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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

Influence of metal exposure history on the bioaccumulation and subcellular distribution of aqueous cadmium in the insect Hydropsyche californica Influence of metal exposure history on the bioaccumulation and subcellular distribution of aqueous cadmium in the insect Hydropsyche californica

The influence of metal exposure history on rates of aqueous Cd accumulation, elimination, and subcellular distribution was examined in the aquatic insect Hydropsyche californica. Specimens were obtained from a reference site and a metal‐contaminated site and returned to the laboratory where they were continuously exposed to aqueous Cd (518 ng/L, nominal) for 6 d, followed by 9 d of...
Authors
D.J. Cain, D.B. Buchwalter, S. N. Luoma

Application of environmental tracers to mixing, evolution, and nitrate contamination of ground water in Jeju Island, Korea Application of environmental tracers to mixing, evolution, and nitrate contamination of ground water in Jeju Island, Korea

Tritium/helium-3 (3H/3He) and chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) were investigated as environmental tracers in ground water from Jeju Island (Republic of Korea), a basaltic volcanic island. Ground-water mixing was evaluated by comparing 3H and CFC-12 concentrations with lumped-parameter dispersion models, which distinguished old water recharged before the 1950s with negligible 3H and CFC-12 from...
Authors
D.-C. Koh, Niel Plummer, Solomon D. Kip, E. Busenberg, Y.-J. Kim, H.-W. Chang

Effects of hurricanes Katrina and Rita on the chemistry of bottom sediments in Lake Pontchartrain, Louisiana, USA Effects of hurricanes Katrina and Rita on the chemistry of bottom sediments in Lake Pontchartrain, Louisiana, USA

The effects of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and the subsequent unwatering of New Orleans, Louisiana, on the sediment chemistry of Lake Pontchartrain were evaluated by chemical analysis of samples of street mud and suspended and bottom sediments. The highest concentrations of urban-related elements and compounds (e.g., Pb, Zn, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and chlordane) in bottom...
Authors
P. C. Van Metre, A. J. Horowitz, B.J. Mahler, W.T. Foreman, C. C. Fuller, M.R. Burkhardt, K. A. Elrick, E. T. Furlong, S. C. Skrobialowski, J.J. Smith, J.T. Wilson, S.D. Zaugg

Hyporheic exchange and fulvic acid redox reactions in an alpine stream/wetland ecosystem, Colorado front range Hyporheic exchange and fulvic acid redox reactions in an alpine stream/wetland ecosystem, Colorado front range

The influence of hyporheic zone interactions on the redox state of fulvic acids and other redox active species was investigated in an alpine stream and adjacent wetland, which is a more reducing environment. A tracer injection experiment using bromide (Br-) was conducted in the stream system. Simulations with a transport model showed that rates of exchange between the stream and...
Authors
Matthew P. Miller, Diane M. McKnight, R.M. Cory, Mark W. Williams, Robert L. Runkel

Tracer test with As(V) under variable redox conditions controlling arsenic transport in the presence of elevated ferrous iron concentrations Tracer test with As(V) under variable redox conditions controlling arsenic transport in the presence of elevated ferrous iron concentrations

To study transport and reactions of arsenic under field conditions, a small-scale tracer test was performed in an anoxic, iron-reducing zone of a sandy aquifer at the USGS research site on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA. For four weeks, a stream of groundwater with added As(V) (6.7 μM) and bromide (1.6 mM), was injected in order to observe the reduction of As(V) to As(III). Breakthrough of...
Authors
R. Hohn, M. Isenbeck-Schroter, D.B. Kent, J.A. Davis, R. Jakobsen, S. Jann, V. Niedan, C. Scholz, S. Stadler, A. Tretner

Urban contributions of glyphosate and its degradate AMPA to streams in the United States Urban contributions of glyphosate and its degradate AMPA to streams in the United States

Glyphosate is the most widely used herbicide in the world, being routinely applied to control weeds in both agricultural and urban settings. Microbial degradation of glyphosate produces aminomethyl phosphonic acid (AMPA). The high polarity and water-solubility of glyphosate and AMPA has, until recently, made their analysis in water samples problematic. Thus, compared to other herbicides...
Authors
D.W. Kolpin, E.M. Thurman, E.A. Lee, M. T. Meyer, E. T. Furlong, S.T. Glassmeyer

Nitrogen sources and cycling in the San Francisco Bay estuary: A nitrate dual isotopic composition approach Nitrogen sources and cycling in the San Francisco Bay estuary: A nitrate dual isotopic composition approach

We used the dual isotopic composition of nitrate (δ15N and δ18O) within the estuarine system of San Francisco (SF) Bay, California, to explore the utility of this approach for tracing sources and cycling of nitrate (NO2−). Surface water samples from 49 sites within the estuary were sampled during July–August 2004. Spatial variability in the isotopic composition suggests that there are...
Authors
Scott D. Wankel, C. Kendall, C.A. Francis, A. Paytan

Occurrence and transport of agricultural chemicals in Leary Weber Ditch Basin, Hancock County, Indiana, 2003-04 Occurrence and transport of agricultural chemicals in Leary Weber Ditch Basin, Hancock County, Indiana, 2003-04

Leary Weber Ditch Basin, Hancock County, Indiana, is one of seven first-order basins selected from across the United States as part of the Agricultural Chemicals: Source, Transport, and Fate study conducted by the National Water-Quality Assessment Program of the U.S. Geological Survey. The nationwide study was designed to increase the understanding of the links between the sources of...
Authors
Nancy T. Baker, Wesley W. Stone, John T. Wilson, Michael T. Meyer

Inverse modeling for seawater intrusion in coastal aquifers: Insights about parameter sensitivities, variances, correlations and estimation procedures derived from the Henry problem Inverse modeling for seawater intrusion in coastal aquifers: Insights about parameter sensitivities, variances, correlations and estimation procedures derived from the Henry problem

Inverse modeling studies employing data collected from the classic Henry seawater intrusion problem give insight into several important aspects of inverse modeling of seawater intrusion problems and effective measurement strategies for estimation of parameters for seawater intrusion. Despite the simplicity of the Henry problem, it embodies the behavior of a typical seawater intrusion...
Authors
E. Sanz, C.I. Voss

Atmospheric mercury speciation in Yellowstone National Park Atmospheric mercury speciation in Yellowstone National Park

Atmospheric concentrations of elemental mercury (Hg0), reactive gaseous Hg (RGM), and particulate Hg (pHg) concentrations were measured in Yellowstone National Park (YNP), U.S.A. using high resolution, real time atmospheric mercury analyzers (Tekran 2537A, 1130, and 1135). A survey of Hg0 concentrations at various locations within YNP showed that concentrations generally reflect global...
Authors
B.D. Hall, M.L. Olson, A.P. Rutter, R.R. Frontiera, D. P. Krabbenhoft, D.S. Gross, M. Yuen, T.M. Rudolph, J.J. Schauer

Simulation of solute transport across low-permeability barrier walls Simulation of solute transport across low-permeability barrier walls

Low-permeability, non-reactive barrier walls are often used to contain contaminants in an aquifer. Rates of solute transport through such barriers are typically many orders of magnitude slower than rates through the aquifer. Nevertheless, the success of remedial actions may be sensitive to these low rates of transport. Two numerical simulation methods for representing low-permeability...
Authors
P. T. Harte, Leonard F. Konikow, G.Z. Hornberger
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