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
Interacting vegetative and thermal contributions to water movement in desert soil Interacting vegetative and thermal contributions to water movement in desert soil
Thermally driven water-vapor flow can be an important component of total water movement in bare soil and in deep unsaturated zones, but this process is often neglected when considering the effects of soil–plant–atmosphere interactions on shallow water movement. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the coupled and separate effects of vegetative and thermal-gradient contributions...
Authors
C.A. Garcia, Brian J. Andraski, David A. Stonestrom, C.A. Cooper, J. Simunek, S.W. Wheatcraft
Modules based on the geochemical model PHREEQC for use in scripting and programming languages Modules based on the geochemical model PHREEQC for use in scripting and programming languages
The geochemical model PHREEQC is capable of simulating a wide range of equilibrium reactions between water and minerals, ion exchangers, surface complexes, solid solutions, and gases. It also has a general kinetic formulation that allows modeling of nonequilibrium mineral dissolution and precipitation, microbial reactions, decomposition of organic compounds, and other kinetic reactions...
Authors
Scott R. Charlton, David L. Parkhurst
Selective uptake and biological consequences of environmentally relevant antidepressant pharmaceutical exposures on male fathead minnows Selective uptake and biological consequences of environmentally relevant antidepressant pharmaceutical exposures on male fathead minnows
Antidepressant pharmaceuticals have been reported in wastewater effluent at the nanogram to low microgram-per-liter range, and include bupropion (BUP), fluoxetine (FLX), sertraline (SER), and venlafaxine (VEN). To assess the effects of antidepressants on reproductive anatomy, physiology, and behavior, adult male fathead minnows (Pimeplwles promelas) were exposed for 21 days either to a...
Authors
Melissa M. Schultz, Meghan M. Painter, Stephen E. Bartell, Amanda Logue, Edward T. Furlong, Stephen L. Werner, Heiko L. Schoenfuss
Contamination of nonylphenolic compounds in creek water, wastewater treatment plant effluents, and sediments from Lake Shihwa and vicinity, Korea: Comparison with fecal pollution Contamination of nonylphenolic compounds in creek water, wastewater treatment plant effluents, and sediments from Lake Shihwa and vicinity, Korea: Comparison with fecal pollution
Nonylphenolic compounds (NPs), coprostanol (COP), and cholestanol, major contaminants in industrial and domestic wastewaters, were analyzed in creek water, wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluent, and sediment samples from artificial Lake Shihwa and its vicinity, one of the most industrialized regions in Korea. We also determined mass discharge of NPs and COP, a fecal sterol, into the...
Authors
Minkyu Choi, Edward T. Furlong, Hyo-Bang Moon, Jun Yu, Hee-Gu Choi
What makes a natural clay antibacterial? What makes a natural clay antibacterial?
Natural clays have been used in ancient and modern medicine, but the mechanism(s) that make certain clays lethal against bacterial pathogens has not been identified. We have compared the depositional environments, mineralogies, and chemistries of clays that exhibit antibacterial effects on a broad spectrum of human pathogens including antibiotic resistant strains. Natural antibacterial...
Authors
Lynda B. Williams, David W. Metge, Dennis D. Eberl, Ronald W. Harvey, Amanda G. Turner, Panjai Prapaipong, Amisha T. Port-Peterson
Towards identifying the next generation of superfund and hazardous waste site contaminants Towards identifying the next generation of superfund and hazardous waste site contaminants
Background This commentary evolved from a workshop sponsored by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences titled "Superfund Contaminants: The Next Generation" held in Tucson, Arizona, in August 2009. All the authors were workshop participants. Objectives Our aim was to initiate a dynamic, adaptable process for identifying contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) that are...
