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Publications

Dive into our publications and explore the science from the Environmental Health Program (Toxic Substances Hydrology and Contaminant Biology).

Filter Total Items: 3785

Light-mediated Zn uptake in photosynthetic biofilm Light-mediated Zn uptake in photosynthetic biofilm

Our experiments conducted under controlled laboratory conditions demonstrate diel uptake and release of zinc (Zn) in lab-cultured biofilm exposed to Zn concentrations that are present in some mining-impacted streams (1–2 mg Zn/l). Specifically, at constant pH, temperature, and aqueous Zn concentrations in the exposure water, biofilm accumulated Zn during the light periods of the...
Authors
J.M. Morris, A.M. Farag, D. A. Nimick, J.S. Meyer

Recharge processes drive sulfate reduction in an alluvial aquifer contaminated with landfill leachate Recharge processes drive sulfate reduction in an alluvial aquifer contaminated with landfill leachate

Natural attenuation of contaminants in groundwater depends on an adequate supply of electron acceptors to stimulate biodegradation. In an alluvial aquifer contaminated with leachate from an unlined municipal landfill, the mechanism of recharge infiltration was investigated as a source of electron acceptors. Water samples were collected monthly at closely spaced intervals in the top 2 m...
Authors
M. A. Scholl, I.M. Cozzarelli, S. C. Christenson

Phosphate oxygen isotope ratios as a tracer for sources and cycling of phosphate in North San Francisco Bay, California Phosphate oxygen isotope ratios as a tracer for sources and cycling of phosphate in North San Francisco Bay, California

[1] A seasonal analysis assesing variations in the oxygen isotopic composition of dissolved inorganic phosphate (DIP) was conducted in the San Francisco Bay estuarine system, California. Isotopic fractionation of oxygen in DIP (exchange of oxygen between phosphate and environmental water) at surface water temperatures occurs only as a result of enzyme‐mediated, biological reactions...
Authors
K. McLaughlin, C. Kendall, S. R. Silva, M. Young, A. Paytan

Modeling effects of multinode wells on solute transport Modeling effects of multinode wells on solute transport

Long-screen wells or long open boreholes with intraborehole flow potentially provide pathways for contaminants to move from one location to another in a ground water flow system. Such wells also can perturb a flow field so that the well will not provide water samples that are representative of ground water quality a short distance away from the well. A methodology is presented to...
Authors
Leonard F. Konikow, G.Z. Hornberger

Geochemistry of bed and suspended sediment in the Mississippi river system: Provenance versus weathering and winnowing Geochemistry of bed and suspended sediment in the Mississippi river system: Provenance versus weathering and winnowing

Stream-bed sediment for the size fraction less than 150 μm, examined in 14,000 samples collected mostly from minor tributaries to the major rivers throughout the Mississippi River drainage system, is composed of 5 mineral fractions identified by factor analysis—Al-silicate minerals, quartz, calcite and dolomite, heavy minerals, and an Fe–Mn fraction. The Al-silicate fraction parallels...
Authors
D.Z. Piper, S. Ludington, J. S. Duval, Howard E. Taylor

Storage and transit time of chemicals in thick unsaturated zones under rangeland and irrigated cropland, High Plains, United States Storage and transit time of chemicals in thick unsaturated zones under rangeland and irrigated cropland, High Plains, United States

In 2000-2002, three rangeland and six irrigated sites were instrumented to assess the storage and transit time of chemicals in thick (15 to 50 m) unsaturated zones (UZ) in the High Plains. These processes are likely to influence relations between land use and groundwater quality, yet they have not been documented systematically in the High Plains. Land use and climate were important...
Authors
P.B. McMahon, K.F. Dennehy, B. W. Bruce, J.K. Böhlke, R. L. Michel, J.J. Gurdak, D.B. Hurlbut

Effects of permafrost melting on CO2 and CH4 exchange of a poorly drained black spruce lowland Effects of permafrost melting on CO2 and CH4 exchange of a poorly drained black spruce lowland

[1] Permafrost melting is occurring in areas of the boreal forest region where large amounts of carbon (C) are stored in organic soils. We measured soil respiration, net CO2 flux, and net CH4 flux during May–September 2003 and March 2004 in a black spruce lowland in interior Alaska to better understand how permafrost thaw in poorly drained landscapes affects land‐atmosphere CO2 and CH4...
Authors
K.P. Wickland, Robert G. Striegl, J. C. Neff, T. Sachs

Enantiomeric separation of metolachlor and its metabolites using LC-MS and CZE Enantiomeric separation of metolachlor and its metabolites using LC-MS and CZE

The stereoisomers of metolachlor and its two polar metabolites [ethane sulfonic acid (ESA) and oxanilic acid (OXA)] were separated using liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS) and capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE), respectively. The separation of metolachlor enantiomers was achieved using a LC–MS equipped with a chiral stationary phase based on cellulose tris(3,5...
Authors
C. John Klein, R.J. Schneider, M. T. Meyer, D.S. Aga

Occurrence and fate of organic contaminants during onsite wastewater treatment Occurrence and fate of organic contaminants during onsite wastewater treatment

Onsite wastewater treatment systems serve approximately 25% of the U.S. population. However, little is known regarding the occurrence and fate of organic wastewater contaminants (OWCs), including endocrine disrupting compounds, during onsite treatment. A range of OWCs including surfactant metabolites, steroids, stimulants, metal-chelating agents, disinfectants, antimicrobial agents, and
Authors
K.E. Conn, L. B. Barber, G.K. Brown, R.L. Siegrist

Assessment of nitrification potential in ground water using short term, single-well injection experiments Assessment of nitrification potential in ground water using short term, single-well injection experiments

Nitrification was measured within a sand and gravel aquifer on Cape Cod, MA, using a series of single-well injection tests. The aquifer contained a wastewater-derived contaminant plume, the core of which was anoxic and contained ammonium. The study was conducted near the downgradient end of the ammonium zone, which was characterized by inversely trending vertical gradients of oxygen (270...
Authors
R. L. Smith, L.K. Baumgartner, D.N. Miller, D.A. Repert, J.K. Böhlke

Kinetics of sorption and abiotic oxidation of arsenic(III) by aquifer materials Kinetics of sorption and abiotic oxidation of arsenic(III) by aquifer materials

The fate of arsenic in groundwater depends largely on its interaction with mineral surfaces. We investigated the kinetics of As(III) oxidation by aquifer materials collected from the USGS research site at Cape Cod, MA, USA, by conducting laboratory experiments. Five different solid samples with similar specific surface areas (0.6–0.9 m2 g−1) and reductively extractable iron contents (18...
Authors
A. Amirbahman, D.B. Kent, G.P. Curtis, J.A. Davis
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