Isabelle M. Cozzarelli, Ph.D.
(She, Her, Hers)Isabelle Cozzarelli is a Research Hydrologist with the USGS Geology, Energy & Minerals (GEM) Science Center in Reston, VA.
Isabelle uses a combined field and laboratory experimental approach to investigate biogeochemical processes in shallow groundwater and surface water environments that affect water availability. She uses a multi-disciplinary and multi-scale approach to study processes in environments stressed by anthropogenic inputs of biodegradable carbon, such as crude oil, landfill leachate, and oil and gas wastes.
Work Assignment
As a research hydrologist in the Geology, Energy, and Minerals Science Center I conduct long-term research on the fate and geochemical effect of organic contaminants in surface and subsurface environments. I use a combined field and laboratory approach in a variety of hydrogeologic environments in order to meet these objectives. I am currently a principal investigator for projects at unconventional oil and gas (UOG) drilling and disposal sites, the Bemidji, MN crude oil spill site and landfill-leachate and wastewater affected sites. My research at these sites focuses on the long-term evolution of biogeochemical zones in the aquifers and the natural attenuation of contaminants. The impact of chemical heterogeneity and the availability of electron acceptors on the extent of biodegradation have been a major thrust of my work. I have also studied aquifers affected by creosote and gasoline releases, with an emphasis on understanding the fate of metabolites in shallow aquifers.
Professional Experience
2020-present: Research Hydrologist, USGS, Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center, Reston, VA, USA
2017-2020: Research Hydrologist, USGS Water Mission Area Headquarters, Reston, VA, USA
1985-2017: Research Hydrologist, USGS National Research Program, USGS, Reston, Virginia, USA
1983-1985: Research Assistant, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
Education and Certifications
Ph.D. University of Virginia, Environmental Sciences-Geochemistry, 1993
M.S. University of Virginia, Environmental Sciences-Geochemistry, 1986
B.S. University of Rochester, Geomechanics, 1983
Affiliations and Memberships*
2016-present: Adjunct Faculty, Department of Geosciences, Virginia Tech
Honors and Awards
2023: Friend of Water-Rock Interaction & Applied Isotope Geochemistry Award, International Association of Geochemistry
2017: USGS Meritorious Service Award
2005: Elected GSA Fellow
2005: USGS Superior Service Award
Science and Products
Partial release of iron, alkalinity, and oxygen data from Bemidji crude oil site, Minnesota 1993-2016
The role of alluvial aquifer sediments in attenuating a dissolved arsenic plume data release
Examining natural attenuation and acute toxicity of petroleum-derived dissolved organic matter with optical spectroscopy
Common hydraulic fracturing fluid additives alter the structure and function of anaerobic microbial communities
A mass balance approach to investigate arsenic cycling in a petroleum plume
Degradation of crude 4-MCHM (4-methylcyclohexanemethanol) in sediments from Elk River, West Virginia
The role of alluvial aquifer sediments in attenuating a dissolved arsenic plume
Evidence of coupled carbon and iron cycling at a hydrocarbon-contaminated site from time lapse magnetic susceptibility
Shifts in microbial community structure and function in surface waters impacted by unconventional oil and gas wastewater revealed by metagenomics
Environmental signatures and effects of an oil and gas wastewater spill in the Williston Basin, North Dakota
Preliminary results from exploratory sampling of wells for the California oil, gas, and groundwater program, 2014–15
Endocrine disrupting activities of surface water associated with a West Virginia oil and gas industry wastewater disposal site
Wastewater disposal from unconventional oil and gas development degrades stream quality at a West Virginia injection facility
Municipal solid waste landfills harbor distinct microbiomes
Science and Products
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- Data
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Partial release of iron, alkalinity, and oxygen data from Bemidji crude oil site, Minnesota 1993-2016
