Buck headshot 2015Brenda Buck

Professor of Geology

Medical Geology – Mineral Dust and Effects on Human Health.
Director of UNLV-FIA

Office: SEB 4131
Phone: (702) 895-1694
Email: buckb@unlv.nevada.edu

 

 

Education:

Ph.D. New Mexico State University

Research interests:

Dr. Buck’s research focuses on Medical Geology, in particular how geological materials impact health. Currently her work focuses on dust and hazards associated with dust exposure including those from asbestiform minerals, arsenic, and other carcinogens.

http://www.unlv.edu/sciences/research/natural-asbestos

Selected Publications:

Jean C. Pfau, Brenda Buck, Rodney V. Metcalf, Zoie Kaupish, Caleb Stair, Maria Rodriguez, Deborah E. Keil, in press, Comparative Health Effects in Mice of Libby Amphibole Asbestos and a Fibrous Amphibole from Arizona. Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology

Wolfe, C., Buck, B., Miller, A., Lockey, J., Weis, C., Weissman, D. Jonesi, A., and Ryan, P., 2017, Exposure to naturally occurring mineral fibers due to off-road vehicle use: a review International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health. Jul 20. pii: S1438-4639(16)30583-1

Jamie C. DeWitt, Brenda Buck, Dirk Goossens, Yuanxin Teng, James Pollard, Brett McLaurin, Russell Gerads, and Deborah E. Keil, 2017, Health effects following subacute exposure to geogenic dust collected from active drainage surfaces (Nellis Dunes Recreation Area, Las Vegas, NV). Toxicology Reports, v. 4, p. 19-31

David Larson, Amy Powers, Jean-Paul Ambrosi, Mika Tanji, Andrea Napolitano, Erin G. Flores, Francine Baumann, Laura Pellegrini, Cormac J. Jennings, Brenda J. Buck, Brett T. McLaurin, Doug Merkler, Cleo Robinson, Paul Morris, A. Umran Dogan, Harvey I. Pass, Sandra Pastorino, Michele Carbone, and Haining Yang, 2016. Investigating palygorskite’s role in the development of mesothelioma in southern Nevada: insights into fiber-induced carcinogenicity, Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part B. VOL. 00, NO. 00, 118 http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10937404.2016.1195321

DeWitt, J., Buck, B.J., Goossens, D., Hu, Q., Chow, R., David, W., Young, S., Teng, Y., Leetham-Spencer, M., Murphy, L., Pollard, J., McLaurin, B., Gerads, R., and Keil, D., 2016. Health effects following subacute exposure to geogenic dusts from arsenic-rich sediment at the Nellis Dunes Recreation Area, Las Vegas NV. Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology. 304:79-89

Full publication list

Courses taught:

GEOG 103: Physical Geography
GEOG 103: Physical Geography -Web Distance Learning Course
GEOG 103: Physical Geography -Web Distance Learning 5 week Course
GEOL 303: Global Environmental Change
GEOL 491: Geoscience Seminar
GEOL 410/610: Soil Classification and Resource Management
GEOL 410/610L: Soil Classification and Resource Management Lab
GEOL 419/619 Medical Geology
GEOL 786: Soils Applications: Paleoclimate, Neotectonics, Archaeology
GEOL 776: Paleosols: Records of Past Landscapes
GEOL 793: Independent Study: Arid Soil Processes & NRCS mapping
GEOL 793: Independent Study: Genesis of Stage VI Petrocalcic Horizons
GEOL 793: Independent Study: Thin Section Preparation of Friable Soils
GEOL 793: Independent Study: Electron Microscope Analysis of Pedogenic Salts, Death Valley
GEOL 793: Independent Study: Electron Microscope Analysis of Pedogenic Clays
GEOL 793: Independent Study: Soil Mineralogy (Carbonate Mineralogy of Death Valley Soils)
GEOL 793: Independent Study: Soil Mineralogy & Microbiology of Pedogenic Carbonates
GEOL 793: Independent Study: Clay Mineralogy of Atacama Soils
GEOL 793: Independent Study: Arid Soil Genesis
GEOL 793: Independent Study: Applications in Endolithic Microbiology
GEOL 793: Independent Study: Soil Pedology
GEOL 796: Advanced Topics: Advanced Soil Geomorphology

Brenda and April award