Biography
Alex Russell is a PhD researcher working within the groundwater research spoke of iCRAG. Alex graduated with an MGeol in Earth Science in 2015 from the University of St Andrews. Alex subsequently joined iCRAG under the supervision of Prof. Frank McDermott at UCD, and Drs Liam Morrison and Tiernan Henry at NUI Galway. His research investigates arsenic sources, speciation and mobilisation processes in selected Irish aquifers. The primary focus of his research is in the analysis of wells within the Dalradian rocks of Donegal. General research interests include environmental geochemistry and the dynamic interactions of the hydrosphere and geosphere.
Globally, up to 200 million people are potentially being exposed to chronic arsenic (As) poisoning through the consumption of contaminated groundwater. The primary sources of arsenic in the environment are natural, moving from the rock or soil and into the water. My research is seeking to investigate the presence of arsenic within Irish groundwaters, and to better the understanding of exactly how arsenic moves through the environment alongside the potential risks posed by arsenic in Ireland.
Project title: An investigation of arsenic sources, speciation and mobilization processes in selected Irish aquifers
Technical description
Global compilations of naturally occurring arsenic (As) in groundwater have revealed that up to 200 million people in more than 20 countries are exposed to chronic arsenic poisoning. Dissolved inorganic arsenic is known to be a powerful carcinogen, with an epidemiological association particularly with cancers of the lung and urinary tract. This PhD project will investigate the occurrence, speciation and geochemical processes responsible for the mobilisation of geogenic arsenic in selected Irish groundwaters. Geological environments similar to those in which high levels of dissolved arsenic occur elsewhere (e.g. sulphide bearing volcano-sedimentary sequences, unconsolidated glacial, fluvioglacial and alluvial deposits) are common in Ireland, yet reliable ppb-level As data for Irish groundwaters are sparse. Data generated in this PhD project will offer new scientific insights into the ‘arsenic problem’ that are applicable globally.
Role
- Postgraduate Researcher
Institution
- UCD
Research Area
- Secure & Protect Groundwater Resources
Expertise
- Groundwater Quality, Contamination, Hydrochemistry, Hydrogeology, Water
