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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

Phosphate dynamics in an acidic mountain stream: Interactions involving algal uptake, sorption by iron oxide, and photoreduction Phosphate dynamics in an acidic mountain stream: Interactions involving algal uptake, sorption by iron oxide, and photoreduction

Acid mine drainage streams in the Rocky Mountains typically have few algal species and abundant iron oxide deposits which can sorb phosphate. An instream injection of radiolabeled phosphate (32P0,) into St. Kevin Gulch, an acid mine drainage stream, was used to test the ability of a dominant algal species, Ulothrix sp., to rapidly assimilate phosphate. Approximately 90% of the injected...
Authors
Cathy M. Tate, Robert E. Broshears, Diane M. McKnight

Modeling and predicting intertidal variations of the salinity field in the Bay/Delta Modeling and predicting intertidal variations of the salinity field in the Bay/Delta

San Francisco Bay and the Sacramento/San Joaquin Delta have challenged estuarine modelers for some years. Accurate, broad-scale models of this estuary have been in demand by those concerned with its ecological health and the development of sound management policies. A description and better understanding of the dynamics that govern the bay/delta are complicated by the system's complexity
Authors
Noah Knowles, Reginald J. Uncles

Relations between pesticide use and riverine flux in the Mississippi River Basin Relations between pesticide use and riverine flux in the Mississippi River Basin

In an intensive subcontimental study of pesticides in surface waters of the United States, concentrations of 26 high-use pesticides were measured at nine sites in the Mississippi River basin from May 1991 through March 1992. Calculated total fluxes were combined with agricultural-use data to estimate the percentage of applied pesticide reaching the mouths of the Mississippi River and six...
Authors
Steven J. Larson, Paul D. Capel, Donald A. Goolsby, Steven D. Zaugg, Mark W. Sandstrom

Paleohydrologic record from lake brine on the southern High Plains, Texas Paleohydrologic record from lake brine on the southern High Plains, Texas

The timing of changes in the stage and salinity of Double Lakes of Lynn County, Texas, was estimated using dissolved-chloride profiles across an underlying shale layer. Lake conditions over the past 30 to 50 ka can be inferred from the chloride profiles by using the advective velocity of the pore water through the shale and an appropriate coefficient of molecular diffusion. The profiles...
Authors
Ward E. Sanford, Warren W. Wood

Geophysical log data from Basalt Aquifers near Waipahu on the Island of Oahu and Pahoa on the Island of Hawaii, Hawaii Geophysical log data from Basalt Aquifers near Waipahu on the Island of Oahu and Pahoa on the Island of Hawaii, Hawaii

Two relatively new geophysical logging techniques, the digitally enhanced borehole acoustic televiewer and the heat-pulse flowmeter, were tested from 1987 to 1991 at two sites in Hawaii: Waipahu on the island of Oahu, and Pahoa on the island of Hawaii. Although these data were obtained in an effort to test and improve these two logging techniques, the measurements are of interest to...
Authors
Frederick L. Paillet, Alfred E. Hess

Tritium and radioactive carbon (14C) analyses of gas collected from unsaturated sediments next to a low-level radioactive-waste burial site south of Beatty, Nevada, April 1994 and July 1995 Tritium and radioactive carbon (14C) analyses of gas collected from unsaturated sediments next to a low-level radioactive-waste burial site south of Beatty, Nevada, April 1994 and July 1995

Tritium activities in water vapor and radioactive carbon (14C) activities in carbon dioxide were determined in gas samples pumped from small-diameter air ports installed in a test hole within the unsaturated sediments next to a commercial burial site for low-level radioactive waste south of Beatty, Nevada. In April 1994, gas samples were collected from test hole UZB-2, which was drilled...
Authors
David E. Prudic, Robert G. Striegl

Use of the euryhaline bivalve Potamocorbula amurensis as a biosentinel species to assess trace metal contamination in San Francisco Bay Use of the euryhaline bivalve Potamocorbula amurensis as a biosentinel species to assess trace metal contamination in San Francisco Bay

Potamocorbula amurensis was assessed as a biosentinel species in San Francisco Bay, California, USA. Uptake of metal in both the laboratory and field showed that P. amurensis was sufficiently responsive to Ag, Cd, Cr, Ni and V to detect environmental differences in exposure. It was less suitable as an indicator of Cu and Zn contamination. Concentration factors for P. amurensis were: Ag...
Authors
C. L. Brown, S. N. Luoma

Preliminary compilation of descriptive geoenvironmental mineral deposit models Preliminary compilation of descriptive geoenvironmental mineral deposit models

Summary: This book was released in paper form in June, 1996. After its release, it was converted to digital form as Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) files using Acrobat version 2.1. The Acrobat presentation you are accessing is a facsimile of the published book. A few minor editorial changes were made to the book to correct errors and some of the figures have been enhanced. The figures are the same...
Authors
Edward A. du Bray

Partition of nonpolar organic pollutants from water to soil and sediment organic matters Partition of nonpolar organic pollutants from water to soil and sediment organic matters

The partition coefficients (Koc) of carbon tetrachloride and 1,2-dichlorobenzene between normal soil/sediment organic matter and water have been determined for a large set of soils, bed sediments, and suspended solids from the United States and the People's Republic of China. The Koc values for both solutes are quite invariant either for the soils or for the bed sediments; the values on...
Authors
Daniel E. Kile, C. T. Chiou, H. Zhou

Fate of microbial metabolites of hydrocarbons in a coastal plain aquifer: The role of electron acceptors Fate of microbial metabolites of hydrocarbons in a coastal plain aquifer: The role of electron acceptors

A combined field and laboratory study was undertaken to understand the distribution and geochemical conditions that influence the prevalence of low molecular weight organic acids in groundwater of a shallow aquifer contaminated with gasoline. Aromatic hydrocarbons from gasoline were degraded by microbially mediated oxidation-reduction reactions, including reduction of nitrate, sulfate...
Authors
I.M. Cozzarelli, J.S. Herman, M. Jo Baedecker

Pesticides in near-surface aquifers: An assessment using highly sensitive analytical methods and tritium Pesticides in near-surface aquifers: An assessment using highly sensitive analytical methods and tritium

In 1992, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) determined the distribution of pesticides in near-surface aquifers of the midwestern USA to be much more widespread than originally determined during a 1991 USGS study. The frequency of pesticide detection increased from 28.4% during the 1991 study to 59.0% during the 1992 study. This increase in pesticide detection was primarily the result of a...
Authors
D.W. Kolpin, D. A. Goolsby, E.M. Thurman
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