United States Department of Energy

About: United States Department of Energy is a government organization based out in Washington D.C., District of Columbia, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Catalysis & Coal. The organization has 13656 authors who have published 14177 publications receiving 556962 citations. The organization is also known as: DOE & Department of Energy.

Deterioration of a fractured carbonate caprock exposed to CO2‐acidified brine flow

Abstract: A flow-through experiment was performed to investigate evolution of a fractured carbonate caprock during flow of CO2-acidified brine. A core was taken from the Amherstburg limestone, a caprock formation overlying the Bois Blanc and Bass Islands formations, which have been used to demonstrate CO2 storage in the Michigan basin. The inlet brine was representative of deep saline brines saturated with CO2, resulting in a starting pH of 4.4. Experimental conditions were 27 °C and 10 MPa. X-ray computed tomography and scanning electron microscopy were used to observe evolution of fracture geometry and to investigate mineralogical changes along the fracture surface. The initial brine flow corresponded to an average fluid velocity of 110 cm hr−1. After one week, substantial mineral dissolution caused the average cross-sectional area of the fracture to increase from 0.09 cm2 to 0.24 cm2. This demonstrates that carbonate caprocks, if fractured, can erode quickly and may jeopardize sealing integrity when hydrodynamic conditions promote flow of CO2-acidified brine. However, changes to fracture permeability due to mineral dissolution may be offset by unaltered constrictions along the flow path and by increases in surface roughness. In this experiment, preferential dissolution of calcite over dolomite led to uneven erosion of the fracture surface and an increase in roughness. In areas with clay minerals, calcite dissolution left behind a silicate mineral-rich microporous coating along the fracture wall. Thus, the evolution of fracture permeability will depend in a complex way on the carbonate content, as well as the heterogeneity of the minerals and their spatial patterning. © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd

The daily intake of 234,235,238U, 228,230,232Th and 226,228Ra by New York City residents.

Abstract: The daily intake of long-lived alpha-emitting members of the U, Th and Ac series by New York City residents has been estimated from measurements of diet, water and air samples. The total daily intakes from inhalation, food and water consumption in mBq are 18 (234U), 0.7 (235U), 16 (238U), 6 (230Th), 4 (232Th) and 52 (226Ra). From this, we infer that the total daily intakes of 228Th and 228Ra are 4 and 35 mBq, respectively.

Cardiovascular health and particulate vehicular emissions: a critical evaluation of the evidence

Abstract: A major public health goal is to determine linkages between specific pollution sources and adverse health outcomes. This paper provides an integrative evaluation of the database examining effects of vehicular emissions, such as black carbon (BC), carbonaceous gasses, and ultrafine PM, on cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality. Less than a decade ago, few epidemiological studies had examined effects of traffic emissions specifically on these health endpoints. In 2002, the first of many studies emerged finding significantly higher risks of CV morbidity and mortality for people living in close proximity to major roadways, vs. those living further away. Abundant epidemiological studies now link exposure to vehicular emissions, characterized in many different ways, with CV health endpoints such as cardiopulmonary and ischemic heart disease and circulatory-disease-associated mortality; incidence of coronary artery disease; acute myocardial infarction; survival after heart failure; emergency CV hospital admissions; and markers of atherosclerosis. We identify numerous in vitro, in vivo, and human panel studies elucidating mechanisms which could explain many of these cardiovascular morbidity and mortality associations. These include: oxidative stress, inflammation, lipoperoxidation and atherosclerosis, change in heart rate variability (HRV), arrhythmias, ST-segment depression, and changes in vascular function (such as brachial arterial caliber and blood pressure). Panel studies with accurate exposure information, examining effects of ambient components of vehicular emissions on susceptible human subjects, appear to confirm these mechanisms. Together, this body of evidence supports biological mechanisms which can explain the various CV epidemiological findings. Based upon these studies, the research base suggests that vehicular emissions are a major environmental cause of cardiovascular mortality and morbidity in the United States. As a means to reduce the public health consequences of such emissions, it may be desirable to promulgate a black carbon (BC) PM2.5 standard under the National Ambient Air Quality Standards, which would apply to both on and off-road diesels. Two specific critical research needs are identified. One is to continue research on health effects of vehicular emissions, gaseous as well as particulate. The second is to utilize identical or nearly identical research designs in studies using accurate exposure metrics to determine whether other major PM pollutant sources and types may also underlie the specific health effects found in this evaluation for vehicular emissions.