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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

Geochemical and hydrologic controls on phosphorus transport in a sewage-contaminated sand and gravel aquifer near Ashumet Pond, Cape Cod, Massachusetts Geochemical and hydrologic controls on phosphorus transport in a sewage-contaminated sand and gravel aquifer near Ashumet Pond, Cape Cod, Massachusetts

Currently (1993), about 170 kg/yr of phosphorus discharges into Ashumet Pond on Cape Cod from a plume of sewage-contaminated ground water. Phosphorus in the plume is mobile in two distinct geochemical environments--an anoxic zone containing dissolved iron and a suboxic zone containing dissolved oxygen. Phosphorus mobility in the suboxic zone is due to saturation of available sorption...
Authors
Donald A. Walter, Brigid A. Rea, Kenneth G. Stollenwerk, Jennifer G. Savoie

Identification of hydraulic conductivity structure in sand and gravel aquifers: Cape Cod data set Identification of hydraulic conductivity structure in sand and gravel aquifers: Cape Cod data set

This study evaluates commonly used geostatistical methods to assess reproduction of hydraulic conductivity (K) structure and sensitivity under limiting amounts of data. Extensive conductivity measurements from the Cape Cod sand and gravel aquifer are used to evaluate two geostatistical estimation methods, conditional mean as an estimate and ordinary kriging, and two stochastic simulation...
Authors
J.R. Eggleston, S.A. Rojstaczer, J.J. Peirce

Overview of a simple model describing variation of dissolved organic carbon in an upland catchment Overview of a simple model describing variation of dissolved organic carbon in an upland catchment

Hydrological mechanisms controlling the variation of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) were investigated in the Deer Creek catchment located near Montezuma, CO. Patterns of DOC in streamflow suggested that increased flows through the upper soil horizon during snowmelt are responsible for flushing this DOC-enriched interstitial water to the streams. We examined possible hydrological...
Authors
Elizabeth W. Boyer, George M. Hornberger, Kenneth E. Bencala, Diane M. McKnight

Glutathione conjugation and contaminant transformation Glutathione conjugation and contaminant transformation

The recent identification of a novel sulfonated metabolite of alachlor in groundwater and metolachlor in soil is likely the result of glutathione conjugation. Glutathione conjugation is an important biochemical reaction that leads, in the case of alachlor, to the formation of a rather difficult to detect, water-soluble, and therefore highly mobile, sulfonated metabolite. Research from...
Authors
Jennifer A. Field, E.M. Thurman

Dimethylsulfoniopropionate as a potential methanogenic substrate in Mono Lake sediments Dimethylsulfoniopropionate as a potential methanogenic substrate in Mono Lake sediments

A high concentration of dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) was found in the water column (0.1–1.8 µM particulate plus dissolved) of Mono Lake, CA, an alkaline, hypersaline waterbody. The dense Artemia monica population contained high levels of DMSP (1.7–2.5 mmol.g-1 wet weight), presumably as an osmolyte. Death of these brine shrimp caused accumulation of DMSP along the shoreline of the...
Authors
P.T. Visscher, J.R. Guidetti, Charles W. Culbertson, Ronald S. Oremland

Microbial cycling of methyl bromide Microbial cycling of methyl bromide

Environmental concern about brominated halocarbons like methyl bromide (MeBr) is focused on their potential to destroy stratospheric ozone. Photocatalysis of MeBr and other halocarbons in the stratosphere results in the liberation of reactive CI and Br atoms. Because Br atoms are perhaps as much as 100-fold more efficient at attacking ozone than are CI atoms, bromine’s lower abundance is...
Authors
Ronald S. Oremland

Hydrologic evaluation methodology for estimating water movement through the unsaturated zone at commercial low-level radioactive waste disposal site Hydrologic evaluation methodology for estimating water movement through the unsaturated zone at commercial low-level radioactive waste disposal site

This report identifies key technical issues related to hydrologic assessment of water flow in the unsaturated zone at low-level radioactive waste (LLW) disposal facilities. In addition, a methodology for incorporating these issues in the performance assessment of proposed LLW disposal facilities is identified and evaluated. The issues discussed fall into four areas:Estimating the water...
Authors
P.D. Meyer, M. Rock, W.E. Nichols, G.W. Gee

Effects of sampling strategies on estimates of annual mean herbicide concentrations in midwestern rivers Effects of sampling strategies on estimates of annual mean herbicide concentrations in midwestern rivers

The effects of 10 sampling strategies on estimates of annual mean concentrations of the herbicides atrazine, alachlor, and cyanazine in selected midwestern rivers were tested. The accuracy of the strategies was computed by comparing time-weighted annual mean herbicide concentrations calculated from water samples collected from 17 locations on midwestern rivers, with simulated annual mean
Authors
W.A. Battaglin, L.E. Hay

Comparison of denitrification activity measurements in groundwater using cores and natural-gradient tracer tests Comparison of denitrification activity measurements in groundwater using cores and natural-gradient tracer tests

The transport of many solutes in groundwater is dependent upon the relative rates of physical flow and microbial metabolism. Quantifying rates of microbial processes under subsurface conditions is difficult and is most commonly approximated using laboratory studies with aquifer materials. In this study, we measured in situ rates of denitrification in a nitrate-contaminated aquifer using...
Authors
R. L. Smith, S. P. Garabedian, M. H. Brooks
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