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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: 3785

Evasion of added isotopic mercury from a northern temperate lake Evasion of added isotopic mercury from a northern temperate lake

Isotopically enriched Hg (90% 202Hg) was added to a small lake in Ontario, Canada, at a rate equivalent to approximately threefold the annual direct atmospheric deposition rate that is typical of the northeastern United States. The Hg spike was thoroughly mixed into the epilimnion in nine separate events at two-week intervals throughout the summer growing season for three consecutive...
Authors
G. Southworth, S. Lindberg, H. Hintelmann, M. Amyot, A. Poulain, M. Bogle, M. Peterson, J. Rudd, R. Harris, K. Sandilands, David P. Krabbenhoft, Mark L. Olsen

Quantification of changes in metal loading from storm runoff, Merse River (Tuscany, Italy) Quantification of changes in metal loading from storm runoff, Merse River (Tuscany, Italy)

The Merse River in Tuscany is affected by mine drainage and the weathering of mine wastes along several kilometres of its catchment. The metal loading to the stream was quantified by defining detailed profiles of discharge and concentration, using tracer-dilution and synoptic-sampling techniques. During the course of a field experiment to evaluate metal loading to the Merse, such data...
Authors
Briant A. Kimball, F. Bianchi, Katherine Walton-Day, Robert L. Runkel, M. Nannucci, A. Salvadori

Evidence for terrigenic SF6 in groundwater from basaltic aquifers, Jeju Island, Korea: Implications for groundwater dating Evidence for terrigenic SF6 in groundwater from basaltic aquifers, Jeju Island, Korea: Implications for groundwater dating

Measurements of the concentrations of dichlorodifluoromethane (CFC-12), tritium (3H), and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) in groundwater from basaltic aquifers in Jeju Island, Korea, demonstrate a terrigenic source of SF6. Using a lumped-parameter dispersion model, groundwater was identified as young water (
Authors
Dong-Chan Koh, Niel Plummer, Eurybiades Busenberg, Yongje Kim

Use of dissolved chloride concentrations in tributary streams to support geospatial estimates of Cl contamination potential near Skiatook Lake, northeastern Oklahoma Use of dissolved chloride concentrations in tributary streams to support geospatial estimates of Cl contamination potential near Skiatook Lake, northeastern Oklahoma

Releases of NaCl-rich (>100 000 mg/L) water that is co-produced from petroleum wells can adversely affect the quality of ground and surface waters. To evaluate produced water impacts on lakes, rivers and streams, an assessment of the contamination potential must be attainable using reliable and cost-effective methods. This study examines the feasibility of using geographic information...
Authors
C. A. Rice, M.M. Abbott, R. A. Zielinski

Integrated investigations of environmental effects of historical mining in the Animas River Watershed, San Juan County, Colorado Integrated investigations of environmental effects of historical mining in the Animas River Watershed, San Juan County, Colorado

This publication comprises a Volume Contents of chapters (listed below) and a CD-ROM of data (contents shown in column at right). The Animas River watershed in southwest Colorado is one of many watersheds in the western United States where historical mining has left a legacy of acid mine drainage and elevated concentrations of potentially toxic trace elements in surface streams. U.S...

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

Principal locations of metal loading from flood-plain tailings, Lower Silver Creek, Utah, April 2004 Principal locations of metal loading from flood-plain tailings, Lower Silver Creek, Utah, April 2004

Because of the historical deposition of mill tailings in flood plains, the process of determining total maximum daily loads for streams in an area like the Park City mining district of Utah is complicated. Understanding the locations of metal loading to Silver Creek and the relative importance of these locations is necessary to make science-based decisions. Application of tracer...
Authors
Briant A. Kimball, Robert L. Runkel, Katherine Walton-Day

BAT3 Analyzer: Real-time data display and interpretation software for the multifunction bedrock-aquifer transportable testing tool (BAT3) BAT3 Analyzer: Real-time data display and interpretation software for the multifunction bedrock-aquifer transportable testing tool (BAT3)

The BAT3 Analyzer provides real-time display and interpretation of fluid pressure responses and flow rates measured during geochemical sampling, hydraulic testing, or tracer testing conducted with the Multifunction Bedrock-Aquifer Transportable Testing Tool (BAT3) (Shapiro, 2007). Real-time display of the data collected with the Multifunction BAT3 allows the user to ensure that the...
Authors
Richard B. Winston, Allen M. Shapiro

Widespread natural perchlorate in unsaturated zones of the southwest United States Widespread natural perchlorate in unsaturated zones of the southwest United States

A substantial reservoir (up to 1 kg ha-1) of natural perchlorate is present in diverse unsaturated zones of the arid and semi-arid southwestern United States. The perchlorate co-occurs with meteoric chloride that has accumulated in these soils throughout the Holocene [0 to 10−15 ka (thousand years ago)] and possibly longer periods. Previously, natural perchlorate widely believed to be...
Authors
Balaji Rao, Todd A. Anderson, Greta J. Orris, Ken A. Rainwater, Srinath Rajagopalan, Renee M. Sandvig, Bridget R. Scanlon, David A. Stonestrom, Michelle Ann Walvoord, W Andrew Jackson

Effects of intraborehole flow on groundwater age distribution Effects of intraborehole flow on groundwater age distribution

Environmental tracers are used to estimate groundwater ages and travel times, but the strongly heterogeneous nature of many subsurface environments can cause mixing between waters of highly disparate ages, adding additional complexity to the age-estimation process. Mixing may be exacerbated by the presence of wells because long open intervals or long screens with openings at multiple...
Authors
B.A. Zinn, Leonard F. Konikow

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

Input, flux, and persistence of six select pesticides in San Francisco Bay Input, flux, and persistence of six select pesticides in San Francisco Bay

Temporal patterns of pesticide inputs to San Francisco Bay were identified and correlated with timing of application and transport mechanism. Fluxes were calculated from measured concentrations and estimated flow. Persistence of the pesticides under typical riverine or estuarine conditions were estimated from laboratory experiments. Simazine was detected most frequently and had the...
Authors
Kathryn Kuivila, B.E. Jennings
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