TCE Contamination and Cleanup Curriculum
Investigating Contaminants
Written by Christopher Martin
Edits By: Stephanie Nardei
Time:
Preparation
Time:
Materials:
1 class period
Provide copies of the chemicals identified and the
epidemiologic studies sections of the Love Canal report.
Internet access
Abstract
When considering waste management, it is important to understand
nature and threats posed by each chemical. Students will investigate
Trichloroethylene (TCE) and chemicals found in Love Canal.
Chemicals from landfill sites pose the greatest threat to the environment
when they enter the water supply. Students will apply their knowledge
of chemistry and search the EPA website for contaminants in drinking
water.
Objectives
Students will be able to:
1. Draw chemical structures
2. Understand need for safe disposal of waste chemicals
National Science Education Standards:
The designed world
B. Materials and manufacturing
Waste management includes considerations of quantity, safety, degradability, and cost. It
requires social and technological innovations, because waste-disposal problems are political and
economic as well as technical.
Arizona Science Standards:
Strand 1: Inquiry Process Concept 3: Analysis, Conclusions, and Refinements. Evaluate
experimental design, analyze data to explain results and propose further investigations.
Design models.
Teacher Background
Conversion of units, research of EPA guidelines for safe levels of contaminants and
demonstration of chemical geometry will enable students to understand dangers industrial
chemical waste can pose. Refer to the resources below for valuable background information.
Related and Resource Websites
Conversion of Units http://www.chemie.fu-berlin.de/chemistry/general/units_en.html
Online Conversion.com http://www.onlineconversion.com/
EPA Drinking Water Containments http://www.epa.gov/safewater/contaminants/index.html
Love Canal: A Special Report to the Governor & Legislature: April 1981
http://www.health.state.ny.us/nysdoh/lcanal/lcreport.htm
TCE Contamination and Cleanup Curriculum
Trichloroethylene in Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trichloroethylene
ADSTR on Trichloroethylene http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/tfacts19.html
Water in the Tucson Area: Seeking Sustainability
http://cals.arizona.edu/AZWATER/publications/sustainability/report_html/chap6_01.html
The TCE Blog http://www.tceblog.com/posts/1150060057.shtml
Arizona Daily Star on TCE in Tucson http://www.azstarnet.com/allheadlines/139787
Activity
1. Distribute copies of “chemicals identified” section from the Love Canal report. To
understand contamination levels, it will be helpful to convert to mg/l or milligrams/liter.
Explain 1 µg/l (microgram/liter) = 0.001 mg/l.
2. Read the love canal report section “Epidemiological studies”
http://www.health.state.ny.us/environmental/investigations/love_canal/lcreport.htm#epide
miologic (from above Related and Resource websites) and health threats found among
the population at Love Canal).
3. Using the worksheet, students record information using the “chemicals identified” report
section and EPA website http://www.epa.gov/safewater/contaminants/index.html
4. Students interpret the information and answer the questions:
 Are levels of chemicals found in the water at Love Canal hazardous to life?
 Based on the chemical analysis, what illnesses will people at Love Canal suffer from?
Found at
Love Canal
(water) mg/l
Benzene
Carbon Tetrachloride
Chlorobenzene
Chloroform
Dichlorobenzene
Dichloroethane
Tetrachloroethylene
Trichlorobenzene
Trichloroethylene
Toluene
Dioxin (TCDD)
Health
risks
EPA standards
for drinking
water mg/l
Structural
Formula
Hazardous to
Humans?
TCE Contamination and Cleanup Curriculum
Extension
Trichloroethylene has been found in the ground water in Tucson, Arizona at levels of 26 parts per
billion. This is 0.026 mg/L. Fortunately, the water is being treated and the TCE is removed.
However, prior to 1980 people were unaware of this contaminant in their drinking water. What
health affects was associated with this level of contamination?
Embedded Assessment
Successful completion of the chart and interpretation will demonstrate the student’s ability to
understand the need for safe disposal of industrial waste.