Superfund Research Program

Jon Chorover Ph.D.

University of Arizona
Department of Environmental Science
P.O. Box 210038
Tucson, Arizona 85721-0038
Phone: 520-626-5635
Fax: 520-621-1647
Email: chorover@cals.arizona.edu

Projects

• University of Arizona: Environmental Controls on Bioavailability of Arsenic and Toxic Metals (2020-2025)
• University of Arizona: Nano-scale Mechanisms of Metal(loid) Rhizostabilization in Desert Mine Tailings (2009-2012)
• University of Arizona: Research Support Core (2000-2015)
• University of Arizona: Revegetation of Mining Wastes in Arid and Semiarid Environments: Plant-Microbe-Metal Interactions and Fertility Island Effects (2005-2020)
• University of Arizona: Role of Mineral Genesis, Dissolution, and Sorption on Arsenic Fate in Contained Waste Sites (2010-2015)
• University of Arizona: Sequestration Processes for Attenuation and Treatment of Arsenic and other Toxic Elements in Mine Waters (2000-2020)

Hazardous Waste Sites

Anaconda Copper Yerington Mine

• University of Arizona: Environmental Controls on Bioavailability of Arsenic and Toxic Metals

Argonaut Mine

• University of Arizona: Environmental Controls on Bioavailability of Arsenic and Toxic Metals

Blackbird Mine

• University of Arizona: Environmental Controls on Bioavailability of Arsenic and Toxic Metals

Flat Creek, Superior, AZ

• University of Arizona: Environmental Controls on Bioavailability of Arsenic and Toxic Metals

Formosa Mine

• University of Arizona: Environmental Controls on Bioavailability of Arsenic and Toxic Metals

Gilt Edge

• University of Arizona: Environmental Controls on Bioavailability of Arsenic and Toxic Metals

Iron King Mine and Humboldt Smelter

• University of Arizona: Environmental Controls on Bioavailability of Arsenic and Toxic Metals
• University of Arizona: Nano-scale Mechanisms of Metal(loid) Rhizostabilization in Desert Mine Tailings
• University of Arizona: Research Support Core

Iron Mountain

• University of Arizona: Environmental Controls on Bioavailability of Arsenic and Toxic Metals

Klondyke Tailings, WQARF site

• University of Arizona: Nano-scale Mechanisms of Metal(loid) Rhizostabilization in Desert Mine Tailings

Leviathan Mine

• University of Arizona: Environmental Controls on Bioavailability of Arsenic and Toxic Metals

Stibnite/Yellow Pine

• University of Arizona: Environmental Controls on Bioavailability of Arsenic and Toxic Metals

Sulfur Bank

• University of Arizona: Environmental Controls on Bioavailability of Arsenic and Toxic Metals

Tucson International Airport Area (TIAA) Superfund Site

• University of Arizona: Research Support Core

White King, Lucky Lass

• University of Arizona: Environmental Controls on Bioavailability of Arsenic and Toxic Metals

Publications

2024

• Bai B, Kong S, Root RA, Liu R, Wei X, Cai D, Chen Y, Chen J, Yi Z, Chorover J. 2024. Release mechanism and interactions of cadmium and arsenic co-contaminated ferrihydrite by simulated in-vitro digestion assays. J Hazard Mater 467:133633. doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.133633 PMID:38335617 PMCID:PMC10913812

2023

• Liu R, Kong S, Shao Y, Cai D, Bai B, Wei X, Root RA, Gao X, Li C, Chorover J. 2023. Mechanisms and health implications of toxicity increment from arsenate-containing iron minerals through in vitro gastrointestinal digestion. Geoderma 432:doi:10.1016/j.geoderma.2023.116377
• Liu Y, Root RA, Abramson N, Fan L, Sun J, Chorover J. 2023. The effect of biogeochemical redox oscillations on arsenic release from legacy mine tailings. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 360:192-206. doi:10.1016/j.gca.2023.09.012 PMID:37928745 PMCID:PMC10621879
• Shakya A, Dodson M, Artiola JF, Ramirez-Andreotta M, Root RA, Ding X, Chorover J, Maier RM. 2023. Arsenic in drinking water and diabetes. Water (Basel) 15(9):1751. doi:10.3390/w15091751
• Yu Y, Root RA, Sierra-Alvarez R, Chorover J, Field JA. 2023. Treatment of the insensitive munitions compound, 3-nitro-1,2,4-triazol-5-one (NTO), in flow-through columns packed with zero-valent iron. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 30(23):64606-64616. doi:10.1007/s11356-023-26922-5 PMID:37071366

