Is there any ICP test suitable for measuring ocean pollutants?

[Layne.Wilson]

I am interested in testing how polluted the water is closer to shore in comparison to a mile off shore and miles off shore. I realize the results would vary quite a bit depending on the day because of ocean currents and such but it would be interesting non the less. I collect sea water for my reef tank and I’m curious how much of a difference it makes driving my boat out further off shore to collect.

Is there any commercially available ICP test that would work for this experiment?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Organic pollutants cannot be detected by ICP. Drugs, most pesticides, natural toxins, etc.

Inorganic elements (e.g., copper) can and the test is the same as for normal reef tank water.

 

[Karen00]

The only problem I can see with this, if it can be done) is that you only get a snapshot of a moment in time. One day all might look fine but be horrendous the next day depending on the currents that bring some catastrophe that happens far away to your doorstep. Having said that there might already be some published results for your area via a local/state group that monitors stuff like this. I'm sure some of the scientists here will chime in as well. If it can be done I would assume it would have to be different tests to capture different types of tests. Honestly I think I would be too depressed to see the level of horror in our waters. It's already horrific enough to see all the plastic and garbage floating around. :-(

 

[Layne.Wilson]

The only problem I can see with this, if it can be done) is that you only get a snapshot of a moment in time. One day all might look fine but be horrendous the next day depending on the currents that bring some catastrophe that happens far away to your doorstep. Having said that there might already be some published results for your area via a local/state group that monitors stuff like this. I'm sure some of the scientists here will chime in as well. If it can be done I would assume it would have to be different tests to capture different types of tests. Honestly I think I would be too depressed to see the level of horror in our waters. It's already horrific enough to see all the plastic and garbage floating around. :-(

I’ve done some research and I can’t find find any information on the area I am interested in testing. I am going to test off shore in Northern California in the lost coast area. From my untrained eye it seems to be a mostly unpolluted area full of life thriving fish stock and no trash.

 

[Layne.Wilson]

Organic pollutants cannot be detected by ICP. Drugs, most pesticides, natural toxins, etc.

Inorganic elements (e.g., copper) can and the test is the same as for normal reef tank water.

Is there any way to test for Organic pollutants economically?

 

[jfoahs04]

I’ve done some research and I can’t find find any information on the area I am interested in testing. I am going to test off shore in Northern California in the lost coast area. From my untrained eye it seems to be a mostly unpolluted area full of life thriving fish stock and no trash.

For my reef, I use natural ocean water I get locally off of a jetty nearby. I've done several ICP tests (Triton), mostly to get an idea of the inorganic elements (metals in particular) in the water. As Randy said, the tests omit the organics which change almost in real time anyway.

For the organic reports, I rely on municipal and state data. It's admittedly spotty, but current and historical data have given me a pretty good idea of problem spots or problem periods.

To be on the extra safe side, I picked a location where I know other reefers have had success using NSW for years (decades, really), away from any outlets (drain pipes, streams, rivers, etc.), with minimal boat traffic, and where I can get as far away from shore as possible without a boat (hence the jetty). In addition, I collect an hour or two before high tide (so the water is coming in from offshore), and I avoid collecting during or shortly after a rain storm which will increases the likelihood of pollutants on the ground running off into the water. So far, I've been very pleased with the results.

 

[Captain Redbeard]

It depends on your meaning of "economically". If you have access to high level lab equipment, sure, it can be done fairly easily given you know the proper procedures to test for specific things. I.E phenolic materials will likely be identified via steam distillation, dyed, and measured at specific wavelength. Pesticides will be identified via gas chromatographic testing. etc.

As jfoah mentioned above, this is likely some data available the state/municipality etc. USGS, NOAA etc. Likely the easiest way to identify trends at least.

 

[Layne.Wilson]

It depends on your meaning of "economically". If you have access to high level lab equipment, sure, it can be done fairly easily given you know the proper procedures to test for specific things. I.E phenolic materials will likely be identified via steam distillation, dyed, and measured at specific wavelength. Pesticides will be identified via gas chromatographic testing. etc.

As jfoah mentioned above, this is likely some data available the state/municipality etc. USGS, NOAA etc. Likely the easiest way to identify trends at least.

Thanks

 

[Captain Redbeard]

Thanks

I am sure there are some sort of disposable/home kits for impurities etc but I cannot speak to their efficacy or accuracy, nor their ability to be used in saltwater. Though I will say they will be no where near as effective or accurate as being processed within a lab, nor will they likely cover the full spectrum of contaminants you might be searching for.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Is there any way to test for Organic pollutants economically?

