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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

Population density, biomass, and age-class structure of the invasive clam Corbicula fluminea in rivers of the lower San Joaquin River watershed, California Population density, biomass, and age-class structure of the invasive clam Corbicula fluminea in rivers of the lower San Joaquin River watershed, California

Corbicula fluminea is well known as an invasive filter-feeding freshwater bivalve with a variety of effects on ecosystem processes. However, C. fluminea has been relatively unstudied in the rivers of the western United States. In June 2003, we sampled C. fluminea at 16 sites in the San Joaquin River watershed of California, which was invaded by C. fluminea in the 1940s. Corbicula...
Authors
Larry R. Brown, Janet K. Thompson, K. Higgins, Lisa V. Lucas

Heat transport in the Red Lake Bog, Glacial Lake Agassiz Peatlands Heat transport in the Red Lake Bog, Glacial Lake Agassiz Peatlands

We report the results of an investigation on the processes controlling heat transport in peat under a large bog in the Glacial Lake Agassiz Peatlands. For 2 years, starting in July 1998, we recorded temperature at 12 depth intervals from 0 to 400 cm within a vertical peat profile at the crest of the bog at sub‐daily intervals. We also recorded air temperature 1 m above the peat surface...
Authors
J.M. McKenzie, D. I. Siegel, Donald O. Rosenberry, P.H. Glaser, Clifford I. Voss

Methodological considerations regarding the use of inorganic 197Hg(II) radiotracer to assess mercury methylation potential rates in lake sediment Methodological considerations regarding the use of inorganic 197Hg(II) radiotracer to assess mercury methylation potential rates in lake sediment

Methodological considerations on the determination of benthic methyl-mercury (CH3Hg) production potentials were investigated on lake sediment, using 197Hg radiotracer. Three methods to arrest bacterial activity were compared: flash freezing, thermal sterilization, and γ-irradiation. Flash freezing showed similar CH3Hg recoveries as thermal sterilization, which was both 50% higher than...
Authors
Catan S. Perez, S.R. Guevara, Mark C. Marvin-DiPasquale, C. Magnavacca, I.M. Cohen, M. Arribere

Effects of surface-water irrigation on sources, fluxes, and residence times of water, nitrate, and uranium in an alluvial aquifer Effects of surface-water irrigation on sources, fluxes, and residence times of water, nitrate, and uranium in an alluvial aquifer

Effects of surface-water irrigation on an alluvial aquifer were evaluated using chemical and isotopic data including δ2H, δ18O, 3H, δ3He, Ar, Ne, N2, δ15N, and 234U/238U activity ratios in a transect of nested wells in the North Platte River valley in western Nebraska, USA. The data were used to evaluate sources and fluxes of H2O, NO3- and U, all of which were strongly affected by...
Authors
John Karl Bohlke, Ingrid M. Verstraeten, Thomas F. Kraemer

Arsenic in the environment: Biology and chemistry Arsenic in the environment: Biology and chemistry

Arsenic (As) distribution and toxicology in the environment is a serious issue, with millions of individuals worldwide being affected by As toxicosis. Sources of As contamination are both natural and anthropogenic and the scale of contamination ranges from local to regional. There are many areas of research that are being actively pursued to address the As contamination problem. These...
Authors
Prosun Bhattacharya, Alan H. Welch, Kenneth G. Stollenwerk, Mike J. McLaughlin, Jochen Bundschuh, G. Panaullah

Quasi-horizontal circulation cells in 3D seawater intrusion Quasi-horizontal circulation cells in 3D seawater intrusion

The seawater intrusion process is characterized by the difference in freshwater and seawater density that causes freshwater to float on seawater. Many confined aquifers have a large horizontal extension with respect to thickness. In these cases, while buoyancy acts in the vertical direction, flow is confined between the upper and bottom boundaries and the effect of gravity is controlled...
Authors
E. Abarca, J. Carrera, X. Sanchez-Vila, Clifford I. Voss

Characterization of suspended particles in Everglades wetlands Characterization of suspended particles in Everglades wetlands

We report the concentration, phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) content, and size and chemical fractionation of fine suspended particles (0.2‐100 µm) and colloids (3 kilodalton [kDa]‐0.1 µm) in the surface water of Everglades wetlands along regional and P‐enrichment gradients. Total suspended sediment concentrations ranged from 0.7 to 2.7 mg L−1. Total particulate P concentrations increased...
Authors
Gregory B. Noe, Judson W. Harvey, James E. Saiers

Nitrification in the euphotic zone as evidenced by nitrate dual isotopic composition: Observations from Monterey Bay, California Nitrification in the euphotic zone as evidenced by nitrate dual isotopic composition: Observations from Monterey Bay, California

Coupled measurements of nitrate (NO3−), nitrogen (N), and oxygen (O) isotopic composition (δ15NNO3 and δ18ONO3) were made in surface waters of Monterey Bay to investigate multiple N cycling processes occurring within surface waters. Profiles collected throughout the year at three sites exhibit a wide range of values, suggesting simultaneous and variable influence of both phytoplankton...
Authors
Scott D. Wankel, Carol Kendall, J.T. Pennington, Francisco P. Chavez, Adina Paytan

Profiling refined hydrocarbon fuels using polar components Profiling refined hydrocarbon fuels using polar components

Identification of a fuel released into the environment can be difficult due to biodegradation or weathering. Negative electrospray ionization/mass spectrometry was used to screen for unique polar components in a wide variety of commercial hydrocarbon products and mixtures. These fuels produced unique and relatively simple spectra. When applied to hydrocarbon samples from a large, long...
Authors
Colleen E. Rostad, Frances D. Hostettler

Isotopic analysis of N and O in nitrite and nitrate by sequential selective bacterial reduction to N2O Isotopic analysis of N and O in nitrite and nitrate by sequential selective bacterial reduction to N2O

Nitrite is an important intermediate species in the biogeochemical cycling of nitrogen, but its role in natural aquatic systems is poorly understood. Isotopic data can be used to study the sources and transformations of NO2- in the environment, but methods for independent isotopic analyses of NO2- in the presence of other N species are still new and evolving. This study demonstrates that...
Authors
John Karl Bohlke, Richard L. Smith, Janet E. Hannon

Hydrologic significance of carbon monoxide concentrations in ground water Hydrologic significance of carbon monoxide concentrations in ground water

Dissolved carbon monoxide (CO) is present in ground water produced from a variety of aquifer systems at concentrations ranging from 0.2 to 20 nanomoles per liter (0.0056 to 0.56 μg/L). In two shallow aquifers, one an unconsolidated coastal plain aquifer in Kings Bay, Georgia, and the other a fractured‐bedrock aquifer in West Trenton, New Jersey, long‐term monitoring showed that CO...
Authors
Francis H. Chapelle, Paul M. Bradley
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