2022

• Hammond C, Root RA, Maier RM, Chorover J. 2022. Metal lability and mass transfer response to direct-planting phytostabilization of pyritic mine tailings. Minerals 12(6):doi:10.3390/min12060757
• Li H, Fan X, Wu X, Han W, Amistadi M, Liu P, Zhang DD, Chorover J, Ding X, Zhang Q. 2022. Differential effects of arsenic in drinking water on mouse hepatic and intestinal heme oxygenase-1 expression. Antioxidants (Basel) 11(9):1835. doi:10.3390/antiox11091835 PMID:36139908 PMCID:PMC9495312
• Root RA, Chorover J. 2022. Molecular speciation controls arsenic and lead bioaccessibility in fugitive dusts from sulfidic mine tailings. Environ Sci Process Impacts doi:10.1039/d2em00182a PMID:36226550

2021

• Wang D, Root RA, Chorover J. 2021. Biochar-templated surface precipitation and inner-sphere complexation effectively removes arsenic from acid mine drainage. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 28(33):doi:10.1007/s11356-021-13869-8 PMID:33866485 (ahead of print)

2020

• Chorover J, Hammond C, Root RA, Maier RM. 2020. Arsenic and iron speciation and mobilization during phytostabilization of pyritic mine tailings. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 286:306-323. doi:10.1016/j.gca.2020.07.001

2019

• Dinali G, Root RA, Amistadi M, Chorover J, Lopes G, Guilherme L. 2019. Rare earth elements (REY) sorption on soils of contrasting mineralogy and texture. Environ Int 128:279-291. doi:10.1016/j.envint.2019.04.022
• Honeker LK, Gullo CF, Neilson JW, Chorover J, Maier RM. 2019. Effect of re-acidification on buffalo grass rhizosphere and bulk microbial communities during phytostabilization of metalliferous mine tailings. Front Microbiol 10:17. doi:10.3389/fmicb.2019.01209 PMID:31214146 PMCID:PMC6554433
• Hottenstein JD, Neilson JW, Gil-Loaiza J, Root RA, White SA, Chorover J, Maier RM. 2019. Soil microbiome dynamics during pyritic mine tailing phytostabilization: understanding microbial bioindicators of soil acidification. Front Microbiol 10:doi:10.3389/fmicb.2019.01211 PMID:31275251 PMCID:PMC6593306

2018

• Hammond C, Root RA, Maier RM, Chorover J. 2018. Mechanisms of arsenic sequestration by Prosopis juliflora during the phytostabilization of metalliferous mine tailings. Environ Sci Technol 52(3):1156-1164. doi:10.1021/acs.est.7b04363 PMID:29241010 PMCID:PMC5930015
• Madeira CL, Field JA, Simonich MT, Tanguay RL, Chorover J, Sierra-Alvarez R. 2018. Ecotoxicity of the insensitive munitions compound 3-nitro-1,2,4-triazol-5-one (NTO) and its reduced metabolite 3-amino-1,2,4-triazol-5-one (ATO). J Hazard Mater 343:340-346. doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2017.09.052 PMID:28992572
• Thomas AN, Root RA, Lantz RC, Saez AE, Chorover J. 2018. Oxidative weathering decreases bioaccessibility of toxic metal(loid)s in PM10 emissions from sulfide mine tailings. Geohealth 2(4):118-138. doi:10.1002/2017GH000118 PMID:30338309 PMCID:PMC6191178
• Valentin-Vargas A, Neilson JW, Root RA, Chorover J, Maier RM. 2018. Treatment impacts on temporal microbial community dynamics during phytostabilization of acid-generating mine tailings in semiarid regions. Sci Total Environ 618:357-368. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.11.010 PMID:29132003 PMCID:PMC5773348

