1. Detection of Lead in River Water Systems at Riveredge
Nature Center
Alice (Ryan) Lecus, Mandie Zopp
Abstract
The Lead pellets used at clay target shooting ranges are known to be toxic to the health of
the nearby environment as well as the wildlife within it. Since the Lead (Pb) used is not
insoluble, chronic leaching can occur depending the quality of the soil as well as the chemistry of
the environment the contamination occurs. Soil acidity is one of the factors that highly affects the
dissolving of lead; soil with more acidity (> 6) will dissolve lead more quickly. According to the
National Organization Firing-range Lead Abatement and Containment, rain runoff may carry
lead particulates away from the range and into surrounding areas. The primary objective of this
study is to examine leaching of lead from a neighboring shooting range into Riveredge Nature
Center river systems.
1.1 Water Sampling
For each water sample, approximately 100mL of river water will be collected at the
water’s surface and will be stored at a pH > 6. The sample sites were picked to be
roughly even distances apart from each other. Water samples will be collected from 6
locations using GPS to pinpoint the exact location of the samples. One sample will be
collected from 6 sites a total of 3 times. Three sets of 6 samples will be collected on a
rain event, or within 24 hours of a rain event. The samples will be analyzed for lead
content and pH determination at the UW-Sevens Point Water and Environmental
Analysis Laboratory.

2. 1.2 Soil Sampling
Each soil sample was a composite of 6 sites mixed together. Sample 1 was a composite of
sites 1-6, Sample 2 was sites 7-12, and Sample 3 was sites 13-18. The sites where soil
samples were collected was recorded on a GPS coordinate system. The samples were
measured for lead content using atomic adsorption spectroscopy.
1.3 Methods
Water samples were analyzed via Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission
Spectrometry (ICP-OES) at 220.353nm wavelength. The pH value for all of the samples
confirmed that they were preserved at a pH of 2< and the samples were filtered in the
lab. The protocol from Method 200.7 revision 4.4 Trace Elements in Water, Solids and
Biosolids by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectrometry was followed
for this analysis.
Soil samples were measured at 217nm wavelength using atomic adsorption spectrometry.
5g. of soil was measured and placed in a flask with 50ml of 1N HNO3. The flasks were
secured to an oscillating shaker for 1 hour. After the samples were shaken for 1 hour they
were analyzed for lead content.
1.4 Results and Discussion
The results that were obtained from both water and soil samples were significantly low in
lead content. The highest concentration of lead was found at Site 1 on the third set of sample
collections. Site 1 is the closest to the shooting range and site 6 being the farthest. The maximum
contaminant level for lead in water is 0.015mg/L according to the DNR Chapter NR 809.

3. Results from Water Analysis
SITE - 1 0.006 SITE - 1 0.003 SITE - 1 0.041
SITE - 2 0.003 SITE - 2 <0.002 SITE - 2 0.015
SITE - 3 <0.002 SITE - 3 0.016 SITE - 3 0.015
SITE - 4 <0.002 SITE - 4 0.008 SITE - 4 0.013
SITE - 5 0.004 SITE - 5 0.006 SITE - 5 0.016
SITE - 6 0.003 SITE - 6 0.008 SITE - 6 0.012
Figure 1. Results from the water samples obtained from Inductively Coupled Plasma OpticalEmission Spectrometry at
UW-Stevens Point Laboratory. The results are in the units of ppm(parts per million)
Results from Soil Analysis
Sample I.D. Lab Analysis ppm (parts per million)
Site 1 5.8
Site 2 6.6
Site 3 5.8
Figure 2.
The results from the soil analysis also show extremely low levels of lead with the highest
concentration being at 6.6ppm. According to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, the
federal standard for lead is 1,200ppm for soil. In conclusion, the lead content found on the
Riveredge Nature Center property was not at an alarming amount.
Acknowledgements
1. UW-Stevens Point Water and Environmental Analysis Laboratory
2. University of Wisconsin- Soil and Forage Analysis Laboratory
References
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