Publications
Dive into our publications and explore the science from the Environmental Health Program (Toxic Substances Hydrology and Contaminant Biology).
Filter Total Items: 4095
Benthic sulfate reduction along the Chesapeake Bay central channel. II. Temporal controls Benthic sulfate reduction along the Chesapeake Bay central channel. II. Temporal controls
Seasonal and interannual controls of benthic sulfate reduction (SR) were examined at 3 sites (upper [UB], mid- [MB] and lower [LB] bay) along the Chesapeake Bay central channel, from early spring through fall, for 6 yr (1989 to 1994). The combined influences of temperature, sulfate, organic loading and bioturbation affected seasonal SR rates differently in the 3 regions. Consistently low...
Authors
M. C. Marvin-DiPasquale, W.R. Boynton, D.G. Capone
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
Stable isotope fractionation of selenium by natural microbial consortia Stable isotope fractionation of selenium by natural microbial consortia
The mobility and bioavailability of Se depend on its redox state, and reduction of Se oxyanions to less mobile, reduced species controls transport of this potentially toxic element in the environment. Stable isotope fractionation of Se is currently being developed as an indicator of Se immobilization through reduction. In this study, Se isotope fractionation resulting from reduction of...
Authors
A.S. Ellis, T.M. Johnson, M.J. Herbel, T.D. Bullen
Predicting changes in hydrologic retention in an evolving semi-arid alluvial stream Predicting changes in hydrologic retention in an evolving semi-arid alluvial stream
Hydrologic retention of solutes in hyporheic zones or other slowly moving waters of natural channels is thought to be a significant control on biogeochemical cycling and ecology of streams. To learn more about factors affecting hydrologic retention, we repeated stream-tracer injections for 5 years in a semi-arid alluvial stream (Pinal Creek, Ariz.) during a period when streamflow was...
Authors
J. W. Harvey, M.H. Conklin, R.S. Koelsch
Arsenic speciation and reactivity in poultry litter Arsenic speciation and reactivity in poultry litter
Recent U.S. government action to lower the maximum concentration levels (MCL) of total arsenic (As) (10 ppb) in drinking water has raised serious concerns about the agricultural use of As-containing biosolids such as poultry litter (PL). In this study, solid-state chemical speciation, desorbability, and total levels of As in PL and long-term amended soils were investigated using novel...
Authors
Y. Arai, A. Lanzirotti, S. Sutton, J.A. Davis, D.L. Sparks
Seasonal and daily variations in concentrations of methyl-tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE) at Cranberry Lake, New Jersey Seasonal and daily variations in concentrations of methyl-tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE) at Cranberry Lake, New Jersey
Methyl-tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE), an additive used to oxygenate gasoline, has been detected in lakes in northwestern New Jersey. This occurrence has been attributed to the use of gasoline-powered watercraft. This paper documents and explains both seasonal and daily variations in MTBE concentrations at Cranberry Lake. During a recent boating season (late April to September 1999)...
Authors
L. Toran, C. Lipka, A. Baehr, T. Reilly, R. Baker
Comparison of heat and bromide as ground-water tracers near streams Comparison of heat and bromide as ground-water tracers near streams
Heat and bromide were compared as tracers for examining stream/ground water exchanges along the middle reaches of the Santa Clara River, California, during a 10-hour surface water sodium bromide injection test. Three cross sections that comprise six shallow (
Authors
J. Constantz, M.H. Cox, G.W. Su
Effect of hydrologic and geochemical conditions on oxygen-enhanced bioremediation in a gasoline-contaminated aquifer Effect of hydrologic and geochemical conditions on oxygen-enhanced bioremediation in a gasoline-contaminated aquifer
The effect of pre-existing factors, e.g., hydrologic, geochemical, and microbiological properties, on the results of oxygen addition to a reformulated gasoline-contaminated groundwater system was studied. Oxygen addition with an oxygen-release compound (a proprietary form of magnesium peroxide produced different results with respect to dissolved oxygen (DO) generation and contaminant...
Authors
J. E. Landmeyer, P. M. Bradley
Offset vertical radar profiling Offset vertical radar profiling
Diffraction tomography imaging was applied to VRP data acquired by vertically moving a receiving antenna in a number of wells. This procedure simulated a vertical downhole receiver array. Similarly, a transmitting antenna was sequentially moved along a series of radial lines extending outward from the receiver wells. This provided a sequence of multistatic data sets and, from each data...
Authors
A. Witten, J. Lane
Modeling Np and Pu transport with a surface complexation model and spatially variant sorption capacities: Implications for reactive transport modeling and performance assessments of nuclear waste disposal sites Modeling Np and Pu transport with a surface complexation model and spatially variant sorption capacities: Implications for reactive transport modeling and performance assessments of nuclear waste disposal sites
One-dimensional (1D) geochemical transport modeling is used to demonstrate the effects of speciation and sorption reactions on the ground-water transport of Np and Pu, two redox-sensitive elements. Earlier 1D simulations (Reardon, 1981) considered the kinetically limited dissolution of calcite and its effect on ion-exchange reactions (involving 90Sr, Ca, Na, Mg and K), and documented the...
Authors
P. D. Glynn
Kinetic dissolution of carbonates and Mn oxides in acidic water: Measurement of in situ field rates and reactive transport modeling Kinetic dissolution of carbonates and Mn oxides in acidic water: Measurement of in situ field rates and reactive transport modeling
The kinetics of carbonate and Mn oxide dissolution under acidic conditions were examined through the in situ exposure of pure phase samples to acidic ground water in Pinal Creek Basin, Arizona. The average long-term calculated in situ dissolution rates for calcite and dolomite were 1.65??10-7 and 3.64??10-10 mmol/(cm2 s), respectively, which were about 3 orders of magnitude slower than...
Authors
J. G. Brown, P. D. Glynn
Time‐lapse imaging of saline‐tracer transport in fractured rock using difference‐attenuation radar tomography Time‐lapse imaging of saline‐tracer transport in fractured rock using difference‐attenuation radar tomography
Accurate characterization of fractured‐rock aquifer heterogeneity remains one of the most challenging and important problems in groundwater hydrology. We demonstrate a promising strategy to identify preferential flow paths in fractured rock using a combination of geophysical monitoring and conventional hydrogeologic tests. Cross‐well difference‐attenuation ground‐penetrating radar was...
Authors
Frederick D. Day-Lewis, John W. Lane, Jerry M. Harris, Steven M. Gorelick