Geothermal Systems
Arsenic has become a major pollutant of potable water sources and is recognized as a global threat to human health. Most drinking water comes from subsurface aquifers and many studies have investigated the role of microorganisms on arsenic mobility in groundwater environments. Microbial arsenic transformations in surface waters, particularly those of geothermal origin, has garnered much less attention, but can influence surface water geochemistry in regions where surface water has the potential to infiltrate drinking water supplies. We are investigating the microbial transformations of arsenic species in hot springs within the Alvord Basin, Oregon.
Related Link:
Biocomplexity in Extreme Environments (NSF-Idaho EPSCoR project)
www.uidaho.edu/biogeochemistry
Undergraduate and graduate students interested in working on a research project are encouraged to contact Dr. Susan Childers at childers@uidaho.edu.