Publications
Dive into our publications and explore the science from the Environmental Health Program (Toxic Substances Hydrology and Contaminant Biology).
Filter Total Items: 3784
Nitrogen isotopes as indicators of NOx source contributions to atmospheric nitrate deposition across the midwestern and northeastern United States Nitrogen isotopes as indicators of NOx source contributions to atmospheric nitrate deposition across the midwestern and northeastern United States
Global inputs of NOx are dominated by fossil fuel combustion from both stationary and vehicular sources and far exceed natural NOx sources. However, elucidating NOx sources to any given location remains a difficult challenge, despite the need for this information to develop sound regulatory and mitigation strategies. We present results from a regional-scale study of nitrogen isotopes...
Authors
Emily M. Elliott, Carol Kendall, Scott D. Wankel, Douglas A. Burns, E.W. Boyer, K. Harlin, Daniel J Bain, T.J. Butler
Chemical constituents in sediment in Lake Pontchartrain and in street mud and canal sediment in New Orleans, Louisiana, following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, 2005 Chemical constituents in sediment in Lake Pontchartrain and in street mud and canal sediment in New Orleans, Louisiana, following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, 2005
Samples of street mud, suspended and bottom sediment in canals discharging to Lake Ponchartrain, and suspended and bottom sediment in the lake were collected and analyzed for chemical constituents to help evaluate the effects of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and the subsequent unwatering of New Orleans, Louisiana. The approach used for sampling and analysis of chemical data for the study...
Authors
Peter C. Van Metre, Jennifer T. Wilson, Arthur J. Horowitz, Stanley C. Skrobialowski, William T. Foreman, Christopher C. Fuller, Mark R. Burkhardt, Kent A. Elrick, Barbara Mahler, James J. Smith, Steven D. Zaugg
Concentrations of selected pharmaceuticals and antibiotics in south-central Pennsylvania waters, March through September 2006 Concentrations of selected pharmaceuticals and antibiotics in south-central Pennsylvania waters, March through September 2006
This report presents environmental and quality-control data from analyses of 15 pharmaceutical and 31 antibiotic compounds in water samples from streams and wells in south-central Pennsylvania. The analyses are part of a study by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in cooperation with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) to define concentrations of selected...
Authors
Connie A. Loper, J. Kent Crawford, Kim L. Otto, Rhonda L. Manning, Michael T. Meyer, Edward T. Furlong
Environmental effects of historical mining in the Animas River watershed, southwestern Colorado Environmental effects of historical mining in the Animas River watershed, southwestern Colorado
The U.S. Geological Survey has completed an extensive environmental study of the effects of historical mining on water and sediment quality and aquatic and riparian habitat in the Animas River watershed upstream from Silverton, Colorado. Results from this study are being used by Federal and State agencies and by the local watershed stakeholders group to implement remediation and cleanup...
Authors
Stan E. Church
Is there a risk associated with the insect repellent DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide) commonly found in aquatic environments? Is there a risk associated with the insect repellent DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide) commonly found in aquatic environments?
DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide) is the active ingredient of most commercial insect repellents. This compound has commonly been detected in aquatic water samples from around the world indicating that DEET is both mobile and persistent, despite earlier assumptions that DEET was unlikely to enter aquatic ecosystems. DEET's registration category does not require an ecological risk assessment...
Authors
S.D. Costanzo, A.J. Watkinson, E.J. Murby, Dana W. Kolpin, Mark W. Sandstrom
Geologic controls on movement of produced-water releases at US geological survey research Site A, Skiatook lake, Osage county, Oklahoma Geologic controls on movement of produced-water releases at US geological survey research Site A, Skiatook lake, Osage county, Oklahoma
Highly saline produced water was released from multiple sources during oil field operations from 1913 to 1973 at the USGS research Site A on Skiatook Lake in northeastern Oklahoma. Two pits, designed to hold produced water and oil, were major sources for release of these fluids at the site. Produced water spills from these and other features moved downslope following topography and...
Authors
James K. Otton, Robert A. Zielinski, Bruce D. Smith, Marvin M. Abbott
Preface Preface
Energy is the essential commodity that powers the expanding global economy. Starting in the 1950s, oil and natural gas became the main sources of primary energy for the rapidly increasing world population (Edwards, 1997). In 2003, petroleum was the source for 62.1% of global energy, and projections by energy information administration (EIA) indicate that oil and gas will continue their...
Authors
Yousif K. Kharaka, James K. Otton
Contamination in fractured-rock aquifers: Research at the former Naval Air Warfare Center, West Trenton, New Jersey Contamination in fractured-rock aquifers: Research at the former Naval Air Warfare Center, West Trenton, New Jersey
The U.S. Geological Survey and cooperators are studying chlorinated solvents in a fractured sedimentary rock aquifer underlying the former Naval Air Warfare Center (NAWC), West Trenton, New Jersey. Fractured-rock aquifers are common in many parts of the United States and are highly susceptible to contamination, particularly at industrial sites. Compared to 'unconsolidated' aquifers...
Authors
Daniel J. Goode, Claire R. Tiedeman, Pierre J. Lacombe, Thomas E. Imbrigiotta, Allen M. Shapiro, Francis H. Chapelle
Bacterial Cycling of Methyl Halides Bacterial Cycling of Methyl Halides
This chapter focuses on the monohalogenated methanes methyl chloride (MeCl) and methyl bromide (MeBr), their natural and anthropogenic sources, and their degradation by microorganisms, specifically by aerobic bacteria that can use MeBr and MeCl as sole source of carbon and energy. The biogeochemical cycle of methyl halides and the microbiology, biochemistry, genetics, and...
Authors
Hendrik Schafer, Laurence G. Miller, Ronald S. Oremland, Colin Murrell
Quantifying the benthic source of nutrients to the water column of Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon Quantifying the benthic source of nutrients to the water column of Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon
Executive Summary Five sampling trips were coordinated in April, May and August 2006, and May and July 2007 to sample the water column and benthos of Upper Klamath Lake, OR (Fig. 1; Table 1), before, during and after the annual cyanophyte bloom of Aphanizomenon flos-aquae (AFA). A pore-water profiler was designed and fabricated to obtain the first high-resolution (centimeter-scale)...
Authors
James S. Kuwabara, Dennis D. Lynch, Brent R. Topping, Fred Murphy, James L. Carter, Nancy S. Simon, Francis Parcheso, Tamara M. Wood, Mary K. Lindenberg, Katryn Wiese, Ronald J. Avanzino
Nutrient chemistry, transformation and release in riparian groundwater seep discharge during the final meter of subsurface transport, Minnesota, USA Nutrient chemistry, transformation and release in riparian groundwater seep discharge during the final meter of subsurface transport, Minnesota, USA
No abstract available.
Authors
Frank J. Triska, John H. Duff, Alan P. Jackman, Ronald J. Avanzino
Radionuclides in soils, 1960–2006: A view from the World Congress of Soil Science Radionuclides in soils, 1960–2006: A view from the World Congress of Soil Science
No abstract available.
Authors
Edward R. Landa, S. Uchida