GEOCHEMICAL ASSESSMENT OF STREAM SEDIMENT ALONG PIPER BROOK, PARK RIVER WATERSHED, CONNECTICUT.

Abandoned industrial sites are often possible sources of anthropogenic inputs into the environment, which could be concentrated in stream sediment because of their ability to provide binding surfaces for adsorption. Analysis of trace elements in stream sediments in the context of land use and geology offers an improvement for identifying potential sources of trace element to streams. This study examines the impact of industrial activities on chemical signature of trace elements in stream sediments along Piper Brook River, Park River watershed area, central Connecticut with the purpose of evaluating mobilization and transport of solutes released from an old industrial site.Twenty-five (25) bulk stream sediment samples were collected at 12 sites spaced approximately every 100-300 m along the Piper Brook River drainage system. These samples were then analyzed for acid and soluble extractable elements, and basic soil parameters such as particle size, organic matter and soluble salts. Result of the particle size analysis using Hydrometer method showed that most of the sediments are sands, loamy sand, sandy loam, silty loam to silt. Previous analyses of the sieved < 64 micron fraction of the sediments along Piper Brook drainage system showed element abundance in order of Cu> Pb> Cr> As with concentrations ranging of: Cu: 176-1687 mg/kg, Pb: 80-799 mg/kg, C:r <65 to 333 mg/kg and As: <0.3 to 286 mg/kg respectively. Further sampling, analysis and calculation of element enrichment and geoaccumulation index on sediment samples will be done to show degree of enrichment and possible sources of these elements.