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
Evaluation of wastewater contaminant transport in surface waters using verified Lagrangian sampling Evaluation of wastewater contaminant transport in surface waters using verified Lagrangian sampling
Contaminants released from wastewater treatment plants can persist in surface waters for substantial distances. Much research has gone into evaluating the fate and transport of these contaminants, but this work has often assumed constant flow from wastewater treatment plants. However, effluent discharge commonly varies widely over a 24-hour period, and this variation controls contaminant...
Authors
Ronald C. Antweiler, Jeffrey H. Writer, Sheila F. Murphy
Transgenic zebrafish reveal tissue-specific differences in estrogen signaling in response to environmental water samples Transgenic zebrafish reveal tissue-specific differences in estrogen signaling in response to environmental water samples
Background: Environmental endocrine disruptors (EED) are exogenous chemicals that mimic endogenous hormones, such as estrogens. Previous studies using a zebrafish transgenic reporter demonstrated that the EEDs bisphenol A and genistein preferentially activate estrogen receptors (ER) in the larval heart compared to the liver. However, it was not known whether the transgenic zebrafish...
Authors
Daniel A. Gorelick, Luke R. Iwanowicz, Alice L. Hung, Vicki Blazer, Marnie E. Halpern
Utilizing thin-film solid-phase extraction to assess the effect of organic carbon amendments on the bioavailability of DDT and dieldrin to earthworms Utilizing thin-film solid-phase extraction to assess the effect of organic carbon amendments on the bioavailability of DDT and dieldrin to earthworms
Improved approaches are needed to assess bioavailability of hydrophobic organic compounds in contaminated soils. Performance of thin-film solid-phase extraction (TF-SPE) using vials coated with ethylene vinyl acetate was compared to earthworm bioassay (Lumbricus terrestris). A DDT and dieldrin contaminated soil was amended with four organic carbon materials to assess the change in...
Authors
Natasha A. Andrade, Tiziana Centofanti, Laura L. McConnell, Cathleen J. Hapeman, Alba Torrents, Nguyen Anh, W. Nelson Beyer, Rufus L. Chaney, Jeffrey M. Novak, Marya O. Anderson, Keri B. Cantrell
Processes of zinc attenuation by biogenic manganese oxides forming in the hyporheic zone of Pinal Creek, Arizona Processes of zinc attenuation by biogenic manganese oxides forming in the hyporheic zone of Pinal Creek, Arizona
The distribution and speciation of Zn sorbed to biogenic Mn oxides forming in the hyporheic zone of Pinal Creek, AZ, was investigated using extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) and microfocused synchrotron X-ray fluorescence (μSXRF) mapping, and chemical extraction. μSXRF and chemical extractions show that contaminant Zn co-varied with Mn in streambed sediment grain coatings...
Authors
Christopher C. Fuller, John R. Bargar
Bioavailability and bioaccumulation of metal-based engineered nanomaterials in aquatic environments: Concepts and processes Bioavailability and bioaccumulation of metal-based engineered nanomaterials in aquatic environments: Concepts and processes
Bioavailability of Me-ENMs to aquatic organisms links their release into the environment to ecological implications. Close examination shows some important differences in the conceptual models that define bioavailability for metals and Me-ENMs. Metals are delivered to aquatic animals from Me-ENMs via water, ingestion, and incidental surface exposure. Both metal released from the Me-ENM...
Authors
Samuel N. Luoma, Farhan R. Khan, Marie-Noele Croteau
Presence of the Corexit component dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate in Gulf of Mexico waters after the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill Presence of the Corexit component dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate in Gulf of Mexico waters after the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill
Between April 22 and July 15, 2010, approximately 4.9 million barrels of oil were released into the Gulf of Mexico from the Deepwater Horizon oil well. Approximately 16% of the oil was chemically dispersed, at the surface and at 1500 m depth, using Corexit 9527 and Corexit 9500, which contain dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate (DOSS) as a major surfactant component. This was the largest...
Authors
James L. Gray, Leslie K. Kanagy, Edward T. Furlong, Chris J. Kanagy, Jeff W. McCoy, Andrew Mason, Gunnar Lauenstein
Sampling considerations in the mining environment Sampling considerations in the mining environment
No abstract available.
Authors
Kathleen S. Smith, Virginia T. McLemore, Carol C. Russell
Data management, assessment, and analysis for decision-making Data management, assessment, and analysis for decision-making
No abstract available.
Authors
Carol C. Russell, Kathleen S. Smith, Virginia T. McLemore
Decision making, risk, and uncertainty Decision making, risk, and uncertainty
No abstract available.
Authors
Carol C. Russell, Kathleen S. Smith, Virginia T. McLemore
Sampling and monitoring program implementation Sampling and monitoring program implementation
No abstract available.
Authors
Carol C. Russell, Virginia T. McLemore, Kathleen S. Smith
Spatial distribution of mercury in southeastern Alaskan streams influenced by glaciers, wetlands, and salmon Spatial distribution of mercury in southeastern Alaskan streams influenced by glaciers, wetlands, and salmon
Southeastern Alaska is a remote coastal-maritime ecosystem that is experiencing increased deposition of mercury (Hg) as well as rapid glacier loss. Here we present the results of the first reported survey of total and methyl Hg (MeHg) concentrations in regional streams and biota. Overall, streams draining large wetland areas had higher Hg concentrations in water, mayflies, and juvenile...
Authors
Sonia A. Nagorski, Daniel R. Engstrom, John P. Hudson, David P. Krabbenhoft, Eran Hood, John F. DeWild, George R. Aiken
Arsenic speciation and sorption in natural environments Arsenic speciation and sorption in natural environments
Aqueous arsenic speciation, or the chemical forms in which arsenic exists in water, is a challenging, interesting, and complicated aspect of environmental arsenic geochemistry. Arsenic has the ability to form a wide range of chemical bonds with carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, and sulfur, resulting in a large variety of compounds that exhibit a host of chemical and biochemical properties...
Authors
Kate M. Campbell, D. Kirk Nordstrom