Michelle Lorah
Dr. Michelle Lorah is a Research Hydrologist and has been with the U.S. Geological Survey in the Maryland Water Sciences Center since 1985, where she directs the Fate and Bioremediation Team. Her research focuses on contaminant fate, microbial community dynamincs, and developing bioremediation methods for a wide range of organic and inorganic contaminants in groundwater...
My research is focused on determining natural attenuation processes in complex environments, such as wetlands, sediment, and fractured rock, with the goal of enhancing or augmenting these processes to obtain efficient remediation of contaminants. This research includes defining anaerobic and aerobic degradation processes, microbial community dynamics, and controlling environmental factors. Much of my research has focused on chlorinated volatile organic compounds, including chlorinated methanes, ethenes, and benzenes, and development of bioremediation technologies for these widespread groundwater contaminants. I have led the development of an anaerobic dechlorinating consortium (WBC-2) for degradation of chlorinated solvents and of bio-reactive barriers or caps for application in bottom sediment and groundwater discharge areas. Additional research has included study of biodegradation of explosives compounds and perchlorate, natural attenuation of landfill leachate, and fate of nutrients in groundwater/surface-water discharge area.
Professional Experience
1994-Present, Research Hydrologist, U.S. Geological Survey, Baltimore, Maryland
Technical director of Fate and Bioremediation Team. Principal or co-principal investigator on projects investigating contaminant fate and remediation, with a specialization on complex hydrogeologic environments, including wetlands and other areas of ground-water-surface water interaction and fractured rock.
Education and Certifications
B.S. Pennsylvania State University, Geosciences/Minor- Marine Science, 1983
M.S. University of Virginia, Environmental Sciences- Geochemistry, 1987
Ph.D. University of Maryland, Marine-Estuarine-Environmental Sciences Program- Environmental Chemistry, 1999
Science and Products
Per-and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Integrated Science Team
PFAS Transport, Exposure, and Effects
A Field Method to Quantify Chlorinated Solvent Diffusion, Sorption, Abiotic and Biotic Degradation in Low-Permeability Zones
Region 1: North Atlantic-Appalachian PFAS Capability Team
Contaminant Fate and Transport Capabilities @ MD-DE-DC
Bioremediation in Wetland Areas, Standard Chlorine of Delaware Inc. Superfund Site, Delaware City, Delaware
Produced water chemistry data collected from the Poso Creek, Midway-Sunset, and Buena Vista Oil Fields, 2020-21, Kern County, California
Microbial community analyses of groundwater collected during an enhanced bioremediation experiment of trichlorethylene in a fractured rock aquifer, West Trenton, NJ (2008-2015)
Microbial Populations in PFHxSAm (perfluorohexane sulfonamido propyl amine) Biodegradation Microcosms
Volatile organic compound, polychlorinated biphenyl, and biogeochemical data from passive samplers and laboratory experiments for wetland bioremediation study, Standard Chlorine of Delaware, Inc. Superfund Site, New Castle County, Delaware, 2019–202
Produced water volatile organic compound and select organic and inorganic data collected from eight oil fields, 2016-2020, California
Volatile Organic Compound and Other Analyses Associated with Laboratory Microcosm Experiments to Determine Biodegradation Rates in Fractured Sedimentary Rock at the Former Naval Air Warfare Center in West Trenton, New Jersey, 2016–18
Volatile organic compound and metal concentrations associated with field sampling and laboratory experiments and in situ microcosm results, wetland bioremediation study, Standard Chlorine of Delaware, Inc. Superfund site, New Castle County, Delaware, 2015
Concentrations of Chlorinated Ethene Compounds in Rock Core Collected from the Mudstone Underlying the former Naval Air Warfare Center, West Trenton, New Jersey
Anaerobic biodegradation of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and microbial community composition in soil amended with a dechlorinating culture and chlorinated solvents
Nitrifying microorganisms linked to biotransformation of perfluoroalkyl sulfonamido precursors from legacy aqueous film forming foams
Improving understanding and coordination of science activities for PFAS in the Chesapeake watershed
Microbial community response to a bioaugmentation test to degrade trichloroethylene in a fractured rock aquifer, Trenton, N.J
