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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

Water solubility enhancements of DDT and trichlorobenzene by some surfactants below and above the critical micelle concentration Water solubility enhancements of DDT and trichlorobenzene by some surfactants below and above the critical micelle concentration

Water solubility enhancements of 1,1-bis(p-chlorophenyl)-2,2,2-trichloroethane (DDT) and 1,2,3-trichlorobenzene (TCB) by aqueous surfactants below and above their critical micelle concentrations (CMCs) have been studied at room temperature with the following surfactants: Triton X-100, Triton X-114, Triton X-405, Brij 35, sodium dodecyl sulfate, and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide. While...
Authors
D. E. Kile, C. T. Chiou

Retardation of ammonium and potassium transport through a contaminated sand and gravel aquifer: The Role of cation exchange Retardation of ammonium and potassium transport through a contaminated sand and gravel aquifer: The Role of cation exchange

The role of cation exchange in the retardation of ammonium (NH4+) and potassium (K+) transport in a shallow sand and gravel aquifer was evaluated by use of observed distributions of NH4+ and K+ within a plume of sewage-contaminated groundwater, small-scale tracer injection tests, and batch sorption experiments on aquifer material. Both NH4+ and K+ were transported ???2 km in the 4-km...
Authors
M.L. Ceazan, E.M. Thurman, R. L. Smith

Can we determine the biological availability of sediment-bound trace elements? Can we determine the biological availability of sediment-bound trace elements?

It is clear from available data that the susceptibility of biological communities to trace element contamination differs among aquatic environments. One important reason is that the bioavailability of metals in sediments appears to be altered by variations in sediment geochemistry. However, methods for explaining or predicting the effect of sediment geochemistry upon metal...
Authors
Samuel N. Luoma

Mineral saturation states in natural waters and their sensitivity to thermodynamic and analytical errors Mineral saturation states in natural waters and their sensitivity to thermodynamic and analytical errors

Saturation indices computed with WATEQ4F chemical analyses from a groundwater in crystalline bedrock and a surface water receiving acid mine drainage are frequently at or above saturation with respect to calcite, fluorite, barite, gibbsite and ferrihydrite. Deep granitic groundwaters from Stripa, Sweden, are supersaturated with respect to calcite and fluorite. Acid mine waters from the...
Authors
D. Kirk Nordstrom, James W. Ball

Solubility of jarosite solid solutions precipitated from acid mine waters, Iron Mountain, California Solubility of jarosite solid solutions precipitated from acid mine waters, Iron Mountain, California

Because of the common occurrence of 15 to 25 mole percent hydronium substitution on the alkali site in jarosites, it is necessary to consider the hydronium content of jarosites in any attempt at rigorous evaluation of jarosite solubility or of the saturation state of natural waters with respect to jarosite. A Gibbs free energy of 3293.5±2.1 kJ mol-1 is recommended for a jarosite solid...
Authors
Charles N. Alpers, D. Kirk Nordstrom, J.W. Ball

Description of an estuarine methylotrophic methanogen, which grows on dimethyl sulfite Description of an estuarine methylotrophic methanogen, which grows on dimethyl sulfite

Characteristics of an obligately methylotrophic coccoid methanogen (strain GS-16) previously isolated from estuarine sediment are described. Growth was demonstrated on dimethyl sulfide (DMS) or trimethylamine (TMA), but not on methane thiol, methane thiol plus hydrogen, dimethyl disulfide, or methionine. DMS-grown cells were able to metabolize DMS and TMA simultaneously when inoculated...
Authors
Ronald S. Oremland, Ronald P. Kiene, Indra Mathrani, Michael J. Whiticar, David R. Boone

Oxidation of aromatic contaminants coupled to microbial iron reduction Oxidation of aromatic contaminants coupled to microbial iron reduction

THE contamination of sub-surface water supplies with aromatic compounds is a significant environmental concern1,2. As these contaminated sub-surface environments are generally anaerobic, the microbial oxidation of aromatic compounds coupled to nitrate reduction, sulphate reduction and methane production has been studied intensively1-7. In addition, geochemical evidence suggests that Fe...
Authors
Derek R. Lovley, M.J. Baedecker, D.J. Lonergan, I.M. Cozzarelli, Elizabeth J.P. Phillips, D. I. Siegel

Circular convection during subsurface injection of liquid waste, St. Petersburg, Florida Circular convection during subsurface injection of liquid waste, St. Petersburg, Florida

Injection of liquid waste into a highly transmissive, saltwater-bearing, fractured dolomite underlying the city of St. Petersburg, Florida, provided an opportunity to study density-dependent flow associated with two miscible and density-different liquids. The injection zone was 98 m thick with a radial hydraulic conductivity of 762 m/d and a vertical hydraulic conductivity of 152 m/d...
Authors
John J. Hickey

Convergent radial dispersion: A Laplace transform solution for aquifer tracer testing Convergent radial dispersion: A Laplace transform solution for aquifer tracer testing

A Laplace transform solution was obtained for the injection of a tracer in a well situated in a homogeneous aquifer where steady, horizontal, radially convergent flow has been established due to pumping at a second well. The standard advection-dispersion equation for mass transfer was used as the controlling equation. For boundary conditions, mass balances that account for mixing of the...
Authors
Allen F. Moench

Trace metal associations in the water column of South San Francisco Bay, California Trace metal associations in the water column of South San Francisco Bay, California

Spatial distributions of copper (Cu), zinc (Zn) and cadmium (Cd) were followed along a longitudinal gradient of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in South San Francisco Bay (herein referred to as the South Bay). Dissolved Cu, Zn and Cd concentrations ranged from 24 to 66 nM, from 20 to 107 nM and from 1·2 to 4·7 nM, respectively, in samples collected on five dates beginning with the spring
Authors
J.S. Kuwabara, Cecily C.Y. Chang, J. E. Cloern, T. L. Fries, J.A. Davis, S. N. Luoma

Preliminary evaluations of regional ground-water quality in relation to land use Preliminary evaluations of regional ground-water quality in relation to land use

Preliminary results from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Nebraska, and Colorado indicate that regional ground-water quality has been affected by human activities. The frequencies of detection of volatile organic compounds and some trace elements were larger in ground water underlying urban or industrial areas in comparison to undeveloped areas. Ground water in agricultural...
Authors
D. Cain, D.R. Helsel, S.E. Ragone
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