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: 3785
Estimation of hydrocarbon biodegradation rates in gasoline-contaminated sediment from measured respiration rates Estimation of hydrocarbon biodegradation rates in gasoline-contaminated sediment from measured respiration rates
An open microcosm method for quantifying microbial respiration and estimating biodegradation rates of hydrocarbons in gasoline-contaminated sediment samples has been developed and validated. Stainless-steel bioreactors are filled with soil or sediment samples, and the vapor-phase composition (concentrations of oxygen (O2), nitrogen (N2), carbon dioxide (CO2), and selected hydrocarbons)...
Authors
R.J. Baker, A. L. Baehr, M.A. Lahvis
Interim report on the scientific investigations in the Animas River watershed, Colorado to facilitate remediation decisions by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service, March 29, 2000 meeting, Denver, Colo. Interim report on the scientific investigations in the Animas River watershed, Colorado to facilitate remediation decisions by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service, March 29, 2000 meeting, Denver, Colo.
INTRODUCTION The joint U.S. Department of the Interior and U.S. Department of Agriculture Abandoned Mine Lands Initiative (AMLI) was developed as a collaborative effort between the Federal land management agencies (FLMA, that is the U.S. Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service) and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in 1996. The stated goal of the AML Initiative was to...
Authors
Water Resources Division U.S. Geological Survey
Graphical user interface for MODFLOW, Version 4 Graphical user interface for MODFLOW, Version 4
No abstract available.
Authors
Richard B. Winston
Hyporheic zone hydrological processes Hyporheic zone hydrological processes
No abstract available.
Authors
K.E. Bencala
VS2DI-A graphical software package for simulating fluid flow and solute or energy transport in variably saturated porous media VS2DI-A graphical software package for simulating fluid flow and solute or energy transport in variably saturated porous media
No abstract available.
Authors
P. A. Hsieh, W.L. Wingle, R. W. Healy
Analysis of selected herbicide metabolites in surface and ground water of the United States Analysis of selected herbicide metabolites in surface and ground water of the United States
One of the primary goals of the US Geological Survey (USGS) Laboratory in Lawrence, Kansas, is to develop analytical methods for the analysis of herbicide metabolites in surface and ground water that are vital to the study of herbicide fate and degradation pathways in the environment. Methods to measure metabolite concentrations from three major classes of herbicides — triazine...
Authors
E.A. Scribner, E.M. Thurman, L.R. Zimmerman
Selenium stable isotope ratios as indicators of sources and cycling of selenium: Results from the northern reach of San Francisco Bay Selenium stable isotope ratios as indicators of sources and cycling of selenium: Results from the northern reach of San Francisco Bay
Selenium stable isotope ratios can serve as indicators of Se sources and reduction of Se oxyanions, much as sulfur and nitrogen isotope ratios do in sulfur and nitrogen biogeochemical studies. A new analytical method, which allows precise Se isotope ratio measurements on 500 ng of Se, greatly enhances analysis of environmental samples. This paper presents the first environmental study to...
Authors
T.M. Johnson, T.D. Bullen, P.T. Zawislanski
Reactive transport of metal contaminants in alluvium: Model comparison and column simulation Reactive transport of metal contaminants in alluvium: Model comparison and column simulation
A comparative assessment of two reactive-transport models, PHREEQC and HYDROGEOCHEM (HGC), was done to determine the suitability of each for simulating the movement of acidic contamination in alluvium. For simulations that accounted for aqueous complexation, precipitation and dissolution, the breakthrough and rinseout curves generated by each model were similar. The differences in...
Authors
J. G. Brown, R.L. Bassett, P. D. Glynn
Tracer transport in fractured crystalline rock: Evidence of nondiffusive breakthrough tailing Tracer transport in fractured crystalline rock: Evidence of nondiffusive breakthrough tailing
Extended tailing of tracer breakthrough is often observed in pulse injection tracer tests conducted in fractured geologic media. This behavior has been attributed to diffusive exchange of tracer between mobile fluids traveling through channels in fractures and relatively stagnant fluid between fluid channels, along fracture walls, or within the bulk matrix. We present a field example...
Authors
Matthew W. Becker, Allen M. Shapiro
Sources and haloacetic acid/trihalomethane formation potentials of aquatic humic substances in the Wakarusa River and Clinton Lake near Lawrence, Kansas Sources and haloacetic acid/trihalomethane formation potentials of aquatic humic substances in the Wakarusa River and Clinton Lake near Lawrence, Kansas
Gram quantities of aquatic humic substances (AHS) were extracted from the Wakarusa River−Clinton Lake Reservoir system, near Lawrence, KS, to support nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experimental studies, report concentrations of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and AHS, define sources of the AHS, and determine if the AHS yield sufficient quantities of haloacetic acids (HAA5) and...
Authors
M.L. Pomes, C.K. Larive, E.M. Thurman, W. R. Green, W. H. Orem, C.E. Rostad, T.B. Coplen, B.J. Cutak, A.M. Dixon
Influence of acid volatile sulfide and metal concentrations on metal bioavailability to marine invertebrates in contaminated sediments Influence of acid volatile sulfide and metal concentrations on metal bioavailability to marine invertebrates in contaminated sediments
An 18-day microcosm study was conducted to evaluate the influence of acid volatile sulfides (AVS) and metal additions on bioaccumulation from sediments of Cd, Ni, and Zn in two clams (Macoma balthica and Potamocorbula amurensis) and three marine polychaetes (Neanthes arenaceodentata, Heteromastus filiformis, and Spiophanes missionensis). Manipulation of AVS by oxidation of naturally...
Authors
B.-G. Lee, J.-S. Lee, S. N. Luoma, H.J. Choi, C.-H. Koh
Organic matter sources and rehabilitation of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta (California, USA) Organic matter sources and rehabilitation of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta (California, USA)
1. The Sacramento San Joaquin River Delta, a complex mosaic of tidal freshwater habitats in California, is the focus of a major ecosystem rehabilitation effort because of significant long-term changes in critical ecosystem functions. One of these functions is the production, transport and transformation of organic matter that constitutes the primary food supply, which may be sub-optimal...
Authors
A.D. Jassby, James E. Cloern