SURVEY OF LEGACY AND OTHER CONTAMINANTS IN SOILS AND WATERS OF CENTRAL VIRGINIA GOLF COURSES AND PUBLIC PLACES

Historic use of lead and arsenic and other heavy metals have resulted in widespread legacy contamination of the environment, especially in soils and, in certain areas, waters. In addition, concerns continue to develop regarding the presence of organic chemicals in the environment, such as pesticides and emerging contaminants such as pharmaceutical drugs and personal care products (PPCPs). The distribution, effects, and risks of these emerging contaminants are not yet well understood, although multiple recent studies have analyzed their presence in agricultural fields from manure or sewage sludge applications. Both of these types of contaminants may be adversely affecting urban and suburban areas. In this study, the occurrence of several metals and organic chemicals were investigated in soils and surface waters in and around Fredericksburg, Virginia, taken from three land use classes: public buildings, public parks, and area golf courses. The soil and water samples and extracts were analyzed by ICP-AES and HPLC spectroscopy. Preliminary results will show what areas and sources may be of concern to ecological and human health in this region.