Thesis. 1976. M.S.--Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Earth and Planetary Sciences. / Microfiche copy available in Archives and Science. / Includes bibliographical references. / M.S.

Thesis. 1976. Ph.D.--Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Earth and Planetary Sciences. / Microfiche copy available in Archives and Science. / Vita. / Bibliography: leaves 235-250. / Ph.D.

Thesis. 1975. M.S.--Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Earth and Planetary Sciences. / Bibliography : leaves 137-144. / M.S.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Earth and Planetary Sciences, 1981. / Microfiche copy available in Archives and Science. / Vita. / Bibliography: leaves 225-239. / by Robert William Collier. / Ph.D.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Earth and Planetary Sciences, 1981. / Microfiche copy available in Archives and Science. / Includes bibliographies. / by Glenn Lamar Ray. / Ph.D.

Organoarsenic compounds and trace elements are added to poultry feed for disease control and improved productivity. These elements are excreted into poultry litter, which is land applied as fertilizer. This study utilized field and laboratory experiments to address the mobility of arsenic (As) and other litter-derived elements within the Broadkill River watershed, DE, a region of intense poultry production. For the first project, a litter application experiment was conducted at an instrumented field site in Sussex Co., DE. After establishing baseline geochemistry of soil water, ground water, and surface water at the site, poultry litter was then applied, followed by post litter application monitoring. Results showed low concentrations of As and other litter-derived elements in soil water; little impact was measured on ground or surface water. Mass balance calculations suggest that the majority of mass of leached elements was accounted for by uptake in underlying soils. The second project examined the impact of long-term litter application on chemical signatures of As, copper (Cu), zinc (Zn) and phosphorous (P) in stream sediments within the Broadkill River watershed. Sediment samples were collected from both upgradient and downgradient reaches within the watershed. Using GIS to overlay hydrology and land use, statistical relationships between As, Cu, Zn and P enrichment factors and land use were examined. Results did not show a relationship between these elements and agricultural land use, but did show a correlation between some of the elements and residential land use. The third project examined the influence of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) on the mobility of As, Cu, Zn and P using laboratory column experiments with soil from the field site. Two influent solutions were used: poultry litter leachate and a simulated solution of similar element concentrations, pH, and ionic strength but without DOC. Results showed that DOC enhanced the mobility of all four elements, but that even with DOC, 60-70% of the Zn, As and P mass was retained within the soil. Cu was fully mobilized by DOC. Patterns of breakthrough curves (BTCs) and mass calculations suggest that the behavior of these litter-derived elements in the column is controlled by both adsorption (including competitive) to soils and complexation with DOC. / Ph. D.

Surface coal-mining is a source of selenium (Se) contamination in streams of the Appalachian coalfields. Selenium dynamics in aquatic systems are complex and largely controlled by site-specific factors, but have been understudied in Appalachian headwater streams. In this study, we evaluated the degree and dynamics of Se enrichment and bioaccumulation in headwater streams influenced by coal-mining. Based on Se concentrations in macroinvertebrates collected from 23 headwater streams, nine sites were selected for further study: three reference streams with no history of coal-mining, and six streams influenced by coal mining. Mining-influenced streams were further separated into high-Se and low-Sestreams based on macroinvertebrate tissue Se concentrations. Water-column, sediment, biofilm, leaf detritus, and prey and predator macroinvertebrates were collected and analyzed for Se concentration during two sample periods, Sept. - Oct. 2015 and Feb.-March 2016. Selenium concentrations in all media were found to be elevated in mining-influenced over reference streams and in high-Se over low-Se streams. Selenium dynamics, enrichment in particulate media (sediment, biofilm and leaf detritus) and trophic transfer of Se to prey from particulate media and to predators from prey, did not exhibit major differences among streams of differing Se levels. Water column Se concentrations were predicative of Se concentrations in macroinvertebrate tissues. Findings from this study indicate headwater streams influenced by coal-mining are capable of a high degree of Se bioaccumulation in macroinvertebrate populations. / Master of Science

Four untreated and one magnesium treated water samples from Lake Washington, the potable water source for the city of Melbourne, Florida, were collected and analyzed for As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Pb, Ni, Zn, Mb, Ca, and color on the basis of molecular weight distribution. Molecular weight distributions of the samples were obtained using a Millipore ultrafiltration system and filters in the following sizes: 106, 105, 2.5 x 104, 104, and 103 nominal molecular weight limits (nmwl). Color causing materials in the untreated samples were found to be located in the molecular weight fraction greater than 2.5 x 104 nmwl. The majority of the metals concentrations (approximately greater than 80%) were also found to be located in the molecular weight fraction greater than 2.5 x 104 nmwl. Analysis of the magnesium treated (for maximum color removal) sample showed higher concentrations of metals passing the respective filter sizes as opposed to the untreated samples indicating less complexation or smaller molecular complexes of the metals. Thus, a fairly strong correlation between heavy metals concentrations and color in the Lake Washington samples was indicated.

The effect of applied B, Cu, Mn and Zn on soybean seed yield and tissue micronutrient concentration was studied under different field conditions. Manganese application increased soybean seed yield on the Dragston, Myatt and Slagle fine sandy loams, but not on Rains fine sandy loam. Seed yield was not affected by applied B, Cu or Zn. Broadcast and foliar Mn applications were similarly effective in correction of Mn deficiency and, among foliar Mn applications, split application resulted a higher seed yield than single applications. Micronutrient concentration of the leaf blades, petioles and seeds was increased with the application of B, Cu, Mn and Zn. The increase in tissue B concentration was much greater than that of the other micronutrients. Broadcast Mn application resulted in a higher tissue Mn concentration than foliar Mn applications. The critical Mn concentration in leaf blades at the R1 growth stage was above the level of 13 µg/g, which is reported in the literature. It was concluded that the present calibration of the dilute HC1-H₂SO₄ extractable Mn soil test overpredicts the incidence of Mn deficiency in soybeans. / Master of Science

Essential trace metal status in obese (ob/ob) mice and their lean(+/+ and +/?) littermates was assessed by measuring the concentrations and total levels of Zn, Fe, Cu and Mn in several tissues. Data indicated that the concentrations of these metals were significantly lower in several tissues from obese mice at 22 weeks of age when compared to age-matched lean mice. In contrast, tissue concentrations and total levels of these micronutrients in obese and lean mice at 5 weeks of age were similar, indicating that altered trace metal status was a result of chronic obesity. These effects were independent of sex of the animal. Various characteristics of zinc metabolism in lean(+/?) and obese male mice at 10 weeks of age were also investigated. ⁶⁵Zn absorption was significantly higher in obese mice than in lean controls. This difference between phenotypes was not due to differential isotope dilution in either lumen or intestinal mucosa, response to overnight fasting, GI transit time, or hypertrophy of the GI tract. The turnover rate of subcutaneously administered ⁶⁵Zn was similar for obese and lean mice. Obese mice had significantly lower percentages of carcass ⁶⁵Zn and endogenous zinc present in skin, muscle, bone, spleen and testes, and higher amounts present in liver, small intestine and adipose tissue compared with lean mice. Constitutive levels of metallothionein were significantly different in several tissues of lean and obese mice. Together, these results demonstrate that chronic obesity alters tissue status of several micronutrients and zinc metabolism in ob/ob mice. / M.S.