2017

• Honeker LK, Neilson JW, Root RA, Gil-Loaiza J, Chorover J, Maier RM. 2017. Bacterial rhizoplane colonization patterns of Buchloe dactyloides growing in metalliferous mine tailings reflect plant status and biogeochemical conditions. Microb Ecol 74:853867. doi:10.1007/s00248-017-0998-7 PMID:28577167 PMCID:PMC5654687
• Madeira CL, Speet SA, Alvarez-Nieto C, Abrell L, Chorover J, Sierra-Alvarez R, Field JA. 2017. Sequential anaerobic-aerobic biodegradation of emerging insensitive munitions compound 3-nitro-1,2,4-triazol-5-one (NTO). Chemosphere 167:478-484. doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2016.10.032 PMID:27750172
• Olivares CI, Madeira CL, Sierra-Alvarez R, Kadoya W, Abrell L, Chorover J, Field JA. 2017. Environmental fate of C-14 radiolabeled 2,4-dinitroanisole in soil. microcosms. Environ Sci Technol 51:13327-13334. doi:10.1021/acs.est.7b03699 PMID:29072907

2016

• Gil-Loaiza J, White SA, Root RA, Ramirez-Solis A, Hammond C, Chorover J, Maier RM. 2016. Phytostabilization of mine tailings using compost-assisted direct planting: translating greenhouse results to the field. Sci Total Environ 565:451-461. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.04.168 PMID:27183459 PMCID:PMC4921306
• Honeker LK, Root RA, Chorover J, Maier RM. 2016. Resolving colocalization of bacteria and metal(loid)s on plant root surfaces by combining fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with multiple-energy micro-focused X-ray fluorescence (ME μXRF). J Microbiol Methods 131:23-33. doi:10.1016/j.mimet.2016.09.018 PMID:27693754 PMCID:PMC5127750
• Olivares CI, Abrell L, Khatiwada R, Chorover J, Sierra-Alvarez R, Field JA. 2016. (Bio)transformation of 2,4-dinitroanisole (DNAN) in soils. J Hazard Mater 304:214-221. doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2015.10.059 PMID:26551225 PMCID:PMC4695256
• Olivares CI, Sierra-Alvarez R, Abrell L, Chorover J, Simonich MT, Tanguay RL, Field JA. 2016. Zebrafish embryo toxicity of anaerobic biotransformation products from the insensitive munitions compound 2,4-dinitroanisole. Environ Toxicol Chem 35(11):2774-2781. doi:10.1002/etc.3446 PMID:27058972 PMCID:PMC5052101
• Olivares CI, Sierra-Alvarez R, Alvarez-Nieto C, Abrell L, Chorover J, Field JA. 2016. Microbial toxicity and characterization of DNAN (bio)transformation product mixtures. Chemosphere 154:499-506. doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2016.04.007 PMID:27085064
• Rodriguez-Freire L, Moore SE, Sierra-Alvarez R, Root RA, Chorover J, Field JA. 2016. Arsenic remediation by formation of arsenic sulfide minerals in a continuous anaerobic bioreactor. Biotechnol Bioeng 113(3):522-530. doi:10.1002/bit.25825 PMID:26333155 PMCID:PMC4729605

2015

• Nelson KN, Neilson JW, Root RA, Chorover J, Maier RM. 2015. Abundance and activity of 16S rRNA, AmoA and NifH bacterial genes during assisted phytostabilization of mine tailings. Int J Phytoremediation 17(1-6):493-502. doi:10.1080/15226514.2014.935284 PMID:25495940 PMCID:PMC4269300
• Root RA, Hayes SM, Hammond C, Maier RM, Chorover J. 2015. Toxic metal(loid) speciation during weathering of iron sulfide mine tailings under semi-arid climate. Appl Geochem 62:131-149. doi:10.1016/j.apgeochem.2015.01.005 PMID:26549929 PMCID:PMC4632981

