A team of four science students who dubbed themselves "Dead Weight" asked the UHL scientists for advice on their study of the environmental effects of lead wheel weights. Approximately 70,000 tons of lead is used each year to manufacture weights that are commonly used to balance tires, according to the Ecology Center.

Steve Bernholtz, chemist, explains to members of team "Dead Weight" how the autosampler brings a sample to the instrument so it can be analyzed.

Lead is a toxin that is especially harmful to young children. Exposure to lead can cause learning and behavioral problems, and possibly damage the brain, kidneys and other organs.

"The hypothesis we are testing is, if lead wheel weights are exposed to natural environmental conditions, then soluble hazardous lead compounds will be formed," team Dead Weight explained in an email to Dr. Michael Wichman, UHL associate director of Environmental Health Programs. "We hope that by testing lead solubility under various conditions, we may be able to show a path for lead to enter the environment."

To simulate the corrosive winter road conditions on Iowa roadways, the students proposed testing lead solubility when it is exposed to a diluted vinegar solution, distilled water and rainwater with and without a sand and salt mixture.

The test kits the students used only confirmed the presence of lead. Team Dead Weight wanted to know how much lead is present in its solutions and the types of lead compounds they contain.

Dr. Wichman provided the students links to several online resources. On Nov. 14, the young scientists toured the Ankeny Lab for an explanation of how the staff uses different techniques and methods to determine the presence and level of lead. The visit included an introduction to blood lead, metals and minerals, and limnology.

"It was one of the most interesting things I've done," said Jathan Kron, West Branch student and member of team Dead Weight. "They did things I didn't even think were possible. They classified bugs with a special microscope. There was a machine to heat things up to 6000 degrees kelvin. I didn't even think that was possible. It was pretty amazing."

UHL plans to help lighten the load for team Dead Weight by providing some of the testing for the students' science project.