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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: 4095

Microbial mineralization of dichloroethene and vinyl chloride under hypoxic conditions Microbial mineralization of dichloroethene and vinyl chloride under hypoxic conditions

Mineralization of 14C-radiolabled vinyl chloride ([1,2-14C] VC) and cis-dichloroethene ([1,2-14C] cis-DCE) under hypoxic (initial dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations about 0.1 mg/L) and nominally anoxic (DO minimum detection limit = 0.01 mg/L) was examined in chloroethene-exposed sediments from two groundwater and two surface water sites. The results show significant VC and...
Authors
Paul M. Bradley, Francis H. Chapelle

Reinterpreting the importance of oxygen-based biodegradation in chloroethene-contaminated groundwater Reinterpreting the importance of oxygen-based biodegradation in chloroethene-contaminated groundwater

Chlororespiration is common in shallow aquifer systems under conditions nominally identified as anoxic. Consequently, chlororespiration is a key component of remediation at many chloroethene-contaminated sites. In some instances, limited accumulation of reductive dechlorination daughter products is interpreted as evidence that natural attenuation is not adequate for site remediation...
Authors
Paul M. Bradley

Role of back diffusion and biodegradation reactions in sustaining an MTBE/TBA plume in alluvial media Role of back diffusion and biodegradation reactions in sustaining an MTBE/TBA plume in alluvial media

A methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) / tert-butyl alcohol (TBA) plume originating from a gasoline spill in late 1994 at Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB) persisted for over 15 years within 200 feet of the original spill source. The plume persisted until 2010 despite excavation of the tanks and piping within months after the spill and excavations of additional contaminated sediments from the...
Authors
Ehsan Rasa, Steven W. Chapman, Barbara A. Bekins, Graham E. Fogg, Kate M. Scow, Douglas M. Mackay

Occurrence of antibiotic resistance and characterization of resistant genes and integrons in Enterobacteriaceae isolated from integrated fish farms south China Occurrence of antibiotic resistance and characterization of resistant genes and integrons in Enterobacteriaceae isolated from integrated fish farms south China

Antibiotics are still widely applied in animal husbandry to prevent diseases and used as feed additives to promote animal growth. This could result in antibiotic resistance to bacteria and antibiotic residues in animals. In this paper, Enterobacteriaceae isolated from four integrated fish farms in Zhongshan, South China were tested for antibiotic resistance, tetracycline resistance genes
Authors
Hao-Chang Su, Guang-Guo Ying, Ran Tao, Rui-Quan Zhang, Lisa R. Fogarty, Dana W. Kolpin

Response to comments on "A bacterium that can grow using arsenic instead of phosphorus" Response to comments on "A bacterium that can grow using arsenic instead of phosphorus"

Concerns have been raised about our recent study suggesting that arsenic (As) substitutes for phosphorus in major biomolecules of a bacterium that tolerates extreme As concentrations. We welcome the opportunity to better explain our methods and results and to consider alternative interpretations. We maintain that our interpretation of As substitution, based on multiple congruent lines of...
Authors
Felisa Wolfe-Simon, Jodi Switzer Blum, Thomas R. Kulp, Gwyneth W. Gordon, Shelley E. Hoeft, Jennifer Pett-Ridge, John F. Stolz, Samuel M. Webb, Peter K. Weber, Paul C.W. Davies, Ariel D. Anbar, Ronald S. Oremland

Mercury bioaccumulation and biomagnification in Ozark stream ecosystems Mercury bioaccumulation and biomagnification in Ozark stream ecosystems

Crayfish (Orconectes spp.), Asian clam (Corbicula fluminea), northern hog sucker (hog sucker; Hypentelium nigricans), and smallmouth bass (smallmouth; Micropterus dolomieu) from streams in southeastern Missouri (USA) were analyzed for total mercury (HgT) and for stable isotopes of carbon (δ13C), nitrogen (δ15N), and sulfur (δ34S) to discern Hg transfer pathways. HgT concentrations were...
Authors
Christopher J. Schmitt, Craig A. Stricker, William G. Brumbaugh

Relating injury to the forest ecosystem near Palmerton, PA, to zinc contamination from smelting Relating injury to the forest ecosystem near Palmerton, PA, to zinc contamination from smelting

The forest on Blue Mountain, near Lehigh Gap, has been injured by emissions from two historical zinc (Zn) smelters in Palmerton, PA, located at the northern base of the mountain. The uppermost mineral soil and lower litter from sites along a transect, just south of the ridgetop, contained from 64 to 4400 mg/kg Zn. We measured forest metrics at 15 sampling sites to ascertain how forest...
Authors
W. Nelson Beyer, Cairn Krafft, Stephen Klassen, Carrie E. Green, Rufus L. Chaney

Microbial ecology of deep-water mid-Atlantic canyons Microbial ecology of deep-water mid-Atlantic canyons

The research described in this fact sheet will be conducted from 2012 to 2014 as part of the U.S. Geological Survey's DISCOVRE (DIversity, Systematics, and COnnectivity of Vulnerable Reef Ecosystems) Program. This integrated, multidisciplinary effort will be investigating a variety of topics related to unique and fragile deep-sea ecosystems from the microscopic level to the ecosystem...
Authors
Christina A. Kellogg

Quantifying differences in the impact of variable chemistry on equilibrium uranium(VI) adsorption properties of aquifer sediments Quantifying differences in the impact of variable chemistry on equilibrium uranium(VI) adsorption properties of aquifer sediments

Uranium adsorption-desorption on sediment samples collected from the Hanford 300-Area, Richland, WA varied extensively over a range of field-relevant chemical conditions, complicating assessment of possible differences in equilibrium adsorption properties. Adsorption equilibrium was achieved in 500-1000 h although dissolved uranium concentrations increased over thousands of hours owing...
Authors
Deborah L. Stoliker, Douglas B. Kent, John M. Zachara

Lead exposure and poisoning of songbirds using the Coeur d'Alene River Basin, Idaho, USA Lead exposure and poisoning of songbirds using the Coeur d'Alene River Basin, Idaho, USA

Previous studies have found widespread Pb poisoning of waterfowl in the Coeur d'Alene River Basin in northern Idaho, USA, which has been contaminated by mining and smelting activities. We studied the exposure of ground-feeding songbirds to Pb, sampling 204 American robins (Turdus migratorius), song sparrows (Melospiza melodia), and Swainson's thrushes (Catharus ustulatus) throughout the...
Authors
James A. Hansen, Daniel Audet, Brian L. Spears, Kate A. Healy, Roy E. Brazzle, David J. Hoffman, Anne Dailey, W. Nelson Beyer

Water-quality data from shallow pond-bottom groundwater in the Fishermans Cove area of Ashumet Pond, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, 2001-2010 Water-quality data from shallow pond-bottom groundwater in the Fishermans Cove area of Ashumet Pond, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, 2001-2010

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) collected water-quality data between 2001 and 2010 in the Fishermans Cove area of Ashumet Pond, Falmouth, Massachusetts, where the eastern portion of a treated-wastewater plume, created by more than 60 years of overland disposal, discharges to the pond. Temporary drive points were installed, and shallow pond-bottom groundwater was sampled, at 167...
Authors
Timothy D. McCobb, Denis R. LeBlanc
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