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Dr. Bibhash Nath, Ph.D

University of Sydney Postdoctoral Fellow
Madsen Building (F09), Room 423
Phone: +61 2 9351 6706
Fax: +61 2 9351 3644
Email:

Current research

Understanding the iron and aluminium cycling in an acid sulphate soils affected coastal wetland. This research spans a wide range of topics, including groundwater contaminant discharge, surface water - groundwater interaction, water quality, and risk assessment.

Identification of key biogeochemical processes leading to mobilization of toxic metals/metalloids (especially arsenic) in the alluvial aquifers of Bengal delta region (India and Bangladesh).

Research interests

  • Arsenic biogeochemistry
  • The impact of contaminants on ecosystem health
  • Acid sulphate soils in the coastal environment
  • Surface water - groundwater interaction
  • Water quality prediction in mine lakes

Publications

Note: * corresponding author; # authors contributed equally; total citation: 154 (as of July 15, 2010).

Research Highlights

  • Arsenic route to groundwater mapped. Nature India, 01 June 2008, doi: 10.1038/nindia.2008.214.

Book Chapter (peer-reviewed)

  • P. Mukherjee, D. Chatterjee, J. Jana, P.B. Maity, H. Saha, M. Sen, B. Nath, D. Shome, M.J. Sarkar and D. Bagchi. Household water treatment option: removal of arsenic in presence of natural Fe-containing groundwater by solar oxidation. Trace Metals and other Contaminants in the Environment, 9, 603-622, 2007.

Journal Articles (peer-reviewed)

