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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: 3785

Changes in organic matter biodegradatility influencing sulfate reduction in an aquifer contaminated by landfill leachate Changes in organic matter biodegradatility influencing sulfate reduction in an aquifer contaminated by landfill leachate

In situ experiments were conducted to measure sulfate reduction rates and identify rate-limiting factors in a shallow, alluvial aquifer contaminated with municipal landfill leachate. Single-well, push–pull tests conducted in a well adjacent to the landfill with >8 mM dissolved organic carbon (DOC) exhibited a sulfate reduction rate of 3.2 μmol SO4−2 (L sediment)−1 day−1, a value in close...
Authors
Steve H. Harris, Jonathan D. Istok, Joseph M. Suflita

Pharmaceuticals and other organic chemicals in selected north-central and northwestern Arkansas streams Pharmaceuticals and other organic chemicals in selected north-central and northwestern Arkansas streams

Recently, our attention has focused on the low level detection of many antibiotics, pharmaceuticals, and other organic chemicals in water resources. The limited studies available suggest that urban or rural streams receiving wastewater effluent are more susceptible to contamination. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the occurrence of antibiotics, pharmaceuticals, and other...
Authors
B. E. Haggard, J.M. Galloway, W. R. Green, M. T. Meyer

Microbial transformations of arsenic in the environment: From soda lakes to aquifers Microbial transformations of arsenic in the environment: From soda lakes to aquifers

Arsenic is a highly toxic element that supports a surprising range of biogeochemical transformations. The biochemical basis of these microbial interactions is described, with an emphasis on energy-yielding redox biotransformations that cycle between the As5+ and As3+ oxidation states. The subsequent impact of As3+-oxidising and As 5+-reducing prokaryotes on the chemistry of selected...
Authors
J.R. Lloyd, R.S. Oremland

DNA damage and external lesions in brown bullheads (Ameiurus nebulosus) from contaminated habitats DNA damage and external lesions in brown bullheads (Ameiurus nebulosus) from contaminated habitats

The Comet assay was used to compare levels of DNA damage in brown bullheads (Ameiurus nebulosus) collected from three known contaminated locations, the Cuyahoga River (OH, USA), Ashtabula River (OH, USA; both tributaries to Lake Erie, USA), and Ashumet Pond (Cape Cod, MA, USA), with brown bullheads collected from three paired reference sites, Old Woman Creek (OH, USA), Conneaut River (OH...
Authors
X. Yang, J. Meier, L. Chang, M. Rowan, P. C. Baumann

Controls on soil pore water solutes: An approach for distinguishing between biogenic and lithogenic processes Controls on soil pore water solutes: An approach for distinguishing between biogenic and lithogenic processes

Spatial and temporal variations in pore water compositions are characterized for a deep regolith profile developed on a marine terrace chronosequence near Santa Cruz California. Variations are resolved in terms of the dominance of either a lithogenic process, i.e. chemical weathering, or a biogenic process, i.e. plant nutrient cycling. The concept of elemental fractionation is introduced
Authors
A. F. White, M. S. Schulz, D.V. Vivit, A.E. Blum, David A. Stonestrom

Arsenic and selenium in microbial metabolism Arsenic and selenium in microbial metabolism

Arsenic and selenium are readily metabolized by prokaryotes, participating in a full range of metabolic functions including assimilation, methylation, detoxification, and anaerobic respiration. Arsenic speciation and mobility is affected by microbes through oxidation/reduction reactions as part of resistance and respiratory processes. A robust arsenic cycle has been demonstrated in...
Authors
John F. Stolz, Partha Basu, Joanne M. Santini, Ronald S. Oremland

Contact zone permeability at intrusion boundaries: New results from hydraulic testing and geophysical logging in the Newark Rift Basin, New York, USA Contact zone permeability at intrusion boundaries: New results from hydraulic testing and geophysical logging in the Newark Rift Basin, New York, USA

Hydraulic tests and geophysical logging performed in the Palisades sill and the underlying sedimentary rocks in the NE part of the Newark Rift Basin, New York, USA, confirm that the particular transmissive zones are localized within the dolerite-sedimentary rock contact zone and within a narrow interval below this contact zone that is characterized by the occurrence of small layers of...
Authors
J.M. Matter, D.S. Goldberg, R. H. Morin, M. Stute

Use of borehole radar reflection logging to monitor steam-enhanced remediation in fractured limestone--Results of numerical modelling and a field experiment Use of borehole radar reflection logging to monitor steam-enhanced remediation in fractured limestone--Results of numerical modelling and a field experiment

Ground penetrating radar is an efficient geophysical method for the detection and location of fractures and fracture zones in electrically resistive rocks. In this study, the use of down-hole (borehole) radar reflection logs to monitor the injection of steam in fractured rocks was tested as part of a field-scale, steam-enhanced remediation pilot study conducted at a fractured limestone...
Authors
C. Gregoire, P. K. Joesten, J.W. Lane

Partitioning evapotranspiration in sparsely vegetated rangeland using a portable chamber Partitioning evapotranspiration in sparsely vegetated rangeland using a portable chamber

A portable chamber was used to separate evapotranspiration (ET) from a sparse, mixed‐species shrub canopy in southeastern Arizona, United States, into vegetation and soil components. Chamber measurements were made of ET from the five dominant species, and from bare soil, on 3 days during the monsoon season when the soil surface was dry. The chamber measurements were assembled into...
Authors
David I. Stannard, Mark A. Weltz

Determination of uranyl incorporation into biogenic manganese oxides using X-ray absorption spectroscopy and scattering Determination of uranyl incorporation into biogenic manganese oxides using X-ray absorption spectroscopy and scattering

Βiogenic manganese oxides are common and an important source of reactive mineral surfaces in the environment that may be potentially enhanced in bioremediation cases to improve natural attenuation. Experiments were performed in which the uranyl ion, UO22+ (U(VI)), at various concentrations was present during manganese oxide biogenesis. At all concentrations, there was strong uptake of U...
Authors
S.M. Webb, C. C. Fuller, B.M. Tebo, J.R. Bargar

Accumulation of contaminants in fish from wastewater treatment wetlands Accumulation of contaminants in fish from wastewater treatment wetlands

Increasing demands on water resources in arid environments make reclamation and reuse of municipal wastewater an important component of the water budget. Treatment wetlands can be an integral part of the water-reuse cycle providing both water-quality enhancement and habitat functions. When used for habitat, the bioaccumulation potential of contaminants in the wastewater is a critical...
Authors
L. B. Barber, S.H. Keefe, Ronald C. Antweiler, Howard E. Taylor, R.D. Wass

Oxygen isotopes of phosphatic compounds - Application for marine particulate matter, sediments and soils Oxygen isotopes of phosphatic compounds - Application for marine particulate matter, sediments and soils

The phosphate oxygen isotopic composition in naturally occurring particulate phosphatic compounds (δ18Op) can be used as a tracer for phosphate sources and to evaluate the cycling of phosphorus (P) in the environment. However, phosphatic compounds must be converted to silver phosphate prior to isotopic analysis, a process that involves digestion of particulate matter in acid. This...
Authors
K. McLaughlin, A. Paytan, C. Kendall, S. Silva
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