Water Resources Research Act Program

Details for Project ID 2010NJ222B

Investigation into the Role of Arsenic Reducing Bacteria in the Mobilization of Arsenic into Ground Water in New Jersey

Institute: New Jersey
Year Established: 2010 Start Date: 2010-03-01 End Date: 2011-02-28
Total Federal Funds: $5,000 Total Non-Federal Funds: $10,000

Principal Investigators: Adam Mumford, Lily Young

Project Summary: In this study, we propose to examine the role of microbial activity on the mobilization of arsenic from subsurface sediments into the groundwater. Towards this end, we will analyze groundwater and sediment samples from high-arsenic sites on Crosswicks Creek and the Millstone River for the presence of the arsenic respiratory reductase gene, arrA, as well as the presence of arsenic reducing bacteria. Earlier studies in New Jersey have been focused on the geochemical factors involved in arsenic mobilization, and it is hoped that this study addressing the microbiology of arsenic transformations will provide a more complete understanding of how arsenic is released into the groundwater.