Speaker: Athena Nghiem, Assistant Professor of Geoscience, UW–Madison
Arsenic (As) is a naturally-occurring trace element, with an environmental distribution that has been greatly modified by human activity. Importantly, As carries a significant threat to human health, due to its toxicity and likelihood of exposure. A widely recognized, but localized exposure source is the use of As-contaminated groundwater. The atmosphere represents another, and more regional, exposure route.
Arsenic emitted from natural and anthropogenic sources can undergo long-range transport that leads to deposition in susceptible environments. However, while anthropogenic emissions have been consistently estimated, estimates for natural emissions vary by over three orders of magnitude.
In this talk, Nghiem will explore As biogeochemical cycling in multiple reservoirs, including closing the knowledge gap on global atmospheric As cycling. Ultimately, Nghiem’s aim is to determine the redistribution and legacy impacts of As in the environment between reservoirs by using a diversity of approaches.
This seminar can also be viewed via our live stream.
Hosted by the Climate, People and the Environment Program (CPEP).