Publications
Dive into our publications and explore the science from the Environmental Health Program (Toxic Substances Hydrology and Contaminant Biology).
Filter Total Items: 3784
Aquifer-scale controls on the distribution of nitrate and ammonium in ground water near La Pine, Oregon, USA Aquifer-scale controls on the distribution of nitrate and ammonium in ground water near La Pine, Oregon, USA
Geochemical and isotopic tools were applied at aquifer, transect, and subtransect scales to provide a framework for understanding sources, transport, and fate of dissolved inorganic N in a sandy aquifer near La Pine, Oregon. NO3 is a common contaminant in shallow ground water in this area, whereas high concentrations of NH4-N (up to 39 mg/L) are present in deep ground water. N...
Authors
Stephen R. Hinkle, John Karl Bohlke, John H. Duff, David S. Morgan, Rodney J. Weick
Distribution of selected halogenated organic compounds among suspended particulate, colloid, and aqueous phases in the Mississippi River and major tributaries Distribution of selected halogenated organic compounds among suspended particulate, colloid, and aqueous phases in the Mississippi River and major tributaries
Suspended particulate, colloid, and aqueous phases were separated and analyzed to determine spatial variation of specific organic compound transport associated with each phase in a dynamic river system. Sixteen sites along the Mississippi River and its major tributaries were sampled at low-flow conditions to maximize the possibility of equilibrium. Across the solubility range studied...
Authors
Colleen E. Rostad, S.R. Daniel
Intersex (Testicular Oocytes) in smallmouth bass from the Potomac River and selected nearby drainages Intersex (Testicular Oocytes) in smallmouth bass from the Potomac River and selected nearby drainages
Intersex, or the presence of characteristics of both sexes, in fishes that are normally gonochoristic has been used as an indicator of exposure to estrogenic compounds. In 2003, during health assessments conducted in response to kills and a high prevalence of skin lesions observed in smallmouth bass Micropterus dolomieu in the South Branch of the Potomac River, the presence of immature...
Authors
Vicki S. Blazer, Luke R. Iwanowicz, Deborah D. Iwanowicz, David R. Smith, John A. Young, J.D. Hedrick, S.W. Foster, S.J. Reeser
A simple pore water hydrogen diffusion syringe sampler A simple pore water hydrogen diffusion syringe sampler
Molecular hydrogen (H2) is an important intermediate product and electron donor in microbial metabolism. Concentrations of dissolved H 2 are often diagnostic of the predominant terminal electron-accepting processes in ground water systems or aquatic sediments. H2 concentrations are routinely measured in ground water monitoring wells but are rarely measured in saturated aquatic sediments...
Authors
Don Vroblesky, Francis H. Chapelle, Paul M. Bradley
Comparison of fate and transport of isoxaflutole to atrazine and metolachlor in 10 Iowa rivers Comparison of fate and transport of isoxaflutole to atrazine and metolachlor in 10 Iowa rivers
Isoxaflutole (IXF), a newer low application rate herbicide, was introduced for weed control in corn (Zea mays) to use as an alternative to widely applied herbicides such as atrazine. The transport of IXF in streamwater has not been well-studied. The fate and transport of IXF and two of its degradation products was studied in 10 Iowa rivers during 2004. IXF rapidly degrades to the...
Authors
Michael T. Meyer, Elisabeth A. Scribner, Stephen J. Kalkhoff
A method to estimate groundwater depletion from confining layers A method to estimate groundwater depletion from confining layers
Although depletion of storage in low‐permeability confining layers is the source of much of the groundwater produced from many confined aquifer systems, it is all too frequently overlooked or ignored. This makes effective management of groundwater resources difficult by masking how much water has been derived from storage and, in some cases, the total amount of water that has been...
