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: 4097
Delineation of groundwater recharge areas, western Cape Cod, Massachusetts Delineation of groundwater recharge areas, western Cape Cod, Massachusetts
The unconfined sand-and-gravel aquifer in western Cape Cod, Massachusetts, which is the sole source of water supply for the communities in the area, is recharged primarily from precipitation. The rate of recharge from precipitation is estimated to be about 26 inches per year (in/yr), or about 60 percent of the precipitation rate. This recharge rate yields a flow through the aquifer of...
Authors
John P. Masterson, Donald A. Walter
Quality of ground water and surface water in an area of individual sewage disposal system use near Barker Reservoir, Nederland, Colorado, August-September 1998 Quality of ground water and surface water in an area of individual sewage disposal system use near Barker Reservoir, Nederland, Colorado, August-September 1998
No abstract available.
Authors
Jennifer L. Flynn, L. B. Barber
Chemical and isotopic composition of water from springs, wells, and streams in parts of Shenandoah National Park, Virginia, and vicinity, 1995-1999 Chemical and isotopic composition of water from springs, wells, and streams in parts of Shenandoah National Park, Virginia, and vicinity, 1995-1999
No abstract available.
Authors
Niel Plummer, Eurybiades Busenberg, John Karl Bohlke, R.W. Carmody, G.C. Casile, T.B. Coplen, M. W. Doughten, J.E. Hannon, Wandee Kirkland, R. L. Michel, D.L. Nelms, B.C. Norton, K.E. Plummer, Haiping Qi, Kinga Revesz, Peter Schlosser, Shane Spitzer, J.E. Wayland, P.K. Widman
Delineation of discharge areas of two contaminant plumes by use of diffusion samplers, Johns Pond, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, 1998 Delineation of discharge areas of two contaminant plumes by use of diffusion samplers, Johns Pond, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, 1998
Diffusion samplers were installed in the bottom of Johns Pond, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, to confirm that volatile organic compounds from the Storm Drain-5 (SD-5) plume emanating from the Massachusetts Military Reservation (MMR) were discharging into the pond. An array of 134 vapor-diffusion samplers was buried by divers about 0.5 feet below the pond bottom in the presumed discharge area...
Authors
Jennifer G. Savoie, D.R. LeBlanc, D.S. Blackwood, T.D. McCobb, R.R. Rendigs, Scott Clifford
The fate of haloacetic acids and trihalomethanes in an aquifer storage and recovery program, Las Vegas, Nevada The fate of haloacetic acids and trihalomethanes in an aquifer storage and recovery program, Las Vegas, Nevada
The fate of disinfection byproducts during aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) is evaluated for aquifers in Southern Nevada. Rapid declines of haloacetic acid (HAA) concentrations during ASR, with associated little change in Cl concentration, indicate that HAAs decline primarily by in situ microbial oxidation. Dilution is only a minor contributor to HAA concentration declines during ASR
Authors
J. M. Thomas, W.A. McKay, E. Colec, J. E. Landmeyer, P. M. Bradley
Hydrogeologic framework, water levels, and trichloroethylene contamination, Naval Air Warfare Center, West Trenton, New Jersey, 1993-97 Hydrogeologic framework, water levels, and trichloroethylene contamination, Naval Air Warfare Center, West Trenton, New Jersey, 1993-97
No abstract available.
Authors
Pierre J. Lacombe
Preface – Groundwater and microbial processes Preface – Groundwater and microbial processes
No abstract available.
Authors
Barbara Bekins
A field technique for estimating aquifer parameters using flow log data A field technique for estimating aquifer parameters using flow log data
A numerical model is used to predict flow along intervals between producing zones in open boreholes for comparison with measurements of borehole flow. The model gives flow under quasi-steady conditions as a function of the transmissivity and hydraulic head in an arbitrary number of zones communicating with each other along open boreholes. The theory shows that the amount of inflow to or...
Authors
Frederick L. Paillet
Effects of heterogeneity in aquifer permeability and biomass on biodegradation rate calculations: Results from numerical simulations Effects of heterogeneity in aquifer permeability and biomass on biodegradation rate calculations: Results from numerical simulations
Numerical simulations were used to examine the effects of heterogeneity in hydraulic conductivity (K) and intrinsic biodegradation rate on the accuracy of contaminant plume‐scale biodegradation rates obtained from field data. The simulations were based on a steady‐state BTEX contaminant plume undergoing biodegradation under sulfate‐reducing conditions, with the electron acceptor in...
Authors
Martha A. Scholl
Nitrite fixation by humic substances: Nitrogen-15 nuclear magnetic resonance evidence for potential intermediates in chemodenitrification Nitrite fixation by humic substances: Nitrogen-15 nuclear magnetic resonance evidence for potential intermediates in chemodenitrification
Studies have suggested that NO− 2, produced during nitrification and denitrification, can become incorporated into soil organic matter and, in one of the processes associated with chemodenitrification, react with organic matter to form trace N gases, including N2O. To gain an understanding of the nitrosation chemistry on a molecular level, soil and aquatic humic substances were reacted...
Authors
K. A. Thorn, M.A. Mikita
Fractionation of selenium isotopes during bacterial respiratory reduction of selenium oxyanions Fractionation of selenium isotopes during bacterial respiratory reduction of selenium oxyanions
Reduction of selenium oxyanions by microorganisms is an important process in the biogeochemical cycling of selenium. Numerous bacteria can reduce Se oxyanions, which are used as electron acceptors during the oxidation of organic matter in anoxic environments. In this study, we used a double spike (82Se and 74Se) thermal ionization mass spectrometry technique to quantify the isotopic...
Authors
M.J. Herbel, T.M. Johnson, R.S. Oremland, T.D. Bullen