No, sorry. You'd have to narrow down what you were interested in, and it still might cost up to $100 per chemical.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I am sure there are some sort of disposable/home kits for impurities etc but I cannot speak to their efficacy or accuracy, nor their ability to be used in saltwater. Though I will say they will be no where near as effective or accurate as being processed within a lab, nor will they likely cover the full spectrum of contaminants you might be searching for.

You've seen a home kit for an organic pollutant?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

It depends on your meaning of "economically". If you have access to high level lab equipment, sure, it can be done fairly easily given you know the proper procedures to test for specific things. I.E phenolic materials will likely be identified via steam distillation, dyed, and measured at specific wavelength. Pesticides will be identified via gas chromatographic testing. etc.

As jfoah mentioned above, this is likely some data available the state/municipality etc. USGS, NOAA etc. Likely the easiest way to identify trends at least.

I do not agree. Have you ever done such a thing yourself or sent out an analysis to a commercial lab? I have analyzed organic chemicals myself and send things out all the time. When you do not know what is there or what levels one might find them, it's a monumental task. It's the sort of thing a chemical oceanographer might publish a paper on, detecting one chemical and studying it and then publishing it.

It might be more convincing if you found a lab advertising the capability for one specific organic pollutant of interest, and report back the cost for that one chemical. Then multiply by the possible number of things the OP might be interested in, and let's see how doable he thinks it is.

 

[Paul B]

I have been using ocean water from New York in my tank for 50 years and there is an easy way to tell if it is polluted but not very accurate. I know of no chemical test but when you go to the sea, at the shore, where the waves crash, if the bubbles last more than a second or so, it's polluted.

If the waves crash and you see almost no foam on the sand, it is clean. If you see a lot of foam, go someplace else and maybe have lunch. Order a nice bottle of Pino Noir.

This is a very easy test but of course will not tell you what is in the water or how much. But organics in the sea and in your skimmer act the same.

 

[Captain Redbeard]

I do not agree. Have you ever done such a thing yourself or sent out an analysis to a commercial lab? I have analyzed organic chemicals myself and send things out all the time. When you do not know what is there or what levels one might find them, it's a monumental task. It's the sort of thing a chemical oceanographer might publish a paper on, detecting one chemical and studying it and then publishing it.

It might be more convincing if you found a lab advertising the capability for one specific organic pollutant of interest, and report back the cost for that one chemical. Then multiply by the possible number of things the OP might be interested in, and let's see how doable he thinks it is.

Randy,
Perhaps I didn’t articulate it well enough to express that it isn’t the simplest of things to do. I was being a bit facetious in my reply about it being easy I apologize.

I believe we are in agreement on what is required to be done to identify these mystery contaminants though.

 

[Captain Redbeard]

You've seen a home kit for an organic pollutant?

I did not say that. I said “I am sure there are some form of home kits to test for impurities” etc. Perhaps I should have elaborated on what I meant by impurities.
I know there are a multitude of kits and services you can use to test for heavy metals, TDS, general chemistry and so on. But I also mentioned I do not know whether or not they would include the sort of impurities the OP was looking for.

 

[nereefpat]

Is there any way to test for Organic pollutants economically?

Our state water sciences lab will run tests for clients. GCMS would be a good method for most pollutants. But you have to give them a category so they know what method to run... Like volatile organics, or agriculture herbicides, or chlorinated pesticides, or insecticides or whatever. Costs about 100 bucks a sample there.

 

[Cory]

Why not just run seawater through an activated carbon filter before use? Id suspect it would remove most organics if there are any.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

for $380, you can get a well water test that will show some organic pollutants. For the inorganics in seawater, I'd use a company specializing in seawater.

 

[NatsRams]

ICP detects metals. Some metals (Cadmium and chromium for example) are considered pollutants regardless of concentration because they just aren’t that prevalent in the natural environment. So, the ICP will help answer your question to some extent.

As has been pointed out, quantifying organic pollutants is another animal. Commercial labs can analyze your samples, but the cost will likely be cost prohibitive. Depending on what you want to detect, it could cost $1000+ per sample not including the up front cost of sample collection and processing needed for some organic pollutants. I don’t know anything about the labs doing the ICP analyses for aquarists, but analysis of water for metals is relatively cheap, which is likely why it “works” for hobbyists.

If you’re set on using natural sea water, I would go offshore a ways “upcurrent” of any freshwater inputs that drain urban and/or agricultural areas. Then, I’d hold it in a tub at home and pass the water through a GFO for a period of time. That will remove some but not all organics.