In a crude-oil-contaminated sandy aquifer at the Bemidji site in northern Minnesota, biodegradation of petroleum hydrocarbons resulted in transient increases in magnetic susceptibility under high water table conditions. The magnetic susceptibility subsequently decreased again when the water table dropped. This data set was assembled to illustrate the cause of the magnetic susceptibility changes. TThe role of alluvial aquifer sediments in attenuating a dissolved arsenic plume data release
In a crude-oil-contaminated sandy aquifer at the Bemidji site in northern Minnesota, biodegradation of petroleum hydrocarbons has resulted in release of naturally occurring As to groundwater under Fe-reducing conditions. This data set was collected for a study that used chemical extractions of aquifer sediments collected in 1993 and 2011-2014 to evaluate the relationship between Fe and As in diffe - Multimedia
- Publications
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Examining natural attenuation and acute toxicity of petroleum-derived dissolved organic matter with optical spectroscopy
Groundwater samples containing petroleum-derived dissolved organic matter (DOMHC) originating from the north oil body within the National Crude Oil Spill Fate and Natural Attenuation Research Site near Bemidji, MN, USA were analyzed by optical spectroscopic techniques (i.e., absorbance and fluorescence) to assess relationships that can be used to examine natural attenuation and toxicity of DOMHC iAuthorsDavid C. Podgorski, Phoebe Zito, Jennifer McGuire, Dalma Martinovic-Weigelt, Isabelle M. Cozzarelli, Barbara A. Bekins, Robert G. M. SpencerCommon hydraulic fracturing fluid additives alter the structure and function of anaerobic microbial communities
The development of unconventional oil and gas (UOG) resources results in the production of large volumes of wastewater containing a complex mixture of hydraulic fracturing chemical additives and components from the formation. The release of these wastewaters into the environment poses potential risks that are poorly understood. Microbial communities in stream sediments form the base of the food chAuthorsAdam C. Mumford, Denise M. Akob, J. Grace Klinges, Isabelle M. CozzarelliA mass balance approach to investigate arsenic cycling in a petroleum plume
Natural attenuation of organic contaminants in groundwater can give rise to a series of complex biogeochemical reactions that release secondary contaminants to groundwater. In a crude oil contaminated aquifer, biodegradation of petroleum hydrocarbons is coupled with the reduction of ferric iron (Fe(III)) hydroxides in aquifer sediments. As a result, naturally occurring arsenic (As) adsorbed to Fe(AuthorsBrady A. Ziegler, Madeline E. Schreiber, Isabelle M. Cozzarelli, Ng. G.-H. CrystalDegradation of crude 4-MCHM (4-methylcyclohexanemethanol) in sediments from Elk River, West Virginia
In January 2014, approximately 37 800 L of crude 4-methylcyclohexanemethanol (crude MCHM) spilled into the Elk River, West Virginia. To understand the long-term fate of 4-MCHM, we conducted experiments under environmentally relevant conditions to assess the potential for the 2 primary compounds in crude MCHM (1) to undergo biodegradation and (2) for sediments to serve as a long-term source of 4-MCAuthorsIsabelle M. Cozzarelli, Denise M. Akob, Mary Jo Baedecker, Tracey Spencer, Jeanne B. Jaeschke, Darren S. Dunlap, Adam C. Mumford, Amisha T. Poret-Peterson, Douglas B. ChambersThe role of alluvial aquifer sediments in attenuating a dissolved arsenic plume
In a crude-oil-contaminated sandy aquifer at the Bemidji site in northern Minnesota, biodegradation of petroleum hydrocarbons has resulted in release of naturally occurring As to groundwater under Fe-reducing conditions. This study used chemical extractions of aquifer sediments collected in 1993 and 2011–2014 to evaluate the relationship between Fe and As in different redox zones (oxic, methanogenAuthorsBrady A. Ziegler, Madeline E. Schreiber, Isabelle M. CozzarelliEvidence of coupled carbon and iron cycling at a hydrocarbon-contaminated site from time lapse magnetic susceptibility
Conventional characterization and monitoring of hydrocarbon (HC) pollution is often expensive and time-consuming. Magnetic susceptibility (MS) has been proposed as an inexpensive, long-term monitoring proxy of the degradation of HC. We acquired repeated down hole MS logging data in boreholes at a HC-contaminated field research site in Bemidji, MN, USA. The MS data were analyzed in conjunction withAuthorsAnders L. Lund, Lee D. Slater, Estella A. Atekwana, Dimitrios Ntarlagiannis, Isabelle M. Cozzarelli, Barbara A. BekinsShifts in microbial community structure and function in surface waters impacted by unconventional oil and gas wastewater revealed by metagenomics