  • D. Chatterjee, D. Halder, S. Majumder, A. Biswas, B. Nath, P. Bhattacharya, S. Bhowmick, A. Mukherjee-Goswami, D. Saha, R. Hazra, P.B. Maity, D. Chatterjee (jr), A. Mukherjee and J. Bundschuh. Assessment of arsenic exposure from groundwater and rice in Bengal Delta region, West Bengal, India. Water Research, 2010, doi:10.1016/j.watres.2010.04.007 (total citation: 0).
  • B. Nath*, S. Basu Mallik, D. Stüben, D. Chatterjee and L. Charlet. Electrical resistivity investigation of the alluvial geological formations: Usefulness in predicting the sites conducting low and high groundwater arsenic. Environmental Earth Sciences, 60, 873-884, 2010 (total citation: 0).
  • C.-C. Liu, J.-S. Jean, B. Nath, M.-K. Lee, L.-I. Hor, K.-H. Lin and J.P. Maity. Geochemical characteristics of the fluids and muds from to southern Taiwan mud volcanoes: Implications for water-sediment interaction and groundwater As enrichment. Applied Geochemistry, 24, 1793-1802, 2009 (total citation: 0).
  • B. Nath, S. Chakraborty, A. Burnol, D. Stüben, D. Chatterjee and L. Charlet. Mobility of arsenic in the sub-surface environment: An integrated hydrogeochemical study and sorption model of the sandy aquifer materials. Journal of Hydrology, 364, 236-248, 2009 (total citation: 4).
  • B. Nath*, D. Stüben, S. Basu Mallik, D. Chatterjee and L. Charlet. Reply to the comment on “Mobility of arsenic in West Bengal aquifers conducting low and high groundwater arsenic. Part I: Comparative hydrochemical and hydrogeological characteristics” by Subhrangsu K. Acharyya. Applied Geochemistry, 24, 186-187, 2009 (total citation: 0).
  • B. Nath, J.-S. Jean, M.-K. Lee, H.-J. Yang and C.-C. Liu. Geochemistry of high arsenic groundwater in Chia-Nan plain, Southwestern Taiwan: Possible sources and reactive transport of arsenic. Journal of Contaminant Hydrology, 99, 85-96, 2008 (total citation: 3).
  • A. Mukherjee-Goswami#, B. Nath#, J. Jana, S.J. Sahu, M.J. Sarkar, G. Jacks, P. Bhattacharya, A. Mukherjee, D.A. Polya, J.-S. Jean and D. Chatterjee. Hydrogeochemical behavior of arsenic-enriched groundwater in the deltaic environment: Comparison between two study sites in West Bengal, India. Journal of Contaminant Hydrology, 99, 22-30, 2008 (total citation: 1).
  • B. Nath*, Z. Berner, D. Chatterjee, S. Basu Mallik and D. Stüben. Mobility of arsenic in West Bengal aquifers conducting low and high groundwater arsenic. Part II: Comparative geochemical profile and leaching study. Applied Geochemistry, 23, 996-1011, 2008 (total citation: 7).
  • B. Nath*, D. Stüben, S. Basu Mallik, D. Chatterjee and L. Charlet. Mobility of arsenic in West Bengal aquifers conducting low and high groundwater arsenic. Part I: Comparative hydrochemical and hydrogeological characteristics. Applied Geochemistry, 23, 977-995, 2008 (total citation: 7).
  • B. Nath, S.J. Sahu, J. Jana, A. Mukherjee-Goswami, S. Roy, M.J. Sarkar and D. Chatterjee. Hydrochemistry of arsenic-enriched aquifer from rural West Bengal, India: A study of the arsenic exposure and mitigation option. Water, Air and Soil Pollution, 190, 95-113, 2008 (total citation: 6).
  • B. Nath, S. Norra, D. Chatterjee and D. Stueben. Fingerprinting of land use-related chemical patterns of street sediments from Kolkata, India. Environmental Forensics, 8, 313-328, 2007 (total citation: 1).
  • L. Charlet, S. Chakraborty, C.A.J. Appello, G. Roman-Ross, B. Nath, A.A. Ansari, M. Musso, D. Chatterjee and S. Basu Mallik. Chemodynamics of an arsenic “hotspot” in West Bengal aquifer: A field and reactive transport modeling study. Applied Geochemistry, 22, 1273-1292, 2007 (total citation: 21).
  • S. Kar, B. Nath, A.C. Samal and S.C. Santra. Arsenic in urban particulates – A case study in Kolkata Metropolis. Current Science, 90, 158-160, 2006 (total citation: 0).
  • B. Nath*, Z. Berner, S. Basu Mallik, D. Chatterjee, L. Charlet and D. Stueben. Characterization of aquifers conducting groundwaters with low and high arsenic concentrations: a comparative case study from West Bengal, India. Mineralogical Magazine, 69, 841-853, 2005 (total citation: 17).
  • A.G. Gault, J. Jana, S. Chakraborty, P. Mukherjee, M. Sarkar, B. Nath, D.A. Polya and D. Chatterjee. Preservation strategies for inorganic arsenic species in high iron, low-Eh groundwater from West Bengal, India. Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, 381, 347-353, 2005 (total citation: 33).
  • D. Chatterjee, S. Chakraborty, B. Nath, J. Jana, R. Bhattacharya, S. Basu Mallik and L. Charlet. Mobilization of arsenic in sedimentary aquifer vis-à-vis subsurface iron reduction processes. Journal de Physique IV, 107, 293-296, 2003 (total citation: 10).
  • R. Bhattacharya, D. Chatterjee, B. Nath, J. Jana, G. Jacks and M. Vahter. High Arsenic Groundwater: Mobilization, Metabolism and Mitigation - An overview in the Bengal Delta Plain. Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, 253, 347-355, 2003 (total citation: 24).
  • R. Bhattacharya, J. Jana, B. Nath, S.J. Sahu, D. Chatterjee and G. Jacks. Groundwater As mobilization in the Bengal Delta Plain, the use of ferralite as a possible remedial measure-a case study. Applied Geochemistry, 18, 1435-1451, 2003 (total citation: 20).

