C. Marjorie Aelion

C. Marjorie Aelion

Professor of Environmental Health Sciences

Organic contaminants, heavy metals, intellectual disabilities, environmental justice, groundwater remediation

Location

Goessmann Building

686 North Pleasant Street
Amherst, MA 01003
United States

281E Goessmann

C. Marjorie Aelion has carried out research in the area of biodegradation of organic contaminants, including gasoline, jet fuel, and chlorinated solvents, in groundwater and vadose zone soils. Her research focused on the development of novel tools for assessing remedial technologies, including 13C stable isotopes, and naturally-occurring radiocarbon (14C), and the application and development of enhanced remediation systems for contaminated groundwater. She has carried out extensive research assessing the impact of land use, including golf course development, on coastal environments, pesticide removal, and nutrient cycling. Her most recent research focuses on heavy metals in residential soils, primarily arsenic, lead, and mercury, and their potential associations with negative health outcomes in children, including intellectual disabilities in susceptible populations. This research incorporates environmental justice and environmental health sciences research.

Education

  • PhD, University of North Carolina, 1988
  • SMCE, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1983
  • BS, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 1980

Key Publications

Aelion, C.M., H.T. Davis. 2022. Effectiveness of environmental lead (Pb) home assessments in identifying sources of Pb exposure and reducing children’s blood lead levels. American Journal of Public Health, in review.

Isley, C.F., K.L. Fry, X. Liu, G.M. Filippelli, J.A. Entwistle, A.P. Martin, M. Kah, D. Meza-Figueroa, J.T. Shukle, K. Jabeen, A.O. Famuyiwa, L. Wu, N. Sharifi-Soltani, I.N. Y. Doyi, A. Argyraki, K.F. Ho, C. Dong, P. Gunkel-Grillon, C.M. Aelion, M.P. Taylor. 2022. International Analysis of Sources and Human Health Risk Associated with Trace Metal Contaminants in Residential Indoor Dust. Environmental Science & Technology 56, 1053−1068. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.1c04494.

Liu, X., M.P. Taylor, C.M. Aelion, C. Dong. 2021. Novel application of machine learning algorithms and model-agnostic methods to identify factors influencing childhood blood lead levels. Environmental Science & Technology 55:13387-13399. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.1c01097.

Aelion, C.M., Davis, H.T. 2019. Blood lead levels in children in urban and rural areas: using multilevel modeling to investigate impacts of gender, race, poverty, and the environment. Science of the Total Environment 551-552:622-630.DOI:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.02.018.

Davis, H.T., C.M. Aelion, J. Liu, J.B. Burch. B. Cai. A.B. Lawson, S. McDermott. 2016.  Potential sources and racial disparities in the residential distribution of soil arsenic and lead among pregnant women. Science of the Total Environment 551-552:622-630.DOI:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.02.018.

Hong, J., Y. Wang, S. McDermott, B. Cai, C.M. Aelion, J. Lead. 2016.  The use of a physiologically-based extraction test to assess relationships between bioaccessible metals in urban soil and neurodevelopmental conditions in children. Environmental Pollution 212:9-17. DOI:10.1016/j.envpol.2016.01.0801.

Aelion, C.M., H.T. Davis, A.B. Lawson, B. Cai, S. McDermott. 2014. Temporal and spatial variation in residential soil metal concentrations: Implications for exposure assessments. Environmental Pollution 185:365-368. DOI:10.1016/j.envpol.2013.10.018.

Aelion, C.M., H.T. Davis, A.B. Lawson, B. Cai, S. McDermott. 2014. Temporal and spatial variation in residential soil metal concentrations: Implications for exposure assessments. Environmental Pollution 185:365-368. DOI:10.1016/j.envpol.2013.10