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: 4095
Sampling vadose-zone water for a volatile organic compound at Picatinny Arsenal, New Jersey Sampling vadose-zone water for a volatile organic compound at Picatinny Arsenal, New Jersey
A new method of collecting samples of unsaturated-zone water for quantitative analysis for a volatile organic compound, trichloroethene (TCE), was compared to three other, previously described sampling methodologies in the laboratory and in the field. In the laboratory, prepared water samples containing TCE in a known concentration (20 µg/L) were sampled repeatedly by using each of the...
Authors
James A. Smith, H. Jean Cho, Peter R. Jaffe, Cecilia L. MacLeod, Susan A. Koehnlein
Nitrate is a preferred electron acceptor for growth of freshwater selenate-respiring bacteria Nitrate is a preferred electron acceptor for growth of freshwater selenate-respiring bacteria
An anaerobic, freshwater enrichment grew with either nitrate or selenate as an electron acceptor. With both ions present, nitrate reduction preceded selenate reduction. An isolate from the enrichment grew on either ion, but the presence of nitrate precluded the reduction of selenate. Stock cultures of denitrifiers grew anaerobically on nitrate but not on selenate.
Authors
Nisan A. Steinberg, Jodi Switzer Blum, Lawrence Hochstein, Ronald S. Oremland
Physical, chemical, and biological data for detailed study of irrigation drainage in the Kendrick Reclamation Project area, Wyoming, 1988-90 Physical, chemical, and biological data for detailed study of irrigation drainage in the Kendrick Reclamation Project area, Wyoming, 1988-90
No abstract available.
Authors
R.B. See, D. A. Peterson, Pedro Ramirez
A reconnaissance study of herbicides and their metabolites in surface water of the midwestern united states using immunoassay and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry A reconnaissance study of herbicides and their metabolites in surface water of the midwestern united states using immunoassay and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry
Preemergent herbicides and their metabolites, particularly atrazine, deethylatrazine, and metolachlor, persisted from 1989 to 1990 in the majority of rivers and streams in the midwestern United States. In spring, after the application of herbicides, the concentrations of atrazine, alachlor, and simazine were frequently 3-10 times greater than the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency...
Authors
E. Michael Thurman, D. A. Goolsby, M. T. Meyer, M. S. Mills, M.L. Pomes, Dana W. Kolpin
Bioaccumulation of hydrocarbons derived from terrestrial and anthropogenic sources in the Asian clam, Potamocorbula amurensis, in San Francisco Bay estuary Bioaccumulation of hydrocarbons derived from terrestrial and anthropogenic sources in the Asian clam, Potamocorbula amurensis, in San Francisco Bay estuary
An assessment was made in Suisun Bay, California, of the distributions of hydrocarbons in estuarine bed and suspended sediments and in the recently introduced asian clam, Potamocorbula amurensis. Sediments and clams were contaminated with hydrocarbons derived from petrogenic and pyrogenic sources. Distributions of alkanes and of hopane and sterane biomarkers in sediments and clams were...
Authors
Wilfred E. Pereira, Frances D. Hostettler, John B. Rapp
Geochemical effects of deep-well injection of the Paradox Valley brine into Paleozoic carbonate rocks, Colorado, U.S.A. Geochemical effects of deep-well injection of the Paradox Valley brine into Paleozoic carbonate rocks, Colorado, U.S.A.
Brine seepage into the Dolores River from ground water in Paradox Valley, Colorado constitutes a major source of salt to the Colorado River. Plants are enderway to remove this source of salt by drawing down the Paradox Valley brine (PVB) and forcibly injecting it into a deep disposal well (4.8 km). Experiments were conducted to determine the effects of deep-well injection of PVB. The...
Authors
R.J. Rosenbauer, J. L. Bischoff, Y.K. Kharaka
Assessment of hydrogeologic conditions with emphasis on water quality and wastewater injection, southwest Sarasota and West Charlotte counties, Florida Assessment of hydrogeologic conditions with emphasis on water quality and wastewater injection, southwest Sarasota and West Charlotte counties, Florida
The 250-square-mile area of southwest Sarasota and west Charlotte Counties is underlain by a complex hydrogeologic system having diverse ground-water quality. The surficial and intermediate aquifer systems and the Upper Floridan aquifer of the Floridan aquifer system contain six separate aquifers, or permeable zones, and have a total thickness of about 2,000 feet. Water in the clastic...
Authors
C. B. Hutchinson
Compilation and interpretation of water-quality and discharge data for acidic mine waters at Iron Mountain, Shasta County, California, 1940-91 Compilation and interpretation of water-quality and discharge data for acidic mine waters at Iron Mountain, Shasta County, California, 1940-91
No abstract available.
Authors
Charles N. Alpers, D. Kirk Nordstrom, J.M. Burchard
Floating sample-collection platform with stage-activated automatic water sampler for streams with large variation in stage Floating sample-collection platform with stage-activated automatic water sampler for streams with large variation in stage
A floating sample-collection platform is described for stream sites where the vertical or horizontal distance between the stream-sampling point and a safe location for the sampler exceed the suction head of the sampler. The platform allows continuous water sampling over the entire storm-runoff hydrogrpah. The platform was developed for a site in southern Illinois.
Authors
Stephen R. Tarte, A.R. Schmidt, Daniel J. Sullivan
Identification of hydraulically conductive fractures intersecting boreholes in fractured gneiss near Ashford, Connecticut Identification of hydraulically conductive fractures intersecting boreholes in fractured gneiss near Ashford, Connecticut
No abstract available.
Authors
Frederick L. Paillet, Aaron Green, Joseph Gurrieri
Chloride interference in the analysis of dissolved organic carbon by the wet oxidation method Chloride interference in the analysis of dissolved organic carbon by the wet oxidation method
The presence of Cl- in concentrations greater than 0.02 M is shown to interfere with the analysis of aqueous DOC concentrations by the wet oxidation method of analysis when a reaction time of 5 min is employed. Chloride competes with DOC for S2O82-, lowering the overall oxidation efficiency. The resulting HOCl from the oxidation of Cl- reacts with DOC, producing significant amounts of...
Authors
George R. Aiken