Coal and Coal Ash

Research@Nicholas: Coal Ash & Fracking Impacts

Cowan, E.A., Kinnamon, C.M., Zhen Wang, Z., Fox, G.C., Brachfeld, S.A. Keith C. Seramur, K.C., Vengosh, A. (2026) Mechanisms of coal ash release and transport into lakes with coal-fired power plants based on sediment records from the Southeastern USA. Environmental Earth Sciences, 85, 206, https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-026-12923-3
Cowan, E.A., Wang, Z., Brachfeld, S.A., Hageman, S.J., Keith C. Seramur, K.C., Pearson, W.F., Wilson, J., Karcher, R., Hill, R., Vengosh, A. (2024) Role of coal ash morphology and composition in delivery and transport of trace metals in the aquatic environment. Environmental Pollution, 124982, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2024.124982.
Wang, Z., Dai, S., Cowan, E.A., Dietrich, M., Schlesinger, W., Wu, Q., Zhou, M.; Seramur, K., Das, D., Vengosh, A. (2023). Isotopic Signatures and Outputs of Lead from Coal Fly Ash Disposal in China, India, and the United States.Environmental Science & Technology, 57, 33, 12259–12269. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.3c03456
Wang, Z., Cowan, E.A., Seramur, K., Dwyer, G., Wilson, J., Karcher, R., Brachfeld, S. Vengosh, A. (2022) Legacy of Coal Combustion: Widespread Contamination of Lake Sediments and Implications for Chronic Risks to Aquatic Ecosystems. Environmental Science & Technology, 56, 20, 14723–14733 (https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.2c04717 )
Weinberg, R., Coyte, R.M., Wang, Z., Das, D., Vengosh, A. (2022) Water quality implications of the neutralization of acid mine drainage with coal fly ash from India and the United States. Fuel, 330, 125675. (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2022.125675).
Zhou, M., Dai, S.,Wang, Z., Spiro, B.F., Vengosh, A., French, D., Graham, I.T., Zhao,F., Zuo, J., Zhao, J. (2022) The Sr isotope signature of Wuchiapingian semi-anthracites from Chongqing, southwestern China: Indication for hydrothermal effects. Gondwana Research (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gr.2021.11.007).
Wang, Z., Coyte, R.M., Cowan, E.A., Stapleton, H.M., Dwyer, G.S., Vengosh, A. (2021). Evaluation and Integration of Geochemical Indicators for Detecting Trace Levels of Coal Fly Ash in Soils. Environmental Science & Technology 55, 15, 10387–10397 (10.1021/acs.est.1c01215).
Wang, Z., Coyte, R.M., Dwyer, G.S., Ruhl, L., Hsu-Kim, H., Hower, J.C., Vengosh, A. (2020) Distinction of strontium isotope ratios between water-soluble and bulk coal fly ash from the United States. International Journal of Coal Geology,103464,
Wang, Z.; Dwyer, G.; Coleman, D.; Vengosh, A. (2019) Lead isotopes as a new tracer for detecting coal fly ash in the environment. Environmental Science & Technology Letters, 6, 714-719.
Vengosh, A., Cowan, E.A., Coyte, R.M., Kondash, A.J., Wang, Z., JE Brandt, J.E., Dwyer, G (2019) Evidence for unmonitored coal ash spills in Sutton Lake, North Carolina: Implications for contamination of lake ecosystems. Science of the Total Environment, 686, 1090-1103.
Brandt, J.E., Lauer, N.E. Vengosh, A. Bernhardt, E.S. and Di Giulio, R.T. (2018) Strontium Isotope Ratios in Fish Otoliths as Biogenic Tracers of Coal Combustion Residual Inputs to Freshwater Ecosystems. Environmental Science & Technology Letters, DOI: 10.1021/acs.estlett.8b00477
Schwartz, G.E., Nelson, A.R., Hower, J. Vengosh, A., Hsu-Kim, H. (2018). Ranking coal ash materials for their potential to leach arsenic and selenium: The relative importance of ash chemistry and site biogeochemistry. Environmental Engineering Science (https://doi.org/10.1089/ees.2017.0347).
Lauer, N.E., Vengosh, A., Dai, S. (2017) Naturally occurring radioactive materials in uranium-rich coals and associated coal combustion residues from China. Environmental Science & Technology 51, 13487−1349.
Schwartz, G.E., Redfern, L.K., Ikuma, K., Gunsch C.K., Ruhl, L.S., Vengosh, A., Hsu-Kim, H. (2016) Impacts of coal ash on methylmercury production and the methylating microbial community in anaerobic sediment slurries. Environmental Science Processes and Impact, 18(11), 1427-1439.

