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Comparing the Lead Content of Drinking Water in Various Schools |
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Researched by Rainan V.
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PURPOSE
The purpose of this experiment was to compare the amount of lead in school drinking water at different schools within the Selah School District.
I became interested in this idea when I read online that lead was very harmful to human health. I felt this was a very important issue to study.
The information gained from this experiment could affect future school district decisions greatly. It could also help increase our water purity and decrease harm to students and staff.
HYPOTHESIS
My hypothesis was the older the school, the more lead in the drinking water.
I based my hypothesis on a statement made by Norm Hepner, a Washington State Department of Ecology Engineer. He said, “I think the older a school is, the more lead there will be in the drinking water.”
EXPERIMENT DESIGN
The constants in this study were:
- Amount of water tested in each sample
- Containers used to collect and store samples
- Method of measuring lead
- Equipment used
- Week day of sample
- Time of day
The manipulated variable was the school location where samples were taken.
The responding variable was amount of lead in the drinking water.
To measure the responding variable the samples were analyzed in a professional laboratory using Standard Method 200.9 technique. I took the results and averaged the data for each school.
MATERIALS
| QUANTITY | ITEM DESCRIPTION |
| 40 | sample containers |
| 1 |
permanent marker |
| 4 |
school maps (2 for each school) |
| 1 |
watch |
PROCEDURES
1. Travel to the school
2. Flush the pipes the evening before samples are taken
a) Note: the water cannot sit less 8 hours and no more than 18 hours in the pipes
b) The water must run for 30 seconds
3. Go to a drinking fountain
a) Make sure the water is not taken from a water cooler or filter
4. On the container put the following on the sample blank spaces:
a) In the I.D. space: The location and school initials
b) In the client space: The school district
c) Time
d) Date
5. Take the container and collect water from the water fountain
6. Repeat steps 2-5 many times using all water fountains
7. Repeat steps 1-6 at the next school
8. Send the samples to a professional laboratory
9. Samples will be handed back with the results
10. Average all samples for each school
11. Analyze the results
RESULTS
The original purpose of this experiment was to compare the amount of lead in school drinking water at different schools within the Selah School District.
The results of the experiment were, Sunset, the oldest building, had the least amount of lead, 0.002 parts per million (ppm). The newest school, Selah Intermediate School, had 0.006 ppm, the most amount of lead. Lince had 0.003 ppm, and John Campbell had 0.005 ppm.
See my table and graphs
CONCLUSION
My hypothesis was the older the school, the more lead in the drinking water.
The results indicate that this hypothesis should be rejected because the amount of lead varied at different schools.
Because of the results of this experiment, I wonder if the amount of lead in soil affects the amount of lead in the runoff water. Also, does the amount of lead in irrigation water affect the amount of lead in the soil. Does the water temperature affect the amount of lead dissolved in domestic water?
If I were to conduct this project again, I would have taken more samples per school. I would have compared the lead in all the different schools. Maybe I would have compared Selah school district to another school district.
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Introduction
Water is one of our most important resources in life. The water we
drink can be polluted by human activity. Lead comes from pipes and gets
into the water, polluting the water that people drink. Small amounts of
lead can harm you or even kill. This is an important health issue.Water Pollution
Water pollution is very harmful to humans and the natural environment.
Water pollution occurs when poisons and other substances contaminate
streams, lakes, seas, and oceans. Water pollution is dangerous to most
organisms, including our species.Types
The types of water pollution include ecological, thermal, toxic, and
organic. A toxic substance is a poisonous pollutant that is not
normally in water. Some pollutants that are toxic substances are
herbicides and pesticides. There are many more, but these substances
are widely known. Organic pollution is when an organic substance, such
as sewage, enters the water. Ecological pollution is caused when a
natural disaster occurs leaving sediments, solid fragments of rocks, in
the water near by. Thermal pollution occurs when coolant, a gas or
liquid that helps cool, flows into the water. Coolant is used in
businesses around the country. This is dangerous for aquatic animals
because coolant warms water reducing the dissolved oxygen, damaging
organisms. Sources
The sources of poisons flowing into the river are farms, businesses,
and homes. Herbicides and pesticides flow into the water when it rains,
along with chemical fertilizer. These poisons are used by farmers to
protect their crops. Construction businesses clear some of the land. By
doing this erosion begins. Factories use rivers to dispose of
pollutants. The sewage systems empty into the rivers and create water
pollution. Vehicles leak oil and eventually gravity helps the oil reach
water.Poisons
The types of poisons that pollute our water include pesticides,
herbicides, lead, oil, fertilizer, and other substances. Herbicides are
toxic chemicals that are used to kill unwanted weeds and plants.
