Proceedings of a U. S. Geological Survey workshop on environmental geochemistry

Conference · Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1990

OSTI ID:5462073

Doe, B R

Environmental geochemistry encompasses both natural chemical (geochemical) hazards and anthropogenic environmental concerns. For example, the household radon contamination that generated so much public awareness in 1986 can be considered a natural radiochemical hazard except in those cases involving mine tailings from uranium and phosphate deposits. The radon emanates through natural processes dependent upon the abundance of radioactive parents of radon (most significantly {sup 238}U and {sup 236}Ra) and the permeability of the rock or soil upon which a house is built. On the other hand, the effects of chemical waste disposal (for example, dioxin) are an anthropogenically induced concern. Some contamination problems can be extremely complex and involve a combination of both natural and anthropogenic causes. The selenium problem at the Kesterson Reservoir in the western San Joaquin Valley of California, for example, seems to involve concentration of naturally occurring selenium as a result of irrigation practices. The quality of our drinking water also depends on both natural and anthropogenic factors. When an environmental geochemical problem arises, the public expects a rapid response from scientists and organizations. To help prepare for possible future concerns, the U.S. Geological Survey held a workshop in April 1986 to determine what sorts of studies have been completed or are in progress and to generate some ideas regarding future studies. This circular summarizes the proceedings of that workshop and provides a sampling of the kinds of investigations the U.S. Geological Survey is prepared to do.

• OSTI ID: 5462073
• Report Number(s): CONF-8604418-
• Resource Relation: Conference: U.S. Geological Survey workshop on environmental geochemistry, Reston, VA (United States), Apr 1986
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
58 GEOSCIENCES
CHEMICAL WASTES
MEETINGS
ENVIRONMENT
GEOCHEMISTRY
HAZARDS
RADON
SELENIUM
LEADING ABSTRACT
RADIATION HAZARDS
US GS
WASTE DISPOSAL
ABSTRACTS
CHEMISTRY
DOCUMENT TYPES
ELEMENTS
FLUIDS
GASES
HEALTH HAZARDS
MANAGEMENT
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NONMETALS
NONRADIOACTIVE WASTES
RARE GASES
SEMIMETALS
US DOI
US ORGANIZATIONS
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTES
540000* - Environment- (1990-)
580000 - Geosciences