William H Orem, Ph.D.
William Orem (Bill), Ph.D. is a Supervisory Research Chemist (Geochemist) and Principal Investigator with the USGS Geology, Energy & Minerals (GEM) Science Center in Reston, VA.
Biography
Prior to joining the USGS, Dr. Orem was a National Research Council Postdoc for 2 years. His research at the USGS focuses on biogeochemistry and organic geochemistry. He currently leads several projects investigating: (1) human and environmental health impacts of energy resources, (2) environmental controls on mercury methylation in wetlands, and (3) microbial methanogenesis and natural gas production in coal, shale, and petroleum deposits. He oversees a 7 lab geochemistry and toxicology lab complex (Eastern Energy Environmental Labs, EEEL) and supervises lab personnel and visiting scientists. He has authored over 150 peer reviewed papers and 250 abstracts.
Education
- B.S. Chemistry, Lehigh University
- M.S. Oceanography, University of Delaware
- Ph.D. Chemistry, University of New Hampshire
Work Experience
- Research Chemist, U.S. Geological Survey (1984-present)
- Adjunct Faculty, University of Maryland, Department of Geology (1982-1992)
- National Research Council Postdoctoral Associate (1982-1984)
Science and Products
Bioassay for estimating the biogenic methane-generating potential of coal samples
Generation of secondary biogenic methane in coal beds is likely controlled by a combination of factors such as the bioavailability of coal carbon, the presence of a microbial community to convert coal carbon to methane, and an environment supporting microbial growth and methanogenesis. A set of treatments and controls was developed to bioassay the...
Jones, Elizabeth J.P.; Voytek, Mary A.; Warwick, Peter D.; Corum, M.D.; Cohn, Alexander G.; Bunnell, Joseph E.; Clark, Arthur C.; Orem, William H.
Total mercury, methylmercury, methylmercury production potential, and ancillary streambed-sediment and pore-water data for selected streams in Oregon, Wisconsin, and Florida, 2003-04
Mercury contamination of aquatic ecosystems is an issue of national concern, affecting both wildlife and human health. Detailed information on mercury cycling and food-web bioaccumulation in stream settings and the factors that control these processes is currently limited. In response, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Water-Quality...
Marvin-DiPasquale, Mark C.; Lutz, Michelle A.; Krabbenhoft, David P.; Aiken, George R.; Orem, William H.; Hall, Britt D.; DeWild, John F.; Brigham, Mark E. Chemical Results of Laboratory Dry/Rewet Experiments Conducted on Wetland Soils from Two Sites in the Everglades, Florida
Drought and fire are natural environmental factors that have historically impacted and shaped the Everglades ecosystem. For example, drought and fire help to maintain the existing ecosystem biotic assemblage by periodically eradicating invading flora not adapted to living with this normal aspect of Everglades' ecology. Flora native to the...
Orem, William H. Mercury, trace elements and organic constituents in atmospheric fine particulate matter, Shenandoah National Park, Virginia, USA: A combined approach to sampling and analysis
Compliance with U.S. air quality regulatory standards for atmospheric fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is based on meeting average 24 hour (35 μ m−3) and yearly (15 μg m−3) mass‐per‐unit‐volume limits, regardless of PM2.5 composition. Whereas this presents a workable regulatory framework, information on particle composition is needed to assess...
Kolker, A.; Engle, M.A.; Orem, W.H.; Bunnell, J.E.; Lerch, H.E.; Krabbenhoft, D.P.; Olson, M.L.; McCord, J.D. NMR and mass spectrometry of phosphorus in wetlands
There is at present little information on the long-term stability of phosphorus sequestered in wetlands. Phosphorus sequestered during high loading periods may be relatively unstable and easily remobilized following changes in nutrient status or hydrological regime, but the chemical forms of sequestered phosphorus that do remobilize are largely...
