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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

Energy budget above a high-elevation subalpine forest in complex topography Energy budget above a high-elevation subalpine forest in complex topography

Components of the energy budget were measured above a subalpine coniferous forest over two complete annual cycles. Sensible and latent heat fluxes were measured by eddy covariance. Bowen ratios ranged from 0.7 to 2.5 in the summer (June–September) depending upon the availability of soil water, but were considerably higher (∼3–6) during winter (December–March). Energy budget closure...
Authors
A.A. Turnipseed, P.D. Blanken, D.E. Anderson, Russell K. Monson

Mercury(II) sorption to two Florida Everglades peat: Evidence for strong and weak binding and competition by dissolved organic matter released from the peat Mercury(II) sorption to two Florida Everglades peat: Evidence for strong and weak binding and competition by dissolved organic matter released from the peat

The binding of mercury(II) to two peats from Florida Everglades sites with different rates of mercury methylation was measured at pH 6.0 and 0.01 M ionic strength. The mercury(II) sorption isotherms, measured over a total mercury(II) range of 10-7.4 to 10-3.7 M, showed the competition for mercury(II) between the peat and dissolved organic matter released from the peat and the existence...
Authors
R. Todd Drexel, Markus Haitzer, Joseph N. Ryan, George R. Aiken, Kathryn L. Nagy

Choosing appropriate techniques for quantifying groundwater recharge Choosing appropriate techniques for quantifying groundwater recharge

Various techniques are available to quantify recharge; however, choosing appropriate techniques is often difficult. Important considerations in choosing a technique include space/time scales, range, and reliability of recharge estimates based on different techniques; other factors may limit the application of particular techniques. The goal of the recharge study is important because it...
Authors
Bridget R. Scanlon, Richard W. Healy, Peter G. Cook

Pharmaceuticals, hormones, and other organic wastewater contaminants in U.S. streams, 1999-2000: A national reconnaissance Pharmaceuticals, hormones, and other organic wastewater contaminants in U.S. streams, 1999-2000: A national reconnaissance

To provide the first nationwide reconnaissance of the occurrence of pharmaceuticals, hormones, and other organic wastewater contaminants (OWCs) in water resources, the U.S. Geological Survey used five newly developed analytical methods to measure concentrations of 95 OWCs in water samples from a network of 139 streams across 30 states during 1999 and 2000. The selection of sampling sites...
Authors
D.W. Kolpin, E. T. Furlong, M. T. Meyer, E.M. Thurman, S.D. Zaugg, L. B. Barber, H. T. Buxton

Rapid evolution of redox processes in a petroleum hydrocarbon-contaminated aquifer Rapid evolution of redox processes in a petroleum hydrocarbon-contaminated aquifer

Ground water chemistry data collected over a six‐year period show that the distribution of contaminants and redox processes in a shallow petroleum hydrocarbon‐contaminated aquifer has changed rapidly over time. Shortly after a gasoline release occurred in 1990, high concentrations of benzene were present near the contaminant source area. In this contaminated zone, dissolved oxygen in...
Authors
F. H. Chapelle, P. M. Bradley, Derek R. Lovley, Kyle O'Neil, J. E. Landmeyer

Analysis and detection of the herbicides dimethenamid and flufenacet and their sulfonic and oxanilic acid degradates in natural water Analysis and detection of the herbicides dimethenamid and flufenacet and their sulfonic and oxanilic acid degradates in natural water

Dimethenamid [2-chloro-N-(2,4-dimethyl-3-thienyl)-N-(2-methoxy-1-methylethyl)acetamide] and flufenacet [N-(4-fluorophenyl)-N-(1-methylethyl)-2-(5-(trifluoromethyl)-1,3,4- thiadiazol-2-yl)oxy] were isolated by C-18 solid-phase extraction and separated from their ethanesulfonic acid (ESA) and oxanilic acid (OXA) degradates during their elution using ethyl acetate for the parent compound...
Authors
L.R. Zimmerman, R.J. Schneider, E.M. Thurman

Effects of tidal shallowing and deepening on phytoplankton production dynamics: A modeling study Effects of tidal shallowing and deepening on phytoplankton production dynamics: A modeling study

Processes influencing estuarine phytoplankton growth occur over a range of time scales, but many conceptual and numerical models of estuarine phytoplankton production dynamics neglect mechanisms occurring on the shorter (e.g., intratidal) time scales. We used a numerical model to explore the influence of short time-scale variability in phytoplankton sources and sinks on long-term growth...
Authors
L.V. Lucas, J. E. Cloern

Nitrate stable isotopes: Tools for determining nitrate sources among different land uses in the Mississippi River Basin Nitrate stable isotopes: Tools for determining nitrate sources among different land uses in the Mississippi River Basin

A study was conducted to determine whether NO3– stable isotopes (δ15N and δ18O), at natural abundance levels, could discriminate among NO3– sources from sites with different land uses at the basin scale. Water samples were collected from 24 sites in the Mississippi River Basin from five land-use categories: (1) large river basins (>34 590 km2) draining multiple land uses and smaller...
Authors
Cecily C.Y. Chang, C. Kendall, S. R. Silva, W.A. Battaglin, K. Campbell

Influence of fracture anisotropy on ground water ages and chemistry, Valley and Ridge province, Pennsylvania Influence of fracture anisotropy on ground water ages and chemistry, Valley and Ridge province, Pennsylvania

Model ground water ages based on chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and tritium/helium-3 (3H/3He) data were obtained from two arrays of nested piezometers located on the north limb of an anticline in fractured sedimentary rocks in the Valley and Ridge geologic province of Pennsylvania. The fracture geometry of the gently east plunging fold is very regular and consists predominately of south...
Authors
W.C. Burton, Niel Plummer, E. Busenberg, B.D. Lindsey, W.J. Gburek

Increased selenium threat as a result of invasion of the exotic bivalve Potamocorbula amurensis into the San Francisco Bay-Delta Increased selenium threat as a result of invasion of the exotic bivalve Potamocorbula amurensis into the San Francisco Bay-Delta

Following the aggressive invasion of the bivalve, Potamocorbula amurensis, in the San Francisco Bay-Delta in 1986, selenium contamination in the benthic food web increased. Concentrations in this dominant (exotic) bivalve in North Bay were three times higher in 1995–1997 than in earlier studies, and 1990 concentrations in benthic predators (sturgeon and diving ducks) were also higher...
Authors
R.G. Linville, S. N. Luoma, L. Cutter, G.A. Cutter

Near field receiving water monitoring of benthic community near the Palo Alto Water Quality Control Plant in south San Francisco Bay: February 1974 through December 2000 Near field receiving water monitoring of benthic community near the Palo Alto Water Quality Control Plant in south San Francisco Bay: February 1974 through December 2000

Analyses of the benthic community structure over a 26-year period show that changes in the community have occurred concurrent with reduced concentrations of metals in the sediment and in the tissues of the biosentinal clam Macoma balthica from the same area. The community has shifted from being dominated by several opportunistic species to a community where the species are more similar...
Authors
Janet K. Thompson, Francis Parcheso, Michelle K. Shouse
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