Transcribed Excerpts from Clair Cameron Patterson's Biography

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Transcribed Excerpts from Clair Cameron Patterson's Biography

Transcribed Excerpt from Biography of Clair Cameron Patterson, 1998 Claire Patterson was an energetic, innovative, determined scientist whose pioneering work stretched across an unusual number of sub-disciplines, including archeology, meteorology, oceanography, and environmental science—besides chemistry and geology. He is best known for his determination of the age of the Earth. That was possible only after he had spent some five years establishing methods for the separation and isotopic analysis of lead at microgram and sub-microgram levels. His techniques opened a new field in lead isotope geochemistry for terrestrial as well as for planetary studies. Whereas terrestrial lead isotope data had been based entirely on galena ore samples, isotopes could finally be measured on ordinary igneous rocks and sediments, greatly expanding the utility of the technique. While subsequently applying the methodology to ocean sediments, he came to the conclusion that the input of lead into the oceans was much greater than the removal of lead to sediments, because human activities were polluting the environment with unprecedented, possibly dangerous, levels of lead. Then followed years of study and debate involving him and other investigators and politicians over control of lead in the environment. In the end, his basic views prevailed, resulting in drastic reductions in the amount of lead entering the environment. Thus, in addition to measuring the age of the Earth and significantly expanding the field of lead isotope geochemistry, Patterson applied his scientific expertise to create a healthier environment for society. IOWA DEPARTMENT OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS 600 E. LOCUST ST. DES MOINES, IA 50319 IOWACULTURE.GOV .

Copy Link

Recommended publications

Health Concerns of Heavy Metals (Pb; Cd; Hg) and Metalloids (As)
Health concerns of the heavy metals and metalloids Chris Cooksey • Toxicity - acute and chronic • Arsenic • Mercury • Lead • Cadmium Toxicity - acute and chronic Acute - LD50 Trevan, J. W., 'The error of determination of toxicity', Proc. Royal Soc., 1927, 101B, 483-514 LD50 (rat, oral) mg/kg CdS 7080 NaCl 3000 As 763 HgCl 210 NaF 52 Tl2SO4 16 NaCN 6.4 HgCl2 1 Hodge and Sterner Scale (1943) Toxicity Commonly used term LD50 (rat, oral) Rating 1 Extremely Toxic <=1 2 Highly Toxic 1 - 50 3 Moderately Toxic 50 - 500 4 Slightly Toxic 500 - 5000 5 Practically Non-toxic 5000 - 15000 6 Relatively Harmless >15000 GHS - CLP LD50 Category <=5 1 Danger 5 - 50 2 Danger 50 - 300 3 Danger 300 - 2000 4 Warning Globally Harmonised System of Classification and Labelling and Packaging of Chemicals CLP-Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 Toxicity - acute and chronic Chronic The long-term effect of sub-lethal exposure • Toxicity - acute and chronic • Arsenic • Mercury • Lead • Cadmium Arsenic • Pesticide o Inheritance powder • Taxidermy • Herbicide o Agent Blue • Pigments • Therapeutic uses Inorganic arsenic poisoning kills by allosteric inhibition of essential metabolic enzymes, leading to death from multi- system organ failure. Arsenicosis - chronic arsenic poisoning. Arsenic LD50 rat oral mg/kg 10000 1000 LD50 100 10 1 Arsine Arsenic acid Trimethylarsine Emerald green ArsenicArsenious trisulfide oxideSodium arsenite MethanearsonicDimethylarsinic acid acid Arsenic poisoning by volatile arsenic compounds from mouldy wall paper in damp rooms • Gmelin (1839) toxic mould gas • Selmi (1874) AsH3 • Basedow (1846) cacodyl oxide • Gosio (1893) alkyl arsine • Biginelli (1893) Et2AsH • Klason (1914) Et2AsO • Challenger (1933) Me3As • McBride & Wolfe (1971) Me2AsH or is it really true ? William R.
