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
Lean about our Featured Science Activities through our pages that highlight science studies, publications, and results.
Filter Total Items: 3784
Factors affecting tritium and 14carbon distributions in the unsaturated zone near the low-level radioactive-waste burial site south of Beatty, Nevada Factors affecting tritium and 14carbon distributions in the unsaturated zone near the low-level radioactive-waste burial site south of Beatty, Nevada
Interpretations of the distributions of tritiated water vapor (HTOV) and 14carbon dioxide gas (14CO2) concentrations in the unsaturated zone adjacent to the low-level radioactive-waste burial site south of Beatty, Nevada, suggest that observed concentrations of 14CO2 could be explained by either diffusive or advective transport of the radioactive gas from the site.The distribution of...
Authors
Robert G. Striegl, David E. Prudic, J. S. Duval, R. W. Healy, E. R. Landa, D.W. Pollock, D.C. Thorstenson, R.P. Weeks
Impact of the lower Alamosa River water on alfalfa, southwestern San Luis Valley, Colorado, 1995: Follow-up study of effects from the Summitville Mine Impact of the lower Alamosa River water on alfalfa, southwestern San Luis Valley, Colorado, 1995: Follow-up study of effects from the Summitville Mine
No abstract available.
Authors
J. A. Erdman, K. S. Smith, Maya ter Kuile
Temporal changes in the configuration of the water table in the vicinity of the management systems evaluation area site, central Nebraska Temporal changes in the configuration of the water table in the vicinity of the management systems evaluation area site, central Nebraska
To improve understanding of the hydrologic characteristics of the shallow aquifer in the vicinity of the Management Systems Evaluation Area site near Shelton, Nebraska, water levels were measured in approximately 130 observation wells in both June and September 1991. Two water-table maps and a water-level-change map were drawn on the basis of these measurements. In addition, historical...
Authors
John M. Kilpatrick
Compositions and metal loadings from several seeps at the Summitville Mine: Preliminary results of sampling in August, 1995, and comparison to August, 1994 results Compositions and metal loadings from several seeps at the Summitville Mine: Preliminary results of sampling in August, 1995, and comparison to August, 1994 results
No abstract available.
Authors
G.S. Plumlee, K. S. Smith, M. R. Montour
Automated, colorimetric methods for determination of nitrate plus nitrite, nitrite, ammonium and orthophosphate ions in natural water samples Automated, colorimetric methods for determination of nitrate plus nitrite, nitrite, ammonium and orthophosphate ions in natural water samples
The apparatus and methods used for the automatic, colorimetric determinations of dissolved nutrients (nitrate plus nitrite, nitrite, ammonium and orthophosphate) in natural waters are described. These techniques allow for the determination of nitrate plus nitrite for the concentration range 0.02 to 8 mg/L (milligrams per liter) as N (nitrogen); for nitrite, the range is 0.002 to 1.0 mg/L...
Authors
Ronald C. Antweiler, Charles J. Patton, Howard E. Taylor
Summary of suspended-solids concentration data, San Francisco Bay, California, water year 1994 Summary of suspended-solids concentration data, San Francisco Bay, California, water year 1994
Suspended-solids concentration data were collected in San Francisco Bay during water year 1994. Optical backscatterance sensors and water samples were used to monitor suspended solids continuously at two sites in Suisun Bay, two sites in Central San Francisco Bay, and three sites in South San Francisco Bay. Sensors were positioned at two depths at each site. In addition, a shallow-water...
Authors
P.A. Buchanan, D. H. Schoellhamer, R.C. Sheipline
Chemical and stable-isotope data from an experiment to examine temporal variability in water samples from screened wells on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, 1994 Chemical and stable-isotope data from an experiment to examine temporal variability in water samples from screened wells on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, 1994
No abstract available.
Authors
T. E. Reilly, D.R. LeBlanc, K.W. Bussey, T.B. Councell, R. L. Smith, J.K. Böhlke
Quantification of natural vapor fluxes of trichloroethene in the unsaturated zone at Picatinny Arsenal, New Jersey Quantification of natural vapor fluxes of trichloroethene in the unsaturated zone at Picatinny Arsenal, New Jersey
The upward flux of trichloroethene (TCE) vapor through the unsaturated zone above a contaminated, water-table aquifer at Picatinny Arsenal, New Jersey, has been studied under natural conditions over a 12-month period. Vertical gas-phase diffusion fluxes were estimated indirectly by measuring the TCE vapor concentration gradient in the unsaturated zone and using Fick's law to calculate...
Authors
James A. Smith, Amy K. Tisdale, H. Jean Cho
Comparison of Eh and H2 measurements for delineating redox processes in a contaminated aquifer Comparison of Eh and H2 measurements for delineating redox processes in a contaminated aquifer
Measurements of oxidation-reduction potential (Eh) and concentrations of dissolved hydrogen (H2) were made in a shallow groundwater system contaminated with solvents and jet fuel to delineate the zonation of redox processes. Eh measurements ranged from +69 to -158 mV in a cross section of the contaminated plume and accurately delineated oxic from anoxic groundwater. Plotting measured Eh...
Authors
Francis H. Chapelle, Sheridan K. Haack, Peter Adriaens, Mark A. Henry, Paul M. Bradley
Naturally occurring and mining-affected dissolved metals in two subbasins of the Upper Animas River Basin, southwestern Colorado Naturally occurring and mining-affected dissolved metals in two subbasins of the Upper Animas River Basin, southwestern Colorado
No abstract available.
Authors
Winfield G. Wright, Cathy J. Janik
Geochemical and hydrologic controls on phosphorus transport in a sewage-contaminated sand and gravel aquifer near Ashumet Pond, Cape Cod, Massachusetts Geochemical and hydrologic controls on phosphorus transport in a sewage-contaminated sand and gravel aquifer near Ashumet Pond, Cape Cod, Massachusetts
Currently (1993), about 170 kg/yr of phosphorus discharges into Ashumet Pond on Cape Cod from a plume of sewage-contaminated ground water. Phosphorus in the plume is mobile in two distinct geochemical environments--an anoxic zone containing dissolved iron and a suboxic zone containing dissolved oxygen. Phosphorus mobility in the suboxic zone is due to saturation of available sorption...
Authors
Donald A. Walter, Brigid A. Rea, Kenneth G. Stollenwerk, Jennifer G. Savoie
Overview of a simple model describing variation of dissolved organic carbon in an upland catchment Overview of a simple model describing variation of dissolved organic carbon in an upland catchment
Hydrological mechanisms controlling the variation of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) were investigated in the Deer Creek catchment located near Montezuma, CO. Patterns of DOC in streamflow suggested that increased flows through the upper soil horizon during snowmelt are responsible for flushing this DOC-enriched interstitial water to the streams. We examined possible hydrological...
Authors
Elizabeth W. Boyer, George M. Hornberger, Kenneth E. Bencala, Diane M. McKnight