Kathryn M Conko
Kathryn joined the USGS as a chemist in the WMA 1997 and moved to the Energy and Minerals Mission Area (EMMA) in 2007 to help implement the laboratory Quality Management. After retirement in 2023, she returned to EMMA as an NDAA to continue to support laboratory QMS.
Kathryn's past research have been focused on the study of inorganic environmental contaminants specifically trace elements in water, sediment and biological tissue. Past projects have included: an environmental assessment of As and Hg in Ukraine and potential human exposure, the effects of Zn in drinking water on learning and memory, Zn and other metals in roadway contaminants, and the uptake of trace and rare earth elements by plants.
Education and Certifications
Old Dominion University- M.S., Geology, 1990
California University of Pennsylvania- B.S., Geology, 1984
Honors and Awards
USGS Unit Award for Excellence of Service for Exemplary Performance in Ensuring Data of Known and Documented Quality are Produced in Energy and Mineral Resources Mission Area Laboratories.
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 13
Surface disposal of produced waters in western and southwestern Pennsylvania: potential for accumulation of alkali-earth elements in sediments
Waters co-produced with hydrocarbons in the Appalachian Basin are of notably poor quality (concentrations of total dissolved solids (TDS) and total radium up to and exceeding 300,000 mg/L and 10,000 pCi/L, respectively). Since 2008, a rapid increase in Marcellus Shale gas production has led to a commensurate rise in associated wastewater while generation of produced water from conventional oil and
Authors
Katherine J. Skalak, Mark A. Engle, Elisabeth L. Rowan, Glenn D. Jolly, Kathryn M. Conko, Adam J. Benthem, Thomas F. Kraemer
Arsenic and mercury in the soils of an industrial city in the Donets Basin, Ukraine
Soil and house dust collected in and around Hg mines and a processing facility in Horlivka, a mid-sized city in the Donets Basin of southeastern Ukraine, have elevated As and Hg levels. Surface soils collected at a former Hg-processing facility had up to 1300 mg kg−1 As and 8800 mg kg−1 Hg; 1M HCl extractions showed 74–93% of the total As, and 1–13% of the total Hg to be solubilized, suggesting di
Authors
Kathryn M. Conko, Edward R. Landa, Allan Kolker, Kostiantyn Kozlov, Herman J. Gibb, Jose Centeno, Boris S. Panov, Yuri B. Panov
Environmental influences on the occurrences of sepiolite and palygorskite: a brief review
Sepiolite is a hydrous magnesium silicate formed by precipitation of near-surface brackish or saline waters, under semi-arid climatic conditions. Four major influences on the distribution of sepiolite are source materials, climate, physical parameters and associated phase relations. Two major pathways governing the occurrence of sepiolite and palygorskite are direct precipitation from solution, an
Authors
Blair F. Jones, Kathryn M. Conko
Biomarkers of mercury exposure in two eastern Ukraine cities
This study evaluates biomarkers of mercury exposure among residents of Horlivka, a city in eastern Ukraine located in an area with geologic and industrial sources of environmental mercury, and residents of Artemivsk, a nearby comparison city outside the mercury-enriched area. Samples of urine, blood, hair, and nails were collected from study participants, and a questionnaire was administered to ob
Authors
H. Gibb, C. Haver, K. Kozlov, J.A. Centeno, V. Jurgenson, Allan Kolker, Kathryn M. Conko, Edward R. Landa, H. Xu
Mercury and trace element contents of Donbas coals and associated mine water in the vicinity of Donetsk, Ukraine
Mercury-rich coals in the Donets Basin (Donbas region) of Ukraine were sampled in active underground mines to assess the levels of potentially harmful elements and the potential for dispersion of metals through use of this coal. For 29 samples representing c11 to m3 Carboniferous coals, mercury contents range from 0.02 to 3.5 ppm (whole-coal dry basis). Mercury is well correlated with pyritic sulf
Authors
A. Kolker, B.S. Panov, Y.B. Panov, E. R. Landa, K.M. Conko, V.A. Korchemagin, T. Shendrik, J.D. McCord
The effects of enhanced zinc on spatial memory and plaque formation in transgenic mice
There is considerable evidence suggesting that metals play a central role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. Reports suggest that elevated dietary metals may both precipitate and potentiate an Alzheimer's disease phenotype. Despite this, there remain few studies that have examined the behavioral consequences of elevated dietary metals in wild type and Alzheimer's disease animals. To furth
Authors
D.H. Linkous, P.A. Adlard, P.B. Wanschura, K.M. Conko, J.M. Flinn
Biomarkers of mercury exposure at a mercury recycling facility in Ukraine
This study evaluates biomarkers of occupational mercury exposure among workers at a mercury recycling operation in Gorlovka, Ukraine. The 29 study participants were divided into three occupational categories for analysis: (1) those who worked in the mercury recycling operation (Group A, n = 8), (2) those who worked at the facility but not in the yard where the recycling was done (Group B, n = 14),
