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
Sensitivity of early life stages of freshwater mussels (Unionidae) to acute and chronic toxicity of lead, cadmium, and zinc in water Sensitivity of early life stages of freshwater mussels (Unionidae) to acute and chronic toxicity of lead, cadmium, and zinc in water
Toxicity of lead, cadmium, or zinc to early life stages of freshwater mussels (fatmucket, Lampsilis siliquoidea; Neosho mucket, L. rafinesqueana) was evaluated in 48‐h exposures with mussel larvae (glochidia), in 96‐h exposures with newly transformed (5‐d‐old) and two‐ or six‐month‐old juvenile mussels, or in 28‐d exposures with two‐ or four‐month‐old mussels in reconstituted soft water...
Authors
Ning Wang, Christopher G. Ingersoll, Chris D. Ivey, Douglas K. Hardesty, Thomas W. May, T. Augspurger, A.D. Roberts, E. Van Genderen, M.C. Barnhart
Cyanotoxin mixtures and taste-and-odor compounds in cyanobacterial blooms from the midwestern united states Cyanotoxin mixtures and taste-and-odor compounds in cyanobacterial blooms from the midwestern united states
The mixtures of toxins and taste-and-odor compounds present during cyanobacterial blooms are not well characterized and of particular concern when evaluating potential human health risks. Cyanobacterial blooms were sampled in twenty-three Midwestern United States lakes and analyzed for community composition, thirteen cyanotoxins by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry and immunoassay...
Authors
Jennifer L. Graham, Keith A. Loftin, Michael T. Meyer, Andrew C. Ziegler
Relative vulnerability of public supply wells to VOC contamination in hydrologically distinct regional aquifers Relative vulnerability of public supply wells to VOC contamination in hydrologically distinct regional aquifers
A process-based methodology was used to compare the vulnerability of public supply wells tapping seven study areas in four hydrologically distinct regional aquifers to volatile organic compound (VOC) contamination. This method considers (1) contributing areas and travel times of groundwater flowpaths converging at individual supply wells, (2) the oxic and/or anoxic conditions encountered...
Authors
Leon J. Kauffman, Francis H. Chapelle
Influence of organic carbon loading, sediment associated metal oxide content and sediment grain size distributions upon Cryptosporidium parvum removal during riverbank filtration operations, Sonoma County, CA Influence of organic carbon loading, sediment associated metal oxide content and sediment grain size distributions upon Cryptosporidium parvum removal during riverbank filtration operations, Sonoma County, CA
This study assessed the efficacy for removing Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts of poorly sorted, Fe- and Al-rich, subsurface sediments collected from 0.9 to 4.9 and 1.7–13.9 m below land surface at an operating riverbank filtration (RBF) site (Russian River, Sonoma County, CA). Both formaldehyde-killed oocysts and oocyst-sized (3 μm) microspheres were employed in sediment-packed flow...
Authors
D.W. Metge, R.W. Harvey, G. R. Aiken, R. Anders, G. Lincoln, James Jasperse
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in soil of the Canadian River floodplain in Oklahoma Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in soil of the Canadian River floodplain in Oklahoma
The accumulation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in soil, plants, and water may impart negative effects on ecosystem and human health. We quantified the concentration and distribution of 41 PAH (n = 32), organic C, total N, and S (n = 140) and investigated PAH sources using a chronosequence of floodplain soils under a natural vegetation succession. Soil samples were collected...
Authors
F. Sartori, T.L. Wade, J.L. Sericano, B.P. Mohanty, Karen A. Smith
A shallow subsurface controlled release facility in Bozeman, Montana, USA, for testing near surface CO2 detection techniques and transport models A shallow subsurface controlled release facility in Bozeman, Montana, USA, for testing near surface CO2 detection techniques and transport models
A controlled field pilot has been developed in Bozeman, Montana, USA, to study near surface CO2 transport and detection technologies. A slotted horizontal well divided into six zones was installed in the shallow subsurface. The scale and CO2 release rates were chosen to be relevant to developing monitoring strategies for geological carbon storage. The field site was characterized before...
