Seneca student writes paper on lead leaching from bullet in the soil

A research project by a Seneca High School student merited an award at a Junior Academy of Science meeting at Winthrop University in Rock Hill.  Sally Cannon’s project examined the effect of weathering bullets on lead concentrations in soil and water.  Sally became interested in the project after learning about the impacts of heavy metals and chemicals on human health and the environment.  She collected soil from a shooting range in Long Creek and set up PVC pipe soil columns with three types of lead bullets, Sierra Soft Point, Hollow Tip, and Full Metal Jacket.  After establishing the columns, she ran simulated rain water through the columns and tested the water that came out of the bottom of the column for lead concentrations.  Using an ICP machine, Sally’s results showed that the Sierra Soft Point was releasing the most lead into the soil at an average concentration of 3.75 parts per million or milligrams per liter.  The results for the Hollow Point were an average concentration of 1.83 parts per million or milligrams per liter.  The results for the Full Metal Jacket were an average concentration of 3.32 parts per million or milligrams per liter.  The safe levels determined by the Environmental Protection Agency for lead in soils and water are in the parts per billion range or micrograms per liter.  Sally’s research showed that lead leaching from any type of lead containing bullets was 1000 times the safe limit. She finished second place in the Environmental Science division and received a certificate and a fifty dollar prize.