  With this, my science project was possible.  The people at the lab were very nice and did not mind me asking questions about the samples.  They also gave me pH paper to test the water.

• My Dad who drove me to Seattle and Tacoma to collect water samples. 

• My Mom helped me edit my journal, and gave me tips to make my project better.

• Mr. Newkirk who helped me edit my journal and report.  He gave me tips on where to buy my board and how to go about doing my project.

• Mrs. Helms helped me by giving me strategies on how to cut faster to speed up my project board

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