Unconventional oil and gas (UOG) production produces large quantities of wastewater with complex geochemistry and largely uncharacterized impacts on surface waters. In this study, we assessed shifts in microbial community structure and function in sediments and waters upstream and downstream from a UOG wastewater disposal facility. To do this, quantitative PCR for 16S rRNA and antibiotic resistancAuthorsN.L. Fahrenfeld, Hannah Delos Reyes, Alessia Eramo, Denise M. Akob, Adam Mumford, Isabelle M. CozzarelliEnvironmental signatures and effects of an oil and gas wastewater spill in the Williston Basin, North Dakota
Wastewaters from oil and gas development pose largely unknown risks to environmental resources. In January 2015, 11.4 M L (million liters) of wastewater (300 g/L TDS) from oil production in the Williston Basin was reported to have leaked from a pipeline, spilling into Blacktail Creek, North Dakota. Geochemical and biological samples were collected in February and June 2015 to identify geochemicalAuthorsIsabelle M. Cozzarelli, Katherine Skalak, D.B. Kent, Mark A. Engle, Adam J. Benthem, Adam Mumford, Karl B. Haase, Aïda M. Farag, David Harper, S. C. Nagel, Luke R. Iwanowicz, William H. Orem, Denise M. Akob, Jeanne B. Jaeschke, Joel M. Galloway, Matthias Kohler, Deborah L. Stoliker, Glenn D. JollyPreliminary results from exploratory sampling of wells for the California oil, gas, and groundwater program, 2014–15
Introduction In 2014 and 2015, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) sampled water wells in the Los Angeles Basin and southern San Joaquin Valley, California, and oil wells in the San Joaquin Valley for analysis of multiple chemical, isotopic, and groundwater-age tracers. The purpose of this reconnaissance sampling was to evaluate the utility of tracers for assessing the effects of oil and gas productAuthorsPeter B. McMahon, Justin T. Kulongoski, Michael T. Wright, Michael T. Land, Matthew K. Landon, Isabelle M. Cozzarelli, Avner Vengosh, George R. AikenEndocrine disrupting activities of surface water associated with a West Virginia oil and gas industry wastewater disposal site
Currently, >95% of end disposal of hydraulic fracturing wastewater from unconventional oil and gas operations in the US occurs via injection wells. Key data gaps exist in understanding the potential impact of underground injection on surface water quality and environmental health. The goal of this study was to assess endocrine disrupting activity in surface water at a West Virginia injection wellAuthorsChristopher D. Kassotis, Luke R. Iwanowicz, Denise M. Akob, Isabelle M. Cozzarelli, Adam Mumford, William H. Orem, Susan C. NagelWastewater disposal from unconventional oil and gas development degrades stream quality at a West Virginia injection facility
The development of unconventional oil and gas (UOG) resources has rapidly increased in recent years; however, the environmental impacts and risks are poorly understood. A single well can generate millions of liters of wastewater, representing a mixture of formation brine and injected hydraulic fracturing fluids. One of the most common methods for wastewater disposal is underground injection; we arAuthorsDenise M. Akob, Adam Mumford, William H. Orem, Mark A. Engle, Julia (Grace) Klinges, Douglas B. Kent, Isabelle M. CozzarelliMunicipal solid waste landfills harbor distinct microbiomes
Landfills are the final repository for most of the discarded material from human society and its “built environments.” Microorganisms subsequently degrade this discarded material in the landfill, releasing gases (largely CH4 and CO2) and a complex mixture of soluble chemical compounds in leachate. Characterization of “landfill microbiomes” and their comparison across several landfills should allowAuthorsBlake W. Stamps, Christopher N. Lyles, Joseph M. Suflita, Jason R. Masoner, Isabelle M. Cozzarelli, Dana W. Kolpin, Bradley S. Stevenson - News
*Disclaimer: Listing outside positions with professional scientific organizations on this Staff Profile are for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement of those professional scientific organizations or their activities by the USGS, Department of the Interior, or U.S. Government