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
Some effects of acid mine drainage on Clear Creek, Colorado Some effects of acid mine drainage on Clear Creek, Colorado
No abstract available.
Authors
W. H. Ficklin, K. S. Smith, Katherine Walton-Day
Inhibition of aqueous copper and lead adsorption onto goethite by dissolved carbonate species Inhibition of aqueous copper and lead adsorption onto goethite by dissolved carbonate species
No abstract available.
Authors
Kathleen S. Smith, D. Langmuir
Fitting straight lines in the earth sciences Fitting straight lines in the earth sciences
No abstract available.
Authors
B.M. Troutman, G. P. Williams
Bioconcentration of creosote compounds in snails obtained from Pensacola Bay, Florida, near an onshore hazardous-waste site Bioconcentration of creosote compounds in snails obtained from Pensacola Bay, Florida, near an onshore hazardous-waste site
No abstract available.
Authors
C. E. Rostad, W. E. Pereira
Big Soda Lake (Nevada). 1. Pelagic bacterial heterotrophy and biomass Big Soda Lake (Nevada). 1. Pelagic bacterial heterotrophy and biomass
Bacterial activities and abundance were measured seasonally in the water column of meromictic Big Soda Lake which is divided into three chemically distinct zones: aerobic mixolimnion, anaerobic mixolimnion, and anaerobic monimolimnion. Bacterial abundance ranged between 5 and 52 x 106 cells ml−1, with highest biomass at the interfaces between these zones: 2–4 mg C liter−1 in the...
Authors
Jon P. Zehr, Ronald W. Harvey, Ronald S. Oremland, James E. Cloern, Leah H. George, Judith L. Lane
An empirical model for estimating phytoplankton productivity in estuaries An empirical model for estimating phytoplankton productivity in estuaries
e have previously shown that primary productivity in San Francisco Bay, USA, is highly correlated with phytoplankton biomass B (chlorophyll a concentration) and an index of light avallability in the photic zone, 2, I, (photic depth times surface irradiance). To test the generality of this relation, we compiled data from San Francisco Bay and 5 other USA estuarine systems (Neuse and South...
Authors
B.E. Cole, J. E. Cloern
A compositional multiphase model for groundwater contamination by petroleum products: 1. Theoretical considerations A compositional multiphase model for groundwater contamination by petroleum products: 1. Theoretical considerations
A mathematical model is developed to describe the fate of hydrocarbon constituents of petroleum products introduced to soils as an immiscible liquid from sources such as leaking underground storage tanks and ruptured pipelines. The problem is one of multiphase transport (oil (immiscible), air, and water phases) of a reactive contaminant with constituents such as benzene, toluene, and...
Authors
M. Yavuz Corapcioglu, Arthur L. Baehr
Unsaturated flow in a centrifugal field: Measurement of hydraulic conductivity and testing of Darcy's Law Unsaturated flow in a centrifugal field: Measurement of hydraulic conductivity and testing of Darcy's Law
A method has been developed to establish steady state flow of water in an unsaturated soil sample spinning in a centrifuge. Theoretical analysis predicts moisture conditions in the sample that depend strongly on soil type and certain operating parameters. For Oakley sand, measurements of flux, water content, and matric potential during and after centrifugation verify that steady state...
Authors
John R. Nimmo, J. Rubin, D.P. Hammermeister
Direct comparison of kinetic and local equilibrium formulations for solute transport affected by surface reactions Direct comparison of kinetic and local equilibrium formulations for solute transport affected by surface reactions
Modeling transport of reacting solutes in porous media often requires a choice between models based on the local equilibrium assumption (LEA) and models involving reaction kinetics. Direct comparison of the mathematical formulations for these two types of transport models can aid in this choice. For cases of transport affected by surface reaction, such a comparison is made possible by a...
Authors
Jean M. Bahr, Jacob Rubin
Fate and movement of azaarenes and their anaerobic biotransformation products in an aquifer contaminated by wood-treatment chemicals Fate and movement of azaarenes and their anaerobic biotransformation products in an aquifer contaminated by wood-treatment chemicals
Infiltration of wastes containing creosote and pentachlorophenol from surface impoundments at an abandoned wood-treatment facility near Pensacola, Florida, resulted in contamination of the underlying sand and gravel aquifer. Pond sludges and sediments near the source were contaminated with 2- to 5-ring azaarenes having log Kow values of from 2.0 to 5.6. However, the ground water...
Authors
W. E. Pereira, C.E. Rostad, D.M. Updegraff, J.L. Bennett
Growth determinations for unattached bacteria in a contaminated aquifer Growth determinations for unattached bacteria in a contaminated aquifer
Growth rates of unattached bacteria in groundwater contaminated with treated sewage and collected at various distances from the source of contamination were estimated by using frequency of dividing cells and tritiated-thymidine uptake and compared with growth rates obtained with unsupplemented, closed-bottle incubations. Estimates of bacterial generation times [(In 2)/μ] along a 3-km...
Authors
R.W. Harvey, L.H. George
Vapor pressures and gas-film coefficients for ketones Vapor pressures and gas-film coefficients for ketones
Comparison of handbook vapor pressures for seven ketones with more recent literature data showed large differences for four of the ketones. Gas-film coefficients for the volatilization of these ketones from water determined by two different methods were in reasonable agreement.
Authors
R. E. Rathbun, D. Y. Tai