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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

Aqueous geochemistry and diagenesis in the eastern Snake River Plain aquifer system, Idaho Aqueous geochemistry and diagenesis in the eastern Snake River Plain aquifer system, Idaho

Water budget and isotopic analyses of water in the eastern Snake River Plain aquifer system confirm that most, if not all, of the water is local meteoric in origin. Solute mass-balance arguments suggest that ∼5 × 109 moles of calcite and 2.6 × 109 moles of silica are precipitated annually in the aquifer. Isotopic evaluations of calcite and petrographic observation of silica support the...
Authors
Warren W. Wood, Walton H. Low

Chemistry of illite/smectite and end-member illite Chemistry of illite/smectite and end-member illite

Chemical data from three different series of diagenetic illite/smectites (I/S), analyzed statistically by two regresion techniques, indicate that the content of fixed-K per illite layer is not constant, but ranges from ∼0.55 per O10(OH)2 for illite layers in randomly interstratified I/S (R=0; > 50% smectite layers) to ∼1.0 per O10(OH)2 for illite layers formed in ordered I/S (R>0;
Authors
J. Srodon, D.J. Morgan, E.V. Eslinger, D. D. Eberl, M.R. Karlinger

Limitations in the use of commercial humic acids in water and soil research Limitations in the use of commercial humic acids in water and soil research

Seven samples of commercial "humic acids", purchased from five different suppliers, were studied, and their characteristics were compared with humic and fulvic acids isolated from streams, soils, peat, leonardite, and a dopplerite sample. Cross-polarization and magic-angle spinning 13C NMR spectroscopy clearly shows pronounced differences between the commercial materials and all other...
Authors
Ronald L. Malcolm, P. MacCarthy

Coincidence and spatial variability of geology, soils, and vegetation, Mill Run watershed, Virginia Coincidence and spatial variability of geology, soils, and vegetation, Mill Run watershed, Virginia

The Mill Run watershed is a structurally‐controlled synclinal basin on the eastern limb of the Massanutten Mountain complex of northwestern Virginia. Bedrock contacts are obscured by coarse sandstone debris from exposures near basin divides. Colluvium blankets more than half the basin, masking geomorphic surfaces, affecting vegetation patterns, and contributing to the convexity of the...
Authors
C.G. Olson, C.R. Hupp

Metabolism of reduced methylated sulfur compounds in anaerobic sediments and by a pure culture of an estuarine methanogen Metabolism of reduced methylated sulfur compounds in anaerobic sediments and by a pure culture of an estuarine methanogen

Addition of dimethylsulfide (DMS), dimethyldisulfide (DMDS), or methane thiol (MSH) to a diversity of anoxic aquatic sediments (e.g., fresh water, estuarine, alkaline/hypersaline) stimulated methane production. The yield of methane recovered from DMS was often 52 to 63%, although high concentrations of DMS (as well as MSH and DMDS) inhibited methanogenesis in some types of sediments...
Authors
R.P. Kiene, Ronald S. Oremland, Anthony Catena, Laurence G. Miller, D.G. Capone

Measurement of nitrous oxide reductase activity in aquatic sediments Measurement of nitrous oxide reductase activity in aquatic sediments

Denitrification in aquatic sediments was measured by an N2O reductase assay. Sediments consumed small added quantities of N2O over short periods (a few hours). In experiments with sediment slurries, N2O reductase activity was inhibited by O2, C2H2, heat treatment, and by high levels of nitrate (1 mM) or sulfide (10 mM). However, ambient levels of nitrate (
Authors
L.G. Miller, Ronald S. Oremland, S. Paulsen

Resurgence of submersed aquatic macrophytes in the tidal Potomac River, Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia Resurgence of submersed aquatic macrophytes in the tidal Potomac River, Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia

A 1978–81 survey of submersed aquatic macrophytes in the tidal Potomac River showed that there were virtually no plants in the freshwater tidal river between Chain Bridge and Quantico, Virginia, decades after the disappearance of plants in the late 1930’s. Plant populations were monitored in subsequent years (1983–85) using qualitative shoreline surveys and quantitative resampling of the...
Authors
V. Carter, N. Rybicki

Adaptation of Selenastrum capricornutum (Chlorophyceae) to copper Adaptation of Selenastrum capricornutum (Chlorophyceae) to copper

Selenastrum capricornutum Printz, growing in a chemically defined medium, was used as a model for studying adaptation of algae to a toxic metal (copper) ion. Cells exhibited lag‐phase adaptation to 0.8 μM total Cu (10−12 M free ion concentration) after 20 generations of Cu exposure. Selenastrum adapted to the same concentration when Cu was gradually introduced over an 8‐h period using a...
Authors
J.S. Kuwabara, H.V. Leland

The modification of an estuary The modification of an estuary

The San Francisco Bay estuary has been rapidly modified by human activity. Diking and filling of most of its wetlands have eliminated habitats for fish and waterfowl; the introduction of exotic species has transformed the composition of its aquatic communities; reduction of freshwater inflow by more than half has changed the dynamics of its plant and animal communities; and wastes have
Authors
F.H. Nichols, James E. Cloern, Samuel N. Luoma, D. H. Peterson

Use of detrended correspondence analysis in evaluating factors controlling species composition of periphyton Use of detrended correspondence analysis in evaluating factors controlling species composition of periphyton

Detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) was evaluated for its usefulness in elucidating relationships among samples and among species of periphyton in an oligotrophic stream, and for its effectiveness in displaying major gradients where an experimental gradient (copper) affecting species composition was imposed. It was highly sensitive to differences among samples and consistently...
Authors
Harry V. Leland, James L. Carter

Geochemical investigations of selected Eastern United States watersheds affected by acid deposition Geochemical investigations of selected Eastern United States watersheds affected by acid deposition

The effects of acid deposition on surface waters in eastern United States watersheds having similar size, physiography, climate and land use are related to the composition of the underlying bedrock. Watersheds developed on greenstone, calcareous shale, sandstone, granite, and schist differ in their ability to neutralize acid deposition. Surface waters in watersheds developed on...
Authors
Owen P. Bricker
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