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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: 4098

The geochemical evolution of riparian ground water in a forested piedmont catchment The geochemical evolution of riparian ground water in a forested piedmont catchment

The principal weathering reactions and their rates in riparian ground water were determined at the Panola Mountain Research Watershed (PMRW) near Atlanta, Georgia. Concentrations of major solutes were measured in ground water samples from 19 shallow wells completed in the riparian (saprolite) aquifer and in one borehole completed in granite, and the apparent age of each sample was...
Authors
Douglas A. Burns, Niel Plummer, Jeffrey J. McDonnell, Eurybiades Busenberg, Gerolamo C. Casile, Carol Kendall, Richard P. Hooper, James E. Freer, Norman E. Peters, Keith Beven, Peter Schlosser

Changes in the chemistry of lakes and precipitation in high-elevation national parks in the western United States, 1985–1999 Changes in the chemistry of lakes and precipitation in high-elevation national parks in the western United States, 1985–1999

High-elevation lakes in the western United States are sensitive to atmospheric deposition of sulfur and nitrogen due to fast hydrologic flushing rates, short growing seasons, an abundance of exposed bedrock, and a lack of well-developed soils. This sensitivity is reflected in the dilute chemistry of the lakes, which was documented in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Western...
Authors
David W. Clow, James O. Sickman, Robert G. Striegl, David P. Krabbenhoft, John G. Elliott, Mark M. Dornblaser, David A. Roth, Donald H. Campbell

Application of ultrafiltration and stable isotopic amendments to field studies of mercury partitioning to filterable carbon in lake water and overland runoff Application of ultrafiltration and stable isotopic amendments to field studies of mercury partitioning to filterable carbon in lake water and overland runoff

Results from pilot studies on colloidal phase transport of newly deposited mercury in lake water and overland runoff demonstrate that the combination of ultrafiltration, and stable isotope amendment techniques is a viable tool for the study of mercury partitioning to filterable carbon. Ultrafiltration mass balance calculations were generally excellent, averaging 97.3, 96.1 and 99.8% for...
Authors
Christopher L. Babiarz, J.P. Hurley, D. P. Krabbenhoft, C. Gilmour, B.A. Branfireun

Subcellular compartmentalization of Cd and Zn in two bivalves. I. Significance of metal-sensitive fractions (MSF) and biologically detoxified metal (BDM) Subcellular compartmentalization of Cd and Zn in two bivalves. I. Significance of metal-sensitive fractions (MSF) and biologically detoxified metal (BDM)

Many aspects of metal accumulation in aquatic invertebrates (i.e. toxicity, tolerance and trophic transfer) can be understood by examining the subcellular partitioning of accumulated metal. In this paper, we use a compartmentalization approach to interpret the significance of metal, species and size dependence in the subcellular partitioning of Cd and Zn in the bivalves Macoma balthica...
Authors
W.G. Wallace, B.-G. Lee, S. N. Luoma

Microbial cycling of mercury in contaminated pelagic and wetland sediments of San Pablo Bay, California Microbial cycling of mercury in contaminated pelagic and wetland sediments of San Pablo Bay, California

San Pablo Bay is an estuary, within northern San Francisco Bay, containing elevated sediment mercury (Hg) levels because of historic loading of hydraulic mining debris during the California gold-rush of the late 1800s. A preliminary investigation of benthic microbial Hg cycling was conducted in surface sediment (0–4 cm) collected from one salt-marsh and three open-water sites. A deeper...
Authors
M. C. Marvin-DiPasquale, J.L. Agee, R. M. Bouse, B. E. Jaffe

Effects of crustal stresses on fluid transport in fractured rock: Case studies from northeastern and southwestern USA Effects of crustal stresses on fluid transport in fractured rock: Case studies from northeastern and southwestern USA

The link between stress and hydrologic properties was examined at two sites that are distinguished by different rock types and different stress states. This investigation is based upon the analysis and interpretation of geophysical logs obtained in water wells at the two locations. At the northeast site (Newark Basin), the hydrologic characteristics of sedimentary rocks are dependent...
Authors
R. H. Morin, W. Z. Savage

Terpenoids as major precursors of dissolved organic matter in landfill leachates, surface water, and groundwater Terpenoids as major precursors of dissolved organic matter in landfill leachates, surface water, and groundwater

13C NMR analyses of hydrophobic dissolved organic matter (DOM) fractions isolated from a landfill leachate contaminated groundwater near Norman, OK; the Colorado River aqueduct near Los Angeles, CA; Anaheim Lake, an infiltration basin for the Santa Ana River in Orange County, CA; and groundwater from the Tomago Sand Beds, near Sydney, Australia, found branched methyl groups and...
Authors
J.A. Leenheer, M.A. Nanny, C. McIntyre

Characterizing aquatic health using salmonid mortality, physiology, and biomass estimates in streams with elevated concentrations of arsenic, cadmium, copper, lead, and zinc in the Boulder River Watershed, Montana Characterizing aquatic health using salmonid mortality, physiology, and biomass estimates in streams with elevated concentrations of arsenic, cadmium, copper, lead, and zinc in the Boulder River Watershed, Montana

Abandoned tailings and mine adits are located throughout the Boulder River watershed in Montana. In this watershed, all species of fish are absent from some tributary reaches near mine sources; however, populations of brook trout Salvelinus fontitalis, rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss, and cut-throat trout O. clarki are found further downstream. Multiple methods must be used to...
Authors
Aida M. Farag, Don Skaar, David A. Nimick, Elizabeth MacConnell, Christer Hogstrand

Mercury in soil near a long-term air emission source in southeastern Idaho Mercury in soil near a long-term air emission source in southeastern Idaho

At the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory in southeastern Idaho, a 500 °C fluidized bed calciner was intermittently operated for 37 years, with measured Hg emission rates of 9–11 g/h. Surface soil was sampled at 57 locations around the facility to determine the spatial distribution of Hg fallout and surface Hg variability, and to predict the total residual Hg mass in...
Authors
M.L. Abbott, D. D. Susong, M. Olson, D. P. Krabbenhoft

Characterization and copper binding of humic and nonhumic organic matter isolated from the South Platte River: Evidence for the presence of nitrogenous binding site Characterization and copper binding of humic and nonhumic organic matter isolated from the South Platte River: Evidence for the presence of nitrogenous binding site

Humic substances typically constitute 40−60% of the dissolved organic matter (DOM) in surface waters. However, little information is available regarding the metal binding properties of the nonhumic hydrophilic portion of the DOM. In this study, humic and nonhumic DOM samples were isolated from the South Platte River (Colorado, DOC = 2.6 mg·L-1, SUVA254 = 2.4 L/mg·m) using a two-column...
Authors
J.-P. Croue, M.F. Benedetti, D. Violleau, J.A. Leenheer

Sources of sulfate supporting anaerobic metabolism in a contaminated aquifer Sources of sulfate supporting anaerobic metabolism in a contaminated aquifer

Field and laboratory techniques were used to identify the biogeochemical factors affecting sulfate reduction in a shallow, unconsolidated alluvial aquifer contaminated with landfill leachate. Depth profiles of 35S-sulfate reduction rates in aquifer sediments were positively correlated with the concentration of dissolved sulfate. Manipulation of the sulfate concentration in samples...
Authors
G.A. Ulrich, G. N. Breit, I.M. Cozzarelli, J.M. Suflita
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