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Full-Text Articles in Earth Sciences
Groundwater Quality In Kentucky: Mercury, Bart Davidson, R. Stephen Fisher
Groundwater Quality In Kentucky: Mercury, Bart Davidson, R. Stephen Fisher
Information Circular--KGS
Mercury is a naturally occurring metal that occurs in trace amounts in water, soils, and rocks. Elemental mercury is a liquid that occurs in some ore deposits; it may also be concentrated around hot springs. Currently, about 50 percent of mercury use is for electrical products such as dry-cell batteries, fluorescent lights, switches, and other control equipment. Mercury is also used in the electrolytic preparation of chlorine gas and caustic soda, and in paint manufacture and pesticide production (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2002). In the past, significant amounts of mercury were used in thermometers and pressure gauges.
Groundwater Quality In Kentucky: Selenium, Bart Davidson, R. Stephen Fisher
Groundwater Quality In Kentucky: Selenium, Bart Davidson, R. Stephen Fisher
Information Circular--KGS
Selenium is a naturally occurring element found in most rocks and soils (Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, 2003). In its solid form, selenium is black, gray, or red and is odorless (New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, 2002). Most selenium is obtained from byproducts of the copper refining industry. Selenium compounds are often used in electronic components, photocopiers, metal alloys, rubber, paint pigments, glass-making (ruby red glass), and photographic emulsions (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2003). Selenium exhibits both photovoltaic and photoconductive properties. As more light shines on selenium, its electrical conductivity increases, making it extremely useful …
Groundwater Quality In Kentucky: Cadmium, Bart Davidson, R. Stephen Fisher
Groundwater Quality In Kentucky: Cadmium, Bart Davidson, R. Stephen Fisher
Information Circular--KGS
Cadmium is a metallic element that occurs naturally in the earth's crust, especially in zinc-, lead-, and copper-bearing ores (Forstner and Whittmann, 1981). Pure cadmium is a soft silver-white metal, but is rarely found naturally in its pure form. It is commonly combined with other elements, such as oxygen (cadmium oxide) and sulfur (cadmium sulfate).