Publications
Dive into our publications and explore the science from the Environmental Health Program (Toxic Substances Hydrology and Contaminant Biology).
Filter Total Items: 4095
Fractured-rock aquifers, understanding an increasingly important source of water Fractured-rock aquifers, understanding an increasingly important source of water
Ground water is one of the Nation's most important natural resources. It provides drinking water to communities, supports industry and agriculture, and sustains streams and wetlands. A long record of contributions exists in understanding ground-water movement in sand and gravel aquifers; historically, these aquifers were easily accessible and the first to be investigated. With increased...
Authors
Allen M. Shapiro
Methods of analysis by the U.S. Geological Survey Organic Geochemistry Research Group: Determination of triazine and phenylurea herbicides and their degradation products in water using solid-phase extraction and liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry Methods of analysis by the U.S. Geological Survey Organic Geochemistry Research Group: Determination of triazine and phenylurea herbicides and their degradation products in water using solid-phase extraction and liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry
An analytical method for the determination of 7 triazine and phenylurea herbicides and 12 of their degradation products in natural water samples using solid-phase extraction and liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry is presented in this report. Special consideration was given during the development of the method to prevent the formation of degradation products during the analysis...
Authors
Edward Alan Lee, Alex P. Strahan, Earl Michael Thurman
Assessing ground-water vulnerability to contamination: Providing scientifically defensible information for decision makers Assessing ground-water vulnerability to contamination: Providing scientifically defensible information for decision makers
Throughout the United States increasing demands for safe drinking water and requirements to maintain healthy ecosystems are leading policy makers to ask complex social and scientific questions about how to assess and manage our water resources. This challenge becomes particularly difficult as policy and management objectives require scientific assessments of the potential for ground...
Authors
Michael J. Focazio, Thomas E. Reilly, Michael G. Rupert, Dennis R. Helsel
Field evidence for a protistan role in an organically-contaminated aquifer Field evidence for a protistan role in an organically-contaminated aquifer
The association between protists, bacteria, and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in an oxygen-depleted, 6 km-long wastewater contaminant plume within a sandy aquifer (Cape Cod, MA) was investigated by comparing abundance patterns along longitudinal and vertical transects and at a control site. Strong linear correlations were observed between unattached bacterial abundance and DOC for much...
Authors
Nancy E. Kinner, Ronald W. Harvey, David M. Shay, David W. Metge, Alan Warren
Thermocouple psychrometry Thermocouple psychrometry
Thermocouple psychrometry is a technique that infers the water potential of the liquid phase of a sample from measurements within the vapor phase that is in equilibrium with the sample. The theoretical relation between water potential of the liquid phase and relative humidity of the vapor phase is given by the Kelvin equation Ψ = energy/volume = (RT/Vw) ln(p/po) [3.2.3–1] where ψ is...
Authors
Brian J. Andraski, Bridget R. Scanlon
Dissimilatory arsenate reductase activity and arsenate-respiring bacteria in bovine rumen fluid, hamster feces, and the termite hindgut Dissimilatory arsenate reductase activity and arsenate-respiring bacteria in bovine rumen fluid, hamster feces, and the termite hindgut
Bovine rumen fluid and slurried hamster feces completely reduced millimolar levels of arsenate to arsenite upon incubation under anoxic conditions. This activity was strongly inhibited by autoclaving or aerobic conditions, and partially inhibited by tungstate or chloramphenicol. The rate of arsenate reduction was faster in feces from a population of arsenate-watered (100 ppm) hamsters...
Authors
M.J. Herbel, Blum J. Switzer, S.E. Hoeft, S.M. Cohen, L.L. Arnold, J. Lisak, J.F. Stolz, R.S. Oremland
15N NMR investigation of the reduction and binding of TNT in an aerobic bench scale reactor simulating windrow composting 15N NMR investigation of the reduction and binding of TNT in an aerobic bench scale reactor simulating windrow composting
T15NT was added to a soil of low organic carbon content and composted for 20 days in an aerobic bench scale reactor. The finished whole compost and fulvic acid, humic acid, humin, and lignocellulose fractions extracted from the compost were analyzed by solid-state CP/MAS and DP/MAS 15N NMR. 15N NMR spectra provided direct spectroscopic evidence for reduction of TNT followed by covalent...
Authors
K. A. Thorn, J.C. Pennington, C.A. Hayes
Measurement of the oxygen isotopic composition of nitrate in seawater and freshwater using the denitrifier method Measurement of the oxygen isotopic composition of nitrate in seawater and freshwater using the denitrifier method
We report a novel method for measurement of the oxygen isotopic composition (18O/16O) of nitrate (NO3-) from both seawater and freshwater. The denitrifier method, based on the isotope ratio analysis of nitrous oxide generated from sample nitrate by cultured denitrifying bacteria, has been described elsewhere for its use in nitrogen isotope ratio (15N/14N) analysis of nitrate.1Here, we...
Authors
K.L. Casciotti, D.M. Sigman, M. Galanter Hastings, J. K. Böhlke, A. Hilkert
Water-quality data for pharmaceuticals, hormones, and other organic wastewater contaminants in U.S. streams, 1999-2000 Water-quality data for pharmaceuticals, hormones, and other organic wastewater contaminants in U.S. streams, 1999-2000
Water-quality data collected during 1999 and 2000 as part of the first nationwide reconnaissance of the occurrence of pharmaceuticals, hormones, and other organic wastewater contaminants (OWCs) are presented in this report. A network of 139 streams in 30 states were sampled and analyzed for 95 different OWCs using five new research methods developed by the U.S. Geological Survey. Site...
Authors
Kimberlee K. Barnes, Dana W. Kolpin, Michael T. Meyer, E. Michael Thurman, Edward T. Furlong, Steven D. Zaugg, Larry B. Barber
Supporting data for hydrologic studies in San Francisco Bay, California: Meteorological measurements at the Port of Redwood City during 1998-2001 Supporting data for hydrologic studies in San Francisco Bay, California: Meteorological measurements at the Port of Redwood City during 1998-2001
Meteorological data were collected during 1998-2001 at the Port of Redwood City, California, to support hydrologic studies in South San Francisco Bay. The measured meteorological variables were air temperature, atmospheric pressure, quantum flux (insolation), and four parameters of wind speed and direction: scalar mean horizontal wind speed, (vector) resultant horizontal wind speed...
Authors
Laurence E. Schemel