title: A mineralogical and geochemical investigation of street sediment near a coal-fired power plant in Hamilton, Ohio: an example of complex pollution and cause for community health concerns.
abstract: The Hamilton Municipal Electric Plant is a 125 MW coal-fired power plant, owned and operated by the City of Hamilton in Butler County, Ohio. The plant is located within 110 m of 50 homes. Bulk chemical investigation of street sediment near these homes indicates average concentrations of 25 ppm Cr, 40 ppm Cu, 15 ppm Ni, 215 ppm Pb, and 500 ppm Zn. Lead and Zn have maximum concentrations of 1207 ppm and 1512 ppm, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy indicates coal ash spherules are present in the street sediment as well as a variety of Pb, Ni, Cr, W, and BaSO4 particulates. Transmission electron microscopy indicates heavy metals are sorbed onto clay particles with some preference for illite over chlorite. This investigation shows bulk chemistry and electron microscopy approaches are very effective tools to investigate particulate pollutants and identify contexts in complex urban settings involving coal pollution.
authors: Department of Geology & Environmental Earth Science, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056, USA. legallem@muohio.edu
authors: Erin
authors: E
authors: LeGalley
authors: Mark P S
authors: MP
authors: Krekeler
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D003031:Coal; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry*; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis*; D009820:Ohio; D011210:Power Plants; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D014186:Transportation
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D003031:Coal; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D012989:Soil Pollutants