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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

Fractured-rock aquifers, understanding an increasingly important source of water Fractured-rock aquifers, understanding an increasingly important source of water

Ground water is one of the Nation's most important natural resources. It provides drinking water to communities, supports industry and agriculture, and sustains streams and wetlands. A long record of contributions exists in understanding ground-water movement in sand and gravel aquifers; historically, these aquifers were easily accessible and the first to be investigated. With increased...
Authors
Allen M. Shapiro

Hydrogeology and leachate plume delineation at a closed municipal landfill, Norman, Oklahoma Hydrogeology and leachate plume delineation at a closed municipal landfill, Norman, Oklahoma

The City of Norman operated a solid-waste municipal landfill at two sites on the Canadian River alluvium in Cleveland County, Oklahoma from 1970 to 1985. The sites, referred to as the west and east cells of the landfill, were originally excavations in the unconsolidated alluvial deposits and were not lined. Analysis of ground-water samples indicate that leachate from the west cell is...
Authors
Carol Becker

Supporting data for hydrologic studies in San Francisco Bay, California: Meteorological measurements at the Port of Redwood City during 1998-2001 Supporting data for hydrologic studies in San Francisco Bay, California: Meteorological measurements at the Port of Redwood City during 1998-2001

Meteorological data were collected during 1998-2001 at the Port of Redwood City, California, to support hydrologic studies in South San Francisco Bay. The measured meteorological variables were air temperature, atmospheric pressure, quantum flux (insolation), and four parameters of wind speed and direction: scalar mean horizontal wind speed, (vector) resultant horizontal wind speed...
Authors
Laurence E. Schemel

Mercury loading and methylmercury production and cycling in high-altitude lakes from the Western United States Mercury loading and methylmercury production and cycling in high-altitude lakes from the Western United States

Studies worldwide have shown that mercury (Hg) is a ubiquitous contaminant, reaching even the most remote environments such as high-altitude lakes via atmospheric pathways. However, very few studies have been conducted to assess Hg contamination levels of these systems. We sampled 90 mid-latitude, high-altitude lakes from seven national parks in the western United States during a four...
Authors
David P. Krabbenhoft, Mark L. Olson, John F. DeWild, David W. Clow, Robert G. Striegl, Mark M. Dornblaser, Peter C. Van Metre

Potential toxicity of pesticides measured in midwestern streams to aquatic organisms Potential toxicity of pesticides measured in midwestern streams to aquatic organisms

Society is becoming increasingly aware of the value of healthy aquatic ecosystems as well as the effects that man’s activities have on those ecosystems. In recent years, many urban and industrial sources of contamination have been reduced or eliminated. The agricultural community also has worked towards reducing off-site movement of agricultural chemicals, but their use in farming is...
Authors
W. Battaglin, J. Fairchild

Thermocouple psychrometry Thermocouple psychrometry

Thermocouple psychrometry is a technique that infers the water potential of the liquid phase of a sample from measurements within the vapor phase that is in equilibrium with the sample. The theoretical relation between water potential of the liquid phase and relative humidity of the vapor phase is given by the Kelvin equation Ψ = energy/volume = (RT/Vw) ln(p/po) [3.2.3–1] where ψ is...
Authors
Brian J. Andraski, Bridget R. Scanlon

Field evidence for a protistan role in an organically-contaminated aquifer Field evidence for a protistan role in an organically-contaminated aquifer

The association between protists, bacteria, and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in an oxygen-depleted, 6 km-long wastewater contaminant plume within a sandy aquifer (Cape Cod, MA) was investigated by comparing abundance patterns along longitudinal and vertical transects and at a control site. Strong linear correlations were observed between unattached bacterial abundance and DOC for much...
Authors
Nancy E. Kinner, Ronald W. Harvey, David M. Shay, David W. Metge, Alan Warren

Assessment of relative accuracy in the determination of organic matter concentrations in aquatic systems Assessment of relative accuracy in the determination of organic matter concentrations in aquatic systems

Accurate determinations of total (TOC), dissolved (DOC) and particulate (POC) organic carbon concentrations are critical for understanding the geochemical, environmental, and ecological roles of aquatic organic matter. Of particular significance for the drinking water industry, TOC measurements are the basis for compliance with US EPA regulations. The results of an interlaboratory...
Authors
G. Aiken, L.A. Kaplan, J. Weishaar

Selenium stable isotope ratios in California agricultural drainage water management systems Selenium stable isotope ratios in California agricultural drainage water management systems

Selenium stable isotope ratios are known to shift in predictable ways during various microbial, chemical, and biological processes, and can be used to better understand Se cycling in contaminated environments. In this study we used Se stable isotopes to discern the mechanisms controlling the transformation of oxidized, aqueous forms of Se to reduced, insoluble forms in sediments of Se...
Authors
M.J. Herbel, T.M. Johnson, K.K. Tanji, S. Gao, T.D. Bullen

15N NMR investigation of the reduction and binding of TNT in an aerobic bench scale reactor simulating windrow composting 15N NMR investigation of the reduction and binding of TNT in an aerobic bench scale reactor simulating windrow composting

T15NT was added to a soil of low organic carbon content and composted for 20 days in an aerobic bench scale reactor. The finished whole compost and fulvic acid, humic acid, humin, and lignocellulose fractions extracted from the compost were analyzed by solid-state CP/MAS and DP/MAS 15N NMR. 15N NMR spectra provided direct spectroscopic evidence for reduction of TNT followed by covalent...
Authors
K. A. Thorn, J.C. Pennington, C.A. Hayes
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