[Show full text]
Historical Group
Historical Group NEWSLETTER and SUMMARY OF PAPERS No. 61 Winter 2012 Registered Charity No. 207890 COMMITTEE Chairman: Prof A T Dronsfield, School of Education, | Prof J Betteridge (Twickenham, Middlesex) Health and Sciences, University of Derby, | Dr N G Coley (Open University) Derby, DE22 1GB [e-mail [email protected]] | Dr C J Cooksey (Watford, Hertfordshire) Secretary: | Prof E Homburg (University of Maastricht) Prof W P Griffith, Department of Chemistry, | Prof F James (Royal Institution) Imperial College, South Kensington, London, | Dr D Leaback (Biolink Technology) SW7 2AZ [e-mail [email protected]] | Dr P J T Morris (Science Museum) Treasurer; Membership Secretary: | Prof. J. W. Nicholson (University of Greenwich) Dr J A Hudson, Graythwaite, Loweswater, | Mr P N Reed (Steensbridge, Herefordshire) Cockermouth, Cumbria, CA13 0SU | Dr V Quirke (Oxford Brookes University) [e-mail [email protected]] | Dr S Robinson (Ham, Surrey) Newsletter Editor: | Prof. H. Rzepa (Imperial College) Dr A Simmons, Epsom Lodge, | Dr. A Sella (University College) La Grande Route de St Jean,St John, Jersey, JE3 4FL [e-mail [email protected]] Newsletter Production: Dr G P Moss, School of Biological and Chemical, Sciences Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London E1 4NS [e-mail [email protected]] http://www.chem.qmul.ac.uk/rschg/ http://www.rsc.org/membership/networking/interestgroups/historical/index.asp Contents From the Editor 2 RSC Historical Group News - Bill Griffith 3 Identification Query - W. H. Brock 4 Members’ Publications 5 NEWS AND UPDATES 6 USEFUL WEBSITES AND ADDRESSES 7 SHORT ESSAYS 9 The Copperas Works at Tankerton - Chris Cooksey 9 Mauveine - the final word? (3) - Chris Cooksey and H.
[Show full text]
SULLIVAN-THESIS-2017.Pdf (2.553Mb)
APPLICATIONS OF THE OSMIUM ISOTOPIC SYSTEM AND RHENIUM- PLATINUM GROUP ELEMENT CONCENTRATIONS IN ORGANIC-RICH MUD ROCKS FROM THE EAGLE FORD FORMATION, TEXAS: A GEOCHEMISTRY AND REDOX STUDY A Thesis Presented to the Faculty of the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences University of Houston ________________________________________ In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Science _________________________________________ By Daniel Louis Sullivan May 2017 APPLICATIONS OF THE OSMIUM ISOTOPIC SYSTEM AND RHENIUM- PLATINUM GROUP ELEMENT CONCENTRATIONS IN ORGANIC-RICH MUD ROCKS FROM THE EAGLE FORD FORMATION, TEXAS: A GEOCHEMISTRY AND REDOX STUDY _______________________________________ Dan Sullivan APPROVED: _______________________________________ Dr. Alan Brandon, Chairman _______________________________________ Dr. Qi Fu _______________________________________ Dr. Steven Bergman _______________________________________ Dean, College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics ii “True scientific discovery renders the brain incapable at such moments of shouting vigorously to the world ‘Look at what I’ve done! Now I will reap the benefits of recognition and wealth.’ Instead such discovery instinctively forces the brain to thunder ‘We did it’ in a voice no one else can hear, within its sacred, but lonely, chapel of scientific thought. — Clair Cameron Patterson, reacting to being the first person to discover the age of the earth. “I believe in intuition and inspiration. Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge
[Show full text]
Catherine A. Wright
In the Darkness Grows the Green: The Promise of a New Cosmological Horizon of Meaning Within a Critical Inquiry of Human Suffering and the Cross by Catherine A. Wright A Thesis submitted to the Faculty of Regis College and the Theology Department of the Toronto School of Theology in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Theology awarded by the University of St. Michael's College © Copyright by Catherine A. Wright 2015 In The Darkness Grows the Green: The Promise of a New Cosmological Horizon of Meaning Within a Critical Inquiry of Human Suffering and the Cross Catherine A. Wright Doctor of Philosophy in Theology Regis College and the University of St. Michael’s College 2015 Abstract Humans have been called “mud of the earth,”i organic stardust animated by the Ruah of our Creator,ii and microcosms of the macrocosm.iii Since we now understand in captivating detail how humanity has emerged from the cosmos, then we must awaken to how humanity is “of the earth” in all the magnificence and brokenness that this entails. This thesis will demonstrate that there are no easy answers nor complete theological systems to derive satisfying answers to the mystery of human suffering. Rather, this thesis will uncover aspects of sacred revelation offered in and through creation that could mould distinct biospiritual human imaginations and cultivate the Earth literacy required to construct an ecological theological anthropology (ETA). It is this ecocentric interpretive framework that could serve as vital sustenance and a vision of hope for transformation when suffering befalls us.
