Measurement of Heavy Metals and Enzyme Activities in the Wetlands of the Moreau River

Inman E. Page Library, Room 317

Research has indicated that the use of animal manure as fertilizer is a significant point source of pollution to the environment. Heavy metals can be found in and from items such as cigarettes, construction sites, mining areas, and some over-the-counter medications. The use of these items can cause serious health effects on humans and the environment. Through surface runoff, the heavy metals are transported to the wetlands causing pollution. The sensitivity of enzymes to the environmental pollution, the ease of assay, and their role in soil biological functions makes them useful tool as indicator of soil quality. The objectives of this study are: 1) To measure the activities of β-glucosidase, arylsulfatase, acid phosphatase, and β-glucosaminadase in the soil of Moreau River wetlands; 2) To measure the concentration of heavy metals in soil samples taken from Moreau River wetlands. The results indicated no concern about heavy metal content in water as it was below standard levels. The enzyme activities showed seasonal trends and were correlated with organic matter content of the soil of the sampling locations.