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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

Analytical results for 35 mine-waste tailings cores and six bed sediment samples, and an estimate of the volume of contaminated materials at Buckeye meadow on upper Basin Creek, northern Jefferson County, Montana Analytical results for 35 mine-waste tailings cores and six bed sediment samples, and an estimate of the volume of contaminated materials at Buckeye meadow on upper Basin Creek, northern Jefferson County, Montana

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. Flotation-mill tailings in the meadow below the Buckeye mine, hereafter referred to as the Buckeye mill-tailings site, have been identified as significant
Authors
David L. Fey, Stan E. Church, Christopher J. Finney

Distribution and transport of selected anthropogenic lipophilic organic compounds associated with Mississippi River suspended sediment, 1989-1990 Distribution and transport of selected anthropogenic lipophilic organic compounds associated with Mississippi River suspended sediment, 1989-1990

In the first study on this scale, distribution and transport of selected hydrophobic halogenated organic compounds associated with suspended sediment from the lower Mississippi River and its principal tributaries were determined during two spring and two summer cruises. Lipophilic organic compounds identified on the suspended sediment included hexachlorobenzene, pentachlorobenzene
Authors
C.E. Rostad, W. E. Pereira, T.J. Leiker

The interaction of natural organic matter with iron in a wetland (Tennessee Park, Colorado) receiving acid mine drainage The interaction of natural organic matter with iron in a wetland (Tennessee Park, Colorado) receiving acid mine drainage

Pore water from a wetland receiving acid mine drainage was studied for its iron and natural organic matter (NOM) geochemistry on three different sampling dates during summer 1994. Samples were obtained using a new sampling technique that is based on screened pipes of varying length (several centimeters), into which dialysis vessels can be placed and that can be screwed together to allow...
Authors
Stefan Peiffer, Katherine Walton-Day, Donald L. Macalady

DBP formation of aquatic humic substances DBP formation of aquatic humic substances

Terrestrial vegetation commonly shed into reservoirs contains chemical precursors of DBPs. Aquatic humic substances (AHSs) in water generate potentially harmful disinfection by‐products (DBPs) such as haloacetic acids (HAAs) and trihalomethanes (THMs) during chlorination. AHSs from two Arkansas reservoirs were characterized to define source, identify meta‐dihydroxybenzene (m‐DHB)...
Authors
M.L. Pomes, W. R. Green, E.M. Thurman, W. H. Orem, H.E. Lerch

A method for nitrate collection for δ15N and δ18O analysis from waters with low nitrate concentrations A method for nitrate collection for δ15N and δ18O analysis from waters with low nitrate concentrations

Recently, methods have been developed to analyze NO3- for δ15N and δ18O, improving our ability to identify NO3- sources and transformations. However, none of the existing methods are suited for waters with low NO3- concentrations (0.7-10 µM). We describe an improved method for collecting and recovering NO3- on exchange columns. To overcome the lengthy collection loading times imposed by...
Authors
Cecily C.Y. Chang, J. Langston, M. Riggs, K. Campbell, S. R. Silva, C. Kendall

Enzymatic and histopathologic biomarkers as indicators of contaminant exposure and effect in Asian clam (Potamocorbula amurensis) Enzymatic and histopathologic biomarkers as indicators of contaminant exposure and effect in Asian clam (Potamocorbula amurensis)

Enzymatic and histopathologic alterations of the digestive gland, gill, gonad, and kidney were studied in Asian clam (Potamocorbula amurensis) in April, 1997 from each of four United States Geological Survey (USGS) stations in the San Francisco Estuary. Stations were selected based on differing body burdens of metallic contaminants in clams (Stn 4.1>6.1>8.1>12.5) observed over 7 years...
Authors
S.J. Teh, S.L. Clark, C. L. Brown, S. N. Luoma, D.E. Hinton

Determination of pesticides associated with suspended sediments in the San Joaquin River, California, USA, using gas chromatography-ion trap mass spectrometry Determination of pesticides associated with suspended sediments in the San Joaquin River, California, USA, using gas chromatography-ion trap mass spectrometry

An analytical method useful for the quantification of a range of pesticides and pesticide degradation products associated with suspended sediments was developed by testing a variety of extraction and cleanup schemes. The final extraction and cleanup methods chosen for use are suitable for the quantification of the listed pesticides using gas chromatography-ion trap mass spectrometry and...
Authors
B.A. Bergamaschi, D.S. Baston, K.L. Crepeau, K.M. Kuivila

New method for the direct determination of dissolved Fe(III) concentration in acid mine waters New method for the direct determination of dissolved Fe(III) concentration in acid mine waters

A new method for direct determination of dissolved Fe(III) in acid mine water has been developed. In most present methods, Fe(III) is determined by computing the difference between total dissolved Fe and dissolved Fe(II). For acid mine waters, frequently Fe(II) ≫ Fe(III); thus, accuracy and precision are considerably improved by determining Fe(III) concentration directly. The new method...
Authors
T.B. To, D. Kirk Nordstrom, K.M. Cunningham, J.W. Ball, R. Blaine McCleskey

Robowell: An automated process for monitoring ground water quality using established sampling protocols Robowell: An automated process for monitoring ground water quality using established sampling protocols

Robowell is an automated process for monitoring selected ground water quality properties and constituents by pumping a well or multilevel sampler. Robowell was developed and tested to provide a cost-effective monitoring system that meets protocols expected for manual sampling. The process uses commercially available electronics, instrumentation, and hardware, so it can be configured to...
Authors
G.E. Granato, K.P. Smith

Bacterial respiration of arsenic and selenium Bacterial respiration of arsenic and selenium

Oxyanions of arsenic and selenium can be used in microbial anaerobic respiration as terminal electron acceptors. The detection of arsenate and selenate respiring bacteria in numerous pristine and contaminated environments and their rapid appearance in enrichment culture suggest that they are widespread and metabolically active in nature. Although the bacterial species that have been...
Authors
J.F. Stolz, R.S. Oremland
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