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: 4098
Documentation of computer program VS2Dh for simulation of energy transport in variably saturated porous media: Modification of the US Geological Survey's computer program VS2DT Documentation of computer program VS2Dh for simulation of energy transport in variably saturated porous media: Modification of the US Geological Survey's computer program VS2DT
No abstract available.
Authors
R. W. Healy, A.D. Ronan
Hydrogeology and geochemistry of acid mine drainage in ground water in the vicinity of Penn Mine and Camanche Reservoir, Calaveras County, California: Second-year summary, 1992-93 Hydrogeology and geochemistry of acid mine drainage in ground water in the vicinity of Penn Mine and Camanche Reservoir, Calaveras County, California: Second-year summary, 1992-93
No abstract available.
Authors
Scott N. Hamlin, Charles N. Alpers
Using geochemical and statistical tools to identify irrigated areas that might contain high selenium concentrations in surface water Using geochemical and statistical tools to identify irrigated areas that might contain high selenium concentrations in surface water
Irrigated agriculture has a long history in the Western United States, beginning with Native American Indians. After passage of the Reclamation Act of 1902, the United States Government began building and subsidizing irrigation projects to foster settlement and development of the arid and semi-arid areas of the Western United States (National Research Council, 1989). Precipitation in the
Authors
David L. Naftz
Spatial and temporal distribution of specific conductance, boron, and phosphorus in a sewage-contaminated aquifer near Ashumet Pond, Cape Cod, Massachusetts Spatial and temporal distribution of specific conductance, boron, and phosphorus in a sewage-contaminated aquifer near Ashumet Pond, Cape Cod, Massachusetts
Spatial and temporal distributions of specific conductance, boron, and phosphorus were determined in a sewage-contaminated sand and gravel aquifer near Ashumet Pond, Cape Cod, Massachusetts. The source of contamination is secondarily treated sewage that has been discharged onto rapid- infiltration sand beds at the Massachusetts Military Reservation since 1936. Contaminated ground water...
Authors
K.W. Bussey, D. A. Walter
Importance of dissolved sulfides and organic substances in controlling the chemical speciation of heavy metals in San Francisco Bay Importance of dissolved sulfides and organic substances in controlling the chemical speciation of heavy metals in San Francisco Bay
No abstract available.
Authors
J.S. Kuwabara, C.C.Y. Chang, A.I. Khechfe, Y.R. Hunter
Interannual climate variability and snowpack in the western United States Interannual climate variability and snowpack in the western United States
An important part of the water supply in the western United States is derived from runoff fed by mountain snowmelt Snow accumulation responds to both precipitation and temperature variations, and forms an interesting climatic index, since it integrates these influences over the entire late fall-spring period. Here, effects of cool season climate variability upon snow water equivalent...
Authors
Daniel R. Cayan
The deethylatrazine/atrazine ratio as an indicator of the onset of the spring flush of herbicides into surface water of the Midwestern United States The deethylatrazine/atrazine ratio as an indicator of the onset of the spring flush of herbicides into surface water of the Midwestern United States
The ratio of deethylatrazine to atrazine (DAR) may be used to record the first major runoff of herbicides from non-point-source corn fields to surface water in the Midwestern United States. The DAR dramatically decreases from ∼0.5 to 0.1 upon application of herbicide and the first major runoff event of a basin. The DAR then gradually increases to values of approximately 0.4–0.6 during...
Authors
E.M. Thurman, J. D. Fallon
Using a geographic information system and scanning technology to create high-resolution land-use data sets Using a geographic information system and scanning technology to create high-resolution land-use data sets
A geographic information system (GIS) procedure was developed to compile low-altitude aerial photography, digitized data, and land-use data from U.S. Department of Agriculture Consolidated Farm Service Agency (CFSA) offices into a high-resolution (approximately 5 meters) land-use GIS data set. The aerial photography consisted of 35-mm slides which were scanned into tagged information...
Authors
Craig A. Harvey, Dana W. Kolpin, William A. Battaglin
Assimilation of trace elements ingested by the mussel Mytilus edulis: Effects of algal food abundance Assimilation of trace elements ingested by the mussel Mytilus edulis: Effects of algal food abundance
Pulse-chase feeding and multi-labeled radiotracer techniques were employed to measure the assimilation of 6 trace elements (110mAg, 241Am, 109Cd, 57Co, 75Se and 65Zn) from ingested diatoms in the mussel Mytilus edulis feeding at different rates (0.1, 0.49 and 1.5 mg dry wt h-1). Uniformly radiolabeled diatoms Thalassiosira pseudonana were fed to mussels for 0.5 h, and the behavior of the
Authors
W.-X. Wang, N.S. Fisher, S. N. Luoma
Comment on "Horizontal aquifer movement in a theis-theim confined system" by Donald C. Helm Comment on "Horizontal aquifer movement in a theis-theim confined system" by Donald C. Helm
In a recent paper, Helm [1994] presents an analysis of horizontal aquifer movement induced by groundwater withdrawal from a confined aquifer in which fluid and grains are incompressible. The analysis considers the aquifer in isolation (ignoring overlying and underlying strata) and assumes that the aquifer deforms purely in the horizontal direction (with no vertical movement). Helm's...
Authors
Paul A. Hsieh, Richard L. Cooley
Simulation of aerobic and anaerobic biodegradation processes at a crude oil spill site Simulation of aerobic and anaerobic biodegradation processes at a crude oil spill site
A two-dimensional, multispecies reactive solute transport model with sequential aerobic and anaerobic degradation processes was developed and tested. The model was used to study the field-scale solute transport and degradation processes at the Bemidji, Minnesota, crude oil spill site. The simulations included the biodegradation of volatile and nonvolatile fractions of dissolved organic...
Authors
Hedeff I. Essaid, Barbara A. Bekins, E. Michael Godsy, Ean Warren, Mary Jo Baedecker, Isabelle M. Cozzarelli