Conference Proceedings

  • B. Nath*, J.-S. Jean, J.P. Maity, H.-J. Yang, M.-K. Lee, R. Hazra and D. Chatterjee. Geochemical characteristics of the arsenic-enriched groundwater from India, Bangladesh and Taiwan. Arsenic in Geosphere and Human Diseases – Jean, Bundschuh & Bhattacharya (eds) © 2010 Taylor and Francis Group, London, ISBN 978-0-415-57898-1, p. 123-124.
  • D. Chatterjee, A. Biswas, S. Bhowmick, D. Halder, R. Hazra, S. Majumder, A. Mukherjee-Goswami, D. Saha, B. Nath and P. Bhattacharya. Geochemistry of arsenic in Bengal Delta Plain (West Bengal, India). Arsenic in Geosphere and Human Diseases – Jean, Bundschuh & Bhattacharya (eds) © 2010 Taylor and Francis Group, London, ISBN 978-0-415-57898-1, p. 125-126.
  • B. Nath*, C.E. Oldham, D.D. Boland and L.C. Ellis. Seasonal hydrology and its influence on arsenic transport in a coastal wetland, Southwest of Western Australia. Arsenic in Geosphere and Human Diseases – Jean, Bundschuh & Bhattacharya (eds) © 2010 Taylor and Francis Group, London, ISBN 978-0-415-57898-1, p. 127-128.
  • B. Nath*, J.-S. Jean, M.-K. Lee, R. Hazra and D. Chatterjee. Does a high concentration of arsenic in groundwater cause blackfoot disease? An answer from India, Bangladesh and Taiwan. Abstract no. 126-10, 2009 GSA Annual Meeting, 18-21 October 2009, Portland, USA.
  • D. Chatterjee, A. Biswas, D. Halder, S. Bhowmick, S. Majumder, R. Hazra, B. Nath, D. Saha and A. Mukherjee-Goswami. Groundwater chemistry and arsenic mobilization in shallow and deep aquifer – a field scale study in West Bengal, India. Abstract no. 126-6, 2009 GSA Annual Meeting, 18-21 October 2009, Portland, USA.
  • L. Charlet, A. Burnol, S. Chakraborty, J.M. Greneche, G. Morin, B. Nath and C. Tournassat. The interplay of microbiology and nanoparticle chemistry in arsenic mobilization. AGU Chapman Conference on Arsenic in Groundwater of Southern Asia. Siem Reap, Cambodia, March 24-27, p. 13-14, 2009.
  • B. Nath*, S. Chakraborty, L. Charlet, D. Chatterjee, D. Stüben and J.-S. Jean. Mobility of arsenic in the sub-surface environment: An integrated hydrogeochemical study and adsorption characteristics of the sandy aquifer materials. 2008 International Workshop on Arsenic and Humic Substances and Their Health Effects, p. 25, Tainan, Taiwan, May 13-14, 2008.
  • M.-K. Lee, J.A. Saunders, M. Shamsudduha, P. Dhaka, A. Uddin, B. Nath and J.-S. Jean. Geochemical study of arsenic precipitation and immobilization under changing redox conditions. 2008 International Workshop on Arsenic and Humic Substances and Their Health Effects, p. 4-6, Tainan, Taiwan, May 13-15, 2008.
  • A. Mukherjee-Goswami, D. Chatterjee, B. Nath and M.J. Sarkar. Geochemical variability of arsenic in the rural aquifers of West Bengal. Abstract no. 327-13, 2008 GSA Annual Meeting, 5-9 October 2008, Houston, USA.
  • J.-S. Jean, B. Nath, M.-K. Lee and C.-C. Liu. Mud volcanic activity in the southwestern Taiwan and their possible influence on arsenic mobilization. Abstract no. 222-2, 2007 GSA Annual Meeting, 28-31 October 2007, Denver, USA.
  • D. Chatterjee, A. Mukherjee-Goswami, B. Nath, J. Jana, S.J. Sahu, S. Chakraborty, M.J. Sarkar, G. Jacks, P. Bhattacharya and A. Mukherjee. Arsenic in shallow and deep aquifers of Bengal Delta Plain: A field scale study in West Bengal, India. Abstract no. 192-15, 2007 GSA Annual Meeting, 28-31 October 2007, Denver, USA.
  • B. Nath*, J.-S. Jean, S.J. Sahu, D. Chatterjee and P. Bhattacharya. Hydrogeochemistry of arsenic-enriched aquifer from rural West Bengal, India: A study of the arsenic exposure and mitigation option. Abstract no. 192-14, 2007 GSA Denver Annual Meeting, 28-31 October 2007, Denver, USA.
  • J.-S. Jean, B. Nath, L-.O. Weng, C-.C. Liu and Y-.W. Yang. Mobilization of arsenic in groundwater of the Blackfoot disease area in Chia-Nan plain, Southwestern Taiwan. Paper presented in the Symposium on Arsenic – The Geography of a Global problem, 29 August, 2007, London, UK.
  • B. Nath*, D. Chatterjee, J.-S. Jean, P. Bhattacharya and K.M. Ahmed. Geochemistry and speciation of solid and aqueous phase arsenic in the Bengal Delta Plain aquifers. Paper presented in the Symposium on Arsenic – The Geography of a Global problem, 29 August, 2007, London, UK.
  • B. Nath*, J.-S. Jean, D. Stueben, D. Chatterjee and S. Basu Mallik. Hydrogeochemical characteristics of the aquifers with variable arsenic concentrations. In: Bullen TB and Wang Y (Eds.), Proc. of WRI-12, 31 July – 5 August, Kunming, China, 1097-1100, 2007.
  • D. Chatterjee, J. Jana, S.J. Sahu, S. Chakraborty, P. Mukherjee and B. Nath. Hydrogeochemistry of arsenic in different parts of deltaic environment. In: Bullen TB and Wang Y (Eds.), Proc. of WRI-12, 31 July – 5 August, Kunming, China, 1025-1028, 2007.
  • B. Nath*, D. Stüben, D. Chatterjee and S. Basu Mallik. A comparative hydrogeological, mineralogical and geochemical characteristics of the aquifer sediments with low and high groundwater arsenic in Chakdaha, Nadia District, West Bengal. In: Environmental Pollution and Human Health 2006 Arsenic, Humic Acid and Blackfoot Disease International Conference. Taiwan, October 20-21, pp. 3-9, 2006.
  • D. Chatterjee, S. Chakraborty, J. Jana, P. Mukherjee, M. Sarkar and B. Nath. Geochemistry of As in a deltaic environment. In: R.B. Wanty and R.R. Seal (Eds.), Proc. of WRI-11, 27 June-2 July, New York, USA, 1469-1472, 2004.
  • S.J. Sahu, S. Roy, J. Jana, B. Nath, R. Bhattacharya, D. Chatterjee and S.S. De Dalal. Water Chemistry and sediment water interaction responsible for mobilization of arsenic in groundwater in Bengal Delta Plain. Proc. of WRI-10, A. A. Balkema Publishers, 2, 1139-1142, 2001.
  • J. Jana, S.J. Sahu, S. Roy, R. Bhattacharya, B. Nath, S.S. De Dalal, D. Chatterjee, P. Bhattacharya and G. Jacks. Redox-induced arsenic mobilization in an anoxic groundwater environment- A field study in West Bengal, India. In: P. Bhattacharya, and A.H. Welch (Eds.) Arsenic in Groundwater of Sedimentary Aquifers. Pre-Congress Workshop, 31st International Geological Congress, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 3-5 August, 59-61, 2000.

