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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

Comparison of alternative representations of hydraulic-conductivity anisotropy in folded fractured-sedimentary rock: Modeling groundwater flow in the Shenandoah Valley (USA) Comparison of alternative representations of hydraulic-conductivity anisotropy in folded fractured-sedimentary rock: Modeling groundwater flow in the Shenandoah Valley (USA)

A numerical representation that explicitly represents the generalized three-dimensional anisotropy of folded fractured-sedimentary rocks in a groundwater model best reproduces the salient features of the flow system in the Shenandoah Valley, USA. This conclusion results from a comparison of four alternative representations of anisotropy in which the hydraulic-conductivity tensor...
Authors
R. M. Yager, C.I. Voss, S. Southworth

Newly recognized hosts for uranium in the Hanford Site vadose zone Newly recognized hosts for uranium in the Hanford Site vadose zone

Uranium contaminated sediments from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Hanford Site have been investigated using electron microscopy. Six classes of solid hosts for uranium were identified. Preliminary sediment characterization was carried out using optical petrography, and electron microprobe analysis (EMPA) was used to locate materials that host uranium. All of the hosts are fine-grained...
Authors
J.E. Stubbs, L.A. Veblen, D.C. Elbert, J.M. Zachara, J.A. Davis, D.R. Veblen

Monitoring the removal of phosphate from ground water discharging through a pond-bottom permeable reactive barrier Monitoring the removal of phosphate from ground water discharging through a pond-bottom permeable reactive barrier

Installation of a permeable reactive barrier to intercept a phosphate (PO4) plume where it discharges to a pond provided an opportunity to develop and test methods for monitoring the barrier’s performance in the shallow pond‐bottom sediments. The barrier is composed of zero‐valent‐iron mixed with the native sediments to a 0.6‐m depth over a 1100‐m2 area. Permanent suction, diffusion, and...
Authors
T.D. McCobb, D.R. LeBlanc, A.J. Massey

Evaluation of acute copper toxicity to juvenile freshwater mussels (fatmucket, lampsilis siliquoidea) in natural and reconstituted waters Evaluation of acute copper toxicity to juvenile freshwater mussels (fatmucket, lampsilis siliquoidea) in natural and reconstituted waters

The influence of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and water composition on the toxicity of copper to juvenile freshwater mussels (fatmucket, Lampsilis siliquoidea) were evaluated in natural and reconstituted waters. Acute 96‐h copper toxicity tests were conducted at four nominal DOC concentrations (0, 2.5, 5, and 10 mg/L as carbon [C]) in dilutions of natural waters and in American Society...
Authors
N. Wang, C.A. Mebane, J.L. Kunz, C.G. Ingersoll, T.W. May, W.R. Arnold, R.C. Santore, T. Augspurger, F.J. Dwyer, M.C. Barniiart

Reproductive health of bass in the potomac, USA, drainage: Part 2. Seasonal occurrence of persistent and emerging organic contaminants Reproductive health of bass in the potomac, USA, drainage: Part 2. Seasonal occurrence of persistent and emerging organic contaminants

The seasonal occurrence of organic contaminants, many of which are potential endocrine disruptors, entering the Potomac River, USA, watershed was investigated using a two-pronged approach during the fall of 2005 and spring of 2006. Passive samplers (semipermeable membrane device and polar organic chemical integrative sampler [POCIS]) were deployed in tandem at sites above and below...
Authors
D.A. Alvarez, W.L. Cranor, S.D. Perkins, V.L. Schroeder, L. R. Iwanowicz, R.C. Clark, C.P. Guy, A.E. Pinkney, V. S. Blazer, J.E. Mullican

Effect of grain-coating mineralogy on nitrate and sulfate storage in the unsaturated zone Effect of grain-coating mineralogy on nitrate and sulfate storage in the unsaturated zone

Unsaturated-zone sediments and the chemistry of shallow groundwater underlying a small (∼8-km2) watershed were studied to identify the mechanisms responsible for anion storage within the Miocene Bridgeton Formation and weathered Coastal Plain deposits in southern New Jersey. Lower unsaturated-zone sediments and shallow groundwater samples were collected and concentrations of selected...
Authors
T. J. Reilly, N.S. Fishman, A. L. Baehr

