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Dr. Paul N. Williams

China-Bridge Post-Doctoral Research Associate

WaterSci (China Bridge Project)
Lancaster Environment Centre
Lancaster University
Bailrigg
Lancaster, LA1 4YQ
United Kingdom

Tel: +44 (0)1524 510422
Fax: +44 (0)1524 593985

Email: p.n.williams["@"]lancaster.ac.uk

Biography: Paul is a member of the RCUK funded “Water availability and quality: natural environments, domestic use and food production” China bridge project. Previous to his recent appointment at LEC, he held a fellowship at the Research Centre for Eco-Environmental Sciences in Beijing and obtained his doctorate from the University of Aberdeen.

Current Research: Rice paddies are intermediates between terrestrial and aquatic systems, with distinctive biogeochemical characteristics arising from periodic submergence and drainage events. Understanding element solubility, rates of replenishment from the soil solid phase and bioavailability is implicit in tailoring rice cultivation not only to bolster levels of essential nutrients such as Zn, Fe and Se, but also to palliate the accumulation of As and Cd in grains. Developing upon holistic monitoring and predictive tools championed by Wang Xiarong and Zhang Hao, the focus of Paul’s current research is to further evolve practical strategies that can protect and safeguard rice production.

Specific areas of interest:

  • Chemical speciation of arsenic, selenium and other redox sensitive elements in biota, water and soil.

  • Ecophysiology responses in Oryza sativa L. to metal(loid) exposures.

  • Elemental sources and cycling within the environment.

  • Organometal compounds and complexes.

  • Development of novel experimental and sample preparation methodologies for environmental analysis.


Central Publications:

2009

  • Willliams PN, Islam S, Islam R, Jahiruddin M, Adomako E, Soliaman M, Rahman GKMM, Lu Y, Deacon C, Zhu Y-G, Meharg AA. Arsenic limits trace mineral nutrition (Selenium, Zinc, and Nickel) in Bangladesh Rice Grain. Environ. Sci. Technol. 2009, DOI: 10.1021/es901825t

  • Zhu, Y.-G., Pilon-Smits E. A. H. ; Zhao F.-J. ; Williams P.N. ; Meharg A.A. Selenium in higher plants : understanding mechanisms for biofortication and phytoremediation. Trends in Plant Science. 2009, 14, 436-442.

  • Williams PN, Lombi E; Sun G-X, Scheckel, K, Zhu Y-G, Feng X-B., Zhu JM, Carey A-M, Adomako, E, Lawgali, Y, Deacon, C, Meharg. A. Selenium characterization in the global rice supply chain. Environ. Sci. Technol. 2009, 43, 6024-6030.

  • Williams PN, Lei M, Sun G-X, Huang Q, Lu Y, Deacon C, Meharg AA, Zhu Y-G. Occurrence and partitioning of cadmium, arsenic and lead in mine impacted paddy rice: Hunan, China. Environ. Sci. Technol. 2009. 43, 637 – 642.

  • Sun G-X, Zhu YG, Williams PN, Deacon C, Meharg AA. Survey of arsenic and its speciation in cereal rice products. Environ. Int. 2009. 35, 473-475.

  • Adomako E, Solaiman ARM, Williams PN, Deacon C, Meharg AA. Enhanced transfer of arsenic to grain for Bangladesh grown rice compared to US and EU. Environ. Int. 2009. 35, 476-479.

  • Meharg AA, Williams PN, Adamako E, Lawgali YY, Deacon C, Villada A, Cambell RCJ, Sun GX, Zhu YG, Feldmann J, Raab A, Zhao FJ, Islam R, Hossain S, Yanai J. Geographical variation in total and inorganic arsenic content of polished (white) rice. Environ. Sci. Technol. 2009. 43, 1612-1617.

  • Zhang X, Zhao F-J, Williams PN, Sun G-X, Zhu Y-G. Arsenic uptake and speciation in the rootless duckweed Wolffia globosa. New Phytologist. 2009. 182, 421-428.

  • Ying L. Adomako EE, Solaiman ARM, Islam RM, Deacon C, Williams PN, Rahman GKMM, Meharg AA. Baseline soil variation is a major factor in arsenic. Environ. Sci. Technol. 2009. 43, 1724-1729.

  • Huang R., Wen B., Pei Z., Shan X.-Q., Zhang, S., Williams, P.N. Accumulation, subcellular distribution and toxicity of copper in earthworm (Eisenia fetida) in the presence of ciprofloxacin. Environ. Sci. Technol. 2009, 43, 3688-3693.

