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: 4097
Partitioning of elements between two size sediment fractions in samples from nineteen areas of the Western United States Partitioning of elements between two size sediment fractions in samples from nineteen areas of the Western United States
No abstract available.
Authors
R. C. Severson, K. C. Stewart, Thelma F. Harms
Uptake and physiological antagonism of selenium and sulfur in alfalfa and wheat under field conditions, San Joaquin Valley, California Uptake and physiological antagonism of selenium and sulfur in alfalfa and wheat under field conditions, San Joaquin Valley, California
No abstract available.
Authors
R. C. Severson, L. P. Gough, J.G. Crock, D.L. Fey, P. L. Hageman, A.H. Love, T.R. Peacock
Plan to evaluate the effects of hydrogeologic conditions and human activities on water quality in the coastal plain of New York and New Jersey Plan to evaluate the effects of hydrogeologic conditions and human activities on water quality in the coastal plain of New York and New Jersey
No abstract available.
Authors
E. F. Vowinkel, S. F. Siwiec
Movement and fate of agricultural chemicals in the surface and subsurface environments near Plains, southwestern Georgia: Integrated work plan Movement and fate of agricultural chemicals in the surface and subsurface environments near Plains, southwestern Georgia: Integrated work plan
No abstract available.
Authors
D.W. Hicks, J. B. McConnell, L.E. Asmussen, R.A. Leonard, C.N. Smith
Importance of closely spaced vertical sampling in delineating chemical and microbiological gradients in groundwater studies Importance of closely spaced vertical sampling in delineating chemical and microbiological gradients in groundwater studies
Vertical gradients of selected chemical constituents, bacterial populations, bacterial activity and electron acceptors were investigated for an unconfined aquifer contaminated with nitrate and organic compounds on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, U.S.A. Fifteen-port multilevel sampling devices (MLS's) were installed within the contaminant plume at the source of the contamination, and at 250 and...
Authors
R. L. Smith, R.W. Harvey, D.R. LeBlanc
Use of colloid filtration theory in modeling movement of bacteria through a contaminated sandy aquifer Use of colloid filtration theory in modeling movement of bacteria through a contaminated sandy aquifer
\A filtration model commonly used to describe removal of colloids during packed-bed filtration in water treatment applications was modified for describing downgradient transport of bacteria in sandy, aquifer sediments. The modified model was applied to the results of a small-scale (7 m), natural-gradient tracer test and to observations of an indigenous bacterial population moving...
Authors
R.W. Harvey, S. P. Garabedian
Formation and transport of deethylatrazine in the soil and vadose zone Formation and transport of deethylatrazine in the soil and vadose zone
Atrazine (2-chloro-4-ethylamino-6-isopropylamino-s-triazine) and two degradation products were monitored at seven depths in the soil and vadose zone throughout the growing season in two experimental plots in which corn (Zea mays L.) was grown. The soils in these plots were a Kimo silty clay loam (clayey over loamy, montmorillonitic, mesic, Fluvaquentic Hapludoll) and a Eudora silt loam...
Authors
C.D. Adams, E.M. Thurman
Balloon and core sampling for determining bulk density of alluvial desert soil Balloon and core sampling for determining bulk density of alluvial desert soil
Samples were collected from major strata in the upper 5 m of an alluvial soil profile in the Amargosa Desert of southern Nevada to compare rubber-balloon and drive-core bulk-density measurement methods. For strate where the fine soil was
Authors
Brian J. Andraski
Large-scale distribution of metal contamination in the fine-grained sediments of the Clark Fork River, Montana, U.S.A. Large-scale distribution of metal contamination in the fine-grained sediments of the Clark Fork River, Montana, U.S.A.
Historic discharges from the mining and smelting complex at the head-waters of the Clark Fork River have resulted in elevated Ag, Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn concentrations in the
Authors
E.V. Axtmann, S. N. Luoma
Time-courses in the retention of food material in the bivalves Potamocorbula amurensis and Macoma balthica significance to the absorption of carbon and chromium Time-courses in the retention of food material in the bivalves Potamocorbula amurensis and Macoma balthica significance to the absorption of carbon and chromium
Time courses for ingestion, retention and release via feces of microbial food was investigated using 2 bivalves with different feeding strategies, Potamocorbula amurensis and Macoma balthica. The results showed 2 pathways for the uptake of food material in these clams. The first is represented by an initial label pulse in the feces. The second pathway operates over longer time periods...
Authors
Alan W. Decho, Samuel N. Luoma
Fate of acetone in an outdoor model stream with a nitrate supplement, southern Mississippi, U.S.A. Fate of acetone in an outdoor model stream with a nitrate supplement, southern Mississippi, U.S.A.
The fate of acetone in an outdoor model stream to which nitrate was added as a nutrient supplement was determined. The stream, in southern Mississippi, U.S.A. was 234 m long. Water was supplied to the stream by an artesian well at about 1.21 s−1, resulting in a mean water velocity of about 0.5 m min−1. Acetone was injected continuously for 26 days resulting in concentrations of 20–40 mg...
Authors
R. E. Rathbun, D. W. Stephens, D. Y. Tai
Brine evolution and mineral deposition in hydrologically open evaporite basins Brine evolution and mineral deposition in hydrologically open evaporite basins
A lumped-parameter, solute mass-balance model is developed to define the role of water outflow from a well-mixed basin. A mass-balance model is analyzed with a geochemical model designed for waters with high ionic strengths. Two typical waters, seawater and a Na-HCO3 ground water, are analyzed to illustrate the control that the leakage ratio (or hydrologic openness of the basin) has on...
Authors
W. E. Sanford, W.W. Wood