El-Rifai, H.; Heerboth, M.; Gedris, T.E.; Newman, S.; Orem, W.; Cooper, W.T. The role of lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase and organic substances from coal in the etiology of Balkan endemic nephropathy: A new hypothesis
Balkan endemic nephropathy (BEN) occurs in Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Croatia. BEN has been characterized as a chronic, slowly progressive renal disease of unknown etiology. In this study, we examined the influence of soluble organic compounds in drinking water leached from Pliocene lignite from BEN-endemic areas on...
Pavlovic, N.M.; Orem, W.H.; Tatu, C.A.; Lerch, H.E.; Bunnell, J.E.; Feder, G.L.; Kostic, E.N.; Ordodi, V.L. Sulfur Contamination in the Florida Everglades: Initial Examination of Mitigation Strategies
INTRODUCTION Sulfate contamination of the Everglades is a serious water quality issue facing restoration of this ecosystem. Sulfate concentrations in some marsh areas are more than 60 times background concentrations, and sulfate in excess of background levels covers an estimated 60% of the freshwater Everglades (Orem et al., 1997; Stober et al...
Orem, William H.
Assessment of groundwater input and water quality changes impacting natural vegetation in the Loxahatchee River and floodplain ecosystem, Florida
The Loxahatchee River and Estuary are small, shallow, water bodies located in southeastern Florida. Historically, the Northwest Branch (Fork) of the Loxahatchee River was primarily a freshwater system. In 1947, the river inlet at Jupiter was dredged for navigation and has remained permanently open since that time. Drainage patterns within the...
Orem, William H.; Swarzenski, Peter W.; McPherson, Benjamin F.; Hedgepath, Marion; Lerch, Harry E.; Reich, Christopher; Torres, Arturo E.; Corum, M.D.; Roberts, Richard E. Organic geochemistry of sediments in nearshore areas of the Mississippi and Atchafalaya rivers: I. General organic characterization
This report presents results on the general organic characteristics of sediment cores collected from the coastal zone of the Mississippi River system, including distributions of the important nutrient elements (C, N, P, and S). This was part of a larger study conducted from 2001-2005 to examine the delivery of sediment-associated contaminants to...
Orem, William H.; Rosenbauer, Robert J.; Swarzenski, Peter W.; Lerch, Harry E.; Corum, M.D.; Bates, Anne L. Evaluating nephrotoxicity of high-molecular-weight organic compounds in drinking water from lignite aquifers
High-molecular-weight organic compounds such as humic acids and/or fulvic acids that are naturally mobilized from lignite beds into untreated drinking-water supplies were suggested as one possible cause of Balkan endemic nephropathy (BEN) and cancer of the renal pelvis. A lab investigation was undertaken in order to assess the nephrotoxic...
Bunnell, J.E.; Tatu, C.A.; Lerch, H.E.; Orem, W.H.; Pavlovic, N. Lateral variation in geochemistry, petrology, and palynology in the Elswick coal bed, Pike County, Kentucky
The Middle Pennsylvanian/Langsettian (Westphalian A) Elswick coal bed, correlative to the Upper Banner of Virginia, is a rare example of a mined high-sulfur (> 2%) coal in Eastern Kentucky, a region known for low-sulfur coals. To characterize lateral variation in the geochemistry, petrography, and palynology of the Elswick coal bed, three sites...
Hower, J.C.; Ruppert, L.F.; Eble, C.F. Organic compounds in produced waters from coalbed natural gas wells in the Powder River Basin, Wyoming, USA
The organic composition of produced water samples from coalbed natural gas (CBNG) wells in the Powder River Basin, WY, sampled in 2001 and 2002 are reported as part of a larger study of the potential health and environmental effects of organic compounds derived from coal. The quality of CBNG produced waters is a potential environmental concern and...
Orem, W.H.; Tatu, C.A.; Lerch, H.E.; Rice, C.A.; Bartos, T.T.; Bates, A.L.; Tewalt, S.; Corum, M.D.