You are here:
TRACE ELEMENTS IN SOIL AROUND THE FOUR CORNERS POWER PLANT
Citation:
Wiersma, G. AND A. Crockett. TRACE ELEMENTS IN SOIL AROUND THE FOUR CORNERS POWER PLANT. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/3-78/079 (NTIS PB288389), 1978.
Description:
Ninety-six soil samples were collected on a radial grid employing 16 evenly spaced radii and 5 logarithmically spaced circles, concentric around the Four Corners Power Plant. The soil samples were analyzed for zinc, lead, copper, and cadmium by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. No statistical relationship could be detected between residue levels for the four elements and increasing distance from the power plant. A two-way analysis of variance indicated no significant difference among circles but there was a significant difference among radii for zinc, lead, and copper, with higher residues of these elements consistently indicated to the west of the power plant. Elevated levels of zinc, lead, and copper to the west of the power plant could be partially explained by wind rose patterns and the location of the fly ash settling ponds. Average residue levels for zinc, lead, and copper are below average residue levels reported for other power plants. Average cadmium levels are slightly higher than cadmium levels reported in the literature for other power plants.