Examination of Al, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se, V, and Zn in sediments collected around the downtown Houston, Texas area, using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy

The present study examines the concentration of selected metals in sediments around the downtown Houston, Texas area, as they were determined by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry. A total of 19 sites in the Houston, Texas area were probed and the results were compared with sediments samples collected from a pristine area in the nearby Lake Charles, Louisiana. The idea in the study was to look into the effects of densely populated areas, automobile traffic, and human influence via manufacturing plants and companies on sediments and soils, and the relative amounts of metals present in those soils. For example, the Fe concentrations of P, Q, and R, the three samples form the Lake Houston site were found to be 22,200, 21,900, and 14,300 parts per million (ppm) respectively. For some of the sampling sites multiple samples were taken, ensuring this way that the data were valid and precise.