Technical reports

  • C.E. Oldham, B. Nath. Geochemistry of the mine voids in the Pilbara: Predicting future water quality in the South East Prongs Pit Lake. Final Report submitted Rio Tinto Iron Ore, March 2010.
  • B. Nath, C.E. Oldham. Water quality prediction in a mine void containing sulfidic and non-sulfidic material. Mid-term Progress Report submitted Rio Tinto Iron Ore, June 2009.
  • J.-S. Jean, B. Nath, C.-J. Chen. Molecular understanding of the mobility of arsenic in the sediments: An EXAFS and XANES study. NSRRC Activity Report 2008/2009. ISSN 1814-7879, pp. II-234.
  • J.-S. Jean, B. Nath, C.-J. Chen. Molecular understanding of the mobility of arsenic in the sediments: An EXAFS and XANES study. NSRRC Activity Report 2007/2008. ISSN 1814-7879, pp. II-240.

Honours student supervision

Completed:

  • Laura Ellis (2009) Seasonal hydrology and its influence on acidity and trace element mobilisation in a coastal wetland. School of Environmental Systems Engineering, University of Western Australia, WA. Honours in Environmental Engineering.
  • Aaron Brunt (2009) The impact of wind sheltering on mine lake stratification dynamics and evaporation. School of Environmental Systems Engineering, University of Western Australia, WA. Honours in Environmental Engineering.

Research support

  • Rio Tinto Iron Ore, A$150,000 "Prediction of water quality in acidic and non-acidic future pit lakes" awarded to Oldham and Nath, 2008-2009.
  • NSRRC, Hsinchu, Taiwan 15 days beamtime "Mobility of arsenic in the aquifer containing acid sulphate soils: An EXAFS and XANES study" awarded to Nath, project ID: 2009-3-054-1, 2009.
  • NSRRC, Hsinchu, Taiwan 20 days beamtime "Functional groups of humic substances in relation to the chelated metals in the alluvial aquifers" awarded to Jean, Maity, Nath and Reza, project ID: 2008-1-122-1, 2008.
  • NSRRC, Hsinchu, Taiwan 4 days beamtime "Effect of humic substances on arsenic release from sediments into groundwater of Bangladesh and Taiwan" awarded to Jean, Reza, Maity and Nath, project ID: 2007-2-061-2, 2007.
  • NSRRC, Hsinchu, Taiwan 4 days beamtime "Molecular understanding of the mobility of arsenic in the sediments: An EXAFS and XANES study" awarded to Jean and Nath, project ID: 2007-2-059-1, 2007.

Teaching experience

  • Contaminant fate and transport (ENVE3606 of University of Western Australia)

Prizes and awards

  • IAGC Hitchen Award 2010 for being co-author of the most significant paper published in Applied Geochemistry.