Authors
H.J. Gibb, K. Kozlov, J.P. Buckley, J. Centeno, V. Jurgenson, A. Kolker, K. Conko, E. Landa, B. Panov, Y. Panov, H. Xu
Transmission of atmospherically derived trace elements through an undeveloped, forested Maryland watershed
The transmission of atmospherically derived trace elements (Al, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Se, and Zn) was evaluated in a small, undeveloped, forested watershed located in north-central Maryland. Atmospheric input was determined for wet-only and vegetative throughfall components. Annual throughfall fluxes were significantly enriched over incident precipitation for most elements, although some
Authors
J.R. Scudlark, Karen C. Rice, Kathryn M. Conko, Owen P. Bricker, T.M. Church
Atmospheric wet deposition of trace elements to a suburban environment, Reston, Virginia, USA
Wet deposition from a suburban area in Reston, Virginia was collected during 1998 and analyzed to assess the anion and trace-element concentrations and depositions. Suburban Reston, approximately 26 km west of Washington, DC, is densely populated and heavily developed. Wet deposition was collected bi-weekly in an automated collector using trace-element clean sampling and analytical techniques. The
Authors
Kathryn M. Conko, Karen C. Rice, Margaret M. Kennedy
Reply to comment on “Anthropogenic sources of arsenic and copper to sediments in a suburban lake, northern Virginia"
Saxe and Beck (1) raise two groups of questions regarding the mass-balance approach in our paper.(i) Only some of the data and calculations used for the mass balance were provided; the apparent number of samples collected is not sufficient to support a reliable mass balance; measurements were not made on all tributaries.
Authors
Karen C. Rice, Kathryn M. Conko, George M. Hornberger
Anthropogenic sources of arsenic and copper to sediments in a suburban lake, Northern Virginia
Mass balances of total arsenic and copper for a suburban lake in densely populated northern Virginia were calculated using data collected during 1998. Mass-balance terms were precipitation; stream inflow, including road runoff; stream outflow; and contributions from leaching of pressure-treated lumber. More mass of arsenic and copper was input to the lake than was output; the 1998 lake-retention r
Authors
Karen C. Rice, Kathryn M. Conko, George M. Hornberger
Water-quality data collected at Lake Anne, Reston, Virginia, 1997-1999
Samples from the Lake Anne watershed were collected and analyzed to assess the water quality from December 1997 through January 1999. Lake Anne is a stream impoundment in suburban Northern Virginia and its outflow is a sub-tributary of the Potomac River. Samples of wet deposition (precipitation), lake water, and streamwater that drain into and from Lake Anne were collected and analyzed. Trace-elem
Authors
Kathryn M. Conko, Margaret M. Kennedy, Karen C. Rice
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 13
Surface disposal of produced waters in western and southwestern Pennsylvania: potential for accumulation of alkali-earth elements in sediments
Waters co-produced with hydrocarbons in the Appalachian Basin are of notably poor quality (concentrations of total dissolved solids (TDS) and total radium up to and exceeding 300,000 mg/L and 10,000 pCi/L, respectively). Since 2008, a rapid increase in Marcellus Shale gas production has led to a commensurate rise in associated wastewater while generation of produced water from conventional oil and
Authors
Katherine J. Skalak, Mark A. Engle, Elisabeth L. Rowan, Glenn D. Jolly, Kathryn M. Conko, Adam J. Benthem, Thomas F. Kraemer
Arsenic and mercury in the soils of an industrial city in the Donets Basin, Ukraine
Soil and house dust collected in and around Hg mines and a processing facility in Horlivka, a mid-sized city in the Donets Basin of southeastern Ukraine, have elevated As and Hg levels. Surface soils collected at a former Hg-processing facility had up to 1300 mg kg−1 As and 8800 mg kg−1 Hg; 1M HCl extractions showed 74–93% of the total As, and 1–13% of the total Hg to be solubilized, suggesting di
Authors
Kathryn M. Conko, Edward R. Landa, Allan Kolker, Kostiantyn Kozlov, Herman J. Gibb, Jose Centeno, Boris S. Panov, Yuri B. Panov
Environmental influences on the occurrences of sepiolite and palygorskite: a brief review
Sepiolite is a hydrous magnesium silicate formed by precipitation of near-surface brackish or saline waters, under semi-arid climatic conditions. Four major influences on the distribution of sepiolite are source materials, climate, physical parameters and associated phase relations. Two major pathways governing the occurrence of sepiolite and palygorskite are direct precipitation from solution, an
Authors
Blair F. Jones, Kathryn M. Conko
Biomarkers of mercury exposure in two eastern Ukraine cities