Authors
Leonard F. Konikow, Christopher E. Neuzil
Determining metal assimilation efficiency in aquatic invertebrates using enriched stable metal isotope tracers Determining metal assimilation efficiency in aquatic invertebrates using enriched stable metal isotope tracers
We employ a novel approach that combines pulse-chase feeding and multi-labelled stable isotopes to determine gut passage time (GPT), gut retention time (GRT), food ingestion rate (IR) and assimilation efficiency (AE) of three trace elements for a freshwater gastropod. Lettuce isotopically enriched in 53Cr, 65Cu and 106Cd was fed for 2 h to Lymnaea stagnalis. The release of tracers in...
Authors
Marie Noele Croteau, Samuel N. Luoma, B. Pellet
Concentration, UV-spectroscopic characteristics and fractionation of DOC in stormflow from an urban stream, Southern California, USA Concentration, UV-spectroscopic characteristics and fractionation of DOC in stormflow from an urban stream, Southern California, USA
The composition of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in stormflow from urban areas has been greatly altered, both directly and indirectly, by human activities and there is concern that there may be public health issues associated with DOC, which has unknown composition from different sources within urban watersheds. This study evaluated changes in the concentration and composition of DOC in...
Authors
John A. Izbicki, Isabel Pimentel, Russell Johnson, George R. Aiken, Jerry Leenheer
Evaluation of sulfate reduction at experimentally induced mixing interfaces using small-scale push-pull tests in an aquifer-wetland system Evaluation of sulfate reduction at experimentally induced mixing interfaces using small-scale push-pull tests in an aquifer-wetland system
This paper presents small-scale push–pull tests designed to evaluate the kinetic controls on SO42- reduction in situ at mixing interfaces between a wetland and aquifer impacted by landfill leachate at the Norman Landfill research site, Norman, OK. Quantifying the rates of redox reactions initiated at interfaces is of great interest because interfaces have been shown to be zones of...
Authors
T.A. Kneeshaw, Jennifer T. McGuire, Erik W. Smith, Isabelle M. Cozzarelli
Formation of mixed Al-Fe colloidal sorbent and dissolved-colloidal partitioning of Cu and Zn in the Cement Creek - Animas River Confluence, Silverton, Colorado Formation of mixed Al-Fe colloidal sorbent and dissolved-colloidal partitioning of Cu and Zn in the Cement Creek - Animas River Confluence, Silverton, Colorado
Transport and chemical transformations of dissolved and colloidal Al, Fe, Cu and Zn were studied by detailed sampling in the mixing zone downstream from the confluence of Cement Creek (pH 4.1) with the Animas River (pH 7.6). Complete mixing resulted in circumneutral pH in the downstream reach of the 1300 m study area. All four metals were transported through this mixing zone without...
Authors
Laurence E. Schemel, Briant A. Kimball, Robert L. Runkel, Marisa H. Cox
Efficiency of conventional drinking-water-treatment processes in removal of pharmaceuticals and other organic compounds Efficiency of conventional drinking-water-treatment processes in removal of pharmaceuticals and other organic compounds
Samples of water and sediment from a conventional drinking-water-treatment (DWT) plant were analyzed for 113 organic compounds (OCs) that included pharmaceuticals, detergent degradates, flame retardants and plasticizers, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), fragrances and flavorants, pesticides and an insect repellent, and plant and animal steroids. 45 of these compounds were...
Authors
Paul E. Stackelberg, Jacob Gibs, Edward T. Furlong, Michael T. Meyer, Steven D. Zaugg, R.L. Lippincott
Comparison of 15 evaporation methods applied to a small mountain lake in the northeastern USA Comparison of 15 evaporation methods applied to a small mountain lake in the northeastern USA
Few detailed evaporation studies exist for small lakes or reservoirs in mountainous settings. A detailed evaporation study was conducted at Mirror Lake, a 0.15 km2 lake in New Hampshire, northeastern USA, as part of a long-term investigation of lake hydrology. Evaporation was determined using 14 alternate evaporation methods during six open-water seasons and compared with values from the...
Authors
Donald O. Rosenberry, Thomas C. Winter, D.C. Buso, G.E. Likens