Heavy Metal Pollution and Eutrophication

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Gather, process and present information on the range and chemistry of the tests used to:

identify heavy metal pollution of water
monitor possible eutrophication of waterways

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Heavy Metal: A metal with a relative density of 5.0 or higher.
Heavy metals, such as mercury and lead, can cause various health problems.
The heavy metal pollution of water can be tested using:
- Atomic absorption spectroscopy, using a light source specific to the heavy metal being tested.
- Flame tests.
- Sodium sulfide solution, which can be added to a highly concentrated acidified or basified water sample (heavy metal ions react with sulfide ions to form sulfide precipitates):
If a precipitate is formed when the sample is acidified, then one or more of the following is present: lead, silver, mercury, copper, cadmium, arsenic.
If a precipitate is formed when the sample is basified, then one or more of the following is present: chromium, zinc, iron (III), nickel, cobalt, manganese, aluminium.
Eutrophication: The abundant growth of aquatic plants due to nutrient-enriched conditions, in particular, nitrate and phosphate enriched conditions.
The aquatic plants that grow abundantly in eutrophication eventually use up all of the available nutrients that they require and die.
The plants decompose, and in doing so, use up all dissolved oxygen.
After using all oxygen, they decay anaerobically, resulting in chemicals that kill all remaining life.
The decay causes sediment at the bottom of the water body.
The mains sources of nutrients that cause eutrophication are:
- Sewerage.
- Fertiliser.
Nitrate and phosphate are monitored in waterways vulnerable to eutrophication.
The nitrogen-phosphorus ratio of waterways is often monitored, with the EPA recommending a ratio of less that 10:1.