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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

Stable isotope dilution analysis of hydrologic samples by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry Stable isotope dilution analysis of hydrologic samples by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry is employed in the determination of Ni, Cu, Sr, Cd, Ba, Ti, and Pb in nonsaline, natural water samples by stable isotope dilution analysis. Hydrologic samples were directly analyzed without any unusual pretreatment. Interference effects related to overlapping isobars, formation of metal oxide and multiply charged ions, and matrix composition...
Authors
John R. Garbarino, Howard E. Taylor

Big Soda Lake (Nevada). 1. Pelagic bacterial heterotrophy and biomass Big Soda Lake (Nevada). 1. Pelagic bacterial heterotrophy and biomass

Bacterial activities and abundance were measured seasonally in the water column of meromictic Big Soda Lake which is divided into three chemically distinct zones: aerobic mixolimnion, anaerobic mixolimnion, and anaerobic monimolimnion. Bacterial abundance ranged between 5 and 52 x 106 cells ml−1, with highest biomass at the interfaces between these zones: 2–4 mg C liter−1 in the...
Authors
Jon P. Zehr, Ronald W. Harvey, Ronald S. Oremland, James E. Cloern, Leah H. George, Judith L. Lane

Growth determinations for unattached bacteria in a contaminated aquifer Growth determinations for unattached bacteria in a contaminated aquifer

Growth rates of unattached bacteria in groundwater contaminated with treated sewage and collected at various distances from the source of contamination were estimated by using frequency of dividing cells and tritiated-thymidine uptake and compared with growth rates obtained with unsupplemented, closed-bottle incubations. Estimates of bacterial generation times [(In 2)/μ] along a 3-km...
Authors
R.W. Harvey, L.H. George

Sources and flux of natural gases from Mono Lake, California Sources and flux of natural gases from Mono Lake, California

The ability to identify a formation mechanism for natural gas in a particular environment requires consideration of several geochemical factors when there are multiple sources present. Four primary sources of methane have been identified in Mono Lake. Two of these sources were associated with numerous natural gas seeps which occur at various locations in the lake and extend beyond its...
Authors
Ronald S. Oremland, L.G. Miller, Michael J. Whiticar

Creosote compounds in snails obtained from Pensacola Bay, Florida, near an onshore hazardous-waste site Creosote compounds in snails obtained from Pensacola Bay, Florida, near an onshore hazardous-waste site

Snails, Thais haemostoma, were collected from two areas offshore in Pensacola Bay, Florida, near an onshore hazardous-waste site. Tissue from the snails was extracted to isolate the lipophilic compounds and analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Along with naturally occurring compounds, the snail tissue contained large concentrations of polycyclic aromatic compounds, such as
Authors
Colleen E. Rostad, W. E. Pereira

Chemical reactions simulated by ground-water-quality models Chemical reactions simulated by ground-water-quality models

Recent literature concerning the modeling of chemical reactions during transport in ground water is examined with emphasis on sorption reactions. The theory of transport and reactions in porous media has been well documented. Numerous equations have been developed from this theory, to provide both continuous and sequential or multistep models, with the water phase considered for both...
Authors
David B. Grove, Kenneth G. Stollenwerk

Determination of alkylbenzenesulfonate surfactants in groundwater using macroreticular resins and carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry Determination of alkylbenzenesulfonate surfactants in groundwater using macroreticular resins and carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry

Alkylbenzenesulfonate surfactants were determined in groundwater at concentrations as low as 0.3 mg/L. The method uses XAD-8 resin for concentration, followed by elution with methanol, separation of anionic and nonionic surfactants by anion exchange, quantitation by titration, and identification by 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry. Laboratory standards and field samples...
Authors
E. Michael Thurman, T. Willoughby, Larry B. Barber, Kevin A. Thorn

Isolation of nonvolatile, organic solutes from natural waters by zeotrophic distillation of water from N,N-dimethylformamide Isolation of nonvolatile, organic solutes from natural waters by zeotrophic distillation of water from N,N-dimethylformamide

Nonvolatile, organic solutes that comprise the dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in saline waters were isolated by removal of the water by distillation from a N,N-dimethylformamideformic acid-acetonitrile mixture. Salts isolated with the DOC were removed by crystallization of sodium chloride and sodium sulfate from the solvent mixture, removal of silicic acid by acidification and...
Authors
J.A. Leenheer, P.A. Brown, E.A. Stiles

Fate and movement of azaarenes and their anaerobic biotransformation products in an aquifer contaminated by wood-treatment chemicals Fate and movement of azaarenes and their anaerobic biotransformation products in an aquifer contaminated by wood-treatment chemicals

Infiltration of wastes containing creosote and pentachlorophenol from surface impoundments at an abandoned wood-treatment facility near Pensacola, Florida, resulted in contamination of the underlying sand and gravel aquifer. Pond sludges and sediments near the source were contaminated with 2- to 5-ring azaarenes having log Kow values of from 2.0 to 5.6. However, the ground water...
Authors
W. E. Pereira, C.E. Rostad, D.M. Updegraff, J.L. Bennett

Vapor pressures and gas-film coefficients for ketones Vapor pressures and gas-film coefficients for ketones

Comparison of handbook vapor pressures for seven ketones with more recent literature data showed large differences for four of the ketones. Gas-film coefficients for the volatilization of these ketones from water determined by two different methods were in reasonable agreement.
Authors
R. E. Rathbun, D. Y. Tai

Thermodynamics of aragonite-strontianite solid solutions: Results from stoichiometric solubility at 25 and 76°C Thermodynamics of aragonite-strontianite solid solutions: Results from stoichiometric solubility at 25 and 76°C

Dissolution of synthetic strontianite-aragonite solid solutions was followed analytically to stoichiometric saturation using large solid to solution ratios in CO2-H2O solution at 25 and 76°C. The compositional dependence of the equilibrium constant was calculated from the composition of saturated (stoichiometric) solutions and used to calculate the activities and activity coefficients of...
Authors
Niel Plummer, E. Busenberg

Characterization of fracture permeability with high-resolution vertical flow measurements during borehole pumping. Characterization of fracture permeability with high-resolution vertical flow measurements during borehole pumping.

The distribution of fracture permeability in granitic rocks was investigated by measuring the distribution of vertical flow in boreholes during periods of steady pumping. Pumping tests were conducted at two sites chosen to provide examples of moderately fractured rocks near Mirror Lake, New Hampshire and intensely fractured rocks near Oracle, Arizona. A sensitive heat-pulse flowmeter was...
Authors
Frederick L. Paillet, A.E. Hess, C.H. Cheng, E. Hardin
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