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: 4093
Chapter 1. Determination of elements in natural-water, biota, sediment, and soil samples using collision/reaction cell inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry Chapter 1. Determination of elements in natural-water, biota, sediment, and soil samples using collision/reaction cell inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry
No abstract available.
Authors
John R. Garbarino, Leslie K. Kanagy, Mark E. Cree
MODFLOW-2005, the U.S. Geological Survey modular ground-water model - documentation of shared node local grid refinement (LGR) and the boundary flow and head (BFH) package MODFLOW-2005, the U.S. Geological Survey modular ground-water model - documentation of shared node local grid refinement (LGR) and the boundary flow and head (BFH) package
This report documents the addition of shared node Local Grid Refinement (LGR) to MODFLOW-2005, the U.S. Geological Survey modular, transient, three-dimensional, finite-difference ground-water flow model. LGR provides the capability to simulate ground-water flow using one block-shaped higher-resolution local grid (a child model) within a coarser-grid parent model. LGR accomplishes this by
Authors
Steffen W. Mehl, Mary C. Hill
Response to comment on "Accumulation of contaminants in fish from wastewater treatment wetlands" Response to comment on "Accumulation of contaminants in fish from wastewater treatment wetlands"
No abstract available.
Authors
Larry B. Barber, Steffanie H. Keefe, Ronald C. Antweiler, Howard E. Taylor, Roland D. Wass
Lessons learned from the U.S. Geological Survey abandoned mine lands initiative: 1997-2002 Lessons learned from the U.S. Geological Survey abandoned mine lands initiative: 1997-2002
Growth of the United States has been facilitated, in part, by hard-rock mining in the Rocky Mountains. Abandoned and inactive mines cause many significant environmental concerns in hundreds of watersheds. Those who have responsibility to address these environmental concerns must have a basic level of scientific information about mining and mine wastes in a watershed prior to initiating...
Authors
Briant A. Kimball, Stan E. Church, John M. Besser
USGS environmental characterization of flood sediments left in the New Orleans area after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, 2005 — Progress Report USGS environmental characterization of flood sediments left in the New Orleans area after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, 2005 — Progress Report
Introduction: The flooding in the greater New Orleans area that resulted from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in September, 2005, left behind accumulations of sediments up to many centimeters thick on streets, lawns, parking lots, and other flat surfaces. These flood sediment deposits have been the focus of extensive study by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Louisiana...
Authors
Geoffrey S. Plumlee, Gregory P. Meeker, John K. Lovelace, Robert J. Rosenbauer, Paul J. Lamothe, Edward T. Furlong, Charles R. Demas
Questa baseline and pre-mining ground-water quality investigation. 23. Quantification of mass loading from mined and unmined areas along the Red River, New Mexico Questa baseline and pre-mining ground-water quality investigation. 23. Quantification of mass loading from mined and unmined areas along the Red River, New Mexico
Along the course of the Red River, between the town of Red River, New Mexico, and the U.S. Geological Survey streamflow-gaging station near Questa, New Mexico, there are several catchments that contain hydrothermally altered bedrock. Some of these alteration zones have been mined and others have not, presenting an opportunity to evaluate differences that may exist in the mass loading of...
Authors
Briant A. Kimball, D. Kirk Nordstrom, Robert L. Runkel, Kirk R. Vincent, Phillip L. Verplanck
Questa baseline and pre-mining ground-water quality investigation. 20. Water chemistry of the Red River and selected seeps, tributaries, and precipitation, Taos County, New Mexico, 2000-2004 Questa baseline and pre-mining ground-water quality investigation. 20. Water chemistry of the Red River and selected seeps, tributaries, and precipitation, Taos County, New Mexico, 2000-2004
As part of a multi-year project to infer the pre-mining ground-water quality at Molycorp's Questa mine site, surface-water samples of the Red River, some of its tributaries, seeps, and snow samples were collected for analysis of inorganic solutes and of water and sulfate stable isotopes in selected samples. The primary aim of this study was to document diel, storm event, and seasonal...
Authors
P. L. Verplanck, R. Blaine McCleskey, D. Kirk Nordstrom
Age-dating ground water beneath Tinker Air Force Base, Midwest City, Oklahoma, 2003-04 Age-dating ground water beneath Tinker Air Force Base, Midwest City, Oklahoma, 2003-04
No abstract available.
Authors
Scott Christenson, David Parkhurst, Andrew G. Hunt, Denae Athay
State of the watershed: Water quality of Boulder Creek, Colorado State of the watershed: Water quality of Boulder Creek, Colorado
No abstract available.
Authors
Sheila F. Murphy
The influence of hydrous Mn–Zn oxides on diel cycling of Zn in an alkaline stream draining abandoned mine lands The influence of hydrous Mn–Zn oxides on diel cycling of Zn in an alkaline stream draining abandoned mine lands
Many mining-impacted streams in western Montana with pH near or above neutrality display large (up to 500%) diel cycles in dissolved Zn concentrations. The streams in question typically contain boulders coated with a thin biofilm, as well as black mineral crusts composed of hydrous Mn–Zn oxides. Laboratory mesocosm experiments simulating diel behavior in High Ore Creek (one of the...
Authors
Christopher L. Shope, Ying Xie, Christopher H. Gammons
Eutrophication of freshwater and marine ecosystems Eutrophication of freshwater and marine ecosystems
Initial understanding of the links between nutrients and aquatic productivity originated in Europe in the early 1900s, and our knowledge base has expanded greatly during the past 40 yr. This explosion of eutrophication-related research has made it unequivocally clear that a comprehensive strategy to prevent excessive amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus from entering our waterways is...
Authors
Val H. Smith, Samantha B. Joye, Robert W. Howarth
Environmental effects of historical mining in the Boulder River watershed, southwestern Montana Environmental effects of historical mining in the Boulder River watershed, southwestern Montana
The U.S. Geological Survey recently completed an environmental study of historical mining in the Boulder River watershed, Montana, using the watershed approach. Results of the study have been used by State and Federal agencies to plan and implement cleanup. The watershed approach is based on the premise that contaminated sites that have the most profound effect on water and ecosystem...
Authors
David Nimick