[Show full text]
Pb) and Clinical Disparities in Pre- and Post-Katrina New Orleans
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2014, 11, 7482-7491; doi:10.3390/ijerph110707482 OPEN ACCESS International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ISSN 1660-4601 www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph Review Evolving from Reactive to Proactive Medicine: Community Lead (Pb) and Clinical Disparities in Pre- and Post-Katrina New Orleans Howard W. Mielke 1,*, Christopher Gonzales 2,†, Eric Powell 2 and Paul W. Mielke 3,† 1 Department of Pharmacology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA 2 Lead Lab, Inc., New Orleans, LA 70119, USA; E-Mails: [email protected] (C.G.); [email protected] (E.P.) 3 Department of Statistics, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA; E-Mail: [email protected] † These authors contributed equally to this work. * Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: [email protected]; Tel.: +1-504-988-3889; Fax: +1-504-988-6428. Received: 16 December 2013; in revised form: 12 March 2014 / Accepted: 13 March 2014 / Published: 21 July 2014 Abstract: In 2012 the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) set the blood Pb reference value at ≥5 µg/dL. Clinical analysis of children’s blood Pb levels is the common way to diagnose environmental Pb contamination, and intervention ensues with education and household dust cleanup. Recent review indicates that education and household dust cleanup are not effective at reducing children’s Pb exposure. Here we review mapping environmental Pb and children’s blood Pb response as an alternative approach for proactive Pb dust intervention. New Orleans was divided into a high (≥100 mg/kg) and low (<100 mg/kg) soil Pb communities.
[Show full text]
Age of the Earth
Age of the Earth The age of the Earth is 4.54 ± 0.05 billion years (4.54 × 109 years ± 1%).[1][2][3][4] This age may represent the age of the Earth's accretion, of core formation, or of the material from which the Earth formed.[2] This dating is based on evidence from radiometric age-dating of meteorite[5] material and is consistent with the radiometric ages of the oldest- known terrestrial and lunar samples. Following the development of radiometric age-dating in the early 20th century, measurements of lead in uranium-rich minerals showed that some were in excess of a billion years old.[6] The oldest such minerals analyzed to date— small crystals of zircon from the Jack Hills of Western Australia—are at least 4.404 billion years old.[7][8][9] Calcium–aluminium-rich inclusions—the oldest known solid constituents within meteorites that are formed within the Solar System—are 4.567 billion years old,[10][11] giving a lower limit for the age of The Blue Marble, Earth as seen from the solar system. Apollo 17 It is hypothesised that the accretion of Earth began soon after the formation of the calcium-aluminium-rich inclusions and the meteorites. Because the exact amount of time this accretion process took is not yet known, and the predictions from different accretion models range from a few million up to about 100 million years, the exact age of Earth is difficult to determine. It is also difficult to determine the exact age of the oldest rocks on Earth, exposed at the surface, as they are aggregates of minerals of possibly different ages.
[Show full text]
UNIVERSITY of CALIFORNIA Los Angeles Fractured Politics
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA Los Angeles Fractured Politics: The Evolution of Oil and Gas Well Stimulation Regulation in California A dissertation submitted in partial satisfaction of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Philosophy in Urban Planning by Adam John Dorr 2017 © Copyright by Adam John Dorr 2017 ABSTRACT OF THE DISSERTATION Fractured Politics: The Evolution of Oil and Gas Well Stimulation Regulation in California by Adam John Dorr Doctor of Philosophy in Urban Planning University of California, Los Angeles, 2017 Professor Susanna B. Hecht, Chair California has been an oil and gas state throughout its history. In the latter half of 19th Century and first half of the 20th Century, hydrocarbon extraction helped define both Californian prosperity and the early promise of the West. Many decades later, the Energy Act of 2005 helped to revitalize domestic oil and gas production by exempting a suite of new “enhanced recovery techniques” for well stimulation, commonly referred to as “fracking”, under major federal environmental regulations. This dissertation research engages the subsoil political ecology of California’s petroleum sector in order to explain how well stimulation regulation evolved in California following the rapid deployment of fracking technology across the country that ii triggered a decade of “Shale Revolution” beginning in 2006. Well stimulation in California represents a case study of the intensely politicized and contested evolution of extractive regimes and their environmental governance at subnational scales in the wake of disruptive technological change. The embedded single-case design employed in this research targets two units of analysis: regulation and frames. Regulation is analyzed using Governance and Political Economy Analysis to assess the structural, institutional, and stakeholder dynamics of California’s oil and gas sector, while frames are analyzed using Frame Analysis of news media and semi-structured open-ended interviews to examine how discourse coalitions construct narratives with which to advance their agendas.