2014

• Hayes SM, Perdrial N, Chorover J, Root RA. 2014. Surficial weathering of iron sulfide mine tailings under semi-arid climate. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 141:240-257. doi:10.1016/j.gca.2014.05.030 PMID:25197102 PMCID:PMC4151187
• Menka N, Root RA, Chorover J. 2014. Bioaccessibility, release kinetics, and molecular speciation of arsenic and lead in geo-dusts from the Iron King Mine Federal Superfund site in Humboldt, Arizona. Rev Environ Health 29(1-2):23-27. doi:10.1515/reveh-2014-0009 PMID:24552959
• Rodríguez-Freire LR, Sierra-Alvarez R, Root RA, Chorover J, Field JA. 2014. Biomineralization of arsenate to arsenic sulfides is greatly enhanced at mildly acidic conditions. Water Res 66:242-253. doi:10.1016/j.watres.2014.08.016 PMID:25222328 PMCID:PMC4252821
• Valentin-Vargas A, Root RA, Neilson JW, Chorover J, Maier RM. 2014. Environmental factors influencing the structural dynamics of soil microbial communities during assisted phytostabilization of acid-generating mine tailings: a mesocosm experiment. Sci Total Environ 500-501:314-324. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2014.08.107 PMID:25237788 PMCID:PMC4253589

2013

• Chorover J, Maier RM, Valentin-Vargas A. 2013. A new standard-based polynomial interpolation (SBPIn) method to address gel-to-gel variability for the comparison of multiple denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis profile matrices. J Microbiol Methods 92:173-177. doi:10.1016/j.mimet.2012.12.001 PMID:23234884 PMCID:PMC3570647
• Gao X, Root RA, Farrell J, Ela WP, Chorover J. 2013. Effect of silicic acid on arsenate and arsenite retention mechanisms on 6-L ferrihydrite: A spectroscopic and batch adsorption approach. Appl Geochem 38:110-120. doi:10.1016/j.apgeochem.2013.09.005 PMID:25382933 PMCID:PMC4223807
• Root RA, Fathordoobadi S, Alday F, Ela WP, Chorover J. 2013. Microscale speciation of arsenic and iron in ferric-based sorbents subjected to simulated landfill conditions. Environ Sci Technol 47(22):12992-13000. doi:10.1021/es402083h PMID:24102155 PMCID:PMC3882129

2012

• Hayes SM, Webb SM, Bargar JR, O'Day PA, Maier RM, Chorover J. 2012. Geochemical weathering increases lead bioaccessibility in semi-arid mine tailings. Environ Sci Technol 46(11):5834-5841. doi:10.1021/es300603s PMID:22553941 PMCID:PMC3376710
• Solis-Dominguez FA, White SA, Hutter TB, Amistadi M, Root RA, Chorover J, Maier RM. 2012. Response of key soil parameters during compost-assisted phytostabilization in extremely acidic tailings: Effect of plant species. Environ Sci Technol 46(2):1019-1027. doi:10.1021/es202846n PMID:22191663 PMCID:PMC3263829

2011

• Hayes SM, O'Day PA, Webb SM, Maier RM, Chorover J. 2011. Changes in zinc speciation with mine tailings acidification in a semiarid weathering environment. Environ Sci Technol 45:7166-7172. doi:10.1021/es201006b PMID:21761897 PMCID:PMC3175378
• Solis-Dominguez FA, Valentin-Vargas A, Chorover J, Maier RM. 2011. Effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on plant biomass and the rhizosphere microbial community structure of mesquite grown in acidic lead/zinc mine tailings. Sci Total Environ 409:1009-1016. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2010.11.020 PMID:21211826 PMCID:PMC3030643

2009

• Hayes SM, White SA, Thompson TL, Maier RM, Chorover J. 2009. Changes in lead and zinc lability during weathering-induced acidification of desert mine tailings: Coupling chemical and micro-scale analyses. Appl Geochem 24(12):2234-2245. doi:10.1016/j.apgeochem.2009.09.010 PMID:20161492 PMCID:PMC2796778

2008

• Grandlic CJ, Mendez MO, Chorover J, Machado B, Maier RM. 2008. Identification of plant growth-promoting bacteria suitable for Phytostabilization of mine tailings. Environ Sci Technol 42(6):2079-2084. doi:10.1021/es072013j
• Grandlic CJ, Mendez MO, Maier RM, Chorover J, Machado B. 2008. Plant growth-promoting bacteria for phytostabilization of mine tailings. Environ Sci Technol 42(6):2079-2084. PMID:18409640