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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

Requirement for a microbial consortium to completely oxidize glucose in Fe(III)- reducing sediments Requirement for a microbial consortium to completely oxidize glucose in Fe(III)- reducing sediments

In various sediments in which Fe(III) reduction was the terminal electron-accepting process, [14C]glucose was fermented to 14C-fatty acids in a manner similar to that observed in methanogenic sediments. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that, in Fe(III)-reducing sediments, fermentable substrates are oxidized to carbon dioxide by the combined activity of fermentative...
Authors
Derek R. Lovley, Elizabeth J.P. Phillips

Analysis of chlorinated organic compounds in estuarine biota and sediments by chemical ionization tandem mass spectrometry Analysis of chlorinated organic compounds in estuarine biota and sediments by chemical ionization tandem mass spectrometry

Complex sample matrices of estuarine biota tissue and bed sediment extracts were analyzed for selected chlorinated compounds. By using gas chromatography/positive chemical ionization/tandem mass spectrometry, the coeluting interferences present in gas chromatography/electron ionization mass spectrometry were eliminated in the biota tissue and bed sediment extracts. The selected...
Authors
C.E. Rostad, W. E. Pereira

Retardation of ammonium and potassium transport through a contaminated sand and gravel aquifer: The Role of cation exchange Retardation of ammonium and potassium transport through a contaminated sand and gravel aquifer: The Role of cation exchange

The role of cation exchange in the retardation of ammonium (NH4+) and potassium (K+) transport in a shallow sand and gravel aquifer was evaluated by use of observed distributions of NH4+ and K+ within a plume of sewage-contaminated groundwater, small-scale tracer injection tests, and batch sorption experiments on aquifer material. Both NH4+ and K+ were transported ???2 km in the 4-km...
Authors
M.L. Ceazan, E.M. Thurman, R. L. Smith

Modification of a method-of-characteristics solute-transport model to incorporate decay and equilibrium-controlled sorption or ion exchange Modification of a method-of-characteristics solute-transport model to incorporate decay and equilibrium-controlled sorption or ion exchange

The U.S. Geological Survey computer model of two-dimensional solute transport and dispersion in ground water (Konikow and Bredehoeft, 1978) has been modified to incorporate the following types of chemical reactions: (1) first-order irreversible rate-reaction, such as radioactive decay; (2) reversible equilibrium-controlled sorption with linear, Freundlich, or Langmuir isotherms; and (3)...
Authors
D.J. Goode, Leonard F. Konikow

Solubility of jarosite solid solutions precipitated from acid mine waters, Iron Mountain, California Solubility of jarosite solid solutions precipitated from acid mine waters, Iron Mountain, California

Because of the common occurrence of 15 to 25 mole percent hydronium substitution on the alkali site in jarosites, it is necessary to consider the hydronium content of jarosites in any attempt at rigorous evaluation of jarosite solubility or of the saturation state of natural waters with respect to jarosite. A Gibbs free energy of 3293.5±2.1 kJ mol-1 is recommended for a jarosite solid...
Authors
Charles N. Alpers, D. Kirk Nordstrom, J.W. Ball

Convergent radial dispersion: A Laplace transform solution for aquifer tracer testing Convergent radial dispersion: A Laplace transform solution for aquifer tracer testing

A Laplace transform solution was obtained for the injection of a tracer in a well situated in a homogeneous aquifer where steady, horizontal, radially convergent flow has been established due to pumping at a second well. The standard advection-dispersion equation for mass transfer was used as the controlling equation. For boundary conditions, mass balances that account for mixing of the...
Authors
Allen F. Moench

Simulation of calcite dissolution and porosity changes in saltwater mixing zones in coastal aquifers Simulation of calcite dissolution and porosity changes in saltwater mixing zones in coastal aquifers

Thermodynamic models of aqueous solutions have indicated that the mixing of seawater and calcite-saturated fresh groundwater can produce a water that is undersaturated with respect to calcite. Mixing of such waters in coastal carbonate aquifers could lead to significant amounts of limestone dissolution. The potential for such dissolution in coastal saltwater mixing zones is analyzed by...
Authors
Ward E. Sanford, Leonard F. Konikow

Transport of microspheres and indigenous bacteria through a sandy aquifer: Results of natural- and forced-gradient tracer experiments Transport of microspheres and indigenous bacteria through a sandy aquifer: Results of natural- and forced-gradient tracer experiments

Transport of indigenous bacteria through sandy aquifer sediments was investigated in forced- and natural-gradient tracer teste. A diverse population of bacteria was collected and concentrated from groundwater at the site, stained with a DNA-specific fluorochrome, and injected back into the aquifer. Included with the injectate were a conservative tracer (Br- or Cl-) and bacteria-sized (0...
Authors
R.W. Harvey, L.H. George, R. L. Smith, D.R. LeBlanc

Organic markers as source discriminants and sediment transport indicators in south San Francisco Bay, California Organic markers as source discriminants and sediment transport indicators in south San Francisco Bay, California

Sediment samples from nearshore sites in south San Francisco Bay and from streams flowing into that section of the Bay have been characterized in terms of their content of biogenic and anthropogenic molecular marker compounds. The distributions, input sources, and applicability of these compounds in determining sediment movement are discussed. By means of inspection and multivariate...
Authors
F. D. Hostettler, J. B. Rapp, K.A. Kvenvolden, N L. Samuel

Can we determine the biological availability of sediment-bound trace elements? Can we determine the biological availability of sediment-bound trace elements?

It is clear from available data that the susceptibility of biological communities to trace element contamination differs among aquatic environments. One important reason is that the bioavailability of metals in sediments appears to be altered by variations in sediment geochemistry. However, methods for explaining or predicting the effect of sediment geochemistry upon metal...
Authors
Samuel N. Luoma

Physical and chemical characteristics of a metal-contaminated overbank deposit, west-central South Dakota, USA Physical and chemical characteristics of a metal-contaminated overbank deposit, west-central South Dakota, USA

The deposit along the Belle Fourche River is typically up to 2 m thick and extends about 90 m away from the channel along the insides of meander bends. The sediments contain above-background levels of copper, iron, manganese, zinc, and particularly arsenic. An influx at high streamflow of uncontaminated sediment from terraces and the premining floodplain as well as from tributaries...
Authors
D. C. Marron
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