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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

Guidance on the use of passive-vapor-diffusion samplers to detect volatile organic compounds in ground-water-discharge areas, and example applications in New England Guidance on the use of passive-vapor-diffusion samplers to detect volatile organic compounds in ground-water-discharge areas, and example applications in New England

Polyethylene-membrane passive-vapor-diffusion samplers, or PVD samplers, have been shown to be an effective and economical reconnaissance tool for detecting and identifying volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in bottom sediments of surface-water bodies in areas of ground-water discharge. The PVD samplers consist of an empty glass vial enclosed in two layers of polyethylene membrane tubing...
Authors
Peter E. Church, Don A. Vroblesky, Forest P. Lyford

15N NMR investigation of the covalent binding of reduced TNT amines to soil humic acid, model compounds, and lignocellulose 15N NMR investigation of the covalent binding of reduced TNT amines to soil humic acid, model compounds, and lignocellulose

The five major reductive degradation products of TNT-4ADNT (4-amino-2,6-dinitrotoluene), 2ADNT (2-amino-4,6-dinitrotoluene), 2,4DANT (2,4-diamino-6-nitrotoluene), 2,6DANT (2,6-diamino-4-nitrotoluene), and TAT (2,4,6-triaminotoluene)-labeled with 15N in the amine positions, were reacted with the IHSS soil humic acid and analyzed by 15N NMR spectrometry. In the absence of catalysts, all...
Authors
K. A. Thorn, K. R. Kennedy

Anaerobic oxidation of arsenite in Mono Lake water and by a facultative, arsenite-oxidizing chemoautotroph, strain MLHE-1 Anaerobic oxidation of arsenite in Mono Lake water and by a facultative, arsenite-oxidizing chemoautotroph, strain MLHE-1

Arsenite [As(III)]-enriched anoxic bottom water from Mono Lake, California, produced arsenate [As(V)] during incubation with either nitrate or nitrite. No such oxidation occurred in killed controls or in live samples incubated without added nitrate or nitrite. A small amount of biological As(III) oxidation was observed in samples amended with Fe(III) chelated with nitrolotriacetic acid...
Authors
Ronald S. Oremland, S.E. Hoeft, J.M. Santini, N. Bano, R.A. Hollibaugh, J.T. Hollibaugh

Hydrogeologic framework, ground-water geochemistry, and assessment of nitrogen yield from base flow in two agricultural watersheds, Kent County, Maryland Hydrogeologic framework, ground-water geochemistry, and assessment of nitrogen yield from base flow in two agricultural watersheds, Kent County, Maryland

Hydrostratigraphic and geochemical data collected in two adjacent watersheds on the Delmarva Peninsula, in Kent County, Maryland, indicate that shallow subsurface stratigraphy is an important factor that affects the concentrations of nitrogen in ground water discharging as stream base flow. The flux of nitrogen from shallow aquifers can contribute substantially to the eutrophication of...
Authors
L. J. Bachman, D.E. Krantz, J.K. Bohlke

Isotope-abundance variations of selected elements (IUPAC technical report) Isotope-abundance variations of selected elements (IUPAC technical report)

Documented variations in the isotopic compositions of some chemical elements are responsible for expanded uncertainties in the standard atomic weights published by the Commission on Atomic Weights and Isotopic Abundances of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry. This report summarizes reported variations in the isotopic compositions of 20 elements that are due to physical...
Authors
T.B. Coplen, J.K. Böhlke, P. De Bievre, T. Ding, N.E. Holden, J.A. Hopple, H.R. Krouse, A. Lamberty, H.S. Peiser, K. Revesz, S.E. Rieder, K.J.R. Rosman, E. Roth, P.D.P. Taylor, R.D. Vocke, Y.K. Xiao

Evaluating remedial alternatives for an acid mine drainage stream: Application of a reactive transport model Evaluating remedial alternatives for an acid mine drainage stream: Application of a reactive transport model

A reactive transport model based on one-dimensional transport and equilibrium chemistry is applied to synoptic data from an acid mine drainage stream. Model inputs include streamflow estimates based on tracer dilution, inflow chemistry based on synoptic sampling, and equilibrium constants describing acid/base, complexation, precipitation/dissolution, and sorption reactions. The dominant...
Authors
R.L. Runkel, B. A. Kimball

Parasite (Ribeiroia ondatrae) infection linked to amphibian malformations in the western United States Parasite (Ribeiroia ondatrae) infection linked to amphibian malformations in the western United States

Parasites and pathogens can influence the survivorship, behavior, and very structure of their host species. For example, experimental studies have shown that trematode parasites can cause high frequencies of severe limb malformations in amphibians. In a broad-scale field survey covering parts of California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Montana, we examined relationships between the...
Authors
P.T.J. Johnson, K.B. Lunde, E.M. Thurman, E.G. Ritchie, S.N. Wray, D.R. Sutherland, J.M. Kapfer, T.J. Frest, J. Bowerman, A.R. Blaustein

Mobilization of natural colloids from an iron oxide-coated sand aquifer: Effect of pH and ionic strength Mobilization of natural colloids from an iron oxide-coated sand aquifer: Effect of pH and ionic strength

Field and laboratory column experiments were performed to assess the effect of elevated pH and reduced ionic strength on the mobilization of natural colloids in a ferric oxyhydroxide-coated aquifer sediment. The field experiments were conducted as natural gradient injections of groundwater amended by sodium hydroxide additions. The laboratory experiments were conducted in columns of...
Authors
Rebecca A. Bunn, Robin D. Magelky, Joseph N. Ryan, Menachem Elimelech

Used motor oil as a source of MTBE, TAME, and BTEX to ground water Used motor oil as a source of MTBE, TAME, and BTEX to ground water

Methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE), the widely used gasoline oxygenate, has been identified as a common ground water contaminant, and BTEX compounds (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes) have long been associated with gasoline spills. Because not all instances of ground water contamination by MTBE and BTEX can be attributed to spills or leaking storage tanks, other potential sources...
Authors
R.J. Baker, E.W. Best, A. L. Baehr

Hydrology and chemistry of floodwaters in the Yolo Bypass, Sacramento River system, California, during 2000 Hydrology and chemistry of floodwaters in the Yolo Bypass, Sacramento River system, California, during 2000

Discharges to and floodwaters in the Yolo Bypass were sampled during winter and spring, 2000. The primary purpose of the study was to link changes in water quality in the Yolo Bypass to inflows from the Sacramento River (over Fremont Weir) and from four local streams that discharge to the west side of the floodplain. Specific conductance, chloride, sulfate, dissolved inorganic nutrients...
Authors
Laurence E. Schemel, Marisa H. Cox, Stephen W. Hager, Theodore R. Sommer

Water-chemistry data for selected springs, geysers, and streams in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, 1999-2000 Water-chemistry data for selected springs, geysers, and streams in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, 1999-2000

Sixty-seven water analyses are reported for samples collected from 44 hot springs and their overflow drainages and two ambient-temperature acid streams in Yellowstone National Park (YNP) during 1990-2000. Thirty-seven analyses are reported for 1999, 18 for June of 2000, and 12 for September of 2000. These water samples were collected and analyzed as part of research investigations in YNP...
Authors
James W. Ball, R. Blaine McCleskey, D. Kirk Nordstrom, JoAnn M. Holloway, Philip L. Verplanck, Sabin A. Sturtevant
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