Harkness, J., Sulkin, B., Vengosh, A. (2016) Evidence for coal ash ponds leaking in the southeastern United States. Environmental Science & Technology, 50, (12), 6583–6592. EST- Evidence of coalash leaking
Schwartz, G.E., Rivera, N.A., Lee, S-W., Harrington, J. M., Hower, J.C., Levine, K.E., Vengosh, A., Hsu-Kim, H. (2016). Leaching Potential and Redox Transformations of Arsenic and Selenium in Sediment Microcosms with Fly Ash. Applied Geochemistry, 67, 177-185.
Lauer, N.E., Hower, J.C., Hsu-Kim, H., Taggart, R.K., Vengosh, A. (2015) Naturally occurring radioactive materials in coals and coal combustion residues in the United States. Environmental Science & Technology, 49, 11227–11233. NORM in coal and coal ash_EST
Ruhl, R.L., Dwyer, G., Hsu-Kim, H., Vengosh, A. (2014) Boron and Strontium Isotopic Characterization of Coal Combustion Residuals: Validation of New Environmental Tracers. Environmental Science & Technology, 48 (24), 14790–14798.es503746v_coal ash tracers
Liu, Y-B., Chen, T-Y., Mackebee, W.G., Ruhl, L., Vengosh, A., and Hsu-Kim, H. (2013) Selenium Speciation in Coal Ash Spilled at the Tennessee Valley Authority Kingston Site. Environmental Science & Technology, 47, 14001-14009 (DOI: 10.1021/es4041557)
Vengosh, A. Linberg, T.T., Merola, B., Ruhl, L., Warner, N.R., White, Al., Dwyer, G.S., and Di Giulio, R.T. (2013). The isotopic imprints of mountaintop mining contaminants. Environmental Science & Technology (August 2013; DOI: 10.1021/es4012959; EST_MTM isotopes).
Deonarine, A., Bartov, G.,; Johnson, T.M; Ruhl, L.; Vengosh, A. and Hsu-Kim, H. (2012). Environmental Impacts of the Tennessee Valley Authority Kingston Coal Ash Spill. 2. Effect of Coal Ash on Methylmercury in Historically Contaminated River Sediments. Environmental Science & Technology, DOI: 10.1021/es303639d es303639d.
Bartov , G., Deonarine , A., Johnson , T.M., Ruhl , L. Vengosh , A. and Hsu-Kim, H. (2012) Environmental impacts of the Tennessee Valley Authority Kingston coal ash spill. 1. Source apportionment using mercury stable isotopes. Environmental Science and Technology , (DOI: 10.1021/es303111p; November 16, 2012).es303111p_Bartov_etal
Ruhl, L., Vengosh, A., Dwyer, G.S., Hsu Kim H., Schwartz, G., Romanski, A., and Smith, S.D. (2012). The impact of coal combustion residue effluent on water resources: A North Carolina example. Environmental Science & Technology (es303263x(1)) (DOI: 10.1021/es303263x; September 30, 2012).
Lindberg, T.T., Bernhardt, E.S., Bier, R., Helton, A., Merola, R.B., Vengosh, A. and Di Giulio, T.D. (2011) Cumulative impacts of mountaintop mining on an Appalachian watershed. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of United States of America. (December 12, 2011, doi: 10.1073/pnas.1112381108).