CAREER: The Role of Microorganisms in Arsenic Contamination of Groundwater
| Category | Publications |
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| Abstract | Arsenic exposure through drinking water affects the health of millions of people world wide. The heath effects of exposure to arsenic through drinking water range from skin ailments to certain cancers (Hopenhayn, 2006). A multidisciplinary approach to studying how arsenic is released into groundwater is needed to effectively answer many of the questions that exist. A study of microorganisms from groundwater wells showed that both iron and arsenate reducing bacteria may contribute to the elevation of groundwater arsenic levels. Researchers at the University of Manchester have shown that iron-reducing bacteria can be stimulated by the addition of organic carbon to release arsenic into the water phase using sediments from West Bengal (Islam et al, 2004.). Collaboration with the Williamson Research Centre at the University of Manchester, UK has allowed us to investigate the microbial populations associated with groundwater wells in Northport, ME by applying molecular techniques to characterize the microbial communities of groundwater samples of varying arsenic concentrations. The collaboration and techniques learned have allowed our research to progress in new directions and has broadened our research networks and introduced us to new potential collaborations within the University of Maine. |
| Contributor | daniel polonsky |
| Bio | Jean MacRae received a B.S. degree in Life Science from Queens University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada in 1988. She received her M.S. in Microbiology in 1991 and Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering in 1997 from the University of British Columbia. She worked for Environment Canada and then Health Canada prior to taking her position in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Maine in 1999. She was promoted to Associate professor in 2006. Her research interests include anaerobic microbial processes and element cycling, biodegradation and bioavailability of organic contaminants. Jennifer Weldon attended the State University of New York Canton College of Technology where she was the Earl W. MacArthur Honor Scholar. She graduated with an associate degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences with highest honors. She obtained her B.S. degree in Chemical Engineerin in 2002 from Clarkson University and her M.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of Maine in 2005. She is now a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Maine. |
| Sponsored By | NSF CBET-134054 |
| Cite this work | Researchers should cite this work as follows: Jennifer M. Weldon, "CAREER: The Role of Microorganisms in Arsenic Contamination of Groundwater", Trip report presented at the NSF IREE 2007 Grantees Conference, October 30 - November 1, 2007, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana |
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