Arsenic Overview Series - Part 6
University Research Programs
What research is being done at University's throughout the US? Colleges and
universities across the U.S. are continuing their efforts in educating the
population on the subject of arsenic. Both public and private universities are
contributing their time, money, and expertise in areas of arsenic research such
as geochemistry, health effects, and treatment options. Research programs, such
as the ones listed below, are just a glimpse of the ongoing studies for arsenic.
Ongoing research is necessary in order to continue to develop efficient and
cost-effective solutions for the far-reaching problem of arsenic contamination.
- Sherry Odom
What research is being done at University's throughout the US? Colleges and
universities across the U.S. are continuing their efforts in educating the
population on the subject of arsenic. Both public and private universities are
contributing their time, money, and expertise in areas of arsenic research such
as geochemistry, health effects, and treatment options. Research programs, such
as the ones listed below, are just a glimpse of the ongoing studies for arsenic.
Ongoing research is necessary in order to continue to develop efficient and
cost-effective solutions for the far-reaching problem of arsenic contamination.
Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College scientists currently are taking a comprehensive look at the
effects of arsenic and other toxic metals during the next five years. Backed by
a $15 million federal grant, the Toxic Metals Research Program involves more
then 60 Dartmouth faculty, physicians and staff from 14 departments. Their work
is expected to help shape national policy on the relationship between exposure
and health effects due to toxic metals. Currently, they are exploring how
natural and man-made sources of arsenic contribute to human exposure, plotting
how arsenic moves through ecosystems, studying whether arsenic at different
levels in drinking water raise the risk of disease in humans, and studying how
arsenic affects the cellular processes that contribute to causing cancer and
heart disease. For more information on the research at Dartmouth College,
contact Nancy Serrell at (603) 646-2117.
University of Houston
Researchers at the University of Houston are examining the best methods to treat
and remove arsenic from drinking water.The project’s lead investigator, Dr.
Dennis Clifford, is a recognized author and researcher of arsenic removal
processes.His expertise includes the development of treatment methods to remove
arsenic, perchlorate and other inorganic or radioactive contaminants from
aquifers that supply drinking water.Currently, Dr. Clifford and his research
students are looking into the Development of Field Separation Methods for
Arsenic Inorganic Species, Arsenic Treatment Technology Demonstration of
Effectiveness of Modified Aluminas, and Laboratory Study for the Oxidation of
Arsenic (III).Dr. Clifford’s research group is sponsored by $4.4 million from
local, federal and international funds.For more information on the ongoing
research at the University of Houston, contact Dr. Dennis Clifford at (713)
743-4266, e-mail at daclifford@uh.edu.
Montana State University-Bozeman
Scientists from the Drinking Water Assistance Program based at the Montana Water
Center at Montana State University-Bozeman also are researching several
interesting areas on the effects of arsenic. The scientists are testing
cost-effective technologies aimed at making drinking water safer in small
communities all over the country. The drinking water program supplies
third-party validation to those states that regulate small public water systems
funded by the EPA.The arsenic removal project is headquartered at the University
of Nevada testing new arsenic removal methods that are less expensive than
current techniques. Soil scientists at Montana State University-Bozeman also are
studying the mobility of arsenic through the ground and into our water
supply.Bill Inskeep, a soil scientist at MSU-Bozeman, recently completed work
that shows that adding lime to soil to reduce its acidity increases arsenic
movement. Inskeep’s study showed that adding lime to arsenic-contaminated
soils in his laboratory increased the arsenic level in the water that seeped
through the soil 10 to 100 times. By understanding the mobility of arsenic
through this study, we improve our ability to predict where and how quickly
arsenic will move through the ground and into our drinking water. For more
information, contact Gretchen Rupp at (406) 994-1748 or Bill Inskeep at (406)
994-5077.
University of Idaho
The University of Idaho’s Environmental Chemistry and Toxicology Laboratory is
exploring the need to improve existing technologies to make them more
affordable, yet effective and efficient.They also hope to develop new,
less-expensive treatment methods to remove arsenic from potable waters all over
the world.Their research employs two iron-based approaches in a fluidized moving
bed or slurry bed reactor. Both approaches act as a type of filtration medium
and employ configurations that improve kinetics of arsenic adsorption while
bringing arsenic concentrations to lower levels. The high arsenic complexation
capacity of the materials may simplify the treatment process and reduce
operating costs, waste products and replacement of reagents. For more
information, contact Dr. Greg Moller at gmoller@uidaho.edu.
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley is the home of the Arsenic Research
Program directed by Allan H. Smith, M.D., Ph. D., Professor of Epidemiology.
Arsenic research began at UC Berkeley more than 10 years ago and focused mainly
on cancer.Currently, the program is involved in international studies in
Argentina, Chile, India and Bangladesh as well as in the United States. The
program is based at the UC Berkeley campus but contains collaborators from the
University of Washington, Seattle and the University of California, San
Francisco.Their research is focused on the dose-response relationship between
arsenic and cancer risks, nutritional and genetic susceptibility to arsenic
effects, DNA analysis of tumors in exposed populations and a look at the
non-cancer effects of arsenic exposure including skin lesions and respiratory
disease. For more information on the ongoing research at UC Berkeley, contact
the School of Public Health’s Division of Environmental Health Sciences at
(510)-843-1736, e-mail at asrg@socrates.berkeley.edu.
New Mexico Tech
Researchers at New Mexico Tech are focused on environmental studies of arsenic
in ground and surface waters.Environmental research is being conducted with
geologists in Ghana, West Africa, by Dr. David Norman, Professor of
Geochemistry, on arsenic contamination of surface waters.Research also is being
performed on the natural changes in arsenic speciation and its behavior within
water and sediment.For more information on the ongoing research at New Mexico
Tech, contact Dr. David Norman at dnorman@nmt.edu.
Source: WaterInfoCenter
January-December 2003 Vol: 1 Num: 1
Copyright © 2004 Scranton Gillette Communications