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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: 3784

Hydrologic connectivity between landscapes and streams: Transferring reach‐ and plot‐scale understanding to the catchment scale Hydrologic connectivity between landscapes and streams: Transferring reach‐ and plot‐scale understanding to the catchment scale

The relationship between catchment structure and runoff characteristics is poorly understood. In steep headwater catchments with shallow soils the accumulation of hillslope area (upslope accumulated area (UAA)) is a hypothesized first‐order control on the distribution of soil water and groundwater. Hillslope‐riparian water table connectivity represents the linkage between the dominant...
Authors
Kelsey G. Jencso, Brian L. McGlynn, Michael N. Gooseff, Steven M. Wondzell, Kenneth E. Bencala, Lucy A. Marshall

Biodegradation of 17β-estradiol, estrone and testosterone in stream sediments Biodegradation of 17β-estradiol, estrone and testosterone in stream sediments

Biodegradation of 17β-estradiol (E2), estrone (E1), and testosterone (T) was investigated in three wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) affected streams in the United States. Relative differences in the mineralization of [4-14C] substrates were assessed in oxic microcosms containing saturated sediment or water-only from locations upstream and downstream of the WWTP outfall in each system...
Authors
Paul M. Bradley, Larry B. Barber, Francis H. Chapelle, James L. Gray, Dana W. Kolpin, Peter B. McMahon

Investigating hydraulic connections and the origin of water in a mine tunnel using stable isotopes and hydrographs Investigating hydraulic connections and the origin of water in a mine tunnel using stable isotopes and hydrographs

Turquoise Lake is a water-supply reservoir located north of the historic Sugarloaf Mining district near Leadville, Colorado, USA. Elevated water levels in the reservoir may increase flow of low-quality water from abandoned mine tunnels in the Sugarloaf District and degrade water quality downstream. The objective of this study was to understand the sources of water to Dinero mine drainage...
Authors
Katherine Walton-Day, Eileen Poeter

Assessing the occurrence and distribution of pyrethroids in water and suspended sediments Assessing the occurrence and distribution of pyrethroids in water and suspended sediments

The distribution of pyrethroid insecticides in the environment was assessed by separately measuring concentrations in the dissolved and suspended sediment phases of surface water samples. Filtered water was extracted by HLB solid-phase extraction cartridges, while the sediment on the filter was sonicated and cleaned up using carbon and aluminum cartridges. Detection limits for the 13...
Authors
M.L. Hladik, K.M. Kuivila

Investigating different mechanisms for biogenic selenite transformations: Geobacter sulfurreducens, Shewanella oneidensis and Veillonella atypica Investigating different mechanisms for biogenic selenite transformations: Geobacter sulfurreducens, Shewanella oneidensis and Veillonella atypica

The metal-reducing bacteria Geobacter sulfurreducens, Shewanella oneidensis and Veillonella atypica, use different mechanisms to transform toxic, bioavailable sodium selenite to less toxic, non-mobile elemental selenium and then to selenide in anaerobic environments, offering the potential for in situ and ex situ bioremediation of contaminated soils, sediments, industrial effluents, and
Authors
C.I. Pearce, R.A.D. Pattrick, N. Law, J.M. Charnock, V.S. Coker, J.W. Fellowes, R.S. Oremland, J.R. Lloyd

Complete and draft genome sequences of six members of the aquificales Complete and draft genome sequences of six members of the aquificales

The Aquificales are widespread in marine and terrestrial hydrothermal environments. Here, we report the complete and draft genome sequences of six new members of the Aquificales: two marine species, Persephonella marina strain EX-H1 and Hydrogenivirga strain 128-5-R1 (from the East Pacific Rise, 9°50.3′N, 104°17.5′W, and the Eastern Lau Spreading Center, 176°11.5′W, 20°45.8′S...
Authors
A.-L. Reysenbach, N. Hamamura, M. Podar, E. Griffiths, S. Ferreira, R. Hochstein, J. Heidelberg, J. Johnson, D. Mead, A. Pohorille, M. Sarmiento, K. Sehweighofer, R. Seshadri, M.A. Voytek

Reproductive health of bass in the potomac, USA, drainage: Part 2. Seasonal occurrence of persistent and emerging organic contaminants Reproductive health of bass in the potomac, USA, drainage: Part 2. Seasonal occurrence of persistent and emerging organic contaminants

The seasonal occurrence of organic contaminants, many of which are potential endocrine disruptors, entering the Potomac River, USA, watershed was investigated using a two-pronged approach during the fall of 2005 and spring of 2006. Passive samplers (semipermeable membrane device and polar organic chemical integrative sampler [POCIS]) were deployed in tandem at sites above and below...
Authors
D.A. Alvarez, W.L. Cranor, S.D. Perkins, V.L. Schroeder, L. R. Iwanowicz, R.C. Clark, C.P. Guy, A.E. Pinkney, V. S. Blazer, J.E. Mullican

Characterisation of carbon nanotubes in the context of toxicity studies Characterisation of carbon nanotubes in the context of toxicity studies

Nanotechnology has the potential to revolutionise our futures, but has also prompted concerns about the possibility that nanomaterials may harm humans or the biosphere. The unique properties of nanoparticles, that give them novel size dependent functionalities, may also have the potential to cause harm. Discrepancies in existing human health and environmental studies have shown the...
Authors
D. Berhanu, A. Dybowska, S.K. Misra, C.J. Stanley, P. Ruenraroengsak, A.R. Boccaccini, T.D. Tetley, S. N. Luoma, J.A. Plant, E. Valsami-Jones

Using oxygen isotopes of phosphate to trace phosphorus sources and cycling in lake Erie Using oxygen isotopes of phosphate to trace phosphorus sources and cycling in lake Erie

Water samples collected during three sampling trips to Lake Erie displayed oxygen isotopic values of dissolved phosphate (δ18Op) that were largely out of equilibrium with ambient conditions, indicating that source signatures may be discerned. δ18Op values in the Lake ranged from +10‰ to +17‰, whereas the equilibrium value was expected to be around +14‰. The riverine weighted average...
Authors
K.E. Elsbury, A. Paytan, N.E. Ostrom, C. Kendall, M.B. Young, K. McLaughlin, M.E. Rollog, S. Watson

Monitoring the removal of phosphate from ground water discharging through a pond-bottom permeable reactive barrier Monitoring the removal of phosphate from ground water discharging through a pond-bottom permeable reactive barrier

Installation of a permeable reactive barrier to intercept a phosphate (PO4) plume where it discharges to a pond provided an opportunity to develop and test methods for monitoring the barrier’s performance in the shallow pond‐bottom sediments. The barrier is composed of zero‐valent‐iron mixed with the native sediments to a 0.6‐m depth over a 1100‐m2 area. Permanent suction, diffusion, and...
Authors
T.D. McCobb, D.R. LeBlanc, A.J. Massey

Newly recognized hosts for uranium in the Hanford Site vadose zone Newly recognized hosts for uranium in the Hanford Site vadose zone

Uranium contaminated sediments from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Hanford Site have been investigated using electron microscopy. Six classes of solid hosts for uranium were identified. Preliminary sediment characterization was carried out using optical petrography, and electron microprobe analysis (EMPA) was used to locate materials that host uranium. All of the hosts are fine-grained...
Authors
J.E. Stubbs, L.A. Veblen, D.C. Elbert, J.M. Zachara, J.A. Davis, D.R. Veblen
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