ANALYSIS OF TRACE METALS IN SOILS IN NORTHWESTERN NEW JERSEY

This project investigates the levels of metals in soils in Stokes State Forest and New Jersey School of Conservation. NJ School of Conservation encompasses a 240 acre area that is within the 30,000 acres of Stokes State Forest. At the NJ School of Conservation air monitoring for particles in the atmosphere and the chemical composition of these particles is also taking place. This region of Northwestern New Jersey is representative of uncropped soils in a rural forested area.

Metals naturally exist in soils-forming rocks and other materials and consequently there is a level of metals naturally present in soil in the environment. Metals found in the highest abundance in soils and the earth's crust include Si, Al, Fe, Ca, K, Na, and Mg. Stokes State Forest soils are representative of baseline levels due to the contribution of the natural background from constituents in the soil, and the background modified by diffuse anthropogenic pollution from long-range atmospheric transport. Long-range transport of metals in the atmosphere can taken place from sources such as oil, and coal combustion in power plants and industrial processes, smelting and refining processes. A comparison of soil composition at NJ School of Conversation and the surrounding Stokes State Forest will provide information on the natural baseline levels of trace metals in soils of Northwestern New Jersey and identify any potential local sources of contamination that may impact the air sampling taking place at NJ School of Conservation.

At each sampling site selected in the two regions the variability of soil composition (trace metals, pH, and soil type) are also determined from 16 soil samples taken in a 8 feet by 8 feet area. Soil cores are 2 inch diameter by 6 inches in depth. Soil samples are digested in acids and then analyzed by Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry for trace metals including Al, Ca, Fe, Mn, Mg, Pb, Zn, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, and Ni.