Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Publications

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

Filter Total Items: 4098

A mini drivepoint sampler for measuring pore water solute concentrations in the hyporheic zone of sand-bottom streams A mini drivepoint sampler for measuring pore water solute concentrations in the hyporheic zone of sand-bottom streams

A new method for collecting pore-water samples in sand and gravel streambeds is presented. We developed a mini drivepoint solution sampling (MINIPOINT) technique to collect pore-water samples at 2.5-cm vertical resolution. The sampler consisted of six small-diameter stainless steel drivepoints arranged in a 10-cm-diameter circular array. In a simple procedure, the sampler was installed...
Authors
John H. Duff, Fred Murphy, Christopher C. Fuller, F. Triska, Judson W. Harvey, Alan P. Jackman

Microbial diversity in a hydrocarbon- and chlorinated-solvent- contaminated aquifer undergoing intrinsic bioremediation Microbial diversity in a hydrocarbon- and chlorinated-solvent- contaminated aquifer undergoing intrinsic bioremediation

A culture-independent molecular phylogenetic approach was used to survey constituents of microbial communities associated with an aquifer contaminated with hydrocarbons (mainly jet fuel) and chlorinated solvents undergoing intrinsic bioremediation. Samples were obtained from three redox zones: methanogenic, methanogenic-sulfate reducing, and iron or sulfate reducing. Small-subunit rRNA...
Authors
M.A. Dojka, P. Hugenholtz, S.K. Haack, N.R. Pace

Bacterial methylmercury degradation in Florida Everglades peat sediment Bacterial methylmercury degradation in Florida Everglades peat sediment

Methylmercury (MeHg) degradation was investigated along an eutrophication gradient in the Florida Everglades by quantifying 14CH4 and 14CO2 production after incubation of anaerobic sediments with [14C]MeHg. Degradation rate constants (k) were consistently ≤0.1 d-1 and decreased with sediment depth. Higher k values were observed when shorter incubation times and lower MeHg amendment...
Authors
M. C. Marvin-DiPasquale, R.S. Oremland

Flow of river water into a Karstic limestone aquifer. 1. Tracing the young fraction in groundwater mixtures in the Upper Floridan Aquifer near Valdosta, Georgia Flow of river water into a Karstic limestone aquifer. 1. Tracing the young fraction in groundwater mixtures in the Upper Floridan Aquifer near Valdosta, Georgia

The quality of water in the Upper Floridan aquifer near Valdosta, Georgia is affected locally by discharge of Withlacoochee River water through sinkholes in the river bed. Data on transient tracers and other dissolved substances, including Cl−, 3H, tritiogenic helium-3 (3He), chlorofluorocarbons (CFC-11, CFC-12, CFC-113), organic C (DOC), O2 (DO), H2S, CH4, δ18O, δD, and 14C were...
Authors
Niel Plummer, E. Busenberg, J. B. McConnell, S. Drenkard, P. Schlosser, R. L. Michel

Regression models of herbicide concentrations in outflow from reservoirs in the midwestern USA, 1992-1993 Regression models of herbicide concentrations in outflow from reservoirs in the midwestern USA, 1992-1993

Reservoirs are used to store water for public water supply, flood control, irrigation, recreation, hydropower, and wildlife habitat, but also often store undesirable substances such as herbicides. The outflow from 76 reservoirs in the midwestern USA, was sampled four times in 1992 and four times in 1993. At least one herbicide was detected in 82.6 percent of all samples, and atrazine was...
Authors
W.A. Battaglin, D. A. Goolsby

Difluoromethane, a new and improved inhibitor of methanotrophy Difluoromethane, a new and improved inhibitor of methanotrophy

Difluoromethane (HFC-32; DFM) is compared to acetylene and methyl fluoride as an inhibitor of methanotrophy in cultures and soils. DFM was found to be a reversible inhibitor of CH4 oxidation byMethylococcus capsulatus (Bath). Consumption of CH4 in soil was blocked by additions of low levels of DFM (0.03 kPa), and this inhibition was reversed by DFM removal. Although a small quantity of...
Authors
L.G. Miller, C. Sasson, R.S. Oremland

Effects of arctic temperatures on distribution and retention of the nuclear waste radionuclides 241Am, 57Co, and 137Cs in the bioindicator bivalve Macoma balthica Effects of arctic temperatures on distribution and retention of the nuclear waste radionuclides 241Am, 57Co, and 137Cs in the bioindicator bivalve Macoma balthica

The disposal of radioactive wastes in Arctic seas has made it important to understand the processes affecting the accumulation of radionuclides in food webs in coldwater ecosystems. We examined the effects of temperature on radionuclide assimilation and retention by the bioindicator bivalve Macoma balthica using three representative nuclear waste components, 241Am, 57Co, and 137Cs...
Authors
D.A. Hutchins, I. Stupakoff, S. Hook, Samuel N. Luoma, N.S. Fisher

Modeling CO2 degassing and pH in a stream-aquifer system Modeling CO2 degassing and pH in a stream-aquifer system

Pinal Creek, Arizona receives an inflow of ground water with high dissolved inorganic carbon (57-75 mg/l) and low pH (5.8-6.3). There is an observed increase of in-stream pH from approximately 6.0-7.8 over the 3 km downstream of the point of groundwater inflow. We hypothesized that CO2 gas-exchange was the most important factor causing the pH increase in this stream-aquifer system. An...
Authors
J. Choi, S.M. Hulseapple, M.H. Conklin, J. W. Harvey

Feldspars as a source of nutrients for microorganisms Feldspars as a source of nutrients for microorganisms

Phosphorus and nitrogen are essential macronutrients necessary for the survival of virtually all living organisms. In groundwater systems, these nutrients can be quite scarce and can represent limiting elements for growth of subsurface microorganisms. In this study we examined silicate sources of these elements by characterizing the colonization and weathering of feldspars in situ using...
Authors
J.R. Rogers, P.C. Bennett, W.J. Choi

Models of metal binding structures in fulvic acid from the Suwannee River, Georgia Models of metal binding structures in fulvic acid from the Suwannee River, Georgia

Fulvic acid, isolated from the Suwannee River, Georgia, was assessed for its ability to bind Ca2+, Cd2+, Cu2+, Ni2+, and Zn2+ ions at pH 6 before and after extensive fractionation that was designed to reveal the nature of metal binding functional groups. The binding constant for Ca2+ ion had the greatest increase of all the ions in a metal binding fraction that was selected for intensive
Authors
J.A. Leenheer, G.K. Brown, P. MacCarthy, S.E. Cabaniss
Was this page helpful?