Principal Investigator George A Kocur
Toxic metals and radionuclides existing in a variety of settings pose serious threats to ecosystems and to human health. Disposal of toxic metals and radioactive wastes generated at DOE facilities has resulted in widespread migration of contaminants into surrounding soils and groundwaters. Further, naturally occurring radionuclides, such as radium, are found in appreciable quantities within produced waters generated from hydraulic fracturing operations. An ongoing interest is to understand the biogeochemical and coupled processes mediating the fate and retention of these constituents within soils, sediments, and natural waters.