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: 4097
Antidepressant pharmaceuticals in two U.S. effluent-impacted streams: Occurrence and fate in water and sediment and selective uptake in fish neural tissue Antidepressant pharmaceuticals in two U.S. effluent-impacted streams: Occurrence and fate in water and sediment and selective uptake in fish neural tissue
Antidepressant pharmaceuticals are widely prescribed in the United States; release of municipal wastewater effluent is a primary route introducing them to aquatic environments, where little is known about their distribution and fate. Water, bed sediment, and brain tissue from native white suckers (Catostomus commersoni)were collected upstream and atpoints progressively downstream from...
Authors
M.M. Schultz, Edward T. Furlong, Dana W. Kolpin, Stephen L. Werner, H.L. Schoenfuss, Larry B. Barber, Vicki S. Blazer, D.O. Norris, A.M. Vajda
Organic intermediates in the anaerobic biodegradation of coal to methane under laboratory conditions Organic intermediates in the anaerobic biodegradation of coal to methane under laboratory conditions
Organic intermediates in coal fluids produced by anaerobic biodegradation of geopolymers in coal play a key role in the production of methane in natural gas reservoirs. Laboratory biodegradation experiments on sub-bituminous coal from Texas, USA, were conducted using bioreactors to examine the organic intermediates relevant to methane production. Production of methane in the bioreactors...
Authors
William H. Orem, Mary A. Voytek, Elizabeth J. Jones, Harry E. Lerch, Anne L. Bates, M.D. Corum, Peter D. Warwick, Arthur C. Clark
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
Contaminants of emerging concern: Introduction to a featured collection Contaminants of emerging concern: Introduction to a featured collection
No abstract available.
Authors
William A. Battaglin, Dana W. Kolpin
Hydrodynamic control of phytoplankton loss to the benthos in an estuarine environment Hydrodynamic control of phytoplankton loss to the benthos in an estuarine environment
Field experiments were undertaken to measure the influence of hydrodynamics on the removal of phytoplankton by benthic grazers in Suisun Slough, North San Francisco Bay. Chlorophyll a concentration boundary layers were found over beds inhabited by the active suspension feeders Corbula amurensis and Corophium alienense and the passive suspension feeders Marenzellaria viridis and Laonome...
Authors
Nicole L. Jones, Janet K. Thompson, Kevin R. Arrigo, Stephen G. Monismith
How electron flow controls contaminant dynamics How electron flow controls contaminant dynamics
No abstract available.
Authors
Thomas Borch, Kate M. Campbell, Ruben Kretzschmar
Aquifer chemistry and transport processes in the zone of contribution to a public-supply well in Woodbury, Connecticut, 2002-06 Aquifer chemistry and transport processes in the zone of contribution to a public-supply well in Woodbury, Connecticut, 2002-06
A glacial aquifer system in Woodbury, Connecticut, was studied to identify factors that affect the groundwater quality in the zone of contribution to a community public-supply well. Water samples were collected during 2002-06 from the public-supply well and from 35 monitoring wells in glacial stratified deposits, glacial till, and fractured bedrock. The glacial aquifer is vulnerable to
Authors
Craig J. Brown, J. Jeffrey Starn, Kenneth G. Stollenwerk, Remo A. Mondazzi, Thomas J. Trombley
Author's response to "If poultry's to blame, Where's the proof?" Author's response to "If poultry's to blame, Where's the proof?"
No abstract available.
Authors
J.L. Ripley, C. Foran, Luke R. Iwanowicz, Vicki S. Blazer
Antidepressants at environmentally relevant concentrations affect predator avoidance behavior of larval fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas). Antidepressants at environmentally relevant concentrations affect predator avoidance behavior of larval fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas).
The effects of embryonic and larval exposure to environmentally relevant (ng/L) concentrations of common antidepressants, fluoxetine, sertraline, venlafaxine, and bupropion (singularly and in mixture) on C-start escape behavior were evaluated in fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas). Embryos (postfertilization until hatching) were exposed for 5 d and, after hatching, were allowed to grow...
Authors
Edward T. Furlong, Larry B. Barber, Meghan R. McGee, Megan A. Buerkley, Matthew L. Julius, Alan M. Vajda, Heiko L. Schoenfuss, Melissa M. Schultz, David O. Norris
Tritium concentrations in environmental samples and transpiration rates from the vicinity of Mary's Branch Creek and background areas, Barnwell, South Carolina, 2007-2009 Tritium concentrations in environmental samples and transpiration rates from the vicinity of Mary's Branch Creek and background areas, Barnwell, South Carolina, 2007-2009
Tritium in groundwater from a low-level radioactive waste disposal facility near Barnwell, South Carolina, is discharging to Mary's Branch Creek. The U.S. Geological Survey conducted an investigation from 2007 to 2009 to examine the tritium concentration in trees and air samples near the creek and in background areas, in groundwater near the creek, and in surface water from the creek...
Authors
Don A. Vroblesky, Judy L. Canova, Paul M. Bradley, James Landmeyer
Assessment of contaminant exposure and effects on ospreys nesting along the Lower Duwamish River, Washington, 2006-07 Assessment of contaminant exposure and effects on ospreys nesting along the Lower Duwamish River, Washington, 2006-07
We evaluated the effects of contaminants on osprey (Pandion haliaetus) nesting along the lower Duwamish River (LDR), Washington, and used the upper reach of the Willamette River (WR), Oregon, as a reference site. Osprey eggs and nestling blood (plasma) were collected at nests along the LDR (11 eggs, 7 plasmas) and WR (10 eggs, 6 plasmas) in 2006-07 and analyzed for contaminants...
Authors
Branden L. Johnson, Charles J. Henny, James L. Kaiser, Jay W. Davis, Edmund P. Schulz
Sources and distribution of organic compounds using passive samplers in Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Nevada and Arizona, and their implications for potential effects on aquatic biota. Sources and distribution of organic compounds using passive samplers in Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Nevada and Arizona, and their implications for potential effects on aquatic biota.
Th e delineation of lateral and vertical gradients of organic contaminants in lakes is hampered by low concentrations and nondetection of many organic compounds in water. Passive samplers (semipermeable membrane devices [SPMDs] and polar organic chemical integrative samplers [POCIS]) are well suited for assessing gradients because they can detect synthetic organic compounds (SOCs) at pg...
Authors
Michael R. Rosen, David A. Alvarez, Steven L. Goodbred, Thomas J. Leiker, Reynaldo Patino