minority access to research careers. by, nicholas g. beltran [email protected] mentor: dr. antonio...
TRANSCRIPT
Minority Access To Research Careers
By,Nicholas G. Beltran
Mentor: Dr. Antonio S. [email protected]
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Appropriate solution to uranium contamination has a great
impact on citizens worldwide, especially New Mexicans and people along the US-
Mexico border.
Uranium is toxic Radioactivity Chemical toxicity
People are vulnerable to toxic uranium water – this is especially true in New Mexico
New Mexico is the uranium capital of the world (Grants, NM)
New surge in uranium mining expected
Currently
FAST, INEXPENSIVE method
to remove uranium from waterDOES NOT EXIST
Uranium is a naturally-occurring element
All are alpha emitters
If incorporated into the body may cause health effects
Rocks / Soil
Air
Water
Food
EPA Setting Standards for Safe
Drinking water
(Uranium has a limit of 30 parts per
billion)
Radioactive (U-235) Natural abundance 0.72%
Chromosomal damage
Alpha particles get into the body and are destructive to tissue and cells
Chromosomal breakage may result in translocation
Genetic mutations
May cause birth defects in future generations
Chemical toxicity (U-238) Natural abundance 99.3%
Heavy metal chemistry (Poisonous to humans)
Kidney damage
U deposits in the brain from the blood stream
Risk for developing nervous system toxicity as a result of uranium accumulation in the brain.
With the re-opening of U mines, there will be an increase of exposure
•
•
Readily Available
Manageable
Inexpensive
Large surface area
Cation Exchange Capacity
Gallup Soil•
Gallup
Grants
Gallup
Grants
Inductively Coupled Plasma / Mass SpectrographVersus
LS 55 Luminescence Spectrometer
ICP/MS
Very sensitive down to 1 ppb
But, volume does not remain constant
LS 55 Luminescence Spectrometer
Volume of the sample remains constant
Volume and Soil Surface Area used as a control
But, limit of detection ~500 ppb
Emission515 nm
LS 55 Luminescence SpectrometerPhosphorescence measurement
•
Uranium Nitrate or
Uranyl NitrateUO2(NO3)2 • 6H2O
When exposed to ultraviolet light, U is visible as a faint green glow
Uranyl Nitrate 100 ppm phosphorescing
LS 55 Luminescence Spectrometer
Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS)
QUASI
Binding site distribution
Inductively Coupled Plasma / Mass Spectrograph (ICP/MS)
For a complete solution to uranium contamination
Bacterial Field Assay
Provide reliable detection of toxicity in potential drinking water.
Is there something else?
EPA. (2006) Uranium Location Database Compilation. EPA 402-R-05-009. Office of Radiation and Indoor Air, Radiation Protection Division (6608J), Washington, DC. Available at http://www.epa.gov/radiation/docs/tenorm/402-r-05-009.pdf
Southwest Research and Information Center (SRIC). (2007) Uranium Impact Assessment Program. Available at http://www.sric.org/uranium/
Environmental & Occupational Health. Available at http://www.gulflink.osd.mil/medsearch/EnviornmentalOccupationa/DepletedUranium_home.shtml
http://www.viaggimagazine.it/VM/guide/stati-uniti/cartina-new-mexico.jpg
National Institutes of Health (NIH) Grant No. GMO 7667-30
Minority Access to Research Careers (MARC) Program
Special thanks to Dr. Lara, Dr. Parra, Dr. Ulery
Any questions, comments, concerns?
By,Nicholas G. Beltran
Mentor: Dr. Antonio S. [email protected]
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry