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: 4093
Transport of heat and gas in soil and at the surface Transport of heat and gas in soil and at the surface
No abstract available.
Authors
D.E. Anderson
Analysis of carbon isotopes, determination of ground-water age, and estimated characteristics of the contaminant source at two fuel-spill plumes, western Cape Cod, Massachusetts, 1996 Analysis of carbon isotopes, determination of ground-water age, and estimated characteristics of the contaminant source at two fuel-spill plumes, western Cape Cod, Massachusetts, 1996
No abstract available.
Authors
Jennifer G. Savoie
Factors controlling elevated lead concentrations in water samples from aquifer systems in Florida Factors controlling elevated lead concentrations in water samples from aquifer systems in Florida
Concentrations of total lead (Pb) and dissolved Pb exceeded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency action level of 15 micrograms per liter (mg/L) in approximately 19 percent and 1.3 percent, respectively, of ground-water samples collected during 1991-96 from a statewide network of monitoring wells designed to delineate background water quality of Florida's major aquifer systems...
Authors
B. G. Katz, M.P. Bullen, T.D. Bullen, Paul Hansard
Upgrade to MODFLOW-GUI; addition of MODPATH, ZONEBDGT, and additional MODFLOW packages to the U.S. Geological Survey MODFLOW-96 Graphical-User Interface Upgrade to MODFLOW-GUI; addition of MODPATH, ZONEBDGT, and additional MODFLOW packages to the U.S. Geological Survey MODFLOW-96 Graphical-User Interface
This report describes enhancements to a Graphical-User Interface (GUI) for MODFLOW-96, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) modular, three-dimensional, finitedifference ground-water flow model, and MOC3D, the USGS three-dimensional, method-ofcharacteristics solute-transport model. The GUI is a plug-in extension (PIE) for the commercial program Argus ONEe. The GUI has been modified to...
Authors
R.B. Winston
Processing of seismic tomography data collected at Tunnel 160, Deglen Mountain, Kazakhstan Processing of seismic tomography data collected at Tunnel 160, Deglen Mountain, Kazakhstan
No abstract available.
Authors
Karl Ellefsen, William Leith
Modeling impact of storage zones on stream dissolved oxygen Modeling impact of storage zones on stream dissolved oxygen
The Streeter-Phelps dissolved oxygen model is modified to incorporate storage zones. A dimensionless number reflecting enhanced decomposition caused by the increased residence time of the biochemical oxygen demand in the storage zone parameterizes the impact. This result provides a partial explanation for the high decomposition rates observed in shallow streams. An application suggests...
Authors
S.C. Chapra, R.L. Runkel
Oxidation of methyl halides by the facultative methylotroph strain IMB-1 Oxidation of methyl halides by the facultative methylotroph strain IMB-1
Washed cell suspensions of the facultative methylotroph strain IMB-1 grown on methyl bromide (MeBr) were able to consume methyl chloride (MeCl) and methyl iodide (MeI) as well as MeBr. Consumption of >100 μM MeBr by cells grown on glucose, acetate, or monomethylamine required induction. Induction was inhibited by chloramphenicol. However, cells had a constitutive ability to consume low
Authors
J.K. Schaefer, R.S. Oremland
The relative importance of light and nutrient limitation of phytoplankton growth: A simple index of coastal ecosystem sensitivity to nutrient enrichment The relative importance of light and nutrient limitation of phytoplankton growth: A simple index of coastal ecosystem sensitivity to nutrient enrichment
Anthropogenic nutrient enrichment of the coastal zone is now a well-established fact. However, there is still uncertainty about the mechanisms through which nutrient enrichment can disrupt biological communities and ecosystem processes in the coastal zone. For example, while some estuaries exhibit classic symptoms of acute eutrophication, including enhanced production of algal biomass...
Authors
J. E. Cloern
Dissolved sulfide distributions in the water column and sediment pore waters of the Santa Barbara Basin Dissolved sulfide distributions in the water column and sediment pore waters of the Santa Barbara Basin
Dissolved sulfide concentrations in the water column and in sediment pore waters were measured by square-wave voltammetry (nanomolar detection limit) during three cruises to the Santa Barbara Basin in February 1995, November–December 1995, and April 1997. In the water column, sulfide concentrations measured outside the basin averaged 3 ± 1 nM (n= 28) in the 0 to 600 m depth range. Inside...
Authors
J.S. Kuwabara, A. VanGeen, D.C. McCorkle, J.M. Bernhard
Aerobic mineralization of MTBE and tert-butyl alcohol by stream-bed sediment microorganisms Aerobic mineralization of MTBE and tert-butyl alcohol by stream-bed sediment microorganisms
Microorganisms indigenous to the stream-bed sediments at two gasoline- contaminated groundwater sites demonstrated significant mineralization of the fuel oxygenates, methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) and tert-butyl alcohol (TBA). Up to 73% of [U-14C]-MTBE and 84% of [U-14C]-TBA were degraded to 14CO2 under mixed aerobic/anaerobic conditions. No significant mineralization was observed under...
Authors
P. M. Bradley, J. E. Landmeyer, F. H. Chapelle