Refining sources of polychlorinated biphenyls in the Back River watershed, Baltimore, Maryland, 2018–2020
Enhanced bioremediation of RDX and co-contaminants perchlorate and nitrate using an anaerobic dehalogenating consortium in a fractured rock aquifer
A borehole test for chlorinated solvent diffusion and degradation rates in sedimentary rock
We present a new field measurement and numerical interpretation method (combined termed ‘test’) to parameterize the diffusion of trichloroethene (TCE) and its biodegradation products (DPs) from the matrix of sedimentary rock. The method uses a dual-packer system to interrogate a low-permeability section of the rock matrix adjacent to a previously contaminated borehole and uses the borehole monitor
Sequential biodegradation of 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene at oxic-anoxic groundwater interfaces in model laboratory columns
Effective solubility assessment for organic analytes in liquid samples, BKK class I landfill, West Covina, California, 2014–16
The complex spatial distribution of trichloroethene and the probability of NAPL occurrence in the rock matrix of a mudstone aquifer
The effects of co-contaminants and native wetland sediments on the activity and dominant transformation mechanisms of a 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane (TeCA)-degrading enrichment culture
Organic and inorganic composition and microbiology of produced waters from Pennsylvania shale gas wells
Science and Products
Per-and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Integrated Science Team
PFAS Transport, Exposure, and Effects
A Field Method to Quantify Chlorinated Solvent Diffusion, Sorption, Abiotic and Biotic Degradation in Low-Permeability Zones
Region 1: North Atlantic-Appalachian PFAS Capability Team
Contaminant Fate and Transport Capabilities @ MD-DE-DC
Bioremediation in Wetland Areas, Standard Chlorine of Delaware Inc. Superfund Site, Delaware City, Delaware
Produced water chemistry data collected from the Poso Creek, Midway-Sunset, and Buena Vista Oil Fields, 2020-21, Kern County, California
Microbial community analyses of groundwater collected during an enhanced bioremediation experiment of trichlorethylene in a fractured rock aquifer, West Trenton, NJ (2008-2015)
Microbial Populations in PFHxSAm (perfluorohexane sulfonamido propyl amine) Biodegradation Microcosms
Volatile organic compound, polychlorinated biphenyl, and biogeochemical data from passive samplers and laboratory experiments for wetland bioremediation study, Standard Chlorine of Delaware, Inc. Superfund Site, New Castle County, Delaware, 2019–202
Produced water volatile organic compound and select organic and inorganic data collected from eight oil fields, 2016-2020, California
Volatile Organic Compound and Other Analyses Associated with Laboratory Microcosm Experiments to Determine Biodegradation Rates in Fractured Sedimentary Rock at the Former Naval Air Warfare Center in West Trenton, New Jersey, 2016–18
Volatile organic compound and metal concentrations associated with field sampling and laboratory experiments and in situ microcosm results, wetland bioremediation study, Standard Chlorine of Delaware, Inc. Superfund site, New Castle County, Delaware, 2015
Concentrations of Chlorinated Ethene Compounds in Rock Core Collected from the Mudstone Underlying the former Naval Air Warfare Center, West Trenton, New Jersey
Anaerobic biodegradation of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and microbial community composition in soil amended with a dechlorinating culture and chlorinated solvents
Nitrifying microorganisms linked to biotransformation of perfluoroalkyl sulfonamido precursors from legacy aqueous film forming foams
Improving understanding and coordination of science activities for PFAS in the Chesapeake watershed
Microbial community response to a bioaugmentation test to degrade trichloroethylene in a fractured rock aquifer, Trenton, N.J
Refining sources of polychlorinated biphenyls in the Back River watershed, Baltimore, Maryland, 2018–2020
Enhanced bioremediation of RDX and co-contaminants perchlorate and nitrate using an anaerobic dehalogenating consortium in a fractured rock aquifer
A borehole test for chlorinated solvent diffusion and degradation rates in sedimentary rock
We present a new field measurement and numerical interpretation method (combined termed ‘test’) to parameterize the diffusion of trichloroethene (TCE) and its biodegradation products (DPs) from the matrix of sedimentary rock. The method uses a dual-packer system to interrogate a low-permeability section of the rock matrix adjacent to a previously contaminated borehole and uses the borehole monitor