Publications
Dive into our publications and explore the science from the Environmental Health Program (Toxic Substances Hydrology and Contaminant Biology).
GeoHEALTH-USGS Newsletter
GeoHEALTH-USGS Newsletter
The GeoHEALTH–USGS Newsletter—published since 2004—provides information on USGS science activities pertinent to safeguarding the health of fish, wildlife, domesticated animals, and people from environmental exposures to contaminants and pathogens.
Featured Science Activities
Featured Science Activities
Learn about our Featured Science Activities through our pages that highlight recent studies, publications, and results.
Filter Total Items: 686
13C and 15N NMR identification of product compound classes from aqueous and solid phase photodegradation of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene 13C and 15N NMR identification of product compound classes from aqueous and solid phase photodegradation of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene
Abstract Photolysis is one of the main transformation pathways for 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) released into the environment. Upon exposure to sunlight, TNT is known to undergo both oxidation and reduction reactions with release of nitrite, nitrate, and ammonium ions, followed by condensation reactions of the oxidation and reduction products. In this study, compound classes of...
Authors
Kevin A. Thorn
Competitive interactions among H, CU, and Zn ion moderate aqueous uptake of Cu and Zn by an aquatic insect Competitive interactions among H, CU, and Zn ion moderate aqueous uptake of Cu and Zn by an aquatic insect
The absorption of aqueous copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) by aquatic insects, a group widely used to assess water quality, is unresolved. This study examined interactions among Cu, Zn, and protons that potentially moderate Cu and Zn uptake by the acid-tolerant stonefly Zapada sp. Saturation uptake kinetics was imposed to identify competitive mechanisms. Decreasing pH reduced the maximum...
Authors
Daniel Cain, Marie Croteau, Christopher Fuller
Spatial fingerprinting of biogenic and anthropogenic volatile organic compounds in an arid unsaturated zone Spatial fingerprinting of biogenic and anthropogenic volatile organic compounds in an arid unsaturated zone
Subsurface volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can pose risks to human and environmental health and mediate biological processes. VOCs have both anthropogenic and biogenic origins, but the relative importance of these sources has not been explored in subsurface environments. This study synthesizes 17 years of VOC data from the Amargosa Desert Research Site (ADRS) with the goal of improving
Authors
Christopher Green, Wentai Luo, Christopher H. Conaway, Karl B. Haase, Ronald J. Baker, Brian Andraski
An integrative GIS approach to analyzing the impacts of septic systems on the coast of Florida, USA An integrative GIS approach to analyzing the impacts of septic systems on the coast of Florida, USA
An estimated 2.7 million septic systems in Florida, USA are potential ground and surface water contaminant sources that may affect environmental and human health. This study examined the spatial distribution of septic systems, coastal surface water contamination, and related environmental factors of coastal Florida watersheds at the 8-digit hydrologic unit code level. Hydrology, in situ...
Authors
Kyle Flanagan, Barnali Dixon, Tess Rivenbark, Dale Griffin
Influence of dissolved organic carbon on the acute toxicity of copper and zinc to White Sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) and a Cladoceran (Ceriodaphnia dubia) Influence of dissolved organic carbon on the acute toxicity of copper and zinc to White Sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) and a Cladoceran (Ceriodaphnia dubia)
We conducted acute lethality tests with white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) and Ceriodaphnia dubia exposed to copper and zinc at dissolved organic carbon concentrations ranging from 0.5 to 5.5 mg/L. Dissolved organic carbon had minimal effects on zinc toxicity but did have a protective effect on acute copper toxicity, which was equal to that predicted by the copper biotic ligand...
Authors
Chris Ivey, John Besser, Jeffery Steevens, Michael Walther, Vanessa Melton
De facto water reuse: Bioassay suite approach delivers depth and breadth in endocrine active compound detection De facto water reuse: Bioassay suite approach delivers depth and breadth in endocrine active compound detection
Although endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) have been detected in wastewater and surface waters worldwide using a variety of in vitro effects-based screening tools, e.g. bioassays, few have examined potential attenuation of environmental contaminants by both natural (sorption, degradation, etc) and anthropogenic (water treatment practices) processes. This study used several bioassays...
Authors
Elizabeth Medlock Kakaley, Brett R. Blackwell, Mary Cardon, Justin Conley, Nicola Evans, David Feifarek, Edward Furlong, Susan Glassmeyer, L. Gray, Phillip Hartig, Dana W. Kolpin, Marc Mills, Laura Rosenblum, Daniel Villeneuve, Vickie Wilson
Urban stormwater: An overlooked pathway of extensive mixed contaminants to surface and groundwaters in the United States Urban stormwater: An overlooked pathway of extensive mixed contaminants to surface and groundwaters in the United States
Increasing global reliance on stormwater control measures to reduce discharge to surface water, increase groundwater recharge, and minimize contaminant delivery to receiving waterbodies necessitates improved understanding of stormwater-contaminant profiles. A multi-agency study of organic and inorganic chemicals in urban stormwater from 50 runoff events at 21 sites across the United...
