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
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
Electron transport in the dissimilatory iron reducer, GS-15 Electron transport in the dissimilatory iron reducer, GS-15
Mechanisms for electron transport to Fe(III) were investigated in GS-15, a novel anaerobic microorganism which can obtain energy for growth hy coupling the complete oxidation of organic acids or aromatic compounds to the reduction of Fe(III) to Fe(II). The results indicate that Fe(III) reduction proceeds through a type b cytochrome and a membrane-bound Fe(III) reductase which is distinct...
Authors
Y.A. Gorby, Derek R. Lovley
Methylmercury decomposition in sediments and bacterial cultures: Involvement of methanogens and sulfate reducers in oxidative demethylation Methylmercury decomposition in sediments and bacterial cultures: Involvement of methanogens and sulfate reducers in oxidative demethylation
Demethylation of monomethylmercury in freshwater and estuarine sediments and in bacterial cultures was investigated with 14CH3HgI. Under anaerobiosis, results with inhibitors indicated partial involvement of both sulfate reducers and methanogens, the former dominating estuarine sediments, while both were active in freshwaters. Aerobes were the most significant demethylators in estuarine...
Authors
R.S. Oremland, C.W. Culbertson, M.R. Winfrey
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
Denitrification in nitrate-contaminated groundwater: Occurrence in steep vertical geochemical gradients Denitrification in nitrate-contaminated groundwater: Occurrence in steep vertical geochemical gradients
A relatively narrow vertical zone (5–6 m thick) of NO3− containing groundwater was identified using multilevel sampling devices in a sand and gravel aquifer on Cape Cod, MA, USA. The aquifer has been chronically contaminated by surface disposal of treated sewage 0.3 km upgradient from the study area. The NO3− zone was anoxic and contained high concentrations of N2O (16.5 μM), suggesting...
Authors
R. L. Smith, B.L. Howes, J.H. Duff
MBSSAS: A code for the computation of margules parameters and equilibrium relations in binary solid-solution aqueous-solution systems MBSSAS: A code for the computation of margules parameters and equilibrium relations in binary solid-solution aqueous-solution systems
The computer code MBSSAS uses two-parameter Margules-type excess-free-energy of mixing equations to calculate thermodynamic equilibrium, pure-phase saturation, and stoichiometric saturation states in binary solid-solution aqueous-solution (SSAS) systems. Lippmann phase diagrams, Roozeboom diagrams, and distribution-coefficient diagrams can be constructed from the output data files, and...
Authors
P. D. Glynn
The neutral oil in commercial linear alkylbenzenesulfonate and its effect on organic solute solubility in water The neutral oil in commercial linear alkylbenzenesulfonate and its effect on organic solute solubility in water
No abstract available.
Authors
C. T. Chiou, D. E. Kile, D.W. Rutherford
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
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
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
An interactive code (NETPATH) for modeling NET geochemical reactions along a flow PATH An interactive code (NETPATH) for modeling NET geochemical reactions along a flow PATH
No abstract available.
Authors
Niel Plummer, E.C. Prestemon, D.L. Parkhurst
Reconnaissance investigation of water quality, bottom sediment, and biota associated with irrigation drainage in the middle Rio Grande Valley and Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, New Mexico, 1988-89 Reconnaissance investigation of water quality, bottom sediment, and biota associated with irrigation drainage in the middle Rio Grande Valley and Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, New Mexico, 1988-89
No abstract available.
Authors
Kim Ong, T.F. O’Brien, M.D. Rucker