Magnetics of Surface Soils to Monitor Air Pollution Sources

Heavy metals in particulate air pollution are a serious health hazard. Magnetic particles (magnetite and hematite) have been found to be associated with heavy metals in air pollution. Maps indicating the concentration variations of magnetic particles in surface soils can be used to show sources of air pollution particulates from industry and automobiles. The project will involve collecting surface samples from the Lehigh River watershed and measuring their magnetic susceptibility and other magnetic properties in Lehigh’s paleomagnetism laboratory. The results will be used to construct a geographic database so that maps of surface magnetic concentrations can be used to target sources of particulate air pollution in the watershed.

Students should have had EES 21 or equivalent. Although not required, concurrent enrollment in EES 203 is suggested.

Please contact Ken Kodama (kpk0@lehigh.edu) for further information.