2008

  • Meharg AA, Lombi E, Williams PN, Scheckel K, Feldmann J, Raab A, Zhu Y-G, Islam R. Speciation and localization of arsenic in white and brown rice. Environ. Sci. Technol. 2008, 42, 1051-1057.

  • Meharg AA, Deacon C, Campbell RCJ, Carey A-M, Williams PN, Feldmann, J, Raab A. Inorganic arsenic levels in rice milk exceed EU and US drinking water standards. J.E.M. 2008. 10, 428 - 431.

  • Meharg AA, Sun G-X, Williams PN, Adamako E, Deacon C, Zhu Y-G, Feldmann J, Raab, A. Inorganic arsenic levels in baby rice are of concern. Env. Poll. 2008, 152, 746 -749.

  • Norton G, Nigar M, Williams PN, Dasgupta T, Meharg A, Price AH. A three gene model for arsenate tolerance in rice. J. Exp. Bot. 2008. 59, 2277-2284.

  • Zhu Y-G, Sun G-X, Lei M, Teng M, Liu Y-X, Chen N-C, Wang L-H, Carey AM, Deacon C, Raab A, Meharg AA, Williams PN.* High percentage inorganic arsenic content of mining impacted and non-impacted Chinese rice. Environ. Sci. Technol. 2008. 42, 5008 -5013

  • Zhu Y-G, Williams PN, Meharg AA. Exposure to inorganic arsenic from rice: A global health issue? Env. Poll. 2008. 154, 169 – 171

  • Sun G-X, Williams PN, Carey A-M, Zhu Y-G, Deacon C, Raab A, Feldmann J, Islam R, Meharg AA. Inorganic arsenic in rice bran and its products are an order of magnitude higher than in bulk grain. Environ. Sci. Technol. 2008. 42, 7542-7546.

  • Wang L–H, Duan G-L, Williams PN, Zhu Y-G. Influences of phosphorus starvation on OsACR2.1 expression and arsenic metabolism in rice seedlings. Plant Soil. 2008. 313, 129-139.

2007

  • Williams PN, Raab A, Feldmann J, Meharg AA. High levels of arsenic in South Central US rice grain: Consequences for human dietary exposure. Environ. Sci. Technol. 2007. 41, 2178-2183.

  • Raab A, William PN, Meharg AA, Feldmann J. Uptake and translocation of inorganic and methylated arsenic in plants. Envir. Chem. 2007. 4, 197-203.

  • Williams PN, Villada A, Raab A, Figuerola J, Green AJ, Feldmann J, Meharg AA. Greatly enhanced arsenic shoot assimilation in rice leads to elevated grain export; comparison with wheat & barley. Environ. Sci. Technol. 2007. 41, 6854-6859.

2006

  • Geng CN, Zhu YG, Hu Y, Williams PN, Meharg AA. Arsenate causes differential acute toxicity to two P-deprived genotypes of rice seedlings (Oryza sativa L.). Plant Soil. 2006. 279, 297-5540.

  • Riekie GJ, Williams PN, Raab A, Meharg AA. The potential for kelp manufacture to lead to arsenic pollution of remote Scottish islands. Chemosphere. 2006. 65, 332-342.

  • Williams PN, Islam MR, Adomako EE, Raab A, Hossain SA, Zhu YG, Feldmann J, Meharg AA. Increase in rice grain arsenic for regions of Bangladesh irrigating paddies with elevated arsenic in groundwaters. Environ. Sci. Technol. 2006. 40, 4903-4908.

  • Meharg AA, Scrimgeour C, Hossain SA, Fuller K, Cruickshank K, Williams PN, Kinniburgh D G. Co-deposition of organic carbon and arsenic in Bengal Delta aquifers. Environ. Sci. Technol. 2006. 40, 4928-4935.

  • Liu W-J, Zhu Y-G, Hu Y, Williams PN, Gault AG, Meharg AA, Charnock JM, Smith FA. Iron plaque formation, arsenic uptake and speciation in different genotypes of mature rice plants (Oryza sativa L.). Environ. Sci. Technol. 2006. 40, 5730-5736.

2005

  • Williams PN, Price AH, Raab A, Hossain SA, Feldmann J, Meharg AA. Variation in arsenic speciation and concentration in paddy rice related to dietary exposure. Environ. Sci. Technol. 2005, 39, 5531-5540.


Lancaster Environment Centre
Lancaster University