This study evaluates biomarkers of mercury exposure among residents of Horlivka, a city in eastern Ukraine located in an area with geologic and industrial sources of environmental mercury, and residents of Artemivsk, a nearby comparison city outside the mercury-enriched area. Samples of urine, blood, hair, and nails were collected from study participants, and a questionnaire was administered to ob
Authors
H. Gibb, C. Haver, K. Kozlov, J.A. Centeno, V. Jurgenson, Allan Kolker, Kathryn M. Conko, Edward R. Landa, H. Xu
Mercury and trace element contents of Donbas coals and associated mine water in the vicinity of Donetsk, Ukraine
Mercury-rich coals in the Donets Basin (Donbas region) of Ukraine were sampled in active underground mines to assess the levels of potentially harmful elements and the potential for dispersion of metals through use of this coal. For 29 samples representing c11 to m3 Carboniferous coals, mercury contents range from 0.02 to 3.5 ppm (whole-coal dry basis). Mercury is well correlated with pyritic sulf
Authors
A. Kolker, B.S. Panov, Y.B. Panov, E. R. Landa, K.M. Conko, V.A. Korchemagin, T. Shendrik, J.D. McCord
The effects of enhanced zinc on spatial memory and plaque formation in transgenic mice
There is considerable evidence suggesting that metals play a central role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. Reports suggest that elevated dietary metals may both precipitate and potentiate an Alzheimer's disease phenotype. Despite this, there remain few studies that have examined the behavioral consequences of elevated dietary metals in wild type and Alzheimer's disease animals. To furth
Authors
D.H. Linkous, P.A. Adlard, P.B. Wanschura, K.M. Conko, J.M. Flinn
Biomarkers of mercury exposure at a mercury recycling facility in Ukraine
This study evaluates biomarkers of occupational mercury exposure among workers at a mercury recycling operation in Gorlovka, Ukraine. The 29 study participants were divided into three occupational categories for analysis: (1) those who worked in the mercury recycling operation (Group A, n = 8), (2) those who worked at the facility but not in the yard where the recycling was done (Group B, n = 14),
Authors
H.J. Gibb, K. Kozlov, J.P. Buckley, J. Centeno, V. Jurgenson, A. Kolker, K. Conko, E. Landa, B. Panov, Y. Panov, H. Xu
Transmission of atmospherically derived trace elements through an undeveloped, forested Maryland watershed
The transmission of atmospherically derived trace elements (Al, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Se, and Zn) was evaluated in a small, undeveloped, forested watershed located in north-central Maryland. Atmospheric input was determined for wet-only and vegetative throughfall components. Annual throughfall fluxes were significantly enriched over incident precipitation for most elements, although some
Authors
J.R. Scudlark, Karen C. Rice, Kathryn M. Conko, Owen P. Bricker, T.M. Church
Atmospheric wet deposition of trace elements to a suburban environment, Reston, Virginia, USA
Wet deposition from a suburban area in Reston, Virginia was collected during 1998 and analyzed to assess the anion and trace-element concentrations and depositions. Suburban Reston, approximately 26 km west of Washington, DC, is densely populated and heavily developed. Wet deposition was collected bi-weekly in an automated collector using trace-element clean sampling and analytical techniques. The
Authors
Kathryn M. Conko, Karen C. Rice, Margaret M. Kennedy
Reply to comment on “Anthropogenic sources of arsenic and copper to sediments in a suburban lake, northern Virginia"
Saxe and Beck (1) raise two groups of questions regarding the mass-balance approach in our paper.(i) Only some of the data and calculations used for the mass balance were provided; the apparent number of samples collected is not sufficient to support a reliable mass balance; measurements were not made on all tributaries.
Authors
Karen C. Rice, Kathryn M. Conko, George M. Hornberger
Anthropogenic sources of arsenic and copper to sediments in a suburban lake, Northern Virginia
Mass balances of total arsenic and copper for a suburban lake in densely populated northern Virginia were calculated using data collected during 1998. Mass-balance terms were precipitation; stream inflow, including road runoff; stream outflow; and contributions from leaching of pressure-treated lumber. More mass of arsenic and copper was input to the lake than was output; the 1998 lake-retention r
Authors
Karen C. Rice, Kathryn M. Conko, George M. Hornberger
Water-quality data collected at Lake Anne, Reston, Virginia, 1997-1999
Samples from the Lake Anne watershed were collected and analyzed to assess the water quality from December 1997 through January 1999. Lake Anne is a stream impoundment in suburban Northern Virginia and its outflow is a sub-tributary of the Potomac River. Samples of wet deposition (precipitation), lake water, and streamwater that drain into and from Lake Anne were collected and analyzed. Trace-elem
Authors
Kathryn M. Conko, Margaret M. Kennedy, Karen C. Rice