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: 3785
A critical review of inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry for geoanalysis, geochemistry and hydrology, Part 1. Analytical performance A critical review of inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry for geoanalysis, geochemistry and hydrology, Part 1. Analytical performance
Present-day inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) instrumentation is described briefly. Emphasis is placed on performance characteristics for geoanalysis, geochemistry, and hydrology. Applications where ICP-MS would be indispensable are indicated. Determination of geochemically diagnostic trace elements (such as the rare earth elements [REE], U and Th), of isotope ratios...
Authors
I.B. Brenner, Howard E. Taylor
Geochemical heterogeneity in a sand and gravel aquifer: Effect of sediment mineralogy and particle size on the sorption of chlorobenzenes Geochemical heterogeneity in a sand and gravel aquifer: Effect of sediment mineralogy and particle size on the sorption of chlorobenzenes
The effect of particle size, mineralogy and sediment organic carbon (SOC) on sorption of tetrachlorobenzene and pentachlorobenzene was evaluated using batch-isotherm experiments on sediment particle-size and mineralogical fractions from a sand and gravel aquifer, Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Concentration of SOC and sorption of chlorobenzenes increase with decreasing particle size. For a...
Authors
Larry B. Barber, E. Michael Thurman, Donald D. Runnells
Discussion of "Aeration at Ohio River basin navigation dams" Discussion of "Aeration at Ohio River basin navigation dams"
No abstract available.
Authors
John S. Gulliver, Steven C. Wilhelms
Detailed study of selenium in soil, representative plants, water, bottom sediment, and biota in the Kendrick Reclamation Project area, Wyoming, 1988-90 Detailed study of selenium in soil, representative plants, water, bottom sediment, and biota in the Kendrick Reclamation Project area, Wyoming, 1988-90
No abstract available.
Authors
R.B. See, D. L. Naftz, D. A. Peterson, J.G. Crock, J. A. Erdman, R. C. Severson, Pedro Ramirez, J.A. Armstrong
Chemical, crystallographic and stable isotopic properties of alunite and jarosite from acid-Hypersaline Australian lakes Chemical, crystallographic and stable isotopic properties of alunite and jarosite from acid-Hypersaline Australian lakes
Chemical, crystallographic and isotopic analyses were made on samples containing alunite and jarosite from the sediments of four acid, hypersaline lakes in southeastern and southwestern Australia. The alunite and jarosite are K-rich with relatively low Na contents based on chemical analysis and determination of unit cell dimensions by powder X-ray diffraction. Correcting the chemical...
Authors
Charles N. Alpers, R. O. Rye, D. Kirk Nordstrom, L. D. White, B.-S. King
Herbicide transport in rivers: Importance of hydrology and geochemistry in nonpoint-source contamination Herbicide transport in rivers: Importance of hydrology and geochemistry in nonpoint-source contamination
Alachlor, atrazine, cyanazine, metolachlor, and metribuzin were measured at six sites during 1984 and 1985 in large subbasins within the Cedar River, IA. A computer model separated the Cedar River discharge hydrograph into groundwater and overland-flow components. The concentration of herbicides in the river when groundwater was the major flow component was less than 1.0 μg/L and...
Authors
P. J. Squillace, E.M. Thurman
Analytical interferences of mercuric chloride preservative in environmental water samples: Determination of organic compounds isolated by continuous liquid-liquid extraction or closed-loop stripping Analytical interferences of mercuric chloride preservative in environmental water samples: Determination of organic compounds isolated by continuous liquid-liquid extraction or closed-loop stripping
Analytical interferences were observed during the determination of organic compounds in groundwater samples preserved with mercuric chloride. The nature of the interference was different depending on the analytical isolation technique employed. (1) Water samples extracted with dichloromethane by continuous liquid-liquid extraction (CLLE) and analyzed by gas chromatography/mass...
Authors
W.T. Foreman, S.D. Zaugg, L.M. Falres, M.G. Werner, T.J. Leiker, P.F. Rogerson
Management systems evaluation area; Iowa, Walnut Creek watershed Management systems evaluation area; Iowa, Walnut Creek watershed
No abstract available.
Authors
P. J. Soenksen, J.L. Hatfield, J. L. Baker
Sediment properties and water movement through shallow unsaturated alluvium at an arid site for disposal of low-level radioactive waste near Beatty, Nye County, Nevada Sediment properties and water movement through shallow unsaturated alluvium at an arid site for disposal of low-level radioactive waste near Beatty, Nye County, Nevada
A commercial disposal facility for low-level radioactive waste has been in operation near Beatty, Nevada, since 1962. The facility is in the arid Amargosa Desert where wastes are buried in trenches excavated into unsaturated alluvial sediments. Thick unsaturated zones in arid environments offer many potential advantages for disposal of radioactive wastes, but little is known about the...
Authors
Jeffrey M. Fischer
Comparison of methods for the removal of organic carbon and extraction of chromium, iron and manganese from an estuarine sediment standard and sediment from the Calcasieu River estuary, Louisiana, U.S.A. Comparison of methods for the removal of organic carbon and extraction of chromium, iron and manganese from an estuarine sediment standard and sediment from the Calcasieu River estuary, Louisiana, U.S.A.
U.S. National Bureau of Standards (NBS) estuarine sediment 1646 from the Chesapeake Bay, Maryland, and surface sediment collected at two sites in the Calcasieu River estuary, Louisiana, were used to evaluate the dilute hydrochloric acid extraction of Cr, Fe and Mn from air-dried and freeze-dried samples that had been treated by one of three methods to remove organic carbon. The three...
Authors
N.S. Simon, S.A. Hatcher, C. Demas
Sources of nitrogen and phosphorus to Northern San Francisco Bay Sources of nitrogen and phosphorus to Northern San Francisco Bay
We studied nutrient sources to the Sacramento River and Suisun Bay (northern San Francisco Bay) and the influence which these sources have on the distributions of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) and dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP) in the river and bay. We found that agricultural return flow drains and a municipal wastewater treatment plant were the largest sources of nutrients to...
Authors
S.W. Hager, L. E. Schemel