HOME >> BIOLOGY >> NEWS
New screening method identifies areas susceptible to Selenium contamination in,,Western United States

A new screening method, based on geology and climatology, has been shown to be a reliable means for predicting where lands in irrigated areas are susceptible to contamination from selenium, according to a report by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Reclamation, and Bureau of Indian Affairs.

The four agencies of the U.S. Department of the Interior conducted the joint study because of concerns about selenium derived from irrigated lands, which has caused deformities of bird embryos in six areas of the Western United States--three in California, one in Colorado, one in Utah, and one in Wyoming.

Preserving and protecting the legacy of the lands and resources in the Western United States is a key priority of Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt.

Using the new prediction tool, the USGS produced a geology-climate map that identified about 160,000 square miles of lands in the Western United States that are susceptible to irrigation-induced selenium contamination. At present, only about 4,100 square miles of the 160,000 is being irrigated. All six areas where the deformities have occurred were identified on the map.

"In order to identify areas where selenium contamination can be a problem, we needed a reliable screening method," said Ralph Seiler, USGS hydrologist and author of the report. "The method that we developed uses geologic and climatic features that are characteristic of already-known selenium problem areas in the West.

"By putting those features into a geographic information system, or GIS," Seiler said, "we created a map of areas where irrigation activities are likely to produce selenium contamination. With this map of selenium-susceptible areas, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and others who are concerned about fish and waterfowl, have a cost-effective tool to target those areas which are most at risk."

The 36-page report, titled "Areas susceptible to irrigation-induce
'"/>

Contact: Ralph Seiler
rseiler@usgs.gov
775-887-7674
United States Geological Survey
28-Jul-1999


Page: 1 2

Related biology news :

1. March of Dimes statement on newborn screening report
2. Only 21 states offer newborn screening tests recommended by March of Dimes
3. New screening method turns up potential compound for treating anthrax
4. Genetic screening study at Stanford IDs most aggressive adult leukemia strains
5. Genetic screening recommended to detect new neurodegenerative disorder in men over age 50
6. HPV testing could be future strategy for primary screening for cervical cancer
7. Newborn screening for certain genetic disorders has benefits and some drawbacks
8. SARS pre-screening protocol developed for AACR Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C.
9. UNC HIV-AIDS screening, prevention method could become national model for cutting illness
10. Study boosts confidence in potential screening tool for Alzheimers disease
11. Study: Prenatal screening in Haiti region cut syphilis by 75 percent

Post Your Comments:
(Date:5/21/2013)... "place" is increasingly being considered in the management ... new resource that can help them recognize and ... places in their lives. , Place-Based Conservation: ... co-edited by the Pacific Northwest Research Station,s Linda ... to conservation. The book is published by Springer ...
(Date:5/21/2013)... found that a class of pharmaceuticals can both prevent ... drugs, known as "TSPO ligands," are currently used for ... effects of TSPO ligand in young adult mice when ... mice when pathology was quite severe," said lead researcher ... "TSPO ligand reduced measures of pathology and improved behavior ...
(Date:5/21/2013)... of Michigan Water Center today awarded 12 research ... restoration and protection efforts. , The two-year grants ... including efforts to track the remediation of harmful ... control non-native weedy plant invasions; study chromosomal damage ... to restoration activities. , The grants were awarded ...
Breaking Biology News(10 mins):Drugs found to both prevent and treat Alzheimer's disease in mice 2U-M Water Center awards $570K in Great Lakes restoration grants 2U-M Water Center awards $570K in Great Lakes restoration grants 3U-M Water Center awards $570K in Great Lakes restoration grants 4
(Date:5/22/2013)... Alton Housing Authority was hit by bed bugs. A ... their presence has already caused the company $35,000 for treatment. ... spending, My Cleaning Products shared a way how to ... the report that to clear the infestation , the ... employees also attended a mandatory training on bed bugs, it ...
(Date:5/22/2013)... -- Moderna Therapeutics, the pioneering company developing messenger RNA therapeutics™, ... in vivo production of therapeutic proteins, announced today ... Moderna in early July as its first Chief Information ... in the design and implementation of information systems underlying ... clinical operations and commercial preparedness. John has also been ...
(Date:5/21/2013)... May 21, 2013 Custom Learning ... reporting eLearning solution using Tin Can API combined ... tool. CLD is a leading developer of training ... device companies worldwide. , Tin Can API ... helps learners and trainers more accurately measure the ...
(Date:5/21/2013)... May 21, 2013 The congress ... Transplant Association) is the biggest congress in ... Nearly 10,000 participants are in Istanbul ... research findings. New pioneering studies have been presented: ... PYROPHOSPHATE (SFP) ADMINISTERED VIA HEMODIALYSATE REDUCES ESA USE" ...
Breaking Biology Technology:Bed Bugs Cost Alton Housing Authority $35,000; New Help, How to Kill Bed Bugs With Less Expense, Introduced by My Cleaning Products 2Industry Leader John Reynders Joins Moderna Therapeutics as Chief Information Officer 2Industry Leader John Reynders Joins Moderna Therapeutics as Chief Information Officer 3CLD Integrates Tin CAN API with its eLearning Solutions and Launches its Excelerometer Tracking Statement Dashboard 2CLD Integrates Tin CAN API with its eLearning Solutions and Launches its Excelerometer Tracking Statement Dashboard 3ERA-EDTA CONGRESS 2013: Late Breaking Clinical Trials 2ERA-EDTA CONGRESS 2013: Late Breaking Clinical Trials 3
Cached News: