Publications
Dive into our publications and explore the science from the Environmental Health Program (Toxic Substances Hydrology and Contaminant Biology).
GeoHEALTH-USGS Newsletter
GeoHEALTH-USGS Newsletter
The GeoHEALTH–USGS Newsletter—published since 2004—provides information on USGS science activities pertinent to safeguarding the health of fish, wildlife, domesticated animals, and people from environmental exposures to contaminants and pathogens.
Featured Science Activities
Featured Science Activities
Lean about our Featured Science Activities through our pages that highlight science studies, publications, and results.
Filter Total Items: 3784
Pharmaceuticals, hormones, personal-care products, and other organic wastewater contaminants in water resources: Recent research activities of the U.S. Geological Survey's toxic substances hydrology program Pharmaceuticals, hormones, personal-care products, and other organic wastewater contaminants in water resources: Recent research activities of the U.S. Geological Survey's toxic substances hydrology program
Recent decades have brought increasing concerns for potential contamination of water resources that could inadvertently result during production, use, and disposal of the numerous chemicals offering improvements in industry, agriculture, medical treatment, and even common household products. Increasing knowledge of the environmental occurrence or toxicological behavior of these...
Authors
Michael J. Focazio, Dana W. Kolpin, Herbert T. Buxton
Are veterinary medicines causing environmental risks? Are veterinary medicines causing environmental risks?
Too little is known about the effects of these compounds, their metabolites, and degradation products.
Authors
Alistair Boxall, Dana W. Kolpin, Bent Halling-Sorensen, Johannes Tolls
Irrigation-induced contamination of water, sediment, and biota in the western United States-synthesis of data from the National Irrigation Water Quality Program Irrigation-induced contamination of water, sediment, and biota in the western United States-synthesis of data from the National Irrigation Water Quality Program
In October 1985 the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI), through the National Irrigation Water Quality Program (NIWQP), began a series of field investigations at 26 areas in the Western United States to determine whether irrigation drainage has had harmful effects on fish, wildlife, and humans or has reduced beneficial uses of water. In 1992 NIWQP initiated the Data Synthesis Project...
Authors
Ralph L. Seiler, Joseph P. Skorupa, David L. Naftz, B. Thomas Nolan
Hydrogeology Journal in 2002 Hydrogeology Journal in 2002
Hydrogeology Journal appeared in six issues containing a total of 674 pages and 47 major articles, including 22 Papers and 24 Reports, as well as Technical Notes and Book Reviews. The final issue of 2002 also contained the annual volume index. Hydrogeology Journal (HJ) is an international forum for hydrogeology and related disciplines. Authors in 2002 were from about 30 countries...
Authors
Perry Olcott, Robert Schneider, Clifford Voss
Response to comment on "Pharmaceuticals, hormones, and other organic wastewater contaminants in U.S. streams, 1999-2000: A national reconnaissance" Response to comment on "Pharmaceuticals, hormones, and other organic wastewater contaminants in U.S. streams, 1999-2000: A national reconnaissance"
Till (1) raised concerns that several aspects of how we handled the data in our study (2) may have caused unintended bias. First, Till (1) considers the “median detectable concentrations” listed in Table 1 (2) to be misleading because “higher median concentrations than is actually the case” were suggested. We interpret this concern raised by Till (1) to be that some readers may...
Authors
Dana W. Kolpin, Edward T. Furlong, Michael T. Meyer, E. Michael Thurman, Steven D. Zaugg, Larry B. Barber, Herbert T. Buxton
Arsenic thermodynamic data and environmental geochemistry Arsenic thermodynamic data and environmental geochemistry
No abstract available.
Authors
D. Kirk Nordstrom, D. Archer
Potential for increased mercury accumulation in the estuary food web Potential for increased mercury accumulation in the estuary food web
Present concentrations of mercury in large portions of San Francisco Bay (Bay), the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta (Delta), and the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers are high enough to warrant concern for the health of humans and wildlife. Large scale tidal wetland restoration is currently under consideration as a means of increasing populations of fish species of concern. Tidal wetland...
Authors
Jay A. Davis, Donald Yee, Joshua N. Collins, Steven E. Schwarzbach, Samuel N. Luoma
Interseasonal covariability of Sierra Nevada streamflow and San Francisco Bay salinity Interseasonal covariability of Sierra Nevada streamflow and San Francisco Bay salinity
The ecosystems of the San Francisco Bay estuary are influenced by the salinity of its waters, which in turn depends on flushing by freshwater inflows from the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada. Estimates of full-natural flows in eight major rivers that flush the Bay are analyzed here by extended empirical-orthogonal-function analyses to characterize distinct ‘modes’ of seasonal flow...
Authors
Michael D. Dettinger, Daniel R. Cayan
Extreme acid mine drainage from a pyritic massive sulfide deposit, the Iron Mountain end-member Extreme acid mine drainage from a pyritic massive sulfide deposit, the Iron Mountain end-member
No abstract available.
Authors
Charles N. Alpers, D. Kirk Nordstrom, J. Spitzley
Stable isotope applications in hydrologic studies Stable isotope applications in hydrologic studies
No abstract available.
Authors
Carol Kendall, D.H. Doctor
Geochemistry of saline lakes Geochemistry of saline lakes
No abstract available.
Authors
B.F. Jones, D.M. Deocampo
Use of field-scale experiments and reactive transport modeling to evaluate remediation alternatives in streams affected by acid mine drainage Use of field-scale experiments and reactive transport modeling to evaluate remediation alternatives in streams affected by acid mine drainage
No abstract available.
Authors
B. A. Kimball, R.L. Runkel, Katherine Walton-Day