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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

Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometric method for the determination of dissolved trace elements in natural water Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometric method for the determination of dissolved trace elements in natural water

An inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry method was developed for the determination of dissolved Al, As, B, Ba, Be, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Li, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sr, Tl, U, V, and Zn in natural waters. Detection limits are generally in the 50-100 picogram per milliliter (pg/mL) range, with the exception of As which is in the 1 microgram per liter (ug/L) range. Interferences associated with...
Authors
J.R. Garbarino, Howard E. Taylor

Estimation of rates of aerobic hydrocarbon biodegradation by simulation of gas transport in the unsaturated zone Estimation of rates of aerobic hydrocarbon biodegradation by simulation of gas transport in the unsaturated zone

The distribution of oxygen and carbon dioxide gases in the unsaturated zone provides a geochemical signature of aerobic hydrocarbon degradation at petroleum product spill sites. The fluxes of these gases are proportional to the rate of aerobic biodegradation and are quantified by calibrating a mathematical transport model to the oxygen and carbon dioxide gas concentration data. Reaction
Authors
Matthew A. Lahvis, Arthur L. Baehr

The use of streambed temperature profiles to estimate the depth, duration, and rate of percolation beneath arroyos The use of streambed temperature profiles to estimate the depth, duration, and rate of percolation beneath arroyos

Temporal variations in a streambed temperature profile between 30 and 300 cm beneath Tijeras Arroyo, New Mexico, were analyzed at 30-min intervals for 1990 to estimate the depth, duration, and rate of percolation during streamflows. The depth of percolation was clearly documented by the rapid response of the streambed temperature profile to streamflows. Results indicate that the...
Authors
James Constantz, Carole L. Thomas

Mechanism of formation of humus coatings on mineral surfaces 2. Attenuated total reflectance spectra of hydrophobic and hydrophilic fractions of organic acids from compost leachate on alumina Mechanism of formation of humus coatings on mineral surfaces 2. Attenuated total reflectance spectra of hydrophobic and hydrophilic fractions of organic acids from compost leachate on alumina

Hydrophobic and hydrophilic fractions were isolated from a compost leachate. The adsorption isotherms of both fractions on alumina were measured by attenuated total reflectance infrared spectroscopy. The shapes of the adsorption isotherms of the two fractions were different. The isotherms for the hydrophilic fraction showed little change in surface excess with increasing solution...
Authors
R.L. Wershaw, E.C. Llaguno, J.A. Leenheer, R.P. Sperline, Y. Song

The developing framework of marine ecotoxicology: Pollutants as a variable in marine ecosystems? The developing framework of marine ecotoxicology: Pollutants as a variable in marine ecosystems?

Marine ecosystems include a subset in which at least some interrelated geochemical, biochemical, physiological, population and community characteristics are changed by pollutants. Moderate contamination is relatively widespread in coastal and estuarine ecosystems, so the subset of ecosystems with at least some processes affected could be relatively large. Pollutant influences have...
Authors
Samuel N. Luoma

Observed and simulated movement of bank-storage water Observed and simulated movement of bank-storage water

Detailed hydrologic and water-chemistry data were collected that document the movement of bank-storage water during March 7-April 17, 1990, in an alluvial aquifer adjacent to the Cedar River, Iowa. Hydrologic data included 745 daily ground-water-level measurements from 27 observation wells. Water-chemistry data indicate that bank-storage water had smaller specific conductance and larger
Authors
P. J. Squillace

Inferring shallow groundwater flow in saprolite and fractured rock using environmental tracers Inferring shallow groundwater flow in saprolite and fractured rock using environmental tracers

The Ridge and Valley Province of eastern Tennessee is characterized by (1) substantial topographic relief, (2) folded and highly fractured rocks of various lithologies that have low primary permeability and porosity, and (3) a shallow residuum of medium permeability and high total porosity. Conceptual models of shallow groundwater flow and solute transport in this system have been...
Authors
P.G. Cook, D. K. Solomon, W. E. Sanford, E. Busenberg, Niel Plummer, R.J. Poreda

Numerical evaluation of static-chamber measurements of soil-atmospheric gas exchange--Identification of physical processes Numerical evaluation of static-chamber measurements of soil-atmospheric gas exchange--Identification of physical processes

The exchange of gases between soil and atmosphere is an important process that affects atmospheric chemistry and therefore climate. The static-chamber method is the most commonly used technique for estimating the rate of that exchange. We examined the method under hypothetical field conditions where diffusion was the only mechanism for gas transport and the atmosphere outside the chamber...
Authors
Richard W. Healy, Robert G. Striegl, Thomas F. Russell, Gordon L. Hutchinson, Gerald P. Livingston

Nitrate reduction in sediments of lowland tropical streams draining swamp forest in Costa Rica: An ecosystem perspective Nitrate reduction in sediments of lowland tropical streams draining swamp forest in Costa Rica: An ecosystem perspective

Nitrate reduction and denitrification were measured in swamp forest streams draining lowland rain forest on Costa Rica's Atlantic slope foothills using the C2H2-block assay and sediment-water nutrient fluxes. Denitrification assays using the C2H2-block technique indicated that the full suite of denitrifying enzymes were present in the sediment but that only a small fraction of the...
Authors
J.H. Duff, C. M. Pringle, F.J. Triska

Bacterial dissimilatory reduction of arsenic(V) to arsenic(III) in anoxic sediments Bacterial dissimilatory reduction of arsenic(V) to arsenic(III) in anoxic sediments

Incubation of anoxic salt marsh sediment slurries with 10 mM As(V) resulted in the disappearance over time of the As(V) in conjunction with its recovery as As(III). No As(V) reduction to As(III) occurred in heat- sterilized or formalin-killed controls or in live sediments incubated in air. The rate of As(V) reduction in slurries was enhanced by addition of the electron donor lactate, H2...
Authors
P.R. Dowdle, A.M. Laverman, R.S. Oremland
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