Authors
Wendell P. Ela, David L. Sedlak, Morton A. Barlaz, Heather F. Henry, Derek C.G. Muir, Deborah L. Swackhamer, Eric J. Weber, Robert G. Arnold, P. Lee Ferguson, Jennifer A. Field, Edward T. Furlong, John P. Giesy, Rolf U. Halden, Tala Henry, Ronald A. Hites, Keri C. Hornbuckle, Philip H. Howard, Richard G. Luthy, Anita K. Meyer, A. Eduardo Saez, Frederick S. vom Saal, Chris D. Vulpe, Mark R. Wiesner
Role of biofilms in sorptive removal of steroidal hormones and 4-nonylphenol compounds from streams Role of biofilms in sorptive removal of steroidal hormones and 4-nonylphenol compounds from streams
Stream biofilms play an important role in geochemical processing of organic matter and nutrients, however, the significance of this matrix in sorbing trace organic contaminants is less understood. This study focused on the role of stream biofilms in sorbing steroidal hormones and 4-nonylphenol compounds from surface waters using biofilms colonized in situ on artificial substrata and...
Authors
Jeffrey H. Writer, Joseph N. Ryan, Larry B. Barber
Characterization of the intragranular water regime within subsurface sediments: pore volume, surface area, and mass transfer limitations Characterization of the intragranular water regime within subsurface sediments: pore volume, surface area, and mass transfer limitations
Although "intragranular" pore space within grain aggregates, grain fractures, and mineral surface coatings may contain a relatively small fraction of the total porosity within a porous medium, it often contains a significant fraction of the reactive surface area, and can thus strongly affect the transport of sorbing solutes. In this work, we demonstrate a batch experiment procedure using...
Authors
Michael B. Hay, Deborah L. Stoliker, James A. Davis, John M. Zachara
Diurnal trends in methylmercury concentration in a wetland adjacent to Great Salt Lake, Utah, USA Diurnal trends in methylmercury concentration in a wetland adjacent to Great Salt Lake, Utah, USA
A 24-h field experiment was conducted during July 2008 at a wetland on the eastern shore of Great Salt Lake (GSL) to assess the diurnal cycling of methylmercury (MeHg). Dissolved (
Authors
D. L. Naftz, J.R. Cederberg, D. P. Krabbenhoft, K. R. Beisner, J. Whitehead, J. Gardberg
Methane oxidation in a crude oil contaminated aquifer: Delineation of aerobic reactions at the plume fringes Methane oxidation in a crude oil contaminated aquifer: Delineation of aerobic reactions at the plume fringes
High resolution direct-push profiling over short vertical distances was used to investigate CH4 attenuation in a petroleum contaminated aquifer near Bemidji, Minnesota. The contaminant plume was delineated using dissolved gases, redox sensitive components, major ions, carbon isotope ratios in CH4 and CO2, and the presence of methanotrophic bacteria. Sharp redox gradients were observed...
Authors
R.T. Amos, Barbara A. Bekins, Geoffrey N. Delin, Isabelle M. Cozzarelli, D.W. Blowes, J. D. Kirshtein
Effects of human-induced alteration of groundwater flow on concentrations of naturally-occurring trace elements at water-supply wells Effects of human-induced alteration of groundwater flow on concentrations of naturally-occurring trace elements at water-supply wells
The effects of human-induced alteration of groundwater flow patterns on concentrations of naturally-occurring trace elements were examined in five hydrologically distinct aquifer systems in the USA. Although naturally occurring, these trace elements can exceed concentrations that are considered harmful to human health. The results show that pumping-induced hydraulic gradient changes and...
Authors
J. D. Ayotte, Z. Szabo, M. J. Focazio, S. M. Eberts
Atomic weights of the elements 2009 (IUPAC technical report) Atomic weights of the elements 2009 (IUPAC technical report)
The biennial review of atomic-weight determinations and other cognate data has resulted in changes for the standard atomic weights of 11 elements. Many atomic weights are not constants of nature, but depend upon the physical, chemical, and nuclear history of the material. The standard atomic weights of 10 elements having two or more stable isotopes have been changed to reflect this...
Authors
M.E. Wieser, Tyler B. Coplen