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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

Quantification of metal loading to Silver Creek through the Silver Maple Claims area, Park City, Utah, May 2002 Quantification of metal loading to Silver Creek through the Silver Maple Claims area, Park City, Utah, May 2002

The Silver Maple Claims area along Silver Creek, near Park City, Utah, is administered by the Bureau of Land Management. To quantify possible sources of elevated zinc concentrations in Silver Creek that exceed water-quality standards, the U.S. Geological Survey conducted a mass-loading study in May 2002 along a 1,400-meter reach of Silver Creek that included the Silver Maple Claims area
Authors
Briant A. Kimball, Kevin K. Johnson, Robert L. Runkel, Judy I. Steiger

Dissolved pesticide and organic carbon concentrations detected in surface waters, northern Central Valley, California, 2001-2002 Dissolved pesticide and organic carbon concentrations detected in surface waters, northern Central Valley, California, 2001-2002

Field and laboratory studies were conducted to determine the effects of pesticide mixtures on Chinook salmon under various environmental conditions in surface waters of the northern Central Valley of California. This project was a collaborative effort between the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the University of California. The project focused on understanding the environmental factors...
Authors
James L. Orlando, Lisa A. Jacobson, Kathryn Kuivila

Frequency spectral analysis of GPR data over a crude oil spill Frequency spectral analysis of GPR data over a crude oil spill

A multi-offset ground penetrating radar (GPR) dataset was acquired by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) at a crude oil spill site near Bemidji, Minnesota, USA. The dataset consists of two, parallel profiles, each with 17 transmitter-receiver offsets ranging from 0.60 to 5.15m. One profile was acquired over a known oil pool floating on the water table, and the other profile was acquired...
Authors
B.L. Burton, G.R. Olhoeft, M.H. Powers

Spatial and temporal changes in microbial community structure associated with recharge-influenced chemical gradients in a contaminated aquifer Spatial and temporal changes in microbial community structure associated with recharge-influenced chemical gradients in a contaminated aquifer

In a contaminated water‐table aquifer, we related microbial community structure on aquifer sediments to gradients in 24 geochemical and contaminant variables at five depths, under three recharge conditions. Community amplified ribsosomal DNA restriction analysis (ARDRA) using universal 16S rDNA primers and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) using bacterial 16S rDNA primers...
Authors
S.K. Haack, L.R. Fogarty, T.G. West, E.W. Alm, J.T. McGuire, D.T. Long, D.W. Hyndman, L.J. Forney

Using chromium stable isotope ratios to quantify Cr(VI) reduction: Lack of sorption effects Using chromium stable isotope ratios to quantify Cr(VI) reduction: Lack of sorption effects

Chromium stable isotope values can be effectively used to monitor reduction of Cr(VI) in natural waters. We investigate effects of sorption during transport of Cr(VI) which may also shift Cr isotopes values, complicating efforts to quantify reduction. This study shows that Cr stable isotope fractionation caused by sorption is negligible. Equilibrium fractionation of Cr stable isotopes...
Authors
A.S. Ellis, T.M. Johnson, T.D. Bullen

Geochemistry, radiocarbon ages, and paleorecharge conditions along a transect in the central High Plains aquifer, southwestern Kansas, USA Geochemistry, radiocarbon ages, and paleorecharge conditions along a transect in the central High Plains aquifer, southwestern Kansas, USA

Water samples from short-screen monitoring wells installed along a 90-km transect in southwestern Kansas were analyzed for major ions, trace elements, isotopes (H, B, C, N, O, S, Sr), and dissolved gases (He, Ne, N2, Ar, O2, CH4) to evaluate the geochemistry, radiocarbon ages, and paleorecharge conditions in the unconfined central High Plains aquifer. The primary reactions controlling...
Authors
P.B. McMahon, J.K. Böhlke, S. C. Christenson

Tire-wear particles as a source of zinc to the environment Tire-wear particles as a source of zinc to the environment

Tire-tread material has a zinc (Zn) content of about 1 wt %. The quantity of tread material lost to road surfaces by abrasion has not been well characterized. Two approaches were used to assess the magnitude of this nonpoint source of Zn in the U.S. for the period 1936−1999. In the first approach, tread-wear rates from the automotive engineering literature were used in conjunction with...
Authors
T.B. Councell, K.U. Duckenfield, E. R. Landa, E. Callender

Surface complexation model of uranyl sorption on Georgia kaolinite Surface complexation model of uranyl sorption on Georgia kaolinite

The adsorption of uranyl on standard Georgia kaolinites (KGa-1 and KGa-1B) was studied as a function of pH (3–10), total U (1 and 10 μmol/l), and mass loading of clay (4 and 40 g/l). The uptake of uranyl in air-equilibrated systems increased with pH and reached a maximum in the near-neutral pH range. At higher pH values, the sorption decreased due to the presence of aqueous uranyl...
Authors
T.E. Payne, J.A. Davis, G.R. Lumpkin, R. Chisari, T.D. Waite

Transport and time lag of chlorofluorocarbon gases in the unsaturated zone, Rabis Creek, Denmark Transport and time lag of chlorofluorocarbon gases in the unsaturated zone, Rabis Creek, Denmark

Transport of chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) gases through the unsaturated zone to the water table is affected by gas diffusion, air–water exchange (solubility), sorption to the soil matrix, advective–dispersive transport in the water phase, and, in some cases, anaerobic degradation. In deep unsaturated zones, this may lead to a time lag between entry of gases at the land surface and recharge...
Authors
Peter Engesgaard, Anker L. Højberg, Klaus Hinsby, Karsten H. Jensen, Troels Laier, Flemming Larsen, Eurybiades Busenberg, Niel Plummer

Inorganic N and P dynamics of Antarctic glacial meltwater streams as controlled by hyporheic exchange and benthic autotrophic communities Inorganic N and P dynamics of Antarctic glacial meltwater streams as controlled by hyporheic exchange and benthic autotrophic communities

The McMurdo Dry Valleys of South Victoria Land, Antarctica, contain numerous glacial meltwater streams that drain into lakes on the valley floors. Many of the streams have abundant perennial mats of filamentous cyanobacteria. The algal mats grow during streamflow in the austral summer and are in a dormant freeze-dried state during the rest of the year. NO3 and soluble reactive P (SRP)
Authors
Diane M. McKnight, R.L. Runkel, C. M. Tate, J.H. Duff, D.L. Moorhead

Aquifer vulnerability to pesticide pollution: Combining soil, land-use and aquifer properties with molecular descriptors Aquifer vulnerability to pesticide pollution: Combining soil, land-use and aquifer properties with molecular descriptors

This study uses an extensive survey of herbicides in groundwater across the midwest United States to predict occurrences of a range of compounds across the region from a combination of their molecular properties and the properties of the catchment of a borehole. The study covers 100 boreholes and eight pesticides. For each of the boreholes its catchment the soil, land-use and aquifer...
Authors
F. Worrall, D.W. Kolpin
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