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: 4095
Stable isotope tracing of temporal and spatial variability in organic matter sources to freshwater ecosystems Stable isotope tracing of temporal and spatial variability in organic matter sources to freshwater ecosystems
No abstract available.
Authors
Jacques C. Finlay, Carol Kendall
Tracing anthropogenic inputs of nitrogen to ecosystems Tracing anthropogenic inputs of nitrogen to ecosystems
No abstract available.
Authors
Carol Kendall, Emily M. Elliott, Scott D. Wankel
Microbial consortia development and microcosm and column experiments for enhanced bioremediation of chlorinated volatile organic compounds, West Branch Canal Creek wetland area, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland Microbial consortia development and microcosm and column experiments for enhanced bioremediation of chlorinated volatile organic compounds, West Branch Canal Creek wetland area, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland
Chlorinated solvents, including 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane, tetrachloroethene, trichloroethene, carbon tetrachloride, and chloroform, are reaching land surface in localized areas of focused ground-water discharge (seeps) in a wetland and tidal creek in the West Branch Canal Creek area, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland. In cooperation with the U.S. Army Garrison, Aberdeen Proving Ground...
Authors
Michelle M. Lorah, Emily H. Majcher, Elizabeth J. Jones, Mary A. Voytek
Reproductive disruption in fish downstream from an estrogenic wastewater effluent Reproductive disruption in fish downstream from an estrogenic wastewater effluent
To assess the impact of an estrogenic wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluent on fish reproduction, white suckers (Catostomus commersoni) were collected from immediately upstream and downstream (effluent site) of the city of Boulder, CO, WWTP outfall. Gonadal intersex, altered sex ratios, reduced gonad size, disrupted ovarian and testicular histopathology, and vitellogenin induction...
Authors
A.M. Vajda, Larry B. Barber, James L. Gray, E.M. Lopez, John D. Woodling, David O. Norris
Development of acid functional groups and lactones during the thermal degradation of wood and wood components Development of acid functional groups and lactones during the thermal degradation of wood and wood components
Black carbon (pyrogenic materials including chars) in soils has been recognized as a substantial portion of soil organic matter, and has been shown to play a vital role in nutrient cycling; however, little is known concerning the properties of this material. Previous studies have largely been concerned with the creation of high-surface-area materials for use as sorbents. These materials...
Authors
David W. Rutherford, Robert L. Wershaw, James B. Reeves
NetpathXL - An excel interface to the program NETPATH NetpathXL - An excel interface to the program NETPATH
NetpathXL is a revised version of NETPATH that runs under Windows? operating systems. NETPATH is a computer program that uses inverse geochemical modeling techniques to calculate net geochemical reactions that can account for changes in water composition between initial and final evolutionary waters in hydrologic systems. The inverse models also can account for the isotopic composition...
Authors
David L. Parkhurst, Scott R. Charlton
On phytoplankton trends On phytoplankton trends
Phytoplankton—unicellular algae in the surface layer of lakes and oceans—fuel the lacustrine and marine food chains and play a key role in regulating atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations. How will rising carbon dioxide concentrations in the air and surface ocean in turn affect phytoplankton? Answering this question is crucial for projecting future climate change. However, because
Authors
Victor Smetacek, James E. Cloern
Investigation of organic chemicals potentially responsible for mortality and intersex in fish of the North Fork of the Shenandoah River, Virginia, during Spring of 2007 Investigation of organic chemicals potentially responsible for mortality and intersex in fish of the North Fork of the Shenandoah River, Virginia, during Spring of 2007
Declining fish health, fish exhibiting external lesions, incidences of intersex, and death, have been observed recently within the Potomac River basin. The basin receives surface runoff and direct inputs from agricultural, industrial, and other human activities. Two locations on the North Fork of the Shenandoah River were selected for study in an attempt to identify chemicals that may...
Authors
David A. Alvarez, Walter L. Cranor, Stephanie D. Perkins, Vickie L. Schroeder, Stephen Werner, Edward T. Furlong, John Holmes
A decade of measuring, monitoring, and studying the fate and transport of triazine herbicides in groundwater, surface water, reservoirs, and precipitation by the U.S. Geological Survey A decade of measuring, monitoring, and studying the fate and transport of triazine herbicides in groundwater, surface water, reservoirs, and precipitation by the U.S. Geological Survey
No abstract available.
Authors
E.M. Thurman, E.A. Scribner
Fecal-indicator bacteria and Escherichia coli pathogen data collected near a novel sub-irrigation water-treatment system in Lenawee County, Michigan, June-November 2007 Fecal-indicator bacteria and Escherichia coli pathogen data collected near a novel sub-irrigation water-treatment system in Lenawee County, Michigan, June-November 2007
The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Lenawee County Conservation District in Lenawee County, Mich., conducted a sampling effort over a single growing season (June to November 2007) to evaluate the microbiological water quality around a novel livestock reservoir wetland sub-irrigation system. Samples were collected and analyzed for fecal coliform bacteria, Escherichia coli...
Authors
Joseph W. Duris, Stephanie Beeler
Ground- and surface-water chemistry of Handcart Gulch, Park County, Colorado, 2003-2006 Ground- and surface-water chemistry of Handcart Gulch, Park County, Colorado, 2003-2006
As part of a multidisciplinary project to determine the processes that control ground-water chemistry and flow in mineralized alpine environments, ground- and surface-water samples from Handcart Gulch, Colorado were collected for analysis of inorganic solutes and water and dissolved sulfate stable isotopes in selected samples. The primary aim of this study was to document variations in...
Authors
Philip L. Verplanck, Andrew H. Manning, Briant A. Kimball, R. Blaine McCleskey, Robert L. Runkel, Jonathan S. Caine, Monique Adams, Pamela A. Gemery-Hill, David L. Fey
Principal hydrologic responses to climatic and geologic variability in the Sierra Nevada, California Principal hydrologic responses to climatic and geologic variability in the Sierra Nevada, California
Sierra Nevada snowpack is a critical water source for California’s growing population and agricultural industry. However, because mountain winters and springs are warming, on average, precipitation as snowfall relative to rain is decreasing, and snowmelt is earlier. The changes are stronger at mid-elevations than at higher elevations. The result is that the water supply provided by...
Authors
David H. Peterson, Iris Stewart, Fred Murphy