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Dive into our publications and explore the science from the Environmental Health Program (Toxic Substances Hydrology and Contaminant Biology).

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Methods of analysis by the U.S. Geological Survey Organic Geochemistry Research Group—Determination of glyphosate, aminomethylphosphonic acid, and glufonsinate in water using online solid-phase extraction and high-performance liquid chromatography/mass sp Methods of analysis by the U.S. Geological Survey Organic Geochemistry Research Group—Determination of glyphosate, aminomethylphosphonic acid, and glufonsinate in water using online solid-phase extraction and high-performance liquid chromatography/mass sp

An analytical method for the determination of glyphosate, its principal degradation compound, aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA), and glufosinate in water with varying matrices has been developed. Four different sample matrices fortified at 0.2 and 2.0 μg/L (micrograms per liter) were analyzed using precolumn derivatization with 9-fluorenylmethylchloroformate (FMOC). After derivatization...
Authors
E.A. Lee, A.P. Strahan, E.M. Thurman

Carbon and nitrogen isotopic compositions of particulate organic matter in four large river systems across the United States Carbon and nitrogen isotopic compositions of particulate organic matter in four large river systems across the United States

Riverine particulate organic matter (POM) samples were collected bi‐weekly to monthly from 40 sites in the Mississippi, Colorado, Rio Grande, and Columbia River Basins (USA) in 1996–97 and analysed for carbon and nitrogen stable isotopic compositions. These isotopic compositions and C : N ratios were used to identify four endmember sources of POM: plankton, fresh terrestrial plant...
Authors
C. Kendall, S. R. Silva, V.J. Kelly

Formation and transport of the sulfonic acid metabolites of alachlor and metolachlor in soil Formation and transport of the sulfonic acid metabolites of alachlor and metolachlor in soil

Alachlor and metolachlor are dechlorinated and transformed into their corresponding ethane sulfonic acid (ESA) metabolites in soil. In a field-disappearance study, it was shown that alachlor ESA was formed at a faster rate and at concentrations 2−4 times higher than metolachlor ESA, conforming with the observed longer disappearance half-life of metolachlor (15.5 d) in the field as...
Authors
D.S. Aga, E.M. Thurman

Nitrogen input to the Gulf of Mexico Nitrogen input to the Gulf of Mexico

Historical streamflow and concentration data were used in regression models to estimate the annual flux of nitrogen (N) to the Gulf of Mexico and to determine where the nitrogen originates within the Mississippi Basin. Results show that for 1980-1996 the mean annual total N flux to the Gulf of Mexico was 1 568 000 t yr-1. The flux was about 61% nitrate N, 37% organic N, and 2% ammonium N...
Authors
D. A. Goolsby, W.A. Battaglin, Brent T. Aulenbach, R. P. Hooper

Progression of natural attenuation processes at a crude-oil spill site . I. Geochemical evolution of the plume Progression of natural attenuation processes at a crude-oil spill site . I. Geochemical evolution of the plume

A 16-year study of a hydrocarbon plume shows that the extent of contaminant migration and compound-specific behavior have changed as redox reactions, most notably iron reduction, have progressed over time. Concentration changes at a small scale, determined from analysis of pore-water samples drained from aquifer cores, are compared with concentration changes at the plume scale...
Authors
I.M. Cozzarelli, B.A. Bekins, M.J. Baedecker, G. R. Aiken, R.P. Eganhouse, M.E. Tuccillo

Hydrologic setting and geochemical characterization of free-phase hydrocarbons in the alluvial aquifer at Mandan, North Dakota, November 2000 Hydrologic setting and geochemical characterization of free-phase hydrocarbons in the alluvial aquifer at Mandan, North Dakota, November 2000

Free-phase hydrocarbons are present in the alluvial aquifer at Mandan, North Dakota. A large contaminant body of the hydrocarbons [light nonaqueous phase liquid (LNAPL)] floats on the water table about 20 feet below land surface. The main LNAPL body is about 6 feet thick, and the areal extent is about 657,000 square feet. A study was conducted to describe the hydrologic setting and...
Authors
Frances D. Hostettler, Colleen E. Rostad, Keith A. Kvenvolden, Geoffrey N. Delin, Larry D. Putnam, Jonathan J. Kolak, Brain P. Chaplin, Bryan D. Schaap

High CO2 emissions through porous media: Transport mechanisms and implications for flux measurement and fractionation High CO2 emissions through porous media: Transport mechanisms and implications for flux measurement and fractionation

Diffuse emissions of CO2 are known to be large around some volcanoes and hydrothermal areas. Accumulation-chamber measurements of CO2 flux are increasingly used to estimate the total magmatic or metamorphic CO2 released from such areas. To assess the performance of accumulation chamber systems at fluxes one to three orders of magnitude higher than normally encountered in soil respiration...
Authors
William C. Evans, M.L. Sorey, B. M. Kennedy, David A. Stonestrom, J.D. Rogie, D.L. Shuster

Water-quality data for streams in the Boulder River Watershed, Jefferson County, Montana Water-quality data for streams in the Boulder River Watershed, Jefferson County, Montana

Chemical data were collected in the Boulder River watershed of southwestern Montana during 1996-99 as part of a detailed interdisciplinary study characterizing the effects of historical inactive mines on streams in the watershed. This report presents water-quality data collected by the U.S. Geological Survey for physical properties, major ions, nutrients, and trace elements for 62 sites...
Authors
David A. Nimick, Thomas E. Cleasby

Analytical results for total-digestions, EPA-1312 leach, and net acid production for twenty-three abandoned metal-mining related wastes in the Boulder River watershed, northern Jefferson County, Montana Analytical results for total-digestions, EPA-1312 leach, and net acid production for twenty-three abandoned metal-mining related wastes in the Boulder River watershed, northern Jefferson County, Montana

Introduction Metal-mining related wastes in the Boulder River basin study area in northern Jefferson County, Montana, have been implicated in their detrimental effects on water quality with regard to acid generation and toxic-metal solubilization during snow melt and storm water runoff events. This degradation of water quality is defined chiefly by the “Class 1 Aquatic Life Standards”...
Authors
David L. Fey, George A. Desborough, Christopher J. Finney
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