The metals scan includes calcium, magnesium, and iron which play major roles in water chemistry. Other metals include aluminum, barium, cadmium, chromium, lead, manganese, sodium, and zinc, which tend to be present in smaller amounts. The toxicity of metals is dependent on their solubility and this in turn, depends heavily on pH and on the presence of different types of anions and other cations.
Methodology: Atomic Absorption Spectrometer analysis has been used in the past to identify these metals. However, in addition to atomic absorption, the laboratory now uses Inductively Coupled Plasma Emission Spectroscopy (ICP).
Environmental Impact: Metal ions are dissolved in groundwater and surface water when the water comes in contact with rock or soil containing the metals, usually in the form of metal salts. Metals can also enter with discharges from sewage treatment plants, industrial plants, and other sources. The metals most often found in the highest concentrations in natural waters are calcium and magnesium. These are usually associated with the carbonate anion (CO32-) and come from the dissolution of limestone rock. As mentioned under the discussion of hardness, the higher the concentration of these metal ions, the harder the water; however, in some waters other metals can contribute to hardness. Calcium and magnesium are non-toxic and normally absorbed by living organisms more readily than the other metals. Therefore, if the water is hard, the toxicity of a given concentration of a toxic metal is reduced. Conversely, in soft, acidic water the same concentrations of metals may be more toxic.
High pH in a stream can cause precipitation of metal salts which makes them temporarily unavailable. Because of this relationship of toxicity to hardness, Warm Water Aquatic Habitat Criteria for metals are calculated by a rather complex mathematical formula employing the natural log of the hardness. As hardness increases, the allowable concentration increases. The metal criteria in this manual were calculated based on a hardness of 100 mg/L. If the hardness values in the test results vary much from 100 mg/L, the criteria can be recalculated. Even though metal concentrations may be very low (below a toxic level), aquatic organisms can bioaccumulate (or concentrate) certain metals (for example, mercury, lead, and cadmium). If more is absorbed than excreted, the levels can then build up over time to a toxic level.
When looking at the metals individually, the intended use of the water is very important. Industry requires varying amounts of metals and or hardness for many of its manufacturing techniques, while agriculture has its own requirements.