Regulated Inductively Coupled Plasma–Optical Emission Spectrometry Detectible Elements in Utah Lake: Characterization and Discussion

Abstract

During the 2021 (n = 15) and 2022 (n = 13) summers, we measured the total and dissolved (<0.45 μm) concentration of 25 elements in Utah Lake using Inductively Coupled Plasma–Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES) with detection limits in the order of a few parts-per-billion (ppb). This resulted in 1400 measurements, which is a unique dataset in terms of sensitivity and temporal resolution. Regulated elements are not commonly measured at the ppb-level; thus, these data provide insight into both the behavior and existence of these elements in an aquatic environment and have implications for both the management and regulation of the lake. Utah regulates twelve of these elements. While ICP-OES has ppb-level sensitivity, it is not the approved regulatory analysis method for these elements. All regulations are for dissolved concentrations, except aluminum (Al) and phosphorus (P), which are for total recovery. We found total Al above the allowable concentration, but dissolved concentrations were well below allowable concentrations. We attribute high total concentrations to suspended clays. This suggests that regulatory methods should be reviewed for lakes with a high suspended-solid content. Dissolved copper (Cu) concentrations were below regulatory levels in 2021, but some samples were above regulatory levels in 2022. This could be related to the use of Cu-based algaecide treatments, or from other sources. Lead (Pb) data were inconclusive; dissolved Pb concentrations were well below the acute (1 h average) limit, but the chronic concentration limit (4 h average) was below the ICP-OES minimal detection limit. Arsenic (As) concentrations exhibited a seasonal trend that we attribute to groundwater inflows—they were below regulatory levels for aquatic environments but around the levels for drinking water. This ppb-level study with high temporal resolution provides insight into regulated elements in Utah Lake previously not available due to the high sensitivity of the method and measurements of both total and dissolved concentrations.