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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: 4097

Advances in solid-phase extraction disks for environmental chemistry Advances in solid-phase extraction disks for environmental chemistry

The development of solid-phase extraction (SPE) for environmental chemistry has progressed significantly over the last decade to include a number of new sorbents and new approaches to SPE. One SPE approach in particular, the SPE disk, has greatly reduced or eliminated the use of chlorinated solvents for the analysis of trace organic compounds. This article discusses the use and...
Authors
E.M. Thurman, K. Snavely

A new method for collection of nitrate from fresh water and the analysis of nitrogen and oxygen isotope ratios A new method for collection of nitrate from fresh water and the analysis of nitrogen and oxygen isotope ratios

A new method for concentrating nitrate from fresh waters for δ15N and δ18O analysis has been developed and field-tested for four years. The benefits of the method are: (1) elimination of the need to transport large volumes of water to the laboratory for processing; (2) elimination of the need for hazardous preservatives; and (3) the ability to concentrate nitrate from fresh waters...
Authors
S. R. Silva, C. Kendall, D.H. Wilkison, A.C. Ziegler, Cecily C.Y. Chang, R.J. Avanzino

Measuring stream discharge by non-contact methods: A proof-of-concept experiment Measuring stream discharge by non-contact methods: A proof-of-concept experiment

This report describes an experiment to make a completely non-contact open-channel discharge measurement. A van-mounted, pulsed doppler (10GHz) radar collected surface-velocity data across the 183-m wide Skagit River, Washington at a USGS streamgaging station using Bragg scattering from short waves produced by turbulent boils on the surface of the river. Surface velocities were converted...
Authors
J. E. Costa, K.R. Spicer, R. T. Cheng, F.P. Haeni, N.B. Melcher, E.M. Thurman, W.J. Plant, W.C. Keller

Strontium isotope geochemistry of groundwaters and streams affected by agriculture, Locust Grove, MD Strontium isotope geochemistry of groundwaters and streams affected by agriculture, Locust Grove, MD

The effects of agriculture on the isotope geochemistry of Sr were investigated in two small watersheds in the Atlantic coastal plain of Maryland. Stratified shallow oxic groundwaters in both watersheds contained a retrievable record of increasing recharge rates of chemicals including NO3−, Cl, Mg, Ca and Sr that were correlated with increasing fertilizer use between about 1940 and 1990...
Authors
J.K. Böhlke, M. Horan

Temporal variations in parameters reflecting terminal-electron-accepting processes in an aquifer contaminated with waste fuel and chlorinated solvents Temporal variations in parameters reflecting terminal-electron-accepting processes in an aquifer contaminated with waste fuel and chlorinated solvents

A fundamental issue in aquifer biogeochemistry is the means by which solute transport, geochemical processes, and microbiological activity combine to produce spatial and temporal variations in redox zonation. In this paper, we describe the temporal variability of TEAP conditions in shallow groundwater contaminated with both waste fuel and chlorinated solvents. TEAP parameters (including...
Authors
Jennifer T. McGuire, Erik W. Smith, David T. Long, David W. Hyndman, Sheridan K. Haack, Michael J. Klug, Michael A. Velbel

Uranium content and leachable fraction of fluorspars Uranium content and leachable fraction of fluorspars

Much attention in the radiological health community has recently focused on the management and regulation of naturally occurring radioactive materials. Although uranium-bearing minerals are present in a variety of fluorspar deposits, their potential consideration as naturally occurring radioactive materials has received only limited recognition. The uranium content of 28 samples of acid-...
Authors
E. R. Landa, T.B. Councell

Approaches to modelling uranium (VI) adsorption on natural mineral assemblages Approaches to modelling uranium (VI) adsorption on natural mineral assemblages

Component additivity (CA) and generalised composite (GC) approaches to deriving a suitable surface complexation model for description of U(VI) adsorption to natural mineral assemblages are pursued in this paper with good success. A single, ferrihydrite-like component is found to reasonably describe uranyl uptake to a number of kaolinitic iron-rich natural substrates at pH > 4 in the CA...
Authors
T.D. Waite, J.A. Davis, B.R. Fenton, T.E. Payne

Acetogenic microbial degradation of vinyl chloride Acetogenic microbial degradation of vinyl chloride

Under methanogenic conditions, microbial degradation of [1,2-14C]vinyl chloride (VC) resulted in significant (14 ± 3% maximum recovery) but transient recovery of radioactivity as 14C-acetate. Subsequently, 14C-acetate was degraded to 14CH4 and 14CO2 (18 ± 2% and 54 ± 3% final recoveries, respectively). In contrast, under 2-bromoethanesulfonic acid (BES) amended conditions, 14C-acetate...
Authors
P. M. Bradley, F. H. Chapelle

Bacterial dissimilatory reduction of arsenate and sulfate in meromictic Mono Lake, California Bacterial dissimilatory reduction of arsenate and sulfate in meromictic Mono Lake, California

The stratified (meromictic) water column of alkaline and hypersaline Mono Lake, California, contains high concentrations of dissolved inorganic arsenic (~200 ??mol/L). Arsenic speciation changes from arsenate [As (V)] to arsenite [As (III)] with the transition from oxic surface waters (misolimnion) to anoxic bottom waters (monimolimnion). A radioassay was devised to measure the reduction...
Authors
R.S. Oremland, P.R. Dowdle, S. Hoeft, J.O. Sharp, J.K. Schaefer, L.G. Miller, Blum J. Switzer, R. L. Smith, N.S. Bloom, D. Wallschlaeger

Sulfur geochemistry of hydrothermal waters in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA. II. Formation and decomposition of thiosulfate and polythionate in Cinder Pool Sulfur geochemistry of hydrothermal waters in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA. II. Formation and decomposition of thiosulfate and polythionate in Cinder Pool

Cinder Pool is an acid-sulfate-chloride boiling spring in Norris Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park. The pool is unique in that its surface is partially covered with mm-size, black, hollow sulfur spherules, while a layer of molten sulfur resides at the bottom of the pool (18 m depth). The sulfur speciation in the pool was determined on four different days over a period of two years...
Authors
Y. Xu, M.A.A. Schoonen, D. Kirk Nordstrom, K.M. Cunningham, J.W. Ball
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