Authors
L.H. Spangler, L.M. Dobeck, K.S. Repasky, A.R. Nehrir, S.D. Humphries, C.J. Keith, J.A. Shaw, J.H. Rouse, A.B. Cunningham, S.M. Benson, C.M. Oldenburg, J.L. Lewicki, A.W. Wells, J.R. Diehl, B.R. Strazisar, J.E. Fessenden, T.A. Rahn, J.E. Amonette, J.L. Barr, W.L. Pickles, J.D. Jacobson, E. A. Silver, E.J. Male, H.W. Rauch, K.S. Gullickson, R. Trautz, Yousif K. Kharaka, J. Birkholzer, L. Wielopolski
Effects of egg order on organic and inorganic element concentrations and egg characteristics in tree swallows, tachycineta bicolor Effects of egg order on organic and inorganic element concentrations and egg characteristics in tree swallows, tachycineta bicolor
The laying order of tree swallow eggs was identified from the Housatonic River, Berkshire County, Massachusetts, USA, and eggs were chemically analyzed individually to document possible effects of laying order on organic contaminant and inorganic element concentrations. Effects of laying order on other parameters such as egg weight, size, and lipid and moisture content also were assessed...
Authors
Christine M. Custer, Brian R. Gray, Thomas W. Custer
Polychlorinated biphenyls, dioxins, furans, and organochlorine pesticides in spotted sandpiper eggs from the upper Hudson River basin, New York Polychlorinated biphenyls, dioxins, furans, and organochlorine pesticides in spotted sandpiper eggs from the upper Hudson River basin, New York
In 2004, spotted sandpipers (Actitis macularia) were studied on the Hudson River near Fort Edward south to New Baltimore, NY and on two river drainages that flow into the Hudson River. Concentrations of 28 organochlorine pesticides, 160 polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners, and 17 dioxin and furan (PCDD-F) congeners were quantified in eggs collected on and off the Hudson River. The...
Authors
Thomas W. Custer, Christine M. Custer, Brian R. Gray
Microbial arsenic metabolism: New twists on an old poison Microbial arsenic metabolism: New twists on an old poison
Phylogenetically diverse microorganisms metabolize arsenic despite its toxicity and are part of its robust iogeochemical cycle. Respiratory arsenate reductase is a reversible enzyme, functioning in some microbes as an arsenate reductase but in others as an arsenite oxidase. As(III) can serve as an electron donor for anoxygenic photolithoautotrophy and chemolithoautotrophy...
Authors
J.F. Stolz, P. Basu, Ronald S. Oremland
Mineralogical and chemical characteristics of some natural jarosites Mineralogical and chemical characteristics of some natural jarosites
This paper presents a detailed study of the mineralogical, microscopic, thermal, and spectral characteristics of jarosite and natrojarosite minerals. Systematic mineralogic and chemical examination of a suite of 32 natural stoichiometric jarosite and natrojarosite samples from diverse supergene and hydrothermal environments indicates that there is only limited solid solution between Na...
Authors
George A. Desborough, Kathleen S. Smith, Heather A. Lowers, Gregg A. Swayze, Jane M. Hammarstrom, Sharon F. Diehl, Reinhard W. Leinz, Rhonda L. Driscoll
Influence of organic matter on the transport of Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts in a ferric oxyhydroxide-coated quartz sand saturated porous medium Influence of organic matter on the transport of Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts in a ferric oxyhydroxide-coated quartz sand saturated porous medium
To assess the effect of organic matter on the transport of Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts in a geochemically heterogeneous saturated porous medium, we measured the breakthrough and collision efficiencies of oocysts as a function of dissolved organic matter concentration in a flow-through column containing ferric oxyhydroxide-coated sand. We characterized the surface properties of the...
Authors
R.A. Abudalo, J. N. Ryan, Ronald W. Harvey, David W. Metge, Lee L. Landkamer
Patterns of mercury dispersion from local and regional emission sources, rural Central Wisconsin, USA Patterns of mercury dispersion from local and regional emission sources, rural Central Wisconsin, USA
Simultaneous real-time changes in mercury (Hg) speciation-reactive gaseous Hg (RGM), elemental Hg (Hg??), and fine particulate Hg (Hg-PM2.5), were determined from June to November 2007, in ambient air at three locations in rural Central Wisconsin. Known Hg emission sources within the airshed of the monitoring sites include: 1) a 1114 megawatt (MW) coal-fired electric utility generating...
Authors
A. Kolker, M.L. Olson, David P. Krabbenhoft, Michael T. Tate, Mark A. Engle