[Show full text]
Full Transcript of Clair Cameron Patterson's Biography
Biography of Clair Cameron Patterson, 1998 Clair Cameron Patterson June 2, 1922- December 1995 By George R. Tilton Clair Patterson was an energetic, innovative, determined scientist whose pioneering work stretched across an unusual number of sub-disciplines, including archeology, meteorology, oceanography, and environmental science — besides chemistry and geology. He is best known for his determination of the age of the Earth. That was possible only after he had spent some five years establishing methods for the separation and isotopic analysis of lead at microgram and sub-microgram levels. His techniques opened a new field in lead isotope geochemistry for terrestrial as well as for planetary studies. Whereas terrestrial lead isotope could finally be measured on ordinary igneous rocks and sediments, greatly expanding the utility of the technique. While subsequently applying the methodology to ocean sediments, he came to the conclusion that the input of lead into the oceans was much greater than the removal of lead to sediments, because human activities were polluting the environment with unprecedented, possibly dangerous, levels of lead. Then followed years of study and debate involving him and other investigators and politicians over control of lead in the environment. In the end, his basic views prevailed, resulting in drastic reductions in the amount of lead entering the environment. Thus, in addition to measuring the age of the Earth and significantly expanding the field of lead isotope geochemistry, Patterson applied his scientific expertise to create a healthier environment for society. Clair Patterson (known as “Pat” to friends) was born and grew up in Mitchellville, Iowa, near Des Moines.
[Show full text]
Illustrated Holocene Era Timeline
Illustrated Holocene Era Timeline: Human Achievements, Advancements, Innovations, and Understanding in Science using EMILIANI’s HE calendar Ruthie S. Premack Author / Compiler Technical Advisor Paul Premack Phone Edition 12,019 HE I dedicate this book To: the wonderful man who is my husband Paul Premack, our adult children Tiffany and Benjamin, his wife Kira, my mother Jo Ann Simons Stier for their love, brains, attention to detail, laughter, and thoughtfulness and to my dad Herb Stier; To: CESARE EMILIANI, who first had the idea for the Holocene Era (HE) calendar; and To: any human who can open their mind to seeing the (HE) flow of human accomplishment and to being enchanted, shocked, disappointed, or amazed by the wonders and realities of science. © 2019 (12,019 HE), Ruthie S. Premack, all rights reserved. Any portion, but not the entirety, of this book may be reproduced without permission from the author so long as this book is cited as the source and entries are not altered. Some text in this Timeline is from or based upon entries in Wikipedia. Use is permitted because we have provided credit to the authors by including a URL to the page or pages used. All entries based upon Wikipedia materials is released under CC BY-SA: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ Table of Contents ABOUT THE HE CALENDAR AND FORMATTING ............................... 7 AUTHOR / COMPILER’S PREFACE ........................................................ 10 CHAPTER ONE APPETIZERS ............................................................. 12 CHAPTER TWO BEFORE THE HOLOCENE ERA: THE BIG BANG TO THE STONE AGE .............................................. 45 CHAPTER THREE 1 HE: BEGINNING OF THE HOLOCENE ERA ....................................................................................
[Show full text]
Bergman, B. P. (2017) Lead, Isotopes and Ice: a Deadly Legacy Revealed. Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 452, Pp
Bergman, B. P. (2017) Lead, isotopes and ice: a deadly legacy revealed. Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 452, pp. 283-291. (doi:10.1144/sp452.2) This is the author’s final accepted version. There may be differences between this version and the published version. You are advised to consult the publisher’s version if you wish to cite from it. http://eprints.gla.ac.uk/134463/ Deposited on: 10 February 2017 Enlighten – Research publications by members of the University of Glasgow http://eprints.gla.ac.uk Lead, Isotopes and Ice BEVERLY P BERGMAN Institute of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8RZ, UK [email protected] Short running title: Lead, Isotopes and Ice Corresponding Author: Dr BP Bergman MB ChB Institute of Health and Wellbeing 1 Lilybank Gardens Glasgow G12 8RZ Telephone: (++)44 141 330 7173 E-mail: [email protected] Word count: Main text: 5,538 Abstract: 196 1 ABSTRACT The earliest known use of lead was in the Neolithic period; by Roman times, it was in widespread use, despite recognition that it could have adverse effects on human health. The early smelting processes were inefficient, giving rise to atmospheric pollution; as this reduced with modern improvements in furnace design, so pollution due to the addition of tetraethyl lead to motor fuel emerged. The military use of lead was a further source of environmental contamination, whilst individuals were exposed to lead from water pipes, paint and solder in food cans. Studies of lead in ice cores recovered from Greenland demonstrated a 200-fold increase in lead concentration from 800 BCE to the 1960s, with the greatest increase occurring after 1940.