Processes affecting δ34S and δ18O values of dissolved sulfate in alluvium along the Canadian River, central Oklahoma, USA Processes affecting δ34S and δ18O values of dissolved sulfate in alluvium along the Canadian River, central Oklahoma, USA

The δ34S and δ18O values for dissolved sulfate in groundwater are commonly used in aquifer studies to identify sulfate reservoirs and describe biogeochemical processes. The utility of these data, however, often is compromised by mixing of sulfate sources within reservoirs and isotope fractionation during sulfur redox cycling. Our study shows that, after all potential sulfate sources are...
Authors
Michele L. Tuttle, George N. Breit, Isabelle M. Cozzarelli

Mercury cycling in stream ecosystems. 1. Water column chemistry and transport Mercury cycling in stream ecosystems. 1. Water column chemistry and transport

We studied total mercury (THg) and methylmercury (MeHg) in eight streams, located in Oregon, Wisconsin, and Florida, that span large ranges in climate, landscape characteristics, atmospheric Hg deposition, and water chemistry. While atmospheric deposition was the source of Hg at each site, basin characteristics appeared to mediate this source by providing controls on methylation and...
Authors
M. E. Brigham, D.A. Wentz, G. R. Aiken, D. P. Krabbenhoft

Structural characterization of terrestrial microbial Mn oxides from Pinal Creek, AZ Structural characterization of terrestrial microbial Mn oxides from Pinal Creek, AZ

The microbial catalysis of Mn(II) oxidation is believed to be a dominant source of abundant sorption- and redox-active Mn oxides in marine, freshwater, and subsurface aquatic environments. In spite of their importance, environmental oxides of known biogenic origin have generally not been characterized in detail from a structural perspective. Hyporheic zone Mn oxide grain coatings at...
Authors
J.R. Bargar, C. C. Fuller, M.A. Marcus, A.J. Brearley, M. Perez De la Rosa, S.M. Webb, W.A. Caldwell

Nitrification and denitrification in a midwestern stream containing high nitrate: In situ assessment using tracers in dome-shaped incubation chambers Nitrification and denitrification in a midwestern stream containing high nitrate: In situ assessment using tracers in dome-shaped incubation chambers

The extent to which in-stream processes alter or remove nutrient loads in agriculturally impacted streams is critically important to watershed function and the delivery of those loads to coastal waters. In this study, patch-scale rates of in-stream benthic processes were determined using large volume, open-bottom benthic incubation chambers in a nitrate-rich, first to third order stream...
Authors
R. L. Smith, J.K. Böhlke, D.A. Repert, C.P. Hart

Elevated naturally occurring arsenic in a semiarid oxidizing system, Southern High Plains aquifer, Texas, USA Elevated naturally occurring arsenic in a semiarid oxidizing system, Southern High Plains aquifer, Texas, USA

High groundwater As concentrations in oxidizing systems are generally associated with As adsorption onto hydrous metal (Al, Fe or Mn) oxides and mobilization with increased pH. The objective of this study was to evaluate the distribution, sources and mobilization mechanisms of As in the Southern High Plains (SHP) aquifer, Texas, relative to those in other semiarid, oxidizing systems...
Authors
Bridget R. Scanlon, J.-P. Nicot, R.C. Reedy, D. Kurtzman, A. Mukherjee, D. Kirk Nordstrom

Order of functionality loss during photodegradation of aquatic humic substances Order of functionality loss during photodegradation of aquatic humic substances

The time course photodegradation of the Nordic aquatic fulvic and humic acids and Suwannee River XAD-4 acids subjected to UV irradiation with an unfiltered medium pressure mercury lamp was studied by liquid-state 13C nuclear magnetic resonance. Photodecarboxylation was a significant pathway in all cases. Decreases in ketone, aromatic, and O-alkyl carbons were observed throughout the...
Authors
Kevin A. Thorn, Steven J. Younger, Larry G. Cox
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