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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: 4095

Enantiomer fractions of chlordane components in sediment from U.S. Geological Survey sites in lakes and rivers Enantiomer fractions of chlordane components in sediment from U.S. Geological Survey sites in lakes and rivers

Spatial, temporal, and sediment-type trends in enantiomer signatures were evaluated for cis- and trans-chlordane (CC, TC) in archived core, suspended, and surficial-sediment samples from six lake, reservoir, and river sites across the United States. The enantiomer fractions (EFs) measured in these samples are in good agreement with those reported for sediment, soil, and air samples in...
Authors
E.M. Ulrich, W.T. Foreman, P. C. Van Metre, J.T. Wilson, S.A. Rounds

A carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur elemental and isotopic study in dated sediment cores from the Louisiana Shelf A carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur elemental and isotopic study in dated sediment cores from the Louisiana Shelf

Three sediment cores were collected off the Mississippi River delta on the Louisiana Shelf at sites that are variably influenced by recurring, summer-time water-column hypoxia and fluvial loadings. The cores, with established chronology, were analyzed for their respective carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur elemental and isotopic composition to examine variable organic matter inputs, and to...
Authors
R.J. Rosenbauer, P.W. Swarzenski, C. Kendall, W. H. Orem, F. D. Hostettler, M.E. Rollog

Quality assurance and quality control in light stable isotope laboratories: A case study of Rio Grande, Texas, water samples Quality assurance and quality control in light stable isotope laboratories: A case study of Rio Grande, Texas, water samples

New isotope laboratories can achieve the goal of reporting the same isotopic composition within analytical uncertainty for the same material analysed decades apart by (1) writing their own acceptance testing procedures and putting them into their mass spectrometric or laser-based isotope-ratio equipment procurement contract, (2) requiring a manufacturer to demonstrate acceptable...
Authors
T.B. Coplen, H. Qi

Wastewater effluent, combined sewer overflows, and other sources of organic compounds to Lake Champlain Wastewater effluent, combined sewer overflows, and other sources of organic compounds to Lake Champlain

Abstract: Some sources of organic wastewater compounds (OWCs) to streams, lakes, and estuaries, including wastewater‐treatment‐plant effluent, have been well documented, but other sources, particularly wet‐weather discharges from combined‐sewer‐overflow (CSO) and urban runoff, may also be major sources of OWCs. Samples of wastewater‐treatment‐plant (WWTP) effluent, CSO effluent, urban...
Authors
P. Phillips, A. Chalmers

Geoelectrical measurement and modeling of biogeochemical breakthrough behavior during microbial activity Geoelectrical measurement and modeling of biogeochemical breakthrough behavior during microbial activity

We recorded bulk electrical conductivity (σb) along a soil column during microbially-mediated selenite oxyanion reduction. Effluent fluid electrical conductivity and early time σb were modeled according to classic advective-dispersive transport of the nutrient medium. However, σb along the column exhibited strongly bimodal breakthrough which cannot be explained by changes in the...
Authors
L.D. Slater, Frederick D. Day-Lewis, D. Ntarlagiannis, M. O'Brien, N. Yee

Assessing the sources and magnitude of diurnal nitrate variability in the San Joaquin River (California) with an in situ optical nitrate sensor and dual nitrate isotopes Assessing the sources and magnitude of diurnal nitrate variability in the San Joaquin River (California) with an in situ optical nitrate sensor and dual nitrate isotopes

1. We investigated diurnal nitrate (NO3−) concentration variability in the San Joaquin River using an in situ optical NO3− sensor and discrete sampling during a 5‐day summer period characterized by high algal productivity. Dual NO3− isotopes (δ15NNO3 and δ18ONO3) and dissolved oxygen isotopes (δ18ODO) were measured over 2 days to assess NO3− sources and biogeochemical controls over...
Authors
Brian A. Pellerin, Bryan D. Downing, Carol Kendall, Randy A. Dahlgren, Tamara E.C. Kraus, John Franco Saraceno, Robert G. M. Spencer, Brian A. Bergamaschi

Acid rock drainage and climate change Acid rock drainage and climate change

Rainfall events cause both increases and decreases in acid and metals concentrations and their loadings from mine wastes, and unmined mineralized areas, into receiving streams based on data from 3 mines sites in the United States and other sites outside the US. Gradual increases in concentrations occur during long dry spells and sudden large increases are observed during the rising limb...
Authors
D. Kirk Nordstrom

Effects of simplifying fracture network representation on inert chemical migration in fracture-controlled aquifers Effects of simplifying fracture network representation on inert chemical migration in fracture-controlled aquifers

[1] While it is widely recognized that highly permeable ‘large‐scale' fractures dominate chemical migration in many fractured aquifers, recent studies suggest that the pervasive ‘small‐scale’ fracturing once considered of less significance can be equally important for characterizing the spatial extent and residence time associated with transport processes. A detailed examination of...
Authors
Tristan Wellman, Allen M. Shapiro, Mary C. Hill

Methylmercury enters an aquatic food web through acidophilic microbial mats in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming Methylmercury enters an aquatic food web through acidophilic microbial mats in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Microbial mats are a visible and abundant life form inhabiting the extreme environments in Yellowstone National Park (YNP), WY, USA. Little is known of their role in food webs that exist in the Park's geothermal habitats. Eukaryotic green algae associated with a phototrophic green/purple Zygogonium microbial mat community that inhabits low-temperature regions of acidic (pH ∼ 3.0) thermal...
Authors
Eric S. Boyd, S. King, J.K. Tomberlin, D. Kirk Nordstrom, D. P. Krabbenhoft, T. Barkay, G. G. Geesey

PCBs and DDE in tree swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) eggs and nestlings from an estuarine PCB superfund site, New Bedford Harbor, MA, U.S.A. PCBs and DDE in tree swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) eggs and nestlings from an estuarine PCB superfund site, New Bedford Harbor, MA, U.S.A.

While breeding tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) have been used as biomonitors for freshwater sites, we report the first use of this species to assess contaminant bioaccumulation from estuarine breeding grounds into these aerial insectivores. Eggs and nestlings were collected from nest boxes in a polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) contaminated estuary, the New Bedford Harbor Superfund site...
Authors
Saro Jayaraman, Diane E. Nacci, Denise M. Champlin, Richard J. Pruell, Kenneth J. Rocha, Christine M. Custer, Thomas W. Custer, Mark Cantwell

Introduction to special section on impacts of land use change on water resources Introduction to special section on impacts of land use change on water resources

Changes in land use have potentially large impacts on water resources, yet quantifying these impacts remains among the more challenging problems in hydrology. Water, food, energy, and climate are linked through complex webs of direct and indirect effects and feedbacks. Land use is undergoing major changes due not only to pressures for more efficient food, feed, and fiber production to...
Authors
David A. Stonestrom, Bridget R. Scanlon, Lu Zhang

Occurrence and removal of pharmaceutically active compounds in sewage treatment plants with different technologies Occurrence and removal of pharmaceutically active compounds in sewage treatment plants with different technologies

Occurrence of eight selected pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs; caffeine, carbamazepine, triclosan, gemfibrozil, diclofenac, ibuprofen, ketoprofen and naproxen) were investigated in effluents from fifteen sewage treatment plants (STPs) across South Australia. In addition, a detailed investigation into the removal of these compounds was also carried out in four STPs with different
Authors
Guang-Guo Ying, Rai S. Kookana, Dana W. Kolpin
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