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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: 4093

Binding of polychlorinated biphenyls to aquatic humic substances: The role of substrate and sorbate properties on partitioning Binding of polychlorinated biphenyls to aquatic humic substances: The role of substrate and sorbate properties on partitioning

Two ortho- (2,2‘,5 and 2,2‘,5,6‘) and a non-ortho- (3,3‘,4,4‘) substituted polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners were used to study the effects of sorbate structure in binding processes to two lacustrine fulvic acids. Binding constants were determined by solubility enhancement of the solutes by the fulvic acids. The binding of the ortho-trichlorobiphenyl was significantly less than...
Authors
M.E. Uhle, Y.-P. Chin, G. R. Aiken, Diane McKnight

Bacteriophage PRD1 and silica colloid transport and recovery in an iron oxide-coated sand aquifer Bacteriophage PRD1 and silica colloid transport and recovery in an iron oxide-coated sand aquifer

Bacteriophage PRD1 and silica colloids were co-injected into sewage-contaminated and uncontaminated zones of an iron oxide-coated sand aquifer on Cape Cod, MA, and their transport was monitored over distances up to 6 m in three arrays. After deposition, the attached PRD1 and silica colloids were mobilized by three different chemical perturbations (elevated pH, anionic surfactant, and...
Authors
J. Ryan, M. Elimelech, R.A. Ard, R.W. Harvey, P.R. Johnson

High-pressure size exclusion chromatography analysis of dissolved organic matter isolated by tangential-flow ultra filtration High-pressure size exclusion chromatography analysis of dissolved organic matter isolated by tangential-flow ultra filtration

A 1,000-Dalton tangential-flow ultrafiltration (TFUF) membrane was used to isolate dissolved organic matter (DOM) from several freshwater environments. The TFUF unit used in this study was able to completely retain a polystyrene sulfonate 1,800-Dalton standard. Unaltered and TFUF-fractionated DOM molecular weights were assayed by high-pressure size exclusion chromatography (HPSEC). The...
Authors
C.R. Everett, Y.-P. Chin, G. R. Aiken

Are shifts in herbicide use reflected in concentration changes in Midwestern rivers? Are shifts in herbicide use reflected in concentration changes in Midwestern rivers?

In many Midwestern rivers, elevated concentrations of herbicides occur during runoff events for 1-3 months following application. The highest or 'peak' herbicide concentration often occurs during one of these runoff events. Herbicide concentrations in rivers are affected by a number of factors, including herbicide use patterns within the associated basin. Changing agricultural practices
Authors
W.A. Battaglin, D. Goolsby

Assessing groundwater vulnerability to agrichemical contamination in the Midwest US Assessing groundwater vulnerability to agrichemical contamination in the Midwest US

Agrichemicals (herbicides and nitrate) are significant sources of diffuse pollution to groundwater. Indirect methods are needed to assess the potential for groundwater contamination by diffuse sources because groundwater monitoring is too costly to adequately define the geographic extent of contamination at a regional or national scale. This paper presents examples of the application of
Authors
M. Burkart, D.W. Kolpin, D.E. James

GIXAFS study of Fe3+ sorption and precipitation on natural quartz surfaces GIXAFS study of Fe3+ sorption and precipitation on natural quartz surfaces

Grazing-incidence EXAFS has been used to characterize the structure of Fe3+ sorbed onto natural single crystal quartz surfaces. Fe3+ sorption at ca. 5% monolayer coverage on a natural crystal allowed to equilibrate in air resulted in formation of hematite nuclei with strong texturing on r-and m-planes. EXAFS calculations suggests that both O and Fe backscattering is necessary to yield...
Authors
G. Waychunas, J. Davis, R. Reitmeyer

Importance of microscopy in durability studies of solidified and stabilized contaminated soils Importance of microscopy in durability studies of solidified and stabilized contaminated soils

Solidification/stabilization (S/S) is recognized by the U.S. EPA as a best demonstrated available technology for the containment of contaminated soils and other hazardous wastes that cannot be destroyed by chemical, thermal, or biological means. Despite the increased use of S/S technologies, little research has been conducted on the weathering and degradation of solidified and stabilized...
Authors
I. Klich, L.P. Wilding, L.R. Drees, E. Landa

Nitrate in groundwater of the midwestern United States: A regional investigation on relations to land use and soil properties Nitrate in groundwater of the midwestern United States: A regional investigation on relations to land use and soil properties

The intense application of nitrogen-fertilizer to cropland in the midwestern United States has created concern about nitrate contamination of the region's aquifers. Since 1991, the US Geological Survey has used a network of 303 wells to investigate the regional distribution of nitrate in near-surface aquifers of the midwestern United States. Detailed land use and soil data were compiled...
Authors
D. Kolpin, M. Burkart, D. Goolsby

Spatial variability of turbulent fluxes in the roughness sublayer of an even-aged pine forest Spatial variability of turbulent fluxes in the roughness sublayer of an even-aged pine forest

The spatial variability of turbulent flow statistics in the roughness sublayer (RSL) of a uniform even-aged 14 m (= h) tall loblolly pine forest was investigated experimentally. Using seven existing walkup towers at this stand, high frequency velocity, temperature, water vapour and carbon dioxide concentrations were measured at 15.5 m above the ground surface from October 6 to 10 in 1997...
Authors
G. Katul, C.-I. Hsieh, D. Bowling, K. Clark, N. Shurpali, A. Turnipseed, J. Albertson, K. Tu, D. Hollinger, B. Evans, B. Offerle, D. Anderson, D. Ellsworth, C. Vogel, R. Oren

Simultaneous reduction of nitrate and selenate by cell suspensions of selenium-respiring bacteria Simultaneous reduction of nitrate and selenate by cell suspensions of selenium-respiring bacteria

Washed-cell suspensions of Sulfurospirillum barnesiireduced selenate [Se(VI)] when cells were cultured with nitrate, thiosulfate, arsenate, or fumarate as the electron acceptor. When the concentration of the electron donor was limiting, Se(VI) reduction in whole cells was approximately fourfold greater in Se(VI)-grown cells than was observed in nitrate-grown cells; correspondingly...
Authors
R.S. Oremland, J.S. Blum, A.B. Bindi, P.R. Dowdle, M. Herbel, J.F. Stolz

A siphon gage for monitoring surface-water levels A siphon gage for monitoring surface-water levels

A device that uses a siphon tube to establish a hydraulic connection between the bottom of an onshore standpipe and a point at the bottom of a water body was designed and tested for monitoring surface-water levels. Water is added to the standpipe to a level sufficient to drive a complete slug of water through the siphoning tube and to flush all air out of the system. The water levels in...
Authors
Timothy McCobb, Denis LeBlanc, Roy Socolow

Spectroscopic confirmation of uranium(VI)-carbonato adsorption complexes on hematite Spectroscopic confirmation of uranium(VI)-carbonato adsorption complexes on hematite

Evaluating societal risks posed by uranium contamination from waste management facilities, mining sites, and heavy industry requires knowledge about uranium transport in groundwater, often the most significant pathway of exposure to humans. It has been proposed that uranium mobility in aquifers may be controlled by adsorption of U(VI)−carbonato complexes on oxide minerals. The existence...
Authors
John Bargar, Rebecca Reitmeyer, James A. Davis
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