[Show full text]
CHEMISTRY: SOAPS and DETERGENTS About Soaps Soaps
CHEMISTRY: SOAPS AND DETERGENTS About soaps Soaps are anionic surfactants used for washing and cleaning. Surfactants are wetting agents that lower the surface tension of a liquid Soaps consist of sodium or potassium salts of fatty acids. They are obtained by reacting common oils or fats with a strong alkaline solution The earliest recorded evidence for use of soap is from Babylon c. 2800 BC Mode of action Soap molecules have both a hydrophilic end and a hydrophobic end The hydrophilic end dissolves in water, while the hydrophobic end dissolves dirt and oil molecules As a result, although water and oil don’t mix, soaps allow oil to dissolve in water, allowing them to be rinsed away Thus, soaps allow water to remove normally insoluble matter by emulsification Detergents Detergents are surfactants other than soap Detergents are commonly used as industrial soaps, due to their heavy duty grease removal capabilities Soaps differs from detergents in that in the case of former, excess of fat is used to consume the alkali and the glycerine is not removed, leaving a naturally moisturising soap In general detergents are substances that have cleaning properties. By definition, even water is a detergent BIOLOGY: NUTRITION Overview Nutrition is the supply to cells and organisms, of the materials necessary to support life Many common health problems can be prevented by a healthy diet A poor diet can have injurious impact on health, leading to problems such as scurvy, beriberi and kwashiorkor A healthy diet can also significantly prevent and mitigate systemic diseases like cardiovascular disease, diabetes and osteoporosis Eating a wide variety of fresh, unprocessed food has proven favourable compared to monotonous diets of processed food Consumption of whole plant foods slows digestion, allows better absorption and a more favourable balance of nutrients Nutrients There are six major classes of nutrients: carbohydrates, fats, minerals, proteins, vitamins and water These can be classified into o Macronutrients: nutrients needed in large quantities.
[Show full text]
Making a World of Difference: Engineering Ideas Into Reality
Making a World of Difference: Engineering Ideas into Reality Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved. Making a World of Difference: Engineering Ideas into Reality The broad topics selected for inclusion in Making a World of Difference: Engineering Ideas into Reality—computers and computing power; communications, Internet, and World Wide Web; health care; energy and sustainability—are intended to illustrate the myriad ways engineering is essential to the quality of individual life and to the prosperity and security of the country. Given this diversity of subject matter, the National Academy of Engineering benefited greatly from the variety and range of expertise of the following individuals during the preparation of the book. WANDA AUSTIN CALESTOUS JUMA ROBERT F. SPROULL President and Chief Executive Officer Professor of the Practice of International Retired Vice President and Director MAKING A WORLD The Aerospace Corporation Development Oracle Labs Harvard University THOMAS BUDINGER ARNOLD F. STANCELL Professor in the Graduate School ROBERT S. LANGER Retired Vice President OF DIFFERENCE University of California, Berkeley David H. Koch Institute Professor Mobil Oil and Massachusetts Institute of Technology Turner Professor of Chemical Engineering, Emeritus PAUL CITRON Georgia Institute of Technology Engineering Ideas into Reality Retired, Vice President, Technology RICHARD A. MESERVE Policy and Academic Relations President J. CRAIG VENTER Medtronic, Inc. Carnegie Institution for Science Chairman and President The J. Craig Venter Institute G. WAYNE CLOUGH DAVID MESSERSCHMITT Secretary Roger A. Strauch Professor Emeritus of JOHN C. WALL 2 LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT Smithsonian Institution Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences Vice President and Chief Technical Officer University of California, Berkeley Cummins, Inc.
[Show full text]