Pesticides are toxic chemicals that are used to kill small rodents and
insects. Lead is a dangerous poison and in a small amount of milligrams
will kill. Homes with lead pipes are exposed to lead because the water
erodes the pipes bringing the lead into the water. Removal of lead from
the water is impossible. However, it can be avoided if you remove all
lead pipes from your house. That will reduce the lead levels within
your house. Also, if you let the water run until it is as cold as
possible before you start drinking, cooking, and cleaning that will
reduce the lead dosage.Effects
The effects lead has on humans are serious. Small amounts of lead can
damage the brain, nervous system, kidney, and red blood cells. Children
absorb more lead than adults. The lead in a child’s body can cause
extreme effects. The effects are mentally disability and behavior
problems. One hundred-twenty milligrams of lead are stored in the bones.Lead
Lead is a bluish-gray element and was discovered by ancient
civilizations. It has been used in paint and pewter since Roman times.
The atomic number of lead is 82. Atomic numbers help arrange the
periodic table. Each element on the periodic table has a number and
weight. The atomic weight is 207.2. Lead is a natural metal and will
melt at 327.5º C, it will boil at 1,744∞ C. Each element has a
certain symbol, lead’s symbol is Pb. The symbol originated from the
Latin word “plumbum”.Source
You absorb lead everyday. The average intake of lead is 1/10 of a
milligram each day. The source of lead exists in the air, soil, vehicle
exhausts, old paintwork, and old pipes. The people who live in a house
with old paintwork absorb a little more lead than the average intake.
Lead based paint was banned in the year 1992. Some pipes were created
with lead. These pipes were used for plumbing. Lead then leached into
the water. So if a person drank from the tap water they could intake
the lead in the water.Summary
Water is an important resource in life. Pollutants in the water can
harm mankind. Lead is a dangerous element that can harm or kill humans.
Lead pipes are used for plumbing. The water in the pipes begins to eat
away at the pipes, bringing lead into the water. Children and adults
drink or cook with the water and absorb the lead. This affects the
children and adults and, with enough lead within the body, can lead to
serious damage. To avoid lead in water you can replace lead pipes or
you can let the water run until the water becomes as cold as possible.
This disposes of the lead sitting in the water. Lead in drinking water
is dangerous for all people, especially children. |
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Catron, Oren. Personal interview. February 8, 2005 Hepner, Norm. Personal interview. January 14, 2005 “Lead” Jefferson Lab December 1, 2004 <http://education.jlab.org/ “Lead in Drinking Water” EPA December 1, 2004. <http://aquasana.com/contamination_lead.cfm?discountcode=213> “Leaflet about lead in pipes” Edinburgh November, 2004 <http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/CEC/Housing?Lead_Pipe_Lead _Leaflet.html> “Lead in School Drinking Water” November, 2004 <http://www.doh.wa.gov/ehp/dw/fact_sheets/lead_in_school_drinking_water.htm> “Lead sources in drinking water” December, 2004 <http://www.extension.umn.edu/info-uenviron.net/BD303.html> “Lead” January 2004. <http://www.chemsoc.org/viselements/pages/pertable_fla.htm> “Solder” World Book Online December 1, 2004 <http://worldbookonline.com/wb/Article?id=ar518980&st=Lead+Solder “Water Pollution” World Book Encyclopedia, 1997 |
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I would like to thank the following people for helping make my project possible:
- My parents for encouraging me and pushing me forward.<>
- The judges and committees that made the science fairs
possible and enjoyable.
- <>My SOAR teacher, Mr. Newkirk, for helping me start and coutinue my projects and correcting my mistakes.
- My friends, Sarah and Amanda, for supporting me and helping me.
- I would especially like to thank Norm Hepner for setting up
everything financially so I could even do this project. He gave me
excellent advice on my project and helped me extremely on the project.
- Oren Catron for getting the dates of when the schools were built.
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