Authors
Jason Masoner, Dana W. Kolpin, Isabelle Cozzarelli, Larry Barber, D.S. Burden, William Foreman, Kenneth Forshay, Edward Furlong, Justin Groves, Michelle Hladik, Matthew Hopton, Jeanne Jaeschke, Steffanie Keefe, David Krabbenhoft, Richard Lowrance, Kristin Romanok, David Rus, William Selbig, Brad Williams, Paul Bradley
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Science Synthesis, Analysis, and Research Program, Contaminant Biology, Science Analytics and Synthesis (SAS) Program, Toxic Substances Hydrology, California Water Science Center, Central Midwest Water Science Center, New Jersey Water Science Center, Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center, South Atlantic Water Science Center (SAWSC), Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Upper Midwest Water Science Center, Reston Biogeochemical Processes in Groundwater Laboratory
Air pollution and respiratory hospital admissions in Shiraz, Iran, 2009 to 2015 Air pollution and respiratory hospital admissions in Shiraz, Iran, 2009 to 2015
Air pollution has been identified as one of the most challenging health issues in urban areas worldwide. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between short-term exposure to ambient air pollution and respiratory disease over a long-term period in Shiraz, one of the largest cities in Iran. Methods: hospital admissions due to respiratory diseases (asthma, pneumonia...
Authors
Zahra Soleimani, Ali Darvishi Boloorani, Reza Khalifeh, Pari Teymouri, Alireza Mesdaghinia, Dale Griffin
Current state of knowledge on biological effects from contaminants on arctic wildlife and fish Current state of knowledge on biological effects from contaminants on arctic wildlife and fish
Since the last Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP) effort to review biological effects of the exposure to organohalogen compounds (OHCs) in Arctic biota, there has been a considerable number of new Arctic effect studies. Here, we provide an update on the state of the knowledge of OHC, and also include mercury, exposure and/or associated effects in key Arctic marine and...
Authors
Rune Dietz, Robert Letcher, Jean-Pierre Desforges, Igor Eulaers, Christian Sonne, Simon Wilson, Emilie Andersen-Ranberg, Niladri Basu, Benjamin Barst, Jan Bustnes, Jenny Bytingsvik, Tomasz Ciesielski, Paul Drevnick, Geir Gabrielsen, Ane Haarr, Ketil Hylland, Bjorn Jenssen, Milton Levin, Melissa McKinney, Rasmus Norregaard, Kathrine Pedersen, Jennifer Provencher, Bjarne Styrishave, Sabrina Tartu, Jon Aars, Joshua T. Ackerman, Aqqalu Rosing-Asvid, Rob Barrett, Anders Bignert, Erik Born, Marsha Branigan, Birgit Braune, Colleen Bryan, Maria Dam, Collin Eagles-Smith, Marlene Evans, Thomas J. Evans, Aaron Fisk, Mary Gamberg, Kim Gustavson, C. Hartman, Bjorn Helander, Mark Herzog, Paul Hoekstra, Magali Houde, Katrin Hoydal, Allyson K. Jackson, John Kucklick, Elisabeth Lie, Lisa Loseto, Mark Mallory, Cecilie Miljeteig, Anders Mosbech, Derek Muir, Sanna Nielsen, Elizabeth Peacock, Sara Pedro, Sarah Peterson, Anuschka Polder, Frank Riget, Pat Roach, Halvor Saunes, Mikkel-Holger Sinding, Janneche Skaare, Jens Sondergaard, Garry Stenson, Gary Stern, Gabriele Treu, Stacy Schuur, Gisli Vikingsson
Geophysical mapping of plume discharge to surface water at a crude oil spill site: Inversion versus machine learning Geophysical mapping of plume discharge to surface water at a crude oil spill site: Inversion versus machine learning
The interpretation of geophysical survey results to answer hydrologic, engineering, and geologic questions is critical to diverse problems for management of water, energy, and mineral resources. Although geophysical images provide valuable qualitative insight into subsurface architecture and conditions, translating geophysical images into quantitative information (e.g., saturation...
Authors
Neil Terry, Frederick Day-Lewis, John W. Lane, Jared Trost, Barbara Bekins
Examining the extraction efficiency of petroleum-derived dissolved organic matter in contaminated groundwater plumes Examining the extraction efficiency of petroleum-derived dissolved organic matter in contaminated groundwater plumes
The extraction efficiency of petroleum-derived dissolved organic matter (DOM) was examined for groundwater samples from an aquifer contaminated with crude oil. Four different types of extraction were used to determine which method is best suited for the analysis of potentially toxic petroleum-derived DOM. The four types were a liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) with dichloromethane (EPA...
Authors
Phoebe Zito, Rana Ghannam, Barbara Bekins, David Podgorski
De facto reuse and disinfection by-products in drinking water systems in the Shenandoah River watershed De facto reuse and disinfection by-products in drinking water systems in the Shenandoah River watershed
De facto reuse is increasingly being studied among the variety of stressors that are relevant to drinking water systems that obtain their source water from surface waters. De facto reuse may influence the levels and types of precursors relevant to formation of disinfection by-products (DBPs) in surface water systems. DBPs such as trihalomethanes (THMs) and haloacetic acids (HAAs) have...
Authors
Richard Weisman, Larry B. Barber, Jennifer Rapp, Celso Ferreira