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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

Adsorption and desorption of hexavalent chromium in an alluvial aquifer near Telluride, Colorado Adsorption and desorption of hexavalent chromium in an alluvial aquifer near Telluride, Colorado

A laboratory investigation of reactions between hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] and alluvium was conducted to evaluate reactions of Cr(VI) contaminating an alluvial aquifer near Telluride, CO and to determine the mechanisms responsible for these reactions. Uncontaminated alluvium and groundwater (spiked with CrO42−) from the study site were used in batch and column experiments. Results of...
Authors
Kenneth G. Stollenwerk, D.B. Grove

Isolation of anaerobic oxalate-degrading bacteria from freshwater lake sediments Isolation of anaerobic oxalate-degrading bacteria from freshwater lake sediments

Enrichment cultures that anaerobically degraded oxalate were obtained from lake sediment inocula. From these, 5 pure cultures of anaerobic oxalate-degrading bacteria were isolated and partially characterized. The isolates were Gram-negative, non-sporeforming, non-motile, obligate anaerobes. Oxalate was required for growth and was stoichiometrically converted to formate; 14CO2 was also...
Authors
R. L. Smith, F.E. Strohmaier, Ronald S. Oremland

Copper and silver accumulation in transplanted and resident clams (Macoma balthica) in South San Francisco Bay Copper and silver accumulation in transplanted and resident clams (Macoma balthica) in South San Francisco Bay

Accumulation of Cu and Ag by soft tissues of the deposit-feeding clam Macoma balthica was less than half in clams transplanted to a contaminated area than in clams native to that area. During a period of tissue growth, the transplants retained 50% and 90%, respectively, of the net Cu and Ag accumulated, but loss of metals from soft tissue by the resident population equalled net...
Authors
D.J. Cain, Samuel N. Luoma

Errors and parameter estimation in precipitation-runoff modeling: 2. Case study Errors and parameter estimation in precipitation-runoff modeling: 2. Case study

A case study is presented which illustrates some of the error analysis, sensitivity analysis, and parameter estimation procedures reviewed in the first part of this paper. It is shown that those procedures, most of which come from statistical nonlinear regression theory, are invaluable in interpreting errors in precipitation-runoff modeling and in identifying appropriate calibration...
Authors
Brent M. Troutman

Geophysical techniques for reconnaissance investigations of soils and surficial deposits in mountainous terrain Geophysical techniques for reconnaissance investigations of soils and surficial deposits in mountainous terrain

Two techniques were assessed for their capabilities in reconnaissance studies of soil characteristics: depth to the water table and depth to bedrock beneath surficial deposits in mountainous terrain. Ground-penetrating radar had the best near-surface resolution in the upper 2 m of the profile and provided continuous interpretable imagery of soil profiles and bedrock surfaces. Where thick...
Authors
C.G. Olson, J.A. Doolittle

Assessment of long-term salinity changes in an irrigated stream-aquifer system Assessment of long-term salinity changes in an irrigated stream-aquifer system

Changes in salinity in groundwater and surface water in the Arkansas River valley of southeastern Colorado are primarily related to irrigation practices. A solute transport model was applied to an 11-mile reach of the valley to compute salinity changes in response to spatially and temporally varying stresses. The model was calibrated in 1973 using detailed field measurements made during...
Authors
Leonard F. Konikow, Mark Person

Culturing Selenastrum capricornutum (Chlorophyta) in a synthetic algal nutrient medium with defined mineral particulates Culturing Selenastrum capricornutum (Chlorophyta) in a synthetic algal nutrient medium with defined mineral particulates

Algal nutrient studies in chemically-defined media typically employ a synthetic chelator to prevent iron hydroxide precipitation. Micronutrient-particulate interactions may, however, significantly affect chemical speciation and hence biovailability of these nutrients in natural waters. A technique is described by which Selenastrum capricornutum Printz (Chlorophyta) may be cultured in a...
Authors
James S. Kuwabara, J.A. Davis, Cecily C.Y. Chang

Geochemical investigations of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins in the subsurface environment at an abandoned wood-treatment facility Geochemical investigations of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins in the subsurface environment at an abandoned wood-treatment facility

The discharge of effluents containing creosote and pentachlorophenol into two unlined surface impoundments at a wood-treatment facility in Pensacola, Florida, resulted in contamination of the underlying sand and gravel aquifer. These wastes contained significant amounts of chlorinated dioxins, such as isomers of hexa- and heptachlorodibenzo-p-dioxins and octachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin...
Authors
W. E. Pereira, C.E. Rostad, M.E. Sisak

Modeling the rate-controlled sorption of hexavalent chromium Modeling the rate-controlled sorption of hexavalent chromium

Sorption of chromium VI on the iron-oxide- and hydroxide-coated surface of alluvial material was numerically simulated with rate-controlled reactions. Reaction kinetics and diffusional processes, in the form of film, pore, and particle diffusion, were simulated and compared with experimental results. The use of empirically calculated rate coefficients for diffusion through the reacting...
Authors
D.B. Grove, Kenneth G. Stollenwerk

Errors and parameter estimation in precipitation-runoff modeling: 1. Theory Errors and parameter estimation in precipitation-runoff modeling: 1. Theory

Errors in complex conceptual precipitation-runoff models may be analyzed by placing them into a statistical framework. This amounts to treating the errors as random variables and defining the probabilistic structure of the errors. By using such a framework, a large array of techniques, many of which have been presented in the statistical literature, becomes available to the modeler for...
Authors
Brent M. Troutman

Field determination of the three-dimensional hydraulic conductivity tensor of anisotropic media: 2. Methodology and application to fractured rocks Field determination of the three-dimensional hydraulic conductivity tensor of anisotropic media: 2. Methodology and application to fractured rocks

The analytical solutions developed in the first paper can be used to interpret the results of cross-hole tests conducted in anisotropic porous or fractured media. In the particular case where the injection and monitoring intervals are short relative to the distance between them, the test results can be analyzed graphically. From the transient variation of hydraulic head in a given...
Authors
Paul A. Hsieh, Shlomo P. Neuman, Gary K. Stiles, Eugene S. Simpson
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