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: 4098
Property-transfer models Property-transfer models
No abstract available.
Authors
R. Haverkamp, John R. Nimmo, P. Reggiani
Controlled liquid-volume [water retention and storage] Controlled liquid-volume [water retention and storage]
No abstract available.
Authors
K.A. Winfield, John R. Nimmo
Miscellaneous methods [water retention and storage] Miscellaneous methods [water retention and storage]
No abstract available.
Authors
John R. Nimmo, K.A. Winfield
Atmospheric mercury deposition during the last 270 years: A glacial ice core record of natural and anthropogenic sources Atmospheric mercury deposition during the last 270 years: A glacial ice core record of natural and anthropogenic sources
Mercury (Hg) contamination of aquatic ecosystems and subsequent methylmercury bioaccumulation are significant environmental problems of global extent. At regional to global scales, the primary mechanism of Hg contamination is atmospheric Hg transport. Thus, a better understanding of the long-term history of atmospheric Hg cycling and quantification of the sources is critical for...
Authors
Paul F. Schuster, David P. Krabbenhoft, David L. Naftz, L. DeWayne Cecil, Mark L. Olson, John F. DeWild, David D. Susong, Jaromy R. Green, Michael L. Abbott
Field and laboratory investigations of inactivation of viruses (PRD1 and MS2) attached to iron oxide-coated quartz sand Field and laboratory investigations of inactivation of viruses (PRD1 and MS2) attached to iron oxide-coated quartz sand
Field and laboratory experiments were conducted to investigate inactivation of viruses attached to mineral surfaces. In a natural gradient transport field experiment, bacteriophage PRD1, radiolabeled with 32P, was injected into a ferric oxyhydroxide-coated sand aquifer with bromide and linear alkylbenzene sulfonates. In a zone of the aquifer contaminated by secondary sewage infiltration...
Authors
Joseph N. Ryan, Ronald W. Harvey, David W. Metge, Menachem Elimelech, Theresa Navigato, Ann P. Pieper
Relating net nitrogen input in the Mississippi River Basin to nitrate flux in the Lower Mississippi River--A comparison of approaches Relating net nitrogen input in the Mississippi River Basin to nitrate flux in the Lower Mississippi River--A comparison of approaches
A quantitative understanding of the relationship between terrestrial N inputs and riverine N flux can help guide conservation, policy, and adaptive management efforts aimed at preserving or restoring water quality. The objective of this study was to compare recently published approaches for relating terrestrial N inputs to the Mississippi River basin (MRB) with measured nitrate flux in...
Authors
Gregory F. McIsaac, Mark B. David, George Z. Gertner, Donald A. Goolsby
A review of bacterial methyl halide degradation: Biochemistry, genetics and molecular ecology A review of bacterial methyl halide degradation: Biochemistry, genetics and molecular ecology
Methyl halide‐degrading bacteria are a diverse group of organisms that are found in both terrestrial and marine environments. They potentially play an important role in mitigating ozone depletion resulting from methyl chloride and methyl bromide emissions. The first step in the pathway(s) of methyl halide degradation involves a methyltransferase and, recently, the presence of this...
Authors
I.R. McDonald, K.L. Warner, C. McAnulla, C.A. Woodall, R.S. Oremland, J.C. Murrell
Anaerobic methane oxidation in a landfill-leachate plume Anaerobic methane oxidation in a landfill-leachate plume
The alluvial aquifer adjacent to Norman Landfill, OK, provides an excellent natural laboratory for the study of anaerobic processes impacting landfill-leachate contaminated aquifers. We collected groundwaters from a transect of seven multilevel wells ranging in depth from 1.3 to 11 m that were oriented parallel to the flow path. The center of the leachate plume was characterized by (1)...
Authors
Ethan L. Grossman, Luis A. Cifuentes, Isabelle M. Cozzarelli
Determination of the total oxygen isotopic composition of nitrate and the calibration of a Δ17Ο nitrate reference material Determination of the total oxygen isotopic composition of nitrate and the calibration of a Δ17Ο nitrate reference material
A thermal decomposition method was developed and tested for the simultaneous determination of δ18O and δ17Ο in nitrate. The thermal decomposition of AgNO3 allows for the rapid and accurate determination of 18O/16O and 17O/16O isotopic ratios with a precision of ±1.5‰ for δ18O and ±0.11‰ for Δ17Ο (Δ17Ο = δ17Ο − 0.52 × δ18O). The international nitrate isotope reference material IAEA-NO3...
Authors
Greg Michalski, Joel Savarino, J.K. Böhlke, Mark Thiemens
A comment on the use of flushing time, residence time, and age as transport time scales A comment on the use of flushing time, residence time, and age as transport time scales
Applications of transport time scales are pervasive in biological, hydrologic, and geochemical studies yet these times scales are not consistently defined and applied with rigor in the literature. We compare three transport time scales (flushing time, age, and residence time) commonly used to measure the retention of water or scalar quantities transported with water. We identify the...
Authors
Nancy E. Monsen, James E. Cloern, Lisa V. Lucas, Stephen G. Monismith
The evolving benthic community The evolving benthic community
No abstract available.
Authors
Janet K. Thompson