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 studies, publications, and results.
Filter Total Items: 4097
Compilation and interpretation of water-quality and discharge data for acidic mine waters at Iron Mountain, Shasta County, California, 1940-91 Compilation and interpretation of water-quality and discharge data for acidic mine waters at Iron Mountain, Shasta County, California, 1940-91
No abstract available.
Authors
Charles N. Alpers, D. Kirk Nordstrom, J.M. Burchard
Applying the DRASTIC model: A review of county-scale maps Applying the DRASTIC model: A review of county-scale maps
The potential for contamination of ground water has become an issue of great concern to citizens and government alike, especially in the last decade. Numerous methods for assessing ground water vulnerability to contamination have been proposed and used. These methods include field-scale deterministic models that predict the rate of migration and fate of specific chemicals, and regional...
Authors
David R. Soller
Comparison of purge and trap GC/MS and purgeable organic chloride analysis for monitoring volatile chlorinated hydrocarbons Comparison of purge and trap GC/MS and purgeable organic chloride analysis for monitoring volatile chlorinated hydrocarbons
A combined field and laboratory study was conducted to compare purge and trap gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (PT‐GC/MS) and purgeable organic chloride (POC1) analysis for measuring volatile chlorinated hydro‐carbons (VCH) in ground water. Distilled‐water spike and recovery experiments using 10 VCH indicate that at concentrations greater than 1 /ig/1 recovery is more than 80 percent...
Authors
Larry B. Barber, E. Michael Thurman, Yoshi Takahashi, Mary C. Noriega
Ammonia fixation by humic substances: A nitrogen-15 and carbon-13 NMR study Ammonia fixation by humic substances: A nitrogen-15 and carbon-13 NMR study
The process of ammonia fixation has been studied in three well characterized and structurally diverse fulvic and humic acid samples. The Suwannee River fulvic acid, and the IHSS peat and leonardite humic acids, were reacted with 15N-labelled ammonium hydroxide, and analyzed by liquid phase 15N NMR spectrometry. Elemental analyses and liquid phase 13C NMR spectra also were recorded on the...
Authors
K. A. Thorn, M.A. Mikita
Consumption of freons CFC-11 and CFC-12 by anaerobic sediments and soils Consumption of freons CFC-11 and CFC-12 by anaerobic sediments and soils
A variety of anaerobic sediments and soils consumed CFC-11 (CFCl3) and CFC-12 (CF2Cl2). An aerobic soil did not. Active microbial metabolism was required for CFC-12 uptake in all of the sediments examined. CFC-11 uptake was faster in the presence of microbial activity, but reduced components in the sediments also resulted in nonenzymatic CFC-11 consumption in most instances. CFC-12...
Authors
Derek R. Lovley, J.C. Woodward
Effect of water saturation in soil organic matter on the partition of organic compounds Effect of water saturation in soil organic matter on the partition of organic compounds
No abstract available.
Authors
D.W. Rutherford, G.T. Chlou
Inhibition of existing denitrification enzyme activity by chloramphenicol Inhibition of existing denitrification enzyme activity by chloramphenicol
Chloramphenicol completely inhibited the activity of existing denitrification enzymes in acetylene-block incubations with (i) sediments from a nitrate-contaminated aquifer and (ii) a continuous culture of denitrifying groundwater bacteria. Control flasks with no antibiotic produced significant amounts of nitrous oxide in the same time period. Amendment with chloramphenicol after nitrous...
Authors
M. H. Brooks, R. L. Smith, D.L. Macalady
The determination and fate of unstable constituents of contaminated groundwater The determination and fate of unstable constituents of contaminated groundwater
No abstract available
Authors
M.J. Baedecker, M. Cozzarelli
A critical review of inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry for geoanalysis, geochemistry and hydrology, Part 1. Analytical performance A critical review of inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry for geoanalysis, geochemistry and hydrology, Part 1. Analytical performance
Present-day inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) instrumentation is described briefly. Emphasis is placed on performance characteristics for geoanalysis, geochemistry, and hydrology. Applications where ICP-MS would be indispensable are indicated. Determination of geochemically diagnostic trace elements (such as the rare earth elements [REE], U and Th), of isotope ratios...
Authors
I.B. Brenner, Howard E. Taylor
Geochemical heterogeneity in a sand and gravel aquifer: Effect of sediment mineralogy and particle size on the sorption of chlorobenzenes Geochemical heterogeneity in a sand and gravel aquifer: Effect of sediment mineralogy and particle size on the sorption of chlorobenzenes
The effect of particle size, mineralogy and sediment organic carbon (SOC) on sorption of tetrachlorobenzene and pentachlorobenzene was evaluated using batch-isotherm experiments on sediment particle-size and mineralogical fractions from a sand and gravel aquifer, Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Concentration of SOC and sorption of chlorobenzenes increase with decreasing particle size. For a...
Authors
Larry B. Barber, E. Michael Thurman, Donald D. Runnells
Discussion of "Aeration at Ohio River basin navigation dams" Discussion of "Aeration at Ohio River basin navigation dams"
No abstract available.
Authors
John S. Gulliver, Steven C. Wilhelms